Claire Cusick

Does anyone know what happened to the Flying Burrito? It appears that a 20-year-old Chapel Hill institution has packed up its fish tacos and gone. (I know: Who’s the reporter here, anyway?) The sign on the door says “Closed for remodeling,” the phone is disconnected, and some longtime regular customers are bereft. I know that […]

If you’re one of those people who has a list of things to do before you die, and if your list is more of a “unique experiences” list rather than a “conquer the universe” list, then I present you this: a tequila tasting. Can’t say you’ve ever been to one of those before, can you? […]

It’s October, and despite 90-degree days and no rain, October still means pumpkins. And that means pumpkin desserts. But you’re busy. You can’t possibly get around to tasting all the pumpkin-y yumminess showing up on local menus. So, I volunteer to surveyand hopefully samplewhat I can. There isn’t room for a pervasive list, so e-mail […]

Before we begin, don’t forget that the N.C. State Fair (www.ncstatefair.org) starts Friday and continues through Oct. 21 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Lots of eating adventures await there. Go and eat all the turkey legs and deep-fried candy bars you want, you crazy kids. Have funand don’t forget the antacid. Now, let’s […]

Big doin’s in Durham, y’all. The World Beer Festival is at the old Durham Athletic Park this weekend, but it’s sold outrats. Take comfort in knowing that the event brings about 8,000 beer lovers to the Bull City, infusing $1.3 million into the local economy. Tickets remain, though, for Durham’s Downtown Dinner Table, a benefit […]

Now presenting: an entirely liquid version of Now Serving … all the news that’s fit to drink. We begin with the teacup, vessel of the oft-overlooked hot beverage. Orientspiration (10940 Raven Ridge Road, Suite 122, Raleigh, 846-0910, www.orientspiration.com), a store and tearoom, will host a Chinese Tea Tasting Party from 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Co-owner Evans […]

Hey gang: Let’s eat for a good cause this week. Or, I should say, let’s eat and drink for a variety of good causes during the next few weeks. Our area’s farmers, chefs, restaurants and wine sellers are pitching in. All we need to do is buy tickets, show up and chow down. First up […]

Five of Durham’s taquerias, plus Fiesta Grill in Orange County, are featured in the September issue of Gourmet. In a three-page spread, writer Colman Andrews (who certainly knows his stuffhe co-founded Saveur magazine and was its editor-in-chief before joining Gourmet a year ago) begins the piece by narrating a trip up Durham’s Roxboro Road. “I […]

The makers of my favorite raspberry scones are heading off into retirement. But, wait, there will still be raspberry scones! How can this be? Divine intervention? Nah, just a business transaction. Bob and Joan Krueger, proprietors of Great Harvest Bread Co. (229 S. Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, 932-1112, freshbakedbread.com) have sold the business to new […]

Monday is not only Labor Day, but the first Monday of a new month. And you know what that means: an eating contest at The Borough (317 W. Morgan St., Suite 117, Raleigh, 832-8433, www.theboroughraleigh.com). Following a fun tradition that includes corn on the cob, marshmallows, Girl Scout cookies, pickles and Krispy Kreme donuts, this […]