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October 2, 2020 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Photos: First Look at Publix in Downtown Raleigh

Front of the new Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front of the new Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to supermarkets in the Triangle, for years it was mostly all about Harris Teeter and Kroger. But given the growth and bright future for the area, we’ve seen increasing competition on the grocery store side of things. Aldi, Lidl and Wegman’s have established themselves in the state along with the newest option, Publix! And while there are other Publix locations in the Triangle, this new Publix in downtown Raleigh breaks the mold. Located in the new Smoky Hollow development off Peace Street, having a new, bright and clean grocery option downtown is a game-changer and much needed given all the residential growth in the neighborhood.

Entry area of Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Entry area of Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Bakery area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Bakery area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Deli area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Deli area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Sub menu at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Sub menu at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

If you head on over for a visit by car, there are two entrances to the underground parking lot. One off of Peace Street which is very easy to miss and a bigger entrance on Harrington Street! There’s a good amount of underground covered parking, head on over to the stairs/elevator bank to pop up to the main level. Up top you’ll find an entry area with seating leading into a light and bright store! In my handful of visits, I can say that the bakery and deli are top-notch along with the meats and produce. For lunch, a big thumbs-up for the popular “Pub Subs”! For about $6, Publix offers an array of cold and hot subs on an excellent grinder roll. I tried out the chicken tender Pub Sub with lettuce, tomato, sliced pickles and American cheese, dee-licious! And you can order these subs online and pick them up in a warming bin near the deli, cool. And don’t miss the Publix fried chicken, you can grab an 8-piece on the way out for dinner.

Chicken tender Pub Sub at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Chicken tender Pub Sub at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Publix cookies and holiday cranberry-turkey sub for lunch - nctriangledining.com
Publix cookies and holiday cranberry-turkey sub for lunch – nctriangledining.com
Publix smokehouse ribs for lunch - nctriangledining.com
Publix smokehouse ribs for lunch – nctriangledining.com

Overall I can say I’ve been really pleased with my handful of visits to Publix. Large and clean store, friendly employees and those Pub Subs! It’s great to have new grocery choices and Publix can hold its own against favorites like Wegman’s and Harris Teeter.

Cheese area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Cheese area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Produce area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Produce area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Refrigerated area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Refrigerated area at Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Fried chicken and chocolate chip cookies from Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Fried chicken and chocolate chip cookies from Publix on Peace Street in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

 

Publix – Downtown Raleigh

417 W Peace Street, Ste 100

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.755.5444

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Food, Photo Album Tagged With: Groceries

March 31, 2020 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The New Weaver Street Market in Raleigh, a Destination for High Quality Groceries and Food

Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front of Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Into each life, some rain must pour and if you’re like me, figuring out how to manage sheltering at home from Covid-19 is readily at hand. One food and grocery option that may have slipped your radar screen is the newish Weaver Street Market in Raleigh! While I’ll always love my Teeters and Wegman’s, Weaver Street Market is a community owned supermarket that specializes in high-quality foods and is particularly vegetarian and vegan friendly. The market is legendary in Carrboro but its latest location (open in September 2019) at the Dillon Building in Raleigh may be a bit less known.

Produce section at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Produce section at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Interior of Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Interior of Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located in the Dillon building on Hargett Street, Weaver Street Market has a premium corner spot with sidewalk and patio (2nd floor) seating. Inside you’ll find a great, organic produce market, butcher shop, frozen foods, bakery, wine shop, sandwich-pizza bar, hot bar and more! It’s like a cool, local Whole Foods complete with beer bar, community events and more. Prices seem right in line for what they’re offering and in more normal times, the Weaver Street Market is a great spot to just hang out and meet up with people. Weaver Street Market is also a co-op which is pretty rare for this area. You can become a community owner for $75/year which gives you access to coupons, invites to special events and a chance to vote in their elections or run for their board and influence the future of Weaver Street Market.

Wine area at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Wine area at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

So if you’re going to do some grocery shopping and live in downtown Raleigh, Weaver Street Market is a great option for organic and healthy food. They validate 1 hour of parking at the Dillon Building if your purchase $10 or more and will soon be offering curb-side pick-up. Check out their Facebook page to get the latest news, bon appetit!

Hot bar at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Hot bar at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

2nd floor dining area at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com

2nd floor dining area at Weaver Street Market in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Weaver Street Market

404 W Hargett Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.429.7800

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Food, Raleigh Tagged With: Groceries

November 14, 2019 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

The Famous Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich in Raleigh and Durham

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Popeye’s chicken sandwich in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Now you may be wondering about the buzz around the new Popeye’s chicken sandwich! Launched in mid-August, this chicken sandwich quickly went viral through word of mouth creating lines and mania everywhere. Claims that the new chicken sandwich was better than arch-rival Chick Fil A’s was put to the test. Popeye’s then ran out of chicken in September, sadly ending all the chicken craziness. But not to fret, dear foodie, because the Popeye’s chicken sandwich re-launched on November 3 and guess what?! There were still lines! But persistence is important in life and all I can say is that this chicken sammich, well it’s worth a bit of a wait!

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Line at Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

I headed over to the Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen on Capital Boulevard at about 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. Pulling into the parking lot, I could still see a line of about 6 cars in the drive-thru. Inside, there was a shorter line of about 4 people so, not too bad. And you can bet that most people were in line for that chicken sandwich. It takes about 10 minutes to hit the front of the line and I order up one spicy chicken sandwich ($3.99) and one classic combo’d up with a drink and Cajun fries. It’s $11.69 for the whole deal which is super reasonable and my order comes out in about 5 to 10 minutes given the busy restaurant.

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Popeye’s chicken sandwich in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The chicken sandwiches come nicely wrapped in foil-paper sleeves which keeps some of the heat in. Visually, it’s a delicious looking sandwich! Shiny-top, brioche bun with a large and bumpy, fried chicken patty tucked in between. Inside you’ll find two pickles, a slather of mayo (spicy or plain) and that’s about it. Taking a bite you’ll get a hit of tender chicken, crunchy batter and sweet from the pickle. Popeye’s grills the bun a bit for some buttery texture and the brioche adds a hint of sweet to the sandwich, excellent! While the chicken patty is all white meat, it’s tender and exhibits some juiciness. All in all it’s a very, nicely balanced chicken sandwich with some heft and surprisingly, not much grease which is appreciated. I’d recommend the spicy version to maximize flavor. And oh yeah, those Cajun fries are great too! Just a hint of spicy coating, I’ll need to get them fresh next time.

While I wouldn’t wait in a 30 minute line or risk being stabbed in line for the Popeye’s chicken sandwich, it’s certainly about as good as it gets for fast food chicken. It’s an extremely satisfying bite and well put together given its humble origins. Just be aware that we only have 7 or so Popeye’s in the area vs. the MANY Bojangles locations. So if you’re willing to make the trek out to your local Popeye’s Louisiana Chicken, I’m pretty sure you’ll be pretty pleased with their chicken sandwich, Classic or Spicy!

 

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations in the NC Triangle

3904 Western Blvd, Whitmore Drive, Raleigh

3699 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh

3318 Capital Blvd, Raleigh

1701 Pinewinds Drive, Raleigh

7120 Knightdale Blvd, Knightdale

Terminal 2, RDU Airport

2723 Guess Road, Durham

Filed Under: Food, News-Upcoming, NoRSS Tagged With: Chicken

December 7, 2018 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Food and Culinary Deals at Costco Wholesale in Raleigh for the Holidays!

Front of Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I’m not sure what I was thinking when I got my Costco membership.  I mean, what’s a single guy going to do with a 72 pack of toilet paper or a 10 pack of Brita filters?  But you would be surprised, my friend!  Once I learned the in’s and out’s of being a Costco member and navigating the parking lot, you realize there is definitely some value for even a single person with a membership. Especially if you’re into food and cooking, go figure.  And the more times I visit Costco, the more I find to enjoy and eat.  Let’s go for a quick tour!

Foodsaver at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Foodsaver at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Let’s start with Costco’s kitchen goods.  While they don’t have a huge selection, what they do have for kitchen brands is pretty strong.  I’ve been thinking about trying out sous vide cooking so I’m sort of in the market for a vacuum food sealer.  And while Costco doesn’t have more than 2 or 3 choices of any particular item, the 4880 Food Saver they have for $119, retails for over $175 elsewhere.  BIG savings!

And then I see a set of 4 KitchenAid ceramic knives for $25 which is typically $28 – $35 elsewhere.  KitchenAid mixers?  They’ve got them here and a LOT cheaper then Williams-Sonoma where I used to work.  If you’re in the market for kitchen tools, I think you’d do pretty well here. Costco usually also has a great selection of cookingware sets along with decent quality knives.

Custom cakes at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Custom cakes at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Moving on to the wine, baked goods and meats section, they’ve got a very nice selection of bottles here and from what I’ve been told, the wine-buyers at Costco are SUPER picky.  They are the 7th largest wine retailer in the world which means huge buying power.  I have yet to buy a bottle yet but will take some time to research their selection a bit.  Just past the wines are the baked goods, and I recently bought a 1/2 chocolate sheet-cake for $18!  You can choose from 20 or so decorations and choose from 2 types of cake and have a custom message on it.  And it was a decent cake with light butter cream, another great deal!

Meat section at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Meat section at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Just past the cakes there’s the bulk meat section where Costco sells vacuum-sealed USDA Prime and Choice meats, all at a good price.  I’ve done a couple of delicious prime rib roasts from Costco beef and you’ll know I’ll be back here sometime soon. Just be aware you will need some hungry mouths to take advantage of the family packs here.

Kirkland products at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Kirkland products at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Further in past the frozen goods, there are tons of foodstuffs with the in-house brand, Kirkland.  And while I may not want a bottle of Kirkland wine on my table, who cares when it comes to spices and other bulk cooking items?  I grab a 64 oz. container of organic extra virgin olive oil for $14, it goes for 50% more on Amazon.  A huge 160 oz. container of canola oil for $14 probably goes for at least $18.  And the best thing is that Costco usually stocks items that are above average in quality so you’re getting a great deal on really good food items!  I have yet to cost shop other items but I’d expect the same sort of discounts.  Costco employees are scattered through-out the warehouse demo’ing food items and handing out samples.  Some people say you can put together a lunch here just by grazing on the food samples.

Fresh flowers at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Fresh flowers at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

In addition to the food, you’ve obviously also got some great deals on electronics, basic clothes items, vitamins and more.  About the only thing they have that doesn’t seem to be a good deal are the movies, DVD’s and blu-ray discs.  Right before you check out, Costco has a great fresh flower stand which is well worth whatever price you pay.  Head on off to the cash register, make sure you grab a box to take your stuff out in and square up with cash, debit or the Costco AMEX card.  The lines can get long here but most Costco employees I’ve run into are well-trained and quick, phew!

Food stand at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Food stand at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Self-serve food kiosk at Costco in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Self-serve food kiosk at Costco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But the food fun doesn’t stop here because right past the cash registers, you’ve got the Costco food stand.  Like many big-box stores, the experience can be so lengthy they need to provide you with some food (see my IKEA review).  And you can eat really on the cheap here. Hard to believe, but the food here is all pretty darn good, order your food at the self-serve kiosk and they’ve got a pick-up area for efficiency  Costco has their classic 1/4 lb. beef hot dog and drink for $1.50, a chicken bake for $3 and a slice of pizza for $2.  The beef hot dog is an 10″ long, filling beastie and you self-serve your soft drink.  Where else could you eat for under $2?!

The pizza is a medium crust with plenty of cheese and toppings, and of course, the slices are big.  If you want the whole pie, we’re talking only $9.95.  The chicken bake is a thin, well-browned Parmesan crust filled with chicken chunks and a bit of sauce, tasty stuff.  So AFTER you buy all that great food inside Costco, you get some more on the way out to fill yourself.  I’ve even heard of the Costco food challenge where you have to consume $10 worth of eats in under an hour.  Don’t think it’s impossible but I’ll pass for now.

Overall I’m really impressed by what I’ve found so far in my first month of membership and I’d highly recommend you check ’em out if you’ve got one in the area.  The newest Costco for the Triangle is coming to Apex in March 2016. Once you park, it’s not too painful outside of paying up at the cash register.  With their ridiculous buying power, Costco dishes out some great deals and eats for food lovers and aficionados.  Don’t let Costco’s big box presence scare you off from the great values inside, it’s totally worth the trouble…

 

Costco Wholesale

2838 Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27609

919.755.2801

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Food, Local Information Tagged With: Shopping

April 29, 2018 by Ron Wen

In Praise of Poutine! Some Great Options for Fries, Gravy & Cheese in the Triangle

Who here likes fries, raise your hand? And how about some brown gravy, raise it up high! So what would you expect would happen when you combine the two?! We’re talking about pure deliciousness here and by gum, they call it poutine! Brought to you by the people north of our border, this Canadian treat (Quebecois, to be exact) has been landing on menus all throughout the Triangle! And I’ll confess to loving this meaty treat and I’ve been searching around the Triangle to find the most delicious version of poutine around.

Oxtail poutine at the 41Hundred in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com

Oxtail poutine at the 41Hundred in Raleigh – $13

Out in North Hills you’ll find the 41Hundred located in the Renaissance Hotel. Part bar, part lounge and part restaurant, the 41Hundred offers an array of small plates, sandwiches and appetizers at very reasonable prices. But what caught my eye (and stomach) here at the 41Hundred is its oxtail poutine, whoa! While I first tried this dish for a media event, I came back for a second go-around and it was still great! Thin skin-on fries covered in a deep brown, oxtail-laden gravy with pieces of white cheddar?! Sign me up, please. If you haven’t tried oxtail before, you’ll be blown away by its deep meaty flavor and luscious richness when slowly braised. And it works perfectly for this poutine, don’t miss out! I just wish that I didn’t have to walk by the 41Hundred every time I leave my gym, way too much temptation.

Poutine at the Bottledog Bites and Brews - nctriangledining.com

Poutine at the Bottledog Bites and Brews – $9

Further west you’ll find the very under-rated Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary! Why’s that? It’s a humble little bottle shop on the side of a plaza so unless you’re looking for it, it’s very unlikely you would stumble in on the place. But here’s where things get better. While Bottledog offers up some stellar craft beers, it also has some of the best poutines around along with delicious flatbreads, hot dogs and beaver tails. They’ve got 5 or so poutines on the menu ranging from your basic fries, gravy and curds along with some spin-off options that include Montreal smoked meat (pastrami-like) and even hot Nashville chicken. But whatever version you’ll choose, you’ll love the rich gravy over tender potato. They even offer poutine as a extra cost side for their sandwiches. Give me a fork and I’ll jump right into this platter!

Brisket poutine at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Cary – $9

This Irish pub in Cary is as good a restaurant as is a bar so I had high hopes for their brisket poutine! Guiness braised brisket with white cheddar and brown gravy makes for a classic treat! A good portion size to be shared as an appetizer!

Poutine at the Jack Tar and Colonel’s Daughter – $10

Well we’ve covered poutine in Raleigh and Cary, but what about Durham? Recently I tried the poutine at the new Jack Tar and the Colonel’s Daughter in the Bull City. This nouveau-diner is doing quite a few classics that have been twisted up in gourmet fashion but their poutine stays pretty true to form. Thin, skin-on, nicely browned fries covered in a light gravy and yellow cheese curds, yum! While this version is pretty solid, I would have like a more hot gravy to cover and melt the cheesy bits, more effectively. And a bit more depth and savory to the gravy would have also been nice. But still a very tasty starter at the Jack Tar and Colonel’s Daughter for a reasonable price.

Masala Poutine at Parts and Labor in Durham – $8

Inside of the Motorco music venue you’ll find Parts and Labor, the casual eatery offering food truck-like small plates along with great beer. Parts and Labor has a couple of poutines on the menu including this spicy, masala poutine! Covered in think melty cheese and this thick red sauce, the masala poutine spins the classic dish up a bit without straying too far. Very tasty!

 

 Fried oyster poutine at Locals Oyster Bar in Raleigh – $8

A spin on the classic poutine, Locals Oyster bar takes thin, skin-on fries and tops them with oyster gravy, corn-meal fried oysters and hot sauce! Located in the new Transfer Co. Food Hall, Locals Oyster Bar offers up a variety of seafood in a casual setting.

So if you’re dying for some fries and gravy, what are you waiting for? Time to visit one of these great restaurants for a big ol plate of poutine. There’s a handful of other places I need to check out for this list (Milltown, Townhall Burgers) so I’ll be adding to it! Which I am certainly looking forward to because who can resist potatoes and gravy?!

 

A Plethora of Poutine Plates in the Triangle

  • 41Hundred, Raleigh

  • Bottledog Bites and Brews, Cary

  • Doherty’s Irish Pub, Cary

  • Jack Tar and the Colonel’s Daughter, Durham

  • Parts and Labor, Durham

  • Locals Oyster Bar, Raleigh

Filed Under: Food, Overviews Tagged With: Poutine

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