The Gourmez

Southern Fast Food Series #3: Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q More than 30 locations throughout North Carolina This location: 3578 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC Website Boxes of Chicken: $6.99-$22.99 Platters (2 sides and hushpuppies): $5.89-$6.99 Snacks (Fries): $4.49-5.29 Smithfield’s, obviously getting their start in Smithfield, NC, is a North Carolina chain that focuses on fried chicken [...]

Skyy Key Lime Pie Martini Rockfish Grill 8030 Renaissance Parkway #905 The Streets at Southpoint, Durham Website Made with Skyy Vodka, this drink is a good addition to my list of key lime pie martinis in the area. The lime flavor was sweet and mellow, though I wouldn’t have minded some more tartness. It was [...]

Jamaica Jamaica 4853 NC Highway 55 Intersection of highways 55 and 54, Durham Lunch Entrees: $7-13, $1 more for Dinner Sides: $2-6 Jamaica Jamaica is a small, cafeteria-style restaurant that focuses, as evidenced by its name, on Jamaican specialties. Vibrant paintings hang on the walls, which gives the two seating rooms some character. Lively, island [...]

Hello everyone!  I just got back from Costa Rica last night — the reason why there haven’t been any posts in a week! I will have a travelogue up for the trip in a few days but in the meantime, let’s get back on track. Here’s a restaurant review of one of my favorite spots [...]

OnlyBurger Constantly Shifting Location, Durham http://www.durhamcatering.com/onlyburger/ Burgers: $4.25-6.75  Bacon: $1 Cheese: $0.50  Fries/Chips: $1.50 OnlyBurger, a hamburger truck that moves from spot to spot in the Durham area, had become something of a legend to me by the time I finally tracked it down.  It is very often ranked as one of the best burgers [...]

Wine: Turning Leaf Pinot Noir 2007 Region: Germany This pinot noir has a vibrant nose of Saint Anne’s cherry.  Until this glass, it had been a long time since I’d had a bright, light-bodied wine that didn’t make me pucker.  It’s very tasty, with plenty of mildly tart cherries to plop in your mouth.  Have [...]

Wine:  Incanto Rose Region:  Italy This sparkling rose has no nose to speak of.  It is moderately fizzy and paltry in personality.  I would liken it to a sparkling water with lemon-lime flavoring and a dash of berry.  It would work as a very light accompaniment for a meal but definitely not for drinking on [...]

Wine:  Bella Sera 2007 Pinot Grigio Region:  Dollo Venizie, Italy This pinot grigio smells of sweet and crisp honeydew. It tastes minerally with some undertones of green pear and a dash of vanilla thrown in for good measure.  There’s also an aftertaste like you’ve just eaten a tart lemon cream cookie.  I’d like another, please.

Pineapple Upside-Down Caketini West 94th Street Pub Woodcroft Durham www.west94stpub.com This cantaloupe-colored martini is made with Stoli vanilla vodka, Malibu rum, pineapple juice, and cream.  It is absolutely delicious and tastes exactly like you are eating a slice of pineapple upside-down cake, complete with the caramelized pineapple wedges. Sometimes, there is truth in advertising. Reviewed [...]

Mango Mojito Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill Southpoint Durham http://www.firebirdsrockymountaingrill.com/ The Mango Mojito is made with 10 Cane rum, mango and lime juices, mint, and club soda.  It tasted like sugar syrup with a tease of mango that I couldn’t catch up to until I was halfway through the drink.  At that point, a bit of [...]