Oysters On The Half Shell

            Before I moved to the East Coast the only oysters that were on my radar were either fried or of the Rocky Mountain persuasion. When I moved, fresh seafood was seen as a treat. Never turning down a new taste, I saw oysters on the half shell as something of a challenge.

            On my birthday Liz took me to a reputable seafood restaurant around the way. We were treated to three different kinds of oysters before our meal. Thoughts included: Do I chew? Do I take it like a shot? Do I put condiments on them? Briny, meaty, mild… huh?

            Some were swallowed. Some were chewed. Some included condiments. Some went down just the way they were. The briny types were weighed against the mild types. Chesapeake. Gulf. Native, North Carolina.

            Five days later, we found ourselves at the same restaurant enjoying Oyster Tuesdays. After testing the saline waters, oysters are something this Oklahoma boy could get used to.

 

North Carolina State Fair

            The last fair I was at was at I saw Boyz II Men during a reunion appearance at the Texas state fair. In second grade, I remember thinking that I was the coolest kid in my front yard as I listened to their cassette tape on my Walkman. That Walkman is long gone and that fair was years ago. 

            Years later, the North Carolina State Fair had a different appeal. Enjoy it for what it is, was my approach. Enjoy the food (without going into cardiac arrest). Enjoy the midway games. Yes, I talked to “The World’s Smallest Woman”. What struck me though, was the livestock and agricultural aspects of the North Carolina State Fair. Some were very familiar. Some were not.

            Tobacco holds a seemingly substantial part of North Carolina’s history. It was interesting to see the plants being grown and also being dried. While I had assumed that all state fairs were the same, it was interesting to see that while the rides, midway games and carnies may remain similar there is a bit of heritage that can shine through at a state fair.

A Half Day Tradition

            The North Carolina State Fair makes an appearance once a year in Raleigh, NC. R+M has made it a tradition to take half of the chosen day to go appreciate what the fair has to offer. This year, my first with R+M, was no exception. Food, midway games, rides and ultimately the camaraderie were all enjoyed. 

Durham Farmers’ Market

            We woke up early Saturday morning. I had previously lost a bet with Liz in which I owed her anything she wanted from the Durham Farmers’ Market. We headed downtown so that I could make good on my bet. The seasons had changed and it was pleasantly apparent. There was a comfortable chill to the crisp autumn air. A joyous yet peaceful atmosphere greeted us as we arrived at the Pavilion at Durham Central Park.

            The Durham Farmers’ Market is an all local, producer-only market. All of the vendors are located within 70 miles of the market and sell only items that they have produced. It was nice to see how many vendors and customers there were that morning.

            I love fresh food from a garden, but I am ashamed to say that this was the first farmer's market I've been to. Each of the vendors/farmers we encountered was easy-going, knowledgeable and extremely nice. Not only was there a large variety of fresh produce, but also fresh baked goods, eggs, potted herbs, preserves and fresh flowers. I was pleasantly surprised to see fresh cheese, growlers of Fullsteam beer and a variety of meats including goat and bison. Liz even spotted a couple of local chefs picking out choice ingredients for their menus that day. Walking around wide-eyed and with a smile on my face, I remembered what it felt like to be in a toy store as a kid.

            Liz’s winnings consisted of some crazy-pretty Japanese eggplants and 2 pounds of fresh basil. I ended up with a bag of assorted sweet peppers and some new potatoes. Potatoes like the ones Papa would pull from his garden when I was younger.

            In short, the Durham Farmers’ market was a very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning as well as a great treat to the senses.

Watts Grocery: Brunch

Lately I have found myself having brunch more often. Partially because there are so many good options in Durham and partially because sometimes you just need to sleep in on the weekend. Having been featured in both Bon Appétit and Food & Wine magazine, Watts has become one of our favorite places to brunch.

               Watts serves classic favorites that are best defined by what is grown locally and seasonally. Their excellent, ever-changing menu changes every three months. Think seasonal fare with a twist on southern comfort food. The notable Chef Amy Tornquist has built a reputation for seasonal cooking with local ingredients and is recognized for her commitment to sustainable agriculture. 

               In this particular visit, the Baked Caramel Apple French Toast with whipped cream was pretty amazing.