miscellaneous recent eating adventures
Alison
Thursday, March 31: Another Thyme
Location: Durham, on Gregson Street, near Brightleaf
Website: http://www.anotherthyme.com/
Oh, I've been wanting to eat here for years! I'm not really sure why I
never did, but when a friend suggested it as our activity for the evening, I
was eager to agree.
We got there around 5:30, no reservation, but the place was completely
empty, so it wasn't a problem. Even when we left, it wasn't terribly busy.
Appetizer: "Trekokker ~ deep-fried Camembert cheese with strawberry
preserves & apple slices"
I think this was well-executed, however it turns out I'm not terribly fond
of Camembert. It was brie-like, and I was expecting blue-like. Can't fault
them for me not knowing my cheeses!
Entrees:
me: "Pasta Primavera ~ garlic-parsley fettucine with artichoke hearts, snow
peas, shiitake mushrooms, and grape tomatoes, tossed with fat-free cream and
Gorganzola cheese, laced with basil pesto"
OMG!! This was fantastic.
companion: "AT Fried Chicken ~ free-range chicken breast rolled in almonds,
Parmesan, herbs and fresh breadcrumbs, deep-fried, served with broccoli and
Yukon Gold mashed potatoes"
I didn't try the broccoli or mashed potatoes -- they did look good, though.
The chicken was phenominal -- the flavors were different and delightful, and
the textures were perfect.
Dessert:
we ordered two deserts and shared:
bread pudding: eh, not bad, but not how I like it. I prefer a contrast of
textures, toasty on top, smother beneath. This was all smooth. Not bad,
but not great.
Crème brulee: my "must order" menu item. Very good, although a bit warmer
throughout than expected. We both definitely prefered the crème brulee to
the bread pudding.
My tab was for the appetizer, my entrée, one of the desserts, and (mediocre)
coffee, was around $30.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 2: State Farmers' Market Seafood Restaurant
Perhaps I chose poorly, but I am not going back to find out. Yuck. My
friend had the catfish, and thought it was quite good. I chose the shrimp
and crab cakes combo. The shrimp were DISGUSTING... barely breaded,
completely dried out, tasted like those little dehydrated shrimp snacks -
YUCK! The crab cakes were edible, but certainly nothing special. The
coleslaw was tasteless, and the fries were big and dry. Phooey.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 9: SalsaRita's
Location: Brier Creek
Feh. I'd rather Moe's by a mile. Had pretty much the same thing I always
have at Moe's, grilled steak salad. The beef had powdery texture and no
flavor to speak of. There was nothing analogous to Moe's Chipolte Ranch
dressing, which I love.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 16: Pie Squared Pizza
Location: Hwy 98 at Shannon (?) Rd, Durham (I think this new shopping center
is called "Ravenstone"
Pizza and wings place. New near my house, so thought I'd give it a try.
Absolutely nothing special. Not bad, per se, just blah.
The pizza - The crust was strange, more crisp than expected for the
thickness. The pizza sauce is thin and bland. I couldn't shake the
impression of Chef Boyardee's pizza kit that a past roommate used to like.
Oh, or cheap frozen-pizza pizza crust.
The wings - standard Texas Pete type sauce - even though the claim to have 6
(now 7) varieties, the two "hot" that I tried were basically
indistinguishable from each other. And, I'm really getting depressed about
the North Carolinian definition of "hot". Neither of the hot sauces I tried
(Pittsburg Pepper and Hotlanta) were particularly spicy or interesting. Oh
well.
--------------------------------------------------------------
There is also a new Chinese place in that same new shopping center. Same
old same old. Not "bad", but nothing at all special, either.
Peter Aitken
news:_cV8e.66467$JL2.2...@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> Thursday, March 31: Another Thyme
> Location: Durham, on Gregson Street, near Brightleaf
> Website: http://www.anotherthyme.com/
>
> Oh, I've been wanting to eat here for years! I'm not really sure why I
> never did, but when a friend suggested it as our activity for the evening,
> I was eager to agree.
>
> We got there around 5:30, no reservation, but the place was completely
> empty, so it wasn't a problem. Even when we left, it wasn't terribly
> busy.
>
<snipped>
Boy does this bring back memories. AnotherThyme was one of the first
"gourmet" restaurants in Durham. I remember when it opened, back in the
mid-80s I believe, when I was a recent transplant from New York. Not that I
could afford to eat out more than every month or two, but it was such a
treat to finally have a place with decent food. Things certainly have
changed since then, and it's nice to hear they are still in operation.
--
Peter Aitken
Remove the crap from my email address before using.
Lisa Drake
best (locally), in your opinion?
Brent Harsh
> Glas to see someome else with a passion for Creme Brulee. Where is the
> best (locally), in your opinion?
My wife is also definitely a creme brulee aficionado and has
thought of publishing an article rating the area brulees - it
just always seems to need more research! <grin>
#1 - Tartine's on old Wake Forest had the best in the area - I've
made runs all the way up there just before closing to get some as
"take out" before I learned to make it myself. We haven't been
back in a couple years now and I haven't heard much about them
recently... still there? Anyone go recently?
#2 - Probably 2nd Empire. You can walk in late, downstairs in
the outdoor seating area off the bar. Hopefully they'll have
some left - I remember watching the waitress head upstairs with
the very last serving one time! Come back...!
#3 - Hmmm... not sure, maybe Fins, but theirs was a "trio" set,
so two were kinda iffy. I've never liked chocolate as a brulee.
Many places serve it now; however, most just don't meet the
standards.
Honors: I had a very interesting savory brulee (I think
containing fois gras) as a tiny "between course snack" at
Fearrington. I thought it was outstanding. Tiny little thing
and sooooo rich.
Off topic: Mehnoush's (my wife's) best brulees ever had:
#1 - Ahwanee Hotel (Yosemite, CA) - White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
Creme Brulee
#2 - Duangrat's (Washington, DC) - Ginger Creme Brulee
#3 - Tartine's - classic (so it ranks right up there)
Definite point detractors:
- body of brulee being too warm, must still be chilled even
after being bruleed.
- "pudding" or "omelette" or "runny" consistency
- too sweet
- tried too hard with too many additions (so go figure on the
Yosemite one! I personally didn't think that much of that...).
- brulee too thin or soggy or thick (gotta be perfect)
What are your criteria for a good creme brulee?
--
Brent Harsh - KD4PBO /"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign: Say
bharsh at ncroadrunner \ / NO to HTML in email and news.
------------------------X-------------------------------
Cary, NC, USA / \ Read my mail with fixed fonts.
david gourley
@twister.southeast.rr.com:
> Lisa Drake wrote:
>
>> Glas to see someome else with a passion for Creme Brulee. Where is
the
>> best (locally), in your opinion?
>
> My wife is also definitely a creme brulee aficionado and has
> thought of publishing an article rating the area brulees - it
> just always seems to need more research! <grin>
>
> #1 - Tartine's on old Wake Forest had the best in the area - I've
> made runs all the way up there just before closing to get some as
> "take out" before I learned to make it myself. We haven't been
> back in a couple years now and I haven't heard much about them
> recently... still there? Anyone go recently?
They closed, unfortunately.
david
Peter Aitken
news:ldrake-9C5C7D....@news1.west.earthlink.net...
> Glas to see someome else with a passion for Creme Brulee. Where is the
> best (locally), in your opinion?
Nana's
Pauline Leveille
> best (locally), in your opinion?
Had an amazing Creme Brulee at Sullivans on Glenwood in Raleigh. It's large
enough for
two people, and I've never actually battled over the last taste of
something - everyone
always wants the other person to have the last taste, nice manners and all,
but
we both wanted it, it was just fabulous! This was a couple of years ago,
hopefully
they still have it on the menu!
Pauline
Bob
> Glas to see someome else with a passion for Creme Brulee. Where is the
> best (locally), in your opinion?
Heather Jones
> Saturday, April 2: State Farmers' Market Seafood Restaurant
>
> Perhaps I chose poorly, but I am not going back to find out. Yuck. My
> friend had the catfish, and thought it was quite good. I chose the shrimp
> and crab cakes combo. The shrimp were DISGUSTING... barely breaded,
> completely dried out, tasted like those little dehydrated shrimp snacks -
> YUCK! The crab cakes were edible, but certainly nothing special. The
> coleslaw was tasteless, and the fries were big and dry. Phooey.
I haven't been in a little while, but I almost always get the shrimp
sandwich. The shrimp are usually perfect -- light, crisp coating, just
done, juicy and hot. I'd be very sad if they have gone that far downhill.
--heather
--
Heather Jones
haphilp at pobox dot com
kuze...@duke.edu
> Alison wrote:
> > Saturday, April 2: State Farmers' Market Seafood Restaurant
> I haven't been in a little while, but I almost always get the shrimp
> sandwich. The shrimp are usually perfect -- light, crisp coating, just
> done, juicy and hot. I'd be very sad if they have gone that far downhill.
I missed the original post, but I'm with Heather on the "I'd be
very sad.." comment. I spent the first 30+ years of my life
eating Louisiana oysters, and over the half-dozen years I've
been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
fried oysters. They always seem very fresh, and the folks at
that place know the First Commandment: "Thou shalt not overcook
an oyster." I don't think I've ever had anything else there,
except nibbles from my wife's plate, but the oysters have always
been just excellent there. The last time I was there was 3 weeks
ago and as always in the past, it was superb. (I like the cole
slaw, and who cares about fries when you've got fried oysters?)
_______________________________________________
Ken Kuzenski AC4RD ken . kuzenski at duke .edu
_______________________________________________
All disclaimers apply, see? www.duke.edu/~kuzen001
Richard Evans
>I missed the original post, but I'm with Heather on the "I'd be
>very sad.." comment. I spent the first 30+ years of my life
>eating Louisiana oysters, and over the half-dozen years I've
>been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
>place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
>fried oysters.
Have you tried Kemp's? I'm no expert, but I've been very pleased with
oysters at Kemp's. Also had some good ones at Gino Russo's a few weeks
ago.
kuze...@duke.edu
> >been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
> >place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
> >fried oysters.
> Have you tried Kemp's? I'm no expert, but I've been very pleased with
> oysters at Kemp's. Also had some good ones at Gino Russo's a few weeks
We've been to Kemps on Hwy 70 twice in the last year; both
times it was good enough, but nothing extraordinary--both of
those times, though, Kemp's was *packed*, which doesn't help
food quality much. :-) Where's Gino Russo's?
Speaking of oysters, I almost never have them on the half-
shell around here; just seems unwise, this far inland. Is
there a place with really good raw oysters around RTP?
jmk
Isn't Kemp's run by the same folks that do the Farmers' Market Seafood
place?
--
jmk in NC
jmk
> Richard Evans <inf...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>
>>>been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
>>>place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
>>>fried oysters.
>>
>>Have you tried Kemp's? I'm no expert, but I've been very pleased with
>>oysters at Kemp's. Also had some good ones at Gino Russo's a few weeks
>
>
> We've been to Kemps on Hwy 70 twice in the last year; both
> times it was good enough, but nothing extraordinary--both of
> those times, though, Kemp's was *packed*, which doesn't help
> food quality much. :-) Where's Gino Russo's?
MacGregor in Cary
--
jmk in NC
kpn...@yahoo.com
<kuzen...@duke.edu> wrote:
> Heather Jones <hap...@pobox.com> wrote:
> > Alison wrote:
> > > Saturday, April 2: State Farmers' Market Seafood Restaurant
> > > coleslaw was tasteless, and the fries were big and dry. Phooey.
> > I haven't been in a little while, but I almost always get the
shrimp
> > sandwich. The shrimp are usually perfect -- light, crisp coating,
just
> > done, juicy and hot. I'd be very sad if they have gone that far
downhill.
>
> I missed the original post, but I'm with Heather on the "I'd be
> very sad.." comment. I spent the first 30+ years of my life
> eating Louisiana oysters, and over the half-dozen years I've
> been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
> place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
> fried oysters. They always seem very fresh, and the folks at
> that place know the First Commandment: "Thou shalt not overcook
> an oyster." I don't think I've ever had anything else there,
> except nibbles from my wife's plate, but the oysters have always
> been just excellent there. The last time I was there was 3 weeks
> ago and as always in the past, it was superb. (I like the cole
> slaw, and who cares about fries when you've got fried oysters?)
I second the oysters and also recommend the scallops. I agree with the
original post that the shrimp are way less than stellar. Fries? Meh.
They
merely fill the plate.
Kurt
PS - I am also from LA, New Orleans, and I only do half shell there.
It's
a good thing I am heading down to Jazzfest in a couple of weeks :)
Richard Evans
>Richard Evans <inf...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>> >been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
>> >place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
>> >fried oysters.
>> Have you tried Kemp's? I'm no expert, but I've been very pleased with
>> oysters at Kemp's. Also had some good ones at Gino Russo's a few weeks
>
>We've been to Kemps on Hwy 70 twice in the last year; both
>times it was good enough, but nothing extraordinary--both of
>those times, though, Kemp's was *packed*, which doesn't help
>food quality much. :-)
Have you been since they expanded the dining room and the parking lot?
I don't know what effect it's had on the food, but it's made the
dining experience a whole lot less frustrating.
>Where's Gino Russo's?
Glenwood, across from Golden Corral.
jmk
--
jmk in NC
Bob
>
> I second the oysters and also recommend the scallops. I agree with the
> original post that the shrimp are way less than stellar. Fries? Meh.
> They
> merely fill the plate.
>
> Kurt
>
> PS - I am also from LA, New Orleans, and I only do half shell there.
> It's
> a good thing I am heading down to Jazzfest in a couple of weeks :)
>
Are you guys eating the jumbo or popcorn shrimp?
I use the fries to soak up the grease. The first thing I do is move the
fries to the lid, then put the seafood on top of them.
kuze...@duke.edu
> PS - I am also from LA, New Orleans, and I only do half shell there.
You'll appreciate this: A half-dozen years ago we were at
42nd street, and we both had a dozen on the shell as a
starter. The oysters were delicious--fat, fresh, and
marvelously delicious. I asked the waiter if they were
from the NC coast, and he said, "No, these came from
Louisiana." :-)
> a good thing I am heading down to Jazzfest in a couple of weeks.
Jealousy! Sorrow! Nostalgia! JEALOUSY!
Speaking of misc.dining.adventures, the best single beer
I've ever had in my life was a cask-conditioned porter at
the Abita Springs brewpub there outside of Mandeville.
Had a darned good oyster po-boy with it. <sigh>
kuze...@duke.edu
> Are you guys eating the jumbo or popcorn shrimp?
Here's a chance to rail: I've never seen a "popcorn shrimp"
that was worth the effort of eating, IMO. They all seem to be
nasty little things that are stored in a freezer until they've
lost all taste and then are overfried until you can't tell if
it's a shrimp or a pencil eraser in that big ball of dough. :-(
Lightly boiled with some Zatarain's, is how to eat dem shrimp. :-)
Craig Watts
> Heather Jones <hap...@pobox.com> wrote:
>
>>Alison wrote:
>>
>>>Saturday, April 2: State Farmers' Market Seafood Restaurant
>>>coleslaw was tasteless, and the fries were big and dry. Phooey.
>>
>>I haven't been in a little while, but I almost always get the shrimp
>>sandwich. The shrimp are usually perfect -- light, crisp coating, just
>>done, juicy and hot. I'd be very sad if they have gone that far downhill.
>
>
> I missed the original post, but I'm with Heather on the "I'd be
> very sad.." comment. I spent the first 30+ years of my life
> eating Louisiana oysters, and over the half-dozen years I've
> been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
> place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
> fried oysters. They always seem very fresh, and the folks at
> that place know the First Commandment: "Thou shalt not overcook
> an oyster." I don't think I've ever had anything else there,
> except nibbles from my wife's plate, but the oysters have always
> been just excellent there. The last time I was there was 3 weeks
> ago and as always in the past, it was superb. (I like the cole
> slaw, and who cares about fries when you've got fried oysters?)
The bottom line is that the freshness and flavor moved out to Kemps on
70 past the airport.
Craig Watts
his own place.
Peter Aitken
news:d43eu6$b9u$1...@gargoyle.oit.duke.edu...
> Richard Evans <inf...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>> >been going there, the Farmers' Market seafood place is the ONLY
>> >place in the RTP area where I've consistently had excellent
>> >fried oysters.
>> Have you tried Kemp's? I'm no expert, but I've been very pleased with
>> oysters at Kemp's. Also had some good ones at Gino Russo's a few weeks
>
> We've been to Kemps on Hwy 70 twice in the last year; both
> times it was good enough, but nothing extraordinary--both of
> those times, though, Kemp's was *packed*, which doesn't help
> food quality much. :-) Where's Gino Russo's?
>
> Speaking of oysters, I almost never have them on the half-
> shell around here; just seems unwise, this far inland. Is
> there a place with really good raw oysters around RTP?
>
I had a really good raw oyster starter at Elaine's in Chapel Hill. But it's
not an oyster bar by any means.
Bob
> Here's a chance to rail: I've never seen a "popcorn shrimp"
> that was worth the effort of eating, IMO.
I have to agree with you on popcorn shrimp.
I haven't eaten at Kemps but if the guy that started the place at the
farmers market is in charge I will. I think he originally ran a place
on 54 at I-40 and Farrington Rd. Lately, if I haven't felt like the
farmers market, I drive out to Dockside in Siler City.
Bob
>>>> Lately, if I haven't felt like the
> farmers market, I drive out to Dockside in Siler City.
Actually that may be the Drydock. I think Dockside was a strip joint
out on I-85.
Jennifer Richards
> Speaking of oysters, I almost never have them on the half-
> shell around here; just seems unwise, this far inland. Is
> there a place with really good raw oysters around RTP?
We actually got decent ones at Rockfish at Southpoint.
Craig Watts
My bad. I got the news from the horse's mouth. He still runs the
Farmer's Market and has opened Kemp's. Just by co-incidence we ate at
the FM on the way to a play tonight in downtown Raleigh. Time strapped.
Scollps were good. I hope it was only a glitch.
Craig
Heather Jones
> Have you tried Kemp's? I'm no expert, but I've been very pleased with
> oysters at Kemp's. Also had some good ones at Gino Russo's a few weeks
> ago.
Unless it has changed, Kemp's is owned by the same people as the place
at the farmer's market. The last time I went was some time ago, but it
was almost exactly the same food, at higher prices.
Mary Lynn
Second Empire
"Lisa Drake" <ldr...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ldrake-9C5C7D....@news1.west.earthlink.net...
Alison
avoid popcorn shrimp as I've never had any that weren't heavy on the
breading/light on the shrimp.
Alison
"Bob" <us...@exajple.net> wrote in message
news:YHb9e.66873$JL2.2...@twister.southeast.rr.com...
Larc
<puddin_...@SPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
| Bob, the experience I was reporting on was the jumbo shrimp. I generally
| avoid popcorn shrimp as I've never had any that weren't heavy on the
| breading/light on the shrimp.
Don Murray's Barbecue in Raleigh has great tiny shrimp on the lunch
buffet every Friday, but I'm not sure they qualify as true popcorn
shrimp. Never too much breading and very good flavor.
Larc
งงง - Change planet to earth to reply by email - งงง
Janni Cone
"jmk" <jmk4...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3cl0ovF...@individual.net...
Actually,
Gino Russo's is in Pleasant Valley in Raleigh, but they also bought Tony's
in MacGregor - so you were still kinda right!
janni
Heather Jones
> Bob, the experience I was reporting on was the jumbo shrimp. I generally
> avoid popcorn shrimp as I've never had any that weren't heavy on the
> breading/light on the shrimp.
Ah. I've never tried the jumbo shrimp, just the ones on the sandwich,
which I'm pretty sure are "popcorn". And yummy.
Heather Jones
> Alison wrote:
>> Bob, the experience I was reporting on was the jumbo shrimp. I
>> generally avoid popcorn shrimp as I've never had any that weren't
>> heavy on the breading/light on the shrimp.
> Ah. I've never tried the jumbo shrimp, just the ones on the sandwich,
> which I'm pretty sure are "popcorn". And yummy.
I was in the area so I tried my usual again yesterday. The shrimp were
good in general, but not quite up the the usual standard...and there
were some overcooked, small, kind of dry ones mixed in with the ones
that were plump and juicy. It didn't so much ruin the sandwich, but it
was disappointing.