Tag Archives: Cocktails

Permalink to Speak Easy: Whiskey

Speak Easy: Whiskey

by WanderSouth|on August 31, 2011 |in Cocktails, Durham, Foodie, North Carolina |tagged , , , , , |1 Comment

Curves - Brian's lady drink at WhiskeyClassy cocktails is getting a second coming. With tiny, dark bars springing up around the South, getting sauced is getting saucy.

On the hunt for fancy drinks, we met up with some friends at Whiskey in Durham. Leather club chairs, finely coiffed bar keeps and low lighting helps you swallow the $12 drink prices.

The cocktails are heavy with the booze, which is truly fabulous. I started with a Sazerac cocktail which has sazerac whiskey, bitters, an absinthe rinse, and orange peel – keeping up my tradition of man drinks. I finished with a Mother Earth Endless River Kolshe, which was refreshing. Brian had a perfectly mixed Dark and Stormy with cubed ginger rumbling around the glass. He finished with a fancy gin drink that came in a lady glass (we can’t remember the name).

Nice place for a night cap. Does allow smoking and cigar sales – so tobacco weary beware. Step back in time and get yourself a fancy drink.

I drink like a man - Sazerac at Whiskey in Durham

Permalink to Lactose-Free Foodie: Seattle, WA

Lactose-Free Foodie: Seattle, WA

by WanderSouth|on July 24, 2011 |in Foodie, Lactose-Free Foodie, Wander West |tagged , , , , , , , , , |Leave a comment

The Emerald City is known as a foodie town. Since moving to the South, we’ve had some great meals, but I’ve missed the big city mastery of chefs. Maybe it’s homesickness for west coast fare, but I love eating in Seattle. There is a vibrant localvore, vegan and international food scene. That all adds up to one happy lactose-free foodie!

Yes, it’s true, Seattle is not in the South. It’s about as far away from Raleigh as I can get and still be on the Continental US, but people do travel to other places outside of the South. Besides, it’s fun to write about travel and food. This post is about my first two trips taken in June and July.

My delish dairy-free adventures:

This is what we call a fork and knife biscuit. Goooooood morning from Dahlia Workshop in Seattle.Breakfast – Dahlia Workshop – Oh my stars, this place is giving the South a run on the biscuit racket. Fluffy, big and crispy. They said it was a buttermilk biscuit, but I did not react (yeah!). I got one with fennel sausage, an over easy egg and sauteed red pepper mix. It usually comes with fontina, but this dairy-free girl skipped that. They also have really fabulous soy lattes, it is Seattle after all. While munchin’ on my biscuit sandwich that required a fork and knife, I was reminded of what I miss most about living in West coast culture is the laid-back, artsy vibe. I miss tattoos, I miss boisterous chill folks, I miss giant unkempt beards. I felt right at home in this hip, tiny joint with the singing, warm chef who brought my biscuit to me with a smile.

YumBreakfast – Eltana – Wood-fired bagels?! Yes, and boy are they good! The bagels are realistically sized and hearty. They have an adventurous selection of spreads. Many are lactose-free including the fava bean mint and red pepper walnut. A little tip, you can choose two spreads because you have two sides of your bagel (I was reminded this by the friendly server). Also, this was the first place that I was introduced to the Seattle standard of syrup-less lattes. If you want vanilla, go to Starbucks.

Lunch – Pho in the USA – I was on a business lunch so I was shy about taking a photo. I need to be braver next time, my readers demand it! North Carolina is REALLY far away from Vietnam so we don’t get the tastiest pho and bun there. I was in such withdrawl I had pho for lunch and bun for dinner. I was not sad about this vermicelli rich day. The pho at Pho in the USA is wonderfully spicy and warm. The thinly sliced beef is cooked right in the broth. Oh my stars, so good. It was nutritious, warm and fabulously pho.

Cuban Roast Sandwich from PaseosLunch – Paseo Carribean Restaurant - My friends at WithinReach turned me on to this tiny, tasty restaurant. It is AMAZING! It took me an hour to stand in line and get my sandwich, but it was worth it! Also, bring CASH (there is an ATM at the market up the street). Their famous sandwich is the Cuban Roast with is mojo soaked, pork shoulder roasted until it falls apart. It’s served on a crispy french roll with lots of romaine lettuce, a really garlicky aioli, wide-cut caramelized onions, pickled jalapenos and cilantro. It is one of those few meals that the first bite is just as tasty and dynamic as the last. I got mine to go and ate it at the Woodland Park Zoo nearby. This is a must have meal if you are in Seattle and all wonderfully lactose-free!

Combination bun at Green Leaf - yum in my tum-tumDinner – Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant – Voted one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle, it was not a disappointment. I had combination bun with the famous egg roll and lots of grilled chicken, pork and shrimp all with loads of fresh veggies. It was so good. I should have asked for more of the clear broth-y, sauce stuff. I also had a fresh squeezed slightly salty lemonade. The place is super tiny and very popular so come early or expect to wait. I am already craving it!

 

Catching dinnerDinner – Coastal Kitchen – The sign was much cuter than the food. Not my favorite stop on my travels. It has a rotating menu, my trip had a strong Argentinian menu, served along side an odd collection of seafood fare like fish and chips. Very odd joint and fairly expensive. The cocktails were potent and pretty good. The Bluegrass Bubbles which combined champagne, whiskey, sugar and lemon was a nice twist on the French 75.

FOOD ALLERGY BONUS: For those with food allergies they have a specific “Allergy Book” which lists all the items that could cause problems so you don’t have to worry about getting sick from an ignorant prep chef or waiter.

Goat cheese cheesecakeDinner – Steelhead Diner - OMG so TDF! One of my most expensive meals in a while, but also one of the best I’ve had in a long, long time. It all started with a spicy jalapeno martini and a selection of local raw oysters. The oysters were incredible! Each one was a different farm and each one was so divers. I can’t even describe how wonderful they were – I am without words. I followed that up with a cool glass of local brewed hefeweizen and a medium-rare slice of salmon. The fish was fresh and so well prepared. Then for the grand finale was a giant slice of local goat cheese cheesecake with honey comb and roasted hazelnuts. The honey was a perfect way to cut the rich, earthy goat cheese.

Vegan donuts from Mighty-O's in Seattle!!! Rings of blueberry, raspberry, French toast and other stuff I can't remember the name ofSnack/Dessert -Mighty-O Donuts – Completely vegan and organic donuts, only in Seattle! These cake donuts, topped with seasonal ingredients, are animal by-product-free, chemical preservatives-free, hydrogenated oil-free, coloring & artificial flavors-free and cholesterol-free. Being completely vegan makes them taste-tastic for the dairy-free foodie! Loved the seasonal fruity flavors like raspberry and blueberry. The crowd favorite is the French Toast and it was a cinnamon-y, sweet treat. I ate them over 2 days which made my belly have 2 days of sweet treats!
Blueberry donutRaspberry DonutFrench toast donutPB & chocolate donut

 

 

 

BTW – The featured picture at the top is the famous gum wall – looks gross and smells even grosser.

Permalink to Lactose-Free Foodie: Asheville, NC

Lactose-Free Foodie: Asheville, NC

by WanderSouth|on July 17, 2011 |in Asheville, Foodie, Lactose-Free Foodie, North Carolina |tagged , , , , , , , , , , |Leave a comment

On a recent trip to Asheville, NC, I was on a mission. I mission to eat delicious lactose-free dishes that I didn’t need to modify or ask for items to be left off. I wanted to live just like everyone else who doesn’t have to ask for something special and then critically check the dish before I dug in.

Here are my picks for having a great lactose-free trip in Asheville:

Breakfast – Sunny Point Cafe – This is the MGB (Mighty Good Breakfast) and, yes, it is mighty good. Egg prepared just as you like it, local nitrate-free sausage, herb tossed potatoes and a biscuit. While this meal is not vegan, Sunny Point says they can make any meal fit the bill upon request. With that said, I am happy I’m not vegan by choice. That sausage was incredible! If your breakfast needs to be a lot tipsy try the Mega Mimosa that is served in a pint-glass and is at least half champagne. It got a lot sloshy by the end of this meal even when I chased the mimosa with coffee. Yum, yum!

 

Lunch - 12 Bones - Now, this is how BBQ should be done. After a year in eastern North Carolina we have sampled a lot of the eastern Carolina vinegar-based pork. It’s good, but nothing tops a saucy, smokey pile of moist pig. Now, you can usually fare pretty well at a meat shack without dairy, the sides can get you in trouble. Beware of some coleslaws because some folks add ranch or other creams to the mix. I usually chance it, but have had painful results. On our maiden voyage to 12 Bones, I got a pulled pork sandwich, the best potato salad I’ve had in a long, long time, and the cucumber salad which I discovered after a few bites was studded with feta and I had to toss it. I also tried the mustard sauce which I would pass on next time. It’s was a grain mustard sauce and pretty strong. The tomato-based sauce that Brian got was sooooo much better!

Lunch – Chai Pani – Tasty, small plates that were not that tiny after all. Chai Pani is a great Indian street food joint with the illusive “v” markings on many of their plates. I find Indian food joints a hard place to find lac-safe foods. Indian dishes are often vegetarian, but also have lots of yogurt, cheeses and ghee to make them tasty which all spell disaster for my belly. Brian loves Indian so we usually go for buffets that I can see the dishes and look for the tell tale signs of dairy. At Chai Pani, I went a bit wild and ordered the vegan feast of behl puri, samosas. corn behl and fried okra which was WAY too much food even when I shared all of it with B. We did wash everything down with delicious Lime Rickys which were TDF (to die for) and the new summer official drink of BC/DC Ideas since it was so hot pink!

Veggie delight - Caribbean Jerk TofuDinner - Laughing Seed – A vegetarian’s paradise, this innovative restaurant does not serve any meat at all. For those that are lactose-sensitive beware of veggie restaurants. There is usually lots of cheese included in these healthy meals. Laughing Seed thankfully had the handy “v” for vegan dishes. I tried a Caribbean Jerk Tofu which was tasty enough, but I wish it had more spice. The beers were really tasty. I had a kölsch that was golden and refreshing!

 

 

Duck at The AdmiralDinner - The Admiral - This joint is the possible birthplace of the hipster. This restaruant is tiny, dark and filled with more tight jeans than a Panda Bear concert. Call ahead for reservations and make sure you go early in the evening before they run out of key ingredients (like their famous homemade ginger syrup!). This was a tougher place to be lactose-safe with tempting items like pimento-cheese grits taunting you on the menu. I settled on one of my foodie splurges of duck breast that had a side of a fried duck egg. Rich yumminess. Cut with a rye Manhattan, I felt right at home in this too cool dive.

 

Dessert – French Broad Chocolate Lounge – If you love good chocolate, prepare to go to heaven. French Broad is one of only two shops in the country that is lucky enough to carry Mast Brother’s chocolate, which my in-house chocolate aficionado Brian says is amazing. The chocolate bars are complex and multilayer experience of dark chocolate ecstasy. Along with the Mast bar, we got the Buddha Vegan truffle collection studded with fig, balsamic and ginger among other interesting flavors. Really amazing stuff. So worth the long line and pretty penny.

 

Special thanks to Leadership Asheville for inviting me out to speak at your breakfast series, and to my foodie friends Mary, Amy E, Amy B and Arik for your excellent recommendations!

 

Permalink to Asheville on a Whim

Asheville on a Whim

by WanderSouth|on April 24, 2011 |in Asheville, North Carolina |tagged , , , , , , , , |5 Comments
Asheville on a Whim

This wander should really all be credited to Brian. He surprised me in early April with a weekend trip to Asheville, North Carolina. Despite my controlling bitch ways, we had a wonderfully romantic weekend on a whim.

Tupelo Honey Sweet TeaAs we drove  into Asheville, a random search on Google Maps we came upon Tupelo Honey Cafe, which just happened to be one of the best new southern food joints in town. We supped at the chefs counter watching the kitchen staff as we enjoyed sweet tea, fried green tomatoes, a Fried Chicken BLT and a Charleston Chicken Sandwich with grilled chicken, Havarti and a tangy cranberry mayo. We finished with softball sized homemade biscuits slathered with some of the namesake Tupelo honey and blackberry jam.

At Tupelo’s, we also randomly ran into our friends that had moved from Denver to the Triangle area just a month before we did. It is this moment that puts me at ease for our weekend. I love randomly meeting familiar faces because it makes me feel that all the decisions that had lead up to that point were the right choices. This moment that unites past and present in s the sweetest of ways.

After roaming around the downtown area, we popped into cute shops like Dolce Vita filled with gifts and tempting jewelry and meandered among the craft booths at Grove Arcade.

After checking into our bed and breakfast the Black Mountain Inn, I needed to fulfill a vegan cupcake craving that had been nagging me for three weeks. It was satiated at Short Street Cakes with a chocolate chocolate delight. We found this bakery on a recommendation from a Asheville blogger Healthy Ashley.

Then on to an afternoon of art gallery viewing at the River Arts District. Much to our dismay, many of the studios were appointment only so we didn’t see much. (Which actually pissed me off – why be listed on an artist map if you can’t see their work. What is the point?!) Our favorite stop, which did result in a purchase, was at Asheville Glass Center which had live glass blowing demonstrations. FIRE – huuhh, huh – FIRE!

Wedge BreweryOur real goal for the afternoon was the Wedge Brew Company. Booze and art is always a good mix for the Furds. This awesome tap room serves nothing but beer and peanuts amongst a post-apocalyptic beer garden. Perched on a funky arty chair which spun in 360 degrees (much to my delight) we shared a pitcher of amber Payne’s Pale Ale. I also got to see a baby goat in the back of someone’s SUV and we met a beer drinking dog named Jack – his owner assured us that beer is an infrequent treat.

Taking the downtime to review our dinner choices. Brian tried to sneak a decision on me by asking what I wanted for dinner and I promptly reminded him “decision free weekend.” Brian found tasty choice in downtown Asheville. (Note: We had actually wanted to go to Tomato Conina Latina for a second time – we had forgotten that we tried to go here when we drove across country – and it is CLOSED despite its listing on Yelp – Asheville)

After getting seriously rock star parking in downtown Asheville, we stopping in a cuuuute shop Loft before dinner. Full of beer and peanuts we found this funky store beyond entertaining. Amongst the Fuck Book, Day of the Dead jewelry and a pursuit of a bath bomb (a phrase Brian found endlessly entertaining) we left with a fabulous new necklace for me and bath salts for the footed tub back at the B&B.

Sazerac cocktailOur dining destination was Sazerac a hip Creole restaurant with a oh la la modern interior. Two rounds of incredible cocktails later – honestly some of the best potent potables we’ve ever had. I sipped a classic Sazerac. Brian downed a Melpomene: Tragedy a magical mix of tequila, apple, lemon, ginger and garnished with a jalepeno slice. Food was good, but honestly not very filling. We had the Pan Seared Scallops and the Roasted Pork Loin.

Before heading home we stopped for quick photo opp with the farm animal sculptures in Pack Square.

Waking up on Sunday morning, we breakfasted with our B&B host with homemade cinnamon-y granola and quiche (or scrambled eggs for the lactose-free crowd). We also met a fellow house-guest who was from Atlanta, so friendly and fabulous. I love the South!

Then it was off to Biltmore Estate! I have wanted to visit the Biltmore Estate since I was in high school. I remember watching a special on HGTV way back in the day that toured America’s largest home and a Lowe’s gardening tips commercial series in the early 2000s. The beautiful gardens and home has held a magical place in my heart.

Our first stop was the Biltmore Estate for the self-guided tour. We walked the ornate rooms of the 1895 home. Beautifully restored fabrics, furniture and clothing were breathtaking. It strongly reminded us of Versailles in France, overly ornate and a monument to materialism. There was no photography allowed inside the home so you’ll just have to wander there yourself to see the luxuries!

Some wander well tips for y’all. Even in early April it was starting to get muggy inside the home. It was also a lot of walking, serious hikes around the house. Make sure to check the Biltmore’s Busy Day calendar – we went on a not so busy day and there were plenty of people.

Outside the gardens were just beginning to wake up. It was the start of the Festival of Flowers and the tulips were just opening. Honestly, we were too early for azaleas and most of the beautiful blooms. The Conservatory was in full bloom with orchids and other lovely tropical plants. One of my favorite vignettes were plants stuffed into the pockets of hard-sided luggage. Such a cute idea!

From there we ambled over to the Antler Hill Village and Winery for lunch at the Smokehouse in the Barn. Good pulled pork sandwiches on Texas Toast all washed down with a Cedric Brown Ale.

Biltmore SheepA highlight of our trip to Biltmore was the Barn Yard, I seriously heart farm animals. I have a secret fantasy of being a farm girl but I’m far to prissy to actually be a farmhand. Seriously, I can barely take care of my dog, so I can’t imagine taking care of farm animals. Regardless, I love petting farm animals.

Goats are some of the most affectionate farm animals of all time. Maybe they just know that I am thankful for their lactose-safe milk. Eeeek! And chickens! I love these little barnyard dinosaurs. They had fancy chickens at Biltmore with feathery feet and ones with no feathers on their head which Brian dubbed “land vultures.”

We then turned our wheels towards Raleigh. What a wonderful weekend. Whim it up people and make your way to Asheville!

Distance From Raleigh: Round about 4 hours – Get the map

See LOTS more photos from the trip on Flickr

Wander Well Tips:

  • Go Local – this is a creative community and it’s showcased in their food, art and flare
  • For the Biltmore Estate get your tickets in advance and check their calendar for Busy Days
  • Do happy hour at Sazerac, you will not be sad!

 

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