Local Flavors

Signature Dishes In The Piedmont Triad Area

We all love summer escapes and what they stand for - relaxation, downtime, indulging in sights, exploring the new, rediscovering the past, or simply hanging out with friends and family or alone. We believe that all good getaways involve food and the Piedmont Triad is proud of their eateries, many of which are locally-owned and operated.
 
Matthew Clements, Director of Food and Beverage at Carolina Brewery & Grill, shared with us that the restaurant has prepared their Artichoke Rarebit with their Sky Blue Golden Ale to rave reviews. Award-winning beers and local foods whenever possible - always a winning combination. The entree has been on their menu for 14 years now and they've brought it to the Pittsboro location.
 
Kerstin Lindgren, at Fearrington Village, gave us some information on a divine creation, the Hot Chocolate Soufflé (with hot chocolate sauce and whipped cream, of course!) and it just sounds mouth-watering, doesn't it? First introduced in 1983 by Edna Louis, then chef at the Fearrington House, it is a clear long-time favorite.
 
The Inn at Celebrity Dairy has hosted many monthly dinners over the years, and produces incredible goat cheese in a variety of flavors. They are a favorite among families as a fun-on-the-farm bed & breakfast inn. Our friends, Brit, Fleming, and Brooke, tell us that the Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Omelet is their most popular breakfast dish. They use their own free range eggs and goat cheese, made on-site. Their favorite cheeses to use in the omelet are Asian Luv (rolled in ginger, garlic, and sesame seeds) or Garbo (rolled in garlic, basil, and peppercorns). They tell us that the sweet taste of the onions blending with the cheese creates an unbelievable dish! Find them on the Heart of Carolina Bed & Breakfast Trail (HOCBBT).
 
Another B&B, Laurel Ridge, also on the HOCBBT, offers a variety of breakfast items with your stay. We like the Fall Pancakes, to name just one dish. We're not quite sure what owner Dave Simmons will create next, which is always exciting. We just know it will be excellent, considering the fact that he is a chef and worked in four-diamond restaurants for years before opening his B&B.
 
Owner of the Rosemary House (also on the HOCBBT), Karen Pullen, makes a delicious Vegetarian Eggs Benedict. She toasts an English muffin, adds steamed asparagus or sauteed spinach, a poached egg, and covers it with Hollandaise sauce. Vegetarians never go hungry here nor do they end up with a simple, standard breakfast; rather, it's always creative and tasty.

Our friend, Angelina Kay, cooks up a storm at Angelina's Kitchen, her Greek with a local twist restaurant. Each dish is made with love and local items. We stumble over some items when pronouncing, but definitely not when eating! The falafels are great, Avegolemono soup, baklava, and spanakopita too, but it's tough to single out just one dish. We like the varieties of frozen yogurt and our favorite is the orange-baklava.
 
Have you visited Oscar Moncada at the Chapel Hill Bed and Breakfast? The B&B is also on the HOCBBT and the panninis are great; the crepes are incredible as well as a guest favorite. Strawberry, grape, banana are popular, but let him know in advance of your stay and he'll customize it to your preference. Three crepes on a plate, adorned with fresh fruit...what a great way to begin your morning!

Bon appétit!

courtesy of the Pittsboro-Siler City CVB

added: August 10, 2009

updated: August 12, 2009