Wow! I can’t believe it’s been more than a year since I’ve had an N.C. update post.
Time flies when you’re loving living local, I guess. So, here are some of the new things in N.C. that I’ve been exploring, eating and drinking.
Transfer Co. Food Hall
It’s open! The new food hall in downtown Raleigh is slowly adding purveyors, and I can’t wait to explore it more. You’ve got Benchwarmer’s Bagels, Locals Seafood, Burial beer, ice cream sandwiches, empanadas, all in a super cool modern space.
Apero
Apero is a new aperitif bar and restaurant that has tons to offer: a beautiful setting, an incredible aperitif/digestif/wine/cocktail menu and even delectable-sounding eats, too. We went for a Vermouth tasting with Crude Bitters here, and I can’t wait to go back!
Cortez
If you like Mexican food and fresh seafood, then Cortez might be right up your alley. It’s a new-ish Raleigh spot on Glenwood that is hip, modern and has some tasty dishes to offer.
Ancillary Fermentation
There’s this cool beer pop-up that has been happening monthly in Raleigh, and beer drinkers around here can’t get enough of it. The events are always themed and held in interesting locations with tie-ins from local artists and others. Follow them on Instagram to get all of the details!
M Sushi
This place is up there for highest-rated sushi places in the NC Triangle, so it was fun to get to try it out for my bro-in-law’s bday recently. I’m pretty basic with my sushi (avocado roll, spicy tuna, etc.), but it was neat to see all of the high-quality sushi offerings they had. And my drinking vinegar was delish!
Napoli Cafe
It’s not often that we’re traipsing through Carrboro, but we were one Sunday, and I just had to stop for some gelato at Napoli. I’m glad we did because they had some great flavors and nice outdoor areas to enjoy them in.
Ex-Voto
Durham also has a new food hall, and even though I haven’t been, I’ve had the chance to try some amazing tacos from Ex-Voto at a beer event at Bond Bros. in Cary. They make their own tortillas and the fillings are creative and unique. A must try!
Tour De Brew
In case you didn’t hear, my husband got to design a beer can label! It was for the local Tour de Brew brewery/bike charity event. We were gone for the event, but it sure has been fun to see his handiwork on this local brew.
Liz Kelly Pottery
I can’t remember if I had mentioned this local artisan before, but I’m happy to say that I’m now a proud owner of a Liz Kelly mug. She has the most beautiful pottery pieces with really neat patterns, too. I got this one at Escazu, another local fave.
Stick Boy Bread Co.
There’s a new-to-me cookie in town (well, in Fuquay-Varina), and it is quite tasty. I recently tried the magic cookie from Stick Boy, and it was well worth the trek to Fuquay. They have a wide selection of breads, too.
NY Bagel III
This spot is totally my new go-to for local bagels. It’s got tons of NY vibes and really tasty bagels in your favorite flavors. I recently got a selection to share with coworkers on a Friday morning.
Pizza La Stella
If you like Neapolitan-style pizza, then you might enjoy Pizza La Stella. There are several locations in the area, and they have a nice light crust on their pizza.
BottleDog
Other than having a sweet name, this beer bar has some surprisingly tasty bites…if you’re into poutine. It’s nothing fancy, but it goes great with a local beer.
The Provincial
I made my first visit to downtown Apex for dinner at The Provincial. It’s a quaint little restaurant with some nice local offerings. The carrot cake was a great finish to the meal, too!
New Belgium in Asheville
On a recent trip to Asheville, we went on a tour of their new brewing facility, and it was a blast! It was definitely one of the most fun brewery tours with a lively host and lots of stops to try their beer. And it was free!