Media Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

June 11, 2018 by Ron Wen

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

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

November 2, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Media Event: Il Palio in Chapel Hill Doing Rustic and Regional Italian Fare

Entrance to the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Out in the NC Triangle we’ve got several great examples of hotel restaurants ranging from the Fairview Dining Room at Washington Duke Inn to Herons at the Umstead and Flights over at the Renaissance Hotel. Hotel restaurants may not be at the top of your list as a dining option but you’d be remiss in not considering them. And Il Palio at the Siena Hotel is a new, Italian option in this category. I received an invite for a VIP dinner with their new chef Teddy Diggs and here’s how the evening played out…

Lobby at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Il Palio and the Siena Hotel are conveniently located off of E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and is certainly one of the more upscale options in this college town. The lobby is full of polished marble and columns presenting an age-old, antiqued European feel. Il Palio sits to the right of the lobby entrance with a bar and lounge area in front, impressive wine display to the side.

Wine-display at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

We meet with Il Palio’s PR representative, Cherith from Clairemont Communications, who has organized this soiree and gathering of local food media and bloggers. It’s an impressive and chatty group for the evening. I manage to get a quick tour of the dining room before dinner kicks off with General Manager, Anthony Carey who shows off the refreshed dining space. While elegant and upscale, the decor is still comfortable and shows off hints of a post-mod 70’s feel.

Cul de sac seating at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

We’re seated at two long tables and the dinner will be coursed with a variety of items off the Il Palio dinner menu. We start off with some beautiful large crostini slathered in a variety of pate, jam and mousse, quite good but I’ll confess that I’m not a huge fan of pates!

Crostini at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Roasted chestnut soup at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Course two is a variety of antipasti (appetizers) which range from a roasted chestnut soup to tuna carpaccio and squid in red sauce. A warm basket of olive-oil infused focaccia is actually MY favorite appetizer, sometimes it’s the simple things in life!

Olive oil focaccia at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Hand-cut taglierini with porcini at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Next up is an array of pastas and entrees. The hand-cut taglierini pasta with black truffle-porcini butter and walnuts is rich and exquisite. A plate of gnocchi to my left, lamb chops to the right and a lovely grilled seabass in front of me.

Grilled lamb at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Il Palio specializes in wood-grilled fare so everything comes out with a hint of smoke and char from that specialty oven. I loved the seabass but you do have to be careful picking through its small bones. General Manager Anthony is also taking care of our wine needs over the course of the evening making it a lavish meal. Again, I find some of the simpler items on Il Palio’s menu to be some of my favorites, don’t miss their creamy aquarello risotto!

Whole grilled sea bass at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

The table finishes up with a variety of desserts and I absolutely adore mine: a simple-looking olive oil cake! Served with olive oil gelato and these wonderful roasted grapes, there’s a lot of simple complexity happening on this plate. Warm and luscious cake paired with the cool gelato and the fruit with a swirl of balsamic makes for a wonderful ending and sweetness to finish the meal.

Olive oil cake with roasted grapes at Il Palio in Chapel Hill- NC Triangle Dining

Over the course of the dinner, Chef Teddy comes out to tell us a bit about his vision for the menu here at Il Palio and he’s a talented chef with a passion for regional Italian fare. Il Palio is certainly doing Italian cuisine that goes far beyond what you’ll find at most Italian restaurants in the Triangle. So if you’re up for a trek to Chapel Hill and Italian treat for the taste-buds, seek out Il Palio at the Siena Hotel. It’s worth the effort if you’re looking for modern European cuisine in lush surroundings. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, bon appetit!

Il Palio at the Siena Hotel

1505 E Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.918.2545

Location on Google maps

February 12, 2018 by Ron Wen

Media: Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro for a Swimmingly Good Seafood Meal

Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to a flourishing food scene, you’ll often find that cool and great new restaurants don’t open up in the usual hot areas. Over time, Durham and Raleigh have become increasingly expensive and as people move further out of the core downtown areas, the restaurants follow. Over the past year or so, I’ve seen this activity accelerate and the Postal Fish Company is one example of that trend! A recent media invite had me driving out to Pittsboro for a wonderful meal and dining experience at this new seafood restaurant on the outskirts of Chapel Hill. And even with the 40 minute ride out, it was definitely worth it. Here’s how this delicious dining experience went down…

Dining room at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

Heading over to downtown Pittsboro on a Wednesday night, Postal Fish Company is located right off of Hillsboro Street and near City Tap, an old-school beer bar. It was a wet and cold night, Postal Fish Company is well lit up on this quiet street, beckoning like a foodie beacon! Converted from an older post office, you’ll immediately recognize the retro stone facing and ranch-style construction up front. Inside, the space is open and slightly industrial with a polished concrete floor, open faced beams overhead and a bar to the right. The space reminds me a bit of the Piedmont in Durham, a rustic but modern cafe set-up. To the left you’ll find a small kitchen and oyster bar manned by owners James Clark and Bill Hartley. A small group of bloggers are greeted by the two and we’re seated right near the kitchen to catch all the action.

At the oyster bar, Bill and James provide us the back-story to the restaurant. Working together for over 10 years at various restaurants in the Carolinas, Bill and James had worked on this local seafood concept for over four years. Their vision in bringing fresh, under-utilized seafood to the Triangle and being part of the growing food community was finally crystallized in October of 2017 in this converted post office. Both men live nearby in Pittsboro and outside of regular forays to the coast for fresh fish and seafood, spend a lot of time right in the neighborhood! And while they considered opening up in Chapel Hill given their experience at the Carolina Inn, it just made more sense to start their dream right here in downtown Pittsboro. Much of the fresh seafood is cooked at a wood grill in back which must be constantly tended to. And their seasonal menu changes regularly which means that it sometimes must be printed on a daily basis.

Smoked catfish and fried saltines at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Smoked catfish and fried saltines at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

Garlic shrimp app at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Garlic shrimp app at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

I had been warned to come hungry to this media event and it’s because we were about to be treated to a multi-course meal, highlighting many of the favorites from Postal Fish Company’s menu. Bring on the stretchy pants! Over the course of the next two hours, Bill and James treated the group to an amazing array of seafood dishes. Some highlights for me included a fantastic smoked catfish dip and fried saltines, simple but a wonderful presentation. And their garlic shrimp?! Fantastically pungent garlic highlighting the fresh, sweet meat of Carolina shrimp, loved it.

Fried grits with mushroom chowder at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Fried grits with mushroom chowder at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

Scotch oysters at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Scotch oysters at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

I’d also highly recommend the Scottish oysters, a play on the Scottish egg! But instead of an egg, Postal Fish Company inserts a soft, plump oyster into a sausage and bread crumb wrap, delicious! The fried grits are served up as lightly browned sticks and alongside “mushroom chowder”, a fun and savory play on fried risotto. We were also able to sample some fresh Sounders oysters, SC mussels in a lemon-thyme cream sauce and Jolthead porgy crudo, wow!

Triggerfish and brussels sprouts at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Triggerfish and brussels sprouts at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

Tilefish and brussels sprouts at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Tilefish, pureed parsnips, butternut squash at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

Given the seasonal menu and creativity in the kitchen, you may not find exactly the same dishes on the menu if you’re to visit Postal Fish Company but I’m pretty certain you’ll get some variation on the deliciousness we experienced. Our main fish dishes included a triggerfish served over brussels sprouts along with a tilefish dish which was my favorite. The lightly grilled tilefish was served on top of pureed parsnips along with soft butternut squash which brought a wonderful sweetness to the palate. One thing’s for sure, Bill and James know their way around good fish and how to prepare it, properly.

Vanilla-coconut cake at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro - nctriangledining.com — Vanilla-coconut cake at Postal Fish Company in Pittsboro – nctriangledining.com

And even after this enormous meal, Bill and James wanted to make sure we tried the desserts at Postal Fish Company. We were treated to a chocolate cake with stout frosting along with a fantastic vanilla cake with coconut cream. The vanilla cake is composed of thinner layers of cake stacked with soft, coconut-custard making for a rich and creamy bite! Big thumbs up here, apparently the desserts are baked by James’ wife, Postal Fish Company is truly a family business.

Downtown Pittsboro at night - nctriangledining.com — Downtown Pittsboro at night – nctriangledining.com

As we finished our dinner at Postal Fish Company, we thanked Bill and James for their hospitality and wonderful seafood. The restaurant was quiet on a rainy Wednesday night and I suspect that not everyone knows about this hidden gem of a seafood restaurant out here in Pittsboro. While the food would qualify in my book as upscale seafood, prices at Postal Fish Company are quite reasonable with appetizers in the $7 to $14 range and entrees in the $18 to $25 range. A great dining deal for what you get here! But I am thankful for having such a great restaurant out in Pittsboro. While I may not get out this way that often, Postal Fish Company is a great example of the vibrancy of the local food and restaurant scene. When you’re getting great dining experiences in even the quieter areas of the Triangle, you know that things are going great! So thank you Bill and James, it was a wonderful treat exploring downtown Pittsboro and the fresh seafood at Postal Fish Company!

Postal Fish Company

75 W Salisbury Street

Pittsboro, NC 27312

919.704.8612

Location on Google maps

October 16, 2014 by Ron Wen 3 Comments

Media Event: Afternoon Tea at the Washington Duke Inn, Durham!

Afternoon tea at the Fairview Dining Room, Durham- Picture Courtesy of Washington Duke Inn

Afternoon tea is one those age-old traditions that has evolved over the years but at the core it’s about slowing down your busy life and enjoying a couple of hours of sweets, savories and good conversation with friends. In the Triangle, there are a handful of options to do tea at some classic hotels: the Umstead, Carolina Inn and of course, Washington Duke Inn. I recently received an invite to visit the Washington Duke and its Fairview Dining room to experience their afternoon tea. And it was enjoyable but certainly quite different than my first afternoon tea experience at the Umstead!

Tea pot for afternoon tea at the Fairview Dining Room, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

I arrived a bit before 4pm and the local food and mommy blogger group was already in attendance. The afternoon tea is kicked off by Don Ball, Director of Food and Beverage at the Washington Duke Inn and he introduces the special guest of the day, Constance Lue of the Old North State Tea society. Decked out in period garb, Connie walks us through the long and interesting history of tea, how it was consumed in US and UK society and general factoids about this magic leaf. A box of high-quality tea bags is passed around and the aromatics behind it are wonderful. There’s a spicy sweetness to it that I’ve never smelled from a Lipton tea bag! I put in my order for tea and go with some ginger peach. A pot is brought around for each of us as the discussion continues.

Tower of treats for afternoon tea at the Fairview Dining Room, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

After the tea has been steeped and poured, the main event is brought to the table, a tower of tea treats! Ranging from sweet to savory, Washington Duke’s finger foods range from deviled eggs, crust-less sandwich triangles to chicken salad in pastry and finally to chocolate covered strawberries and mini fruit parfaits. It’s a colorful and beautiful presentation on proper china and there’s just a feeling of poshness in the air. One point that Connie makes is that afternoon tea is popular for the Duke student community and she reminds us that it’s a fantastic way to learn proper table manners and putting a bit of formal presentation into yourself as these future business leaders move on from university. Or to teach your children to sit still and behave in an upscale restaurant.

Plate of treats for afternoon tea at the Fairview Dining Room, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

As we work on the initial plates of tea deliciousness, a basket of warm scones is brought to the table. There are two types, one with brown sugar and another with fruit and chocolate chips. The scones are served with clotted cream, lemon curd and preserves for some additional flavor! I pick up a warm scone and while I’m usually not a fan because they are typically too dense and heavy for me, the scones at Washington Duke Inn are light, fluffy and sprinkled with large sugar flakes giving it wonderful taste and texture. Adding on the cream and preserves just seems indulgent but I’m pretty sure afternoon tea is meant to be just a bit indulgent.

Scones for afternoon tea at the Washington Duke Inn, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Chef Jason during afternoon tea at the Washington Duke Inn, Durham- NC Triangle Dining

As we finish off the event, Chef Jason Cunningham comes out and greets the crowd, chats with Connie for a bit and everyone in attendance does a quick introduction. We say our goodbyes and are sent home with a complimentary gift from the Washington Duke Inn staff, a tea brewer and some sample teas, nice! And while tea is usually served at the Washington Duke Inn from Wednesday to Sunday ($25 – $32), as they move into the holiday season it will be served all week. Which is a perfect way to celebrate the cooler weather and time with family and friends. So thank you everyone at the Washington Duke Inn, I’m always impressed with your hospitality and cuisine, it’s hard to say no to tea and a special experience like this one!

Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn- Afternoon Tea

3001 Cameron Boulevard

Durham, NC 27705

919.493.6699

Location on Google maps

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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

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!

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

Ambiance and interior at the Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Raleigh

Food and menu at the Cortez Seafood + Cocktail, Raleigh