Spice and Street Food

Generally, I prefer a smaller menu at a restaurant. When I eat somewhere with too many delicious sounding choices, it makes it too hard to choose. I trust a good chef to narrow it down for me. The menu at Spice Street, in University Mall, is not narrow. The menu includes a few choices in many different cuisines, including sushi, Kung Pao, linguine and greek style kabobs. It's quite a menu to process. The benefit to this extensive selection, lies in group decisions. If you're going to dinner with a group of 8 or more (as I have at Spice Street), there's something for every palate. Thursday nights boast half price sushi and $5 martinis. Now, the $5 martinis were fabulous, they have a refreshing and intoxicating array of specialty vodka and gin drinks. However, I cannot judge the sushi because our waitress warned that we would have to wait over an hour to partake in the Thursday night special. This was really frustrating for me, because you should only hold such a special if your restaurant can handle it. That said, some really eclectic dinner choices kept everyone happy and satisfied. The restaurant is huge, and has a really nice patio, something that seems rare around Chapel Hill. It's definitely an enjoyable place to eat, and they have something for whatever mood you're in.

Spice Street

Indian Food: Dallas v. Chapel Hill

In Dallas, we have plenty of Indian restaurants to choose from. There's an entire suburb that has a neighborhood, Valley Ranch, with outstanding and authentic Indian cuisine offered in abundance. My favorite, actually at Knox and McKinney, is Roti Grill. The Kofta Masala is a vegetarian spicy food lover's dream. It's going to be tough to replace. Or so I thought. I recently tried Saffron, a more upscale Indian restaurant in the East 54 complex. The decor is outrageous, and I'm pretty sure it's not exactly authentic Indian food. It is, however, totally delicious. I shared the Nargisi Kofta, Gobi Musslam and Daal Bukhara with two other friends. Everything was very flavorful with sweet and spicy dishes. Dinner was a little pricey, but also much more food than we needed, so we certainly could have done well with less. Indian food is always a good choice for vegetarians and carnivores alike, and no one ends up sacrificing on flavor. So, which Indian restaurant reigns supreme? I'll take either one any time.

Saffron

Roti Grill in Dallas

American Tapas at Humble Pie

It's been a while since my last post, but this recent restaurant adventure has me excited and ready to continue blogging! This last Saturday, some friends and I decided to visit Raleigh, the "big city" about 30 minutes from Chapel Hill. We were going to try Poole's Downtown Diner, but after learning of a two and a half hour wait, we abandoned that plan really quickly. The hostess recommended Humble Pie, an American tapas restaurant nearby. Humble Pie is located in the warehouse district, and is in an old warehouse. The decor is industrial, but nothing to write home about. The food, however, was some of my favorite that I've tried in the Triangle. It's an innovative menu with various tapas plates that range from southern fare (fried green tomatoes) to Asian-fusion cuisine (sesame seared ahi tuna) and even pasta (butternut squashed stuffed conchiglioni). Everything was full of flavor, and Humble Pie definitely experiments with new flavor combinations. Tapas are usually best with a big group, and with three people we tried five different dishes. I want to go back for more! Humble Pie is definitely a restaurant where "the more, the merrier" applies.

Humble Pie

Poole's Downtown Diner (I am determined to review this one soon, maybe I'll have better luck if I go around 6PM)

Chic and Unique: Dinner at Lantern

It's rare that a restaurant lives up to great expectations. Believe me, Lantern actually exceeds them. It's an Asian-fusion-esque restaurant on Franklin street, and has received some of the best reviews in Chapel Hill. I absolutely loved my recent date night there. The atmosphere is hip but clean, with watermelons in the window and heirloom tomatoes in between booths. It's a very small interior and I noticed that everyone who arrived had a reservation. Despite the higher price point and chic menu, Lantern is still a casual place, with some customers in sandals and even cargo pants (oy vey). I had steamed halibut with baby bok choi, jasmine rice and lemongrass. It was light and totally lovely. The flavors at Lantern are definitely innovative, and it's almost like Asian-fusion with accents of Southern flavors. Oh, and did I mention, rumor has it that the owner is married to the head of Arcade Fire's record label? Lantern's cool factor is so high.

Lantern

Merge Records

Shop on a Grad Student's Budget

While I do love the Streets at Southpoint Mall in Durham, I really prefer shopping in small boutiques. Chapel Hill has plenty of cool smaller shops that I can easily spend some cash in. Thankfully, there's Fab'rik. A new friend of mine in law school in Chapel Hill recommended it, so I stopped by the store last weekend in East 54. Every dress, skirt and tank is under $100. The only pieces that rank a little higher on the price scale are the designer jeans, and those I expect to pay more for. I found out online that this is a small chain of stores that are primarily in Georgia, but there's also a location in Austin, Texas! The pieces are fun and flirty, and dresses seem to dominate the inventory. I could definitely find something fabulous for date night. If you're not sure how to pick that out, visit the Fab'rik Files blog, a good source for fashion inspiration.

Fab'rik

Streets at Southpoint

If Design*Sponge Recommends Toast...

The hype surrounding restaurants in Durham never ends. Prior to my move to Chapel Hill I read the Design*Sponge guide, New York Times and many other publications to find the best of the triangle. Often, Durham dining is the highest rated. My favorite spot so far is Toast. This is located downtown in an area called "five points." Parking isn't easy, but it's worth a walk to get to Toast. It's a casual spot with simple decor, you order at a counter and servers bring the food to you. Toast has a great beer selection, including local favorites, and an interesting wine offering. Everything revolves around toasted bread; paninis, crostinis and bruschetta are the staples in the menu. I had a three cheese white truffle panini and the chilled tomato puree soup. It was an amazing combination on a hot summer day. Everything that went out of the kitchen looked fabulous, and despite the simple decor, the plating is well-thought out. My friend and I had a wonderful time, just chatting over our bottle of wine and toasty delights. Toast is a fabulous place for a girls dinner, but could also be a gourmet quick bite.

Toast

New York Times

Design*Sponge

Note: The photo above is from Design*Sponge

Southern Sunday

Sunday brunch is my favorite time of the weekend. Whether you need of a mimosa, a hangover cure or just some fresh breakfast, brunch at Crook's Corner satisfies any brunch need. A friend and I both heard of Crook's Corner without much research, so we decided to try out the small house on the border between Franklin Street Chapel Hill and Main Street Carrboro. Apparently some other friends had heard the same, because they showed up a little later. The menu was small but not simple. We had delicious hush puppies to start (with cocktail sauce, which is new to me). My friend had the recommended Shrimp and Grits, a southern favorite, and I had the Summer Omelette. Both were fresh and just what the doctor ordered. I did see the French Toast go by to another table, and that will certainly bring me back. It wasn't as dive-y as I had thought it would be, but that wasn't an unwelcome surprise. When the weather is nice, I look forward to sitting on the large outside patio. Crook's Corner could definitely become a Sunday staple.

Crook's Corner

Gourmet Shopping

I recently had my first Chapel Hill brunch experience! Some new friends and I ventured to Weathervane, at A Southern Season. Let's start with the restaurant, Weathervane. The atmosphere was cozy, and the food was good, but not outstanding. They have a really big menu for brunch including lunch and breakfast items, and you can't go wrong with a Sunday mimosa!

But the highlight of our Sunday get-together wasn't the restaurant, it was the store that owns it! A Southern Season is like a foodie paradise. Some combination of EatZi's, Sur La Table and a candy store will get you a good idea. A Southern Season has a salad bar and prepared foods that you can take home and eat. It's also a store with a huge selection of wines, spices, chocolates and did I mention cooking utensils? Knives, Cuisinarts and anything else you need to prepare a gourmet meal are all for sale. It was all I could do to get out of there without spending a fortune. Spiced Vosges chocolate and herbal tea were all that I bought this time, but I will come home with more in the future.

A Southern Season

Sur La Table

Vosges Chocolate

EatZi's Blog Post

I Feel Like Lil' Jon

Occasionally, you know you have to visit a bar just because of it's name. That's the reaction I had when I heard about The Crunkleton. I had imagined a dive bar, but I was way off. This fine Franklin Street bar serves some of the best cocktails you can find. Many items are unique, but bartenders also serve up the classics, like a nice Manhattan. The drinks are strong, but most are delicious. I say most because one of my friends was served a red drink that tasted like turpentine. The service wasn't great, but I don't think that the Crunkleton was expecting around 60 MBA students to show up on a Tuesday night around 10:00PM, and only one bartender was on staff. The atmosphere is warm and luxurious, definitely a welcome departure from the bare bones sports bars that make up most of downtown Chapel Hill. For a hot Tuesday, it was a great place to get Crunk.

The Crunkleton

*Note, this post has been edited since the original publishing.

Dessert in Carolina Blue

I think that Sprinkles Cupcakes are the most delicious dessert in all the world. I'm a little sad to live in a city without one. They're always great for any special occasion, and giving one to my dad keeps me on his good side. But back to the point of this blog post, Sugarland in Chapel Hill. I saw this cute little shop on Franklin Street and it's Food Network approved! The cupcakes were delicious with fluffy icing, almost like homemade. They have really original flavors, and the dulce de leche was my favorite. What's best, they even serve beer and gelato, in addition to full size cakes. Several people were walking around town with the gelato and it will be great for warm summer days. I don't recommend the red velvet cupcake if you're a fan of Sprinkles, it doesn't begin to compare. But don't worry, the vanilla cupcakes even impressed my dad.

Sugarland

Sprinkles

What Exactly Are We Trading?

In Chapel Hill, I finally came into contact with the infamous Trader Joe's. Everyone I've met who has been to the place loves it. I, on the other hand, was a little disappointed. First of all, I didn't really have appropriate expectations. I thought that Trader Joe's was sort of like a low rent version of EatZi's. The other night, I was craving an EatZi's salad, and went to Trader Joe's to find one. I was completely wrong. No salad line, no sandwich line. It's basically a cheap grocery store. The store carries a bunch of private branded frozen foods and other processed packaged stuff. They have some produce and a bunch of booze. I bought bananas only to regret my purchase when I saw the beautiful unbruised bunches a few days later at Harris Teeter. The frozen and packaged foods I bought were really good and they have an excellent method for marking their vegetarian items. A plus for me any time. I will definitely go back and with the appropriate expectations, I'll learn to appreciate it more. However, I'll mostly stick to the Teeter, right across the street with lovely bananas and wine openers for when mine break.

Trader Joe's

Harris Teeter

"Underground" is an Understatement

Saturday night, following dinner, the boyfriend and I wandered further down Franklin Street and overheard some live music. That's generally a hit with us, so we decided to investigate. There was just a small door, and stairs that led us underneath the building. It was perfect. The Cave is an ideal little live music spot. There are very few people there, and the bartender tells us that it's the oldest bar in Chapel Hill. The front room housed the band (who was great by the way) and the bar. The ceilings are painfully low, and there are about three booths in addition to a little bit of bar seating. After the band finished, we wandered to the back room. Apparently this is where the regulars hang. Because there's no cell service in The Cave, they're passing around the bar's cordless phone. It's two guys and a girl. One of the guys is at least forty with dirty long blond hair, wearing a Jerry Garcia style tie dye t-shirt, and carrying around a chihuahua. The three are fervently watching a soccer game. There's a few video game machines, and a pool table. I definitely plan to go back, it sounds odd, but I loved it. Everyone ordered the $2 Miller High Life, so I did too! Maybe if I go back enough, they'll let me use the phone.

The Cave

First Saturday on Franklin

Franklin Street is THE place to dine and drink in Chapel Hill. At least as far as I can tell. This weekend, the boyfriend and I tried 411 West, an Italian Cafe that has a sister restaurant in Raleigh. The atmosphere was really lovely, and it had a quaint courtyard in the back for outdoor dining. The salads were super fresh and the pasta was really good. A step above your regular Italian restaurant. I had a lighter linguine with scallops and shrimp. The location was fabulous and we were able to parallel park in front (I've been forced to practice my parallel parking). We even found a good place to drink afterwards, but that's another story... I've mostly relied on the Independent Weekly for restaurant suggestions and it has yet to disappoint. It was romantic and low key, perfect for a first trip to Franklin.

411 West

Independent Weekly

A Southern Irish Pub

And now, Tarheel in High Heels takes its turn to Chapel Hill. I've been here for a few days, but haven't had the internet until now. Apologies for the brief hiatus.

On my first night, the boyfriend and I ventured over to Durham, a full eight miles from my place, to Bull McCabe's. It's a great Irish pub, something that every town has, and that makes everyone feel at home. Granted, I'm not from Ireland, but Dallas was covered in so many pubs that they become staples in the dinner and drinks rotation. Bull McCabe's has great food, including a veggie burger that I loved! I'm guessing there are more vegetarians in the triangle than in Dallas because veggie items are pretty popular on restaurant and bar menus. This pub will be a great place for the boyfriend to watch soccer! The waitresses are super friendly, another symptom of the South. We really wanted to dine in the downtown Durham area, where all of the old tobacco manufacturing facilities are, and they provide a great backdrop for any bar night (I took the photo above). Though there are plenty of pubs in Chapel Hill as well, I think I will be back to Bull McCabe's.

Bull McCabe's

A Less Dangerous Breakfast Than the Cornballer

I am rarely in the mood to cook for breakfast. Yes, homemade waffles are delicious, and cereal is fine, but on the weekend, I want something better that takes no effort on my part. While brunch at the Dream Cafe is delicious, it's an hour long process with waiters that are probably high and too many calories to get a good jump on the day. Enter Benny's Bagels. This neighborhood gem is in Lakewood and is a favorite of mine and the boyfriend. We usually get the veggie bagel with cream cheese. They have tons of different toppings and you can get hot breakfast sandwiches or cold lox and cream cheese. All of the bagels are made in their shop. I love it. It's an easy spot where you order at the counter and get some hot coffee. The guys working there always make some weird joke that I don't get, but that's part of the oddball charm. It's not the most convenient location (particularly if there happens to be a marathon or bike race in town) but it's worth it to drive around all that mess. Best friends venture to Benny's for hot bagels on hangover days. The best breakfast makes you feel better without any stress.

Benny's Bagels

Dream Cafe

If You Need to Buy Me a Gift...

The coolest store off Knox is absolutely Nest. It's a high end home, jewelry and paper boutique. I'm a huge paper geek and their line of stationery, by Bell'Invito, is 100% gorgeous. Lined envelopes and letterpress note cards make a statement in the mail every time. Every set is elegant and unique. In addition to paper, Nest carries chandeliers, bracelets, bags and more Jonathan Adler than you ever knew existed. I love the jewelry that isn't your regular cookie cutter pieces, but sophisticated and whimsical all at once. It's a very chic environment with a wide open room so that you can take in all of the inventory at once. It's situated between Chuy's and Forty Five Ten, just south of Knox on McKinney. If you want to give a statement gift, Nest is the place to find it.

Nest

Bell'Invito

My Bar: Milo's

Selecting a hang out for my last night in Dallas was not a difficult task. The best friend took one look at me and we both knew, it had to be Milo Butterfinger's. Milo's was my favorite bar in my senior year at SMU, and then for the first few years after. The crowd was mostly locals and it was known for catching fake IDs, keeping out the younger kids. My best guy friends taught me the proper form to play darts and I got pretty good. I once came in my Tinker Bell costume and walked around barefoot. Yuck. But my attention span for Milo's waned and I stopped going as frequently. Enter a new best friend from the Carolinas, a kickball league and a reputation for flip cup mastery. Milo's is partially responsible for our unwavering friendship. In the most recent years, I've only been a few times. The blond waitress that served beer while pregnant in the smoke filled bar is still working there, she was there in the beginning. The french fries are still probably the best in town (a title that Milo's shares with Soup & Sandwich). They've made some updates. Instead of a sticky mystery floor, Milo's now has some sort of hotel hallway carpet, and there's no smoking inside. The dart games are still there, along with the other standard bar games. One BFF spent most of the night at the juke box. For 10 of us, the tab was under $100, and we were there from 9 until almost 2. And we had our fair share of drinks. It's a place unlike any other that makes me happier than any where else in town. No matter where I am in life, Milo's never lets me down.

Milo Butterfinger's

Hold the Pickle

Do you ever wonder what happened to the Soup Nazi, from Seinfeld? I have a theory. I believe he went to anger management therapy and ended up at Soup & Sandwich, right here in Dallas, Texas. This little gem in a semi-industrial office park is a Clampitt Paper favorite. It doesn't look like anything from outside, as you can see in the photo. You're almost guaranteed to run into someone in the paper or printing business while you're there. Most likely, my Fort Worth friend. You can pick up a quick bite to eat and you rarely pay more than $6. The guy who takes the orders at the counter is no nonsense and I believe he's the owner. Let's just say that he's efficient. He knows that Lee doesn't want a pickle and that I like mustard and not mayo. The french fries are some of the best in town. And basically, it's just a sandwich place. The sandwiches are on toast like you would make at home. If you're in heels, you're probably the only one. Well, you, me and my Fort Worth friend.

Soup & Sandwich

Hip to be Square

In keeping with my earlier blog post about original Henderson spots, I have to talk about Louie's! It's dark and ugly inside. It hasn't been re-decorated in... well… probably ever. But Louie's has the best pizza in Dallas. The pizzas are thin crust and cut into squares. Everyone knows that square slices taste better (a la Big Al's pizza from SMU days). You can pile on the toppings, or keep it simple. One of my BFFs really loves Louie's for it's simple and fresh Caesar Salad. I have to agree, it's a darn good salad. The tiny dive restaurant is probably the least trendy place on Henderson, and it still smells a little like cigarettes, though you can't smoke inside any more. Families come in, and there are always locals at the bar. And, a little piece of trivia, Louie's was once featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network. And if Guy Fieri likes it... okay, don't take his word for it, take mine. Louie's is good.

Louie's

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Two Words: Pomegranate Margarita

I take advice from Maria and Dana at Osgood O'Neil like it's gold. And not just about hair... about food, movies and life in general. The best recommendation that I received from Maria was a restaurant, called Cafe San Miguel. It's down on Henderson, near Louie's and Barcadia. It was there before Henderson became the hot spot it is now. Barcadia was a laundromat. They've since added a patio and valet parking for the weekends. Still, Cafe San Miguel is never crowded. They have some of the most delicious Mexican food I've ever eaten. The Lobster Enchiladas are decadent, The Tacos Pacifico are crunchy fried and the Pomegranate Margaritas perfectly refreshing. It's a great place to start your Saturday night before heading to the bar and club scene that's developed, like the Beauty Bar and Bar Celine. It's not expensive, but not cheap and the service is fabulous.

Cafe San Miguel
Barcadia
Beauty Bar
Bar Celine
Note: Bar Celine is my favorite bar in Dallas right now. More on that later...