Magnolia Grill

Literally around the corner from the house sits the unassuming facade of a restaurant. Since I have relocated to Durham, I have looked at it with curious, questioning eyes. My Mom, from 1,200 miles away in Oklahoma, treated me to a birthday dinner. No, she treated Liz and me to a birthday dinner at Magnolia Grill.

Gourmet Magazine has named Magnolia Grill as #11 on their Top 50 Restaurants List.

We got gussied up… no, we got sexy young couple dressed, and walked around the corner. I had called earlier in the week and was unable to get a reservation, but we thought we would still give it a shot by checking it out before the rush. We got in. No, not because we were sexy, but because we beat the rush. An amazing 2.5 hour-long meal followed.

Step 1: Spicy Presbyterian - Rye whiskey, chili-lime syrup, bitters and ginger ale. I’m sold.

Step 2: Fried green tomatoes topped with field greens atop mozzarella and oil. Southern sophistication.

Step 3: Bottle of red wine.

Step 4: NY Strip - With all of the fresh seafood in the area, I hadn’t treated myself to a fine steak since I arrived in NC. Grilled Angus NY Strip in balsamic jus with roasted potatoes, market beans, shitake mushroom and buttermilk blue cheese. It was definitely not a mistake.

Step 5: Pumpkin cognac cheesecake, candied ginger, drizzled in maple ginger sauce.

              Exquisitely prepared and presented food. Attentive, friendly service. Overall great experience. Thank you Mom. Thank you Magnolia.

Thanksgiving

It was a very enjoyable first Thanksgiving in NC. We got the pleasure of joining Lauren and her family in Charlotte. There was great company, wonderful food and much needed relaxation, with a sazerac thrown in for good measure. We felt right at home. Liz and I may have even been adopted in the process.

We returned home to Durham for round two. I awoke the following morning to prepare a Friendsgiving meal. A couple friends, who also recently moved from OKC to Durham, joined us. In fact, it was Natalie whom I credit for my introduction to Liz. It was the least I could do to welcome her and Travis with open arms and treat them to a decent meal. It was a very enjoyable first Friendsgiving in NC.

North Carolina Fall Foliage

            Until now, I have never lived in a place where there has been a subtle transition from summer into fall. I am familiar with t-shirt weather, and trees covered in green, abruptly followed by bare branches and a coat requirement. The difference 1,200 miles east makes.

            The highway that I used to drive in OKC, is the same highway that takes me to work each day. I-40 E. Many times, on my way to work, it felt as if I was on a subdued roller coaster; its tracks taking me through a kaleidoscope of fall foliage. With wide eyes, I would have to remind myself to refocus my attention to the highway. Day after day, I half expected to see all of the leaves simultaneously fall to the ground. They didn’t. They only kept changing into bright yellows, oranges and burning reds. Then after several weeks had past, the Japanese Maple in the front yard finally covered the ground in a colorful carpet. First full fall transition, check.

Cameron Indoor Stadium

We got the pleasure of attending a Duke Basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Something I am quickly realizing does not happen everyday. An institution rooted in basketball excellence, Duke Basketball has a rabid following and facilities that house less than 10,000 spectators at a time. It takes a certain family history, a chunk of change or sheer luck to claim a seat in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Two steps through the door, I turned to Liz and said something to the effect that “it smells like a gym in here”. Yes, considering we were walking into a gym, I was stating the obvious. To me though, it extended beyond simply being perceptive. My nostrils flaired. Synapses fired. Memories from years ago rushed to the surface. It wasn’t a bad smell, but familiar. It smelled like a gym.

Both of my parents coached. Soon after I was born, I was in the bleachers of gyms. Since I could walk, I was running around in gyms. Behind bleachers. Across wrestling rooms. Under volleyball nets. Through field houses. Into locker rooms. And if I was lucky enough to find the door unlocked, launching myself off of a trampoline into the gymnastics foam pit. When I say that it smells like a gym, I say that with a sincere fondness and appreciation. It is the smell developed after many hours, days and years. It is the smell of hard work, sweat and blood. It is a smell you can’t create with any air freshener or candle. Nor is it a smell you can ever get rid of with any air freshener or candle. It is a smell that is hardwired into my mind and my memories.

The game was great. The Carmon Crazies were in full force. And I sat there, in a sea of blue, with a childish grin on my face the entire time.

Working Man's Lunch

            Papa –the Curtis half of Simon Curtis- would always refer to an “RC Cola and a Moon Pie”… always drawing out the “R” and the “oo”. I would always laugh… always wondering what in the world he was talking about.

            Associated with lower or working class people in the 1950s, RC Cola and a Moon Pie made for a quick and affordable combination. At approximately a nickel a piece, the pair provided workers with an inexpensive lunch to curb their hunger for the remainder of the day. The two became closely associated with one another and were often referred to as the “working man’s lunch”. The combination has held fast as a Southern tradition from which fond memories stem.

            Enter Fullsteam Brewery. Fullsteam brews the Working Man’s Lunch as part of their Workers’ Compensation series. The series consists of “Year-round, easy-drinking beers that celebrate labor past and present”. Chocolate nibs from Raleigh’s Escazu Artisan Chocolates are among many of the defining aspects of Fullsteam’s Working Man’s Lunch. The result is a perfect pairing of a pint and a Moon Pie. A Southern tradition meant to be appreciated and carried on by a new generation.

            After a cross-country move, a history lesson and an aptly named pint, I can now stop wondering what Papa was talking about.

Durham Food Trucks

            Durham has an impressive food truck scene.

Gourmet burgers made with beef from Cliff’s Meat Market in Carrboro, NC. Twists on the thin-sliced Korean barbecue. Delicious Detroit-style deep-dish pizza. Homemade pop tarts and pastries.

Sausages made from humanely raised North Carolina pigs. Pimento-cheese brat and Italian sausages. ALL from food trucks.

           

Durham Central Park recently hosted a Food Truck Rodeo in which 25 food trucks represented Durham’s finest rolling restaurants. It still blows my mind to see that so many varieties of food, and good food mind you, can come from trucks

Truck operators build relationships with local universities, businesses, music venues, and craft breweries. They make arrangements to serve on various days and nights throughout the week and love is often shown from the venues by touting what trucks that will be at their location. Some locations even go as far as installing electrical support so that trucks will not have to use noisy generators.

It is nice to know that the food trucks out number the fast food restaurants in Downtown Durham. And given the chance, I would choose a local offering served from four wheels over a Big Mac or a $5 footlong ANY day of the week. Welcome to Durham.

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.

The Flaming Lips At Hopscotch

           There is an alley in Downtown Oklahoma City named after them. The Oklahoma state rock song is by them. Their frontman and his wife would take walks in the park that I lived in before I moved to NC.  My nephew knew the lyrics to “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1” at the age of 3. The Flaming Lips have the most enjoyable live show that I have seen and I make it a point to go see them whenever I can.

            My first Flaming Lips show was in Downtown Tulsa. Not at a venue, but in a blocked off parking lot surrounded by the Tulsa skyline. As soon as the spaceship dropped to the stage, and Wayne started crawling over the crowd in an inflatable bubble, I was a fan.

            Every year since 2007 turned into 2008, I have had tickets to the New Years Eve Freakout. The NYE Freakout occurs when the Flaming Lips play a show, in their hometown of OKC, and ring in the new year. A jaw dropping experience. “Do you have plans for new years eve?”… “Yes. Yes I do.”

            Then I moved. I’m going to be honest. When I got in my car to drive to NC, my 2^nd thought was “What am I going to do if I can’t see The Lips on New Years?”

            Full circle: In Raleigh, NC there is a festival called Hopscotch. The Flaming Lips headlined this year. The primary bands play in the streets of Raleigh. In front of the crowd was the stage and directly behind the crowd was the state capitol. Like my first Lips show in Tulsa, I saw them surrounded by the skyline… Only this time there was a 1,200 mile difference.

Catbird: Brooklyn, New York

           Every Sunday night Liz and I would go over to Lauren’s to watch that week’s episode of True Blood. Before the episode would start, Lauren would light a candle from a shop in NYC. As the show would start, smells of incense, Turkish rose and pencil shavings would fill the room. Liz described the smell as a “sexy library”. Because we enjoyed the candle so much, I decided to order Liz the same candle for her birthday.

            I received the package from Catbird at my office. The package was nicely branded with a handwritten note thanking me for my order and to enjoy the candle. Everything was perfect except the candle seemed much smaller than the candle from Sunday nights. I set the package aside and continued with the days work. I ended up reviewing my order later that week and as a result placed a phone call. What followed sold me on Catbird.

            I called Catbird’s store in NYC and told the genuinely kind woman that I had received the wrong candle. She asked for my order number and compared it against their records. She apologized and said that the correct candle would be sent out that day. THAT DAY. She acknowledged that they already had my shipping info and that there was no need to return the previous candle that I had received.

            The call could have gone very differently. The kind woman could have been not nice at all. She could have sighed and acted inconvenienced or given me the third degree on my order. She could have told me that I had to return the candle I had received before the replacement was shipped. That was not the case at all.

            Being in advertising, that kind of customer service strikes me as awesome, yet unfortunately infrequent. Not only did they personalize their package with Catbird stickers, branded tape and a handwritten note, they also turned an honest mistake into a great customer experience. They impressed a random guy placing an order. They helped make a wonderful girl’s birthday. Also, they made our house smell awesome.

            Well done Catbird.

Oklahoma Football In North Carolina

           Generally there are four seasons. Winter, spring, summer and fall. To a certain population, the epicenter being in Oklahoma, there are three seasons. Winter, summer and football. It took me moving to North Carolina to realize that Sooner football was not so easily accessible to the rest of world.

            During a wine tasting at West End Wine Bar, in downtown Durham, Liz and I spoke to our bartender about more than just wine. Javon is a Florida State fan and extremely accommodating. I asked him where we could watch an OU game when Saturday rolled around. He noted that he worked on Saturdays and could accommodate us during the game.

            Game day rolled around and we ventured out into Downtown Durham. To be honest, we knew what we were getting into. The city was full of people celebrating. There was a large battle of the bands fundraiser taking place at the American Tobacco Campus. The Pride parade had taken place earlier that day and there were continued celebrations all over the downtown area. Also, Duke students were out in full force as they celebrated homecoming. There were a lot of different kinds of people, anywhere and everywhere, out and about in the city of Durham.

            Long story short, Liz and I walked into the West End Wine Bar and had a great game day experience. Though the bar was full of people having drinks, people wearing tiaras, people having nice food and people celebrating Pride, we watched the University of Oklahoma football game. Javon allowed us to go into a separate room. The two of us sat at a full-length bar in an empty room. The two of us and no one else. The room held a few TVs, arcade games, a few high set tables with chairs and the OU game playing on one of the TV screens. Two Sooners sat, watched, cheered and hi-fived each other.

            Javon has won us over, not only with his wine knowledge, but also with his hospitality. As long as he will allow, West End Wine Bar will be our go to game day hang out.

            Boomer Sooner! 

Cast Iron Skillet

           Yes, I have a cast iron skillet named Jolene. Yes, I am OK with that.

            Durham is known for its food among other things. That particular topic is often a welcome part of conversations. I was talking to Lauren one evening about southern cooking…

Lauren is a Durham transplant herself; she has a passion for music and a passion for the south. She was the first person to ask me when I was moving to Durham. She asked that over one year before I actually moved. Before I was even thinking about it.

OK SO GOOD. I was talking to Lauren one evening about southern cooking before she disappeared into her kitchen and returned with a cast iron skillet. A “welcome home” gift she said. I have fond memories of cast iron skillets. Nana frying chicken on a splattering stove top. Mom cooking corn bread in the oven. I knew how much I enjoyed the food, but what I didn’t know is what you did with the skillet after you ate all of the food. Lauren gave me a crash course.

I understand that a cast iron skillet will last longer than I do if taken care of. In order for it to last it has to be given a bit more TLC than normal pots and pans receive. It has to be seasoned. In my mind seasoned is just a more caring version of bachelor washing.

Bachelor washing involves a few simple steps. Use the dish. Rinse the dish. Wipe the dish down. Place the dish back in the cabinet. I have had a fair amount of practice bachelor washing dishes. It is safe to say that before I moved to Durham, I hadn’t used a dishwasher in years. Yes, I said it. Seasoning the skillet is similar, though not necessarily the same. There are two ingredients in seasoning a cast iron skillet that aren’t in bachelor washing. Oil and love.

Cleaning a cast iron skillet involves a few simple steps as well. Clean the skillet after use, while it is still hot or warm. Do not soak the pan or leave it in the sink. Wash the skillet by hand using hot water and a sponge or a stiff brush. Soap is not recommended, and harsh detergents should never be used. Now you are speaking my language. Towel dry the skillet. Apply a light coat of cooking oil to the inside of the skillet. I like to coat the outside also. NEVER wash in dishwasher. Enjoy a lifetime of bachelor washing and delicious food.

            With all of the enjoyment,  care and attention, I felt that my heavy hunk of iron deserved a name. A southern lady name. A name like Jolene. Like the Dolly Parton song, but in my head it is the Jack White version. The version that goes through my head every time I break out the oil to carefully season her.

            You can have your choice of pans, but I could never cook again. You're the only skillet for me, Jolene.

Welcome to R+M

            Two months to the day after leaving OKC, I received a phone call offering me a position as part of the R+M team. Nearly four years to the day after beginning my advertising career in OKC, I got the pleasure to continue it in the Raleigh-Durham area.

            I was drawn to the focus of health, well-being, social responsibility and making emotional connections. I am excited about the clients, passionate people and a killer culture. I continue to smile about the no rules parking, friendly canines and an office adjacent to the arcade. And for crying out loud, who else enjoys serene sounds of chirping birds in forest like facilities? Ok, woodsmen do too, but you get the idea. This looks to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Running NC

It was a Sunday. October 26, 2008. I laced up a pair of old basketball shoes (that weren’t even mine) that I had in the back of the closet. I took off running down the road. 200 yards later I was doubled over trying my best not to vomit in the road. Lightheaded and gasping for more oxygen than was available, I turned around.

Since that Sunday I have grown to love running. LOVE it. I have run everything from a 5k to a half marathon and everything in between. I dream of the day I finish my first marathon, the process of preparing for that marathon and the resulting pain that is so invigorating. Over the past year I have learned that picking up your life, moving across the country, searching for a new job and beginning that job can have an effect on the routine of running. Unfortunately, as a result, running has taken a back burner to life recently. I aim to change that.

The unique North Carolina races that are available are one of the many reasons that I am ready to wear out another pair of running shoes. Do you want to run down the Atlantic Coast? Through the City of Oaks? Tour downtown Durham on foot? How about start a weekly training run at your favorite brewery? YES! Luckily they are all options.

Let the training commence.

Michigan Blueberries

            When Liz returned from Michigan she brought back with her a fairly large container of fresh, wild, Michigan blueberries that she had picked the day she was to fly back. I had not eaten blueberries in some time. They are just not something that is usually top of mind for me. That being said, I ate them like candy, throwing them down my throat one by one. Of course there are other things that you can do with blueberries rather than just eat them plain. Though that is never a bad thing. We decided to give a few of them a try and Liz took some pictures.

            Blueberry milk. Stirred a reduced blueberry syrup into the milk. You know Hershey’s Syrup?

Yeah, like that, but with blueberries instead of chocolate. Part of me just wants to drink it for the color.

            After I made the blueberry syrup for the milk I was left with the cooked, smashed berry portion of the recipe. Liz mixed that with honey and topped sliced cinnamon apples and added them to a cheese plate. 

       And of course blueberry pancakes had to be made.

       With about half of the blueberries still left in the freezer, I am looking forward to what other  concoctions we can come up with… that is if I don’t eat all of them first.

American Tobacco Campus

            In the short time that I have been in Durham, I have primarily been enjoying the downtown area. Anything beyond downtown Durham and my mind map begins to get a little fuzzy. One of the many areas that I enjoy and that interest me is the American Tobacco Campus (ATC).

            The American Tobacco Campus has been a Durham fixture since the early 1900’s. I am told that before production ceased in the late 80’s, you could smell the sweet scent of the tobacco being processed downtown. Not in a burning, secondhand smoke kind of way, but a smell of sweet, rich curing leaves. Nearly a century after being built, the warehouses were abandoned and left to deteriorate.

            The previously abandoned American Tobacco Campus was repurposed and reopened in 2004. It has since grown to house many businesses, offices, restaurants and shops. The red, brick smoke stacks still help define the Durham skyline.

            

            Burt’s Bees headquarters sits at the north end of campus. The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park help bookend the south. Immediately east is the ever-popular Durham Performing Arts Center. Live music is played on the lawn underneath the shadow of the large Lucky Strike water tower. The base of the water tower doubles as a stage.

            Looking through windows while walking through the ATC, you will see a variety of businesses and office spaces. Many contain beautiful exposed brick, polished hard wood, exposed ventilation, cement floors and steel supports. The combination of the historic red brick warehouses with the modern urban style offices go hand in hand. You may even wander into the underground corridor where tech companies set behind glass walls and recline in their chars to view multiple monitors. Personally, I would go down there for the free arcade games.

            The vibrant and diverse downtown area is only elevated by the rich history that it has experienced. If you know which windows to look through, and aren’t afraid to press your face near a dusty windowpane, you can see the old tobacco processing equipment. Almost as if you were looking through a window to the past.