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Category Archives: Topics
Peregrine Farm founders spread the wealth
Alex and Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farm get the star treatment they deserve in yesterday’s News & Observer. Writer Andrea Weigl wrote a great profile about the farmers in Graham. Part of the story is how they’ve mentored so many … Continue reading
Dig deeper with Taste Carolina food-farm events
I got to hang out with some of my favorite food purveyors last night — Farmhand Foods, which distributes local, pasture-raised meats, and April McGreger of Farmer’s Daughter Brand, sweet-and-savory queen of all that is preserved or fermented. And I … Continue reading
Tribute to a gentle giant in farming
Bill Dow, one of the state’s sustainable-farming pioneers, passed away this week at the age of 67. Bill was a kind and gentle man whose humility served him well, first as a doctor and then as a farmer advocating a … Continue reading
Posted in Chatham County, Farmers, Farmers' markets, Organics
Tagged Aryshire Farm, Bill Dow, certified organic
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Food fest recap: all yummy all the time
I was treated to some glorious dining and noshing events at TerraVITA in Chapel Hill last weekend. and now it‘s back to watching the waistline. I’ve witnessed this fine food and beverage festival, founded and run by the gracious and … Continue reading
Fermenting food in a few easy steps
I’m bubbling over with excitement after my workshop on fermenting! OK, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but it was very interesting to get a primer on the process that I’ve been reading so much about over the past … Continue reading
Posted in Cooking, Durham County, Food
Tagged April McGreger, lactofermintation, The Farmers Daughter, wild fermentation, wild fermenting
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Let ‘Chefs of the Mountains’ be your guide
First, there was the “Food Lovers’ Guide to the Triangle.” Now there’s “Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants & Recipes from Western North Carolina” (John F. Blair, $19.95), by food critic John E. Batchelor. John doesn’t know it, but he helped … Continue reading
Vollmer Farm returns with even more fall festivities
Happy fall, y’all! … One of my favorite photos taken for my “Farm Fresh North Carolina” guidebook is this one, of a boy we spotted at Vollmer Farm carrying a load of pumpkins. It might look staged, but it’s not. And … Continue reading
Posted in Family travel, Food, Johnston County, Road travel, U-pick farms
Tagged agritourism, pumpkins
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Southern cooking: it’s a sides show
Lina found me crying over an ugly green plastic box the other week. I was reading through my mom’s recipes (she died in 2009), on yellowed index cards in her hand-writing. Her famous salmon cakes, always served with cole slaw … Continue reading
Do not miss this year’s TerraVITA food festival
Food and farm-fresh friends, I don’t mean to harp on this, but if you haven’t gotten your tickets to TerraVITA, one of the state’s leading food and beverage festivals, you’d better do it soon. The three-day spectacular is in Chapel … Continue reading
‘Food Lovers’ Guide’ to the Triangle is out
My pal and busy “Durham Foodie” blogger Johanna Kramer just birthed her first book, and it’s a great one for food-minded locals and visitors to the Triangle. (And, really, who isn’t food minded?) “Food Lovers’ Guide to Raleigh, Durham & … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Dining, Durham County, Family travel, Orange County, Recipes, Wake County
Tagged Durham Foodie, NC cookbook, Poole's Diner
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Farm tours held across NC this month
Wow, it’s farm tour central here in North Carolina, with two tours this weekend, in Charlotte and the eastern Triangle, and next weekend in Asheville and environs. (Many of the farms are in my book, which offers do-it-yourself tours!) The … Continue reading
Posted in Farmers
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TerraVITA triples the fun (get your tix now)
Wow, in only its third year, TerraVITA has become a leading Southern food and wine event, with a focus on farm-sourcing, artisanal producers. This year’s event has expanded over several days, with activities running Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 in … Continue reading
Posted in Beer, Dining, Farmers' markets, Films, Food, Orange County, Wine
Tagged Food and wine festival, Food festival
1 Comment
Celebrate Farmer’s Market Week with more markets
It doesn’t surprise me a bit that the US Department of Agriculture announced a 9.6 percent increase in National Farmers Market Directory listings. Oh, and happy National Farmer’s Market Week! I’m also sure that plenty of markets are not even … Continue reading
Posted in Farmers' markets, Wake County
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It’s settled! Il Palio vs. Weathervane on July 23
I was already feeling lucky to be asked to judge one of the Fire in the Triangle chef competition sponsored by Got to Be NC. Then I learned I’d be judging the semifinals, on July 23, meaning I’ll get to … Continue reading
Posted in Cooking, Dining, Orange County, Wake County
Tagged Fire in the Triangle, Got to Be NC
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Cooling off in Canada, then back for Fire in Triangle
It’s so hot in North Carolina that I’m fleeing to Canada. Seriously. OK, so the trip was already planned. I hope to check out a few farms around Montreal and of course sample some farm-to-table fare. I haven’t done my … Continue reading
Come toast NC beer and brewery guidebook
If you’re a fan of quality beer, belly up to tonight’s soiree at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, where craft brewer Erik Lars Myers will discuss and sign copies of his just-released guidebook “North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries” (John F. … Continue reading
Posted in Beer, Durham County, Orange County
Tagged Erik Lars Myers, North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries
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NC growers sponsor berry fun contest
Here’s a cool thing. The North Carolina Strawberry Association is sponsoring a YouTube video contest, complete with a prize of a $100 Visa card. Not bad, huh? Deadline for most categories is June 30, and you’ll find all the info here. … Continue reading
And what a year it’s been!
Wow! Today marks one year since my “Farm Fresh North Carolina” guidebook was published by UNC Press. Since then, I’ve appeared at more than a dozen farmers markets and addressed many groups, and the book has received amazing coverage in … Continue reading
Posted in Farm Fresh book events
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It’s maple-tree tapping time again — yes, in NC!
It’s time to get sappy! Yes, it’s maple syrup-tapping time again — even in North Carolina! Maple Creek Farm outside of Burnsville, in the mountains, will host its fourth annual Maple Tour on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, from … Continue reading
Posted in Family travel, Farmers, Food, Yancey County
Tagged maple syrup, syrup tapping
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Help fund farm on wheels — and youthful idealism
Not to be all middle-aged about it, but I do get a warm and fuzzy feeling when learning about cool projects that energetic young idealists are doing. One of those projects is the nonprofit Sol Food Mobile Farm, in which … Continue reading
Posted in Durham County, Environmental, Gardening
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