Platypus and Gnome- Wilmington, NC

We stopped by Platypus and Gnome tonight for dinner after having heard some good things about them. They are located at 9 Front Street, where the restaurant 9 Bakery was, and they haven't changed much in the design.

I went with the bacon bacon burger shown above at eleven bucks. It was cooked to a perfect medium and had bacon in the burger, on the burger, as well as a bacon spread. Cheese, lettuce and some really good fries rounded it out. Teresa had the Platy burger at nine bucks which was cooked perfectly to her desired medium well. 

They lived up to the hype and we will be back again. 

Camino Real- Wilmington, NC

Camino Real sits in a strip mall about a mile from my house and we have passed by saying that we should stop sometime. We finally did and I am glad we did. The place is small, but well appointed. The service friendly and attentive, the prices reasonable, and the food excellent.

I got the tacos Al Pastor which was well seasoned and perfectly cooked. Teresa got her favorite, the enchiladas verde. I tasted and it was very good. 

We will be back again, and frequently. 

Fermental- Wilmington, NC

Fermental is a bottle and wine store in Ogden, near my daughter and son-in-law, and in the same parking lot as my barber. Needless to say I have spent some time, and some money there over the years. They have a rather large selection of beer and wine, as well as a knowledgeable staff.

We stopped by tonight because they were featuring Dogfish Head Brewer, a personal favorite, as well as some music and a food truck. I started with a Belgian Triple which was quite nice, and followed with a sixty minute, an old favorite. 

One of the best things about the brewery explosion in Wilmington is the growth of food trucks. It is a symbiotic relationship wherein the new breweries and bottle stores focus on the beer and the trucks on the food. Tonight 2 Brothers Coastal Cuisine was at Fermental. I had the oyster Po' Boy at nine bucks with fries and Teresa had the Rueben with fries at nine bucks. Not bad.

Another benefit from the brewery explosion is a new showcase for music and the arts. One local brewery features local artists, and most breweries as well as Fermental, feature local musicians. Tonight we listened to the sounds of Chasing Opal. Quite nice.

Greenwich Wine + Food Festival 2016

THE GREENWICH WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2016 CLASS OF MOST INNOVATIVE CHEFS

Ten Local Chefs to be Celebrated at Master Chef Dinner on September 23

Tickets for the Entire Weekend of Events Now on Sale

Greenwich, CT – The sixth annual GREENWICH WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL, presented by Serendipity magazine (www.serendipitysocial.com) and benefitting Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and The Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation, has announced the ten local chefs who have been named to this year’s class of Most Innovative Chefs. These culinary stars will be honored at the Master Chef Dinner on Friday, September 23, where they will prepare their unique dishes and interact one-on-one with festival guests.

The 2016 Most Innovative Chefs include:

Mogan Anthony, Village Social, Mount Kisco, NY

Carl Carrion, Cask Republic, South Norwalk, CT

Albert DeAngelis, Eastend, Greenwich, CT

Constantine Kalandranis, 273 Kitchen, Harrison, NY

Michael Kaphan, Purdy's Farmer & The Fish, Salem, NY

Geoff Lazlo, Mill Street Bar & Table, Greenwich, CT

Brian Lewis, The Cottage, Westport, CT

Tony Pham, Mecha Noodle Bar, South Norwalk, CT

Robin Selden, Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning, Stamford, CT

Bobby Will, Saltaire Oyster Bar, Port Chester, NY

“This year’s class of honorees continue to push the envelope on fresh, creative, unique fare for local foodies lucky enough to live or work in Fairfield and Westchester Counties,” said Suni Unger, Founder & CEO of Unger Publishing and the Founder & CEO of Greenwich WINE+FOOD Festival. “Each year, we assemble our group of alumni chefs who have been honored in past years to flag for us whom they feel are making their mark in the local culinary world, and once again, this year’s group of talent makes dining out an experience of its own.”

“To enhance our celebration of the best in the area, we also decided this year to invite our talented Ambassador Chefs to join the Friday event, offering more options for guests to sample the innovative dishes served at area restaurants,” continued Unger.

The celebration of local and national talent will continue with the Saturday Festival, the center of the entire GREENWICH 2016 WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL.  This day-long event will offer tastings and demonstrations from more than two hundred of the area’s finest food, wine, spirits and product vendors in the main Grand Tasting Tent, as well as the Burger & Beer Tent, Master Griller Tent, the first annual Ultimate Sandwich Take-Down and Taco Party! Culinary demonstration tents and stages will house cooking presentations by celebrity chefs, including Marcus Samuelsson (“Chopped,” “Iron Chef” and winner of “Top Chef Masters”), and local talent. Guests will also enjoy sommelier presentations, celebrity chef book signings, Q&A sessions with top food and beverage talent, the fifth annual Burger Battle, the third annual Top Bartender’s Showdown and a live musical performance. VIP ticket holders ($375 per ticket) will enjoy a Sustainable Dinner by the water’s edge, prepared by local chefs featuring locally-sourced, sustainably-produced ingredients under a private tent with premium liquor, wines and beer service, secluded lounge areas open throughout the day, private restrooms and a premium viewing area for the evening’s musical performance. 

A special ticketed event, Saturday VIP Pass with Intimate Dinner featuring Marcus Samuelsson and Red Rooster Harlem, will give attendees the opportunity to enjoy the best of Harlem in a waterfront setting, featuring the roots of American cuisine from award-winning chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson. Guests at this seated dinner with table service (6:30-8:30pm) will also enjoy the evening’s musical performance from private tables on an elevated stage ($525 per ticket) or from reserved, lawn table seating ($450 per ticket).

Visit www.serendipitysocial.com for more information and updates about the event schedule, participating celebrity and local chefs, musical talent and more. 

Tickets are now on sale via http://serendipitysocial.com or by calling 203-588-1363. The event’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/GreenwichwinefoodFestival, will also announce restaurant participants and schedule updates.

The event will be held rain or shine, and anyone under 21, including infants and those with strollers, will not be admitted. Animals are also not permitted.

GREENWICH 2016 WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL

The GREENWICH 2016 WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL is a multi-day event that benefits The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a nationwide organization dedicated to providing healing to children and their families coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other serious illnesses, as well as The Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation.  The festival is presented by Serendipity magazine, along with PepsiCo, Citi and Stamford Lincoln.  Other official sponsors include Coldwell Banker Preview International, Pure Leaf, Cabot, Stamford Tent, Whole Foods, Westy, Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits and Wusthof.  

Black Cat Burger at Poe's Tavern, Wrightsville Beach

This magnificent creation shown above is the Black Cat Burger from Poe's Tavern in Wrightsville Beach. It was cooked to a perfect medium and had pimento cheese, chili, bacon, grilled onions, lettuce and tomato. there were some crispy onion straws and a copious amount of excellent fries on the side. Try it sometime.

Schatzi's- New Paltz, NY

I heard some rave reviews of Schatzi's from friends and when I saw they opened a new place in New Paltz I had to go. I got the Schatzi Burger with a potato pancake, lots of cheese, and more on a fresh pretzel bun. Great burger!

Tommy DiNic's- Philadelphia, Pa

Tommy DiNic's has been on my short list for some time now, especially after seeing it featured on so many food shows,  so when we went to Philly with the grandchildren we decided to stop by the Reading Terminal to see what all the fuss was about. 

We were there at 10:30 in the morning, before the crowds developed, and Teresa and I shared one of their famous pork sandwiches with broccoli rabe and provolone. It was amazing. So amazing that at three in the afternoon we stopped by again and grabbed another to share at the train station. Just as good as the first.

When in Philly, forget about those bland cheesesteak sandwiches and get something unique and full of flavor. Pay a visit to Tommy DiNic's and see for yourself. 

Beasley Chicken + Honey- Raleigh, NC

We took a drive out to Raleigh to do an airport run and decided to look around the city. Getting a little hungry we perused a few restaurant menus and decided that Beasley's looked good, especially since they are famous for one of my new favorite dishes, chicken and waffles.

The inside is interesting with a modern restaurant look. There are a few tables, seats at the bar, and some long community tables. The menu is posted on the walls and they have a large beer selection featuring quite a few North Carolina breweries. 

I went with the chicken and waffles shown above for thirteen bucks. I had a choice of chicken pieces and went with the dark meat. With it I got a side of pimento mac and cheese. The chicken was amazing, the waffles delightful, and the mac and cheese wonderful. It was a modern take on a classic dish and I can taste it now as I write this. Teresa ordered three sides of greens that were also excellent. 

I will certainly stop by again next time I hit Raleigh and probably order the same thing. Stop and see for yourself what I mean.