Seeking some delish Thai cuisine in Raleigh? I’ve spent the last few weeks tasting a few of the many Thai restaurants our area has to offer for an array of authentic-as-possible Asian eating ops from one of my favorite places across the globe. My credibility, you ask? Eleven months living in Bangkok (!) eating all the fried rice and noodle dishes I could find. … So, grab your fork/spoon and get ready to say tom yum to these local Thai sup spots.
Don’t miss this tucked away “tiny, terrific Thai” restaurant serving up tom ka gai soup that had me slurping up the lime- flavored broth/coconut milk to the last drop and wishing for seconds. And I’d be remiss not to mention the fab fried rice. North Raleigh, lemongrassnc.com
While not technically a Thai restaurant, Five Star spins up a mean Thai peanut chicken noodle dish with lo mein noodles and a signature peanut-y pad thai taste. … And I give it five stars! Pro tip: If you’re all about the spice, ask for chile flakes on the side. Smoky Hollow, fivestarsnc.com
“Aromatic, tangy and spicy,” Thai food found here. Find curries (red, green, panang and massaman), noodle dishes and fried rice galore on the menu—plus attentive service to add to the experience. Well, panang. Midtown East, shabashabu.net
This place’s pineapple rice is seriously good. Served in an actual pineapple (a bite will transport you to the beaches of Phuket!), this massive dish packs more than just a fruity punch. It’s loaded with your pick of protein, in addition to veggies, roasted cashews and raisins—the perf combo of tangy, sweet and savory. Aroi maak! North Raleigh, thaiphoonbistro.com
This casual eatery serves up all the Thai staples. Here, I tried the pad thai with chicken—and it was filled with all the flavor I know and love about the dish. Definitely a winner! North Raleigh, bangkokthainc.com
“Drunk in love…” In love with the absolutely amazing drunken noodles at this family-owned sup spot that is! Tuck into stir-fried rice noodles with vegetables, basil and chile sauce, and wash it all down with an iced Thai tea. West Raleigh, sushithairaleigh.com
“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.” So goes one of eponymous lead character Ted Lasso’s beloved pearls of wisdom from the hit show Ted Lasso and one of Leesville Road High School JV men’s and women’s soccer coach/math teacher Michael Tetreault’s favorite Lasso-isms. A huge fan of the hit Apple TV show and a seasoned coach of 20-plus years (!), “Coach T”—as he’s called by his kids—kicked it with us to chat soccer, strategy and his thoughts on the series ahead of its season 3 release March 15. (Fun fact: He’s even baked those boss shortbread biscuits!) Here, our very own “local Lasso” soccer sensei schools us on his goal of seeing his students/players succeed both in the classroom and on the soccer pitch.
What got you in the coaching game? The teaching part of it. I played soccer in college and high school, and I really loved being part of the game, the competition and the idea of sharing what I’ve learned with other generations. … And it’s just a lot of fun.
Kick us back to a few of your favorite experiences being coached. I had a really good coach in high school. It felt like he knew how to talk to us—we could understand what he wanted us to do, but we also knew he believed we could do it. And I had another coach that didn’t allow us to consider the possibility that we couldn’t do something. He would give us a bunch of different ways to succeed, be positive and contribute.
School us on your strategies on and off the pitch. One of the things I’ve been hitting on lately is from the Navy SEALs. The mantra goes: ‘The only easy day was yesterday.’ I encourage embracing the challenge and reminding my players their results don’t define them—it’s the process that defines them.
How has Ted Lasso impacted the way you coach your kids? One of Ted Lasso’s ideas that’s so important is belief. You have to believe in what you’re doing, in your teammates, in people around you, in your goal… and in yourself. Ted Lasso didn’t know soccer at all when he started, but he knew how to build teams—and that’s what he leaned on.
Any favorite Lasso-isms from the show? ‘You know what the happiest animal in the world is? It’s a goldfish. It’s got a 10-second memory.’ … And my favorite guy, Roy Kent, shared this gem: ‘Don’t you dare settle for fine.’
Any pearls of wisdom of your own? I like to pull different things—whether it’s from sports movies or the Yoda poster hanging in my classroom—whatever the kids might connect with. One that my kids have been saying recently is Yoda’s quote from Star Wars: ‘Do or do not. There is no try.’ I always like to have something in my pocket that might work when I need it so I’m able to best meet the students where they’re at.
NCSU footballer-turned-fitness pro Kennie Apilli puts the fun in fitness fundamentals.
They say exercise has the ability to change your life… and that sentiment no doubt played out for Kennie Apilli, an immigrant from Kenya who found his solace in sports, became an NCAA athlete and is now giving back via his gig as the GM of Holly Spring’s recently bowed D1.
The athletic training facility—with a new Raleigh location in the works (stay tuned)—offers a results-driven workout to aspiring athletes of all ages and skill levels (including 100+ NFL draft picks and over 3,000 college athletes to date). It is modeled after the collegiate-level grind—think picking up and putting down heavy items, performance/strength training, treadmills and rowing machines, and killer core workouts.
The fitness phenom first came to America at the tender age of 10 after his dad lost his Parliament seat, and, here, found sports to be a positive outlet for him. That passion parlayed into athletic scholarships at both NC State and Southern Utah. Post-grad, the Division I athlete dabbled in corporate wellness before scoping out one of the franchise’s facilities on the rec of legendary NC State QB Philip Rivers (!), who then co-owned the former D1 facility in Raleigh (which shuttered in 2018).
And the rest, as they say, is history. Apilli has been giving back to up-and-coming athletes ever since, bringing his passion, muscle (natch) and brains for sports to the biz. Now at the helm of Holly Spring’s outpost, he’s living out a career that pays homage to his journey—from his childhood playing sports with his dad in Kenya to “coaching” his local community now.
“When I think back, that’s really when my passion for health and wellness began,” he reflects. Apilli’s dad, who never left Kenya and has since passed, “used to medicate his stress with alcohol, but I noticed after we played in the backyard, he was always in a better mood.” Now, Apilli is able “to live in this country and do something that feels like complete play,” he says, while living out his “biggest passion to prioritize long-term health.”
“Sports can get a community corralled and excited,” he adds, noting the intangible aspects it provides—and its ability to transform lives.
“Our aim is to provide a setting that is very motivating, encouraging and educational—in that order,” says Apilli. “It helps people in different aspects of their lives that have nothing to do with working out. The workouts are difficult at times, but you find people still grinning from ear to ear—and that’s because [we] care to do more than just make someone quicker, stronger and faster.” We’ll chalk that up as a score. dltraining.com
Bowing in 1949, this urban oasis nestled near DTR has seen many iterations over the years—and has stood the test of time. Today, its chic surrounds, shops and eateries are a go-to—as is its brand-new Goodnights Comedy Club locale that resurrected the Village underground.
Pinkies up! Sip over 250 different types of organic loose leaf teas born from a family’s love of the beverage and desire to spread the love of the (tea) leaf. Can you brew it? @tinroofteas
Get your comedy fix in a contemporary, underground and newly opened (!) atmosphere touting both big names and upcoming local legends. Ready to laugh? @goodnightscomedy
Peep our list of fun, fab and flirty happenings around town this V Day.
Alexa, play “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Still looking for fun plans with your boo or your buds this Valentine’s Day? We’ve lovingly supplied some selects for how and where to spend your day… and they’re straight from the heart. Are you feelin’ the love?!
Calling all young hearts, old hearts and everyone in between! Book a rez for Young Hearts’ prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner by chef Josiah Halbohm to celebrate your love over life’s finest thing—food.
Eating your feelings—or eating with someone you have feelings for—is especially encouraged in the form of red velvet cake rolled ice cream (!). Raleigh Rolls and Bitten Bakery have partnered up to combine cake and ice cream (the best pairing, tbh) for this lovely pairing alll month long. Can you think of anything sweeter?!
Dinner and a show? We’re sold. Dance and dine the night away with burlesque performances and a three-course meal feat. sweet potato croquettes, smoked oysters, strip steak, chocolate mousse and more. How divine!
For plans that can’t be topped—unless it’s with extra cheese—grab a piece of heart-shaped pizza, spanakopita or salmon filet from Sassool, plus all your other fave Mediterranean foods. We absolutely a-dough it!
Not to be cheesy, but a charcuterie moment is for sure the V Day vibe. Botanist & Barrel is offering a perfectly prepared afternoon picnic for you and your loved one inside an igloo (!) with wine, cheese, dessert and a blanket to keep. So char-cute!
It’s sure to be both a good day and good night in the heart of DTR with GDGN’s prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner feat. three courses of mouthwatering apps, entrees and desserts to fill both your heart and your tummy. Delish!
Spreading a whole latte love is 321 Coffee, which is hosting an after-hours event on Feb. 14 with sweet treats, mocktails and a toast to supporting others. To boot, your ticket includes a bag of coffee that you’ll get to address to someone in the city, like a teacher, health care professional, etc., who could use some extra love.
Stir things up this Valentine’s Day by booking a rez for a speciality supper menu slammed with delish eats—from crab bisque to charbroiled oysters to grilled salmon and more. Only available Feb. 14, these exclusive eats’ll have you falling in love after the first bite.
For an activity sure to float your goat, take a trip to this little farm and show some love to a few furry farm animals via its Valentine’s With Goats event. Not a baaad way to spend the day, in our opinion.
“Time together is time well spent.” Pair The Mayton’s Valentine’s Day room package—which includes chocolate-dipped strawberries and a bottle of sparkling wine delivered to your room to kick off the evening, plus a breakfast for two the next morning—with Peck & Plume’s three-course V Day dinner for the ultimate romantic staycation.
Hey, lovebirds! If staying in is your style this V Day, then book a package with your hun and get ready for a pampering sesh. To boot, the bundle includes Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a stay in a studio suite and a $50 credit to any of the Residence Inn outlets.
