Endo Edibles

February 19, 2015
9:41 AM
by: Uhockey

Scratch, Durham NC

Scratch

Valrhona Chocolate Hand Pie

Peanut Butter Chess Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Buttermilk Biscuit

Chocolate Donut Muffin

Buttermilk Donut Muffin

Located directly across the street from Loaf, and actually the space where we indulged in many of the wood-fired bakeries goods, it was onward to Scratch that the three-stop breakfast progressed and not exactly a direct competitor to the spot across the street it was again to a vast number of goods I was tempted – the sugar pie unfortunately proving unset when the young clerk cut into it, but the other half-dozen selections showing a deft hand from the team working in the kitchen at back.

Admittedly a bit chilly, the weather outside just above 40F and the large glass windows doing little against the whipping wind outside the panes, it was perhaps a miscalculation on the part of the staff not to have turned on the heaters when they arrived but with both servers and patrons all bundled up against the elements it was still in a half-full café that selections were made, each item plated and delivered to the table up front where my mother and I sat.

Undoubtedly a place for pie, no less than nine varieties offered amidst a variety of cases both chilled and room temperature, it should come as no surprise that half of our order was comprised of these signatures but beginning first with a trio of items hot from the kitchen one would be hard pressed to call any of them less than excellent, the butter-brushed biscuit flaky and light while both ‘donut muffins’ were virtually oilless, a delicate crumb beneath the sugary topcoat with both the buttermilk and cocoa notes surprisingly restrained.

Onward to pie, at least in a way, suffice it to say that the rustic hand-pie trended far richer than did the aforementioned muffin and with a the center falling halfway between ganache and brownie each bite disappeared fast – the theme of richness assuredly carrying over to an all-natural banana cream pie using housemade yellow-cake crumble as a makeshift crust while the peanut butter imbued chess slice featured a hearty all-butter shell more than capable of standing up to pudding-moist filling that again scaled back the sweetness with just enough cornmeal to make the top crumbly and soft.

http://www.piefantasy.com/

Posted in Breakfast, Chapel Hill, Dessert, Durham, Food, North Carolina, Raleigh, Scratch, Vacation

February 19, 2015
9:04 AM
by: Uhockey

Loaf, Durham NC

Loaf

Double Baked Almond Croissant

Gougere

Kougin Amann

Pain au Chocolate & Peanut Butter

Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookie

Molasses Ginger Snap

Crispy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Chocolate Chip Torsade

Cinnamon Walnut Currant Scone

Featured as part two of a three bakery morning in Durham it was just after 8:30am that we entered the cozy confines of Loaf and with the smell of yeast, cinnamon, and vanilla mixing in a wave of smoking wood it was fortunate for the third stop that the Parrish Street bakery offers no indoor seating, for if they had we very well may have just stayed…or asked to move in.

At one time a Farmer’s Market staple, but now turned brick and mortar under the direction of a former neurobiology student whose love of baking led him to trade in brain studies for starch science, it was to a short line of locals that I was met on entry and taking this time to peruse the pastries I knew almost immediately that a large order would follow – a situation only worsened when I asked the woman behind the counter what was warm and fresh with the response entailing no less than a half-dozen items, all but one ordered along with some other interesting options to a total tally of nine.

Relocating elsewhere, if only due to the cold street outside, it was just moments after seating that the bag was unpacked and setting aside cooler items to focus on those most fresh it was unquestionably in the Almond Croissant that the tasting began, a thick shattering shell giving way to laminated layers and dense almond filling that wowed amidst all the butter, a Pain au Chocolate with an additional core of Peanut Butter showing equally well, though rich enough that sharing and coffee were a must.

Turning savory with a slightly deflated gougere, rich with cheese and sage amidst the soft core, it was back to sweets that attention turned and although the Kouign Amann proved just a touch too heavily salted atop the caramelized crown and substantially buttery core the still-warm scone and baton shaped torade were absolutely exemplary – the former more moist than most while the later was rich with dark chocolate chips still slightly molten on the tongue.

Finishing up with three cookies, each tasted later in the day when capacity was refound, suffice it to say that those fancying crispy cookies would be well advised to investigate the goods at Loaf because although I tend to prefer my baked goods more soft-set at the center it would be hard to say the Gingersnap, Chocolate Chip, or Oatmeal raisin were anything less than the best of their kind that I have ever found, each surprisingly less sweet than average with even the molasses imbued wafer finding its foil in the substantial use of spice, the smell of the bakery itself brought forth in each bite.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Loaf/102663859807344v

Posted in Breakfast, Chapel Hill, Croissant, Dessert, Durham, Food, Loaf, North Carolina, Raleigh, Vacation

February 19, 2015
8:14 AM
by: Uhockey

Monuts Donuts, Durham NC

Monuts Donuts

Americano

Apple Cider

Red Velvet

Coconut Dream

Chocolate Sea Salt

Lemon Pistachio

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Buttermilk Biscuit with Jam

Again waking early, with lots of ground to cover, it was back to Durham that we traveled and as the expected storm from the night prior had fizzled with businesses now back in full swing the first stop of the day was at recently relocated Monuts, a hip donut and bagel spot located on 9th Street already hopping as college students and kids off for a ‘snowday’ gathered around the bar of the sparsely decorated space.

Previously confined to a much smaller location in downtown Durham, but apparently gathering steam with recent national acclaim bestowed on the work of owners Robert Gillespie and Lindsay Moriarty by a number of online ‘lists,’ it was just after 8am that we traversed the hardwood floor en route to the counter and far larger than it appears from the outside it was after a short wait in line that tough choices were made, a sizable order totaling five donuts and a cookie while biscuits were baked fresh by the kitchen in back.

Priced at $1-$2, with the menu unveiled each morning by social media as nothing but the “Plain Glazed” is offered every day, it was in both yeasted as well cake options that the donut tasting was comprised and although the first taste of an Cider donut coated in cinnamon sugar proved dry and nearly devoid of apple flavor the quality of subsequent bites improved dramatically, the yeasted Lemon Pistachio and Coconut Dream Cake competing for top billing as neither was excessively sweet – the focus more on natural flavors with the latter tasting much like buttermilk strewn chess pie featured at Allen & Son, and all the better for it.

Largely underwhelmed by the cookie, as chocolate chips proved far too sweet amidst already sugary dough, it was with a smooth Americano in hand that the biscuit finally arrived and although not quite as fluffy as those found at Rise, Sunrise, or Beasley’s the golden brown squares still proved admirable – the addition of strawberry preserves and locally churned butter gilding the proverbial lily and well worth the fifty-cent charge.

http://www.monutsdonuts.com/

Posted in Breakfast, Chapel Hill, Coffee, Dessert, Durham, Food, Monuts, Monuts Donuts, North Carolina, Raleigh, Vacation

February 18, 2015
7:03 PM
by: Uhockey

ONE Restaurant, Chapel Hill NC

One Restaurant

Canapes – Mochi Donut with Lardo and Smoked Paprika, Red Miso Madelines with Wasabi Aioli, Buckwheat Sable with Cultured Butter and Bitter Radish

Pretzel Bread with Ember Imbued Butter

Heirloom Egg, Brussels Leaves, Charred Lemon, Carmelina, Venison Heart

Cauliflower Veloute – Black Truffle, Onion Petals, Gruyere Panna Cotta, Dried Plum

Asian Pear – Salted Egg, Green Goddess, Lettuce Hearts

Cheddar – Potato Skin Gnocchi, Green Apple, Mustard, Rutabaga

Lentils de Puy– Veal Sweetbreads, Watercress, Cippolini Onions, Charcoal Aioli

Quail – Caper BBQ, Radish, Avocado, Marinated Leeks

Hazelnut Butter – Heritage Farms Pork, Brassicas, Honey Poached Cranberries, Bone Marrow

Monkfish Like Chicken – Creamed Grits, Maitake Mushrooms, Claytonia, Kohlrabi, Schmaltz

Yuzu – Caramelized Banana, Popcorn Sherbet, Peanut Butter, Sorghum

Butter Cake – Cassis, Lemon, Blackberry & Cream, Spun Sugar

[ONE]Rocky Road – Late Harvest Peaches, Cocoa, Broken Mallow, Malted Barley

Apricot Marshmallow

Forced to move our reservation from 7:30pm to 6 o’clock due to inclement weather (or perhaps the staff’s desire to get home and watch the Tar Heels vs. Blue Devils game) it was just moments after our newly assigned time that my mother and I arrived at the sizable plaza housing One Restaurant and making our way into the restaurant as only the second diners seated it was to our choice of table that we were offered, a seat directly next to the open kitchen an obvious choice that provided great vantage and entertainment throughout the evening.

Considered by some to be The Triangle’s best restaurant, with Chefs Floresca and Ryan both well trained and heavily lauded by press both local and throughout the United States for their use of local produce alongside modernist technique to create flavors spanning the globe, it was with the friendly yet formal sort of service seen at Michelin Rated spaces in much larger cities that menus were presented and after brief discussion of prix-fixe with supplements versus the spontaneous tasting menu it was in the former we invested, a mis-served plate along with two four-course options plus supplements, amuses, and mignadises totaling a substantial amount of exquisite cuisine for less than $180 out-the-door.

No doubt a chef-centric space, the kitchen on gleaming full display with a team of at least fifteen hard at work, it was with three savory canapés followed by top notch pretzel bread and ash-infused butter that the meal began and although one of our trio of starters was originally delivered mistakenly the result was a tasting of all four, the chilled unset sous-vide egg with cured venison heart and velvet cauliflower soup with sweet and savory notes beneath a veil of truffles impressive while the gnocchi was a roller coaster of textures and flavor, the dumplings tender and smoky alongside simply boiled rutabaga plus crisp apples topped by a sauce of well balanced spicy notes melding everything together into a intensely flavored mélange.

Opting for two items from the second course, as well as two entrée-sized options from section three, it would be hard to name a best plate amongst the quartet and with each protein prepared perfectly amidst divergent accoutrements the use of ‘umami’ was a consistent theme across the board – onions and ash balancing out the creamy funk of sweetbreads with capers and leeks doing the same to for smoked quail, the mains trending slightly more briny thanks to the tableside addition of rich sauces with the pork lightly sweetened by cranberries and the flaky fish imbued with an unexpected fattiness from schmaltz but well balanced by bitters and earth.

Told that desserts should not be missed by more than one person I know and trust, it was in a trio that the meal would end, and although both the popped sorghum and banana dish as well as the elegant sugar-topped rod of black currant and cream atop buttery cake were indeed delicious it was the signature Rocky Road that stole the show, each spoonful and rearrangement revealing new flavors and textures with juicy peaches playing hide-and-seek beneath flavors at various times rich, mild, bitter, and sweet.

Home | [ONE] Restaurant

Posted in Bread Basket, Chapel Hill, Dessert, Durham, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, North Carolina, ONE Restaurant, Pork, Raleigh, Sweetbreads, Truffle, Vacation

February 18, 2015
4:07 PM
by: Uhockey

Allen & Son Bar-B-Que, Chapel Hill NC

Allen & Son Bar-B-Que

Chopped Pork Plate with Sweet Slaw and Hush Puppies

Quarter Smoked Chicken

Coconut Chess Pie

Pecan Pie with Housemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Located alongside a rural road on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, with unequivocal praise received from those in the know about Eastern Carolina ‘cue, it was at the off-hour of 3:00pm that we stopped in to Allen & Son Bar-B-Que and finding only three other patrons present amidst the cozy confines all it took was one sniff to tell that the space was legit, the scent of burning wood and roasting pork detectable even before we crossed the threshold of the door.

Divided into two rooms, each speckled with old-time trinkets, taxidermy and pigcentric décor as the small kitchen and prep-station sit alongside the back corner of the space, it was mere moments after entering that a middle-aged woman suggested a table and leaving menus while gathering drinks a few specials were recited from memory, our shared selection eschewing both while opting for the restaurants signature items plus a few sweets to follow.

Waiting just a few minutes for our order, the time spent listening to overhead speakers piping in folksy tunes, it was unsurprisingly a large amount of food that arrived on two plates and at a mere $9.25 for the Pork Tray with $6.10 for the added half chicken one would be hard-pressed to name a better value for just over fifteen bucks, the pulled pig lightly tinged in vinegar with plenty of crisp skin adding texture while the juicy bird was slathered in tangy sauce, both proving a delightful pairing to sweetly dressed cabbage as well as crispy cornbread balls.

Still with desserts from Rose’s Meat Market and Sweet Shop in the car, but unable to resist a large list of house-baked cakes and pies offered at $3-$4 each, it was with tough decisions omitting bread pudding and sweet potato pie that a trio was eventually selected, the pecan pie toasty and warm next to a ball of mildly flavored housechurned ice cream while both the signature pound cake, teaming with cream cheese, and exceptionally smooth coconut chess pie were the sort of desserts I’d hoped for throughout North Carolina, though in reality anything close to such quality proved hard to find.

Posted in Allen & Son, Allen & Son Bar-B-Que, Chapel Hill, Dessert, Durham, Food, Ice Cream, North Carolina, Pork, Raleigh, Vacation

February 18, 2015
2:18 PM
by: Uhockey

Rose’s Meat Market & Sweet Shop, Durham NC

Rose’s Meat Market & Sweet Shop

Bourbon Pecan Macaron

Chocolate Buttermilk Cupcake

Chewy Double Chocolate Cookie

Chocolate Sea Salt Tart

Rustic Apple Almond Galette

Exiting the Nasher Museum, where an unexpected Miro exhibit had just left me as enthralled as ever by the surrealists work, it was onward to Rose’s that our tour of Durham progressed and although the Restaurant within a Meat Market was unfortunately sold out of their clever shirts while sausages, charcuterie, and afternoon ramen were not particularly what I desired the “Sweet Shop” portion was very well stocked, a duo of young ladies preparing even more pastries while hipster butchers chopped meats, scooped noodles, and called out orders over the din of diners and the stereo above.

Small in size, limited in parking, and mostly stripped down in décor with a few seats located along racks lined with dry goods for purchase it was immediately on entry that a young man greeted me and taking a few minutes to peruse the goods before chatting with the pastry team about what was best it was a few minutes more before a small order was crafted, each item boxed individually and taken outside for enjoyment later – the bourbon pecan macaron with a crackling shell sublimating to light boozy notes a lone exception in that it never even made it to the car.

Waiting until later that afternoon, a post-lunch/pre-dinner snack, it was with coffee at a local shop that the rest of the goods from Rose’s were unboxed and beginning with a galette whose quality far outperformed the tart at Guglhupf in filling, texture, and flaky golden crust the tasting quickly progressed to the ‘chewy’ Double Chocolate Cookie which seemed almost entirely flourless yet surprisingly ‘light,’ a sentiment not at all appropriate for the sea salt speckled tart whose every bite packed a smooth wallop of cocoa just barely held in check by the buttery crust containing a dish that is definitely best shared…with beverage of choice in hand.

Certainly not getting any less intense with progressive bites it was after a small respite, as snow again began to fall, that the heavily recommended cupcake was unwrapped and with texture something like a just-set pudding rife with buttermilk beneath a substantial layer of chocolate ganache it can only be said that this must-order item is not for the slight of heart, a few bites more than enough to satiate most appetites while even the most steadfast chocoholic would have difficulty finishing a whole one in a single sitting, coffee or milk or not.

http://rosesmeatandsweets.com/

Posted in Chapel Hill, cupcakes, Dessert, Durham, Food, Macaroon, North Carolina, Raleigh, Rose’s Meat Market, Rose’s Meat Market & Sweet Shop, Vacation

February 18, 2015
12:24 PM
by: Uhockey

Pizzeria Toro, Durham NC

Pizzeria Toro

Suppli al Telefono – Piedmont Chanterelles, Mozzarella

Ricotta Dumplings – Walnuts, Pittsboro Pumpkin

San Marzano Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella, Basil

Considered by many to be Durham’s best pizza, and by some as the best Neapolitan Pie in the State of North Carolina, it was after touring the Duke Campus and witnessing K-Ville first hand that we stopped in to Pizzeria Toro and although service seemed to be exceedingly preoccupied with something going on behind closed doors despite several full tables in the restaurant at the beginning of service it would be hard to call the cuisine itself anything less than exemplary.

Owned and operated by locals, but twice plagued by fires that almost led to the restaurant closing its doors, Pizzeria Toro has now been reopened for just six months and with the woodfired oven since retooled it should seem obvious that pizzas are under close surveillance from the pizzaiolos yet with several salads, soups, and antipasti to tempt it was actually the latter that constituted 2/3 of our order – the predisposed service unfortunately ignoring the kitchen’s requests for delivery and thus causing me to stand up and deliver my own order after six minutes of cooling, the move so obvious it drew looks from other customers and an apology from the young woman responsible with both items omitted from our tab when the bill arrived later.

Thankfully unaffected by the delay, at least from what I can gather, it was first in the tender dumplings that we each sunk our teeth and with both the pumpkin and pasta similar in texture with the gourd far more sweet it was the combination of walnuts and pecorino that brought the dish to new heights, each balanced bite showing a deft hand in the kitchen while the arancini was no less impressive, replacing traditional meat filling with aromatic mushrooms in buttery rice fortified by creamy mozzarella.

Overhearing from a nearby table that dessert was ‘unfortunately not available,’ for reasons undisclosed, it was not long before the piece de resistance emerged from the oven and, with far more attention to service at this point, the hot pie was brought tableside no less than 30 seconds later with crust still smoking and milky mozzarella bubbling hot, the overall texture slightly more ‘set’ at the center than a true Neapolitan but the flavors no less impressive as charred crust with just enough spring proved substantial enough to support bright San Marzanos without a bit of added sweetness and just enough salt and basil to make the flavors pop.

http://www.pizzeriatoro.com/

Posted in Chapel Hill, Durham, Food, Italian, North Carolina, Pizza, Pizzeria Toro, Raleigh, Vacation

February 18, 2015
9:37 AM
by: Uhockey

Guglhupf, Durham NC

Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie

Guglhupf

Almond Croissant

Chocolate Chip Cookie / Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Rustic Apple Almond Tart

Baguette French Toast with 100% Virginia Maple Syrup and Roasted Apples

Continuing onward into Durham the second stop on a long day of eating saw us arrive at the icy driveway of Guglhupf and although the scene outdoors was besmirched in snow the cozy confines of the two-story restaurant and attached bakery couldn’t have been more welcoming, the pleasant servers in each nothing but smiles and recommendations that made one want to order almost everything available – a half-dozen items rounding out our selections still proving to be far too much.

Rustic in décor and decidedly European in feel it was just after 8:30 that we entered the divine smelling space, and with my mother grabbing a table while I gathered provisions it would not be long before the lone kitchen item arrived, a custard-rich quartet of thick cut baguette slices draped in apple softened in cinnamon and butter with a sidecar of pure maple syrup sweetening the deal for a mere $7, each bite offering a bit of crunch over a milky center at a price that left me frustrated with every restaurant that takes the low road with inferior bread and Aunt Jemima.

Largely underwhelmed by an almond croissant that was far too sweet from the use of confectioner’s sugar and far too much frangipane it was onward to the rustic apple tart that our tasting progressed and with an all-butter crust at the base of cinnamon apples and almonds each bite was a study in contrasts, the creamy center and crisp crust on one hand with toasty notes and natural fructose on the other.

Unfortunately finding a duo of cookies to be a bit too crisp for my own personal tastes, while the sugar to butter ratio trended a touch to sweet for my mother, it was with the restaurant’s eponymous item that our breakfast concluded and opting for a ‘small’ loaf that was first sliced at the table and then picked at throughout the day it should only be said that the sizable Austrian bundt is every bit worthy its ‘signature’ status, each yeasty bite featuring subtle citrus tones beneath the crunchy caster sugar exterior while raisins, nuts, and other dried fruits punctuated the experience with explosive bits of flavor amidst all the wispy eggs, flour, and butter.

Guglhupf

Posted in Bread Basket, Breakfast, Chapel Hill, Croissant, Dessert, Durham, Food, French Toast, Guglhupf, Guglhupf Bakery & Patisserie, North Carolina, Raleigh, Vacation

February 18, 2015
8:31 AM
by: Uhockey

Rise Biscuits and Donuts, Durham NC

Rise Biscuits and Donuts

Coffee

Fried Chicken Biscuit

Virginia Ham Biscuit

King Cake Donut

Crème Brulee Donut

Apple Fritter

Coconut Cream Snowball

Pomegranate and Vanilla Pastry Cream Cronie

Making up for lost time, and moreso lost meals, thanks to the previous day’s snow it was after an early alarm followed by a long run that we left for Durham and arriving at the small stripmall housing Rise just after 7am we were greeted with smiling faces, lovely smells, and even a small crowd of folks gathered around the restaurant’s small bar already indulging in items both savory and sweet.

Cited by some resources as the best biscuits in town, and by others as The Triangle’s best spot for donuts, it was to a full assortment of both that we arrived and more than happy to give into temptation five donuts were selected with freely refillable house-blend coffee serving to warm us up while waiting for hot biscuits fresh from the small kitchen in back.

Decorated with pictures, shirts, and items from landmark doughnutteries around the United States, with a kids play area close to the restroom it back, it was just five minutes before biscuits were delivered and paying an extra 50-cents for honey it would be hard to argue with any of the exaltations as both fluffy buttermilk rounds were absolute masterworks while both the crispy chicken and smoky ham were sizable in portion and well matched to the fluffy base.

Moving next to pastry, and beginning light before moving to heavier tastes, it was in the glistening-topped crème brûlée that the tasting began and with creamy insides substantial in portion the same would be found in the cream-pie harkening snowball, an extremely subtle take on the Hostess favorite that was all the better for showing such restraint.

Onward to the Mardi Gras themed option, a toothsome cake donut topped with colorful frosting that tasted of sweetened cream cheese, it was next in the ‘cronie’ croissant-donut that we partook and with my dining buddy having never experienced the hybrid dish before her amusement was warranted, the pomegranate and cream version well laminated and light while the large, sugar-slathered apple fritter was anything but – the stewed apples amidst a soft crumb entirely greaseless, though unfortunately lacking in the pastry’s expected exterior crunch.

http://risebiscuitsdonuts.com/

Posted in Breakfast, Chapel Hill, Coffee, Dessert, Durham, Food, North Carolina, Pork, Raleigh, Rise, Rise Biscuits and Donuts, Vacation

February 17, 2015
1:27 PM
by: Uhockey

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, Cary NC

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen

Sesame Bread with Kerrygold butter

Buttermilk-Fried Green Tomatoes with blue cheese sauce, bacon and Voodoo Sauce

Fried Mill of Guilford Grit Cake

Boudreaux’s Boudin Balls – housemade pork and rice sausage, fried to a crisp, with remoulade

Local Pulled Pork on Johnny Cakes – Heritage Farms pulled pork with Voodoo Sauce, whipped sweet potatoes

Cornbread and pot liquor

Shrimp & Grits – wild-caught American shrimp, andouille sausage, onions and Tasso ham gravy over Old Mill of Guilford grits

Larry’s Cold Brew Coffee

White Chocolate-Banana Bread Pudding served with vanilla ice cream and warm “Foster” sauce

Buttermilk Pie with strawberry coulis

Complete with a farmer’s market grab-n’-go station near the door with a focus on fresh, local ingredients and sustainability it was for early dinner that we stopped into Lucky 32 on the day a storm shut down most of Raleigh and although the restaurant itself was only as full as the 1/10 capacity game at PNC arena to follow the servers, kitchen, and staff were spot-on during our leisurely two-hour stay while the menu featured no lack of Southern Comfort, at all.

Large in size and somewhat ‘commercial’ feeling in décor, the space clearly designed for some sort of chain restaurant in the past, it was just moments after presenting to the hostess stand that seating was obtained and requesting a four top booth in view of the kitchen a long glass window divided us from the modestly adorned bar, our server one of only two working between both rooms but no diner ever for lack as the smiling fellow amused with anecdotes about weather in the South.

Offering several restaurant signatures alongside a ‘seasonal’ menu set to a Mardi Gras theme it was with some indecision that we perused Lucky 32’s several offerings and eventually deciding on two appetizers, two mains, and a trio of sides a basket of bread that tasted strangely like fresh-popped corn was delivered – the light toasty notes so improved by Kerrygold butter that a second basket, this time warm, was also requested with even better results.

Expediting the order slowly, as per our request, it was after perhaps twenty minutes that appetizers arrived and digging into the tender sausage balls first the tongue was treated to a whole lot of spice amongst the soft center while remoulade was a touch too mustard-tinged and largely unnecessary for such a flavorful dish.

Joining the boudin, and proving an even more impressive starter, the first Fried Green Tomatoes of the trip were served with a virtually oilless crunch and where the other appetizer had unfortunately been overwhelmed by its sauce the crispy stack of tomatoes was instead complimented by the briny bacon, blue, and tangy “voodoo sauce” that topped it – the signature sauce, which is also sold in bottles, proving equally complimentary to a creamy cake of grits technically offered as a ‘side’ but more than ample enough to be ordered as starter itself.

At this point sitting, chatting, and listening to the music played overhead as the dining room slowly found a few more souls willing to brave the ‘snow’ it was perhaps thirty minutes after appetizers were finished that main courses arrived and with the plump shrimp swimming in smoky pork gravy spiked with spicy sausage atop creamy grits the Creole influence was greatly appreciated, the tablemate of pulled pork atop a supple Johnnycake trending far more Southeast with sides of cornbread a bit dry until dunked in savory pot liquor while creamy sweet potatoes were smooth as silk, each bite offering a refreshing juxtaposition to the tangy roast pig.

Unable to resist dessert, but limiting our order to just two despite at least four sounding great, it was with a tall glass of locally roasted cold brew from Larry’s that the plates were enjoyed and, although the big slice of buttermilk pie atop strawberry sauce was a study in texture and balanced tang amidst sweet, the bread pudding was perhaps the best dessert tasted in the state of North Carolina, two thick wedges loaded with banana bathed in boozy butter with a big ball of icecream alongside, all for six bucks.

Home

Posted in Bread Basket, Cary, Chapel Hill, Coffee, Dessert, Durham, Food, Ice Cream, Lucky 32, Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, North Carolina, Pancakes, Pork, Raleigh, Vacation

February 17, 2015
9:11 AM
by: Uhockey

Joule Coffee, Raleigh NC

Joule Coffee

Baroida – Papua New Guinea V60 Pourover

Cinnamon Roll

Banana Date Muffin

Snickerdoodle

Croissant French Toast with pure Virginia Butter and Maple Syrup

Ashe County Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuit

Grits with Cheddar

Frustrated by the closure of nearly every restaurant in Raleigh, including every single barbecue spot worthy of critical acclaim, it was once again in Ashley Christensen that faith was placed for early lunch and although mostly empty thanks to the weather warnings playing non-stop on television and radio the trip to Joule Coffee was every bit worth the careful drive as each item tasted was amongst the city’s best, even if our hipster-chick server seemingly could not have cared less

Obviously the sort of place targeting trendy clientele, the stripped down décor with tiled ceiling and exposed pipe seemingly lifted from any coffee bar in Brooklyn or The Mission, it was mere moments after self-seating that a menu was dropped off and speaking as though she were a ventriloquist in a library the days pastries were quickly summarized, a trio to start us off while the kitchen worked on hot items and the barista tended to a steaming pour-over of cocoa and syrup accented brew.

Always the sort to fancy sweet over savory, particularly as the breakfast menu was still offered on our arrival prior to 11pm lunch, it was a sticky cinnamon roll and buttery Snickerdoodle that the indulgence began and although deciding which of these items was better would be a chore neither of them came close to the stunning date-sweetened banana muffin, an absolute bargain considering heft, texture, and flavor at a mere three dollars.

Eating slowly as we sipped coffee and chatted about how exactly to spend the intervening hours before a Hurricanes game against the Isles when nearly everything was closed it would not be long before another three plates arrived tableside and opting for two savories alongside one sweet the quality of each item was every bit on par with the pastries already enjoyed, a batter-dipped croissant fried golden crisp with a sidecar of pure maple syrup worthy of ‘destination dish’ status while the fluffy biscuit and creamy grits, both decorated with cheddar, were also must orders – my grit-loving mother claiming that the sizable $5 bowl was perhaps the best she had ever tasted.

http://ac-restaurants.com/joule/

Posted in Breakfast, Chapel Hill, Coffee, Croissant, Dessert, Durham, Food, French Toast, Joule Coffee, North Carolina, Raleigh, Vacation

February 17, 2015
7:34 AM
by: Uhockey

La Farm Bakery, Cary NC

La Farm Bakery

Granola, Pound Cake, Pimento Cheese, Ciabatta, Whole Wheat, Brownie Samples

King Cake Samples

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Individual King Cake

Almond Croissant

Cream Cheese Danish

Mixed Berry Scone

Warned to stay at our hotel by everyone including the Governor of North Carolina due to ‘dangerous’ road conditions, but really seeing nothing out of the ordinary compared to a typical Fat Tuesday in the Midwest, it was after an early morning treadmill half-marathon that several restaurants were called and although several were indeed closed due to the snow and ice a pleasant young lady picked up at La Farm Bakery – a slow and steady 35MPH drive arriving us safely at the wonderful smelling restaurant’s doors just after 8:30 with only two other patrons sipping coffee as a full staff bustled about doing their duties and offering up samples from which we gladly partook.

Celebrated both locally and nationally by several publications as one of The Triangle’s best boulangeries, and all the better on a day during which Mardi Gras King Cake was offered at a 2-for-1 deal, it was only after wandering the store’s ingredient and accessories section that an order was crafted and treated to even more samples at the counter a half dozen pastries were bagged to go along with one mug of locally roasted coffee and a cups of house-made peach tea.

Happy to find laminated pastries still oven-warm it was with little hesitation that I dove into the split, double baked almond croissant and although the arching structure was slightly less wispy than the best of the best one couldn’t help but smile at the all-natural filling or crackling golden shell, a bite of the cream cheese danish showing a similar sort of texture with smooth filling just barely set and ever so slightly sweetened.

Unfortunately underwhelmed by a scone that was full of fresh berries but just a tad too dry to be properly enjoyed without butter, jam, or clotted cream it was onward to the cookies that our tasting progressed and although my mother felt both items were overly sweetened I personally found the flavor balance to be on point, the crispy rim and soft center undeniably textbook regardless of preferences for sugar versus butter.

Having already sampled a slice of King Cake, the egg-bread base impressively light beneath its sugar and sprinkle lacquered shell, it was simply impossible to justify the purchase of a whole ring for $15.99 as the cost would have netted our duo two-for-the-price-of-one, and pointing this out to the young man behind the counter I was pointed to the offering of “King Cake Minis,” technically baked by the dozen for parties but gifted to us free of charge topped by a golden baby and twirl of beads with a texture and taste identical to the whole cakes and almost as excellent as the traditional version found in Haydel’s, though not quite as superlative as their non-traditional iteration piped with praline filling.

https://www.lafarmbakery.com/

Posted in Breakfast, Cary, Chapel Hill, Croissant, Dessert, Durham, Food, La Farm Bakery, North Carolina, Raleigh, Vacation

February 16, 2015
7:27 PM
by: Uhockey

Poole’s Downtown Diner, Raleigh NC

Poole’s Downtown Diner

Hook’s 3-Year Pimento Cheese with Crostini

Macaroni au Grautin

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Thyme

Lobster & Dumplings – Potato Gnocchi, Stewed Tomatoes, Butter Beans, Ginger Butter

Lime Madeline Cake with Roasted Pineapple and Coconut Cream

Exiting Beasley’s with full bellies and snow now blowing in the street it was much to my mother’s dismay that I suggested a visit to Poole’s Downtown Diner was non-negotiable considering our otherwise packed dining agenda, and although the roads were a bit slick while ordering was limited the visit turned out to be largely worth the effort – particularly as nearly every place in town was closed the following day causing us to miss out on two previously planned meals.

Open since 2007, and consistently one of the city’s most jammed-packed and desirable dining destinations, it was just after 8pm that we stepped through the walk-in-only space’s doors and finding the Christmas-light strewn room no more than one-quarter filled a sizable four-top was offered halfway between bar and kitchen, our lovely young server briefly highlighting the chalkboard menu before leaving us to make tough decisions, an eventual order of one appetizer, two sides, and a main slowly trickling forth from the kitchen as per our request.

Treated to sounds of the late 60s and 70s while we waited for our food and perused the room, suffice it to say that the ‘diner’ layout and lack of fanciful flatware is really the only indication that Poole’s is truly a ‘diner’ and with a menu decorated in several luxury ingredients the first bites of the evening were enjoyed in the form of Hook’s 3-year Cheddar converted to sharp pimento spread served alongside copious crostini, each bite offering plenty of spice and great texture with a portion easily sharable by a group of four, the ‘signature’ elbow macaroni baked to golden brown potentially capable of feeding even more considering both the size and richness as tender noodles teamed with several cheeses ranging from surprisingly-sharp to milky-mild.

Largely underwhelmed by mains, the majority more ‘French brasserie’ than upscale southern, it was eventually on the Lobster & Dumplings that we decided and although the crustacean itself was a fine example the broth itself was far too tomato-y while gnocchi ‘dumplings’ were overcooked and rubbery, the ginger butter and beans helping to prop up an otherwise poorly executed plate outshined by a simple side of roasted sweet potatoes tinged in honey and thyme.

Equally uninspired by a dessert menu that struck both of us as far less fun than the quartet tasted at Beasley’s it was with good fortune our server immediately suggested the Madeline-cake I’d been eyeing when asked for her opinion and although not particularly “North Carolina” specific in the least both members of the table were taken aback by the warm almond flour base tinged with citrus atop key-lime curd and topped with pineapple chips plus a dollop of reference standard coconut cream – each bite a study in tropical balance, and particularly ironic given the brewing ice storm outside.

http://ac-restaurants.com/pooles/

Posted in Chapel Hill, Dessert, Durham, Food, Gnocchi, Lobster, Madeline, North Carolina, Poole’s Downtown Diner, Raleigh, Vacation

February 16, 2015
5:09 PM
by: Uhockey

Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, Raleigh NC

Beasley’s Chicken and Honey

Crispy Cheese Grit Fries with Chow Chow and Malt Aoili

Fried Chicken and Waffles with Honey

Chicken Pot Pie with Milk Gravy and Cornmeal Crust

Ashe County Cheddar Pimento Mac & Cheese Custard

Buttermilk Biscuits with Butter and Honey

Shaker Lemon Pie

Red Velvet Cake

Spiced Apple Biscuit Bread Pudding

Chocolate Chess Pie

With inclement weather shutting down much of Raleigh as early as 4:00pm and dinner at Stanbury cast aside before we even arrived by a sign in the window citing employee safety as a reason to keep doors closed it was with a quick re-route that part of Tuesday’s lunch plans became Monday’s first dinner and with the sort of snow that makes a native Ohioan chuckle despite slowing North Carolina traffic to a grind our arrival at Beasley’s Chicken and Honey was greeted by a near empty dining room and service that can only be described as fawning given the fact that for more than half of our meal we were the only persons in house.

Owned and operated by Ashley Christensen, a self-trained and Beard Awarded chef largely responsible for much of Downtown Raleigh’s recent culinary renaissance since opening Poole’s Diner in 2007, Beasley’s Chicken and Honey is the sort of place where upscale décor meets Deep South service to compliment the fare and with the entire menu published on three different chalk-boards our biggest difficulty was deciding where to draw the line, particularly with plans for Poole’s scheduled for later that same night.

Happy to over-order, but using our hirsuit server as a sounding board to be sure we weren’t biting off far more than we could chew, it was with the statement of ‘it’s a lot, but not a ton’ that an appetizer, two entrees, and two sides were ordered…though the later addition of all four desserts did indeed elicit a “really?” despite the total bill tallying a mere $65 for what was indeed a whole lot of food.

Expedited in service as a result of the empty room it was just moments after ordering that a Jenga-stack of ‘fries’ arrived and although both chow-chow and aioli were nicely prepared neither was especially necessary, the sharp cheddar notes and creamy grits beneath a golden shell damn near perfect on their own, a similar sentiment applicable to the follow-up sides of glistening biscuits lacquered in honey butter and a slab of steaming pimento cheese custard that may have benefited from a bit more browning, though both the spice and smooth texture were quite pleasant served just as it was.

Speaking to the entrees, it was admittedly tough to take a pass on the pork shoulder meatloaf, but opting to instead to focus on the restaurant’s eponymous item the reward was two superlative plates of chicken, the crisply fried brined bird atop a supple waffle only improved by locally sourced honey while the cornmeal crusted pot pie was absolutely brimming with pulled meat and fresh vegetables bathed in thick gravy, each bite compelling another until I was wiping the bowl clean with the last bits of biscuit while wondering how such a ‘simple’ dish managed to be so much better than versions served elsewhere North or South.

Having already mentioned how our dessert indecision led to a ‘one of each’ order, it was thankfully after a fifteen minute respite that our sweet quartet arrived and beginning with the piping hot bread pudding I immediately swooned, the buttermilk biscuit base proving a perfect backdrop to freshly stewed apples while whipped cream and cinnamon caramel sauce added restrained sweetness, a similar ‘not too sugary’ situation found in the cocoa-rich, cream cheese frosted Red Velvet Cake as well as the intensely rich slice of Chocolate Chess while the lemon-rind spiked Shaker pie was almost unimaginably creamy and defiantly sour, the latter two both plates best shared…though considering the quality of the all-butter crust one may not want to, no matter how full.

http://ac-restaurants.com/beasleys/

Posted in Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, Bread Pudding, Chapel Hill, Dessert, Durham, Food, Raleigh, Vacation, Waffles

February 16, 2015
12:43 PM
by: Uhockey

Skylight Inn, Ayden NC

Skylight Inn

Chopped Pork

Slaw

Cornbread

Located in Ayden North Carolina, a town of just under 5000, and serving up what many have called the best North Carolina style whole pig barbecue since it was known as Pete Jones BBQ one could say that Skylight Inn is one of those places that needs to be experienced in order to be understood, and traveling to Raleigh from Virginia Beach “The Capital of Barbecue” turned out to be everything that was promised – all along a small residential roadside, beneath a white dome, with fields and a collard greens stand nearby.

Small in size, with rickety tables and modest décor consisting largely of local photos and a few awards, our arrival at Skylight Inn occurred just steps behind a small party of locals as well as officers from the State Highway Patrol, and waiting our turn in line as country music was interrupted by the “chop, chop, chop” of cleavers behind the counter the ordering process was simple – one plate of chopped pork beneath a layer of slaw and savory cornbread, two unsweetened teas, and another wedge of cornbread bagged to go.

Featuring Chicken on weekends, and ribs as well as porkrinds in limited quantities, but largely focused on the old adage “do one thing and do it right,” it should probably go without saying that with 50+ years in the business and crowds gathering for such a small menu the pork is indeed “destination worthy” meat and with light vinegar notes pleasantly balanced by the sweet slaw an ample amount of crispy skin adds plenty of crunch and brine to each bite while the protein itself is smooth, supple, and moist without being ‘wet,’ a similar statement applicable to the toothsome cornbread which features a slight flex before it breaks – a best bite made by a drizzle of Texas Pete, a bit of slaw, and plenty of meat eaten sandwich style between a halved slice.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skylight-Inn-Pete-Jones-BBQ/

Posted in Ayden, Chapel Hill, Cornbread, Durham, Food, North Carolina, Pork, Raleigh, Skylight Inn, Vacation

February 16, 2015
9:05 AM
by: Uhockey

Dough Joe’s, Virginia Beach VA

Dough Joe’s

Red Velvet Cream Cheese

Bavarian Cream

Triple Chocolate

Strawberry Sprinkle

Apple Pie

French Toast

Sea Salted Caramel

Exiting Pocahontas Pancakes with a three hour drive to Ayden ahead it was just a short jaunt to a space I’d noticed when leaving Tautog’s two days prior that saw us gather provisions for the road, and although somewhat new and still finding their footing both locals and tourists should take notice as Dough Joe’s may just be not only the best hidden gem in the Virginia Beach, but also the best donut shop in whole area considering the mediocrity of Duck Donuts and closing of Paradise downtown.

Every bit a mom n’ pop operation, with limited parking an issue being worked out according to the young female owner who took my order and offered me a “baker’s half dozen” at the price of six for coming out in the cold, Dough Joe’s is currently a cake-only operation with several pre-made signatures as well as made-to-order options on offer to those willing to wait, and opting to sample only those items concocted by the team behind the fryers one would be hard pressed to name a single sub-par bite amongst the seven donuts sampled – a first bite ofrich Red Velvet topped with subtly sweet cream cheese proving moist yet virtually greaseless, accordingly making it difficult to hold off on sampling the rest until later in the day.

Eventually finding the willpower to resist further indulgence only after finishing off the sliced-and-filled Bavarian Cream in the car it was four hours later, after lunch at Skylight Inn in Ayden, that the other five donuts were enjoyed and with each still proving fresh baked in texture despite traveling across state the only questions were where to start and which was best – the French Toast a cinnamon dusted masterpiece while the Sprinkled Strawberry was perhaps the best “Simpson’s” style donut I’ve tasted to date beneath frosting that was surprisingly natural in flavor with sprinkles adding not only texture but their expected sugary spin.

Moving onward to heavier flavors, it was the Sea Salt sprinkled caramel that was sampled and with sweet and savory notes playing quite nicely on the tongue a followup of “Apple Pie” filled with cinnamon spiced apples was equally well balanced, a topping of soft streusel ample with butter serving as an ample foil to sucrose while the bittersweet “Triple Chocolate” required no such thing, each rich bite simply calling out for coffee or perhaps a tall glass of cold milk, to compliment the lightly fried ring.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dough-Joes/341210809377375

Posted in Breakfast, Dessert, Dough Joe's, Food, Norfolk, Vacation, Virginia, Virginia Beach

February 16, 2015
7:20 AM
by: Uhockey

Pocahontas Pancakes, Virginia Beach VA

Pocahontas Pancakes

Coffee

Buttermilk Biscuits

Three Layer French Toast – Original Recipe French Toast, Strawberries, Pecans, Bananas, Syrup, Cinnamon, Powdered Sugar, Whipped Cream

Monte Cristo – Original Recipe French Toast, Turkey Breast, Smoked Virginia Ham, Melted Swiss, Jam with Hash Browns

Pecan Buttermilk Pancakes

Decidedly touristy with a theme of questionably good taste and a location on Atlantic Avenue just feet from the shore of Virginia Beach, it was on the way out of the State of Virginia en route to North Carolina that a stop at Pocahontas Pancakes was planned, and finding the restaurant only 1/8 full on a particularly chilly February day with snow in the forecast it was mere moments after entry that we were seated at a large four-top, the visage of Native Americans looking forth from the walls, tapestries, wooden figures, and even tables throughout the space.

Themed to a fault, with a teepee serving as a waiting area and restrooms designated “Braves” and “Princesses” it was almost a surprise that waitresses were not decorated in feathers and face-paint but with branded cups filled frequently with piping hot coffee of surprisingly good quality one couldn’t help but smile at a menu featuring several personal favorites – the offering of ‘real’ butter and ‘100% Maple’ syrup at a surcharge an added bonus and something in which we gladly partook along with two blackboard specials as well as Pocahontas’ signature dish.

Having already noted the uncharacteristically empty environs, and as such treated to an expedited order that arrived no more than fifteen minutes after sitting down, it was with a duo of biscuits that the meal began and with ‘buttery spread’ cast aside in favor of honey the toasty buttermilk discs were admirable if not memorable, our attention quickly turning to the Monte Cristo sandwich with both ham and turkey sandwiched between French Toast, the use of Swiss an interesting change of pace that paired surprisingly well with Strawberry Jam provided by Smucker’s – another area I’d have gladly upgraded if given a chance.

Moving next to sweeter specialties and signatures it was with a triple stack of Texas Toast style French toast that our tasting progressed and with each thick slice of bread griddled golden beneath a mountain of fruit and whipped cream the aforementioned syrup was largely unnecessary, the sidecar instead saved for a stack of buttermilk pecans topped and studded with chopped pecans, the light sours of the batter proving a perfect backdrop to the toasty nuts while sweet Virginia Maple Syrup was every bit worth the upgrade and something one wishes every breakfast place would offer considering the long shelf-life and substantial improvement in taste.

http://www.pocahontaspancakes.com/

Posted in Breakfast, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Norfolk, Pancakes, Pocahontas Pancakes, Pork, Vacation, Virginia, Virginia Beach

February 15, 2015
7:31 PM
by: Uhockey

Terrapin, Virginia Beach VA

Terrapin

Bread and Olive Oil

Ricotta Gnudi – Wild Morel Mushrooms, Organic Peas, Black Truffle Butter Sauce

Shrimp & Grits – Laughing Bird Shrimp, Carolina Gold Rice ‘grits,’ housemade chorizo, old bay butter

Manchester Farms Quail – Honey and Lavender Glazed, Blood Orange Poached Medjool Dates, Anson Mills Farro

White Marble Farm Pork Loin – House Cured Bacon, Brown Butter Cauliflower, Potato Gnocchi, Butter Beans, Roasted Radishes, Mustard demi-glace

Bouquet of Flowers – White Chocolate Raspberry Bomb, Lychee Mousse, Rose Essence, Fresh Raspberries, White Chocolate Spiral

Box of Chocolates – Dark Chocolate Terrine, Chocolate Cayenne Ganache, Fudge Brownie, Caramel, Hazelnut Crumbs, Dark Chocolate Spiced Ice Cream

Valrhona Chocolate Pudding – Fleur de sel & Georgia Olive Oil

Granola

Toqued by Chef Rodney Einhorn, and located in a modernized space on Holly Road just steps away from Virginia Beach, Terrapin has been noted by some to be perhaps the best restaurant in the state of Virginia, yet despite their ‘fine dining’ accolades and snooty behavior from nearly every staff member encountered during a two-hour dinner it should come as perhaps no surprise that the restaurant is actually just the benefactor of “big fish in a small pond” status, the food nicely prepared despite the kitchen using shortcuts such as truffle oil and out-of-season ingredients while the overall experience is merely paint-by-numbers upscale American, at best.

Immediately feeling judged on entry, the maitre d’ literally giving my mother a nasty look as though he disapproved of her outfit choice in the unexpectedly cold weather, it was not long before our reservation was confirmed and led to a small two top the ‘push’ for wine and cocktails was on – our choice to decline clearly robbing us of the caviar-egg amuse served to nearby tables, the most boring table-bread and flavorless olive oil I’ve experienced in ages instead serving as a veritable punishment for my asking questions about several plates including those featuring morels far earlier than most restaurants would dare as well as those mentioning the word ‘truffle’ in the description more than once.

Eventually asked if I was ‘some sort of critic’ by the snarky waiter moments after our three-course menu was ordered it was only after I explained I merely like to write and photograph my food that his attitude seemed to improve and with each course presented with very ample descriptions the first round of food proved quite impressive, the gnudi plump and supple with surprisingly subtle flavor despite obviously using preserved morels and truffle oil while the makeshift shrimp and grits was somewhat less inspiring, the tiny shrimp a touch overcooked while the rice porridge was too small in portion to help balance out the heft of old bay seasoning, let alone the spicy pork.

Thankfully still somewhat sated from the day’s earlier dining as portions at Terrapin trend small even to those familiar with multi-course tasting menus across the world our entrees arrived after a somewhat lengthy delay and with plating clearly one of the kitchen’s strong points both the lacquered quail and crispy-skinned pork arrived beautifully seated amidst several accoutrements, the former’s light funkiness well balanced by citrus-soaked grains while the loin’s vegetable mélange was bolstered by tender butter beans that served to offset briny bacon and potato dumplings that were gummy and undercooked.

Unfortunately lacking the duck pot pie, pancake stack, and several other items featured on the website menu it was onward to dessert that the evening progressed and still featuring several options from the previous night’s Valentine’s Day celebration it was in two seasonal sweets plus one ‘signature’ that we partook, the “Bouquet’s” frozen raspberry center serving to save the otherwise ‘safe’ presentation while both the “Box of Chocolates” and rich pudding were far more interesting, the former particularly well composed to show off the quality of the cocoa when paired to items featuring both sweet and heat while the later was simple, creamy indulgence with sea salt adding both texture and levity while the olive oil was much like that on the table and completely imperceptible aside from a slick feel on the tongue.

http://www.terrapinvirginiabeach.com

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Norfolk, Pork, Terrapin, Truffle, Vacation, Virginia, Virginia Beach

February 15, 2015
12:13 PM
by: Uhockey

Astronomical Pancake House, Williamsburg VA

Astronomical Pancake House

Coffee

Biscuits

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes with Pecans and Cream Cheese Frosting

French Toast Melt – Egg & Cheese, Virginia Ham, Texas French Toast, Strawberry Jam with Grits

Royal French Toast – Two pieces of Texas French Toast dipped in pancake batter, deep fried, drizzled with Cream Cheese Glaze

Continuing a decidedly sweet day following a completely disappointing visit to Colonial Williamsburg, it was just past 1:00pm when we entered Astronomical Pancake House and with service apparently hampered by a “large group” that had just arrived suffice it to say first impressions were not the least bit favorable – a twenty-eight minute wait in the dingy lobby feeling something like purgatory considering the larger of two dining rooms sat 1/3 empty with dirty plates covering no less than five tables as servers brought out plate after plate with not a busser to be found.

Eventually seated just moments before the pre-determined thirty-minute ‘walk-out’ mark, it was much to my annoyance that the table simultaneously placed next to us was greeted with smiling service moments later by an elderly African American waitress while our young male server scurried about essentially ignoring us until I called out, and requesting to at least receive a glass of coffee or water after the long wait an attempted simultaneous order was immediately shot down with the youngster apparently “out of tickets,” another long delay to follow with neither coffee nor water arriving until after the order was finally placed…and neither refilled with any sort of gusto throughout the course of our stay.

Hoping at this point that the food would justify the hassle it was no surprise that the entirety of a large order arrived at once and immediately thankful for an empty table to be used as a sideboard it was not long before photos were taken and indulgence began, the hockey-puck hard biscuits a lone disappointment as two daily specials and the restaurant’s “signature” cinnamon swirl pancakes each proved well deserving of not only price and praise, but potentially even the wait.

Starting savory before moving to sweet it was almost as if our visit was expected when I saw the Monte Cristo-esque “French Toast Melt” on the white-board specials and loaded with briny Virginia ham, fluffy eggs, and sharp cheddar the griddled Texas Toast sandwich was quite excellent even before the addition of a layer of Strawberry jam, the same to be said of a creamy bowl of grits from which my mother partook greedily leaving me to focus on a truly ‘astronomical’ stack of buttermilk pancakes ribboned with cinnamon streusel beneath a layer of melting butter and liberally applied frosting rich with the flavor of cream cheese.

Admittedly impressed by the aforementioned sandwich and stack, it was nonetheless a “save the best for last” scenario when we finally delved into the Royal French Toast, and definitely as decadent as the description would lead one to believe batter coated French toast can most reasonably be described as a breakfast “funnel cake,” the golden shell just a touch oily while the core was wispy and light, the addition of butter, cream cheese, and just a touch of pancake syrup pushing the plate into the realm of ‘best ever’ status, though even when divided by two persons the substantial richness was a bit much…though perhaps that has something to do with ordering two additional plates of food…or the cake, pancakes, French toast, and donuts already consumed earlier that day.

http://astronomicalpancakewburg.com/

Posted in Astronomical Pancake House, Breakfast, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Norfolk, Pancakes, Vacation, Virginia, Williamsburg Tagged Astronomical Pancake House

February 15, 2015
10:30 AM
by: Uhockey

Duck Donuts, Williamsburg VA

Duck Donuts Williamsburg

Vanilla with Sprinkles

Strawberry Glaze

Lemon Glaze

Maple Peanut

Apparently part of a growing franchise with several locations located in Virginia and North Carolina, Duck Donuts was the first food-centric stop on arrival to Williamburg and with the donut machine cranking out piping hot pastries to the smiles of several families one only wonders why such places are not far more common given the current trend in artisan doughnutteries popping up across the United States.

Small in size and streamlined in format, the basic premise featuring a single wheat and corn flour base fried in soybean oil with several frostings and topping added to suit each customer’s taste, Duck Donuts lives by the promise of the “freshest donut anywhere,” and true to their word it was only after I placed a four part order that each ring marched down the conveyor-belt, flipped onto the drying rack, and received a quick pat before being dipped, topped, boxed, and placed into my hands – the whole process a mere three minutes from payment to first bite.

Obviously piping hot, something others should bear in mind when considering the three minute comment above as that first bite resulted in one of those ‘oh damn, chewing with mouth open to let it cool off’ moments, it was in four different varieties of toppings that our tasting progressed and although each base was expectedly consistent and downright delicious the frostings were unfortunately a bit one-note, the ‘vanilla’ unfortunately just the flavor of sugar with strawberry mostly the same while the lemon was slightly sour and the maple featured light syrup notes beneath the salted nuts.

https://duckdonuts.com/

Posted in Dessert, Duck Donuts, Food, Norfolk, Vacation, Virginia, Williamsburg

Scratch, Durham NC

Loaf, Durham NC

Monuts Donuts, Durham NC

ONE Restaurant, Chapel Hill NC

Allen & Son Bar-B-Que, Chapel Hill NC

Rose’s Meat Market & Sweet Shop, Durham NC

Pizzeria Toro, Durham NC

Guglhupf, Durham NC

Rise Biscuits and Donuts, Durham NC

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, Cary NC

Joule Coffee, Raleigh NC

La Farm Bakery, Cary NC

Poole’s Downtown Diner, Raleigh NC

Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, Raleigh NC

Skylight Inn, Ayden NC

Dough Joe’s, Virginia Beach VA

Pocahontas Pancakes, Virginia Beach VA

Terrapin, Virginia Beach VA

Astronomical Pancake House, Williamsburg VA

Duck Donuts, Williamsburg VA

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