Category Archives: Wake County

Everyone is clucking about local turkeys

I’ve seen plenty of wild turkeys in my day, but I’d never been around farm turkeys much until I wrote “Farm Fresh North Carolina.” When I was researching the book, in 2008, regular folks getting farm-raised turkeys for their Thanksgiving … Continue reading

Posted in Brunswick, Chatham County, Cooking, Durham County, Livestock, Meat, Orange County, South Carolina, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flurry of farm-fresh fall festivities

Wow, there’s so much going on that I feel compelled to do a round-up. Typical fall in the Carolinas! The 8th annual and always entertaining Eastern Triangle Farm Tour is happening Sept. 21-22. Six new farms are included among the 27 … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Charlotte area, Durham County, Family travel, Farmers' markets, Food, Franklin County, Johnston County, Lincoln County, Mecklenburg County, Road travel, Stokes County, Wake County, Wine | Leave a comment

Southern cooking: it’s a sides show

Lina found me crying over an ugly green plastic box the other week. I was reading through my mom’s recipes (she died in 2009), on yellowed index cards in her hand-writing. Her famous salmon cakes, always served with cole slaw … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Cooking, Food, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Food Lovers’ Guide’ to the Triangle is out

My pal and busy “Durham Foodie” blogger Johanna Kramer just birthed her first book, and it’s a great one for food-minded locals and visitors to the Triangle. (And, really, who isn’t food minded?) “Food Lovers’ Guide to Raleigh, Durham & … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Durham County, Family travel, Orange County, Recipes, Wake County | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Celebrate Farmer’s Market Week with more markets

It doesn’t surprise me a bit that the US Department of Agriculture announced a 9.6 percent increase in National Farmers Market Directory listings. Oh, and happy National Farmer’s Market Week! I’m also sure that plenty of markets are not even … Continue reading

Posted in Farmers' markets, Wake County | Leave a comment

It’s settled! Il Palio vs. Weathervane on July 23

I was already feeling lucky to be asked to judge one of the Fire in the Triangle chef competition sponsored by Got to Be NC. Then I learned I’d be judging the semifinals, on July 23, meaning I’ll get to … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Dining, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cooling off in Canada, then back for Fire in Triangle

It’s so hot in North Carolina that I’m fleeing to Canada. Seriously. OK, so the trip was already planned. I hope to check out a few farms around Montreal and of course sample some farm-to-table fare. I haven’t done my … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Wake County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Calling all chicken lovers

Get yourself to Raleigh today for the annual Tour D’Coop, one of the nation’s leading chicken tours (according to me). If you miss it this year, then put it on the calendar for next year. You’ll get to see cool … Continue reading

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With a glean in their eyes, helping the hungry

If you’ve thought about gleaning, i.e. harvesting field “leftovers,” now is a good time to start in the Triangle, as strawberry gleaners are urgently needed. (If you can’t help now, read the last paragraph for info about gleaning in general.) … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Johnston County, Wake County | Tagged | Leave a comment

How can that even be?

As my partner, Lina, likes to say: How can that even be? How can NO North Carolina person or place be among the final nominees for James Beard awards? That’s just kooky. I guess we did so well in last … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Durham County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The best collard greens you’ll ever eat

Happy New Year from Farm Fresh North Carolina! Looking back, kudos to everyone who supported farmers and dedicated themselves to fresh food in 2011. And to those who bought my book, a special thanks! What a fantastic year I had promoting it … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Guilford County, Recipes, Wake County | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Green-light specials at holiday markets

Thanksgiving shoppers can be grateful for the number of farmers’ markets holding special market events specifically for the holidays. Not only that, the Triangle and Western NC local-food communities have put together websites giving overviews of holiday markets.  The mountain version, organized … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Henderson County, Madison County, Orange County, Wake County, Watauga County | Leave a comment

We already knew they were good; now it’s official

Congrats to the four North Carolina companies named finalists in the second annual Good Food Awards. Escazu Artisan Chocolates in Raleigh (where I cannot believe I haven’t been yet!), Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, Miss Jenny’s Pickles in Kernersville, and Farmers’ Daughter … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Forsyth County, Franklin County, Orange County, Wake County | Leave a comment

Veritable cornucopia of fall news and happenings

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news and calendar listings. Here are a few items of interest, followed by calendar of events: *  Yay for one of my favorite restaurants, Knife & Fork, which won … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Johnston County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Rowan County, Stanly County, Wake County | 1 Comment

Summer, and Farm Fresh tour, are winding down

It must be the end of summer — tomorrow is my last day of Farm Fresh promotion for a month. Now that’s a switch, after a busy schedule from March through July. So tomorrow please join me for the farewell-to-summer … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Fresh events, Farmers' markets, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Can you afford fresh food? Heck, yeah

I don’t always have an answer for people who say that eating organic, seasonal meals is too expensive. From now on, I’m telling them to check out Linda Watson‘s “Wildly Affordable Organic.” The book’s subtitle is key: “Eat Fabulous Food, Get … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Environmental, Recipes, Wake County | Leave a comment

Bee there, freshest fish, food tours and more

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news. How sweet it is: TONIGHT, July 27, at 6 pm (movie at 9:15), Market Restaurant in Raleigh will host a music and movie night in its parking lot, featuring … Continue reading

Posted in Bees, Books, Dining, Durham County, Environmental, Food, Food policy, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Special ‘Farm Fresh’ dinner May 18 at Zely & Ritz, Raleigh

I can’t wait for this one. On Wednesday, May 18, I’m teaming up with two Raleigh entries in my book — Zely & Ritz and The Little Herb House (their write-ups are at the end of this post) for a … Continue reading

Posted in Dining, Farm Fresh book events, Wake County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Where to find organic U-pick strawberries

2015 Update: In early 2015, I heard from a new certified organic U-pick, in Indian Trail, 30 minutes southeast of Charlotte. Wise Acres Organic Farm welcomes your business in spring of 2015!   2014 Update: Strawberries are late again this … Continue reading

Posted in Brunswick, Buncombe County, Food, Franklin County, Fruit, Orange County, U-pick farms, Wake County | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Nice book pairing in the Raleigh, Charlotte papers

Thanks to Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer for the most-excellent article on “Farm Fresh” and also on Sheri Castle and her great book, “The New Southern Garden Cookbook.” It was a fine pairing of books — first the … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Durham County, Mecklenburg County, Wake County | Tagged , | Leave a comment