Category Archives: Raleigh

July 16, 2013 · 2:37 am

Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour in Downtown Raleigh!

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You’ve probably heard by now that a cool Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour has opened up in downtown Raleigh. It is located at 131 S. Wilmington Street just north of Hargett Street and right next to the restaurants Gravy and Sitti around the corner from Morning Times.

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Several of the people I follow on instagram have been posting fun pictures of the parlour so I decided to walk down there on my lunch break a few weeks ago and check it out. Being a “pop-up” style place means it is temporary and will only occupy the current spot until the end of August. Even though it is only temporary they have done a great job with place. It has lots of tables spaced out across the hardwood floor and great lighting. The parlour has a nice open feeling with huge windows at the front of the shop overlooking the busy sidewalk along Wilmington Street.

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The ice cream shop features locally produced ice cream. Right now the offer ice cream from two local producers but have plans to open their own creamery in the future to sell once they open their permanent location down the road. Given the temporary nature of the shop, the menu is surprisingly inclusive offer a wide range of flavors (14 regular flavors and 4 rotating ones). In addition to traditional ice cream by the scoop in a cup or cone they also have ice cream floats, sundaes and smoothies.

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I opted for a single scoop of the strawberry ice cream in a cone and it was fantastic. I live it when strawberry ice cream has large chunks of actual strawberries in it. I was pretty hungry since I hadn’t had lunch yet so I scarfed this cone down in record time, but I had the presence of mind to grab a picture before I made it disappear. Something I’m not always good at!

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I really enjoyed my visit to the Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour and was glad I had the chance to visit. During subsequent visits downtown I’ve noticed they have been quite busy so it appears word has gotten around and people are enjoying access to great locally produced ice cream.

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Last week, the news and observer reported that the owner, Laura Suther, is planning to open a second Pop-Up location downtown at 6161 N. Person St. next door to PieBird. This second location is still being negotiated but the plan is to sell ice cream as well as some locally produced items like milk and eggs. The Person street location may become a year-round operation should it prove successful in that neighborhood. I think it will!

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While plans for the second location are being finalized you can continue to get your ice cream fix at the Wilmington Street Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour through August 31st.

Pop-Up Ice Cream Parlour
131 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC (Open through August 31st)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PopUpIceCreamParlour
Twitter: @popupicecream

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June 24, 2013 · 11:34 am

Picture of the Week – The Neuse River!

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The Neuse River – Taken June 23, 2013

I went for a run along the Upper Neuse River Greenway last night and snapped the picture above right by the parking and canoe launch area. This spot is located just below the dam and the recently opened Falls of Neuse Bridge. Water levels have dropped since the heavy rain last week, but there was still a nice flow to the river. I noticed several people enjoying the river, taking pictures, fishing, and even a few kayaks. I love walking along the Upper Neuse Greenway and enjoying the great waterway. A real gem of North Raleigh!

In addition to my posts on this blog you can follow me over on Instagram to see my daily pics of the Triangle Area.

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May 13, 2013 · 8:44 pm

Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo Success!

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Food Trucks on Fayetteville Street

In case you missed it, this past Sunday downtown Raleigh was the host of a huge food truck rodeo – the biggest ever in Raleigh with over 40 food trucks in attendance. Trucks were set up along Fayetteville Street starting just south of the Capital Building. The inaugural event ran from noon to 5pm on Sunday, but if you missed it don’t worry, similar food truck events will be held on June 9th, August 11th, and October 13th. Visit DowntownRaleighFoodTruckRodeo.com for updates about future events.

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Barone – New Meatball Food Truck

Raleigh has checkered past with food trucks. While the food truck rules in the City of Oaks are not quite as lenient as in Durham, contrary to popular belief foods trucks are allowed in Raleigh. This was just the first time so many of them were all together at one time here in Raleigh. All in all I think the event organizers did a good job with this first event. There were over 40 trucks spanning a wide range of cuisine including meatball sandwiches, pizza, Korean bbq, and dumplings. Several of the local fan favorites were on hand like Klausie’s Pizza, Chirba Chirba, and American Meltdown. There were also a few new trucks I’ve never seen before from neighboring Greensboro like Urban Street Grill, and Great Escape.

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Seating Area

Everyone I talked to was appreciative of the seating areas provided so people had a place to sit and eat instead of being forced to stand and balance their plates. Of course there were some complaints about the usual long lines and wait times for some of the more popular trucks, but I have been to enough of these events to know it comes with the territory. Some say you should have more trucks, but honestly that just draws even more people and the popular trucks will always have a big fan base waiting in line. In general a good rule of thumb is to come early and come with a game plan so you don’t waste time looking for trucks you want to try.

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Local Beer – Aviator Brewing out of Fuquay Varina

Another great aspect of the rodeo was that it featured some of our great local breweries too. Three local breweries, Aviator Brewing, Carolina Brewing Company, and the City of Oaks newest addition Raleigh Brewing Company, were all on hand selling their brew. All three did a great job of ensuring they had enough beer and kept the line of thirsty rodeo fans moving.

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Sweet Stacey Cakes – Cupcake Food Truck aka “Smiles”

Several of my favorite trucks were at the rodeo and I made a point of hitting them first before the long lines started forming. I got a smoked turkey sandwich from Sympathy for the Deli and followed it up with a “Thin Mint” cupcake from Sweet Stacey Cakes. I never miss a chance to get food from these trucks when I see them and they never disappoint. Both really hit the spot on Sunday! Another favorite of mine is the Parlour Ice Cream truck. Their salted caramel ice cream is heavenly!

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Food Truck Fans

Looking back on Sunday’s event I think this first large scale rodeo in Raleigh will go down as a big success for the city and serve as an example of the growing demand for such events in Raleigh. Hopefully city leaders will continue to recognize the positive role food trucks play in the evolving downtown scene and will create an environment that encourages more of these events in the future. For information about future food truck rodeos in Raleigh check out DowntownRaleighFoodTruckRodeo.com or follow them on facebook.

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April 12, 2013 · 10:19 am

A Peek Inside Dos Taquitos Xoco in Downtown Raleigh

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Dos Taquitos Xoco – Raleigh, NC

In case you haven’t heard, Dos Taquitos has opened a second location in Raleigh. Their newest restaurant is located on Glenwood Avenue in downtown Raleigh. I have been a fan of the Creedmoor Road location in North Raleigh ever since I moved hear and am excited about the new downtown location. A few weeks ago I popped in after work for a quick peek at the new place. Here are a few of my shots of the inside.

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Xoco Interior

The downtown location is called Dos Taquitos “Xoco” which means ” little sister”. True to form, this location continues the tradition of the North Raleigh location with an eclectic assortment of cool decorations & lighting throughout the dining area. I loved all the colors and lights strewn across the ceiling. No matter the what time of day you visit, you feel a world away from Raleigh.

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Booth seating

Seating at Xoco comes  in the form of large booths, many of which have their own distinct decorative theme. There is a little train that runs around the restaurant on a along the wall next to the booths that delivers your chips and salsa. This is a nod to their north Raleigh location that features a similar train that runs along the ceiling.

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One of the bars at Xoco

There are two bars inside the restaurant, and I understand their will be a third bar located in the outside patio & dining area that was still under construction during my visit. From what I saw, once completed the outside dining area and bar will add a totally new aspect to the restaurant and will practically double the seating availability in the warmer seasons. This was a quick drop in visit and regrettably I didn’t have time to sample the menu, but I plan to go back soon for lunch and will update this post with some food pics then. I can tell you that the menu is practically identical to the awesome menu at the North Raleigh location.

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Booth inspired by artwork of Frida Khlo

I did get a chance to speak to the friendly owner, Carlos Salamanca, for a few minutes and he explained that his goal is to expose customers to authentic Mexican culture through the cuisine at Xoco. While their menu does have a few “Americanized” dishes it features many authentic Tex-Mex and regional Mexican specialties that people can’t easily find elsewhere so there is something for everyone and room to experiment for those looking to expand their horizons.

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Xoco

I love the atmosphere of Dos Taquitos Xoco and look forward to going back to eat and to explore their cool outdoor seating area. Their new location is sure to be a  popular destination with the summer dining crowd. Check out their facebook page below for more great pictures and updates on their menu and Sunday brunch offerings!

Dos Taquitos “Xoco”
410 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27603 (Map)

Website:  http://dostaquitosnc.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DosTaquitosXoco

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March 14, 2013 · 1:03 pm

Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill in Raleigh

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Guasaca ~ 4025 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 107, Raleigh, NC

A few months ago I read about the opening of Guasaca in Raleigh on some of the local foodie blogs and made a note that I should try to check it out. As I periodically checked reviews on yelp I kept reading about how great the food was so I bumped this up into the “must visit” category (yes I keep a list of places to check out).  Recently I was out at a meeting near the Marketplace at Lake Boone Trail where Guasaca is located and took the opportunity to stop in for a quick lunch and grab some pictures. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to visit. This place is great!

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Order at the counter

The setup at Guasaca is very similar to Chipotle or Moe’s in that you order and pay at the counter and get to watch the staff create your meal. The big difference at Guasaca is the food! The food at Guasaca is based on a Venezuelan inspired cuisine known as an arepa.  Arepas look like pita pockets but they are slightly thinker and made from corn and are grilled fresh right there in the restaurant. The arepas come wrapped in a little paper pouch. I learned on my visit it is best to keep them wrapped in the paper pouch and hold them from the bottom (not the side) to avoid squeezing out all the tasty fillings!

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Chicken Arepa with Cilantro Sauce and “Guasaca” Salsa!

You can order an arepa filled with a wide variety of meats, vegetables and sauces. The meat choices are chicken, pork, shredded beef, grilled steak, and tilapia. There are five or six different sauces to choose from to add to your sandwich  I got the “signature” chicken arepa with black beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and  cilantro sauce which was fantastic. You can also get chips with traditional salsa or “guasaca” which is a type of salsa made with avocados and other veggies that is really tasty. In addition to the meats and sauces there are tons of veggies to choose from to add to your the arepa or you can opt to enjoy the medley of meat and veggies as a salad in a bowl.

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Indoor dining Area

One of the things I really like about Guasaca is that they don’t use any processed food or pre-made ingredients. The food tasted very fresh and the flavors were tasty and interesting making for a fun new lunch experience. The dining area is casual and cozy with long slim design with a nice modern flare with an acid etched concrete floor and white tables and a light lime green walls highlighted with some industrial style lighting fixtures. They also have one of those fancy new Coca Cola Freestyle machines offering 100+ drink combinations along with brewed sweet and unsweetened tea.

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Guasaca Menu

Guasaca has become really popular with the lunch crowd so it can get a little busy during the lunch hour rush, but if it gets too crowded inside there is some really nice outdoor seating on a brick patio out in front of the restaurant along Lake Boone Trail. Guasaca is open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. To check out their menu visit their website or facebook page below.

Website: http://guasaca.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/guasaca.of.raleigh
Twitter: @GuasacaArepa

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