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.

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.

Southernism: Coke & Peanuts

A tradition that reminds me of summers growing up, an a southernism that makes my office of yankees cringe. Of course, I could only be talking about Coke & Peanuts.

Yesterday I was sitting at my desk with a bottle of Coke with a handful of peanuts in it and my colleagues refused to talk to me while I enjoyed this wonderful treat. I reckon I've found a way to get them to leave me alone when I'm busy.

My department consists of about 15 mid-twenty year old transplants from all over the country (and a Canadian, eh). This quirky snack had them all up in arms. "THAT IS NOT A THING!" They claimed. Yanks. If you google Coke & Peanuts, the FIRST result is the Coca Cola website. If that's not proof that it's a thing, I don't know what is.

But their inquisitive minds got me thinking. What is the origin of this odd, yet delicious combination? It appears that no one really knows. Many, however, believe that it stemmed mainly out of convenience for the hard southern workers. Need to keep working while you eat a snack? Driving? Smoking? Hands dirty from working on cars? This southernism allows you to keep one hand free while enjoying the sweet and salty duo.

I remember doing this when I was growing up. Our parents would drop us off at the pool for swim team practice every morning where we would stay until they got off work. I'd drop a handful of peanuts into a coke bottle so I didn't have to worry about my soaking wet, chlorine hands messin' with my peanuts.

 One summer in college, I worked in a small mountain town in Grundy County (kinda Middle/East TN). The days were hot and long and many afternoons were spent on the front porch of a civil war era hotel in a rocking chair with coke and peanuts.

Now this pairing has sprouted many interesting recipes like Coca Cola cake with Broiled Peanut Icing and my personal favorite: The Tallulah (coke, peanuts, and whiskey). So the next time your enjoying some peanuts, plop a few in your coke. You can thank me later!

Uno Pizzeria, Restaurant, and Bar

IToday's adventures in Fort Worth begin at Uno Pizzeria, Restaurant, and Bar. I decided to walk to downtown today to make up for my lack of steps all week. Despite all of the construction, it actually seems pretty chill down here today.

In the spirit of trying new things, I opted to forgo Cowtown Diner for lunch and check out this Chicago style pizzeria.

The bartender, Jackie, picked up on my accent right away and continues to ask me not to refer to her as "ma'am" since she appears to be a bit younger than me. When I glance over to review the 6 beers they have on tap, I noticed a lack of summer ales so I decided to keep it simple with a LoneStar Beer.

Now, despite being at a Chicago-style pizzeria, I opted for a less obvious food choice: Uno's Signature Grilled 4-Cheese and Tomato Soup. This delicious combination of parmesan-encrusted sourdough bread, aged cheddar, mild cheddar & romano coupled with a creamy tomato soup was truly the way to go.