Corner Tavern Closes in Cary and Apex
Cary, NC — I heard a rumor from a reliable source last week that Corner Tavern had abruptly closed. Turns out to be true. Read more
Posts
Academy Street Bistro: 20 Year Dream Realized
Cary, NC- For 20 years, Mary Lynn Fitzgerald has been urging her brother-in-law, a chef in New York City, to move to Cary and open a restaurant. Now, with the opening of Academy Street Bistro, her dream has come true.
A Bounty of Apples in Cary
Cary, NC — I visited the farmers market at 8 AM on Saturday for one reason: apples.
Apples for Everyone
Despite what supermarkets may tell you, apples have a season. It is autumn. The greatest variety, flavor and crispness are all available right now.
We are fortunate in the Triangle to have several growers of heirloom apples – dozens and dozens of tasty varieties from a time before bio-engineering and tasteless fruit like the Red Delicious you find in plastic bags at the grocery store.
Yes, North Carolina is apple country. Here are some of the varieties I sampled at the farmers market on Saturday:
- Black Oxford – Hard and unusually sweet with a good flavor. DOB Maine 1790.
- Snow/Fameuse – At one time, thought to be the parent of the Macintosh. Its snow-white flesh does not darken when cooked. DOB Ontario 1800’s.
- Yellow Newton Pippin – Slightly tart and crisp with a terrific aftertaste. DOB 1666 New York.
I love food with a story and heirloom apples always have a history.
Some of the varieties are for the table. Others are especially good in pies, crisps or apple sauce.
Kids bring home that nasty supermarket apple in their lunch bag everyday from school? Try introducing them to the enticing appearance and taste of some fresh from the farm heirloom apples.
The Price of Apples
The price of heirloom apples at the farmers market is comparable to supermarket prices, often less.
I spent $7.00 on a medium-sized bag of assorted apples – about a dozen in all. Enough to last until Wednesday or Thursday at my house.
You could spend seven bucks for two apples at ______ (fill in the blank with your favorite high-priced supermarket).
Other Market Delights
Best bargain – one of the farmers was selling Zinna blooms for 25¢ a piece – a dollar for five.
The peppers looked amazing. The fingerling potatoes were tempting. The greens looked excellent and I came home with arugula and a very dark head of red leaf lettuce.
—————————————————————————————————————-
Story & photos by Hal Goodtree.
The Story of Fortnight Brewery
L –> R Mo Mercado and Stuart Arnold of Fortnight Brewing Co in Cary, NC
Cary, NC- Stuart Arnold and his partners are passionate about beer, specifically about making good beer, and they will be opening the first Cary brewery, Fortnight Brewing Company, very soon on SW Maynard Road in Cary if all goes according to plan. Read more
Recipe: Pumpkin Pie
Cary, NC – Just in time for Halloween, here’s a recipe for fresh, homemade pumpkin pie. Read more
Eat Well with a Share of the Harvest
Cary, NC – Want to eat locally? Want to eat well? You may be able to own a share of the harvest from your favorite local farm with a program called CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. Read more
Whisk Opens in Cary
Cary, NC – Whisk, a store focused on gourmet kitchenware and culinary instruction, opened its doors to customers today. If cooking’s your thing, you will like this store. Very much.
Whisk – Gourmet Kitchenware
Whisk, located in Waverly Place, is chock full of splendid and exotic kitchenware.
It’s a treat for the eyes and I spent a happy hour wandering the aisles.
In addition to Le Creuset and other other top brands you may recognize, Whisk had an extensive stock of items you won’t find in Macy’s or Williams Sonoma. Staub had some very sturdy looking cookware. And Emile Henry featured casseroles specifically designed to cook tajines and risotto.
Guys will enjoy Whisk, even if they’re not into cooking. The store has an eclectic collection of barware (like the Black & Tan turtle) plus a gourmet grilinbg section. There’s even a stovetop smoker, fellas!
Owners Dan and Diana Saklad were on hand. They’d been living the corporate life in St. Louis and decided to pursue their dream of entrepreneurship. “How did you find Cary?” I asked.
“We Googled ‘Best Towns to Live in America,'” Dan said.
“So you’ve read CaryCitizen,” I speculated. They both laughed and said they had. Ah, the power of search.
Classes at Whisk
Whisk also offers a full plate of culinary classes. In October, they have 13 classes on offer including Knife Skills, the Art of Jam and A Taste of Spain. See the schedule.
Store Details
Whisk
Waverly Place
316 Colonades Way
Cary, NC
Open 7 days a week. For more info, visit http://www.whiskcarolina.com.
———————————————————————————————————
Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.
———————————————————————————————————
Retail coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Waverly Place in Cary.
Gleaning: Helping with the Harvest to Feed the Hungry
Cary, NC — For this month’s post, First United Methodist Church in Cary sent in a story about “gleaning” – harvesting food left in the fields by farmers. Read more
Lowes Supermarket Closing Cary Store
Cary, NC – The Lowes Supermarket at the corner of Davis and High House will close on September 14, 2013.
Lowes Supermarket Pulling Out of Cornerstone
Just 10 days ago, we wrote about the new Publix coming to Cary and the larger “Supermarket Wars” raging across the town.
The new Publix will be literally across the street, at the very same intersection of Davis and High House. A Harris Teeter also occupies the same corner.
As well, Lowes has a store just up the road at Cary Parkway and High House – the so-called “Hanna-Lowes” because the store used to be a Hannaford.
More than Publix, the Supermarket Wars in Cary have brought more offerings, especially in the high and low ends. Stores in the middle, like Lowes, have a tough time against more upscale markets like Harris Teeter and Whole Foods as well as stiff competition at the low end against Aldi and Walmart.
Lowes Foods, based in Winston-Salem, has about 100 stores across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
According to a press release (subsequently unpublished), employees at the Cary location would be offered opportunities at other Triangle locations in Cary, Apex, Raleigh, Garner and Clayton.
—————————————————————————————————————–
Photos by Hal Goodtree.
Recipe: Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Southern Style
Cary, NC — There’s something particularly Southern about pork tenderloin. Here’s a recipe for grilled pork tenderloin with a bit of a Southern twist. Read more