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June 23, 2019 by Ron Wen

Media: M Pocha Offers Up Some Culinary Magic for Durham

Front of M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Front of M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to chefs in the Triangle, I’ve always enjoyed what comes out of the kitchens from Chef Mike Lee. Since his days as owner-chef of Sono in Raleigh to competition cooking events, I’ve watched him grow in the Triangle as he’s built his group of M Restaurants in Durham to much acclaim. And now the Bull City has M restaurant #4, M Pocha (short for pojangmacha – street food). Sitting on a corner of Five Points, M Pocha will be bringing some foodie magic in the form of Asian small plates! I was lucky enough to get an invite to M Pocha’s friends and family preview dinner before they soft-opened. Here’s what to expect!

 

Cocktail menu at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Cocktail menu at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Mezcal cocktail at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Mezcal cocktail at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Heading on over to M Pocha, it’s a bit inconspicuous from the outside with shaded, plate glass windows (it’s a sunny spot) and a slightly, narrow triangular feel to the space. If you had been in the old Cupcake Bar space before, you won’t recognize it anymore. Inside, M Pocha has a minimalist, darker decor focused on metals and woods. A bit different then the other M Restaurants which usually have featured a lot of exposed brick. The seating is also different here with bar seating at the front and side along with one large communal table down the middle. M Pocha’s space is probably best suited for 2 to 4 people along with solo diners given the seating setup. M Pocha offers up a short selection of beers, wines and cocktails to get your meal started!

Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Spicy kimchi stew at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Chef Mike is in back, busily working the kitchen while about sixteen of us sat at the communal table, eagerly awaiting what was to come. The meal opens up with a spicy kimchi soup filled with napa cabbage, smoky sausage and tender fall-off-the-bone pork ribs. The soup has got some great depth and texture, it reminds me of a classic Chinese soup and is gobbled up by the table. While I think kimchi can get really strong and pungent, the presentation of that fermented flavor is balanced well in this soup!

Nasi goreng at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Nasi goreng at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Seared brussels sprouts at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Seared brussels sprouts at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The table moves on to nasi goreng, an Indonesian fried rice served up with some fried shrimp. The fried rice is moist and tasty with a bit of soy sauce, garlic and more. It’s a very comforting dish for me, something that mom might put on the table. Served up with some nicely pan-friend brussels sprouts makes for a great starter for the meal.

Grilled short rib at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Grilled short rib at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The highlight for me is next, the seared short-rib served up yakitori-style (barbeque) on a ceramic grill. Thick, succulent pieces of short-rib showing off great char and beefy chew. Mike is serving them boneless which makes for easier eating. A follow-up dish of spicy pork belly served with greens, pickled veggies and steamed buns offers up a great mix of textures and colors for the palate. A fun take on the traditional bao with some acid and greens to brighten the dish up.

Spicy pork belly bao at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Spicy pork belly bao at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And finally the closing small plate, perfectly fried pork dumplings (gyoza)! The skin on these dumplings were thicker but still tender and as you can see by the picture, very nicely pan-fried to a deep brown. The crunchy bottoms make for a nice contrast to the soft tops of the dumplings, dee-licious!

Pan-fried gyoza dumplings at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Pan-fried bacon gyoza dumplings at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Chef Mike at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Chef Mike at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of the dinner, Chef Mike comes out several times explaining the origins and ingredients of each dish, along with his career and path as a chef. Like many chefs, he started out formally trained to do one thing and pivoted when he discovered his love of the culinary arts and food. I’ve always appreciated his menus and cuisine from Sono to M Sushi, M Kokko and more. His dishes stay true to the authenticity of Asian cuisine while taking some light liberties with ingredients and preparation. I wouldn’t call it Asian fusion, more like Asian uplifted, similar to Brewery Bhavana. But always delicious and balanced for flavor!

And I think he will have some fun with the broader menu options here at M Pocha, offering up small plates of his favorite Asian cuisines across the region. So here’s to more and better at M Pocha and from Chef Mike. We’ll know more of what to expect from the restaurant in upcoming months as they get into a groove after their soft-opening, cheers!

 

M Pocha

101 E Chapel Hill Street

Durham, NC 27701

M Pocha menu

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Durham, Media, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Asian Restaurants

April 7, 2019 by Ron Wen

Media: Annelore’s German Bakery, an Authentic Taste of Germany in Cary

Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to bakeries, I try to avoid them to limit my sweets intake but every now and then, it’s a wonderful and special treat. Whether you’re talking about Guglhupf, La Farm Bakery or lucettegrace, I’m always tempted to order the entire counter! And a new bakery that’s been around forever has arrived on the scene for sweets: Annelore’s German Bakery! The name probably sounds familiar to you if you’ve been to local farmers markets. I remember running into Annelore’s at the NC State Farmer’s market many times over the years. They always had a stand next to Bee Blessed Honey and the flower vendors at the front of the farmer’s market. So I was really happy to get an invite to their local media event (Kaffee & Kuchen – Coffee and Cake) to check out Annelore’s new retail space in Cary!

Interior of Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Interior of Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com
Pastry case at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Pastry case at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com

Head on over Chatham Street in Cary and you’ll find Annelore’s German Bakery in a new, stand-alone building a couple of blocks down from La Farm Bakery, very cool! Inside I meet up with Annelore’s media contact, Tiffani and bump into some of the other local bloggers and news people attending the event. Even though I haven’t had a chance to visit Germany yet, I can say that Annelore’s interior design is clean and European with a large, curved display area full of bright colors and tempting sweets. There’s also a small cafe area to the side if you’d like to enjoy your coffee and sweets onsite.

For the media preview, we’ve got a beautiful display of Annelore’s baked goodies which spans a wide variety of categories, from sweet cookies and cakes to savory pretzels, breads and a lot more. I sample some of the goodies, love the classic Bee Sting cake layered with cream, honey, almonds and pastry, I remember this treat from the old NC State Farmers Market days! Some jam-filled cookies and Black Forest cake are also excellent, showing high quality ingredients without the overly sweet nature that some pastries might have. I’d describe Annelore’s pastries as your more classic European sweets without being overly complicated. Annelore’s bakes up a mean, butter spritz cookie along with a classic marzipan crescent dipped in chocolate and made of almond flour, chewy perfection!

Beautiful cakes and pastries at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Beautiful cakes and pastries at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com

But Annelore’s German Bakery is not a one-trick pony only serving up sweets. Their large Bavarian pretzels are beautifully baked and show off a wonderfully, shiny sheen and the cheese-covered pretzels are as amazing as they sound. A row of bread loaves show off additional baking skills around multi-grain bread, purple wheat bread and more. These bread varieties are certainly different from what you usually see in the area. Ryes, purple wheat loaves and much more! I’m sure if you’re more familiar with German breads then I am, you’ll appreciate the variety turned out at Annelore’s.

Cheese and Bavarian pretzels at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Cheese and Bavarian pretzels at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com
Breads at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Breads at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com
Norbert and Annelore speaking at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Norbert and Annelore speaking at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com

During the media event, owners Annelore and Norbert address the crowd and we learn more about the history of their bakery and construction of the new facility. Tours are given of the industrial kitchen which is super clean and well-organized. It’s also built super eco-friendly with an eye towards minimizing waste and energy usage. While everything inside is super-modern, it’s that old-school talent and human hands on the staff that makes their cakes and pastries so awesome. Annelore’s Bakery is definitely in a position to really increase their production volume and get their baked goods out to a wider audience beyond farmers markets, good for them!

Modern kitchen at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Modern kitchen at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com
Working hard at Annelore's Germany Bakery, Cary - nctriangledining.com
Working hard at Annelore’s Germany Bakery, Cary – nctriangledining.com

And at the end of the event, we’re all given goodie bags filled with tasty cookies, pastries, bread and more. It’s really great to see Annelore’s Bakery all growed up! While other businesses may have had more splashy entrances, Annelore’s has been slowly building up their reputation for high quality baked goods with a German flair, customer by customer, year by year. So congratulations, Annelore’s! If you’re in the Cary area it’s certainly worth a visit for their artisanal pastries and breads from Germany. I’m sure that for many, it will be a taste of home…

 

Annelore’s German Bakery

308 W Chatham Street

Cary, NC 27511

919.267.6846

 

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Cary, Media, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Bakery, German Restaurants

December 22, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: A Feast for the Eyes and Stomach, Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham

Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As a fan of the culinary arts scene in the Triangle, I’m always on the lookout for cool, food events and special dinners. While it’s always great to go out and eat, it’s even better when you’re talking about a one-off specialty dinner. A recent invite to Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts hit my email inbox and I was pretty excited! Any event that ties in modern art with culinary art is a winner in my book. This edition of Feast from the Furnace would be led by Chef Tyler Vanderzee from NanaSteak. But my big question is: How can you cook a meal in a super-hot glass blowing furnace?! Well, I was about to find out…

Entry to Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Entry to Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Inside of Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Inside of Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you haven’t spent much time in Durham, it might be a bit tricky to find Liberty Arts! Located on Pearl Street on the E. Durham side of things, Liberty Arts is a bit off the beaten path and in a lot surrounded by a bit of fencing and barbed wire. But don’t let that look scare you because you’re going to find some amazing things behind that steel, sliding door! Inside, I meet Liberty Arts board member Ilene Hadler who has extended me the invite to tonight’s dinner. We grab a glass of wine at the open bar and then we go on a tour of the Liberty Arts collective and space which is really impressive.

Touring Liberty Arts in Durham with Ilene - nctriangledining.com
Touring Liberty Arts in Durham with Ilene – nctriangledining.com
Happy diners at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Happy diners at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve spent a lot of time in the Raleigh arts community but Liberty Arts certainly takes it to another level! This collective of a dozen artists and creators cover a broad swath of eclectic mediums. The artists at Liberty Arts hand-make everything from metal masks, woodwork, typography, smoking pipes and more. During the Feast from the Furnace dinner, guests are encouraged to wander around and explore the workshops of each artist. There’s also a store up front offering up a variety of pieces to the public. We head on back to the dining room area where the guests are assembling with glasses of wine and beer in hand.

Leigh and Aubrey speaking at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Leigh and Aubrey speaking at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The dinner is opened up with some words from Liberty Arts board members, Leigh and Aubrey. We’re given some backdrop to Liberty Arts, the upcoming dinner and glass-blowing artist, Elijah Leed. Elijah gets the evening started working a molten ball of glass in the super-hot furnace (2,000 degrees). With the help of an assistant they are able to blow out and shape the glass into well-honed cup. And as the glass-blowing exhibition moves along, our dinner is being prepped by Chef Tyler and his team. They’ve got a lot of the ingredients in carbon steel pans which are able to withstand the intense heat in the furnace!

Glass blowing with Elijah at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Glass blowing with Elijah at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Chef Tyler prepping the meal at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Chef Tyler prepping the meal at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve managed to take a look at the menu from our master of ceremonies, Leigh and it looks like we will be having the following four-course meal:

  • Wild ramp naan with charred artichoke and Greek yogurt with caviar
  • Roasted scallop with parsnip puree and charred shishito pepper
  • Blackened beef short rib with acorn squash and red mole sauce
  • Poached seckel pear with goat cheese, almonds and dates with honey
Scallops and peppers for Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Scallops and peppers for Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Ramp naan with artichoke and caviar at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Ramp naan with artichoke and caviar at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I watch the culinary prep the dishes and they are quickly searing a lot of the ingredients in the furnace before quickly assembling the small plates for the guests. It’s a smaller dinner, maybe 30 people but we are all happily enjoying and waiting for our meal, seated at two sets of tables. Our first course comes out, a seared green naan with a spoonful of artichoke and dollop of caviar. It’s a fun, green appetizer with plenty of mouth-feel and texture. Chef Tyler is certainly getting pretty creative for tonight’s dinner!

Seared scallop with parsnip puree at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Seared scallop with parsnip puree at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Blackened short rib and squash at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Blackened short rib and squash at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Dishes #2 and #3 are the highlights of Feast from the Furnace. The seared scallop is cooked just right and placed on top of a creamy and sweet, parsnip puree. A well-seared pepper plays off the entire dish offering up some spice and flavor along with the scallop. It’s a good looking dish with a lot of color and nice presentation. The short rib is more of a classic presentation that feels like autumn. Paired with the soft, seared squash, you get a lot of beefy chew along with the mellow, chocolate mole sauce. A fun mix of American and Mexican on one plate!

Pulled glass at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Pulled glass at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Elijah continues with his glass blowing demonstration and a heated, globe of glass is brought into the main exhibition area of Liberty Arts. He and his assistant, pull and the tug the glass until a long, cylindrical rope is pulled out across the room. It must be at least 25′ long and it’s left to cool on some wooden frames. It’s pretty incredible how malleable this molten glass is, but it obviously takes some serious skills to work in this medium!

Prepping dessert at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Prepping dessert at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Seckel pear with goat cheese, dates and honey at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham -
Seckel pear with goat cheese, dates and honey at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

We head back to our table where we are served up dessert, a seared pear topped with goat cheese, dates and a small cookie. It’s a clean and tasty preparation for fruit and the dripped honey adds a bit of sweetness to enhance the plate, well done! As the tables clear, I say goodbye to my hosts and head out into the night, full and happy! It’s not every night that you’re treated to a feast for the palate and for the eyes. But Feast from the Furnace does just that, offering up a glimpse into the artistry and talents of the wonderful collective at Liberty Arts (Picture gallery below). If you’re a curious diner, check out their website and look for details on the upcoming Feast from the Furnace dinners. They have upcoming dates for January 19 and February 16. I promise you that they will be offering up some great culinary and artisanal skills for the evening. It’s an adventure that a Triangle foodie should experience at least once in their lifetime!

 

Feast from the Furnace

Liberty Arts

918 Pearl Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.294.8006

Location on Google maps

 

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Filed Under: Durham, Events, Media

October 8, 2018 by Ron Wen

Preview: M Tempura Opens in Durham and Delivers a Uniquely Japanese Experience

Bar at M Tempura in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Bar at M Tempura in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As the food and restaurant scene evolves in the Triangle, restaurant groups have been popping up given the success of local owner-chefs! From Ashley Christensen to Matt Kelly, these higher end restaurant groups are locally owned, managed and run, spanning a breadth of cuisine types. One chef-owner that has recently expanded is Chef Mike Lee of M Sushi and M Kokko. I’ve had the opportunity to dine with Chef Mike way back in his Sono days and at other special events and have always found his food to be subtle and delicious. With a focus on high-quality ingredients, well-integrated flavors and interesting textures, he’s done a fantastic job evangelizing and representing Japanese cuisine for the Triangle.

Tempura condiments tray at M Tempura in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Tempura condiments tray at M Tempura in Durham – nctriangledining.com

His most recent concept, M Tempura launched on October 5th and I had the chance to dine a M Tempura on Day 2 of its launch. And let’s just say it is a fun and indulgent experience. The menu is simple with a Ten Don Set (meal served all at once), Omakase (chef’s choice) and Grand Omakase (soon to be available) on the menu. The omakase is a luxurious experience spanning 11 to 13 dishes/items brought to you in sequence. The meal moves from lighter flavors to more intense flavors over time. And you’re given a tray of tempura condiments (pickled vegetables), fresh lemon (cool, fish-shaped lemon squeezer) and other umami-laden ingredients to enhance your meal. The fried tempura is served as it is cooked, fresh and dropped onto your tasting plate. A quick dip into the dipping sauce and you are ready to eat! It’s definitely a dining experience focused on high quality ingredients and frying technique to get you the freshest eats possible. In addition to the tempura, the Omakase also includes some other items such as salad, crudo, tekka don, miso soup and dessert.

Scallop crudo at M Tempura in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Scallop crudo with basil seeds at M Tempura in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Note that substitutions are not available so if you are gluten-free or vegan, you won’t fare well at M Tempura. That being said, if you’ve got an open mind and palate, the dining experience at M Tempura is a luxurious one full of indulgence and flavor. I’m sure the tempura ingredients served will change depending on the season and availability. I hope that the pictures here will help you better understand what to expect if you dine here. As a first-timer, I have nothing to compare it to but I will be back! M Tempura is now also doing a lunch service focused on katsu and Japanese sandwiches on milk bread. What’s even more interesting is that Chef Mike already has some other concepts planned on the website (M Yakitori, M Mandoo and M Kogi) so who knows what 2019 will bring?

Photos of M Tempura, Durham

Front of M Tempura
Front of M Tempura
Entryway at M Tempura
Entryway at M Tempura
Dining area at M Tempura
Dining area at M Tempura
MTempura-MenuNapkin
Menu at M Tempura
Menu at M Tempura
Condiments at M Tempura
Condiments at M Tempura
Fish lemon squeezer
Fish lemon squeezer
Salad at M Tempura
Salad at M Tempura
Scallop crudo at M Tempura
Scallop crudo at M Tempura
Tempura shrimp
Tempura shrimp
Tempura okra
Tempura okra
Temura salmon
Temura salmon
Fried mini-crab
Fried mini-crab
Tempura flounder
Tempura flounder
Chef Mike
Chef Mike
Breading the tempura
Breading the tempura
Knifes on display
Knifes on display
Tempura pearl onion
Tempura pearl onion
Tempura squid
Tempura squid
Tempura Japanese yam
Tempura Japanese yam
Tempura scallop
Tempura scallop
Tempura asparagus
Tempura asparagus
Miso soup at M Tempura
Miso soup at M Tempura
Tekka don
Tekka don
Ginger ice cream at M Tempura
Ginger ice cream at M Tempura

M Tempura Omakase Menu – 10/6/18

Salad
Scallop Crudo
Fried Shrimp
Fried Okra
Fried Salmon
Fried Crab
Fried Flounder
Fried Pearl Onion
Fried Scallop
Fried Squid
Fried Japanese Yam
Fried Asparagus
Miso Soup
Tekka Don (Tuna)
Ginger Ice cream

 

M Tempura

111 Orange Street

Durham, NC 27701

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Durham, Media, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Japanese-Sushi Restaurants

June 11, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: Cortez Seafood + Cocktail Offering Up Fresh Flavors and Seafood to Raleigh!

Front door at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh
Front door at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh

While the S. Glenwood neighborhood has always been known for fun bars, lively clubs and friendly pubs, good food was always tougher to find. There are some half-decent options for dining but not as many as you would expect on this popular and busy street. So when I heard that Cortez Seafood + Cocktail was coming to S. Glenwood, I was pretty pumped! Brought to you by the Ibarra family that runs Jose and Sons along with several other Mexican restaurants in the area, Cortez would be taking over the old Helios space next to Solas. And since I live in the neighborhood, I was able to watch its build out over the months. Thankfully, I received and invite from the Ibarra family to preview Cortez Seafood as it was in its final shake-down run before its opening. And it was a great experience, here’s how it all went down!

Ambiance and interior at the Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Raleigh

Patio at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Patio at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Heading on over to 413 S Glenwood, the first thing you’ll notice is that the patio area at Cortez Seafood has been opened up. Previously a wall of hedges to provide privacy, the lovely patio is now more visible from the street and sidewalk making for a more inviting destination and dining location. The staff at Cortez is decked out in more traditional black slacks and white shirts. I check in at the small hostess kiosk up front and head on over to the bar to wait for friends.

Creme brulee at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh

Bar at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

At the bar I get a chance to scan Cortez Seafood’s menu for the evening. Given it’s a friends and family night, there are no prices and it may not be the official menu for the public opening but it should give you a good idea about their food concept. Raw oysters, seafood salads, some larger plates and sides along with a short selection of wine, beer and cocktails! So you need to be a seafood lover outside of a handful of dishes with meat.

Stylish dining room at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Stylish dining room at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Cortez Seafood seats about 70 people in the dining room and on the patio. The dining room is clean and gives a Mediterranean feel with the turquoise leather bench seating, chamfered table tops and chairs along with speckled floor. It all feels very comfortable, open and stylish, very nicely done on the interior. With about 12 seats at the bar you’ve got some good seating options depending on the weather. My hungry friends show up ( including Kristen, @gadaboutfood) and we’re seated at a 4-top and ready to eat!

Food and menu at the Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Raleigh

Fresh NC oysters at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Fresh NC oysters at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Poached shrimp w dill at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Poached shrimp w dill at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We start off with a plate of raw NC oysters on ice served with rose mignonette and cocktail sauce. These bivalves are beautifully briny with the pure taste of the ocean. Raleigh’s been on an oyster roll of late, don’t miss these! Our next small plate is the wonderful cold, poached shrimp. These plump shrimp are paired with tzatziki and some dill making for a bright and light bite, loved this fresh starter plate of shrimp. The dill really pops out on the palate and pairs perfectly with the seafood.

Mackerel gazpacho at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Mackerel gazpacho at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Leche de tigre ceviche at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Leche de tigre ceviche at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Yellowtail poke nori at Cortez Seafood - NC Triangle Dining
Yellowtail poke nori at Cortez Seafood – NC Triangle Dining

My friend has ordered up a beautiful mackerel gazpacho that’s full of color and texture. I’ve always been impressed with Chef Oscar’s food at Jose and Sons and I think you’ll see the same great preparation and plating here at Cortez Seafood. And it will be interesting to see what he comes up with, moving into a different category and cuisine of foods! But I have full faith he will dazzle your taste-buds like he usually does. The leche de tigre consists of yellow tail in an aji sauce and mixed with corn nuts, red onion, and avocado. Very creative and a bit creamy. We finish up with a yellowtail poke nori served with crunchy seaweed crackers, yum! All of Cortez’ cold plates are nicely balanced in terms of textures and colors along with taste, of course.

Mexrib sandwich at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Mexrib sandwich at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Seared mackerel with rapini at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Seared mackerel with rapini at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Now it’s on to the warm plates! At the table we’ve got the Mexrib sandwich (rib and pork shoulder patty) served with Carolina gold barbeque sauce and chips, it looks great. My seared mackerel is soft and tender on the tongue with a bit of crispy skin on top. I haven’t eaten a lot of mackerel, it’s usually considered an oily fish but the seared fish here is delicious and plays off nicely against the bright Carolina sunshine sauce. The warm potato salad and charred rapini are huge hits mixed with a bit of salty country ham and love the rapini topped with a soft poached egg.

Warm potato salad at Cortez Seafood - NC Triangle Dining
Warm potato salad at Cortez Seafood – NC Triangle Dining
Charred rapini with country ham at Cortez Seafood - NC Triangle Dining
Charred rapini with country ham at Cortez Seafood – NC Triangle Dining

Over the course of my meal at Cortez Seafood, you’ll notice the homage and tip of the hat to local NC ingredients. Which in my mind says, fresh! And the seafood preparation cuts across a swath of cuisine categories, playing with a lot of different styles and flavors. But all quite delicious.

Creamy creme brulee at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Creamy creme brulee at Cortez Seafood in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

We finish off with a dense and creamy creme brulee that’s perfect for a single person or a sharing couple. A really wonderful ending to our meal. The staff at Cortez Seafood is fairly new and working into their roles but they are well-trained and amenable. Again, I have no concerns here given my experience at many meals at Jose and Sons over the years. So a slow round of applause for the new Cortez Seafood + Cocktail! Love the concept, love the food and the great space. And while there may be a bit of menu overlap with what Vidrio is doing across the street, I think you’ll find the experience to be quite different here at this cozy little seafood eatery. Looking forward to my first visit after your official opening!

 

The Cortez Seafood + Cocktail

413 S. Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.342.8227

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Media, Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Glenwood South Restaurants, Seafood Restaurants

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