Author Archives: didaniel

Fall harvest brings more fall events

Wow, the list of fall events keeps growing. Check these out! SEPTEMBER: Sept. 23 and 25: Diane Daniel discusses sustainable farming, agritourism and more on ”Bookwatch” with D.G. Martin on UNC-TV. Airs Friday and repeats Sunday. Sept. 24: Terra Vita returns! … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Dining, Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Media, Orange County | Leave a comment

This NC field trip is 100-percent cotton

I’m a big fan of TS Designs  in Burlington and their Cotton of the Carolinas initiative, especially now that they’re planting organic cotton. If you’re curious about cotton harvesting, here’s your chance to see it upclose and personal, thanks to TS. … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County | Leave a comment

Farm films: pass the (local) popcorn

Two farm-focused films are in the news. First, the long-awaited documentary about young farmers, “The Greenhorns,” premiered in Brooklyn this summer and will being shown in at least one  community screenings in North Carolina, on Sept. 18 in Chatham County. All details … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Films | Leave a comment

Veritable cornucopia of fall news and happenings

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news and calendar listings. Here are a few items of interest, followed by calendar of events: *  Yay for one of my favorite restaurants, Knife & Fork, which won … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Johnston County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Rowan County, Stanly County, Wake County | 1 Comment

Farm tours on two wheels

We need to do this in NC — mix farms and bicycles! The Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network, or ACORN, which promotes organic agriculture and education in the Maritime Provinces, has developed a series of one-day bicycle tours to organic … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Road travel | Leave a comment

Summer, and Farm Fresh tour, are winding down

It must be the end of summer — tomorrow is my last day of Farm Fresh promotion for a month. Now that’s a switch, after a busy schedule from March through July. So tomorrow please join me for the farewell-to-summer … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Fresh events, Farmers' markets, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Food and race; High Country tour; learn to write, paint and cook in a day; food classes; and more!

Mark your calendars for these farm-food events in the Tiangle and the mountains:  Thursday, Aug. 4: “Eating the Other: Food, Race and You,” discussion of race as it relates to agribusiness, farmers’ markets and the slow food culture. At Southwest Regional … Continue reading

Posted in Alleghany County, Ashe County, Avery County, Bicycling, Cooking, Dining, Durham County, Family travel, Farmers, Food, Road travel, Watauga County, Wilkes County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Guidebook author’s dream come true

A guidebook writer couldn’t ask for more than this blog post   from pastry chef and local-food lover Jenni Field for SavorNC magazine.  She writes about how her husband bought her my book for their anniversary (thank you, husband!) and, more importantly, … Continue reading

Posted in Family travel, Farmers, Food, Granville County, Livestock, Meat, Road travel | 2 Comments

Can you afford fresh food? Heck, yeah

I don’t always have an answer for people who say that eating organic, seasonal meals is too expensive. From now on, I’m telling them to check out Linda Watson‘s “Wildly Affordable Organic.” The book’s subtitle is key: “Eat Fabulous Food, Get … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Environmental, Recipes, Wake County | Leave a comment

Bee there, freshest fish, food tours and more

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news. How sweet it is: TONIGHT, July 27, at 6 pm (movie at 9:15), Market Restaurant in Raleigh will host a music and movie night in its parking lot, featuring … Continue reading

Posted in Bees, Books, Dining, Durham County, Environmental, Food, Food policy, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream: a Carolina classic

In honor of National Ice Cream Month, I present to you a recipe from my book for the most Carolina-centric flavor possible — our  state vegetable, the one we produce the most of nationwide. That’s right, the sweet potato.  This is one … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Hoke County, Recipes | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cool stops in Hot Springs, Asheville

My Farm Fresh farmers’ market tour is traveling geographically with the harvest, starting in the Coast and Piedmont in the spring, moving to the Triad. Finally I’ve reached the mountains, just in time to cool off from the heat of … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Madison County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Farm Fresh NC and Fickle Creek share video spotlight

What a great gift for Fickle Creek Farm, my book “Farm Fresh North Carolina,” and the Piedmont Farm Tour. The state’s former (as of June) tourism marketing agency, Charlotte-based LKM, commissioned a video about agritourism in general and the book … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Fresh book events, Farmers, Food, Livestock, Lodging, Media, Orange County | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wilmington wakes up to good food

The last time I was in Wilmington, dining options were mostly pretty standard fare. What a difference a few years make. The only restaurant I have from there in my book is Catch, but here are the ones I’d add … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Dining, Farm Fresh book events, Farmers' markets, New Hanover County | Leave a comment

A deluxe Farm Fresh backroads mountain tour

I wrote this very detailed story  with lovely photographs for Blue Ridge Country magazine. It’s in the current (July/August) issue. The four-night roadtrip, with itinerary, takes you from Asheville to Ashe County, with great sights and food stops in between. Check it … Continue reading

Posted in Ashe County, Buncombe County, Watauga County | Leave a comment

Find dining in Asheville

Wrote this little ditty below for a Boston Globe summer-fun roundup, so makes sense to share with my NC readers. With farm-to-table dining practically de rigueur, farmers are starting to share the menu with foragers. In what is billed as a … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Dining, Food, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Asheville’s Tupelo Honey Cafe puts out cookbook

Tupelo Honey Café is one of those landmark dining spots that actually deserves its popularity. Tourists and locals alike go to the Asheville restaurant for Southern comfort food with a modern twist. It’s a high-volume place (and a second location … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Books, Buncombe County, Cooking, Dining, Food, Recipes, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Farm Fresh’ tour visits Hendersonville and Flat Rock

Loads of fun planned in western NC, specifically Henderson County, starting  Thursday, May 19, at the cute Flat Rock Tailgate Market and ending Saturday, May 21 at the Blue Ridge Bookfest, with several stops in between. Hope you can make one … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Farm Fresh book events, Farmers' markets, Food co-ops, Henderson County, Lodging | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Special ‘Farm Fresh’ dinner May 18 at Zely & Ritz, Raleigh

I can’t wait for this one. On Wednesday, May 18, I’m teaming up with two Raleigh entries in my book — Zely & Ritz and The Little Herb House (their write-ups are at the end of this post) for a … Continue reading

Posted in Dining, Farm Fresh book events, Wake County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Where to find organic U-pick strawberries

Several people have asked me where to go for organic or organically grown U-pick strawberries. As many folks know, most strawberry fields in North Carolina are treated with pesticides. (Strawberries on No. 3 on the “dirty dozen” list published by … Continue reading

Posted in Brunswick, Buncombe County, Food, Franklin County, Fruit, Orange County, U-pick farms, Wake County | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments