Spotlight on....(two-fer today!)

Watt's Grocery in Durham, NC and Beasley's in Raleigh, NC

Just wanted to take a moment to highlight some amazing culinary experiences I've had. 

First, I wanted to talk about Watt's.  I've been hearing about Watt's for years and have had it on my "need to go eat here list" forever.  It is a little pricier for dinner, so I haven't had many opportunities to go during that time slot, but it has been on me that I haven't gone for brunch which is a totally reasonable price range.

Well, this year I came into a little extra money around March Madness time and so Pat and I decided that before going to see Louis Black (hilarious) at the DPAC, we would go for a nice dinner at Watt's Grocery.  Man, I will have to tell you that this has been one of the best meals that I have eaten in a restaurant at least in the last few years, if not my whole life.

Their menu is seasonal (they use local products-LOVE that), so I'm sure it's not the same now but I will try as best as I can to remember everything that was on each dish.

We started out with a pimento cheese and fried potato chip appetizer.  It wasn't the highlight of the meal (too much cheese and the chips were a little overdone) but I thought their approach was really cool.  They had the pepper relish (instead of traditional pimentos) on top of the cheese and it was both spicy and sweet. 

Here is my dinner: Lamb with goat cheese dumplings and fava beans.  Now, those who know me really well know that I do not eat "young foods" (lamb, veal) but it just sounded so good that Pat told me he would forgo the next opportunity to eat veal or lamb (he loves both) if I wanted to get this (the goat cheese dumplings just sounded so good).  It was AMAZING.  The combination of flavors with just a hint of mint was genius and the lamb was so tender it just melted in your mouth.  *Update he did pass up an opportunity to eat veal at one of the best steakhouses, so the universe has been balanced-such a good man. 

 Pat's dinner was a local steak with herbed butter, asparagus, and purple potatoes.  You barely really needed a knife to cut it because it was so perfectly cooked.  He said it was one of the best steaks he's ever had. 

 Here we are :)

 This may have been my favorite part of the whole meal and I'm DYING to make it myself.  Ginger is one of my favorite flavors.  I find it so warm and sweet and I'm just fascinated by its versatility in the kitchen (savory, sweet, alone, as a spice).  Like mushrooms, it's become one of those "deciding" elements on a menu- if it's present, there's a good possibility I will get it. 

At the beginning of our dinner I had a great ginger martini.  Then, at the end I could not resist this ginger pot de creme with a rhubarb relish and a fresh made ginger snap.  I can't even talk about it because it was just SO GOOD that it transcends words.  I'm dying to know how to make something this good, but I am a little worried that I will just eat the whole thing myself!

 Finally, I had an after dinner espresso martini. 

Fast forward to June and my friend Rachael (who shares my love for food/photographing food) took me to Beasley's in Raleigh. They are known for their chicken biscuits (complete with green tomatoes, honey, and mustard) and they make some amazing drinks (seen below).  We had been at the pool all day and this Dark and Stormier (ginger beer/rum) drink was just the ticket!  Thanks Rach for taking me here.  Best chicken biscuit ever!