The Gourmez

This weekend, I hit up the Txakoli Fest held at Six Plates Wine Bar in Durham.  A $5 entry fee gave you access to an afternoon and evening of live music and a traditional glass to take home.  Six Plates is always an enjoyable spot to pass the time as I love their goth-lite vibe, [...]

The Raleigh Times Bar 14 East Hargett Street Downtown Raleigh http://www.raleightimesbar.com/ Entrees:  $7-12 The above picture does not do justice to the atmosphere of The Raleigh Times Bar.  It is much larger than I expected, taking up half a city block but divided into a lot of cozy, smaller spaces with two main bars, the [...]

Hendrick’s in the Garden The Raleigh Times Bar http://www.raleightimesbar.com/ This cocktail was a mix of cucumber chunks, lavender syrup, gin, and club soda on the rocks.  The strong, yet bland gin quickly took control from the cucumber and sweet lavender.  It’s rare that I want the gin in a drink to be more flavorful but [...]

Taqueria La Vaquita 2700 Chapel Hill Road Durham http://lavaquitanc.com A la carte:  $2-6. Plates:  $8.29-14. Taqueria La Vaquita is a local favorite for many Durhamites and has received lots of press, including nationally.  I have been salivating to give it a try for months.  Their building, of course, is notable for the cow (la vaquita) [...]

Westbend Vineyards Le Noirien Other Words on the Label: 2005, Pinot Noir, Yadkin Valley This pinot noir has quite the fiery nose with a strong alcohol presence, plum, and leather.  I taste lots of extra ripe plum, some raw sugar and a bit of bourbon.  It is tart with a light sweetness on some sips.   [...]

Dellatorri Chianti 2007 I didn’t pick up much from the smell of this wine, so if I had to offer something, I’d say it smelled of unripened pluot.  The taste was more striking, with the first sip making me wonder if I’d bit into a lemon seed.  That taste lingers for awhile but mellows after [...]

Satisfaction Restaurant and Bar 905 W Main Street Suite 37 Brightleaf Square, Durham http://www.satisfactionrestaurant.com Sandwiches and Salads:  $5.29-8.99. Pizza:  Starting at $8.59 for a small, plain cheese. On a Sunday afternoon, Satisfaction is a relaxing sports bar and grill.  I specify when we ate because I’ve been here for a drink on a game night [...]

Meridian Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Other words on the label:  California This wine has a spicy nose of cumin and rich cinnamon.  Figs are the central fruit though there is also a small bit of pipe tobacco on the finish.  It is tart and spicy.  For people like me who love a spicy wine, it [...]

Little Red Corvette Jujube, Chapel Hill http://www.jujuberestaurant.com $9 The Little Red Corvette is made with agave syrup, tequila, and hibiscus nectar.  It was served in a double old-fashioned glass.  The drink was a beautiful carmine pink at bottom, with the shade getting lighter the higher up it went. Hibiscus is a great choice for a [...]

Tandoor Indian Restaurant 5410 Highway 55 Greenwood Commons Durham http://tandoorinrtp.com Entrees:  $10-19 Tandoor, situated in a nondescript shopping center, has a nice, white tablecloth interior with plenty of tables and booth seating and a small, cute bar with elephant figurines on display.  The Indian music playing had an upbeat tempo, which was appreciated as Indian [...]