Photo courtesy of People's Coffee
People's Coffee's co-founder Jordan Wells
Welcome to Friday Night Bites, your weekly roundup of local food and drink news and events. Have a tip for us? Email food@indyweek.com.
NEWS
People's Coffee Opens in Durham with Black & White Coffee Roasters' Beans
The Triangle's coffee scene just keeps getting better. The latest to open is People's Coffee, which features single-origin sourced coffee from Wake Forest's Black and White Coffee Roasters, a company founded by Kyle Ramage and Lem Butler, who are both national barista champions.
"After only slightly over a year in business [Black and White Coffee Roasters] have built a phenomenal menu of expertly sourced single origin coffees. They strive to deliver this level of quality in an approachable way," Michael White, who oversees People's Coffee's operations, says. "We hope to do the same with them as our roasting partner. I love explaining to our customer the various coffees they have to choose from and why they are special."
The coffee menu includes drip, pour over, and iced coffees, as well as espresso drinks, such as a mocha made with Videri chocolate. Pastries from Oxford's Strongarm Bakery and cold press juices, smoothies, and overnight oats from Cold Off the Press round out the menu. The team hopes to add breakfast sandwiches, salads, and the ubiquitous avocado toast within the coming months.
Durham Restaurants and Bars Offer Hamilton-Inspired Drinks & Deals
Even if you don't have tickets to see Hamilton at DPAC, you can still take advantage of Hamilton-inspired drinks and deals around town. Nosh on the Hamilton burger at Bull City Burger & Brewery, featuring a 100 percent North Carolina-pasture-raised beef patty smothered in a classic mushroom and Madiera sauce, all piled onto house-baked bun, and sip cocktails such as the Heart of Oak at Arcana, a smooth bourbon-scotch number made with chartreuse, thyme and orange bitters, or the Constitution Cosmopolitan from The Tavern Food & Spirits. Or make a night of it at The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club with the Dinner & Hamilton package, which includes overnight accommodation, an early dinner for two in the Fairview Dining Room, complimentary transportation to and from DPAC, and late check-out (sadly, Hamilton tickets are not included).
The Durham Launches New Family-Style Feast
Chef Andrea Reusing announces a new four-course sharing menu called Feast at The Durham, priced at $38 per person. The seasonally inflected family-style feast includes an amuse-bouche; Boulted bread and house-made butter; small bites such as kimchi deviled eggs, pickled local vegetables, and oysters with caviar and kosho; entrees such as baked whole red snapper or N.C. pork shank; seasonal sides such as local braised greens or delicata squash; and a shared dessert such as baked Alaska. The menu is available for groups of two to eight diners; Reusing envisions it being a go-to option for the pre-theatre crowd, family gatherings, or last-minute date nights.
Lula's in Chapel Hill Gets into the Brunch Game
Lula's, the Southern eatery that took over the former Spanky's space in Chapel Hill, has quickly earned a reputation for its signature skillet-fried chicken and biscuits. On Sunday, November 11 it will begin serving brunch, including dishes such as chicken and waffles and a sweet potato and squash strata, alongside specialty brunch cocktails.
EVENTS
Guglhupf Celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary with a Week of Specials
Guglhupf will celebrate its twentieth anniversary with a week of specials timed to the exact week it opened its doors in November 1998. From November 13 to 18, look for specials in the cafe, biergarten, and bakery, such as a $7 black forest cocktail, a $6 beet mimosa at brunch, and profiteroles and mini black forest cakes at both the Durham and Chapel Hill bakery locations.
Sunday Supper Needs Volunteers for November 11 Lunch
Sunday Supper's November 11 lunch is sold out, but you can still get involved to help raise money to benefit those affected by Hurricane Florence. Volunteers are needed to help set up the tables for the one-thousand person lunch that will take place on Fayetteville Street, and to break down the event. Visit Sunday Supper's website for more information or to sign up.
BITE OF THE WEEK
Photo by Layla Khoury-Hanold
Mr. Dumpling's Seared Noodles in Hot Spicy Chili Oil
Despite the smiling dumpling logo and generic-sounding name, Mr. Dumpling in Apex is anything but basic. The "dumpling in progress" sign hanging above the counter where a dedicated employee folds and pleats dumpling after dumpling is as good an indication as any, and I'm happy to report that the dumplings are indeed very good (though their thin dumpling skin requires deft chopstick skills). But the dish that really won me over was the Seared Noodles in Spicy Hot Chili Oil.
The manager advised us to toss the tangle of wide Chinese wheat noodles in order to better distribute the pools of chili oil lurking at the bottom of the deep bowl, and to disperse the chili powder dusted on top. It's not advised to wear a light-colored top while doing so, and though I managed to spare my clothes, I would've happily paid the dry cleaning bill knowing the ensuing reward. In addition to their pleasantly chewy texture, the wide noodles also had a kind of scalloped edging to them, all the better for the oil and spice to cling to. And whether the heat is responsible for banishing the looming threat of a cold or not, this is a dish that is just so satisfying to eat.
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