#soNCsavvy Savors the new Summer Menu @RyeRaleigh #RyeRaleigh @DowntownRaleigh~Recap by SobeSavvy.com

July 30, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Summertime and the living is easy …..and the eating is good at RYE BAR & SOUTHERN KITCHEN !

I headed over there recently to sample their new seasonal summer menu. I wanted to see and taste what all the Buzz is about ( especially since they harvest their own honey from the beehive on the rooftop garden) !

Southern Comfort Cuisine with a sophisticated twist. Fresh real ingredients at their best. Although located inside a big hotel this is not, I repeat NOT a typical boring “hotel” restaurant. Executive Chef {and General Manager} Mike Rigot has really elevated food that good for the soul by using fresh quality ingredients. The term, Farm-To Table is such a overused catch phrase nowadays but Rye takes that term very seriously. Chef Mike told me they source as much as possible and viable from local NC farmers. Supplier listings on their menu attest to their dedication to local sourcing. From local beef and vegetables to local ingredients for their superb craft cocktail menu.

They also have an extensive Bourbon and Whiskey menu {Hence the name Rye}.

I went on a Tuesday evening for an early dinner with my family. The multiple wooden rocking chairs out front told me this was a special place. We entered into a very stylish and modern restaurant. But modern often means cold and aloof. Not here. Warm hardwoods and an open floor plan include a fireplace and handsome bar area. There is a private section in the rear for events but also a few huge tables adjacent to the kitchen where foodies can watch the ballet, which is what I call their kitchen operation. Although there for dinner , I saw that they have a popular lunch menu where you get a meat and 3 sides and a beverage for $10. Yup, $10 for REAL food for lunch. The lunch menu is placed on the sidewalk outside where the meat choice changes daily.

Water was served in mason jars. NOTHING says the south like a mason jar! It just makes me smile. We started off with two great cocktails : Southern Sour and Hammocks Calling. Both were unique and delicious. I even observed the bartender using farm fresh rasberries. First to arrive at our beautiful solid wood table were the shrimp and grits. They were heaven sent ! I absolutely loved the flavor. Grits made to perfection and the sauce/gravy was subtle perfection. The Ceasars salad wedge is uniquely presented with bacon. I was pleased with the portions of everything, especially the entree of the ribs marinated in Cherrywine. Picked them up and the meat fell off. THAT is what I call ribs ! The grilled Chicken with carrots and goat cheese was also incredible. ANYTHING with goat cheese is a must in my book. Ps..no dinner is complete without something sweet. We had the banana pudding and authentic Strawberry Shortcake for dessert! If it is real food with superb service and atmosphere you seek, then it is now found. At Rye. You can thank me now!

Enjoy my slideshow and photos from this delicious dining experience.
https://instagram.com/p/5zPLFBCXG5/

#soNCsavvy Celebrates #BastilleDay @SimplyCrepes @LafayetteVil ~Recap by #SobeSavvy .com !

July 14, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Are you looking for a place to celebrate the storming of Bastille and toast to French Independence? Then head over to one of my favorite french restaurants in the Triangle, Simply Crepes !

Located in North Raleigh’s quaint European-style village known as Lafayette Village, Simply Crepes serves unique and delicious crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner ! This full service restaurant with 3 family owned locations is committed to giving patrons a quality dining experience in a relaxed and cozy environment, with a menu full of fresh, local, homemade ingredients. Per the Héroux family, you can expect a premium handcrafted experience that stems directly from co-founder, Karen Heroux, herself! The décor reminded me of a countryside home I once spent time in St Tropez, France.

In honor of the Fete Nationale, I ordered the French Kiss cocktail. Hubby got a glass of Vouvray white wine. We started with the Onion Soup Gratinee and my daughter had a small cup of the Creamy tomato Basil Soup. We all are soup lovers and we all loved the soups ! The cheese on the French Onion was superb. Also the red pepper hummus was delish. Our server Rebecca was very knowledgeable and more importantly our 4 yr old liked her ! We tried 3 of their main crepe entrees:Turkey and Smoked Gouda Cheese Crêpe*, Chicken Tarragon Crêpe and the Seafood Crêpe.

All 3 are unique unto themselves. All had varying flavor profiles which are reflected in their names. However what they all had in common was a superb, thin and light airy crepe encasing the interior goodness. I asked Rebecca about the crepe batter recipe and she advised it is a proprietory recipe that is held close to the vest. Having lived in Paris, I can attest that these crepes can hold their own against anything I have had on the banks of The River Seine. The young lady making the crepes was very confidant and competent in the artistry of crepemaking. Although we were full we could not depart before trying a few dessert crepes. We tried the Berries and Crème Crêpe.. It is described as “Crème brulée cream with freshly cut strawberries & blueberries. Finished with our fresh fruit sauces and whipped cream”…It was heaven. Hubby had to have the Oreo® Cookie Crumble Crêpe. It was exactly how you would imagine it and as a bonus it was filled with vanilla bean ice cream !! WOW.WOW.WOW.

My little one enjoyed a cup of creamy hot chocolate. Rebecca brought her crayons and a coloring sheet so Simply Crepes is more than welcoming for families and couples out on a causal romantic date. Want to go to Quebec or Paris without getting your passport stamped ? Than go over to Simply Crepes in Lafayette Village. You will leave with a smile on your face.

Raise your glass, head to Simply Crepes and join SobeSavvy.com in saying : Viva La France ! Enjoy these photos and slideshow from this magnifique dining experience !
https://instagram.com/p/5Hr2UEiXN_/

Ready, Set, CRACK ! @PhillipsSeafood #phillipsseafood

July 10, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Ready Set ..CRACK..with those 3 words we commenced being the origin of the sweetest sound in the world. The cracking of the crabs. Not just any crabs, but the world famous Chesapeake Bay Blue crabs. Where was all this cracking taking place you ask? At the world famous Phillips Seafood restaurant at The Power Plant in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor http://www.phillipsseafood.com/locations-and-menus/baltimore

This venerable mainstay has been serving up the crustaceans at the Inner Harbor for over 30 years. First at the original Harborplace pavillion, now they are right on the other side of the Inner Harbor at 601 E.Pratt Street. It was a beautiful warm summer afternoon when we arrived. Diners can choose to sit inside for a full service restaurant experience or sit on their amazing outdoor section on a actual pier that juts out from the mainland. This section is for a unique steamed seafood al fresco experience. We also witnessed their curbside delivery service of large crab orders ! We chose to sit outside.

On the pier they actually have full size commercial steamers where your order is steamed fresh. I’m talking mussels, clams, shrimp and of course the star of the show..CRABS !! Our server Jeanette was affable and bevy of information. She has been with the Phillips family for a number of years. I say “family” because Phillips is still family owned. But more importantly I say family, because Jeanette advised that is how they treat their employees. In a world where employees feel neglected and treated as a simple commodity she said they not only recognize their employees for superior work but they also do annual events for the employees as well. Phillips knows that a company with happy employees is a company that succeeds.

We started with some cocktails. We tried their award winning Bloody Mary and also the Blue Margarita. Both we incredible. Now on to the food !

First up were the steamed mussels pot. Large and perfectly steamed. They came with farm fresh corn and potatoes. Next up was the crab mac and cheese and jumbo pure lump crab cakes. All jumbo lump, no filler. both were incredible. The cheese and crab combo was sublime. The crab cake was incredibly delicious!

All of a sudden a steaming hot paper bag showed up on our table. It could only mean one thing..CRAB TIME !! We unceremoniously dumped them out on the classic paper wrapped table tops. The unmistaken pungent goodness that “smells like Baltimore” filled the air. Heaven had arrived. Although I am a native Baltimorean I had Jeanette show us step by step how a blue crab is taken apart. It is second nature to those of us born here but to the novice it can be quite intimidating and confusing. She obliged nicely and the pics show each step! Dessert was offered but who I am kidding , there was room for none. We left Phillips smiling as if in love again for the first time. I may no longer live in Baltimore, but thanks to Phillips, Baltimore will always live in me.

Next time in Charm City, go to Phillips and tell em’ SOBESAVVY.COM sent ya !

Enjoy the pics of that great afternoon.

Enjoy this photo slideshow from my delicious dining experience !

https://instagram.com/p/49eodviXOA/

Hey #Raleigh! Eat,Drink,Play & Get on my Level at @LevelUpNC ~ A #soNCsavvy review now on SobeSavvy.com

July 8, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Look up in the sky ..it’s a bar..it’s a restaurant..it’s an arcade..it’s Level Up !

Level Up is a unique place..Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant ? Is it a old school video arcade ? It is all three ! The atmosphere will transport you back to the 80’s but the food/drinks will take you back to the future! Located downtown Raleigh, this place is a fun place to hang, play your favorite 1980’s arcade games, watch sports on one of the many flat screens or see one of the classic 80’s movies. Now that we ‘ve established that one can be entertained..let’s talk about the food and drink.
I met the mixologist extradornaire, Johnny who was very polite and passionate about his craft cocktails. He is the main cocktail curator. Johnny advised that it’s a seasonal cocktail menu and it will change somewhat when the weather changes.

There are some variations of all time favorites and also some very unique choices. I enjoyed the Code Blue and Skywalker. Made with top notch ingredients and real fresh fruit. Both were awesome cocktails.Because it was my first time, I polled the staff on what we’re some of the menu faves. Hands down..the Yoshi eggs came highly recommended and did not disappoint. These are not your basic deviled eggs..definitely a level above the rest.

They also elevate tator tots with 4 dipping sauce choices. Their gourmet tacos were out of this world good. The Ahi Tuna was a nice surprise that worked well. The Pork ribs are dusted with sesame seeds and served with house made slaw using brussel sprouts. A knockout ! As the pictures below can attest this is not ordinary “bar” food. All ingredients are fresh wonderful flavors and tasty. I ordered a variety of other things and definitely will be returning with friends ! So if you ever wondered want a great time with good food and fun than elevate your bar scene to another level. Level up.

Check out my photo slideshow from my visit : https://instagram.com/p/40RZuNiXET/

#soNCsavvy Recaps @LQRaleigh “Latin Jazz and Dinner”, part of @raleighfoodwine Festival! #RFWF #raleigh #event

June 29, 2015SobeSavvy 1 Comment

If enjoying Latin Jazz, good creative cuisine that all takes place in a inviting and colorful atmosphere sounds like a recipe for a great night to you than you are in luck. Raleigh’s Latin Quarter restaurant and lounge http://latinquartersnc.com/ on Six Forks road has them all. My family and I had the pleasure of attending their special event dinner. This dinner was a part of the 2015 Raleigh Food and Wine Festival http://www.raleighfoodandwine.com this past Friday. The facade of the restaurant is adorned in bright beautiful wall murals. Inside you will find portraits of famous celebrities of latin descent. Unique décor indeed.

Chef Anthony Alvarez prepared a special three course meal from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico and paired the meal with a Malbec and Chardonnay. While pondering the special menu, a great latin jazz band named Jazziando did their first set of the evening. Not mere background music, but world class musicians playing their art form. They also host weekly events such as salsa classes.

The best way to see their upcoming events is on their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/latinquartersraleigh?fref=ts

We decided on the Avocado salad and a mixed green salad. Both were uber fresh and I loved how the avocado shell was used to house part of the salad. The appetizer was the very popular Puerto Rican Tostones Relleno. One with chicken and one with pork. The cilantro and spicy salsa complimented each other beautifully. The final Tour de Food in this culinary journey were entrees of Chuleta Kan Kan {Pork Chops}. These are not just any pork chop. The General manager and Latin Quarter “El Presidente”, Julio advised me they had to find a butcher and show him how to make the proper cut to achieve the exact ratio of meat to fat on the chop. It was bursting with flavor from the chimichurri sauce. The other entree we enjoyed was their Pollo a La Brasa, which is a classic grilled chicken with garlic and onions. Served with Yucca Mash & Vegetables. Perfect example of how a perfectly grilled chicken can be divine. It was a great start to the Raleigh Food and Wine event. Latin Quarter should be on your must do eats schedule. Pencil it in. Now.

Btw, they are having a incredible 4th of July party out front. It is not to be missed

Photographs of @Raleighfoodwine #RFWF @eatdrinkBabylon- #soNCsavvy Event Recap

June 29, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

The inaugural Raleigh Food and Wine Festival was a fabulous event! Delicious Food, Great Drinks and Wonderful people gathered for a spectacular taste of Raleigh! On Sunday, June 28, 2015 , all of the festival participants were present at the historic Melrose Knitting Mill and Babylon restaurant in downtown Raleigh to host a half-day “tasting celebration”, where ticket holders came to sample food and beverages from local restaurants, brands, breweries, and more!

This innovative event showcased the new, evolving culinary traditions of Raleigh, while giving back to Band Together, which has raised more than $3.5 million to benefit the Triangle community since its 2001 inception. VIP ticket holders received early entrance to beat the crowds and a complimentary cocktail. The weather was superb as was the fun loving crowd. The gourmet offerings were plentiful as were the various samples of wine and liquor. No one left hungry, that’s for sure ! My girlfriend and I (as seen here: https://instagram.com/p/4e-UwMqNE7/ ) really appreciated DJ Nyce Danger spinning the tunes so we could dance off the food ! Beautiful venue, great food and fun people. I cannot wait for next year !

Enjoy the pics

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
Hashtag #soNCsavvy

Capital 16 Club’s pimento cheese peach preserves slab bacon

Blake & Kelly Stewart of Midtown a Mixes LLC. , HailMaryBloodyMaryMix.com

Contemporary patisserie from lucettegrace

Taco from Backyard Bistro

Cheers to Jim Pellegrini of Muddy Dog Roasting Co. http://www.muddydogcoffee.com

Chef Anthony Alvarez and Julio Marrero of Latin Quarters Restaurant & Bar

Seared Tuna from Bolt Bistro Steakhouse

Lauren Husketh , Events & Marketing Coordinator of Architect Bar

Sticky Toffee Pudding from Plates Neighborhood Kitchen

Get local favorites delivered to you with http://www.orderup.com!

Wine tastings courtesy of Adams Vineyards

Fiction Kitchen food sampling

The healthy online grocery store, http://www.relayfoods.com

Also check out my photo slideshow of the event! https://instagram.com/p/4fYlQbiXAg/

Photographs of @GreatGrapesFest @DrinkEatRelax @TownofCary @boothamp #soNCsavvy Event Recap

April 19, 2015SobeSavvy 4 Comments

The English word “wine” comes from the Proto-Germanic*winam, an early borrowing from the Latin vinum, “wine” or “(grape) vine”, itself derived from the Proto-Indo-Europeanstem *win-o- (cf. Armenian: գինի , gini; Ancient Greek: οἶνοςoinos; Aeolic Greek: ϝοῖνος woinos; Hittite: wiyana; Lycian:oino).

Memorize the above fact and you may impress Alex Trebek, but if you really want to impress your date or friends than you should have taken them to the 12th annual Great Grapes Wine & Food Festival in Cary, NC

http://www.uncorkthefun.com/cary-north-carolina/site-info

Per their website :
Great Grapes! has grown to be North Carolina’s premiere casual NC wine festival with HUNDREDS of wines available. The show has seen hundreds of thousands of happy guests over the years.

As you enter…..take your souvenir tasting glass and stroll from tent to tent and table to table, tasting and sampling the rich heritage of North Carolina vines. As you sip and savor the afternoon, relax in the beautiful green setting of the Town of Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre.

220 Wines from 20 Wineries
Great Live Music
Fun Festival Eats
Arts and Crafts and Gourmet Items
FREE Kids Area

My family and I spent the entire afternoon enjoying the above and more. A fun loving crowd and unlimited sample pours = great time. Missed it this yr ? Don’t fret. They are also having similar events in Maryland and Virginia during the late spring and early summer. Charlotte also on Oct 3. Cheers !

Enjoy pics from our splendid afternoon and our IG Video below :

https://instagram.com/p/1o15CMCXKX/

#SobeSavvy Celebrates #Easter2015 #Brunch @AmericanSocial_Brickell #Miami #AmSo #Brickell

April 5, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

The venerable institution on Las Olas called American Social Bar & Restaurant now has a Miami outpost in Brickell

http://americansocialbar.com/brickell/

Located on the ground floor of the Neo Vertika building, it is almost 3 times the size of their Las Olas location. It also has something their other location lacks. An expansive outdoor patio area with fire pits and beautiful views of yachts cruising down the Miami River. You can choose from comfy lounge areas or normal tables. Flat screens abound outside so you can catch a Heat or Dolphins game while dining and drinking al fresco. Expect the same stellar service and cuisine. They have an a la carte brunch menu on weekends. We started with a half dozen of Kusshi oysters from British Columbia. Uber fresh ! By the end of our meal we had tried everything from their Chicken & Waffles to the PEI mussels. The crab scramble disappeared quickly also from our table! The Chicken & Waffles had a reverse twist. The sweetness of marscapone was on the chicken and herbs were infused in the waffles. Uniquely delicious. Bottomless mimosas helped wash all the goodness down. Inside, patrons of the Las Olas location will instantly recognize the tables with the self serving beer spouts on the tables. Yup. Self serve beer. You can order a pre determined amount for your table or party and voila. You too can be bartender for your friends. Great food indoor or out. Good food and good service with a amazing river view. We loved it ! American Social is the kind of place where if you frequent enough, everybody will know your name.

Enjoy this photo slideshow
https://instagram.com/p/1D4N3-iXFw/

#Miami Gets Served! 1st Annual @TasteofTennis @WSOBE @BRYANBROS @Andrecarmellini @AYSWorld , an UnForgettable #Foodie #Tennis Experience! ~ Recap by #SobeSavvy .com

March 23, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Tennis’ winningest doubles team of all time, Bob and Mike Bryan also known as THE BRYAN BROTHERS along with ANDREW CARMELLINI hosted AYS’s 1ST ANNUAL Taste of Tennis Miami
presented by Citi® at W South Beach Hotel & Residences on Monday, March 23 at 7:30pm.

For 15 years, Taste of Tennis has kicked off the US Open Tennis Championships in New York and it
is widely considered the World’s Premier Food & Tennis Experience! The event brings together professional
athletes, top chefs and luxury brands for an unforgettable evening of gourmet food, interactive sponsor
experiences, and appearances by the world’s best tennis players. Tennis personalities and local celebrities will be paired with some of Miami’s best chefs to Serve Up a unique food tasting experience that embraces Miami Beach’s chic lifestyle synonymous with W South Beach. Guests enjoyed the music of DJ Linx poolside while sipping on signature cocktails!

One of our featured cocktails at Taste of Tennis Miami Presented by Citi was the Russian Standard Vodka Grand Slam Gimlet. To enjoy this great cocktail at home, just follow the recipe below:

1.5 ounces Russian Standard Vodka
1 ounces freshly squeezed lime
.75 ounces of Simple Syrup
Add above ingredients, shake vigorously over cracked ice. Strain into a ice filled cup and Garnish with Lime Peel

Participants included: Bob and Mike Bryan, Feliciano Lopez, Ivo Karlovic, Lucie Safarova, Ekaterina Makarova and many others.
Chefs included: Andrew Carmellini (The Dutch) as Exclusive Chef of the Citi VIP Lounge, Paula DaSilva (3030
Ocean), Dustin Ward (BLT Prime), Patricia Yeo (Khong River House), Kerry Heffernan (Wild Fish Direct),
Michele Mazza (Il Mulino NY), Timon Balloo (SugarCane Raw Bar Grill, Bocce, Sushi Samba), Gilberto Arriaza (Gilbert’s Bakery), Thomas Tennant (Ella)

For more information about the 2015 Taste of Tennis Miami presented by Citi, please visit http://www.tasteoftennismiami.com and Follow on Twitter/Instagram :

Hashtags:#TasteofTennis; #CitiMiami; #WSobe; #AYSWorld; #BryanBrothers
Instagram Handles:@TasteofTennis; @WSouthBeach; @BryanBros; @Andrecarmellini; @AYSSports
Twitter Handles:@TasteofTennis; @WSOBE; @BryanBros; @Andrecarmellini; @AYSWorld

Enjoy my photos/slideshoe recap of this amazing event, As seen on the Scene by SobeSavvy.com !

https://instagram.com/p/0mOO90CXNB/

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
Hashtag #SobeSavvy

” Social ButterFly News for South Beach and Beyond! “

#SobeSavvy Presents #BeachyBrunches ! Vol 10: @SienaTavern @SienaMiami #SundayBrunch #Bottomless #Brunch #MiamiBeach #SouthBeach #Miami

March 4, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Want to have a relaxed stylish brunch on an expansive sunny patio ? Want to have a relaxed stylish brunch on an expansive patio while indulging in mouth watering food choices and bottomless drinks? I am sure your answer is a resounding YES, so next weekend head out to Siena Tavern Restaurant. Located in the former China Grill space on Washington Ave and 5th street, Siena Tavern is a force to be reckoned with. The baby of season 5 Top Chef Fan Favorite Fabio Viviani, Siena Tavern has not only become a popular dinner and happy hour choice, it now offers a weekend brunch.
Guests can sit on the beautiful patio or inside their stylish dining room. Bottomless Mimosas or Bloody Mary’s are available for a flat fee. Siena Tavern decided to take some classic dishes and put unique high end culinary touches to them. Take their eggs benedict. Most of these resemble a fast food egg sandwich with English muffins. Siena Tavern decided to use mortadella. What is mortadella you ask ? It is made from very finely minced high quality pork and cubes of fat “sprinkled” inside. They use a brioche bun as the base with a pesto hollandaise sauce. We also had a caramelized waffle. Accompanied with oak barrel aged syrup and Nutella butter. No, you do not need a eye doctor appointment. NUTELLA.BUTTER. Let that sink in. It tastes as good and decadent as it sounds. Indulge in their truffle scrambles eggs. Roasted wild mushrooms and truffle oil. Oh..it also comes with goat cheese toast. Goat. Cheese. Toast. I think by now you get the picture. Many different dishes and all delish. If you have only been there for dinner, it is time to include their brunch in your brunch circuit tour. We also had the pleasure of snapping a quick pic with Fabio in the flesh. He was gracious as usual. Go to brunch at Siena Tavern. You can thank me later.

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