Author Archives: WanderSouth


Permalink to mmmmmmmm meat: Chuck’s

mmmmmmmm meat: Chuck’s

mmmmmmmm meat: Chuck's

So I do post a lot of vegan restaurants, but this, my friends, is not one of those posts. This is a post about delicious meat.

I have been wanting to go to Ashley Christensen’s Chuck for weeks, today was my day. They only serve medium done burgers, which, IMHO, are the most delicious done-ness. Warm, but still juicy – read: bloody. YUM!

We went to a late, late lunch/early dinner on a Saturday and practically had the joint to ourselves.

I started the table off with a half-pound of fries and the “beef booster” sauce which is a mayo with Worcestershire. On our second round of fries we got the espelette aioli which was way better than the beef booster – flavorful and pinky – yum! The fries were crazy thick cut, a little limp and could have used some more salt. Regardless, we wolfed them down.

B got a Avery Root Beer – only drafted for Chuck’s – and I got a Amber Ale. Both delish. Our dining companion, Ellen, got a really fantastic looking pumpkin pie shake with roasted on the premise punkins. While this lac-free girl cannot indulge in shakes, B said he would torture me next time by ordering one spiked and enjoying every last drop. There must be a “I drink your milkshake” reference in there somewhere.

Then the food rolled out. I got The High and The Valley – a dreamy concoction of avocado, bacon-onion jam and a roasted bell pepper. B got the Dirty South with pork and cheese and honestly too much stuff to list. Ellen got The Big House and she scraped off the onions.

My burger was AMAZING! It was so crispy on the outside of the patty and so flavorful. I really relished every bite. I do not order burgers out very often. I never ordered burgers as a child. Really B’s burger’s are the best ones I’ve ever eaten. Well…that was before Chuck’s. Really good stuff here, Raleigh.

I sometimes complain about the quality of the food in Raleigh, but Christensen’s restaurants are raising that bar. Good show, chef, good show!


Permalink to Awash in History: Yates Mill Historic Park

Awash in History: Yates Mill Historic Park

Awash in History: Yates Mill Historic Park

It was a crisp autumn day with leaves fluttering to the ground when we went to the Historic Yates Mill County Park in Wake County, NC. This beautiful millpond and nature park is home to the stately gristmill named the Queen of North Carolina because it is one of the few left in the region. For just $5 an adult you can get a hour-long tour of the grounds and the mill.

There has been a mill on the grounds since 1750 – yes, that is colonial times. The land was purchased by NC State in the 1960s and turning into a public park in 2006.

The best part of the tour was seeing the mill in action. The creaks, groans and grind of the water turning the giant wheel was a magical sound. It’s a sound of times long since past.

This is an amazing spot for photographs for the whole family. We saw numerous families and couples with professional photographers. Wonderful fall backgrounds and so Southern! See all the fabulous photos here and here from our trip!

We were just a weekend early for the last corn grinding day of the season, so if you are looking for a fun autumn adventure head out on November 19 & 20 to see the Queen hard at work. On corn grinding weekends, tours will start every 20 minutes and volunteers will be in historic dress. Can we say fun?!

Distance from Raleigh: 6 miles ’round about 15 minutes – See the map

Tickets: Tours of the Mill are on the weekends at 2:00 during the spring, summer and fall. $5 for adults – even cheaper for kids, seniors and students.

Wander Well Tips:

  • Beautiful spot for a picnic – bring a basket and then go on the tour
  • Bring your camera – lots of great photo vistas
  • They take cash or checks for the tours – no credit cards

 


Permalink to My Fair Ladies – Vol. 1 – Fairly Fun Nite

My Fair Ladies – Vol. 1 – Fairly Fun Nite

My Fair Ladies - Vol. 1 - Fairly Fun Nite

While we didn’t win the NC State Fair Deep Fried Ambassador blogger contest, that won’t stop us from sharing our fabulous adventures at the Fair! We are taking 2 trips to the Fair this year – one for the night-time adventures and once for the day time animal cuteness. These are our escapades after dark!
Ready to do some damage

Kamikaze (AKA Rebecca) and I, plus our beaus Matt & B, and the omnipresent Ellen Lynch went to the Triangle Deep Fried Tweetup preview night at the Fair. For just $5 a person you get to attend an exclusive tweetup event, get a sweet swag bag and catchup with all your social media buddies. Always a great event. We even got to sample the deep fried kool-aid (sweet, gooey and very red) and a deep fried bubblegum (deep fried marshmallow with bubblegum sauce and Chiclets = delicious!). You can read some of my embarrassingly awesome tweets.

Hooray for Trees!

Free Trees from Smokey the Bear!

My Brian bear with Smokey the Bear!!!!

B Bear with S Bear

Cutest item in the @NCStateFair #deepfried tweetup gift bags? This tiny @ncpig!!!!

Cute NC Pig (Twitter: @NCPig) from the swag bags!

Part of the Tweetup was a SCVNGR hunt, a handy iPhone app. So I’m a pretty competitive girl when it comes to brainy or puzzle challenges and I dragged the ladies and gents all over the Fair trying to complete challenges as Team CarnieVores (name supplied by the Aslaksens). We got 17 out of 20 challenges, but didn’t win the night. Sad face!

Modern Scooby Crew

Finding the clues with the Scooby Crew

BCDC

One of the challenges was finding your initials so I made one on PicFrame

Hoof bump with @ncpig #ncstatefair

Hoof bump with @NCPig

My buds helping me spell out NCSF at the #ncstatefair ... yes i know my S is backwards

Another challenge complete - spell out NCSF - Bec is a lowercase n and my s is backwards. I PROMISE we were sober...

Weaved into all this craziness was lots of food and fun. In the 4.5 hours we tromped around the Fair we:

Dawn Eating a Krispy Kreme Burger

Devoured a Krispy Kreme Goober Burger (PB&J on a burger on 2 donuts - for reals)

Corndog Zombies

Relished a jumbo corn dog - which I won in a bet with Matt that it wouldn't rain

Seriously yummy #deepfried candy apples at the #ncstatefair

Tried the delicious deep fried candy apple! Try it with cinnamon and sugar!

We're all kangaroos

All jumped like kangaroos at the UNC-TV booth

Psychedelic Ferris Wheel

Got a little trippy with the Ferris wheel

Becca & Ellen ride the Future

Becca & Ellen got scrambled!

Spinny, swingy ride

Watched the pretty lights - which Bec reminded us a ride in Zombieland - kick ass

Pickle Down

Mocked Bec for dropping her deep fried pickles, mushrooms AND onions on the ground

But the best part about the Fair was sharing it with such great friends!
I heart my @bcwritr      Great friends & a fun night - heart y'all @RDUgonnaeat #ncstatefairThe always fun, friendly and sports-formative @ellenlynch! #ncstatefair


Permalink to Scared My Pants Off! – The Original Hollywood Horror House

Scared My Pants Off! – The Original Hollywood Horror House

Scared My Pants Off! - The Original Hollywood Horror House

I have a confession, I have never been to a haunted house…before yesterday.

I love all things creepy – scary movies, creepy decor, good ghost stories – but I’ve never ventured into a haunted house. I think it’s be due to two factors – A.) Cost – I have trouble forking over a hefty ticket price for a physical experience. B.) I don’t like to touched by strangers. I’m all huggy with people I know, but strangers touching me freaks me out.

Despite my fear of ticket prices and wandering hands, I vowed to check off this life to-do at the Original Hollywood Horror House in Snow Camp, NC. A horror house that boasts to be the largest in NC and the only one produced by actual Hollywood make-up artists, it was a good place to end my haunted house virginity.

Seriously out in the boonies of North Carolina is checks off all my scary movie do nots:

  • Dark country roads
  • Serious stretches without houses or civilization
  • Minimal cell coverage
  • Dense forest
  • General if you died it would take a while for people to find your body

We gathered up some friends and headed out. The show did not disappoint. It was so scary. Seriously, my stomach muscles were tired and tight after the twisty path through the house. I screamed, I laughed, I tried to make myself as small as possible as not to draw attention of the monsters. Well that didn’t work. I was targeted in every room because I’d scream, cower and shut my eyes to keep all the terrors out. It was SO MUCH fun.

One down side is that we stood in line for 3 hours! That was a really, really long time. We arrived at 9 and didn’t leave until 12:30 (that means we actually entered the house right at midnight = AWeSOME!)

I’m not going to tell you any more – you just have to experience it yourself. Happy wanderings!

Distance from Raleigh: 63 miles ’round about 1 hour and 15 minutes – See the map

Tickets: $20 each – available online or at the door (when you get them at the door you get a cool token used for admission)

Wander Well Tips:

  • Fill up your gas tank – it’s a haul along pitch black country roads
  • Take a good map – we got a little off track and we didn’t have cell reception for a while – FREAKY!
  • Be prepared for the line – wear comfortable shoes – it’s worth the wait!

Permalink to Make Us the Deep Fried Ambassadors – My Fair Ladies: Fairly Odd Edition

Make Us the Deep Fried Ambassadors – My Fair Ladies: Fairly Odd Edition

If one NC State Fair Deep Fried Ambassador is good, imagine how tasty 3 would be! Introducing the blogging trio “My Fair Ladies.”

Giving you three unique perspectives on the 2011 NC State Fair, we three fabulous ladies will cover the full gamut of food, rides, entertainment, competitions, exhibits and fun “only at the Fair” odd bits. Telling the story through photos, videos and, of course, wildly entertaining words, this gaggle of gals is sure to make everyone want to come out to the Fair.

  • The Kamikaze – aka Rebecca Aslaksen - Nothing stops this Fair enthusiast. No food will be left uneaten, no ride unridden. Put a plate before her and she will devour it. Beat: Food & Rides
  • Fairly Odd – aka ME! – Fun just got a little funky at the State Fair. Get a backstage look at the music, the best of our state’s produce and livestock and side-shows. Exploring the entertaining, wacky and downright odd parts of the Fair. Beat: Competitions & Entertainment
  • The Wrangler – aka Valentina Garcia Gerdes - Armed with sunscreen, family meet-up points and a purse of non-sugary snacks, this mom knows how to make the Fair fun for all ages. Beat: Family Activities & Exhibits

And here is my story of why I want to be a Deep Fried Ambassador:

I seriously heart the Fair! I went to the Deep Fried Tweet-Up last year and I still have the poster on my wall. That night at the Fair was one of my happiest, most memorable nights of the year.

I love everything classic about the fair. I love the rivalry of producing the best pie. I adore the beaming pride of bringing a blue ribbon hog. I seek the thrill of seeing good, live music at the Coliseum. I happily fork over a few bucks to see a side show oddity. I have a love affair with it all.

As part of the My Fair Ladies blogging trifecta, I want to share all that is timeless about the Fair. My co-bloggers will be covering the food, the rides, and the family fanfare. I want to show the Fair’s roots. I want to dust off what makes the Fair THE fall destination for North Carolina.

I want to dig into the stories of the competitors. I want to shine a light on people who’ve spent hours making the best dang sweet potato dish in the STATE! It’s time to meet the winner of the pygmy goat costume contest. That is real pride in doing good work. These are stories that need to be shared.

And then, well, there are the shows. There are the free shows like the awesome King Action Sports Stunt Show or the just hilarious Steve Brogan and his dummies. Then there are the concerts at Dorothy Arena – sultry Tift Merritt alongside superstars like Dionne Warwick and Kansas. Who wouldn’t want to finish off a tough Friday at the office with a good old Demolition Derby? Me! Who else is with me?!

Come on now, there is some fabulously funky stuff at the Fair! Where else can you pay a couple of bucks to see the world’s smallest horse?  Where else can you meet Santa at a frozen banana stand? Well, my friend, it’s all at the Fair.

So why should you pick all three of the My Fair Lady bloggers to be the Deep Fried Ambassadors? It’s because you will get this level of passion and fun for each blog post.  We’ll bring the most honest, fun and happy perspective to all things NC State Fair.

There are is just so many wonderful, wacky and fun things to discover at the Fair. As your Deep Fried Ambassador, I will serve it all up with a lot of Southern pride and a little wicked little smile.

See all the BUZZ we’re creating to earn our spots as Deep Fried Ambassadors, BUT we need YOUR help! Leave a comment about why YOU think we’d be great Ambassadors this year.
UPDATE: We didn’t win, but we’re blogging anyway! Thanks for all your support and tweet!

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