“Southern barbecue is the closest thing we have in the U.S. to Europe’s wines or cheeses; drive a hundred miles and the barbecue changes.”
Field of Play
Perks
This fall, Dunkin Donuts has partnered with UNC football for the Tarheels to be this area’s promotional team for their “your team wins, you win” promotion and lo and behold the Heels have reeled off seven straight wins and are one of the hottest teams in the ACC. I blame Dunkin Donuts and their stupid promotion for the Tarheels’ good fortune on the field and for my expanding wasteline – all of these Tarheel wins have resulted in impromptu coffee + pumpkin donut purchases. Is the Dunkin Donuts promotion a lucky charm in disguise? If it is, can DD pick the Wolfpack for the promotion next year?
Quoted
Home
“This is very much where I choose to be for the rest of my life.”
Locally Notable
The New Yorker Covers NC’s East vs West (Barbecue) Battle
North Carolina’s East versus West battle over barbecue makes this year’s annual food issue of New Yorker. Writer Calvin Trillin doesn’t waste any time setting the line:
For some years, I’m now prepared to admit, I somehow labored under the impression that Rocky Mount is the line of demarcation that separates the two principal schools of North Carolina barbecue. Wrong. The line of demarcation is, roughly, Raleigh, sixty miles west.
Great read and appropriate attribution to long established purveyors of this debate.
Locally Notable
The Restaurant at The Durham
If you haven’t had a chance to visit The Durham Hotel and Andrea Reusing’s new restaurant, bar, and coffee shop yourself, then check out Eater’s gallery of the new space.
Instead of Asian-inflected dishes, Reusing is offering more classic fare like steaks, a roasted-to-order chicken, a house burger, and bone-in country pork ribs. Known for her commitment to North Carolina foodways, keep an eye out for local specialties like Durham mushrooms in a mushroom soup, North Carolina trout roe with sour cream from Durham, or an eggplant parm with mozzarella from Chapel Hill.
It looks like a huge departure from The Lantern both in decor and menu, kudos to the folks behind the concept for seemingly pulling off something really nice. I haven’t had a chance to check it out myself, but I’m looking forward to making a trip out there soon.
If you’re interested in more information about the new space, Eater spoke with Reusing earlier this year about the concept before it opened.
Locally Notable
IndyWeek: Why Is Research Triangle Park Building Its Own Mini-city? ↬
I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I respect the vision and the gumption to at least try to see it through:
The goal, Geolas says, is to offer the kinds of “experiences” that will keep the next generation of workers interested in RTP’s companies, which in turn will both keep existing companies in place and make the park attractive for new, smaller business, especially start-ups—a survival mechanism for the 21st century.
O&F
Quoted
Change
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
Libations
Not Just a Lollygagger
WRAL Out and About on how Bull Durham Beer Company aims to stand out and aim higher than just being a Minor League ballpark draw:
In the busy North Carolina beer community, Bull Durham Beer Co. stands out from the crowd by innovating. While the current fashion in brews is bitter, hoppy, and high-gravity, Bull Durham Beer Co. keeps it light and approachable with its Lollygagger kolsch style ale, a German style native to Cologne. And where most wheat beers are notable for their flavors of banana and coriander, BDBC opts for a recipe that lends a lemon-y citrus zing to its Water Tower wheat ale.
I really enjoyed the few cups of Bull Durham beer I had this year. The Bottoms-Up filling and souvenir magnet are great novelties, but they’re worthless if the beer isn’t drinkable. I’m no beer connoisseur, but the Lollygagger was a consistently refreshing experience and the Water Tower wheat wasn’t half bad either. Great idea, great execution.
Upshot
Stumptown VP to Sprudge: “We are now 100% owned by Peet’s Coffee & Tea” ↬
The specialty coffee market seems like it might be on the verge of a massive consolidation period. “Continued independence” is often touted in press releases for these sorts of things, but not always delivered, so we’ll just have to see.
O&F
Quoted
Same
“We’re the same! We’re F-to-A-minor!”