The Pharmacy cures your ailments

The Pharmacy may not have the cure for everything, but it will definitely cure your hunger, need for a drink, or craving for an elegant meal. The old style of the building, which used to be an old pharmacy, is warm and inviting. The food tastes so fresh and has food that ranges in style from French Bistro to Artisan Cafe all with a touch of Southern charm.

Asian shrimp spring rolls and crabcake appetizer

The Pharmacy's claim to fame are their crabcakes, which are wrapped in phyllo dough and fried to a crispy, golden brown. Talk about adding an amazing new twist to an old classic. It's served with a side salad and has multiple homemade sauces to dip it to your liking in a grainy mustard style sauce or a balsamic reduction sauce. Each is the perfect pairing. Luckily, you can order the crabcakes as your entree or an appetizer to start off your meal.

They have a variety of other appetizers and sides including fried vegetable sticks and Asian shrimp spring rolls. 

Special Ravioli

There are daily pasta specials and the quiche of the day, which are always fabulous. On this particular trip, we ordered their pasta of the day, which was a spinach, ricotta and walnut ravioli in a homemade creamy pesto sauce. One bite of this dish and we fell in love! The walnut in the ravioli added an extra dimension of flavor that is unlike anything else. The homemade creamy pesto sauce was perfectly executed...not too creamy, not too overwhelming with the pesto. Being that three of us girls were splitting everything, they were even nice enough to split the pasta dish for us into individual servings.

We also ordered the honey glazed salmon. Talk about amazing! This salmon was perfectly cooked, glazed with honey, lemon, a touch of soy and stone-ground mustard, atop delicious wild rice and served with a side salad mixed in a raspberry walnut vinaigrette. When I'm cooking salmon, honey is not on my mind when thinking about a marinade, but this was fantastic (and will definitely be something I experiment with in the future). 

The meal was delicious. We hardly had room for dessert but considering how delicious everything had been (and being that it was our last meal together for a while), we took that extra step and followed the "there's always room for dessert" philosophy by ordering their homemade vanilla bean creme brulee. It was packed with vanilla bean and had a perfect carmelized sugar topping (you know how sometimes it can be too thick or too thin? this was neither one of those). 

 If you're in Southport, NC, the pharmacy is a place you should try to get to for lunch. You'll love the sweet southern charm and elegant, homemade flavors of the food, paired with good service and a quaint atmosphere.

Mr. P's Southern Bistro

Mr. P's is a bistro on the main drag into "downtown" Southport (I use that phrase lightly since it's such a small town). It's a little brick building and inside there's a down-home country, but elegant feel to the place. I'd personally call it a "Southern Bistro" style. 

Fried Goat Cheese Salad

The servers are exceptionally nice...the typical Southern hospitality. They have a full bar with some fun twists on cocktails. Their appetizers are fantastic. My favorite salad on their menu is the fried goat cheese salad (as you know, I love anything with goat cheese). The goat cheese is rolled in breadcrumbs and lightly fried, served warm atop mix greens, roasted red peppers and toasted, spiced pecans with a light balsamic dressing. It's a great start to a fabulous meal. 

On the menu, there's a huge selection of fresh seafood as well as burgers and their famous Prime Rib. There is always an abundance of additional daily specials so wait for your server to let you in on those delicious secrets before deciding. Come to think of it, I've been there multiple times and can probably count on one hand the number of times I've ordered off of their usual menu. All of their entrees come with grits or potatoes and a choice of their daily vegetables. My favorite side of theirs are their Parmesan Fried Green Tomatoes. They are deliciously tangy, perfectly golden brown, crispy, and absolutely fantastic! 

On this particular night, my friends and I shared a few dishes. We ordered one of the specials that wasn't on the menu: Blackened salmon topped with blue cheese and herbs, a side of pan-roasted red potatoes and (of course) their Parmesan fried green tomatoes. The salmon was deliciously seasoned with spicy Cajun spices and perfectly cooked. The bleu cheese on top was a great coolant for the taste-buds and was also a great pairing for the pan-roasted red potatoes. It's one of my favorites at this restaurant as they usually have some sort of blue-cheese topped fish on special any night of the week.

 Blackened Salmon w/ Bleu Cheese, Herbs, Roasted Potatoes & Parmesan Fried Green Tomatoes

We also tried their shrimp and Andoille sausage gumbo served with fried grit cakes. The grit cakes were awesome! Crispy, fried outside, and creamy inside. The Andoille sausage was perfectly pan seared before being added to the deliciously seasoned gumbo. It was an elegant twist to a down-home, Southern gumbo.

Shrimp & Andoille Sausage Gumbo with Fried Grit Cakes

Mr. P's is a local favorite that has earned it's status as a place you'll want to keep going back to. 

Dead End Saloon

The view from our table

Dead End Saloon is a pub in Southport/Oak Island, NC. Cozy up to the bar or sit out on the porch overlooking the river marsh and pier. You'll definitely see your fill of wildlife from beautiful butterflies to a variety of water birds. While I was there, there were even a couple of dolphins that playfully swam by!

Their menu consists of everything from burgers and sandwiches to quesadillas and buffalo wings, to seafood of all kinds. They have daily food and drink specials with typical pub fare as well as fun twists on old favorites. Their coconut shrimp is served with a fabulous homemade Hawaiian-style dipping sauce that includes coconut and pineapple (it's very ambrosia-esq and could probably be served in a bowl as a dessert, it's so good). Their fish and chips are delightful with perfectly crispy fries and homemade tartar sauce.

Just like the menu says, it's "Fun Dining"

If you're looking for a fun, laid-back atmosphere with food for anyone's taste, head down to the end of Fish Factory road, pull up a seat on the porch overlooking the water, and enjoy some fabulous pub fare.

Southport, NC

One of the piers in Southport

Southport, NC is a quaint little coastal town in southern North Carolina. It's very quiet and is currently the only way you can get to Oak Island (by bridge) or Bald Head Island (by ferry). Southport, Oak Island and Bald Head Island create a great trifecta of beachiness as each area is so unique and beautiful, but cater to different lifestyles.

Waterfront benches at sunset

But back to Southport...in this small town (which gets very busy during the summer season), take a stroll down the main street and check out the unique shops. Stop in the Christmas House to stock up on holiday decorations and treats. Bullfrog's corner has the cutest children's toys. Or stop and get some ice cream as you stroll down to the waterfront, have a seat on the swinging benches and look out over where the Cape Fear River meets the ocean.

For such a small town, there are some fabulous restaurants. Everything from fantastic Southern cuisine, local seafood and fantastic fine dining. Not only is Southport peaceful and relaxing, you can enjoy some fabulous meals out on the town (which is a great segway to my next few Southport restaurant posts). 

View of Southport Marina from the water

Hi, my name is Jessica, and I am a Foodie.

My whole life, I've had a love affair with food. I think it comes from my Jewish mother. It's always about the food. The first question I always get when I go home to visit is, "What do you want to eat?" She's always making something. It's like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" but we're not Greek! Your stomach hurts? Eat something! You have a headache? Maybe you're hungry! I always love to try new restaurants or test out new recipes or hunker down with the Food Network to get some inspiration. I'll try any food once and trust me, I've experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to food.

In Cadiz, Spain, trying the local cuisine.

 (2007)

In addition to food, I love learning new things and having different experiences. That probably comes from the fact that I moved around a lot my whole life. Each new place was a new adventure. A new venue for me to try the local food, learn new things and grow. My passion for Asian cuisine comes from my years of living in Japan (which is also where I gained the courage to literally try anything...Jelly fish anyone?). My passion for a good wine and Tapas (small plates) where I can try little bites of everything came from the time I lived in Spain (which is also where I gained a larger appreciation for the arts and where I learned about working to live, not living to work). My passion for Coastal Carolina (fresh seafood, sun, and beautiful water to be exact) and a perfectly golden Fried Green Tomato comes from my time living in the south (Raleigh and Southport, NC). I've learned a lot from living in so many wonderful places (more than just the three I listed here). It's my passion for food and exploring new things that has really made me who I am today.

But it's not all about the food. I've had many experiences in my life (again, the good, the bad, and the ugly) that have shaped my perceptions of the world and how I live in it. That's what this blog is about. Great food, great experiences, following your passions, and living life the the fullest!