February 9, 2012
HIGH POINT — Former manager Mena Parrish bought the J.H. Adams Inn this fall. Constructed in 1918, the Italian Renaissance home, listed on the National Register, ranks among the most elegant restaurant settings in the Triad.Upon entering, a dark, cl...
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January 26, 2012
HIGH POINT — Thai Herb looks exotic inside. Deep charcoal walls are decorated with Thai carvings; chandeliers of multisized glass balls can be a bit dazzling. A fountain in the entry way burbles softly as you pass by.
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January 12, 2012
GREENSBORO — Anton’s, now in the second generation of family ownership, has occupied this building since 1960. I have fond memories here. In fact, I drank my first legal beer in the third booth on the left.This fall, Paul and Joan Shepherd joi...
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December 29, 2011
GIBSONVILLE –– Dining at Saint Jacques in the Burke Manor, it is easy to imagine yourself at an elegant French country inn. Deep rose window treatments accent rich taupe walls. Fresh roses adorn the tables. One irritation arises early, howeve...
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December 15, 2011
The hottest new thing in big cities is “pop up restaurants.” These venues take advantage of social media to open, often in conjunction with a concert, then close, popping up somewhere else later. The Next Supper Underground Dining Collective i...
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December 1, 2011
GREENSBORO — Saffron is named after the exotic spice frequently used in Indian cooking.Exotic aromas lure you in. Intense flavors make you want to remain and return.The dining room is large and open. A black-and-white tile floor looks up to framed I...
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November 17, 2011
CLIMAX — First, thanks to reader Jonathan Maxwell for recommending Four Winds Cafe. This property was formerly the Southeast Truck Stop. Conversion to a cafe was completed in 2006.
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November 3, 2011
Return Visit is an occasional theme column narrating recent experiences in restaurants that have been favorably reviewed in the past. Trying out the hot new place is a popular pastime, but remembering those establishments that have been doing a good job f...
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October 20, 2011
Da Vinci’s Table provides neighborhood Italian-American food in a pleasant, quiet setting. The walkway is lined with an attractive flower-and-herb garden.Inside, walls in deep wine and abstract wine-and-gray wallpaper are decorated with Italian-reli...
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October 6, 2011
HIGH POINT — Emerywood is L-shaped, a bar flanking to a long dining room. Black walls are decorated with original art and painted plates.The wine list earned compliments, but bread arrived doughy, albeit with good herbed olive oil.
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September 22, 2011
Mark Freedman’s move into one of the most attractive settings in the Triad is welcome. In this converted home, the front area is now a bar. Panoramic windows look out onto a patio. Michael Smith, a key member of Mark’s original team, is the gr...
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September 8, 2011
This Restaurant Guide visits the mountains. Menu samples are from August postings.Blowing RockBest Cellar (200 Shoppes on the Parkway Road, (828) 295-3466, ragged-gardens.com), is in Ragged Garden Inn.
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August 25, 2011
GREENSBORO — MJ’s stands for Madelyn and Julianna, daughters of chef-proprietor Tad Engstrom (a New England Culinary Institute graduate) and wife/proprietor Rachel. Mindy Calvin, Rachel’s mother, is catering and floor manager; husband Bi...
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August 11, 2011
GREENSBORO — Younghoon Lim established Wasabi in 2007. Japanese style paper lanterns cast light. Dark green over gray tile walls flank an open kitchen. I have been impressed in previous years when I observed Japanese golfers who were participating i...
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July 28, 2011
GREENSBORO — Sicilian native Nico Scavone has lived in Greensboro since 2002. His professional background includes luxury hotels in Venice and Rome. John Drees of Southern Lights, where Nico previously worked, is the other partner in Nico’s Re...
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July 14, 2011
I have been buying goat cheese from Goat Lady Dairy at farmers markets for years. I am especially fond of the herbed olive oil marinated chevre and the ash-infused Sandy Creek. Some of the Goat Lady Dairy cheeses are sold at several smaller grocers, and a...
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June 30, 2011
Two Wilmington favorites are finalists in the Best Dish in North Carolina competition (bestdishnc.com), which focuses on local ingredients. I am judging the East. (For the West, click here).
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June 16, 2011
GREENSBORO — Gnam Gnam, pronounced “nyam nyam,” is Italian for “yummy.” Owner Selim Oztalay grew up in Germany and enjoyed gelato throughout Europe. Similar to ice cream, gelato is denser, creamier and often more flavorful, s...
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June 2, 2011
BURLINGTON — Jazebel’s is the latest creation of Burlington restaurateur Dan Doby. The name is derived from his love of jazz, and performers swing Thursday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. If you don’t want the music to compete with you...
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May 19, 2011
ASHEBORO — Chef-proprietor Timothy Barbrey, a Randleman native, graduated from the culinary program at GTCC 16 years ago and then worked with Steve Schneider, his mentor, at Marisol in Greensboro. French techniques with American ingredients &mdash......
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May 5, 2011
GREENSBORO — Marisol opened in 1997 with chef-proprietor Stephen Schneider at the helm. I admired his creativity and skill during the early years but occasionally thought he needed a good editor when his imagination grew excessive. After several yea...
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April 21, 2011
GREENSBORO — 1618 Seafood Grille, adapted from a firehouse, looks modern. Rich brown walls over gray banquettes are decorated with accessories from the Philips Collection. Large “clouds” overhead and carpeted floor help soften noise, alt...
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April 7, 2011
First, a recommendation: The final round of the Fire on the Rock Chef’s Challenge (fireontherock.com) and the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival are taking place April 15-17 in Blowing Rock — an entertaining and informative event for anyone who...
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March 24, 2011
GREENSBORO — I feel a warm sense of welcome at Palmetto, even though no one knows me. I think that is a function of the genuine grace of floor manager LaShawn Brown and husband/chef/proprietor Carlos Brown, a Johnson & Wales University graduate.
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March 10, 2011
KERNERSVILLE — Tim Bocholis was chef at Valencia (RIP) on Tate Street in Greensboro. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he has lived and cooked in Spain and Greece. He opened Bistro B in December. This small cafe primarily implements the...
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