My Romance in Raleigh

I kind of feel like I’ve been on a string of dates with Raleigh. When I first met her, I was a little nervous, not quite sure what I thought and just hoping for the best.

But so far, she’s shown me a great time. Downtown Raleigh is full of life! Boutique shops have opened up left and right, eateries to keep you full for days on end, the craft beer movement is incredibly present here (there’s even a craft beer tasting bar/store), and there’s a great sense of pride among all the Raleighites for their city that’s almost contagious. Parts of Raleigh seem to be a little behind the rest of the scene, but read some of the blogs online and they all say to give the up-and-coming city a few more years. It does seem like Raleigh has a bright future ahead of it.

Seeing that I’m always wearing khakis at Shubie’s, you probably don’t know that I love jeans. A great pair of jeans is worth it to me (like a great bottle of wine for some of you). So I happen to come across The Raleigh Denim Co (no, seriously, I walked right by it without knowing it existed!). They actually make raw denim right on site. Raw denim is denim that has never been washed or treated with anything, so basically it’s up to you how it ages. It’s recommended to go swimming in the ocean, run in the rain, find some mud, etc…and not wash them for 3-6 months! Raw denim is a little tougher at first, but it’s up to you to break it in.

A few blocks up I stumbled upon Feelgoodz, a flip-flop company. Feelgoodz makes flip flops out of totally recyclable and biodegradable materials, using natural dyes and are ethically sourced. Cool company, cool idea, cool product (you should check it out).

The restaurant scene is booming in Raleigh. Each restaurant takes great strides to use fresh, local produce, eggs and meat. You can taste the difference. The beef all seems so much more tender and flavorful, the fruits and veggies all bursting with flavors. I’ve been fortunate enough to eat at four of Raleigh’s best restaurants, and each one shined in their own way; truly demonstrating fresh, quality ingredients is all you need. (I even had fish tacos, but they couldn’t rival Chef Lynne’s). I've dined at the following (feel free to email me or stop in and ask me about my meals if you want more details!):

• Gravy (where I met my rockstars of cheese)
• Battistella's (my favorite!)
• Capital Club 16 (great sandwiches)
• Dos Taquitos Centro (awesome atmosphere and margaritas)

After a few days with Raleigh, I’m getting used to her and she’s been taking me to all the right spots. I feel more comfortable and don’t even need Google Maps any more to guide me (my dad won’t believe that one!). But it’s true! I’ve also totally enjoyed all the service at each restaurant. Each server and bartender (two bartenders know my name already—not sure if that’s good or bad) is so attentive and genuinely seems to care to make sure I’ve had an exceptional experience, which is something I always appreciate.

When I was at Raleigh’s very own chocolate factory, Videri (I’ll get to that tomorrow in my blog), the tour guide said, “I’ve lived in Raleigh my whole life and it just keeps getting better and better.”

Would I be ready to move in with Raleigh, so to speak? I don’t know if I could live here permanently (it’s a little too hot), but after my inaugural visit, I’d gladly come back and visit her (and eat and drink my way through…who’s with me…first round is on me)!

Your Foodie Friend,

Dougy

Doesn't Happen Often

David (top), Cary (bottom)

I'm not one to get startstruck that easily. Seeing Maya Rudolph, David Spade, Maria Bello and the rest of the cast of "Grown Ups 2"during the filming this summer has definitely been fun, but I wouldn't say it has left me speechless.

But last night while out to dinner, I didn't meet one rockstar. Not two. Not even three. I MET FOUR ROCKSTARS. Of the cheese world that is (were you expecting someone else--I'm at the cheese show after all)! I'm sitting at the bar, enjoying a drink, and a group of four comes up next to me to grab a drink while waiting for their table.

I first noticed David Gremmels--co owner of Rogue Creamery (a.k.a. home to the Best Cheese in the Country for the last two years!!!). I didn't know what to do. Then I notice, Cary Bryant (other co-owner of Rogue), Sue Conley (co-owner of Cowgirl Creamery) and Kurt Dammeier (owner of Beecher's of Seattle). HOLY CRAP!

Do I introduce myself? Do I buy them a drink? Do I leave them alone? Well I didn't have long to think because Kurt turns to me and says, "Excuse me, do you live here? What do you call someone from Raleigh?"

"Great," I thought to myself, "he just had to ask me something I didn't know."

Kurt

I could feel myself getting nervous, my mouth getting dry, I could feel myself perspiring like a wheel of gouda that's been left out too long, but I somehow managed to spit out, "A Raleighite? That's just a guess. I'm not from here," pretty smooth, Dougy. (And Raleighite is the correct answer I found out later!).

Sue

I told them I was here for the cheese show and that I obviously knew they were here for the same reason. I felt like I was sitting next to cheese royalty. You might be thinking I'm overreacting here, but these four have changed the way cheese is made and enjoyed in this country. I grew up hearing about these four legends, I would read about them in trade magazines. These four people and their cheeses started the American artisan cheese movement. It doesn't happen often, but I was near speechless.

Is there such a thing as a cheese groupie??

When in Raleigh...

So I'm back at the Annual American Cheese Society's Conference! My brother and I ate more cheese than a human probably should in three and a half days at last year's conference in Montreal.

This year I'm on my own in Raleigh, North Carolina. So far I'm diggin' it, too!

Although this is considered a working trip, it's a great chance to get away from the daily grind that I usually face and, I guess, refresh myself. So needless to say that when I woke up this morning to a string of frustrating emails it's not how I envisioned my first morning in Raleigh.

At the Farmers Market!

But thank goodness for the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market! As soon as I decided to ignore my phone and walk to the weekly showing of artisan cheeses (a few more on display than usual in honor of the cheesiness this week!), fresh produce, meats and baked goods, I instantly felt better! How the heck couldn't I have?! (The triple chocolate chunk cookie I picked up from a local baker for breakfast also probably helped).

There was just a plethora of fresh, local and good food with happy people, live music...all eating, too! Definitely my kind of scene. People in Raleigh just seem happier, too--they're so nice it's hard not to smile! I first stopped (after I got my cookie) at a stand that only had products made from their 5,000 blueberry bushes! Not just your typical blueberry jam, but blueberry juice, syrup and even salsa (which was intriguingly sweet and spicy). The farms owner had her nine-year old son helping her, who proudly offered me a taste of his family's salsa (kind of reminded me of myself when I was nine and working in the store!).

Never too early for beer and cheese!

Then, somehow I migrated to the local beer and cheese pairing (funny how that works). Unfortunately, I found the cheese to be underwhelming in flavor, but am anxious to give Raleigh's cheeses another try later in the week. Since we've been on the craft beer craze at the store, I'm all about the beer now. And Raleigh definitely makes some tasty ales. A couple standouts have been Mother Earth Brewing's Sisters of the Moon (an intense hop aroma and bitterness with a mouthful of flavor) and Lonerider's Sweet Josie (an American Brown style balancing bitter hops with chocolate and aromatic malts).

The line for the grilled cheese competition...
worth the wait!

And you'll never guess what they had at the Farmers Market?? A GRILLED CHEESE COMPETITION! Seven of the area's best chefs created the best grilled cheese they could and put it on display for all to try and vote! Keep in mind that about twenty minutes before I had a goat cheese, speck, fig and balsamic grilled cheese from a grilled cheese truck, so I was ready for this! 

Hard not to be happy here!

After my fill of grilled cheese I walked around downtown Raleigh for a bit, which seems to be developing into quite the city with lots of eateries, bars and pubs and fun shops. I have to admit, I started my day in a disappointing corporate way, but thanks to the good people of Raleigh (and a little grilled cheese), I think I'm ready for the Rally in Raleigh (the cheese rally, duh!).

Your foodie friend,

Dougy