The Gourmez

Trader Joe-san’s Junmai Ginji Premium Sake I haven’t developed a sake nose yet, because I can only say that Trader Joe-San’s sake smells like . . . sake. It tastes clean and crisp, and of rice, of course, but it’s also densely creamy, without actually being an unfiltered sake. It’s like drinking toasted marshmallow cream [...]

Neal’s Deli 100 East Main Street Downtown Carrboro Website $5.75–$8.50 Hours: M-Sat, 7:30 to 4 On a whim after my writing group, I stopped at Neal’s Deli for lunch. They’ve gotten loads of press lately, most notably in the recent New York Times’ article on the Triangle’s local food culture. I’ve always eyed the inviting [...]

Eastern Shore Blu Seafood and Bar Website My restaurant review Eastern Shore is made from Pimm’s, lemon juice, cucumber slices, ginger-lemongrass syrup, and a splash of ginger ale. All of those flavors come together to create a vibrant cocktail that’s worth your money. Interestingly, the cucumbers seemed to be only a garnish, but their flavor [...]

Two weekends ago, I attended the annual Beaver Queen Pageant in the Duke Park Meadow. Beaver Queen Pageant, you ask, is that a celebration of woodland creatures in all their waddling, chewing glory? Why, yes, of course. What else would it be about? In truth, the Beaver Queen pageant is organized every year by a [...]

Southern Tea Blu Seafood and Bar Website My restaurant review Sorry, no pictures of this one. I really need to stop ordering iced tea cocktails as I’ve yet to be impressed by one, other than ye olde Long Island Iced Tea of course. I’m impressed by Firefly sweet tea vodka, mind you, but it’s better [...]

Evenus 2006 Zinfandel Port Paso Robles, CA The nose of this lovely dessert wine is mainly black raspberry, but there’s also a hint of licorice, making this a combo that my black-raspberry-gumdrop and black-licorice-loving father would have loved. If he drank. Which he didn’t, really. Okay . . . back on track. The first flavor [...]

Fruit Tree in the Forest 2 shots New Amsterdam Gin 0.5 shot St. Germaine Elderflower Liquor 1 shot lemonade 2 shots Choya Ume Shake together the gin and elderflower and pour into a martini glass. Slowly pour the lemonade on top. Take a break to feed the cats who are complaining. Shake the Choya Ume [...]

Blu Seafood and Bar 2002 Hillsborough Road Ninth Street District, Durham Website Entrees: $16.50–$22.50 This was not my first visit to Blu, an upscale but relaxed restaurant with plenty of blue splashes throughout the interior to remind you of their name. I found their cuisine okay that first time, a of a spot that I [...]

Darien Tempranillo 2008 Riojo Logrono, Spain This Spanish red rises to the roof of my mouth right away. There’s some pucker for sure, too much for me. I taste orange, currant, and leafy bitter greens. I don’t like drinking it; it’s not full enough or balanced enough for me. No nose to speak of.

Pho 9N9 2945 S Miami Blvd RTP, Durham Website Soups and Entrees: $6.50–$10.00 This is a nondescript, Vietnamese restaurant in the surprisingly food-packed shopping center on the corner of South Miami Boulevard and TW Alexander Drive. Since I’ve only been to one other Vietnamese spot in the Triangle, I definitely had to give Pho 9N9 [...]