The Gourmez

Carolina Crossroads Winter Media Dinner Two weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to a complimentary media dinner at Carolina Crossroads in Chapel Hill. Carolina Crossroads is located inside the Carolina Inn, which has received 4 diamonds from AAA for the last 16 years. The restaurant has received 11 consecutive 4-star AAA ratings [...]

I bet you never thought I’d finish my New Orleans series! This is the fifth and final installment. Blog #1 was on sights to the north of Lake Pontchartrain, Blog #2 was on dining at night, and Blog #3 was on drinking at night. Blog #4 took us through the Honey Island Swamp. This time [...]

Firehouse Subs Sampling and Talk with the Founder Two weeks ago, I was invited to the Firehouse Subs on Kildaire Farms Road in Cary for a night of sub sandwich and soda tasting with my blogging peers. The real draw for me was the chance to hear Robin Sorenson, who founded Firehouse Subs with his [...]

Pizzeria Toro 105 E. Chapel Hill St. Five Points, Durham Website $12 to 1$16 11 am to 11 pm daily Pizzeria Toro is an alluring and exciting gourmet pizza restaurant. I am jealous of downtown Durham residents who have this gem down the block.  At first look, the main dining room appears to be an [...]

Hey folks, just posting a reminder about the Black Tie & Tails Ball for those of you interested! I won’t be making it there, which is probably good because I need Saturday night to prepare for my annual Oscar party, but I wish I could join in for this great fundraiser. Here’s what I posted [...]

I’m a little slow this time in letting you all know I have another review up at WRAL’s Out and About. Forgive me? This one was on Village Burgers, the hamburger joint inside the University Mall in Chapel Hill. Was it worth reviewing? You bet your brioche bun. Here’s your teaser: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The [...]

East Coast Chinese Food Express 202 NC Hwy 54 Inside the Kroger, South Durham Website Open Mondays-Saturdays 11 am to 3 pm, 4 pm to 10 pm $7 — $12 I’ve heard many good things about East Coast Chinese Food Express. They’ve been located inside the Kroger by the Highway 54 and Fayetteville intersection for [...]

Eats and Night Sights in New Orleans Why, you might ask, are you focusing on dining at night in New Orleans? Isn’t the food there good anytime? Of course it is! But one must make distinctions between their blog posts somehow, and with the massive amount of eating we did in New Orleans, I figured [...]

Weathervane 201 S. Estes Drive University Mall, Chapel Hill Website $11–$38 Weathervane is the restaurant portion of Southern Season, and hearty southern dishes have a definite home here. Chef Ryan Payne has had a fantastic year, winning pretty much every local cooking contest he has entered. I had previously tried his food at Fire in [...]

Hummingbird Bakery 771 Broad Street Old West Durham, Durham Website Lunch: $6.50 — $9.00 Hummingbird Bakery is Amy Tornquist’s, chef of Watt’s Grocery, newest venture. Watt’s is one of my go-to recommendations for dining in Durham. As a lover of all things dessert, coffee, and Watt’s Grocery, I was looking forward to trying out Hummingbird. [...]