By: Cori Sue

I may be a little Bitch (truth), but my friends—who aren’t all Bitches but are definitely all fabulous—are crucially important to me. So, I make the trip down to Raleigh, N.C., regularly to visit a couple of my besties, Steph and Lauren, and an amalgamation of other pals, both old and new.

The North Carolina capital city is actually growing in notoriety for both lifestyle and cuisine. The farm-to-table movement is huge, there are loads of cute Southern boutiques and it was recently named the best city in America for young professionals. Yep, it’s a good time.

Saturday, the gang headed for a delectable Southern brunch at Beasley’s Chicken & Honey, which is one of four restaurants by local chef Ashley Christensen. Along for the ride was Sierra, a close friend from UNC who now lives in Capetown when she’s not globe-trotting with her hubbie; Lauren, my brilliant and stylish Aspenite turned Southern belle; and Lauren’s harem of guy pals.

Beasley’s is an open, light-filled space with hardwood floors, metal stools and a rustic feel—diners are seated at picnic tables and the menu options are written on chalkboards on the walls.

Drinks were in order after a fun Friday of dancing the night away. I opted for a Bloody Mary, because my mission in 2012 is to try ‘em all. Unfortunately, holy horseradish, this one was loaded with too much! Too much pepper, too, and it was frankly just foul. The rest of the beverages, mimosas, were fresh light and delicious, with a lovely orange peel inside.

Sierra says, “The mimosa I ordered was very good. It was obvious they used fresh squeezed juice and my only complaint was I wish the glass was bit fuller when it arrived.”

While we were most certainly not in Mexico, churros were an option that I leapt upon. They arrived hot, fried but not greasy, and covered in the perfect amount of cinnamon sugar. They were nearly as good as the ones you get in Tijuana.

Then, for the entrees. Allegedly, Beasley’s has the best chicken and waffles in the state of North Carolina. Several boys had the sandwich option—fried chicken topped with a fried egg and gravy on Beasley’s biscuits. The boys chowed them down, but of course.

Sierra and I opted for the vegetarian Benedict option—the Eggs Beasley. The dish looks like of foul, but it tasted absolutely delicious—much better than I was expecting, to be honest.

Sierra says, “I know I probably should have ordered the signature fried chicken, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I love breakfast foods and had to go with eggs. I couldn’t really read the menu, so I went with the first thing that sounded good. The Eggs Beasley was poached eggs atop cornbread with a vegetarian gravy. I am a little high maintenance with my poached eggs and asked for them soft-medium. Surprisingly, they came out done exactly the way I like them. The gravy was surprisingly light … not like any gravy I’ve had before. I was most impressed with the speed of which the food came out. Impressive for a party of our size.”

Also on the table were the huevos rancheros, a crisp tortilla round covered with black beans, fried egg, tomatillo sauce, guacamole and white queso. For Southerners, the folks at Beasley’s sure do Mexican cuisine well.

I ordered a side of biscuits, which were heavenly—as they should be. The Southern carbs were soft, moist, and buttery and brushed lightly with honey on the top. Definitely some of the best biscuits around.

We concluded with another Southern favorite—chocolate pecan pie topped with house-made rich vanilla ice cream. It was literally the best pecan pie I’ve ever had—so so rich, with gooey warm chocolate and a crumbly moist crust. Best of all, it came served with a spork.

The Bitches say: A for top-notch Southern cuisine in a chic environment when you’re in Raleigh. Just don’t order the Bloody Mary.

Beasley’s Chicken &  Honey
237 S Wilmington St.
Raleigh, N.C.
(919) 322-0127
Beasley’s serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays.

By: Becca

Asheville is a frequent pit stop for me, usually for three key reasons: 1. I need some mom time (and some clothes and shoes from her closet). 2. Need to detox. Hike. Get some fresh air. 3. I am driving from the southern part of the country to the northeast, and it makes a convenient and free overnight stop.

That’s what happened last weekend. In an epic road trip from Florida to D.C., we stopped in Asheville for one night. That evening, of course, we went to my heaven on earth: The Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar. It’s a multi-level used book shop, live music venue, and champagne bar that serves you the best bubbly straight to your cozy couch in little book alcoves.

The next morning, before heading off on the highway due north, we headed for Ello, our usual brunch spot, for a quick bite. Ello was packed, every table full. Also packed? Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street. Disappointed, we decided to head to Weaverville for brunch, which is sort of on the way out of town. We were walking back to our car when we passed Table.

Despite the number of times that I’ve been to Asheville, I have to admit, I have never dined in Table before. I’ve always gone for Mela or Bouchon for dinner. But Table always looks cozy and inviting from its windows. The dining room has floor to ceiling glass blocks on one side, high ceilings and beams, and warm wooden floors and lavender walls.

We were a little worried when we walked in and there was only one couple in the entire restaurant. We sat at a sunny table by the windows, and ordered coffee from the very pregnant waitress and the assistant who was trailing her (and training to replace her, we assumed).

The coffee came in all different beautiful vintage mugs and saucers—very cute. The cups, the sprig of flowers, the thick wooden table, and the white napkins made our table a picture straight off Pinterest.

Our immediate complaint was that Table didn’t didn’t serve any espresso drinks. My mom just wanted her usual cappuccino, but all they had was plain coffee. She was slightly miffed.

They do offer a selection of wines by the glass, beers, and spirits, along with some brunch cocktails, all after noon on Sundays (‘tis the law). They also offer a classic bloody Mary, a bloody Maria, and a Kentucky Mary, made with old bourbon. In addition to a mimosa, they also offer barrel-aged negroni, aged 50 days in new American white oak barrels. Everyone say, ooohh.

The service accidentally dropped Laura’s Sunday pastry on the table—we think it was the trainee’s mistake. Before they could say oops, we had gobbled it up. It was a sweet star-shaped croissant with cream cheese. It was warm and fluffy and delicious. Perfect to start.

There were two things grabbing my attention on the menu beside the Benedict: the chocolate chip waffles and the chicken and waffles. Can I combine the dishes? I asked. Pregnant waitress ran off to check. Yes, you can combine. Woot!

The chocolate chip waffle (served as half a waffle with the fried chicken) was fluffy and delicious and packed with big chunks of chocolate. The fried chicken was tasty and easy to pull apart. There was a bit of syrup drizzled over the dish and it was served with some greens on the side.

Mom ordered the Benedict, which is why I didn’t. The house-made biscuits were the best things on the table, as they were buttery and delicious. They were topped with slices of sweet ham, big poached eggs, and hollandaise. A great Benedict, with standout biscuits.

The biscuits were also winners with the gravy, which was made with spices and lots of meat. We love meaty gravy on biscuits. This dish was quite small, and so we ordered it with a side of scrambled eggs, but it was extremely filing, as the waitress warned.

My brother ordered the hanger steak with fried egg. It was cooked perfectly, had lots of juices and flavor, and came with smoked fingering potatoes and chimichurri for taste. He cleaned the plate.

Some other dishes our little table of four didn’t try: shrimp and grits, risotto frittata (with beach mushrooms), huevos rancheros, and an oyster po’boy. Or, for the less adventurous, there’s a simple eggs, toast, and bacon dish.

By the time we left, all the tables were full, and the level of conversation noise was rising. We paid our check, presented in another cute antique cup and saucer, and piled back in the car for the eight-hour drive back to D.C.

The Bitches say: A. Table has a small brunch menu, but it hits all the basics and does them extremely well.

Table
48 College Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-8980

By: Cori Sue

“Heading down south to the land of the pines
And I’m thumbin’ my way into North Caroline
Starin’ up the road
Pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in 17 hours
Pickin’ me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I’m a-hopin’ for Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight”
-Old Crow Medicine Show

Warning … nostalgia is setting in. As y’all now, I went to the first (and best) public university in the nation. If you think Washington is pretty in the fall (speaking of which, where is fall?) you ain’t seen nothing ‘til you’ve experience fall in North Carolina, more particularly, Chapel Hill.

Beautiful old trees changing colors, a Carolina blue sky, crisp sweater weather, football, tailgates, front porches—there’s a reason they say Chapel Hill is like heaven. There songs about it. Hell, Walt Whitman even wrote a poem about it.

After spending a beautiful fall weekend reliving college with my three best friends and sorority sisters, we traded cheap beer, stadium food, cowboy boots and fraternity front porches of Chapel Hill on Saturday for brunch and relaxation in Raleigh on Sunday.

We headed to NoFo at the Pig, an eclectic general store-meets-restaurant built in a former Piggly Wiggly, a Southern grocery store chain. On the first floor is the gift shop, which houses eclectic trinkets, children’s toys, aprons, antiques, home décor and more. It’s all very kitschy with a Southern feel. Down the stairs is the restaurant and main bar, which is colorful and well-lit, with floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s filled with families having brunch together and children scrambling about.

It was a perfect fall day—brisk, breezy yet not too cold—and the hostess sat us outside on the front porch. A live band consisting of two teenage girls (both wearing Toms) with acoustic guitars and accompanied by a man on a keyboard sang folk songs on the front porch. It was very modern day hippie—“granola” as they say—like something you’d find in Asheville, North Carolina, rather than Raleigh. The girls were very talented (wish I could sing like that) and made for a lovely, relaxing brunching experience.

Unable to decide between two menu options, Maggie and I split both the honey French toast and “Bill Neal’s Famous Shrimp n’ Grits.” “Neither dish lived up to its alluring menu description,” says Maggie. And she’s right.

The honey French toast came served with butter, syrup, bacon, and a side of fruit. It was pretty standard—made on regular slices of bread, rather than something exciting like French loaf, challah, or cinnamon raisin. It was good, but nothing memorable.

The shrimp n’ grits was made with oily cheese grits, jumbo shrimp, mushrooms, topped with chives and served with two biscuits. It was prepared well, but lacked flavor altogether. So bland, so disappointing. Not only did it sound better on the menu, it also looked better than it tasted.

Honestly, the biscuits—moist, fluffy, warm, perfect—were the best part about the meal. It is North Carolina; they do make a mean biscuit. Maggie’s Bloody Mary, which did pack a punch of flavor, comes in a close second.

Meanwhile, Steph was far more impressed with her salad. She says, “The generous portion of mango salad topped with blackened shrimp was 100% delicious and everything I wanted in life at the moment. It definitely gets an A from me.”

Not to side between my best friends, but I’m going with Maggie on this one, she says: “The food was comforting, the atmosphere relaxing yet fun (very indie), so I give it a B.”

The Bitches say: B. The ambiance is spectacular. The service good. The menu options expansive. The flavor, however, is lacking.

NoFo @ The Pig
2014 Fairview Road
Raleigh, N.C. 27608
(919) 821-1240

… And I’m gone to Carolina in my mind.

By: Becca

This past Friday I flew into Houston only to be picked up and driven through nine states all the way back to DC. I was helping my best friend move her Trooper full of cowboy boots and travel books from Texas to the capital. On the way, we stopped in Asheville, North Carolina. Because, well, it’s adorable. And my mother lives there, so … visit with Mama Love!

If you haven’t been to Asheville, let me enlighten you. It can be described in just a few words: an enclave of hippidom in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s nothing but art galleries, vintage boutiques, cafes, and head shops; and it’s the perfect getaway from DC. I frequently hop over there when I need a quick detox: cell phones off – hiking boots on – fresh air – home-cooked meals – sleep – repeat. Plus, my mom has a lovely little house right next to the University of North Carolina campus (a quick walk into town), and she seems to know almost everyone in town, providing interesting conversation wherever we go.

Photo credit: Becca Clara Love

It’s become a tradition of sorts that when I visit, Mama Love sends me packing back to DC after a brunch at Café Ello. Possibly the best breakfast in town, it’s owned by Lorne Richman, who renovated it from a wine bar into an “urban eatery and teahouse.” Indeed, there’s organic and fair-trade tea lining shelves along the wall, but you can also choose from a selection of locally roasted coffees – and refill yourself to your caffeinated heart’s content. Heaven.

Photo credit: Becca Clara Love

Richman is the staple of Cafe Ello; he personally waits on tables and greets everyone who walks in. He’s made it the comfortable breakfast spot for Asheville’s locals. If you don’t have a breakfast date, you can sit at the counter and rub elbows with another resident; everyone seems to know each other. Even local artists make sure the walls are filled with photography and art.

The focus on all-things-local seeps all the way to the food, which comes from local suppliers. The eggs are free range, the bread organic, and there’s a big selection to choose from: eggs, omelets, granola, bagels, oatmeal brulee—you name it. Plus, lots of standard breakfast sides. The food is prepared fresh and served with care, and it’s not enormous dishes of greasy grub. It’s the perfect amount.

Photo credit: Becca Clara Love

I’ve tried lots on Ello’s menu, but this past weekend we went with the breakfast sandwich on sourdough (standard but delicious); an omelet, which came with a lovely side salad; and a bagel with lox. I was a little nervous about the lox (we’re in the mountains, right?), but it was fresh and ever-so-tasty. We nibbled on our entrees, saturated our bodies with tea and coffee, and then waddled off to explore more of Asheville.

After brunch, I always nip across the street to Malaprop’s, which might just be my favorite bookstore in the world. One day, when I have pots of money and time to kill, I’d like to open a bookstore/café like Malaprops. It’s full of local literature, banned books, and anthologies by small, independent publishers from around the country. Instead of New York Times’ best sellers, its staff personally recommends their top reading picks, which make for some pretty eclectic selections. Plus, it sells the most beautiful (and funny) calendars and hand-made cards. Every time I go, I stock up, because who knows when someone I know will have a baby, which obviously requires a card that says “Good Job” with an illustration of a large screw. I mean, really, Asheville. You’re so cute.

Café Ello
64 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
828-252-8333

By: Cori Sue

On our way down to Kiawah Island, S.C., this weekend, the boyfriend and I stopped for the night in Raleigh, N.C., to visit one of my best college friends.  It felt great to be back in the great state of North Carolina and we were just in time for the opening of the tiki bar at Humble Pie, a charming restaurant in downtown Raleigh.  

Photo credit: Humble Pie

The weather was perfect for dining on the porch (low ’70s and breezy) with lots of summer brews and a varied arrangement of tapas.  Humble Pie‘s ecclectic menu consists of small plates of varrying cuisines– Asian, Italian, seafood, and more.  We shared a goat cheese mushroom Napoleon, coconut shrimp with pineapple chutney, sesame seared ahi tuna, finished with chocolate cake with peanut butter ganache and complemented by lots of Carolina Pale Ales.

Up early in the morning, we stopped by another Raleigh gem, Cafe Helios, for a speedy, healthy breakfast-to-go.  Cafe Helios serves delicious coffee from Counter Culture Coffee based in nearby Durham.  I consider an ordinary, healthy, breakfast– coffee, yogurt and granola, whole-wheat toast and fresh-squeezed OJ– an exceptional treat when found at 7 a.m., in a rush, on a roadtrip.

Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris

Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris

Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris

For the Raleigh crowd, however, Cafe Helios is more than just a breakfast spot.  The cafe serves a great beer and wine selection (they rotate beer selections regularly), and features  artwork by a local artist each month.   And, it appears to be the place for some epic late-night dance parties.

Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris

Next time you find yourself cruising down I-95, you’d be well-served to check out these two spots in downtown Raliegh, and head over to Cameron Village for some great shopping.