I figured the week of Christmas is as good a time as any to look back on what’s been up in my food/local world here in Raleigh, NC.
This is a special week, too, because I get to introduce some of my family members to the city (which means delicious trips to some of my fave spots)!
So, here’s what’s been up:
Haw River Brewery
There’s a new brewery in town…well, in Saxapahaw. If you don’t know where that is, then you need to take the short trip and enjoy the views, farmhouse ales and more.
Mateo Bar de Tapas
I didn’t know if anywhere in the state could compete with the tapas at Asheville’s Curate, but Mateo definitely puts up a good fight. The atmosphere is eclectic and unique, transporting you to old-world Spain, and the small plates are delicious and very well executed. If you go, you’ve got to try the farmer’s cheese plate and lamb albondigas.
Only Burger
I got to try out this food truck at a work party and really enjoyed my giant fried green tomato, fried egg and meat burger. And it wasn’t even as messy as that sounds.
NCMA (North Carolina Museum of Art)
It’s hard to believe that I just made it inside this museum recently (we bring our lunch and eat outside sometimes), but it’s a must-stop in Raleigh. There’s an entire room of Rodin sculptures, a few Monets, a garden and lots of beautiful spaces and creations to see. And it’s free!
Wine Authorities
We went to a New Zealand wine tasting at Wine Authorities last month (they have free tastings every week!) and loved the environment and wine knowledge that the people have at this shop. Wine Authorities has a great selection of all prices of wines, and they’ve got some great options for tasting, too.
RDU Baton
I was so privileged to get to hold the RDU Baton for a day this past month. If you don’t know about the Baton, it’s an Instagram account (@rdubaton) that someone different from the area holds every weekday. For my day, I ate at Oak City Meatball Shoppe, went to Tasty and then finished the day with dinner at my sister and brother-in-law’s house.
Furbish
As my first Christmas season in the Triangle, it’s been a great time to find awesome nearby shops to get unique gifts and support local. Furbish is really everything you could dream that a gift shop could be. You can order their stuff online, too!
Edge of Urge
This was also a new local find, and they have so much to offer. From jewelry to clothes to the most hilarious locally-made cards, Edge of Urge is a great place to shop. I even scored some Made in the USA skinny jeans while there.
Lucettegrace
There’s a new bakery/patisserie in town, and it’s got so much for you to explore/eat. I was immediately struck by the classy and consistent mustard yellow and grey branding at this downtown stop. Then, I got to try some French macarons (and we’ll be trying a specialty Lucette Grace cake for my sister and brother-in-law’s gender reveal party for their baby on Christmas Eve).
Maple View Farm
Believe it or not, I haven’t got my husband out to this ice cream spot in Hillsborough yet (I’ve been a few times before we moved to NC), but I did get the chance to buy some of their seasonal egg nog and it is life changing! Get it at Whole Foods, Harris Teeter and other locations in the Triangle.