The Raleigh Times Bar is housed in a building constructed in 1906. Not only does this building have such a rich history, but the owners of The Raleigh Times Bar have done their best to restore it to its original state. The building served as the headquarters for the once thriving newspaper of our city, the Raleigh Times. You’ll find old newspaper clippings throughout the establishment, as well as photographs of memorable events and Raleigh natives lining walls of the bar. Perhaps my favorite photograph is a 1912 shot of the newspaper delivery boys, which spans a twenty foot wall at the entrance to the bar.

Since this watering hole is named after Raleigh Times, the menus are designed to look like the old newspapers. You’ll find an extensive beer menu including over 50 Belgian beers. The Raleigh Times Bar also features a wonderful draft beer menu, changing daily to reflect seasonality and often featuring local N.C. beers.

You’ll also find a large menu with classic bar fare favorites, which serve to reflect the history of the building. The kitchen is open until 2am, perfect for late night snacking. The chefs use fresh ingredients to create their handcrafted menu items like the braised pork enchilada, beer steamed pastrami sandwich on rye and PBR battered fish and chips. The Raleigh Times Bar was recently renovated and now when you walk down S. Wilmington St. you can watch the chefs busy preparing delicious dishes in the kitchen. Beware, staring too long into the kitchen will result in salivation.

The Raleigh Times Bar is known for their pulled pork nachos among the Raleighites, also a staple of my diet. The crispy nachos are topped with fresh jalapeño, white cheddar, cojita, pulled pork, pico and sour cream. The small order is filling for one person and only costs $4.95. The nachos always pair nicely with a cold beer, no matter the time of day.

If you’re a Raleigh native, continue to support your local watering hole and bring your visitors to this iconic bar. If you’re new to the area or just visiting Raleigh, sit on the street corner with a beer and an open mind. Watch the city come to life over a plate of pulled pork nachos at The Raleigh Times Bar.

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!

Check out these stellar aspects of the night:

The Special Event: First of all, North Carolina Symphony wonderfully planned the opening act. Musicians Ari Picker and Emma Nadeau, of the band Lost in the Trees, opened the concert with calm, yet emotionally intense original music. The band proved to the audience that there is an abundance of undeniable musical talent surrounding the area. Check Lost in the Trees out at Hopscotch Music Festival 2013!

So to see and hear the North Carolina Symphony not only beautifully and elegantly play orchestrations by Brahms but also rock tunes off of Radiohead’s OK Computer, and then on top of that, to hear them played both together, was truly a stellar experience.

The mashup was actually created and arranged by composer, conductor, arranger and producer Steve Hackman. North Carolina Symphony vice president Martin Sher had prevously worked with Hackman, and so this helped sparked the idea of bringing Hackman’s musical creation to Greater Raleigh.

So the event came and so did the Music Maniacs. Appropriately, Hackman conducted the North Carolina Symphony and the three vocalists who sang the lyrics and melodies of the Radiohead songs. (Another cool tidbit is that the three professional vocalists have all worked with Hackman tremendously on performances of the mashup previously, so the vocals were seasoned to perfection.) Radiohead and Brahms have both elegant and chaotic sounds in their compositions, so hearing them together flowed very naturally. The performance included Radiohead songs “Paranoid Android,” “Karma Police,” “Subterranean Homesick Alien” (my favorite track on that album) and more. When the performance kicked off with a beautifully done rendition of “Airbag,” I knew I was in for a treat. Check out Hackman’s description of the mashup and the song list here.

Listening to the music was, hands down, like being on an intense roller coaster ride, but you still had enough chances to get lost and absorb the moment. At times, listening to the audience was entertaining as well. The crowd was clearly having a great time. At one point after a song, and in the dead of silence, an audience member yelled out, “Yeah!” Hackman paused, looked back and replied with delight and a smile, “Yeah?” The audience laughed, clapped and without words said, “We’re absolutely loving this and you all are putting on an amazing performance!”

This event in particular was only the beginning of North Carolina’s Symphony event schedule for the summer! So you’ll have more chances to see the symphony go beyond the bounds of traditional classical music this season.

The Venue: Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts continues to prove that it’s one of the hottest venues for live music in North Carolina. The architecture of the exterior itself lends you the realization that world-class concerts happen inside of the venue. Check out the photo below. I always jump on the opportunity to take some photos of this intriguing building.

The venues inside of the building include the Memorial Auditorium, Meymandi Concert Hall, A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater and Kennedy Theatre. Meymandi Concert Hall, where this mashup concert took place, helped set the mood for the performance. This remarkable venue boasts 1,700 very comfortable seats. And the 65-ft. ceiling, shoebox shape, overall design and warm, clear sound system all worked together to give the Radiohead and Brahms mashup the absolute best sound possible. You’ve got to experience the acoustics at a concert when you’re in Greater Raleigh! Also, the lighting fueled the emotions of the pieces of music, with warm blues and purples, intense oranges and greens and more.

The Musicians in the Symphony: I couldn’t leave out a mention of the musicians in the North Carolina Symphony! As I was sitting, watching the musicians in the orchestra, I couldn’t help but notice the way they mingled with each other and talked, looking enthusiastic and thrilled about playing together. At this show in particular, the orchestra casually made their way to their seats, warming up and mingling before the show started. Seeing the positivity on stage just made the night even better. I think it goes without saying at this point that the talent of the musicians is phenomenal. The musical quality was top-notch, proving once again that the North Carolina Symphony is a symphony every Music Maniac would enjoy seeing.

The Events Surrounding the Event: North Carolina Symphony adds some really cool touches to its Special Events that make the events even more unique and “special.” At Symphonic Mashup: The Music of Radiohead Meets Brahms, the North Carolina Symphony invited food trucks to set up in front of the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in the scenic plaza. Lots of concert-goers were hanging out, dining and mingling before the show, getting pumped for the performance. The venue also offered local craft beers, and you could have a delicious ale while watching the show!

On Friday, June 7, for the symphony’s Video Games Live event, there will be a huge before-the-show Guitar Hero competition. The winner will get to compete on stage!

At the Sci-Fi Spectacular event on Thurs., June 27, and Fri., June 28, George Takei, “Mr. Sulu,” of Star Trek will be in Greater Raleigh to narrate your journey through the galaxy, live, accompanied by music from E.T., Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and, of course, Star Trek. A must-see for Trekkies!

As Greater Raleigh has the most live music of any destination in N.C., you know there are more North Carolina Symphony Special Events coming up this summer!

On Sat., June 8, the North Carolina Symphony will head to Koka Booth Amphitheatre for its Summerfest Series Classical Mystery Tour concert. The orchestra is going kick out The Beatles tunes such as “Eleanor Rigby,” “Penny Lane,” “Yesterday” and much more. This concert celebrates the 45th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ White Album. Get some sun and feel the awesome N.C. summer weather while you listen to music from one of the greatest bands in history.

Don’t miss the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes on Thurs., June 20. Greater Raleigh is the only spot in the Southeast where this tour will stop! This ground-breaking orchestral adventure will feature Garcia’s original compositions and classical interpretations of timeless standards that were hallmarks of Garcia and the Grateful Dead’s concerts. A blend of Warren Haynes’s critically-acclaimed guitar playing, the sounds of the North Carolina Symphony and the music of Jerry Garcia is sure to have Music Maniacs talking.

Click here for a complete calendar that lists every live music event in Greater Raleigh this summer!

North Carolina Symphony’s official website

Don’t let the line out the door fool you into going somewhere else. The line moves quickly and Ed might even seat you. While you’re waiting, just look up. This 170 seat restaurant displays historical antiques and memorabilia from all over North Carolina. Each time I take a group to Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant they are fascinated by the number of eclectic things hanging from the ceiling and on the walls. You’ll surely pass the wait by playing your favorite childhood game of “I spy.”

Try to take your eyes off the ceiling once you sit down. It might be hard, but your friendly waitress carrying cathead biscuits and heading your way will definitely deter your gaze. These buttery biscuits are some of my favorite in Raleigh; always fluffy with a golden brown outside.

Your waitress, most likely in a Southern accent, will ask you if you’re ready to order. One of the most famous items on the menu at Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant is the hot cake. For a reasonable $3.99, I promise you’ll be full after eating just one. The hot cakes are made from scratch using Big Ed’s homemade batter. The hot cakes, which are the size of my car’s hubcap, are always sweet and fluffy. There’s also a hot cake eating contest, which I might have to try sometime. If you can eat three hot cakes without sharing, you’ll win a Big Ed’s t-shirt.

My favorite breakfast item on the menu is the Western omelet with ham, sausage, peppers, onions, tomatoes and cheese. The ingredients are always farm fresh and the sausage is from from local producer Nahunta. The omelet comes with fresh seasonal fruit, which is a nice addition to the meal.

Don’t miss a breakfast from Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant in downtown Raleigh. This down-home country breakfast will take you back to your Southern roots or introduce you to a new culture. Yes, I’m talking about country ham and brains being served as options for Big Ed’s country breakfast. No matter what you order, you’ll leave happy and wanting to come back.

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!

Of course, RV camping in Raleigh is abundant. You may want to stay at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, as they have a number of sites that are all first-come, first-served, with free Wi-Fi and 24-hour security. This spot is close to many attractions too! But you have a wide choice of RV parks and all have Raleigh hospitality.

First, soak up the sun! Drive over for a day at Falls Lake State Recreation Area. Walk through the woods on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, hike the Falls Lake Trail along the south shore or launch a boat into the lake and fish. The choice is yours! There are thousands of acres of woodlands to explore.

If you would rather spend the day adventuring in Raleigh, you can visit some of the museums. The North Carolina Museum of Art always has wonderful collections to view, and admission is free. Of course, you will find that they charge an admission fee for films, concerts or special exhibitions, but the price is always worth it. While you are there, see the ongoing John James Audubon’s The Birds of America exhibit. Another must-see is the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, with four floors of amazing exhibits. There are even live animals and exhibits on our prehistoric past.

To get out of the city temporarily and feel the allure of nature, visit William B. Umstead State Park. The lake is a great place to throw in a line and you may just hook a big one! Picnic, boat, hike or watch for the beautiful bald eagles that live here.

Back in town and time for some sightseeing. Drive through Historic Boylan Heights to see what an early suburb was like. It was started from portions of old plantation land and shows what attracted folks to own homes in the early 20th century. Then head over to the Joel Lane’s for a Cherry Bounce. This is a Raleigh classic drink which likely inspired important people to make Raleigh the state capital. The drink is a delicious aged blend of Bing cherries, spices and bourbon.

Now for some amazing food! You have probably worked up an appetite after all this adventuring. There is a huge choice of great cuisine in the city. If you love seafood, try 42nd St. Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill or if you want to taste some Italian dishes, go to 518 West Italian Cafe. You have more than 1,800 restaurants to choose from so spread out your dining experiences over your stay and dine well!

If you have kids with you (and even if you don’t) you will want to stop at the Wells Fargo IMAX Theatre at Marbles to enjoy that gigantic screen and depth to the films you see. Pullen Park is another place to go to ride a train or carousel. Kids just love this park! The park also offers an arts center, an amusement center and aquatics center. Stop at the Pullen Place Café for a snack. Another attraction – kids love the interactive exhibits at Marbles Kids Museum. Let their imagination run wild for a while.

Yes, an RV adventure in Raleigh, N.C., is something to look forward to. With such a variety of activities, the whole family is sure to have a perfect vacation experience. You may not want to leave! And we can understand it if you don’t. However, when it is time to go, remember that you can always return again for more fun in Raleigh.

About the Author

Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV, a nationwide source for RV rentals. For other great RV camping vacation ideas see Monty’s Musings RV Camping Blog or the Monty’s RV Vacation Photo/Picture Gallery.

When I initially heard about the series, four parts of that phrase stuck out to me:

Downtown Raleigh: The downtown area of North Carolina’s capital city is a hot place to catch live music. City Plaza is where the event is held, and the area screams art and creativity with its public art and super-nice layout. The view up and down Fayetteville St. rocks, as you really feel and know that you’re in the center of a place alive with activity and charm.

Free: Those looking for a night out on a small budget can enjoy great live music with no admission cost.

Summer: The summer of music in Greater Raleigh (Music Mania) has the best of music events, and this is one of them. I know, personally, that I’ll be attending as many of these as I can! N.C.’s summer weather allows for cool evenings where you can catch some of the best local talent. If you break a sweat while dancing, you can always cool off with local brews and refuel with food from downtown restaurants and food trucks.

Concert: When I hear the word my ears perk up. The killer lineup alone is great. I immediately recognized some local bands on the list that I’ve heard, seen live and have a tremendous amount of respect for as a musician.

Not only do you get a great show with some really talented musicians, but you get the opportunity to try delicious local beer and food from local food trucks.

A beer truck serves brews from local breweries Aviator Brewing Company, Big Boss Brewing Company, Lonerider Brewing Company and more. Food trucks also serve cuisine from Carolina barbecue, pizza, ice cream and more. I definitely recommend to go with an appetite and, if you’re a craft beer lover, a mindset to taste some great brews!

Being a true Music Maniac myself, seeing a vinyl record vendor at the event was super cool. The Record Exchange & Swap, normally located at Deep South The Bar, had a nice collection of records for sale at the event, including records ranging from Fleetwood Mac, to Lou Reed, to Living Colour and more. Also, obviously being a true fan of Raleigh, the House of Swank! vendor caught my attention with Raleigh t-shirts, N.C. t-shirts and other merchandise sporting the name of N.C.’s capital city.

Most of all, the live music itself was outstanding! The sound system is nice and loud with a crisp and clear overall tone. It’s definitely a sound system any musician would want to play through. The lineup Thurs. night, May 30, featured a great mix of genres from city blues to Latin dance, indie rock and country rock; music that influenced the crowd to start dancing and jamming with the music!

A great lineup is in store for the Oak City 7 series. Check it out here! This is definitely an event you won’t want to miss.

This entry was written by Derek Chase Allman, Music Maniac, musician, songwriter and Internet marketing manager at visitRaleigh.

Not only has Taste Bar made some exciting changes to their menu, but the restaurant also has fresh paint and new plating, tables and chairs. The back room at Taste Bar is suitable for families and larger parties, while the front of the restaurant is closer to the bar and has high top tables and chairs. No matter what you prefer, there is a place for everyone to dine at Taste Bar.

I had the wonderful opportunity to dine with Ryan one evening on the patio at Taste Bar. The patio was small and cozy with beautiful flowers surrounding us. Taste Bar’s patio is also dog friendly, which means I’ll be bringing my furry friend next time I come for drinks and dinner. The patio is currently in the process of being expanded, just in time for those warm summer nights!

Ryan’s focus is on the daily operations of Taste Bar and ensuring the menu is pleasing to the diners. Ryan knows a thing or two about the restaurant industry and began washing dishes for $3 an hour when he was 13. He’s spent time managing bars and restaurants since he was 21 years old. Ryan’s dream is to revolutionize the food industry with his “morsel” style menu. Ryan explained to me that “morsels” are bigger than appetizers and smaller than an entree. Ryan created the original menu and then hired Executive Chef Ruben Concha, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco. Taste Bar gets the majority of their food and beverage locally to be considerate of their community and the environment.

Taste Bar focuses on the neighborhood in which the restaurant is located. During my evening with Ryan he greeted every diner by name and welcomed new visitors. I felt right at home especially when Jimmy, a regular at Taste Bar suggested I order The Beltline Sliders. Jimmy told me the first time he ate the sliders he had to call his wife, they were just that good! I definitely agree with Jimmy. Taste Bar has taken your traditional slider and turned it into something even better. The sliders use chopped angus beef and are served with caramelized onions, aged white cheddar cheese and Dijon mustard. My favorite part about the slider is the mini pretzel bun, a unique spin on your typical slider.

I’m a huge fan of seafood. One of the morsels on Taste Bar’s menu is the Seared-Pistachio Crusted Ahi Tuna. Thinly sliced tuna is served on a bed of arugula with a wasabi aioli for dipping. The tuna was extremely fresh with a brilliant, fresh pink color. The pistachios were a creative addition to the tuna, adding a nice texture and flavor to the dish. I thought the dish was also plated beautifully.

Since we’re talking about beautiful plating, the next dish absolutely blew me away! Taste Bar’s Fresh Caprese Salad is phenomenal and extremely fresh. The salad almost reminds me of a sushi roll, with alternating layers of juicy Roma tomatoes and mozzarella cheese topped with avocado, fresh basil and a balsamic reduction drizzle. The avocado is a unique addition to the classic caprese salad, adding a rich buttery flavor and texture to the dish. There’s no wonder Ryan says this is one of the most popular and most photographed dishes at the restaurant.

One of the other morsels I tried on Taste Bar’s menu was the flatbread. The chef designs a new flatbread each day, which keeps the menu interesting for the regulars at Taste Bar. The flatbread consisted of a basil pesto base topped with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil.

The chef also switches the daily vegetable dish to provide a menu offering to vegetarians or vegans. Ryan explained that this menu item is a “vegetable of the day on steroids.” Taste Bar always adds some thing different to their daily vegetable dish to make it hearty and delicious. The dish often includes seasonal and local ingredients. The daily vegetable dish when I was dining at Taste Bar included lo mein noodles, carrots, broccoli, sugar snap peas, sweet peppers and shiitake mushrooms.

One the specials of the evening was a watermelon mint gazpacho with crème fraiche and fresh mint on top. Strawberries were at the peak of their season when I was dining with Ryan at Taste Bar. The chef also blended fresh strawberries into the gazpacho. The fresh and sweet fruit flavors were amazing and I could have eaten this for dessert.

Not only is the food amazing at Taste Bar, but the drinks will certainly quench your thirst. The Taste Cucumber Mint Martini is Taste Bar’s most popular signature cocktail. The martini includes Hendricks Gin, St. Germain, fresh cucumber and mint. I will definitely be coming back to sit on the patio while enjoying one of these fabulous drinks!

The best part about Taste Bar’s drink menu is the daily specials. Taste Bar offers handcrafted drinks for excellent prices. For instance, mojitos are on special on Thursdays. Taste Bar takes the classic mojito but adds a twist. My cucumber mojito was made with orange rum, which was a delicious and refreshing drink. Follow Taste Bar on Twitter to find out their exclusive drink specials.

Definitely consider paying Taste Bar a visit. You’ll feel at home in this cozy and classy atmosphere. Triangle Restaurant Week is also June 3-9, 2013. Taste Bar is participating and has a phenomenal menu planned. What a perfect opportunity to try out Taste Bar!

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!

Chef Meri met Gabriele and Amy Davanzante when she was working in Cancun at a restaurant they co-owned with her cousin. When the Davanzante’s decided to open Enrigo Italian Bistro in 2011, Chef Meri joined them in Cary as head chef to develop a truly authentic Italian menu.

Chef Meri believes in using natural ingredients in her cooking. She makes everything from scratch every day including fresh sauces, pastas and dressings. She always includes vegetarian options on her menu because she wants each guest to find something to enjoy while dining at Enrigo Italian Bistro.

I had the opportunity to enjoy samples of Chef Meri’s authentic Italian food. She began by serving me one of her favorite appetizers, calamari fritti. The calamari was battered and lightly fried, allowing the seafood flavor to really shine through. Chef Meri created a crushed red pepper marinara sauce for dipping, which brought the perfect amount of zest to the dish. Calamari is one of those dishes I think is either hit or miss, but Chef Meri successfully nailed this appetizer.

Instead of trying just one main dish at Enrigo Italian Bistro, Chef Meri wanted to me to sample some of her favorites. She served chocolate ravioli with ricotta cheese, ravioli with eggplant and spicy marinara, and gnocchi with smoked salmon and brandy. The raviolis were each filled with a delicious mixture of ricotta, parmesan, nutmeg and lemon zest. I especially enjoyed the gnocchi, which demonstrated Chef Meri’s skill of cooking seafood. The smoked salmon and light fluffy potato dumplings paired nicely with the cream sauce.

The pollo marsala con funghi was one of my favorite dishes of the evening. Chef Meri sautés chicken in marsala wine and mushrooms to create this authentic and popular Italian dish. I also enjoyed the melanzana alla parmigiana, which is baked eggplant with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Chef Meri’s marinara sauce is extremely fresh and has a rich tomato flavor.

The dessert plate that Chef Meri brought out to the table was absolutely gorgeous. Chocolate espresso panna cotta, mixed berry panna cotta and fresh crème caramel flam were served on a plate drizzled with chocolate. The texture of each dessert was perfect and highlighted a true Italian dessert Chef Meri grew up learning how to prepare in her family’s kitchen.

You should definitely visit Enrigo Italian Bistro if you are looking for fresh and authentic Italian food. Chef Meri aims to make each of her guests happy during their visit to the restaurant. There’s something for everyone on the menu including house-made Italian pasta, pizza, baked dishes and desserts. Buon Appetito!

My Cackalacky 10 with Chef Meri Serpillo

1. My favorite kitchen gadget: Knife.

2. When I go out to eat with friends I go to: Sushi or Chinese.

3. On my iPod right now: Rock, pop, classical, everything! It depends on my mood. Right now I really like Rihanna.

4. My must-have North Carolina ingredient: Good seafood, especially shrimp.

5. My worst kitchen disaster: I like to play with the fire a lot and sometimes it can get a little crazy. One time the gas was not off in the kitchen causing a fire to blow up.

6. I dream about cooking for: I like to cook for everyone because cooking is so natural to me. I cook because it makes me feel good and I do it for myself.

7. My favorite menu item: Risotto Pescatora.

8. The hardest thing to cook: Bread because it has a lot to do with the climate, temperature and humidity. Some people like their bread crunchy and others like it soft. Plus, you need a lot of kitchen space.

9. Favorite attraction in Greater Raleigh: Anywhere downtown I can go dancing and listen to live music.

10. In another life I would be a: Dory from “Finding Nemo.”

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!

Peruse Centro’s cocteles menu as you relax outside underneath an umbrella on the patio. You’ll notice a variety of traditional brunch drinks with a twist. I’m a huge Bloody Mary fan at any brunch establishment, however, Centro’s Bloody Maria is of higher caliber. The Bloody Maria includes Jimador Blanco, sangrita and a chile piquin-salt rim. If you’re like me and you love spicy, try the habanero-infused Jimador Blanco, which will surely awaken your taste buds on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

I suggest dining at Centro with a group of friends so you have the opportunity to sample a variety of dishes. I ordered the Cacerola de Huevos, egg y queso frittata. You can have the frittata with either chorizo y rajas or spinach and mushrooms. Luckily, my server made the perfect suggestion to order the dish with everything included. Three warm corn tortillas are also served with the frittata. The frittata was light and airy with crispy brown edges. I placed portions of the frittata inside a corn tortilla and topped it with Centro’s ranchero sauce.

Colin ordered the Chilaquiles con Huevos Ahogados, corn tortillas with chicken in a creamy tomatillo salsa verde topped with two poached eggs. You have the option of ordering the dish with either chicken or steak. We especially enjoyed the fresh cream drizzled on top of the poached eggs, which added a sweet flavor to the dish and balanced the tart tomatillo salsa verde.

Curtis ordered the Calentado, perfect for those of you craving authentic Mexican comfort food. Calentado is rice and beans topped with plantains, a fried egg and guacamole. Basically take all of my favorite foods and pile them high on a plate. You can also choose to add steak or chicken to the dish. Centro’s ingredients are high quality, which makes all of their food exceptional. Centro takes pride is using organic and local products, including free range eggs.

Bring your friends and family out to brunch on Sat. at Centro. The prices, quality and taste of the dishes and drinks will certainly surpass your typical brunch expectations.

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!

The N.C. State Fairgrounds will be lined with independent N.C. food vendors. Take a stroll in the beautiful weather as you enjoy festival delights from the numerous vendors. One of my favorite foods during the festival is the roasted corn. Do me a favor and please get your earn of corn dipped in butter! You’ll find a plethora of grilled, fried and roasted foods just calling your name.

After taking in all of the sights and smells during the outdoor portion of the festival, make sure to head inside for the Got to be N.C. Festival Food, Wine and Beer Expo. During the Expo, you’ll explore what is grown fresh and local in N.C. The Expo gives companies in N.C. the opportunity to sample and sell their products like meats, snacks, desserts, pickles, breads, sauces and more. Breweries and wineries will also be sampling and selling their products. Admission to the Expo is $2 for adults and free for children 11 and under. Each attendee will receive a sheet of 24 coupons that are good towards many of the delicious products at the Expo. The 2013 Expo line-up looks fantastic and features many companies from Greater Raleigh like The Cake Pop Shop, Aviator Brewing Company, Lumpy’s Ice Cream, The Cookie People and more.

On Sat., more than 40 chapters of Masons will gather for the 6th Annual Masonic Pig Jig for a BBQ cook-off. Food will be served to the public after judging occurs on Sat. morning at 11am. Tickets are $15 for ages 12 and over, $5 for ages 7-11 and free for ages 6 and under. All of the ticket proceeds go towards a great cause, supporting the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. World Boxing Association Heavyweight Champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith will also make an appearance during the Pig Jig, so don’t miss out!

You can also eat for a cause all three days during the Got to be N.C. Festival at the Shriner’s Fish Fry. The Amran Shriners will be serving Calabash-style seafood from N.C. You can enjoy a mouth-watering plate of N.C. whiting for $8 or flounder for $10. Each plate is served with hushpuppies, coleslaw and french fries.

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!

Photo Credit to the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

On May 10 the Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Raleigh will host Arthouse 2013, a celebration for their third year anniversary and an art auction. Ashley Christensen and Scott Crawford of The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary are in charge of the food. These fantastic Greater Raleigh chefs have developed a phenomenal menu inspired by the art itself. The event will also feature well-known mixologists from C. Grace, Fox Liquor Bar, Bida Manda and Foundation making craft cocktails for the guests. There will also be a cocktail competition featuring N.C. spirits. C. Grace will be featuring a TOPO vodka cocktail and Poole’s Diner will be preparing a TOPO Piedmont gin cocktail. Purchase your tickets before the event sells out!

Photo credit: CAM Raleigh

The OC Bar & Grill is one of the newest establishments in Greater Raleigh dedicated to using local spirits. The OC Bar & Grill features local liquors such as, Red Wolf Vodka, TOPO Carolina Whiskey, Cardinal Gin and Junior Johnson’s Strawberry Moonshine. The drinks also include house made bitters, fresh squeezed juices and house made syrups. Their strawberry lemonade speciality cocktail includes Junior Johnson’s Strawberry Moonshine, fresh squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, basil and a lemon wedge. I can definitely see myself drinking this artisan cocktail on their patio this summer!

The Bee Sting is one of my favorite cocktails at Sitti Restaurant. This Southern classic cocktail is made using Midnight Moon, a corn whiskey distilled at Piedmont Distillers in Madison, N.C. All of Sitti’s juices, syrups and garnishes are house made. The Bee Sting includes lemon juice, mint and simple syrup infused with honey. The best part about the drink is not only is the liquor produced locally, but the honey is directly from the hives on Sitti’s rooftop at 137 S. Wilmington St. Freshly steeped Ceylon Pekoe black tea from Tin Roof Teas in Cameron Village finishes off this perfect local and sustainable cocktail.

Photo credit: Sitti Restaurant

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen’s Purple Jay is a delicious artisan cocktail using local products. The Purple Jay is named after the popular party punch we all drank in college and the restaurant’s Executive Chef Jay Pierce.

Photo credit: Cary Magazine

Visit Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen in Cary to try this popular, fruity cocktail. Chef Jay was so kind to share his recipe with us, which is below.

Be on the lookout for events at Greater Raleigh restaurants like Zely & Ritz, who hosted a liquor dinner using TOPO products. The dinner was quite a hit with Chef Sarig pairing TOPO artisan cocktails with amazing gastronomical creations. The dessert was a crowd favorite, TOPO Vodka Grapefruit Cello paired with grapefruit creamsicle ice cream. Pictured below is Just Crumb’s Carrie Nickerson crafting her take on the vesper cocktail with TOPO vodka at the Zely & Ritz liquor dinner.

There are so many wonderful places in Greater Raleigh serving local artisan cocktails, the possibilites are endless. Cheers, and have fun exploring Greater Raleigh!