Claire Cusick

OnlyBurger rides again. Yay! That was the general feeling Chef Sam Poley got while working inside the rolling burger truck, making patty after patty to satisfy the hungry fans in line outside of Durham’s Wine Authorities, the site of OnlyBurger’s re-emergence party last week. “We got crushed,” he said of the crowd, which ate close […]

Around here, we know that barbecue is religion, and that we live among many of its sacred temples. But is barbecue a strong enough faith to lure even two of God’s chosen people? The guys at BBQ Jew (bbqjew.com) say yes. The writers of this new local blog are true believers: “In his heart of […]

Need a spring break? Want to travel the world, but can’t afford the plane fare? Over the coming weeks, you can sample cuisines of the world right here at home. Cup a Joe in Chapel Hill (1129 Weaver Dairy Road, 967-2002, www.joevangogh.com) encourages you to “Drink Global, Eat Local,” during March. Joe’s coffee of the […]

Whoop, whoop! March Madness is here. I plan to plant myself in my favorite bar, or on my favorite couch. There I will cheer on the [team name redacted for diplomatic reasons], or curse my bracket picks. Bring me a beer and a burger, and I’ll be just fine. Where do you go to cheer […]

Cypress on the Hill opened recently in downtown Chapel Hill, in the former Trail Shop space. The three principalsAlex Gallis, Trey Delamar and Jon McCallushave extensive experience at restaurants in the Triangle and in the South. Beverage manager Daniel Sartain described their goal as casual fine dining with a strong Southern backbone, but with some […]

Pssst, are there any fellow weather wimps out there? People who would love to grouse about winter being so long and cruel, but realize that’s crazy here in USDA zone 7? Join me in not complaining but quietly counting the 30-something days until spring begins. And read on about farmers, food and green things. The […]

Now here’s a shocker for you: Some people don’t like Valentine’s Day. Consider this gentleman, who says: “Will someone please tell me if there is a holiday fraught with more emotional landmines than Valentine’s Day? Because as far as I can tell, this little Cupid fellow is downright twisted. And the fact is: Desperately trying […]

Raleigh’s Enoteca Vin restaurantone of our area’s besthas shut its doors. I found this out via the always-prescient Raleigh blogger Varmint (www.varmintbites.com), who is also tracking the mysterious fate of Vin’s sister business, the Carolina Wine Co. “Let’s hope that the closing of Vin is an anomaly, and not a sign of more things to […]

We know Carrboro resident April McGreger as The Farmer’s Daughter, because she is one, and because that’s the name of her artisan food business (www.farmersdaughterbrand.com). She makes pastries, jams, preserves and chutneys. Now, The Farmer’s Daughter is also the name of her column at Grist.org, an online magazine devoted to green issues and sustainable living. […]