Cary, NC — Every Christmas gathering since the year my sister and I both ranked in the “above 21 club,” we have enjoyed putting together creative and festive cocktails for the family to enjoy as we unwrap our gifts. Over the years, we’ve found a few favorites including a bright red favorite of Crown Apple whiskey and cranberry juice (rosemary is always a nice touch for an added bit of greenery) or a classic mulled wine or cider in the crockpot that can stay warm all night long for the inevitable refills. This year, perhaps because I have recently acquired a mixology set, I’m thinking it’s time ..read more

Cary, NC — Peck & Plume has opened as the new restaurant at The Mayton, (formerly The Mayton Inn), a 44-room boutique hotel in downtown Cary. The Mayton’s new owners renovated and revamped the restaurant, previously known as The Verandah, to reflect their vision of creating a gathering place for all occasions in downtown Cary. The management team behind the transformation is Early Bird Night Owl, the same hospitality company that is a managing partner of The Durham Hotel, a mid-century modern 53-room boutique hotel in downtown Durham. “We are delighted to bring our passion for hospita ..read more

Cary, NC — While settling into living in Cary, one thing I found fairly whimsical was finding out there’s a large audience of pimento cheese-loving people here. So much so that the southern-style cheese got its own annual festival in 2018 and went on to make an appearance in Southern Living Magazine. After two consecutive, all-out festivals with food trucks along Academy Street, the festival went on hiatus along with the rest of the festivals planned for 2020. The good news? It’s back for 2021 and starts off this weekend, only a little bit differently. Taste of Pimento Cheese 2021 June 4 ..read more

Cary, NC — The creators of SideBar, Downtown Cary’s vintage and upscale cocktail lounge, have started up a new neighborhood spot just up the street called Hank’s Downtown Dive. Located at 111 E. Chatham Street, this new restaurant on the block offers a full menu, a lineup of cocktails and a unique atmosphere. Both businesses are owned in partnership by Matthew Bettinger, his wife Catherine and Jeff Kinard, all who come with extensive hospitality experience and a love of dive bars. Though, this is not your typical dive. “Dive is more of a reference to the style and comfort level. It’s more of a ..read more

Cary, NC — Whether you celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a history lesson on the Battle of Puebla or by drinking your favorite margarita, I’m not here to judge. Truthfully, I’m not a history buff or a tequila drinker, but I am pretty fascinated with how the United States tends to twist and warp other country’s holidays into a party atmosphere and marketing ploy to create things like green beer in March for St. Patrick’s Day and bottomless tacos every 5th of May. No — It’s Not Mexico’s Independence Day For those genuinely curious, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in parts of Mexico to honor the country ..read more

Cary, NC — Jay and Jeremy Bond, the twin brothers and owners of Bond Brothers Beer Company that opened five years ago on East Cedar Street are hard at work again, putting the finishing touches on their second location in Cary called Bond Brothers Eastside. Their ticketed Grand Opening is set for this weekend, on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The New Space on Chatham Bond Brothers Eastside is located at 602-A East Chatham Street, directly across from Fire House 2, behind a strip of stores and to the left. According to the brothers, acquiring this spot was all about expanding their clean barrel progra ..read more

Cary, NC — After spending an hour with the folks who run Salvio’s Pizza I left with two things—the story of a business rooted in family and a whole lot of pasta and New York-style pizza. Considering the food’s long gone, I suppose the one thing I can share is their story. Buying Young & Growing with the Business Brothers Tony and Dustin Ambrosecchia worked in a few Chapel Hill pizzerias in their high school years and continued while on breaks from college at Cape Fear Community College. Salvio’s first opened at its Cary location in Parkway Point Shopping Center on January 26, 2005. I ..read more

Cary, NC — I recently concluded Pizzapalooza, my personal quest to find the slice of pizza in Cary/Apex that most reminded me of the slice of pizza experience I had growing up in Brooklyn. 14 Contenders, All Based on a Classic Slice Gary Yellin, the man behind Pizzapalooza. The criteria were simple. I would only sample places that served slices, and I would only sample cheese pizza.  I went to each place around lunch hour so the pizza would be fresh, and I ate it in my car as soon as I received it, so that it would be hot.  I have a thing about not wanting to let my pizza get to ro ..read more

Cary, NC — Valentine’s Day has mixed reviews, but one aspect of the day that many enjoy is the element of a sweet treat. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few easy recipes to sweeten up your at-home celebrations this Sunday, February 14. Chocolate-Dipped Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes Need I say more? There’s no more classic pairing than strawberry and chocolate and when you add cream cheese, it’s a no-brainer. This recipe is the creation of Maryanne Cabrera and will yield 18 mini cheesecakes. So, if baking for just two people, make sure to cut the recipe down accordingly ..read more

Cary, NC — Four days remain in the weeklong takeout edition of an occasion loved by local foodies — Triangle Restaurant Week. Great Meals and Deals From January 25 to 31, customers around the Triangle can take their pick from 43 different restaurants. These are predominantly in Raleigh and Durham with some participating in Chapel Hill, Cary, Morrisville and Apex. These spots, just during Triangle Restaurant Week, will offer special three-course menu options at a fixed price. According to the planners behind TRW, it’s all about creating an opportunity for “residents and visitors alike to i ..read more