Well, it was a fabulous evening at Taste of the Town...Derby Style 2009! If you weren't there, you missed a delicious, entertaining fun-packed evening. Not only was the 135th Running of the Roses a giant upset with Mine That Bird beating the field handily to the tune of 50-1 odds, but the favored horse, Get My Revenge dropped out of the race early in the day!
The restaurants, bless their hearts, worked so hard and overjoyed the entire crowd with the sumptuous creations they brought to the table! Thank you so much to all of them:
The Old Fourth Street Filling Station
W-S Prime
Starbuck's
Heavenly Cheesecakes by Becky
Costco
First Street Draught House
NOMA
Blue Ridge Ice Creams
Sweet Potatoes
Sociale Gourmet
Downtown Thai
Village Tavern
Finnigan's Wake
Zevely House
The Piedmont Club
Caffe Prada
The Cake Ladies
Foothill's Brewing
Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar
and Triad Community Kitchen
a program of the Second Harvest Food Bank
They all brought their "A" Game and our patrons as well as our professional judges had a great time deciding who was their favorite!
Our professional judges were Michael Hastings, Food Editor of the Winston-Salem Journal; Chef Al Romano, Instructor at GTCC; and Chef Derrick McCorkle of Winston-Salem State University.
They chose their favorite three participants in the following order:
Win-Triad Community Kitchen
Place-W-S Prime
Show-NOMA
Interestingly enough, none of the three have been at the Taste of the Town prior to this year! They were all outstanding. The items I tried from each of those were, beginning with NOMA, were their outstanding sliders and three cheese mac and cheese. It was wonderful!
At W-S Prime the Three Little Pigs sandwiches were my son's favorite. That was a no-brainer. On the baguette was a pork cutlet, shaved ham and bacon with Swiss to top it off.
I was at Triad Community Kitchen early on and they insisted I try their Peach Berry Cobbler. It was so different-a combination of peach and strawberry with a hint of something I couldn't name. I was informed it was jalapeno! A terrific combination for sure. And it was topped off with a crust that had a base of cornmeal-also unexpected! I loved it. They had several appetizer items I didn't get to try but obviously they were all homeruns!
Now for the voting by "the people". The People's Choice Awards went as follows:
Best Booth:
Win-Sociale Gourmet (with a Pirate Ship)
Place-The Old Fourth Street Filling Station with their giant chocolate fountain
Show-The Village Tavern who were cooking shrimp on the spot
Best Dessert:
Win-The Village Tavern
Place-Heavenly Cheesecakes by Becky
Show-Caffe Prada
Best Non-Dessert
Win-The Village Tavern
Place-Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar
Show-NOMA
Best All Around:
Win-The Village Tavern
Place-Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar
Show-NOMA
As always, The Village Tavern's Chef Anthony Bonner really knows how to please the customers! And I'd just like to give a shout out to Kenya at Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar. Kenya works at Family Services also in our Safe Relationships Division and yesterday morning ran in the Race for the Cure! I'd say-job well done Kenya! And NOMA, keep on with that mac and cheese and the sliders, that is comfort food at its finest!
Finally, I haven't told you about the Kentucky Style Pie contest results. We had a great time with that this year. We've never done it before and we really learned a lot (especially about patent law-LOL). Judges were Michael Hastings and Jamie Hatter. The judging for the top three placings was done live on air with WXII's own Kimberly Van Scoy, Austin Caviness, Nichole Ducouer and of course Jennie Stencel! The winners of this year's Kentucky Style Pie Contest were:
Win-Jim Gilbert with an original recipe that included chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. It was so gooey and wonderful!
Place-Millie August
Show-Kim Via
Be sure to check out the Food Section of the Winston-Salem Journal on Wednesday in case Michael Hastings prints Jim's winning recipe. It's a keeper!
Thanks so much to all of our volunteers, our sponsors, our restaurants, and to all the Family Services staff who made this the Best Derby Party in Town! And don't think you've heard the last from me. I will have more tomorrow...or maybe Tuesday!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Downtown Thai
After 6 years of hard work and perseverance, Souphab Daohgang is moving his Downtown Thai restaurant across the street to 202 W. Fourth St. The new restaurant will be nearly 4,000 square feet and will seat 90 people, double the size of his current location.
When the new location opens in June or July, it will feature Sushi as well as the fabulous Thai cuisine we've all come to love. I didn't manage to get the name of the Sushi chef but Souphab did say he has 15 years of experience in major cities and is of Thai/Japanese heritage.
The new restaurant will feature daily specials, both Thai and Sushi and will be open for lunch and dinner. It will also have a conference room that will hold approximately 15 people and will be appointed with a screen, soundproofing, and computer access.
Souphab says that after Downtown Thai moves across the street, their current location will become a Vietnamese restaurant named Soup's Vietnamese "Pho" Restaurant. "Pho" is Vietnamese for soup. Obviously they will focus on soup (lots of noodles) but will also feature finger foods, wraps, and salads.
Eating at Downtown Thai is always a treat. I'm excited that Souphab is bringing his incredible green curry to Taste of the Town. My first year working with Taste, he brought the green curry and insisted I try it. I thought it would just be really hot. It was so delicious and full of deep flavor. I'd never tasted anything like that before! Check out their website at www.downtownthai.com and we'll see you tomorrow at the Taste of the Town...Derby Style!
When the new location opens in June or July, it will feature Sushi as well as the fabulous Thai cuisine we've all come to love. I didn't manage to get the name of the Sushi chef but Souphab did say he has 15 years of experience in major cities and is of Thai/Japanese heritage.
The new restaurant will feature daily specials, both Thai and Sushi and will be open for lunch and dinner. It will also have a conference room that will hold approximately 15 people and will be appointed with a screen, soundproofing, and computer access.
Souphab says that after Downtown Thai moves across the street, their current location will become a Vietnamese restaurant named Soup's Vietnamese "Pho" Restaurant. "Pho" is Vietnamese for soup. Obviously they will focus on soup (lots of noodles) but will also feature finger foods, wraps, and salads.
Eating at Downtown Thai is always a treat. I'm excited that Souphab is bringing his incredible green curry to Taste of the Town. My first year working with Taste, he brought the green curry and insisted I try it. I thought it would just be really hot. It was so delicious and full of deep flavor. I'd never tasted anything like that before! Check out their website at www.downtownthai.com and we'll see you tomorrow at the Taste of the Town...Derby Style!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sweet Potatoes (well shut my mouth!!) a restaurant
Six years ago, Vivian Joiner and Stephanie Tyson opened a restaurant in the Arts District of Winston-Salem and changed the look and feel of downtown. With a seriously Southern menu, everyone was clamoring to dine at the small, well appointed restaurant on Trade Street. I was one of those folks and I was thrilled to have real Southern cuisine right there with easy on street parking. Born in Alabama, I couldn't wait to get some fried green tomatoes and any kind of sweet potato. I was certainly not disappointed!
Now, Stephanie the chef, is changing her menu 2 or 3 times a year with seasonal produce and new ideas. They're open for brunch now and do Stephanie's version of Eggs Benedict, but all of them start with a sweet potato biscuit. The Big Benne is a stack of the sweet potato biscuit, sliced rib eye steak, poached eggs, country ham bordelaise, tomatoes and hollandaise. Stephanie footnotes it with (It's okay, it's only once a week!).
At lunch you can even get a Sweet Potatoes Hot Brown. If you're not in the Kentucky know, that's a very popular dish around Kentucky and the Derby. Stephanie's version is sliced turkey with mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese sauce, all atop a sweet potato biscuit.
A lot has happened in the Arts District in the last 6 years. Not only has ISP Sports opened their headquarters across the street but above that are condominiums. Vivian says they see the residents from the neighborhood on a regular basis, some daily and some weekly, but they see them all in this great neighborhood restaurant.
Stephanie called me yesterday to tell me what she's planning to bring for Taste of the Town and I hope I do it justice here: She's preparing succulent roasted pork, country ham with her country ham bordelaise gravy over sweet potato stuffing and she's even bringing dessert. I can't wait to try her mint julep tarts! Sounds like Derby fare to me!
You had better get to the Taste of the Town early (4pm) because I imagine there will be a line at the Sweet Potatoes booth. This is their first year attending and we are thrilled to have them! Check out their website at www.sweetpotatoes-arestaurant.com to see everything on their menu. And of course stop by their restaurant for a delicious Southern meal.
Look for my update on the Kentucky Derby coming Friday as well as the results of our Kentucky Style Pie contest! I'll see you in 3 days!
Now, Stephanie the chef, is changing her menu 2 or 3 times a year with seasonal produce and new ideas. They're open for brunch now and do Stephanie's version of Eggs Benedict, but all of them start with a sweet potato biscuit. The Big Benne is a stack of the sweet potato biscuit, sliced rib eye steak, poached eggs, country ham bordelaise, tomatoes and hollandaise. Stephanie footnotes it with (It's okay, it's only once a week!).
At lunch you can even get a Sweet Potatoes Hot Brown. If you're not in the Kentucky know, that's a very popular dish around Kentucky and the Derby. Stephanie's version is sliced turkey with mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese sauce, all atop a sweet potato biscuit.
A lot has happened in the Arts District in the last 6 years. Not only has ISP Sports opened their headquarters across the street but above that are condominiums. Vivian says they see the residents from the neighborhood on a regular basis, some daily and some weekly, but they see them all in this great neighborhood restaurant.
Stephanie called me yesterday to tell me what she's planning to bring for Taste of the Town and I hope I do it justice here: She's preparing succulent roasted pork, country ham with her country ham bordelaise gravy over sweet potato stuffing and she's even bringing dessert. I can't wait to try her mint julep tarts! Sounds like Derby fare to me!
You had better get to the Taste of the Town early (4pm) because I imagine there will be a line at the Sweet Potatoes booth. This is their first year attending and we are thrilled to have them! Check out their website at www.sweetpotatoes-arestaurant.com to see everything on their menu. And of course stop by their restaurant for a delicious Southern meal.
Look for my update on the Kentucky Derby coming Friday as well as the results of our Kentucky Style Pie contest! I'll see you in 3 days!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Village Tavern
Only four days until the greatest food event in the Triad! Everything is falling into place and our Kentucky Style Pie Contest will be underway Thursday the 30th! Everyone will be dropping off their sumptuous chocolate-nut pies at Family Services for judging.
Be sure to watch WXII Friday morning-early to see the morning news crew judge the top three pies. They will determine the Win, Place and Show of the contest. I know they love their jobs! And don't forget, you'll have a chance to take home one of those top three pies at our silent auction so bring your checkbook, credit card or of course cash!
You're probably tired of hearing about how bad the economy is but I never get tired of hearing how businesses are giving us good deals as a result. Chef Anthony Bonner at the Village Tavern on Hanes Mall Blvd. tells me they are all about good deals this spring.
Deals like the "Tavern Twosome" that costs $25 for two includes 2 entrees and 2 salads. For $20, the "Pizza Deal" for two includes 2- 8 inch pizzas or 2 flatbreads plus 2 salads. And for a special occassion, the "Five for Five" serves two for $50 and includes one appetizer to share, two salads or soups, two entrees, two glasses of wine and one fabulous desssert to share. Now those are great deals. What makes them really good deals is the consistent outstanding quality of the Village Tavern's food.
Personally I enjoy Village Tavern's patio. They have live music on the patio during the summer at their Wednesday night Wine and Dine with half price bottles of wine.
With so many wonderful things to choose from on the menu at Village Tavern, I asked Chef Anthony Bonner what his favorite dish was. Without hesitating he said it was the crabcakes, plump with jumbo lump crab meat! Chef Anthony has been at the Village Tavern for three years next month and sounds very happy with his position. He's really looking forward to Taste of the Town on Saturday afternoon. I can't wait to see what he brings for us to sample!
If you want to check out the menu for the Village Tavern, check out their website by clicking on their name here on our blog (in the right column) or go to www.villagetavern.com.
Be sure to watch WXII Friday morning-early to see the morning news crew judge the top three pies. They will determine the Win, Place and Show of the contest. I know they love their jobs! And don't forget, you'll have a chance to take home one of those top three pies at our silent auction so bring your checkbook, credit card or of course cash!
You're probably tired of hearing about how bad the economy is but I never get tired of hearing how businesses are giving us good deals as a result. Chef Anthony Bonner at the Village Tavern on Hanes Mall Blvd. tells me they are all about good deals this spring.
Deals like the "Tavern Twosome" that costs $25 for two includes 2 entrees and 2 salads. For $20, the "Pizza Deal" for two includes 2- 8 inch pizzas or 2 flatbreads plus 2 salads. And for a special occassion, the "Five for Five" serves two for $50 and includes one appetizer to share, two salads or soups, two entrees, two glasses of wine and one fabulous desssert to share. Now those are great deals. What makes them really good deals is the consistent outstanding quality of the Village Tavern's food.
Personally I enjoy Village Tavern's patio. They have live music on the patio during the summer at their Wednesday night Wine and Dine with half price bottles of wine.
With so many wonderful things to choose from on the menu at Village Tavern, I asked Chef Anthony Bonner what his favorite dish was. Without hesitating he said it was the crabcakes, plump with jumbo lump crab meat! Chef Anthony has been at the Village Tavern for three years next month and sounds very happy with his position. He's really looking forward to Taste of the Town on Saturday afternoon. I can't wait to see what he brings for us to sample!
If you want to check out the menu for the Village Tavern, check out their website by clicking on their name here on our blog (in the right column) or go to www.villagetavern.com.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Caffe Prada
5 days and counting, that's all the time we have before Taste of the Town arrives Saturday, May 2nd at 4pm! We're training the volunteers, making the last minute preparations for the restaurants, and organizing the silent auction while selling lots of tickets. If you would like to volunteer, there is still time. We do need help the day of the event. Contact Delaine Weddle at 722-8173 or dweddle@fsifamily.org. We'd love to have you!
You'll be hearing from me daily this last week and probably for a week or two after the Taste, giving you the wrap up, all of the restaurant awards, and let you know how Family Services did as the beneficiary of this fundraiser. Be sure to tell your friends about our blog. You can check it out anytime in the future to read all about the restaurants, so put it in your "favorites".
If you haven't been down to Caffe Prada on the corner of Broad St. and West Fourth, you should try it out. I recently chatted with Alex Prada, who along with Ken Hart, owns Caffe Prada, a friendly neighborhood hangout. Since they are in the first floor of a condo building, made up of 54 condos, they see their neighbors a great deal.
Caffe Prada is the first green coffee/wine bar in the Triad; they are active members of PEA, the Piedmont Environmental Alliance. They serve organic fair trade coffee, Italian Espresso and make wonderful gelatos and sorbets with all natural ingredients, including local milk from Julian, NC. They use natural ingredients from Italy and local fruit from the farmer's market. The favorite flavors are chocolate, pistachio, plus strawberry and lemon sorbets. You can also grab wonderful breakfast pastries, Greek yogurt, and sandwiches.
Wines are under $20 a bottle for the most part and they have a terrific selection. Alex, being from Argentino, carries some tasty Argentinian wines including their Carrascal at $15.99. It's a Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon blend by Bodega v. Cavas Weinert from Mendoza, Argentina. This Friday, May 1st, is the monthly wine tasting so stop by, grab a class of wine and take a seat on their lovely patio. And don't forget to introduce yourself to their wine consultant Lucinda. Caffe Prada also offers Bellinis, a cocktail made of Proseco, an Italian sparkling wine, and white peach nectar-Yum! What a great summer cocktail.
Saturday, May 2nd of course we'll be hosting the Taste of the Town at the Benton Convention Center beginning at 4pm. But if you get up early and participate in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, you'll see Alex down there in the Survivor's tent serving his Pink Ribbon Sorbet that he has donated for the occasion. I tried it and it is wonderful! I can't wait to see what he makes for Taste of the Town!
You'll be hearing from me daily this last week and probably for a week or two after the Taste, giving you the wrap up, all of the restaurant awards, and let you know how Family Services did as the beneficiary of this fundraiser. Be sure to tell your friends about our blog. You can check it out anytime in the future to read all about the restaurants, so put it in your "favorites".
If you haven't been down to Caffe Prada on the corner of Broad St. and West Fourth, you should try it out. I recently chatted with Alex Prada, who along with Ken Hart, owns Caffe Prada, a friendly neighborhood hangout. Since they are in the first floor of a condo building, made up of 54 condos, they see their neighbors a great deal.
Caffe Prada is the first green coffee/wine bar in the Triad; they are active members of PEA, the Piedmont Environmental Alliance. They serve organic fair trade coffee, Italian Espresso and make wonderful gelatos and sorbets with all natural ingredients, including local milk from Julian, NC. They use natural ingredients from Italy and local fruit from the farmer's market. The favorite flavors are chocolate, pistachio, plus strawberry and lemon sorbets. You can also grab wonderful breakfast pastries, Greek yogurt, and sandwiches.
Wines are under $20 a bottle for the most part and they have a terrific selection. Alex, being from Argentino, carries some tasty Argentinian wines including their Carrascal at $15.99. It's a Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon blend by Bodega v. Cavas Weinert from Mendoza, Argentina. This Friday, May 1st, is the monthly wine tasting so stop by, grab a class of wine and take a seat on their lovely patio. And don't forget to introduce yourself to their wine consultant Lucinda. Caffe Prada also offers Bellinis, a cocktail made of Proseco, an Italian sparkling wine, and white peach nectar-Yum! What a great summer cocktail.
Saturday, May 2nd of course we'll be hosting the Taste of the Town at the Benton Convention Center beginning at 4pm. But if you get up early and participate in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, you'll see Alex down there in the Survivor's tent serving his Pink Ribbon Sorbet that he has donated for the occasion. I tried it and it is wonderful! I can't wait to see what he makes for Taste of the Town!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sponsors of Taste of the Town
Family Services, Inc. would like to thank each and every one of our sponsors for helping to make Taste of the Town a reality.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Zevely House
Recently I received a history lesson from Margaret Merrell, one of the owners of Zevely House. I didn't realize the house was not built on West 4th Street where it is currently. Built in 1815 on Oak St., near 8th, the house was moved to its current location, on the corner of Summit and West 4th Street in 1974. It is on the National Registry of Historic Homes. Zevely House features fine dining and an extensive selection of wines and is the sight of numerous wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners. At dinner or brunch you can dine on two different versions of shrimp and grits, one of their specialties of the house.
Zevely House is only open for dinner and brunch currently but the plan is to have a juice bar and coffee bar out on the patio at lunchtime this summer. They will probably add sandwiches and Wi-Fi to appeal to just about anybody on a beautiful Carolina day. Their patios, amongst the flowers and trees, feel like they're out in the country, even though they sit in the city. The juice bar should be very interesting, giving any lunch a nutritious punch.
Chef Thomas Alexander and Margaret have been working at Zevely House for over 20 years and several years ago they each became part owners of the historical restaurant. Tom is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and his cooking is inspired by Bill Neal of Crook's Corner (the birthplace of Shrimp and Grits) and La Residence in Chapel Hill.
There seems to be something going on at Zevely House all the time lately. They enjoy helping out their friends with causes such as the upcoming Itipini Benefit Dinner for a community clinic in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa this Sunday, April 26th. It will feature South African food and wine as well as a silent auction.
Every 3rd Thursday of the month there is a buffet at the Zevely House featuring a selection of wines by wine consultant Erin Aycock of SIP Consulting and select wine distributors.
I'm thrilled that Tom is bringing a Burgoo to Taste of the Town this year. You might ask, "What is a Burgoo?" I have not actually had Burgoo but have heard much about it on Alton Brown's "Feasting on Asphalt" (Food Network). I do know the easiest place to find Burgoo is in Kentucky,which would be the reason to bring it to the Taste of the Town. Yes, you will see all things Kentucky and horseracing at the Taste of the Town, since we'll be showing the Kentucky Derby live on giant screens!
But back to the Burgoo, it sounds a lot like Brunswick Stew but can have many different variations. So I look forward to tasting it as well as the Brown Sugar Pound Cake Tom's promised!
Hours of operation at the Zevely House are Tues through Sat. 5:30-9pm and Sunday 11am to 2pm for brunch. Their website is under construction currently but you can get them at 725-6666.
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