lucettegrace Review

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Andrew Scott

During our long trip around the places Highway 64 connects, our last destination in the Piedmont area was Raleigh. Once we finished our drive around Raleigh, we decided to stop at a bakery and satisfy our sweet tooth. The place that was closest to our location and we decided to stopped was luccettegrace. None of us had been there before so that was a great new experience for all. We parked right across the street and we easily found the small bakery. The front view of the store is full of glass and gives the pedestrians a view of the inside of the bakery, as well as, a view of the road for those dining in. The inside of the pastry shop is very bright and colorful. The dark brick wall contrasts with the bright chairs and colorful writing on the wall in a perfectly balanced way.

This bakery’s menu offers lunch, beverages, as well as pastries, but we were there just for the later. Jessica and Maritza got the Macaron Gift

Box, which included 8 macarons with different flavors of their choice. I got the Churro Bun and the Candy Bar Cake. As they described them, the Churro Bun is a cinnamon sugar dusted croissant filled with vanilla cream, and the Candy Bar Cake includes chocolate hazelnut praline mousse, praline chocolate crunch, brown butter cake, and praline cream. Jessica and Maritza said they loved the apple pie flavored macaron, while Maritza wasn’t a big fan of the rose. I wasn’t a big fan of the churro bun, but I enjoyed the candy bar cake.

lucettegrace could be described as a french-type bakery, which includes a contemporary menu. The portions aren’t very generous compared to the price, but desserts can be that way. There wasn’t a big variety either, but the staff was pretty friendly. The bakery’s motto is “lucettegrace is a starting point for your day, an escape in the middle, and a reward at the end.” They are located in 235 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC, and they are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Raleigh Roots

Posted on November 25, 2014 by mreilova

By Caroline Zybala – 2014

While at the International Festival in Raleigh, NC, our group kept seeing this man, wearing some traditional ethnic attire and a hat with a large feather, walking around the convention center. We finally decided to approach him and figure out his story. We figured he would be a good character to interview for our project. Quickly, we discovered that this individual was a wealth of information about Highway 64 and the evolution of North Carolina over the years. Alvin M. Fountain, 2nd, (“How southern can I be?”), lives in Raleigh, North Carolina and grew up with Highway 64 being an important travel route.

“We used Highway 64 to get to the beach. I mean, it goes to both the beach and the mountains, but the trip to the beach is only two hours, compared to the four hours to the mountains.” But travel was not the only use of this road—Fountain also used the road to travel south to Charlotte on occasion. Looking around at the bustling crowd, he lowered his voice and said, “I like it because it is quieter. Until you hit the traffic!”

We all laughed, and then we changed topics to figure out what had prompted the outfit. “I am actually here with the Polish group. I am the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland for North Carolina. But, I am not Polish. I am your typical southern, white, Anglo-Saxton Protestant. But I studied German in high school and got really interested in the cultures over there.” Referring to his hat, he explained it was created by local, elderly Polish-American ladies, who bought the materials themselves. “This is a traditional Polish hat. They made it back in 1986 for the opening for the International Festival. I was there for that. I’ve actually been to the festival every year. Well, in 2010, I did miss the festival proper, but I helped set it up, so I count it. My wife had her 50th high school reunion.”

At this point in the conversation, Alvin tried to think of other things to tell us about Highway 64 and North Carolina history. He explained how his family had been in North Carolina for over 300 years, and he could remember back to 1949, when North Carolina was very different. “There were almost no Catholics in North Carolina when I was growing up. When Kennedy was running for president, they were looking at the breakdown of Catholics in each of the states. North Carolina actually had the smallest percentage. But now, things have really changed. Right by Siler City, there is a giant Catholic church that looks like it could be right out of Mexico.”

When prompted to explain why this changed happened, Alvin responded, “Culturally, the state of North Carolina has changed greatly. When I was growing up, everyone was a WASP.” He quickly explained the acronym (White Anglo-Saxton Protestant) because we all must have shown some real confusion in our expressions. “The other group of people was what I like to call BAAP—Black African American Protestant.”

“But now, we have so many other people in the state, like people in the Polish club. The Research Triangle Park is really influenced this change. When companies moved down here, it would really shake up the whole Triangle. A big one was IBM, which brought people from the upper Midwest and upstate New York. Overall, Raleigh has really grown.”

We asked him for his final thoughts on Highway 64 in regards to his life, and he thought for a moment. Squinting his eyes, he said, “64 is really a sort of central road. It can be a connecting route if you want to make your trip worthwhile and get to point A to point B. The road can take you east to the zoo, and to Rocky Mount—that is where my mother grew up. Or you can head west, and the road splits at Zebulon. There are parts when it turns into single lanes, and the traffic really slows down. Then you reach the coast and Kill Devil Hills.”

After talking briefly about the project we were completing, we were able to takea picture with Alvin. I mean, it’s not everyday you get to meet a WASP, Polish Honorary Consul!

International Festival: Raleigh

Posted on November 24, 2014 by mreilova

By Caroline Zybala – 2014

Our first stop for our entire Highway 64 project was the International Festival, held in Raleigh. When we looked at the event online, we decided that we definitely had to attend and see what it entailed. With our busy schedules, we could only all attend on the Sunday of the event, but we were sure there would still be exciting things happening on the last day of the festival.

After parking in a parking deck, we trekked towards the convention center, followed by families who were there to experience the event like us, and those who were clearly part of the festival in some manner–dress in traditional clothing from various countries. Seeing these individuals made us excited to enter the festival and check out all the different countries represented.

When our ticket purchases scanned, we peaked over the railing to see the entire festival spread out below us. We were amazed at the number of booths and people milling around. There were several stages scattered around the center, with various groups lined up to perform their traditional dances, songs, and cultural traditions.

We descended the escalator, and consulted our maps to attempt to navigate the large sprawl of the event. We decided that if we were going to eat something, it should be at the beginning since we had plans to visit a restaurant when we were finished at the festival. We headed to the far end of the setup, and began to slowly make our way down the aisles of booths, assaulted by the sights and smells of many foreign looking foods. There were some food that we could recognize, like bubble tea and pierogies, but for the majority, we had to look at the pictures provided next to the names in order to understand what was being offered. A few of the countries offered samples, which we approached with caution, as we often didn’t know what it was.

With a few items purchased, we briefly sat down to watch a cooking demonstration of pad thai. From what we observed, it was actually quite simple, and we talked amongst ourselves about how delicious it smelled. We had also assumed we as the audience were going to receive some samples of the food, but unfortunately, luck was not on our side.

With plans to watch an African dance, we had some time to kill before we had to take our seats at the main stage. Weaving through the various booths, our group was intrigued by all of the items the various had for purchase. Miranda was particularly drawn to the booths with jewelry, especially one with a cool necklaces from South Africa. Each of the different booths had specific items that clearly represented their individual cultures. From traditional scarves, paintings, and statues, the countries were proudly showcasing their products to festival visitors like us.

It was time for the African dance show to start, we took our seats in front of the main stage and settled in for a unique experience. Throughout the whole performance, one of the dancers played the drums, which helped keep the energy of the dancers high and the audience engaged. The leader of the dance, an elderly man, explained the traditional aspects of their dance, and led the audience in an interactive portion of the performance. Being an engaging and personable individual, the man truly made the audience get off their feet and become part of the performance. Towards the end of the dance, they invited different individuals onto the stage, wanting them to represent different cultures who were coming together for one purpose. The woman who was sitting behind us went on stage, and we smiled as her friends and family cheered her on and made funny comments. One of the young boys who went on stage stole the show, by jumping in front of everyone and dancing like he had been born to do. He drew quite a few laughs from the audience members as we continued to play his small instrument even after everyone else had stopped dancing.

After this show, we continued to wander the stands, looking to experience more cultures while we were at the event. Jenna and Miranda took the opportunity to try on traditional saris, while Kelley and I stayed outside the circle of chairs that had been constructed around the women offering the clothing. After snapping a few pictures, we began to look for the booth that was writing people’s names in different language, for free, of course. We had seen people carrying strips of bright paper with what assumed were their names, and we wanted to investigate for ourselves. After looking through all the booths, we finally found the short lines of people waiting to have their names written in Chinese or Arabic, in their respective booths. The four of us decided to capitalize on this free item, seeing that we didn’t want to spend too much money on our trip as a whole.

Blissful Barbecue: The Pit

Posted on November 24, 2014 by mreilova

By Kelley Dodge – 2014

Driving through downtown Raleigh, it would be easy for one to miss the Pit, a barbecue restaurant situated in a restored 1930s meatpacking warehouse. Seeking out this hidden gem,we arrived at the Pit with high expectations due to its prominent reputation. The Pit has been featured in magazines Bon Appétit, Southern Living,Men’s Health, GQ, Imbibe, Delta ,and Food Network, in addition to many television shows like the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, NBC’s The Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, and CBS’s The Morning Show. The Pit even won a rib challenge on the Food Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

Walking up to the ordinary looking brick building, we were pleasantly surprised with the swanky, contemporary décor on the interior. Even better was the smoky smell of barbecue filling the room. We were greeted by an enthusiastic hostess and seated in the center of the main dining room, left to browse the menus and admire the eccentric artwork on the walls. Our waiter, a blonde-hair, blue-eyed boy about our age, was a shy, soft-spoken fellow, but tolerated our questions, often smiling and blushing. “What is with all these abstract paintings on the wall?” Miranda inquires. “Are you art students?” Taylor responds. After assuring him that we certainly were not art students, he shared that instead of going to college he decided to become a waiter at the Pit. While he did not have a personal interpretation of the painting above the table across from it, he recounted an interpretation of a previous guest, stating that the loops and wings in the painting represent “movement.” Taylor also explained that all of the paintings displayed in the restaurant were by local artists, and many of them were for sale.

This “local” theme continued in the Pit’s menu. The pigs used in the Pit’s barbecue are all free-range animals from local North Carolina farms. Additionally, all produce featured in appetizers, sides, and desserts are fresh and locally grown. Browsing the menu there was an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and meat and vegetarian options to choose from, as well as thirteen different choices of sides. All of the barbecued entrees came with the choice of “Eastern NC Style” which was prepared in the vinegar-based sauce. The other option was to order the meat “lightly seasoned and ready to sauce” with a more traditional, homemade barbecue sauce.

When Taylor returned to the table to take our order, Caroline, a North Carolina native, opted for the “Eastern NC Style” chopped barbecue pork, while I stuck with the “ready to sauce” version of the pulled pork. Miranda and Jenna opted for some non-traditional dishes with Miranda ordering barbecue tofu and Jenna ordering chopped barbecue turkey. Each dish came with two sides, so we ordered an assortment of French fries, sweet potato fries, fried okra, and macaroni and cheese.

Less than ten minutes later a server was setting dishes in front of us, allowing us to take in the mouthwatering smells. When the food was served, we were in paradise; not only was each entrée accompanied by two sides, but each plate was also served with crispy, golden brown hush puppies and the most divine biscuit I have ever eaten.The macaroni and cheese was also delicious, baked with some chunks of crispy cheddar cheese. Then there was the meat (and tofu) that was cooked to perfection. As we dug into our entrees, the table immediately fell silent with pleasure. Though we did not order drinks, we were offered a drink menu upon arrival and read that all of the spirits served at The Pit are handpicked to enhance the smokiness and spiciness of the barbecue. For most entrees there was a suggestion of specific wines and beers to pair with the barbecue. They also offer a selection of bourbon whiskey, drinks that further enhance the barbecue’s flavor.

When Taylor came to deliver the check, he was impressed by our clean plates. I, for one, ate every last bit of food, savoring my last few bites. We paid a very reasonable amount for our lunch, just $8.99 per meal, which considering the amount of food is a great deal. As we left the Pit, although our stomachs were stuffed, we were already craving more. Of all the barbecue joints that I have tried, the food, ambience, and price at the Pit is unbeatable. Whether you are a North Carolina native or just passing through, this hidden gem is a must for any barbecue lover.

No Speed Limit Signs?

Posted on November 24, 2014 by mreilova

By Caroline Zybala – 2014

After a long day of traveling, all anyone ever wants to do is go home. Our group had spent all day exploring the exciting downtown of Raleigh, and by the time four o’clock rolled around, we were ready to hit the road. But we didn’t actually leave the city until four due to our apparent inability to find our parked car.

Entering what we believed was our parking garage, we were slightly perplexed when we entered the second level and the vehicle was nowhere in sight. Assuming that we had the location wrong, the four of us wound our way up the next few levels, searching for missing car. When our searches proved fruitless, we stood in the middle of the road, staring at each other, and trying to backtrack in our minds.

Finally, Jenna remembered that before entering the parking garage, we had not passed the blow up dancing man that was flailing around in front of the convention center where the International Festival was being held. Laughing at our stupidity, we descended the stairs (well, took the elevator if we are being honest), and trekked over to the second parking garage on the opposite side of the building.

Sure enough, the car was sitting right there on the second level, where we knew it was parked. Thankful to finally get off our feet and start the drive home, we piled into the car and turned on the GPS to get directions home. Keep in mind; it is now 4:30 as we exit the garage. The drive to Raleigh took us approximately one hour, so we were anticipating it taking roughly the same amount of time to drive back. I had a meeting at six pm that evening, but at that point, I was not concerned about making it back to campus in time.

So, we are driving along, chatting about the things we saw and the people we met in Raleigh, when we turn a corner on the road and were greeted by a sea of brake lights. The four of us let out an audible groan as we slow to a complete stop on the highway. None of us had accounted for any type of traffic, given that it was a Sunday. Glancing at the GPS, we watched as the minutes until arrival crept upwards as we slowly inched down the road.

After many groans and rolled eyes, the traffic began to move again. Trying not to freak out, I tried not to look at the GPS, knowing that our arrival time had to be past six. Naturally, I had to look to know how bad it was. Due to the traffic we had encountered, we were now supposed to arrive at 6:15 pm. Since I was the one driving, and I was the one who had to be somewhere at six, I made the executive decision to take matters into my own hands and get us back to campus before six.

After looking around for a speed limit sign, we couldn’t find a limit that was posted. I promptly accelerated and began the race against the clock. A large portion of this drive was on an empty, one lane road, which allows us to fly towards Elon. But of course, there was the occasional car out on a Sunday drive, which would force us to slow down until it was safe to pass them. Generally speaking, I am not a very aggressive driver, and I had never passed anyone on a one-lane road before. But we were on a mission, and no one car was going to be the reason we would fail. I proceeded to pass car after car, with a few of these times potentially being questionable decisions. The adrenaline and the fear brought on by taking our lives into my own hands several choice words to be used throughout the drive home.

Naturally, since we were in a hurry, someone needed to go to the bathroom. It’s just one of those life things that is required to happen. So, we pulled into a random gravel parking lot of a Mexican restaurant, and Jenna and Miranda raced inside while Kelley and I impatiently waited for them to emerge. When they popped back out, they were out of breath and laughing at what happened inside. Explaining how they didn’t say a word to anyone inside, but simply darted to the back of the place to find the restroom. And naturally, it was a strange bathroom and the light switch was located outside the one-person bathroom, which presented a struggle for the two of them.

We pressed onwards, racing against time, until we were forced to slow to 35 mph behind an old, beat up pick up truck. With the road winding through a small town, we were unable to pass this truck due to the oncoming traffic. My knuckles grew white and I nervously began to rock in my seat as we crept through the town. Eyes searching for a quicker route, we decided it would be the most efficient to just stay on the road until we reached the main highway. When our turn finally appeared, the engine whined as I pushed the gas pedal to the ground.

The final few miles literally flew by and we sped off the highway, racing towards campus. With ten minutes to go, I quickly dropped off the rest of the group members and raced to change for my meeting. After all the drama and law breaking, I ended up being two minutes early. But hey, I got to experience living on the edge for a change.

Tasting the World in Raleigh, NC

Posted on November 6, 2014 by mreilova

By Jenna Hokanson – 2014

Upon arriving at the International Festival, I was already overwhelmed (in the best way) by the types of music, the saris, the calligraphy, and the henna displayed before me. I was, however, not anticipating the most exciting part of the entire festival- the food. This was not your typical assortment of food. There were desserts, appetizers, drinks, and delicacies from all over the world lined up in a long row of uniquely decorated stalls. I walked along this aisle for some time gazing at everything, wishing that my stomach had infinite space and my conscience could take infinite calories.

I decided that I would first get the food at the Kenya table because it’s a country that I have always wanted to visit. The food I chose was “Bean with coconut milk”- which is exactly what it sounds like; kidney beans and rice cooked in a coconut milk sauce. The result was not like anything I’d ever tasted, but not in an overpowering way. The beans added substance, while the coconut milk provided a sweetness that brought the savory flavor to the beans out nicely. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish- I can still taste it… and even still crave it now and then.

Even though I knew we’d be eating later, food is quite important to me and I had to try something else while I had such a large selection. I looked for a dessert. Caroline and I came across a dish called “Cheese Bread” from the Brazilian booth. The line for what sounded like normal bread was absurdly long. I wanted to be unique and not try a dish with such simple ingredients, but then Caroline ate the “Nutella-filled Cheese Bread”. She loved it in such a surprised and curious way that I had to try it. I think to this day I’m not sure how I felt about it. The ball of soft bread literally had a white cheese squeezed into it, along with a layer of Nutella (a chocolate hazelnut spread) squeezed on top of it. Each bite I changed my mind about my opinion of this treat. The bites with more cheese made me uncomfortable, but the bites with more Nutella worked nicely.

Overall, I am so thankful that I tried both dishes because it was likely my favorite part of the festival. As someone who cannot get out to see the world like I’d love to, this festival was the perfect little taste of what there is out there to see.

For more information, check out: http://www.internationalfocusnc.org/festival

Cocoa Connoisseurs: A Peek Behind the Scenes

Posted on November 6, 2014 by mreilova

By Kelley Dodge – 2014

Videri Chocolate Factory is a “bean-to-bar” chocolate factory located in downtown Raleigh. Embarking on a self-guided tour through the factory, we got a glimpse of the roasting, winnowing, grinding, and tempering parts of the process. Made with organic, fair-trade ingredients, we ended the tour with the best part of the visit: free samples. We tried each of the four signature flavors: classic dark chocolate, dark milk chocolate, dark chocolate with sea salt, and lastly, pink peppercorn chocolate, which was…interesting. Overall the industrial-era architecture, quaint outdoor patio, and full-service chocolate bar give the factory a perfect atmosphere for a chocolate lovers delight.

International Festival of Raleigh

Posted on December 3, 2013 by hdooley

By Brynna Bantley, Grace Elkus, Anne Marie Glen, and Dustin Swope, 2013

Every year, Raleigh takes time to celebrate culture and diversity by hosting the International Festival of Raleigh. The annual festival aims to explore other cultures, their ways of living, and new perspectives of thinking about the world. For many attendees, it’s a night to celebrate one’s heritage and history and share it with the community they now call home. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for those who identify themselves as American first and foremost to gain an appreciation for just how ‘global’ their community is.

The night started out as a test of patience. Having arrived at the Raleigh Convention Center at 4:30 p.m., we assumed we would be first in line for the 5:00 opening of the festival. Instead, we found ourselves standing in a long line with no signs of motion. We took this time to people watch, taking note of the various ages and ethnicities of attendees. Our first multi-cultural moment of the evening occurred when a very small Japanese boy bumped into one of our group members, and his grandmother took the opportunity to teach him to say “I’m sorry” in English.

For the true “outsider” — not from Raleigh, not from North Carolina, only knowing what is implied by news stories from the area and statements by political representatives — this was the perfect reality check. Clearly, Raleigh residents will turn out for a chance to step outside their comfort zone and share their culture humbly with others. And nothing on TV gave us reason to expect whole families who spoke Japanese as their first language lived in Raleigh. Until now, we had expected the international festival to be what one could learn from the Internet, put into action. Maybe this wouldn’t be the case, after all. Both these lessons lifted our spirits, and we hadn’t even entered the festival yet!

Forty minutes later, we had made our way in. Arriving on the second level, looking down over the festival, we were overwhelmed by the vast size of the event. Peering at our pamphlets, we learned that the large stage would soon host various dance groups and performers. The makeshift walls set up in the corner indicated cooking demos would be taking place. Long rows of white tents promised arts and crafts for sale from every country, and unicyclists and cameraman weaved their way through the crowds. But our first stop wasn’t the stage, or the crafts. It was the food.

Between the four of us, we covered a fair amount of ground. We tried the veggie platter from the Indian station, which consisted of rice, naan, paneer, gulab jamon, mango lassi, and channa masala. A visit to Kenya brought us spicy boiled spinach, while Afghanistan boasted turkey-and-cream-cheese samosas and Cambodia offered seafood summer rolls. A handful of decadent bean paste dumplings from China and Vietnam were all met with sighs of approval. We munched on sweet potato fries from Kenya while sipping bubble tea from Taiwan. We savored Stroopwafel from the Netherlands and red bean buns from Japan. Once we were full and satisfied, we noticed it was time for the cooking demo, so we made our way over.

As soon as we stepped into the demo, smells of garlic and ginger wafted over to us. We sat and watched as a local restaurant owner made ground pork and cabbage dumplings (recipe below). We learned how to peel ginger with a spoon, learned the pros and cons of steaming, frying, and sautéing dumplings, and were taught multiple techniques on how to seal the wrapper closed. The restaurant owner was adopted from Korea and raised in Detroit, so she said the Korean-inspired food at her restaurant brings together influences from Korea, Detroit and North Carolina. She also said she gives chefs room to be creative with seasonal ingredients, so the menu is constantly changing.

While the cooking demos were going on, there was music echoing through every corner of the hall. In the Biergarten area, where patrons could buy beers from parts of the globe from Ireland to Japan, the stage was first host to singer Ye Ning Feng, treating the audience with the unique sound of Chinese opera, and dazzling in her red silk performance dress. Following her melodic act was The Paco Band, a Spanish and nuevo flamenco ensemble who played a spirited set that left the listener wanting more.

The multiple stages were not the only places where global music could be heard. Even just wandering around, maybe getting a little lost in the many countries’ booths, one could hear the sounds of faraway lands, brought close together by the festival. In Japan’s booth, a woman expertly played the koto, a large string instrument played sitting up over it, like a piano. A large crowd was gathered around to watch and enjoy the soulful notes. Those of all ancestries gathered and appreciated the feelings evoked by the traditional instrument, unable to just walk by such beauty.

Not only did we leave the festival full of food, we left full of appreciation for the diversity present in Raleigh and for everyone who shared their culture with us throughout the night. Needless to say, it was well worth the wait.

“Happy Hug” dumplings:
Makes 45-50
1 lb. ground pork
2 tbs. chopped fresh ginger
1 tbs. freshly minced garlic
3 tsp. salt
1 ½ cups finely chopped cabbage
All-purpose flour
Hot water

1. Put the ground pork in a large bowl and add the ginger, garlic, 2 tsp. salt and cabbage. Using your hands, mix the ingredients together. Freeze the mixture if you are making the dumplings in advance.

2. For the wrapper, use 3 parts flour to 1 cup hot water. Mix the two together and 1 tsp salt. Knead the dough, then roll it out into a thin sheet. Use a pastry cutter or a biscuit cutter to cut out circles.

3. Take one wrapper and scoop a little less than 1 tbsp. of filling onto the middle. Fold up the sides and pinch the top closed, then pinch the sides together.

4. These can be steamed, fried, or pan-sauteed. For sauteing, heat a little bit of olive oil in a pan. When it is shimmering but not smoking, add the first round of dumplings. Cook one side, then flip. Dumplings are ready when the wrapper has turned a golden-brown color. They can be eaten plain, or can be added to soup with greens and scallions. For a sauce, mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and scallions. Enjoy!

The Raleigh Times: An authentic Raleigh business turned restaurant

Posted on December 3, 2012 by jrealmuto2

By Mia Brady

Upon entering The Raleigh Times on East Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh, I was captivated by the atmosphere. While this popular restaurant and bar opened just six years ago, the building it is housed in was constructed in 1906. The Raleigh Times, the newspaper for which this restaurant is named, called this building home for many years more than a century ago. The Raleigh Times pays tribute to this newspaper in more ways than its name; the inside of this old building displays original ceilings and original walls from the authentic building. Framed and blown up photos of Raleigh during the early 1900s can be found on the walls, as well as antique articles from the Times, and more modern day articles on the success of the bar/restaurant.

When handed the extensive menu, I was overwhelmed by the variety of choses of both beer and meals. Within the first few moments of perusing the menu, Phoebe and I knew we would be ordering beer. How could we pass up the multiple North Carolina, state brewed options, or of course, the ales straight from the oldest brewery in the world found in Germany? After ordering our beers, which arrived prompted in large, ice cold glasses, we asked the waitress for her opinion on food, wanting to ensure that we ordered the best of the menu. We had spent quite some time reading the descriptions of delicious sounding options like Meaty Crispy Chicken Wings and Chicken Fried Pickles for appetizers, and the Salami Brie Burger and Heavy Seas Hanger Steak, completely unsure of what to order. For an appetizer, she answered, without hesitation, “You have to get the nachos with BBQ pork. The pork is to die for”. We didn’t second guess her suggestion, and ordered these nachos along with the Braised Pork Enchilada, eager to try as much Carolina BBQ as we could. In addition to the enchilada, we got the Black & Blue Burger per the waitress’s suggestion as well, based on her claim that the seasoning on the burger added something more than we were used to.

We had a lot of food coming our way, but we were eager to put a taste to the unique atmosphere of The Raleigh Times. As we waited for our food, we intriguingly looked around the restaurant, admiring the photos on the wall as well as the old-fashioned ceiling. The nachos arrived first, and after just one bite, I was sold on the taste of the barbecue pork mixed with the traditional nachos flavors of cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream. When the Braised Pork Enchiladas and Black & Blue Burger arrived, we split each dish half and half to share, eager to taste everything.

The enchilada encompassed the same delicious taste of barbecue pork from the nachos, while the burger was perfectly cooked, while the seasoning, blue cheese and sautéed onions added a flavorful addition. We kept eating, despite the fact that we were absolutely stuffed, until all plates were nearly clear. Between the delicious, unique-tasting food, the appealing atmosphere and rich history, The Raleigh Times is not a place to miss in the state’s capitol.