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!

You've come a long way, baby!

Every time I would get new issue of the AAA travel magazine, we would talk about the possibility of a trip to the Airborne and Special Forces Museum in Fayetteville, NC. It was on that list of things that you want to do but somehow never get around to doing. Then, we did!

We made plans for a road trip over the Memorial Day holiday to finally get down there. Fayetteville had always gotten a bad rap. Pawn shops, used car lots and bad tattoos were the things that most people associated with the town. Asking a friend who is from that area for recommendations, I was hearing that we could find lots of other things too! I did a little extra research first because I knew that we would have to eat! We were ready to go!

 

First things first! The museum is definitely worth the trip! There was so much to see! The displays were engaging and the stories were fascinating. The soldiers were so life-like that sometimes you felt like they were sneaking up on you!

As you wind around through the facility, it is easy to lose yourself in the times and events of the last seventy years of military history. There was also a simulator that took you along with the troops. Riding motorcycles, flying through the air, bouncing around in the desert, and skiing through mountains, it was quite a ride!

After the museum, we decided to see more of what Fayetteville had to offer. There has been a major renovation effort going on in the downtown area and you could tell! We made our way down there to check it out! There were new stores, bakeries, and a wonderful coffeehouse.

The Rude Awakening Coffee House was a wonderful discovery! Mike and I both found it to be a funky little hangout and the hidden courtyard in the back was particularly cool. And what to order? Everything looked so good! I chose the Mexican spiced cocoa and it was delicious!

From there, we made our way to dinner! My friend had recommended Chris's Steakhouse and we were ready to check it out! Described as a "good old American" steakhouse, we were treated to a very traditional and very satisfying steakhouse dinner!

Reasonably priced and offering excellent cuts of beef, Chris's Steakhouse took me back to an old-style Saturday night steak dinner.

It was the kind of place that was nice enough for a special occasion but comfortable enough that most of the patrons appeared to be regulars. The service was outstanding and helped make this a very enjoyable dining experience.

After dinner, we went back to downtown for another visit. Our timing on these trips seems to be especially good because it was our very good fortune that all the gallery openings were going on that night. We spent some time walking around enjoying the art offerings and getting in some excellent people watching! We went to Fayetteville for the day and we liked it!

Mamaw Key would be proud!

Over the last few years the Walker/Elam corner has become the home to several excellent restaurants. Close to my mom's house, I have had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the local specialties and indulge my taste for something other than chain restaurants.

A new addition to this eclectic collection of eateries is Emma Key's Flat Top Grill. Named for the owner's grandmother and located at 2206 Walker Ave., Greensboro, NC 27403, "...Better Burgers, Shakes, Fries, and Snoballs..." gives you no idea of the variety this place actually offers!

On our first trip, Mike went straight old-school with a burger and a shake, but I veered down a totally different path and went for Pete's Vegan Cake, an outstanding combination of falafel and black bean patty! We were both thoroughly pleased with our selections! Both were messy and full of flavor and, for those veggie friends of mine, the vegan cake is cooked in a special pan (not on the grill with all leaky meaty juices)! The milkshake was a treat, the servers were friendly and helpful, and we knew we would be back!

Pete's Vegan Cake

Since our first trip, there have been changes to the menu and updates to the facilities at Emma Key's and they've all been positive! There is now outside seating and even more options on the menu! This time I went for the BLT and a side salad. Piled high with bacon, fresh tomatoes, and perfectly toasted, this sandwich was a sight to behold and a pleasure to eat! The salad was super fresh and the special house dressing was especially delicious!

If you are considering making the trip to Emma Key's and believe me, you should, parking is the one thing that will require you to be a little flexible. Due to the expansion that was necessary on the original building, formerly a barbershop, to make the conversion to a restaurant, there is no on-site parking. There is parking available on the street across the street and they have leased parking in the lot of the Suds and Dud's laundromat on Walker Ave. It's not too far to walk, and probably not a bad idea if you choose to indulge in the one of the fabulous shakes!

Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!

I love good food. Fresh ingredients. Locally grown. Hand-cut. These are all words on the menu at the Iron Hen Cafe that appeal to me. Whether it's for a lovely Sunday brunch or a just rollin' out of the bed lunch, the Iron Hen is an excellent choice. Omelets, pancakes, meat and potatoes, or vegetarian fare... there are plenty of options for the first meal of the day!

The lunch menu is packed with sandwiches and salads that will challenge your decision-making skills. So many! And they all sound so good! On my most recent trip, I chose the pulled bbq pork sandwich. Served on kaiser roll with red cabbage walnut and horseradish slaw with a side of hand-cut sweet potato chips, it was spectacular!

The sandwiches, salads, and a whole host of entrees are offered on the dinner menu as well. There are daily specials and outdoor seating is available. This place is delicious. Located at 908 Cridland Rd. and overlooking Latham Park, the location is convenient to downtown or easy to access from anywhere in town via Wendover Avenue.

It's Donut Season!

On a recent trip to Wilmington, we had the opportunity to have lunch with my brother and his family. After an excellent lunch at Flaming Amy's , my sister-in-law made a suggestion for which I will be forever grateful. When we mentioned that we were headed to the Fort Fisher ferry to make our way back to Oak Island, she asked, "Had we ever been to Britt's Donuts? No?! Oh, you definitely need to check it out!" After she regaled us with tales of the Britt's Donuts glory, we were ready to go!

Mmmm! Freshly-made donuts! That was probably all the encouragement we needed, but this sounded like something special. Passing through Carolina Beach on the way to Fort Fisher, we make the necessary side trip to the Boardwalk. Our destination turns out to be an open-air storefront with a no-frills decor that is open only during the tourist season.

Britt's Donuts, located at 11 Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, 28428, has been cranking out these tasty treats since 1939.

We sidled up to the counter and made our order. Two donuts and a Pepsi. Good gracious! Sweet and light and downright delicious! Definitely worth the detour! The couple next to us was splitting half a dozen and I have to admit that I couldn't resist just one more myself before we headed back out! Gotta get 'em while they're hot!

Super Saturday!

The whole thing started with a hat. I had been looking at hats online, but I really wanted to try them on in person. I wanted to make a trip to Bass Pro ! But to get my husband to go along with it, I was going to have to make a trip out of it! I was trying to talk him into the possibility of heading off to Charlotte. When he mentioned that he had been reading an article in Our State magazine about the best hamburger places in the state, the trip was on!

The very next day was a beautiful Saturday and perfect for the trip! Turning up the music, enjoying the weather, and settling in for the ride, we were officially on another food adventure! Headed south on I-85, we were off!

Before we hit Concord Mills, there was a side trip to the Harley store for Mike. And guess what's beside the Harley store? The Beef Jerky Outlet!! Oh yeah! That's all North Cakalakie for you! I had to check it! Hot sauces, barrels full of jerky, and a tasting bar! It was even better than I had even hoped!

An island in the center of the store served as the tasting station. Numbered and labeled, the samples were waiting for perusal. The form available for marking your selections reminded me of the one at the sushi bar. Complete with tiny pencils! Cherry Maple Turkey Jerky was my immediate fave! It tasted just like bacon! Mmmmm! Bacon as a snack food!

I tried several others, and, just so you know, blazin' really does mean super hot!! I made my final selection, purchased a coke in the bottle for washing down the dried meat treats, and made my way on to our next stop.

Concord Mills was our next stop and Part I of our mission was accomplished. Lots of people were watched, shoes were tried on, and pretzels were eaten. And finally, at Bass Pro, the perfect hat was found! I might add that there was an awesome fishing demonstration, and we even climbed on board a pontoon "party" boat in the middle of the store.

Hungry, we headed off to our next destination! We were off to check out South 21 Drive-In ! An old-school drive-in restaurant, this place is a throwback in all the best possible ways! Serving Charlotte since 1955, this place is the real thing! The menu, the location, and the curb service all combine to take you way back!

Pulling up to a spot under the cover of some shade, the first surprise was the variety on the menu. Golden fried chicken, chopped barbecue, and fish-o-burgers were options that we hadn't even considered. Cherry flavor to add to your soda and milkshakes were sweet treats to add indeed.

The specialty, the Super Boy hamburger, two beef patties, mustard, onions, lettuce and tomatoes, is described as a "meal in itself" and they're not kidding. Mike and I both opted for the Jumbo Cheeseburger, a Super Boy with two slices of cheese. Mike got the plate with fries and I went for the onion rings. We were ready to dig in!

His

Hers

Deeeeelicious! This burger delivered on every promise! Tender, juicy patties cooked to perfection... I was sold! And there wasn't a single misstep, my onion rings were perfectly crisp and Mike's cherry milkshake was especially tasty!

Fresh strawberry pie finished me off! Whipped cream, strawberry filling, whole strawberries, and a great crust, this pie seemed bottomless after the Jumbo Cheeseburger! Super sweet but very fresh, this was a treat to share with my sweetie!

With our bellies full, but not quite ready to head home, we decided to add another stop. Plaza Midwood was not too far to drive, so we headed out. We decided to go by Ace Custom Tattoo to see a friend, but were disappointed to find that he was out having dinner too! Since we were already there, we took a stroll through the neighborhood. There were several funky stores and restaurants nearby and soon we found ourselves at Rodney Raines' latest endeavor, Twenty-Two. "An art gallery with a retail wine shop and bar serving a wide selection of beverages," does not adequately describe this fabulous place! We got the chance to enjoy an outstanding exhibit of the photography of Chris Radok and we were thrilled to find ourselves there on a beautiful Saturday evening.

We still didn't get to see our friend, but we did get to see even more of what Charlotte had to offer.

A Super Saturday and definitely worth the trip!

Summer Lovin'!

Folks had been telling me all about the delights to be found at Chop's Deli (130 N. Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401), but I hadn't had the opportunity to check them out for myself. The Wilmington area is one of my favorite stomping grounds, so when I had the chance to make a little field trip up the road from our Oak Island vacation spot, I jumped at the chance. Meeting a friend downtown for lunch, Chop's was the choice for this rainy Friday afternoon.

Surrounded by big sandwiches, fresh ingredients, and friendly folks, I am sold from the time we walk in the door! My friend, apparently a regular, recommends a number of sandwiches... the reality is, you can't go wrong! Sizing up my options, I go for the Tripoli! Just looking at the list of ingredients, I'm drooling! Pastrami, corned beef, rare roast beef, sharp picante provolone, muenster, baby Swiss, red onion, peppercorn gourmaise, deli mustard, and horseradish sauce on rye panino... all-in-one! I'm down!

A side of homemade macaroni and cheese and a big glass of Orangeade and we're ready to chow down! And it was everything I had hoped! Huge sandwich, delicious ingredients and great company! Definitely worth the trip!