Mateo Tapas: Downtown Durham Eats

Jamon Mixto (large) including Serrano, Lomo, Chorizo, and a local Mangalista

I'm going to jump on the Durham foodie bandwagon and sing my praises for Mateo Tapas, the Spanish eatery in downtown owned by Matt Kelly of Vin Rouge. There has already been a lot of hype about this new restaurant in the few short months it's been open. I wanted to see what all the buzz was about and judge for myself. Gavin and I have already been there twice together and he's been a third time as well. Considering we are relatively new parents with a baby that goes to bed at 6pm, this in and of itself says a lot about our feelings toward this place. We have also been fortunate enough to travel to Spain and experience tapas in their native environment. And we still love this place. Is it exactly the same as what you'll get in Spain? Of course not. Chef Kelly puts his own Southern spin on a lot of dishes. But on the other hand, there are many authentic offerings, like the meat plate pictured above - Gavin's all time favorite. And if you aren't able to fly to Spain any time soon, I promise Mateo will be a great place to visit in the meantime.

Ensalada de Remolacha Asada: roasted beets, orange, avocado, watermelon, pine nuts, goat cheese

The best thing about tapas is that you get to try a lot of different things. And fortunately the menu is varied enough that you're sure to get something that everyone really likes. The salad above combines Spanish and local flavors together to make a tower of deliciousness. Beets and goat cheese are one of my all time favorite combinations and I'm more than happy to let crisp watermelon and creamy avocado join the party. As you can see, Gavin and I are on opposite ends of the food spectrum when it comes to favorites but we both enjoy meeting in the middle and trying each others' favs... I guess our foodie relationship bodes well for our own relationship. :) But I digress...back to the food.

Fried calamari with pimenton aioli

As you may (or may not) know, I have a gluten allergy or sensitivity. I am not deathly allergic, thank goodness, but it makes me feel icky when I eat it so I tend to avoid it in general. However, I do make exceptions every once in awhile. Something so good it just screams "eat me!" with no care for my gluten sensitive self. One such dish would be fried calamari. Now pretty much all fried dishes are off-limits for me (sad, I know) unless they are breaded with cornmeal but that's rare. In general I'm ok with this and can pass on the fried delights. But fried calamari is just too stinking good to pass up. I've had it all over the world and at various places in Durham and, thankfully, Mateo's version does not disappoint. There is nothing worse than sacrificing my gut for something that is less than stellar. These tender rings with crispy outsides were just delicious. And that beautiful orange sauce on the side is a creamy aoili flavored with pimenton (aka Spanish paprika). As you can probably tell, my dinner companions had already dove upon the delights before I was able to take a picture but don't let the sloppiness fool you: it was awesome.

Now these are only a few of the dishes that we ordered and that are available. I could go on and on about the other treats like white anchovies, pork ribs, and Moroccan spiced chicken. But I'll let you discover some of those on your own. If your mouth isn't watering yet, check out a few more offerings at Carpe Diem or check out the six page drink menu complete with tons of sherry, Spanish wines, and creative cocktails.

Geer Street Garden: Another Durham Gem

Image courtesy of www.geerstreetgarden.com

Gavin and I are always in search of great new places to eat and Durham rarely disappoints when introducing a new restaurant. In the past couple of years, we've been lucky enough to have a number of great new restaurants, especially in the downtown area. The next area to be developed - with more to come, I'm sure - is the Central Park district. Already home to the Durham Farmers' Market and Piedmont Restaurant, this stretch of Foster Street and surrounding area seems to be exploding. Fullsteam Brewery recently opened on Rigsbee Avenue, serving up cold seasonal and local beers along with music and food truck eats. And even more recently, this Central Park district has welcomed Geer Street Garden, an old gas and service station turned casual eatery, using local produce, meats and cheese. The restaurant combines a lot of what is great about Durham: an old, brick building repurposed to serve great food highlighting local farmers' and artisans.

I was a little nervous about trying it out when I first looked over the menu, wondering if they would have any options for me that didn't include gluten. Although their sandwiches sound and look amazing, I am unfortunately unable to eat them. For most of the gluten-eating population, however, the menu is full of great looking finds, from the locally raised beef burgers to the giant pimento cheese sandwich - a southern classic. However, when we arrived at the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of gluten-free options and a very helpful bartender who was willing to check and assure me which menu items I could eat. Instead of being forced to order the one and only gluten free option, I actually had choices! I was thrilled with what I ended up ordering - the seasonal vegetable stew, pictured above - but I'm sure the other choices would have been equally as tasty.

Gavin and I started the evening off with the local salami and cheese board. Unfortunately we gobbled most of it up before I remembered to take a picture but it was complete with thin slices of salami, local fresh goat cheese covered in honey, apricots, and almonds, delicious little pickles and black olives. The toasted crostini rounded it out for Gavin but I didn't miss the bread with all of the other great flavors on the board. As I mentioned, I ordered the seasonal vegetable stew, which was exactly that: a mix of all of the vegetables I had just seen at the farmers' market earlier that week. Mine included patty pan squash, snap peas, carrots and greens, but yours might look a bit different depending on whatever is the freshest available that day. Topping the soup was a generous triangle of polenta cake with sprinkled Parmesan cheese. An absolutely delicious and satisfying meal, showcasing the best our local farmers can produce. Gavin chose the local, pasture-raised burger, complete with a slice of cheese and spicy red cabbage on the side. Not to mention a delicious mound of fresh-cooked French fries, which I was happy to sample. To accompany your dinner, Geer St. offers several beers on tap and in the bottle, a short but tasty looking wine list, and a number of signature cocktails along with anything you want the bartender to whip up for you. The inside of the restaurant is rather small but the big patio outside nearly doubles the space and makes for a lovely evening. All in all, our visit to Geer Street Garden was a huge success and will definitely be followed up by more visits. Nothing beats an affordable meal, highlighting both the history of Durham and the incredible food produced locally.

A Weekend Getaway in Charleston

This past weekend Gavin and I went to Charleston to celebrate my birthday. Not only was it a great chance to get away just the two of us before the craziness of the holidays but it was an absolutely fantastic culinary experience. I did a lot of research before we left to pick the restaurants we would go to so that we got the most out of our time there. You could easily spend an entire month in Charleston and eat at a different amazing restaurant every night. Unfortunately, we only had two nights so I wanted to choose wisely. I asked the masses on Twitter, read reviews on Urban Spoon, and was fortunate enough to have Bon Appetit's Charleston review from the November issue. The two restaurants I decided on were Charleston Grill and McCrady's. Although I can't compare them to all of the other great restaurants in Charleston, these two definitely did not disappoint.

Tuna Sashimi at Charleston Grill

Our dinner at Charleston Grill started late, around 9pm or so, when we arrived after driving from Durham. We got a great table near the piano where Jazz musicians entertained throughout our meal. Dinner started off with a complimentary appetizer of sashimi tuna with the most perfectly cut assortment of beets, cucumbers and olives. (It was either complimentary because it was my birthday or because the sommelier really liked us; either way we were quite pleased.) Each flavor complimented the others to create an amazing dish but I'm serious when I say that they were cut perfectly. Having been graded on my knife skills, I really appreciate some good knife work. Gavin then enjoyed a Thai beef salad and found the first white wine he actually really loved - a dry German Riesling. I had a salad that combined the spicy, somewhat bitter tastes of arugula, radicchio and frisee with sweet marinated grapes, pomegranate seeds and Marcona almonds. I was almost disappointed I had gone with something as basic as a salad but this dish was anything but basic. I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderfully everything went together.

Butter Poached Maine Lobster at Charleston Grill

For our entrees, Gavin enjoyed a butter poached lobster and I had a delicious scallop dish with a black bean sauce. The kitchen staff was even kind enough to adjust the sauce a bit to make sure that it was gluten free. And not only that, but the waitress brought out some fresh-from-the-oven gluten free bread to start the meal as soon as I told her I was allergic. The gluten free bread was delicious and Gavin decided to eat most of that instead of the usual bread offering. I was amazed overall at how gluten-free friendly I found Charleston. Definitely a bonus for anyone suffering from a gluten allergy.

Beef Tenderloin at McCrady's

After a full day of shopping around King St. and admiring the beautiful Louis Vuitton bags that we would never actually purchase, we got all dressed up and took a bike taxi over to McCrady's. Bike taxis are these great little carts pulled by guys riding bikes. We felt like we did a good deed to the environment and enjoyed a nice chat with our bike "driver" (peddler? not sure what you'd call him). McCrady's has a ton of history - it's told that George Washington himself dined there - and boasts a James Beard award winning chef (Chef Sean Brock, James Beard 2010 Best Chef Southeast). The atmosphere was definitely more serene than Charleston Grill without the lively Jazz band but we did sit near a very cozy fireplace. Both of our meals were absolutely delicious but they had a hard time living up to our first incredible experience dining in Charleston.

Cocktails at The Gin Joint

Because we ate on the earlier side on Saturday, we decided to hold off on extra drinks at the restaurant and instead, go to a few bars in the area. We enjoyed our first cocktail on a rooftop bar with a perfect view of a beautiful full moon. The next stop was The Gin Joint, a recommendation from one of Gavin's coworkers. What a great suggestion! This tiny little bar serves only authentic pre-prohibition drinks in the appropriate vessels. Staying true to this time period means absolutely no vodka on the menu, since vodka wasn't popular until prohibition. The drink menu however, is extensive, including several wines by the glass and a whole variety of cocktails made from all types of whiskey, gin, and tequila.

Julep No 1: A mint julep in the classic pewter glass (The Gin Joint)

The highlight of our time at The Gin Joint, however, was meeting and chatting with the couple at the table next to ours. We just so happened to sit next to Tamara Reynolds of the blog The Sunday Night Dinner and author of the cookbook Forking Fantastic: Put the Party Back in Dinner Party. A cook and food blogger living in New York, Tamara is also a part of Unique Eats, a show on the Cooking Channel featuring, well, unique things to eat in different parts of the country. She was at The Gin Joint to taste the different items that will be featured on an upcoming episode about Charleston. How cool is that! And not only is Tamara a food blogger/cookbook author/TV personality, but she's really nice and incredibly fun to chat with. From reading her blog, you'll find that she would probably be a hell of a lot of fun to cook with too!

All in all, Charleston makes for an awesome getaway - whether you're celebrating something or not. It's an easy 4 1/2 hour drive from Durham and full of great things to do for a weekend. In addition to our amazing eating experiences, we also checked out the farmers' market on Saturday and took a harbor tour on Sunday. We will definitely be heading back, hopefully sometime soon, to check out some of the places we didn't get a chance to visit.

*My apologies for the dark photos. Low light is great for ambiance in a restaurant, not so good for taking pictures.

Dame's Chicken and Waffles: Review from a Guest Blogger

This weekend Gavin had brunch at the new buzzed about place downtown, Dame's Chicken and Waffles. He was so blown away by it, he felt inspired to write a review, to be featured here on Bull City Food. Considering my lack of gluten tolerance, I probably won't be eating there any time soon but have heard great things. So for anyone interested in an "Almost World Famous" chicken and waffle meal, read on:

Chicken and Waffles: As Good as Unicorn Meat

This may sound weird, but chicken and waffles are what I imagine eating Unicorn meat to be like. First off, it is something I never thought I would consume.  Second, when the plate arrived, I looked down at it and it just seemed wrong – like my brain couldn’t comprehend what it was looking at.  However, after those first few bites, I quickly realized that I was eating something magical.  Chicken and waffles are sweet, spicy, salty, meaty, soft and crunchy all at the same time.  The dish, a terribly wonderful concoction, is something not of this world.  While it is something you can’t possibly expect to eat every day, Durhamites are now lucky enough to have a great place downtown that specializes in this culinary oddity.

Dame’s “Almost World Famous” Chicken & Waffles opened this summer downtown at 317 W. Main St near Beyu Caffe.  The atmosphere has the nondescript decor of a small-town Chinese restaurant - basic with cafeteria-style seating and self-serve coffee, sweet tea and water.  With that said, the service is excellent and you don’t mind getting up to get your own refills.   The wait staff greets you when you walk-in and are friendly without being too chatty – something you tend to find with new restaurants.  I do have to say that I find it funny when restaurants that serve meat hang images of Ghandi on their walls – a devoted vegetarian.  It just seems ironic.  Perhaps the image is meant to be less about vegetarianism and more about how something as simple as good food can unite people world-wide.  Or it may be the fact that Ghandi was known as “The Great Soul” and chicken and waffles are, of course, Soul Food.  Or…it could be the fact that chicken and waffles, like Unicorn meat, are simply illogical and one would do better to not try to make sense of it and just enjoy it.

Dame’s offers 10 varieties of their main dish.  Having no idea what to order, I asked my server to recommend his favorite.  He suggested “The Carolina Cockerel” which is billed as “Dame’s personal favorite! A trio of whole chicken wings served w/ a side of “Dub’s hot sauce,” a crisp and tender blueberry waffle schmeared w/ Peach and Apricot Crème $10.25.”  As mentioned above, I really enjoyed the Carolina Cockerel.  It was a culinary first for me, but one that I am sure to enjoy again (particularly after a long night of drinking).  

Chicken and waffles was a first for me so if you've never experienced what I am only assuming rivals Unicorn meat, head to downtown Durham and visit Dame's for this magical dish.

Sneak Peek: Italian Eatery at 604 West

I take Italian food very seriously. Having lived in Florence for a semester during college, I am completely spoiled when it comes to eating Italian food here in the states. In addition, my family is from northern New Jersey where every other restaurant is owned by an Italian family making authentic dishes, perfected by generations of good cooks. I have had a hard time finding good Italian food here in North Carolina despite the fact we have so many amazing chefs and restaurants right here in Durham.

So I must say that I didn't expect much when my friend invited me to a West Village party hosted by the new Cinelli's restaurant that has taken over the space formally occupied by Tosca. I was mostly looking forward to sitting outside with a glass of wine and maybe a slice of pizza in the company of good friends. Cinelli's, formally located behind Ben and Jerry's in the Whole Foods shopping center, definitely produces good pizza and inexpensive but good food. This party was no exception, with live music to entertain us while we enjoyed not only pizza but sandwiches of grilled chicken and broccoli rabe on soft, chewy rolls and bowtie pasta with pesto and sun dried tomatoes.

However, it is the addition of a fine dining restaurant, the Italian Eatery at 604 West Morgan, that really peaked my interest. I have eaten at Tosca a few times, always hoping for a great Italian meal in the beauty of the old brick warehouses that make up the West Village. Unfortunately, I was usually disappointed. Now, the space is still beautiful--made more so by better lighting and an inviting atmosphere--but the food actually outshines the space. You know those Italian families living in New Jersey? Well, fortunately for us, one of them decided to move down to North Carolina (Ok, so they are actually from Long Island, but you get my point).

Per a strong recommendation, I tried the Lobster with Cognac Sauce pasta: a healthy portion of perfectly cooked scallops, mussels, shrimp and lobster in a cognac cream sauce over black squid ink pasta. The pasta is all homemade and you can definitely taste the difference. The sauce was rich and flavorful but did not outweigh the great taste of fresh seafood cooked perfectly.

I also got to try Grandma's Pizza, which was clearly made with the love and care of someone's Italian Grandma. The giant pizza fed all of us sitting at the bar and we enjoyed the soft but slightly crisp crust, the sweet roasted garlic, juicy plump Italian plum tomatoes and just the right amount of fresh mozzarella and basil. I love pizza--not the stuff you can order over the phone that's loaded down with cheese and what they call "sauce"--but the real stuff made with whole, natural ingredients and simple yet deep flavors. Nothing beats really good pizza and until you have had some, you probably do not know what pizza really tastes like.

The restaurant is still in a soft opening phase as they work to get everything ready for their grand opening coming soon. I strongly recommend getting in there as soon you can. I will definitely be back for a full meal to get the whole experience of eating there. I have high hopes for this new restaurant and I definitely think if they keep the quality of the food at such a high level, they will do very well.

Triangle Restaurant Week and Piedmont Review

If you haven't heard, it's Triangle Restaurant Week, which means tons of restaurants in the triangle are offering three course dinner menus for only $25 (and lunch menus for $15). Some of the triangle's best restaurants are participating, giving food lovers a great opportunity to try a new restaurant without breaking the bank. The website lists all of the restaurants involved, so if you're thinking about going out to dinner one night this weekend, definitely check it out and try something new. Gavin and I did just that last night. Although it's only a couple of blocks from our apartment, we have never been to Piedmont, and have wanted to try it out for awhile. We figured that the special offer was the perfect motivation to give it a try and we are definitely glad we did! The food was great, the service was excellent and the wine was fantastic. The dining room is split into two floors and our table for two was on the second, looking over the lower level. It was a great way to spend a night out together and get to enjoy some great food and wine.


We both started out with the farmers' lettuce salad with fresh herbs and roasted shallot vinaigrette. A simple salad, it highlighted the fresh ingredients and delicious homemade dressing.

For my entree, I chose the pan seared local chicken breast with creme fraiche mashed potatoes, braised greens & herb jus. The chicken was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Although I don't tend to order chicken when I'm out since I make it so often at home, this was definitely worth it. The mashed potatoes and braised greens were both delicious and perfect with the chicken.

Gavin went with the herbed goat cheese ravioli with arugula pesto, pine nuts & parmesan, which turned out to be another excellent choice. The goat cheese was creamy and full of flavor and the sauce was worth scraping up every last bit.

Our desserts, a treat for us since we normally don't order dessert, were an excellent ending to this great meal. Shortcake with local strawberries and lemon panna cotta were just the right touch of sweetness to round out this great meal.

For the wine, I went with our waiter's suggestion of the Garofoli Podium (2007) Verdicchio, an Italian white that was so good that even Gavin ordered a glass (he usually drinks red). The waiter, by the way, was excellent. I really appreciate great service after being a waitress for so many years. He was the perfect combination of attentive without being overbearing. Overall our experience at Piedmont was a great one. Hopefully you'll get a chance to give it a try or check out another great restaurant in support of Triangle Restaurant Week. Happy eating!

Blu Seafood and Bar: Branching out and loving it

I definitely have my favorite Durham restaurants and, like many people, I tend to stick to what I like. I know I'll have a good meal if I go to Watt's or Revolution or Nana's. But sometimes it's nice to try something different and, if I'm lucky, it might even turn into another favorite. I'm not sure yet if Blu Seafood will become a new favorite, but it was definitely a great new experience and I certainly won't mind going back a couple of times to determine it's status on my list of Durham favs. With a daily selection of oysters, a variety of crab dishes and other delectables from the sea, Blu offers more options of seafood dishes than any other local restaurant. But those who don't like seafood, don't despair, Blu also offers an entire menu section dedicated to dishes that are "not fish." But Gavin, my steak-loving fiance, ordered a fish dish and was blown away by how good it was. I think he even compared it to a filet mignon! As someone who generally orders seafood, I was thrilled with the wide variety of options. I'm definitely looking forward to going back and trying some new dishes, although the tuna tartare was so good I might have to order it again. Overall we were both incredibly impressed and very glad we decided to try something new.

Since they pride themselves on their fresh oysters, we started with a dozen of them raw. Unfortunately we ate every last one before I even thought to take a picture but I can assure you they were fresh, meaty and absolutely delicious. Definitely a great way to start the meal. I opted for two starters as my main course as there were too many that looked good to just have one. I chose the mushroom carpaccio for one: thinly sliced, marinated mushrooms flavored with thyme and topped with baby greens, goat cheese, pecans and balsamic dressing. A delicious combination of light ingredients with the deep flavors of earthy mushrooms, creamy goat cheese and concentrated balsamic vinegar.For my second appetizer, I went with the tuna tartare, which just thinking about makes my mouth water. Tender, fresh yellowfin tuna piled high with thin slices of creamy avocado and a pile of perfectly seasoned seaweed salad. With just a small amount of miso, soy glaze around the edge, these contrasting flavors and textures created a perfect harmony of the elusive fifth taste known as umami, which in English translates to pure yumminess. Well, not really, but that's exactly what this tuna tartare achieved.

Gavin went with one of the specials of the night, which came highly recommended by our waiter. A North Carolina striped bass topped with a crab butter sauce over mashed potatoes and zucchini, achieved such high praise as to be described as the filet mignon of fish. The rich buttery crab sauce brought the dish from a simple grilled fish to an elegant plate of complex flavors. I'm not sure it will change his love for a good steak, but Gavin was certainly pleased with his choice of fish at Blu Seafood. All in all this was a great new experience for both of us.

Watt's Grocery: Southern elegance with local flavor

I've mentioned Watt's Grocery in a number of posts, so I figured it was about time I dedicated an entire post to this amazing restaurant. Chef and owner Amy Tornquist creates delicious Southern inspired dishes with local and seasonal ingredients. The menu changes with the seasons and reflects the best that North Carolina has to offer. In addition to these great dishes, the wine list is full of organic and sustainable choices, all of which are great wines. And if wine's not your thing, bartender Laurabelle has created a number of unique drinks perfect for any tastes. (Check out her new blog!)

During my last visit to Watt's, I was half way through the meal when my fiance reminded me that I wanted to write a review. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take photos of our first courses. I had a delicious salad with strawberries, goat cheese, walnuts and champagne vinaigrette. He enjoyed a cup of the day's soup, a hearty tomato and fennel concoction that was hearty, rich and full of flavor.
For our entrees we went to total opposite ends of the spectrum. I ordered the vegetarian plate, an always changing mix of seasonal vegetables, beans and grains. This night's offering was lentil cakes with sauteed raddichio and baby bok choy with a tomatillo relish. The lentil cakes were thick and meaty, making it hard to miss any actual meat on the plate. The vegetables were tender and perfectly seasoned, while the tangy tomatillo relish rounded everything out.

My fiance, on the other hand, ordered the steak. As an avid steak-lover, he argues that Watt's makes one of the best steaks around. Simply seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled to perfection (his being rare), this steak easily competes with any from one of the big steakhouses. Served with seasonal vegetables and sweet potato fries, the entire meal was a simple yet perfectly composed plate. Although the steak would have been excellent on its own, it was even better complimented by a glass of Stephen Vincent Crimson Cabernet/Syrah 2007 from Sonoma, CA. This rich, smooth red wine was so delicious I wanted to wrap myself up in it like a blanket. Yes, a weird way to describe wine, but that's exactly how I felt. It was deep enough to be full of flavor without any of the heaviness of too much alcohol.

All in all, this was another wonderful visit to Watt's. The only reason I haven't written about it in detail before is that I generally have such a great time while I'm there I forget entirely to take pictures or write anything down. But I'll add that to the long list of reasons to visit the next time you're in the mood for a delicious, local meal.

Dos Perros: Good Food with Mexican Flair

Most people in the triangle probably do not associate Mexican food with elegant cuisine. We generally go to the Mexican chain restaurants for a giant plate of Tex-Mex style chicken/pork/beef smothered in sauce and cheese for not a lot of money. Or we choose a taqueria that serves great food out of a van on a paper plate. But authentic Mexican cuisine can come with the entire experience of eating at a nice restaurant. And thanks to Dos Perros, we now have a place to go in downtown Durham that combines the truly great Mexican food of a local taqueria with the ambiance of a nice restaurant. With dishes ranging from spiced roast hen to pork carnitas to vegetables in mole sauce, Dos Perros offers options for all tastes, each with authentic Mexican spices and flavors. An equally impressive beverage menu, including a variety of reasonably priced wines and plenty of Margarita flavors, rounds out the dining experience, to put Dos Perros in an entirely different class than your usual Mexican chain. So if you're in the mood for some spice and heat in your culinary life, check out Dos Perros for a plate of truly authentic Mexican food with a side of refined atmosphere.


For my first course this evening, I went with a salad on the list of rotating specials. Tonight's offering was a delicious mix of jicama, white beans, and spinach, all tossed in a spicy mango vinaigrette. The balance of sweet and spicy in the vinaigrette was delicious and a perfect compliment to the crisp and refreshing jicama and the tender white beans. Although a very large portion for a starter, I couldn't help but eat the whole thing despite wanting to save room for my entree. It was that good.

I chose the grilled spiced-rubbed grouper for my entree. Served with a side of seasonal vegetables and rice, this was a great mix of Mexican spices without any of the heaviness present in so many Mexican dishes. The fish was a delicate balance of tender white meat and bold spices. The best part of the plate, however, was the seasonal vegetables. The mix of sauteed zucchini with onions and tomatoes was perfectly seasoned, cooked to a tender softness and full of flavor. Add the seasoned rice and the dish was definitely an overall success.

To compliment this delicious meal, I enjoyed the Paul D. Gruner Vetliner, a delicious Austrian white wine that's light floral flavor complimented the spices in the food perfectly. The description of "way too tasty to be this affordable" is spot on as this wine is only $5 per glass and yet is one of the better whites I've had recently. Gruner Vetliner is an under-appreciated white wine grape, which is great with a wide variety of foods. So with a delicious wine, spiced and flavorful food and a pleasant atmosphere, Dos Perros provided an excellent dining experience overall and gave new meaning to the often stereotyped Mexican cuisine.

Revolution: New York quality right here in Durham

Ok, so some New Yorkers might argue with me on this one but I think that Revolution could rival many of the great restaurants you'd find in a big city. I've done a fair amount of traveling and eaten at some amazing restaurants around the world so I definitely have high standards. And considering the fact that Durham is not a big city and people do not travel from far and wide to come here, I'm going to say we are pretty lucky to have such a unique restaurant right here in downtown. Revolution is definitely on the pricier side for Durham (most entrees are $20 and up) but significantly less expensive than even mediocre restaurants in big cities. The menu is incredibly eclectic with several types of seafood, different cuts of meat as well as vegetarian options. To compliment these varied options, the wine menu is a good five pages long and a separate cocktail and beer menu provides choices for everyone. Revolution is a perfect spot for dinner before a show at the DPAC but be sure to make a reservation if you want a table. Or walk in any night and sit at the incredibly comfortable bar.

On my last visit, I decided to go with two appetizers as I was torn between about eight of them. The menu is broken into chilled/raw, small, big, second mortgage and tasting. I have yet to try the tasting menu but it is definitely high on my list of things to do. From the chilled/raw section I chose the Octopus Salad, which I've had before and know I love. It's a wonderful combination of raw octopus, red peppers and olives tossed in a tangy citrus vinaigrette. For my main course, I chose the Beer Braised Mussels. I've ordered mussels at numerous restaurants and these definitely held their own among the best. The beer added a deep, rich flavor to the slightly spicy broth, perfect for dunking crusty bread. The mussels were perfectly cooked and piled high with fresh chunks of tomato and shredded basil. Although delicious in and of itself, this meal was made complete by the Saddlerock Chardonnay. A lightly oaked Chardonnay, this was the perfect mix of crisp acidity and smooth finish. The notes of vanilla and butterscotch at the end went perfectly with the spicy broth in the mussels. Definitely a winning combination!


My fiance is more the meat eater of the two of us and went with the Venison Carpaccio for an appetizer and a braised short rib special for his entree. The Venison is thinly sliced and served with shaved fennel and dijon mustard which add both texture and acidity to the tender, sweet venison. The short rib special was braised in a horseradish marinade making it both rich and slightly spicy. The accompanying side of a "polenta pocket" was crisp on the outside, creamy on the inside and filled with an eggplant tapenade. Overall a delicious dish.

As you can see from just this one experience, Revolution offers a wide variety of dishes to please everyone's tastes. Everything is of exceptional quality and prepared with absolute precision. The ambiance and excellent service make the meal an overall great experience. So don't feel like you need to make the trip, and spend the money, to go to New York just to get a fantastic meal. We may not have the shopping available in Manhattan but we're getting closer to the level of quality in our food.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse: Valentine's Day Special

For Valentine's Day this year, my fiance and I decided to try Cary's Ruth's Chris Steak House as we've never been and it seemed appropriate for a celebratory meal. And since I don't tend to cook a lot of red meat at home, good steak is something we look for at restaurants. Fortunately for us, Ruth's Chris was offering it's Valentine's Day special even though we didn't go on the actual holiday. Had it not been for this amazing deal, we might have left somewhat disappointed. Generally, everything is priced a la carte, which can quickly add up when you include entrees, a side or two to share, and possibly a salad or appetizer, not to mention wine to complement all that food. And since each individual item is rather costly ($29.95 for the addition of a lobster tail to complement your steak), this is definitely a restaurant to save for special occasions.

That being said, if your special occasion comes with a pre-set menu, definitely take advantage of it! For $100 we were treated to a champagne toast, a choice of house or Caesar salad each, two entrees of a 6 oz petit filet and a lobster tail, and sides-to-share of creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. This was definitely a deal we couldn't pass up! The champagne was very good and a great way to toast our special evening. The salads were good sized and very fresh. I was disappointed that we couldn't substitute either of the sides as those wouldn't have been my choices but I understand keeping things fixed when that's the idea of the special, and they were both tasty. Both of our steaks were cooked perfectly--mine at medium rare and my fiance's a cool rare--and they definitely lived up to their Prime-grade standard. We complimented our meal with a good bottle of red wine and finished it off with French-press coffee and a giant 5-inch round cheesecake, most of which we brought home. All in all, this was a great deal and the food was really good, as was the service.

As my fiance is the better steak-judge of the two of us, I am deferring to him for a final assessment. His feeling on the overall night was that Ruth's Chris offers a good experience but, in general, you pay a lot more for the name than you do for the food. He prefers the steak at Watt's Grocery any day and for around $20, including sides, I'll have to agree with him on that one. We definitely enjoyed the fine dining service and the chance to go somewhere new for a special night out. But we probably will leave it at that one experience. It just goes to show, as I've said before, how fortunate we are to have such amazing restaurants right here in Durham. And if you do want a true steak house experience, Angus Barn definitely trumps Ruth's Chris with good food, a great experience, and a massive wine list. So if you want to experience what Ruth's Chris has to offer, try to go on a night when they are featuring a special menu or be prepared to spend extra for the name, service and general experience.

See you at Beyu Caffe

The cafe's motto is to simply "be you," which is easy to do at this new downtown Durham hotspot, Beyu Caffe. You could literally set up shop at 7am and not leave till late at night. Between the amazing coffee, fresh baked pastries, lunch and dinner menus, and the fully stocked bar you would never have to leave. Not to mention the relaxed atmosphere and helpful waitstaff. Among those willing to help you choose a coffee or a glass of wine is founder and manager, Dorian Bolden. He's right in the thick of things, meeting customers and generally making sure everything's running smoothly.

The cafe is open from 7am to 11pm, catering to both the early morning coffee crowd as well as the late night lounge group. If you're there in the morning try any one of the variety of coffee beverages from a cup of black coffee to an Oprah Mocha (espresso with dark chocolate, white chocolate and steamed milk). Pair that with your choice of pastries or a homemade crepe. The lunch menu includes a variety of salads and sandwiches, with daily soup selections, great for the cold weather setting in. Try the turkey panini for a delicious, rich combination of turkey, goat cheese and pear chutney. The dinner menu includes many of the salads and apps available at lunch with the addition of some larger entrees such as the Hanger Steak complete with herb butter and fries. To go along with your steak, try a glass of the Merlot, a smooth red full of fruit, or a spicy glass of Malbec.

To end the evening, there's a variety of cheesecakes, truffles and dessert coffees to choose from. Or try a glass of the Cava, a sparkling wine from Spain that's a perfect finish to a great night. Starting in the new year, the cafe will be featuring live music as well as spoken word to keep you entertained throughout the late hours of the night. All in all, this cafe is a great addition to Main St. and will likely attract a good crowd throughout the day as it offers something for every taste and mood.