Round and Baked or Square and Fried?

What to do on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? After seeing an ad for the 2011 Jewish Festival to be held at Temple Emanuel, 1129 Jefferson Road, Greensboro, NC 27410, I had a pretty good idea! The weather was spectacular, and I was more than a little curious about the event!

I had read that there would be food, arts and crafts, a variety of entertainment, and sanctuary tours. I was looking forward to a cultural and culinary experience for sure!

The turnout for the event looked good. The traffic was heavy and parking looked daunting, but I was actually able to find a prime spot right up front! I met a friend there who was interested in reconnecting with some of the very things that she remembered fondly from her childhood... the food!

As we approached the gate, the lively music playing and the friendly greetings from members and volunteers added to the already festive atmosphere! We purchased tickets for food and beverages and headed over to check out some of the booths.

A wonderful introduction to Jewish culture, there was plenty to see. Music and dancing mingled with educational offerings and a hoppin' Kids' Zone. Information was available about the congregation and its outreach, and prayers could be placed in a replica of Jerusalem's Western Wall.

Entering the Temple building, we were met with an excellent selection of jewelry, handcrafted items, and artwork for sale. We checked the tour schedule and headed out to get something to eat!

Chicken soup with matzoh balls or Israeli food plates featuring hummus and pita, couscous, spinach pie, and salad beckoned from vendors' booths. The bialys had apparently come in from Brooklyn and the pastrami and corned beef were shipped from the Lower East Side of New York City.

We went for the plate! Corned beef on rye, sauerkraut, and a side of coleslaw.

Next, we hit the knish booth... Knish, a traditional Jewish snack food consisting of a potato filling wrapped in dough, was a new thing for me. So, round and baked or square and fried?  We had to buy both kinds!

After getting something to drink, we pulled up some curb and got ready to enjoy some authentic and delicious food! And, boy, was it good! The sandwich was thick and meaty! And wow, I could eat a whole truckload of knishes! Baked or fried... both were great!

And then it was on to the baked goods! So many options! Rugelach filled with chocolate and black and white cookies... Delicious knots of challah! I was definitely enjoying the culinary portion of the experience.

After filling up on baked treats, we moved on to the Sanctuary tour. Fascinating history and entertaining anecdotes, the tour was certainly a highlight of the afternoon. The simple beauty of the stained glass windows, the elegant craftsmanship of the carpentry, and the clean lines of the architecture helped create a reverent yet comfortable atmosphere in which to gain insight into the Jewish faith and the congregation of Temple Emanuel.

We made one more pass through the arts and crafts booths, and this time checked out the gift shop. A wonderful array of jewelry, gifts, and items for the home... I was able to find a unique and beautiful hamsa necklace that I can enjoy even more having been given this opportunity for a greater appreciation and understanding of Jewish culture.

The Little Restaurant that Could!

When I was younger, the variety of Asian restaurants was pretty limited. As the culture of Greensboro has become increasingly more international, the variety of options has expanded tremendously. And I am thrilled! Always willing to try the latest and most unusual food offerings, it has been rewarding to find so many different places to choose from in this area over the last several years.

Of those options, I have found a number of reasons to enjoy Vietnamese food. The dishes are seasoned deliciously without overwhelming the flavors of the meats and vegetables. The sauces are generally lighter and don't drown out the freshness of the ingredients. 

One place that has stayed on my radar even as other places continue to pop up around it, even as food trends come and go, has been Binh Minh, 5211 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27409. This time maybe I'll turn my attention not to a new discovery, but to an old friend. We have been going to Binh Minh for years and continue to enjoy all that this little place has to offer.

I can certainly enjoy a big bowl of pho (noodle soup) just about anytime, and the fact that you can choose from a variety of noodles and other ingredients to suit you makes it a particularly versatile dish.

The vermicelli dishes are always an excellent option as well. Again, you get to choose from a variety of components to go with the noodles from spring rolls, lemon grass, curry, and pork, beef, chicken or tofu for a  fresh and tasty bowl to suit any taste.

Where things can get really interesting for the more adventurous palates are on the more traditional Vietnamese dishes. The marinated quail is an excellent and inexpensive dish. The quail is tender and the sauce is delicious!

There are always some things on a menu that you might avoid even at a restaurant that you go to all the time.  At Binh Minh, there was a dish that that I had always been a little afraid of.... The "Special" Pho.... Beef stock and beef... accompanied by tendons and tripe!

I will eat all kinds of things but I had pretty consciously avoided this soup in the past...

Welllllllll... feeling pretty adventurous myself recently, I decided to give it a try, and it was outstanding!

I loved it! Call 'em innards, offal, whatever... I call 'em good!

The tendons were tender and soaked up the delicious flavor of the broth. The tripe was a little chewier, but also very flavorful! I couldn't believe how very good it was!

But don't let this scare you! Tucked away in a strip shopping center on Market Street, you might have sailed by this place a thousand times, but take the time to enjoy all the wonderful comfort food they offer.

Casual and comfortable, the people at Binh Minh treat you like family. The owner will help you make a selection if you are having any trouble deciding, and one of the best things about Binh Minh is that there is a huge variety of options on the menu. There really is something for everyone!

Can I get that deep-fried?

The racetracks are definitely fun, but I have been going to the fair since before I knew anything about NASCAR! I really do love the fair, and it was only a few short years ago that we discovered that the Dixie Classic Fair has it all! The State Fair in Raleigh is BIG time, but for just as much fun and whole lot closer to home... the Dixie Classic has been the place for us!

As soon as you enter the gate, the sights, sounds, and especially the smells will lure you in right away!

The first stop for me is the roasted corn! Cooked to a sweet tenderness, never mushy...

Oh, did I mention the butter?!

I add some Old Bay seasoning and I'm ready to chow down!

And we're just getting started!

Can we get something deep-fried?!

If you can think of it, they're frying it! Deep-fried Oreos or Snickers... Deep-fried Hamburgers or macaroni and cheese... you name it!

We've tried the deep-fried bacon and loved it! It'll make you think of that delicious collision of pancakes and bacon on your breakfast plate! And it's a good thing!

The deep-fried Twinkie is the classic! Creamy filling wrapped in a sweet and doughy blanket served up on a stick! It should be illegal!

But this year we tried something that looked a little different!

Deep-fried Kool-Aid!

I still don't know how it works...

Kool-Aid powder + sweet batter = intensely cherry nuggets of tasty goodness!

Sprinkle it with confectioner's sugar and this treat does not mess around!

After doing even more damage to whatever diets we might be on, we're off to the exhibit halls to check out blue-ribbon baking, canning, photography, and quilting!

All kinds of cakes and decorating to look at, I know I never had a school lunch that looked like it tasted that good!

And after checking out the displays of the domestic arts, we're ready to take in some agriculture!

Prize-winning vegetables in all different sizes and categories, and something else that's lots of fun to see...

Each year, the Dixie Classic fair has a theme, and one of the annual activities that goes with that is the opportunity that kids have to decorate vegetables in that theme!

In the spirit of this year's "Everyone's a Hero!" theme, these super-hero costumed vegetables were especially fun!

And then, of course, you've gotta check out the animals...

all kinds of livestock, pigs racing, herding dogs, the biggest horses you've ever seen, fuzzy bunny rabbits...
and crazy looking chickens looking back at you!

And even though you're full of deep-fried treats and giant turkey legs...

 It's time to hit the rides!

... Enterprise, Top Spin, Drop Zone, Music Express, the Zipper, and so many more! ... ready and waiting to spin, twirl, and hurl you through the night time sky!

And finally a highlight on every trip to the fair... the Giant Ferris Wheel! The view from high above the fairgrounds is something to see!

Whew! What a night! It's midnight and the crowds have dispersed... the lights are going down around us! We've closed the place down again this year! Tired and happy we head to the parking lot and pile in the car... I'm ready for a sleepy ride home!

Food on a stick!

I love fall! I love to enjoy the weather, to wear sweaters, and to break out the cowboy boots! I love to go the fairs and to the race tracks at this time of year! And when I'm at the track, I love getting to eat some of my favorite food!

The hot dogs at Martinsville Speedway are definitely worth writing home about (and I have!), but Charlotte Motor Speedway has their own tasty offerings as well!

If you're a fan of a fried bologna sandwich, they make a good one! But it's the corn dog that gets all the attention! I had my first foot long corn dog at a Nationwide race there, and was blown away! And the regular-size corn dog is no slouch either! That bad boy is big!

A beefy dog, wrapped in a breading that is just sweet enough to make this a special treat, and cooked to a perfect crispness...

You may not want to make the call in a head-to-head competition with the "Mart" dog! And since they are not available at the same track, you actually don't have to choose between them. You can check out both tracks and both treats!

Chatham County Detour!

Mike and I had plans to go to the beach. What I didn't know was that Mike has not only gotten to be a good sport about not being able to eat until after I take pictures of our meals, but apparently he's also on the lookout for new places for us to go!

After our trip to the South 21 Drive-In turned out to be such a success, I believe Mike was ready to try the next place on the Our State magazine list of great burgers, and I was all for it!

We were both off work and didn't have to be in Wilmington at any time in particular, so there was plenty of time to make a side trip to Chatham County.

We got to Siler City a little early for lunch and decided to see what the town had to offer. We drove around some and then decided to take a stroll down the main drag. It was kinda slow downtown on an overcast day, and when it started to drizzle, we ducked into one of the more interesting shops on the block. More than a little curious we found ourselves perusing the local pawn shop.

Just a storefront, this place was packed to the rafters with musical instruments, jewelry, wheels and tires, scooters and ATVs, guns and other weapons, even a double barrel shotgun that had been used in Texas by Rangers to disperse angry mobs... the sign said "anything of resale value" and they weren't kidding!

One-stop shopping if you're in the market for a trombone, a pink .380 handgun, and a nugget ring.

But now it was time for lunch! With visions of hamburgers dancing in our heads, we made our way to Chris's Drive-In, located at 1329 N. 2nd Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344, to make our own assessment of their burger offerings.

A smallish white building this place doesn't make much of an impression from the outside, but the parking lot was filling up in a hurry and we were hoping that meant good things about what we were going to find inside.

A blue and white checkered tile floor, white walls and blue trim, this place was pretty basic. But that wasn't why we had made this trip... We were about to find out why this place made the magazine's list and why there were so many cars outside!

The Rollie burger was Mike's choice! Two handmade patties, strips of crispy bacon, plenty of Velveeta cheese, and a big bun to wrap your hands around, this burger was a treat! All that and a side of fries for four bucks! It was also a real deal!

I decided to take a chance on the Rollie bologna sandwich, and I was not disappointed!

Lettuce, tomato, mayo, and my own big dose of Velveeta cheese topped two thick and sizzling slices of bologna...

If I had any doubt about my decision before the first bite, there was not a shred of doubt after it! Perfectly cooked, extra thick slices of bologna, and that amazing Velveeta! Deee-luxe!

We were both pretty darn full, but there was one more thing on the menu that called out to us... there was pie!! The lemon pie came highly recommended... and with good reason!

We shared a slice, and it was wonderful! The consistency was not quite what you would expect... it was thicker than a custard but lighter than a cheesecake and topped with a frothy meringue... this pie perfectly smooth and quite delicious!

Siler City was a worthy detour! With full bellies and smiles on our faces, we were on the road to our New Hanover County destination!

Fast Cars and Fried Chicken!

If Friday night was urban and artsy, Saturday was not! Our plans included the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Bar-B-Q King! And I could not wait! Yee-haw!

We checked out of the hotel and headed to the Hall. An exquisite facility conveniently located in the heart of downtown at 400 East Martin Luther King, Charlotte, N.C. 28202, the Hall of Fame is an impressive sight!

 

And let me just tell you, I loooooved this place! It was so much better than any of my expectations! They have done a great job making this museum a place that appeals to long-time fans or to someone like my husband who doesn't care at all about NASCAR but can appreciate how fun this place turned out to be!

Rather than a dusty old museum where the visitors and the stuff are separated by ropes and glass, this museum is extremely interactive and anything but stuffy!

From the very cool display of the evolution of the cars in the series that greets you when you walk in to the excellent film that gets you into the mood as soon as you sit down, this place will draw you in right away!

There was so much to do and see! As we made our way around, we checked out the displays for the actual inductees that gave you an excellent representation of each man's contribution to motorsports history. We continued our tour and entered into an area where you could choose videos of dramatic crashes and famous fights!

There was memorabilia from all eras of NASCAR history that was definitely worth seeing, and whole sections of the Museum will give you a feel for how things are really done! Hands-on experiences including tire changing, waving the flag from the starter's stand, and simulating driving experiences in actual Chase cars are just a few of the activities that are offered.

For NASCAR fans, gearheads, or somebody just looking for something different to get into, the NASCAR Hall of Fame has a lot to offer and makes for a really fun afternoon!

After getting in touch with our NASCAR roots, we headed to Bar-B-Q King! Located at 2900 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208, this old-school curb service restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and we were ready to check it out for ourselves!

 

Barbecue, chicken, hamburgers, perch plates or trout sandwiches... Oh, my! I finally settled on the bar-b-q chicken, and it was on! This was a feast! Oh, yeah!

This place is outstanding! And if... if... you have any room left... there is dessert!! Fresh strawberry pie!

When it was all over, we had an outstanding day... fun and fascinating tour of the NASCAR Hall of Fame first... followed by a super delicious meal at the Bar-B-Q King!

Thank you Charlotte for a weekend well done! And thank you to my sweetie who helped make this super fun field trip actually happen!

Art and Fish Tacos!

If you're anything like me, you have watched those shows like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and Man v. Food and said "Boy, I would love to go there." You might have even started to make your own list of places that you've read about... or heard about... and want to check out!

Then a weekend comes or holiday weekend which is even better and you think... "How 'bout now?" "How 'bout a trip to Charlotte or wherever...." You start poking around on the internet and before you know it, you've put together a whole tour!

Well, that's what we did on a Labor Day holiday not all too long ago! Charlotte's not too far away... there were places to go, things to do, and food to eat! And before we knew it, this field trip had turned into two days of outstanding food and lots of fun!

Friday, our ultimate destination was Cabo Fish Taco, 3201 North Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28205, but it turned out to be that and so much more!

We soon discovered that it was also the All Arts Crawl in NoDa that night! The North Davidson Arts District (aka NoDa) is a wonderful collection of galleries, shops and restaurants and a very cool historic neighborhood. After finding a place to park, we hit the street! Bookstores, art galleries, and an eclectic variety of stores... all with their doors open... beckoning us to come inside! We got busy checking out the street vendors, shops, and galleries right away!

Wandering around and checking it all out, it was still a little too early for dinner so we made our way across the street to Fu's Custom Tattoo. What a bonus! An excellent show was opening at the gallery and the artist was actually at work while we were there!!

The folks at the tattoo shop were also kind enough to give us the heads up that we needed to get our names on the list at the restaurant before we did anything else!

There was apparently going to be a wait! And they weren't kidding! We were lucky enough to get on the list early! A 30-minute wait was all we had to worry about, but by the time we got called, the wait had increased to one hour. (And just so you know, that wait continued to grow... and by the time we left around 9 it was up to two... hours, that is!)

The menu looked good... and we were ready to eat! The plates going by us to the surrounding tables looked good! There was an excellent variety of sides available to accompany most dishes. Some of them sounded pretty exciting... jalapeno and cheese mashers, mexi slaw, and nopalito salad ... or you could opt for the more traditional black beans and rice, baja rice, or refried beans. Choices! Choices!

We shared the super fresh homemade guacamole and chips. I followed that up with a couple of outstanding lemon grilled tuna tacos. This was one delicious dinner!

A casual atmosphere that was kinda noisy with the sounds of folks having a really good time and some excellent food... Cabo Fish Taco is a perfect Friday night destination!

Filled up, we headed back because there was still more to see! From there we decided to check out the arts market  that was happening at the Neighborhood Theatre, and it was definitely worth it. Upstairs and downstairs, the place was filled with loads of artists and craftspeople with quite a wonderful variety of wares available for sale!

We were also lucky enough to discover the Rat's Nest, located at 442 E. 36th St.!

A wonderful assortment of vintage clothes... cowboy boots, dresses, accessories, western shirts, ringer tees, belt buckles, and other funky stuff...   this place is definitely worth a peek!

We perused the stores, ate the food, watched the people, and thoroughly enjoyed our Friday night! It was time to head back to the hotel and prepare for a very different Day Two that was soon to unfold!

Veggie Plate, 2.0

And for another take on "Southern Style", the Iron Hen Cafe also offers a sides plate option. Make three or four selections from the sides menu and get ready to enjoy a do-it-yourself vegetable dinner. On a recent trip, I chose the small hen house salad, the collard green egg roll, red cabbage walnut and horseradish slaw, and grilled corn on the cob with parmesan. Delicious! 

But while I'm talking about the sides, I recently had a bad case of food envy when a friend got the okra and I decided at the last minute not to get it. When I saw theirs, I knew that I would have to have my very own on my next visit and I did! I got it, and it tasted like no okra I'd ever had. It's outstanding!!

Better Eat Your Vegetables!

I do love a good veggie plate! Maybe it's because I was a vegetarian for awhile or maybe it's because I have been fortunate enough to live in the South where tasty vegetables are so plentiful. I could blame my Mom who always made sure there were plenty of delicious vegetables on my plate growing up. Whatever the reason, there are times when all I want to eat is a big ol' plate of vegetables!

Located on the grounds of the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market, the Moose Cafe has an excellent list of veggie options! With convenient access to local farmers' offerings, they do change the menu based on what's seasonally available. They have been written up in Southern Living for their "Cathead" biscuits, so you may want to give those a try while you're at it!

Another place that I have had the opportunity to enjoy the veggies recently is the Bayside Seafood and Family Restaurant, located at 3512 E Wendover Avenue, Suite C, Greensboro, NC 27405. This is a great place to get that veggie fix. The list of veggie options rotates throughout the week. If you have a favorite, like my fondness for their lima beans, you may want to keep a copy of the menu on hand before heading out! The list is extensive with about ten different sides to choose from each day of the week, so the hardest part might be making up your mind!

Now, I know that I am not a veggie purist as one might have detected by the presence of macaroni and cheese in both pictures, but I will add that anyone who loves a good mac and cheese will not be disappointed at either place!

We Burn 'Em for You!

On our way to Carolina Beach, we decided to make a side trip to a little place that seemed right up my alley. Located in historic downtown Raleigh, this place was a perfect pit stop! The Roast Grill was our detour destination! 

 

Proudly serving JUST hot dogs, this place has been in business for seventy years! The list of what you can choose is short, but very important! What goes on top of it, what you drink with it and how much they burn it! A flat top grill is employed to get those dogs sizzling exactly like you want them! 

The list of what they don't serve is longer than the list of what they do serve! But what they do serve... they do exceedingly well!

This is a very straight-forward operation! They don't take charge cards! Don't look for fries, chips, coffee, or any kind of tea. The choice of toppings does not include ketchup, cheese, mayo, kraut, or relish. And don't even THINK about asking for ketchup! "Hot Dog" George Poniros, your host, will let you know that ketchup doesn't even belong on a hot dog!

What the list of toppings does include is your choice of yellow mustard, hand chopped onions (described as sweet and mean!), homemade chili, and/or hand chopped slaw (marinated, no mayo)! Glass bottle beverages are available to enjoy with as many hot dogs as you want!

On the walls, there were pictures from the Man v. Food eating challenge and of those who have since gone on to break the record set on the show. A couple of guys thought they might give it a try while we were there, but they hit the wall at ten! Watching them just try to do it did add to the entertainment value of our visit!

A very narrow counter on one side and just a few tables on the other side, you can expect to wait in line! But once we got in, sidled up to the counter, we were ready for our very own grilled, blackened, southern-style hot dogs and they did not disappoint!

Open from 11- 4 pm Monday- Saturday and located at 7 S. West Street in Raleigh, NC 27603. These hot dogs are famous and delicious!