Harvest 18

I'm hitting the road tomorrow for about 4 weeks. I needed to grab a few things before packing & while I was out & about decided to grab a bite somewhere with outdoor seating.

I stumbled upon Harvest 18. This restaurant changes it's menu every shift. In fact, as I write this it is 2:30 in the afternoon & they do not know what will be on the dinner menu.

I ordered a Harvest Mule (Troy & Sons Moonshine, fresh lime, & ginger beer) or 2 to wash down my Steak & Eggs. The NY Strip & scrambled eggs came w/ roasted potatoes, turnip greens, & charred green tomatoe salsa.

I looked up at one point & saw a man in a suit standing next to me. He introduced himself as Josh & asked to join me. Josh is one of the managers. He chatted with me a bit, proudly describing the company he works for as if it was his baby.

My waiter, Ryan, commented on my UNT (University of North Texas) tshirt & said he hadn't seen one in years...he grew up in San Antonio. He asked how I came about the shirt &/or why I was in NC. It was my turn to talk about the company I work for. We talked about all things Texas until he discovered I'm from Memphis. Low & behold he used to work at some bars on Beale Street. We talked about Mud Island, BBQ Fest, Beale, & all things 901. 

FINALLY! Someone who understands my distaste for NC Vinegar-based BBQ. We shared our secret BBQ places in NC that come the closest to the taste of home, I ordered another drink & tabbed out.

As a Regional Sales Manager, I couldn't help but think, "man, I wish I could have these guys come to training & talk to my sales reps about how to build rapport & make connections." Phenomenal job. This was truly one heck of an experience from the sun-soaked table, stiff drinks, life changing cuisine, & friendly staff.

Music Monday: "Happy (in Memphis)"

Moving to NC has presented me with countless opportunities to do things I never really had the opportunity to do in college (because our town was TINY). I've seen countless concerts, eaten amazing food, traveled to some fantastic places, and drank more than my liver would like to admit.

I, however, did not expect to mark "watch UT Martin basketball play" off that list but I had the opportunity yesterday to watch a near upset as the Lady Skyhawks of my alma mater took on UNC. The devastating 2 point loss still doesn't seem real (find out why, here).

But watching my school's women lose was not the only heartache yesterday. I headed over to Raleigh, NC for the men's games. My co-worker, Janelle (a Memphis alum), and I (Memphis native) arrived at PNC arena in during halftime for the Tennessee v. Mercer game. Really? I hadn't put either team on my bracket this far, so I chose to pull for Mercer (plus my grandfather would kill me if he heard me cheering for UT, GO 'DORES!).


After the realistic UT win, it was time for the big game. Memphis v. UVA. GO TIGERS GO! We were easily two of only 200 Memphis fans in the arena...the other 17,800 fans were for UVA. Makes sense considerign Charlottesville is only 3.5 hours away and Memphis is about 11 hours. If you watched any of the game, you'll now understand why it was so loud.

Another tough loss (my 3 teams: UTM, Memphis, and UNC all lost yesterday). But you know what? I'm happy! That's right. It's a beautiful day, I have a good job, a nice apartment, and I thoroughly enjoyed my Chik-fil-a breakfast this morning.

I just wish I was happy in Memphis.

Buy This: Drinkwel

As a marketer, I enjoy programs like Birch Box, Dollar Shave Club, Bespoke Post, etc. I enjoy getting exposed to a variety of products and brands that I would have otherwise never heard of. I've been subscribing to Birch Box for a few months and haven't been disappointed yet. They knew what they were doing this month when they included samples of Drinkwel, just in time for St. Patrick's Day.

Drinkwel is the multivitamin for healthy people who drink alcohol. The ingredients will help replenish nutrients, support healthy liver function, and help your body process alcohol induced toxins. Not your typical multivitamin, drinkwel contains a mix of antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals, amino acids and our proprietary Superfruits & Botanicals Blend.

Take 3 capsules once daily with food and water. When drinking, take 3 additional capsules with water before bed. You can take one serving of drinkwel before you drink and one before you go to bed and you will feel the benefits of drinkwel. However, drinkwel was designed specifically to be a daily multivitamin with ingredients that replenish nutrients, support healthy liver function, and help your body process alcohol induced toxins.

So what better way to put this product to the test than a full day of St. Patrick's day debauchery in Raleigh, NC? We kicked our celebration off with lunch, darts, drinks, and beer pong at my buddies' house. After multiple jello shots and pulls from a bottle of Fireball...we made our way to Morris Square in Raleigh for the Tir na nOg Irish Pub festival. Drinks on drinks on drinks. Made our way up to some food trucks and endless Rumple Mintze at Coglin's before ending our day at Natty Greene's Breweing Company for some pool, shuffleboard, and cornhole.

We we arrived home after about 11 hours of heavy drinking, I made sure to pop my remaining serving of drinkwel and woke up this morning at 8:30 feeling better than I do most morning without drinking! HOLY COW! I felt fantastic and can only imagine how I'll feel after taking it more regularly!

Bull City Part 2

My job requires a lot of traveling. So I'm a big fan of exploring an trying new things. As you all saw in my post last week, I'm really enjoying my weekends spent exploring Durham, NC, my new home.

This past weekend was very similar. After work, I headed up to The Crunkleton for a Vieux Carre and to catch up with my bartender buddy. The college crowd started to make its way to Franklin Street and I decide that was my cue to leave. I headed to downtown Durham in search of some good eats.

Now, I'm sure you're all aware of just how cold it's been the past few days. Friday was a decent day, and I forgot to pack a coat. So as I wandered the streets of Durham, hugging myself for warmth, I peered into the shop windows to check my chances of getting a table.

Slim. To. None.

I tried Mateo bar de Tapas, Beyu Cafe, Dame's Chicken and Waffles, and a few others. PACKED. So I headed back over to Geer Street Garden, ordered the fried chicken plate (read my Yelp review here) and then meandered back to Main Street to enjoy a drink at Whiskey

Whiskey is an interesting place. Whiskey is a private club for members aged 23 years or over and their guests; a gathering place for grownups. Not far from Toast (next door) and Bull McCabes Irish Pub (across the street), great food is just outside the front door. Whiskey does permit smoking and we have a selection of cigars for sale on hand. Whiskey believes to have the states largest whiskey menu (at last count 337) and features a cigar bar upstairs.

I grabbed a few drinks, stumbled outside and hailed a cab.

Saturday morning I was determined. I was determined to eat at Dame's Chicken and Waffles. It has always been packed when I walk by and let's face it...who doesn't love chicken and waffles? Judging by the hangover I was nursing with a homemade Bloody Mary (Charleston Mix, homemade habanero-infused Tito's vodka, bacon, and pickled greenbeans), I needed to wait until later in day to go when there would be fewer hungover individuals craving nurishment.

Wrong.

At 2:00 in the afternoon, Dame's had an hour and forty-five minute wait.

I walked over by the old Leggett and Myers Tobacco Company warehouse in Brightleaf Square to try out a place called Parker & Otis. Talk about unique. This deli type venue features beer and wine shelves, cookwares, novelty items, and more. I ordered a Shrimp BLT that changed my life and guzzled down a Cheerwine. After lunch, I perused the store and gazed in awe at the offerings before me. I pick up some Chapel Hill Toffee that I hope will last until my mom and sister visit next week, John Currence's book "Pickles, Pigs, and Whiskey", a couple of coffee mugs and other food items, and hit the road for an afternoon nap.

On the Road: Lake Charles, Lafayette, New Orleans, & Baton Rouge

A few weeks ago all about Louisiana. Focusing on work (& w/ crappy weather) I didn't focus much on food. Naturally, the foodie in me always prevails & I managed to enjoy a couple of good meals (on top of my travel regulars like Cracker Barrel & Waffle House).

The big take away from this week was definitely Restaurant IPO in Baton Rouge. A Southern Tapas bar, this is hands down the most unique menu I've ever seen.

My dinner consisted of Bon Temp Shrimp (think Bang Bang shrimp at Bonefish), the most delectable duck poppers I've ever eaten, & Pequeno tacos. As an avid duck hunter, I found myself taking pictures of the entire menu to send to my buddies back home in West TN. I would say that easily 95% of the menu consisted of duck. So in a way...this was research.
Now, my mom and sister came to NC to visit me a few weeks ago and I took them to Mateo bar de Tapas, naturally my mom kept thinking I was taking her to a topless bar. Bold move, my friends.

Tapas means small plates (as you can see from the pictures). Know of a great tapas bar? Grab a group of friends and check it out. These plates are meant to be shared (which explains why it can be hard to get a table sometimes) over a glass of sangria or a bottle of local craft brews. You may even find yourself ordering everything off the menu!


Trying out a tapas bar solo means you can still order 4-5 plates to try but can turn into a pretty pricey meal for just one person. Many of these unique establishments offer an entree menu to choose from...check out this burger that Restaurant IPO offers. I must admit, I seriously considered it (it does come with a bottle of wine).

 The next day I was conducting some interviews on campus at LSU. After a week of crappy weather, it was a beautiful day in Baton Rouge. Clear skies and 70 degrees. WOW!

After working a half day, I packed up and headed to Acme Oyster House. Did you know that there was more than one? THERE'S SEVEN! The last time I ate at Acme was back in 2010 when I was in NOLA for a marketing conference...and that's easily the only thing I remember about the trip.

I secured a seat at the bar so I could watch the dozens and dozens of oysters being shucked in record time. I order the New Orleans Medley...a sampling of gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and grilled smoked sausage.

I passed on a drink, drove to BTR, returned the rental car and started making moves back to RDU for the wekend. This was the week of the second big snow storm (not the one that hit ATL, but the one that hit the northeast). The journey home consisted of a 2 hour delay at the Baton Rouge Regional Airport (lucky me), a flight on a prop plane to CLT, standing on the tarmac in short sleeves waiting for the gate crew to let us into the terminal, SPRINTING across 4 terminals (haven't run like that since my cross country days back in high school), getting to my connection as they were closing the door, almost requesting medical assistance (I was weezing for 3 days...I need to work out more), landing at RDU at 11:30...didn't get my luggaged until close to 1:00...finally got home around 2:00.

JEEZ! I spent the remainder of Valentines weekend watching House of Cards and then hopping another flight first thing Sunday morning for another 3 week trip.

So go out there. Explore new places. Try new things. I'm no longer strictly a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Neither should you.

Now Playing: "Oh, Katrina" by Voice of the Wetlands

Dewey Destin's

Now we are all know I love to eat. My doctor would argue that I love to eat all the wrong things. If eating the following item is wrong...I'll be damned if I'm ever right.

My brother was stationed down in Navarre, FL a few years ago and we make the occasional trips to visit him and his wife...I feel like more so now than ever before so that we can see my nephew, who happens to be the coolest 1-year old there is (and he knows how to rock a bow tie like the best of them).

My dad and I went to visit one week a couple of summers ago and the 3 of us took the boat out for the day. We ventured on over to the infamous Crab Island to check out the party scene but the long ride out and beer left us famished. We floated over to Dewey Destin's right by Crab Island for some grub.

WARNING: the following images are absolutely amazing and mouth watering

 You may be wondering, "what is it?" Well let me tell you! These colossal shrimp are stuffed with crab, wrapped in bacon, and deep fried in lard served with jalapeno hushpuppies.

Excuse me, I'm tearing up just reminiscing about it.

Now, for work I'm swamped from January until mid April and then Mid May until September (April is more of a tease). I'm looking for a possible solo vacation and Destin has my name all over it just so I can load up on some of these! 

On the Road: Starkville & Hattiesburg

By trade, I'm a Regional Sales Manager. I manage sales reps in 13 different cities across Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, & West Tennessee. Last week I hopped a plane from Raleigh-Durham to Jackson, MS (via Orlando) with my boss. We were part of the Mississippi State Career Fair in Starkville, MS & interviewed candidates all day before going our separate ways, me to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, & Texas A&M in College Station for him.

Although we have tight schedules, we found time to take in a few good places to grab a bite or a beer...after all, he's a bigger foodie than I am & is usually the person recommending the various places I try out each weekend.

Our first stop in Starkville was a popular burger joint downtown called Mugshots. We commented on how the building reminded us of NOLA, with its balcony overlooking downtown. The burgers were phenomenal.

For lunch the following day we enjoy some good ole BBQ from Little Dewey's. A pulled pork sandwich, corn, & peach cobbler is good for the soul.

That evening we treated ourselves to steak & a beer. We earned it. Harvey's was the spot. The beer was Sierra Nevada Torpedo & the steak was a NY Strip, rare w/ loaded mashed potatoes.

Now the road & work schedule do not always allow for the best eating. Many meals are consumed in the car while driving to the next location while simultaneously participating in a conference call. 

After finishing a full day in Hattiesburg & driving back to Jackson, MS to catch a flight home, I made excellent time of my work at the hotel & decided to explore Jackson, MS a bit. There were a few places on my Bottle List to try & check off!

I headed to The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs. Brent's Drugs is a breakfast join set up in an old drug store. The retro dinner gives off an eerie aura at night as people enter the abandoned restaurant, closed for the night.

Brent's holds a secret in the back of the establishment, past the freshly mopped floors & chairs stacked on their respective tables.

In the back, behind a door I a narrow hallway you'll find yourself talking to a hostess. She'll push back a heavy black curtain to reveal a speak-easy hidden in the back of this family friendly breakfast joint.

The Apothecary.

Easily some of the best cocktails outside of New Orleans. The knowledgable & creative bar tender dishing out mesmerizing concoctions, like Rum Old Fashioneds.

After consuming my fair share of rum & bourbon, I stepped outside to see a Tapas Bar directly infront of me, beckoning. 

Inside, my stomach yearned for lump crab ceviche & tacos the perfect late night snack. So as I savored my ceviche & Schlaffy IPA, I asked the bartender to surprise me with 3 tacos. She didn't disappoint when she delivered a plate featuring a carne de cerdo taco, shrimp taco, & redfish taco.

The hangover the following day was curbed by the fantastic tacos & ceviche.

Music Monday: Drake White

When I moved to North Carolina a few months back, it seemed like every night was spent at a concert, be it at a dive bar or the Durham Performing Arts Center. One day a co-worker asked if I had ever heard of Drake White. Nope. She went on to explain that her sister works in the music industry and is currently touring with Drake. They were coming to town in a week to open for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the DPAC and she offered to get me tickets. YOU BET!

Her sister scored us some great seats, we grabbed some beers, and settled in for a fantastic night. Drake was full of energy. He was all over the stage and had some of the best stage presence of any performer I've ever seen. After the concert was over, we met up with my co-worker's sister and helped load up the bus. Drake and the boys are some down right good guys making great music.

He's constantly posting pictures on Facebook of his latest hunting trip, hilarious videos, and other ways of showing that he is just doing what he loves. We should all be so passionate about our work! So it's only appropriate that today's Music Monday post is Drake's "Simple Life".

What'll you take?

The Bottle List

I love the movie "The Bucket List". Partially because Morgan Freeman is the man and his character is almost everything I aspire to be as a man. No, I don't wish to be a mechanic. I do, however, want to work hard for a living, provide for my family, and love only one woman.

It seems like everyone has a bucket list these days. I even remember doing a homework assignment in high school involving a bucket list. Let's see how un-original we can get:

• Go Skydiving (sure, me too...even though I'm deathly afraid of heights)
• Watch the sunrise (that's cute)
• Go running with the bulls
• Visit all 7 wonders of the world (got some big travel plans, do we?)

You get the picture. Those would be fantastic things to do. I'd do them. One of my favorite lists is Ingrid's New Year's Resolution list in the movie New Years Eve:

• Quit job 
• Save a life 
• Breakfast at Tiffany's  
• Taxi ride with no traffic 
• Go to bali 
• Walk through all 5 NY boroughs in a day 
• Be amazed 
• Kiss on new year at midnight 

Today, I'm here to give you MY LIST. This list is not to be taken lightly, no sir. Nor is it for the faint of heart. This is my "Bottle List". A list of all of the bars (and restaurants) I've challenged myself to enjoy by Thanksgiving. Now, as a disclaimer...I will be adding to this list and will only remove from the list if that establishment closes (permanently).

Restaurants

Hog and Hominy (Memphis, TN)

R'evolution (New Orelans, LA)
The Ordinary (Charleston, SC)

The Root (Little Rock, AR)
Acme Food and Beverage Company (Carrboro, NC)

GW Fins (New Orleans, LA)
Big Bad Breakfast (Oxford, MS)

Magnolia Grill (Durham, NC)

Bottega (Birmingham, AL)
Chef and the Farmer (Kinston, NC)

Husk (Nashville, TN)
Capital Bar and Grill (Little Rock, AR)
Snack Bar (Oxford, MS)

Sylvain (New Orleans, LA)
Rhubard (Asheville, NC)

Highlands Bar and Grill (Birmingham, AL)

City Grocery (Oxford, MS)

Petty’s BBQ (Starkville, MS)

Arnaud's Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)
Butcher & Bee (Charleston, SC)

Restaurant IPO (Baton Rouge, LA)
Dame's Chicken and Waffles (Durham, NC)
Little Donkey (Birmingham, AL)
Papa KayJoe's BBQ (Centerville, TN...try the Hoecake Sandwich)

Mateo Tapas (Durham, NC)

Bouré (Oxford, MS)

Poole’s Downtown Diner (Raleigh, NC)
Alzina's Kitchen (Galliano, LA)

Dat Dog (New Orleans, LA
Brother Juniper's (Memphis, TN)
Pinewood Social (Nashville, TN)

Bars/Breweries/Lounges

Fox Liquor Bar (Raleigh, NC)

Earnestine & Hazel's (Memphis, TN)
Ollie Irene (Birmingham, AL)

Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone (New Orleans, LA)

The Columns Victorian Lounge Bar (New Orleans, LA)

The Easy Tiger (Birmingham, AL)

Wisteria Tavern (Pensacola, FL)

The Cave (Chapel Hill, NC)
The Crunkleton (Chapel Hill, NC)

Tujague’s (New Orleans, LA)

The Patterson House (Nashville, TN)

Tin Roof Brewing Co (Baton Rouge, LA)

The Hive (Bentonville, AR)
Josephine House (Austin, TX)

Blue Moon Saloon (Lafayette, LA)
Lassis Inn (Little Rock, AR)

Napoleon House (New Orleans, LA)

The Cove (Memphis, TN)

French 75 (New Orleans, LA)

Bluegrass Tavern (Lexington, KY)

Cure (New Orleans, LA)
2 Birds, 1 Stone (Washington, D.C.)

The Gin Joint (Charleston, SC)

Cane and Table (New Orleans, LA)

The Whiskey Jar (Charlottesville, VA)

Brothers III Lounge (New Orleans, LA)

Oak Bar at The Hermitage (Nashville, TN)

Maurepas Foods (New Orleans, LA)
Warehouse (Charleston, SC)

Branch (Hattiesburg, MS)

The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs (Jackson, MS)

So here's to the weekend! CHEERS!

 

Bull CIty

So I recently I was talking to my friend, Kaleigh, about our career goals. Kaleigh and I are both in sales and used to work for the same company. We reconnected when Kaleigh came to town and we started talking about our favorite magazine, Garden & Gun.

Now most people who have never heard of the magazine laugh when you recite the title. GUNS?

Calm down.

Kaleigh shared that she would love to work for Garden & Gun, explore and travel while taking in all the foods that come across her table. Who wouldn't? This leads our daily conversations to be a comparison of the foodie finds and drinks consumed.

I'm from Memphis, TN. As a foodie and musician, it doesn't get much better than the 901. The birthplace of rock-n-roll, BBQ, and the home of the blues...the Bluff City has a lot going for it. I recently moved to Durham, NC. I was aware that there are a number of breweries in the area (something Memphis didn't have a lot of when I left). I spend a lot of my time on Franklin Street at The Crunkleton, He's Not Here, and Top of the Hill. All fantastic places.

However, a couple of weeks ago on a Friday night when I got home from work and checked my mail, I found an envelope from my momma. She had sent me an article from Southern Living of the Tastiest Towns in America that named Memphis as #2 and Durham as #1. OH HAPPY DAY! So much for sitting around that weekend, I had exploring to do.

Now something you should know...I love exploring alone. Friends are welcome anytime BUT they must be able to keep up. I rarely meet a stranger and so I have never viewed it as eating or drinking alone. Additionally, several in my office would tell you that I'm the go-to person for food and drink suggestions in Durham/Chapel Hill in our department (all outside sales managers that relocated here for work).

So that Saturday morning I woke up and headed out to explore Durham. My first stop was lunch as Geer Street Garden. Some co-workers had recommended this place a week prior to take some new hires in the office. Fantastic little place. I perused the menu and ordered a Sweet Josie (brown ale by Raleigh-based Lonerider) and asked the bartender to scrounge me up something to eat...surprise me.

He brought me a plate of fried fish tacos. A bit overfried, but the slaw, salsa verde, pico de gallo, crema, & lime made up for it. Perfection. I looked up and saw some friends enter, grabbed a Bloody Mary and joined them in the covered outdoor patio area.

My next stop would be some sights around downtown Durham such as "Major", a bronze bull statue, Brightleaf Square for some shopping, American Tobacco Historic District for drinks at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe and Tyler's Restaurant &Taproom. 

Being the craft beer enthusiast that I am (just bottled a new batch of IPA on Saturday...FYI), I wanted to take a brewery tour. I settled on Bull City Burger and Brewery. The $5 brewery tour lasted about 2.5 hours and the tasting equaled just over 3 beers (I won't complain about a heavy hand). Not a bad deal. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed the passion that Seth exudes when he speaks of his establishment. He aims to be a green brewery...recycling brew water, sending spent grains to local farms, and sustaining his yeast for future batches. I made out of there with a growler of Littlen Horny which is already gone.


Following the brewery, I head back towards Geer Street to explore FullSteam Brewery  to try out their "Clack-A-Lacky" ginger ale. HOLY GINGER BAT MAN! It was fantastic! FullSteam is a very unique experience. This dog friendly bar features darts, ping pong, and an arcade. The noise from the arcade, littered with children, is dampened by glass walls separating it from the bar, where I was able to comfortably sit and take in my surroundings in peace.

Now, I'm new to town. But many people in the office, again, ask for advice about where to go. Where do I get my advice? My boss who was born and raised in Cary, NC. So the boss man followed my journey on FourSquare, texting me advice on where to go next. He claims I inspired a food-tour evening for him and his lady friend in Raleigh that night. The last piece of advice he gave me that day was the Food Trucks. The great thing about that part of town is the number of food trucks parked outside the bars. Too many to choose from. So after a few drinks, I stumbled outside to grab a moo-shu pork taco and a taxi.

Music Monday: St. Paul and the Broken Bones

Singer Paul Janeway and his band, the Broken Bones. Photo by David McClister

This band blew me away the first time I heard them. I first heard their soul full chorus on my way to the panhandle for a hunting trip in Lower Alabama. I was reminded of their awesomeness in the latest edition of Garden & Gun magazine.

Now this band is right up my ally for a number of reasons. I LOVE Otis Redding and enjoy quite a bit of Redding's "White Christmas" over the holidays. It is arguably one of the greatest remakes of that classic. But this soulful southern band has the look, vintage hipster if you will, to go along with the revival of southern greatness, including bourbon and bow ties. St. Paul and the Broken Bones have the entire package.

But look at Janeway. This picture shows that he likes to be soulful but in no way did that prepare me for what my ears heard.

In his interview with Garden & Gun, Janeway discussed his back ground with "Holy Roller" type testifying in church, growing up  forbidden from listening to secular music. Although, his parents have come around to Janeway’s way of preaching. He even found out his dad was to some degree a closet rocker, attending concerts by Elvis, Elton John, and Johnny Cash. “I think there was a sense of realism that came out when my parents split,” Janeway says. “They’re supportive, and now when I talk to my dad, he always starts the conversation with ‘What’s up, Elvis?’”