by Cindy Whitt | Mar 27, 2020 | April 2020, Do
When you’re planting your garden this fall, consider adding a row to help feed families in need. Plant a Row for the Hungry is a national program that encourages gardeners and community groups to donate produce to those at risk of hunger.
Logan’s Garden Shop, a nursery in Seaboard Station, got involved with the program 12 years ago to inspire locals with green thumbs to help fight food insecurity through gardening.
“The Logan family saw a need in our community and had a strong desire to help feed families that were struggling to get fresh produce on their tables,” says Joy Sweeney, the store’s project manager.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, a nonprofit that distributes food to low-income families in seven North Carolina counties, is the local affiliate for Plant a Row. Logan’s partnered with the Food Shuttle to take donations and spread the word.
“Logan’s has been an incredible partner of ours,” says Katie Murray, the development relations manager at Inter-Faith. “They have provided an immense amount of support for our garden education programming.”
Logan’s collects donations from families, community groups and churches. Inter-Faith distributes the produce through several of its programs, including the Mobile Market, a temporary food bank that travels to people in need and allows them to shop for free.
One pound of produce can supplement four meals, so 25,000 pounds collected rounds out to 100,000 meals with fresh vegetables and fruit.
Logan’s encourages gardeners with any level of experience to stop by and impresses on parents the value in teaching their children the joys of gardening and the importance of helping others.
This year, individuals can pick up Logan’s starter kits of compost, soil, fertilizer samples and other supplies through an online sign-up and drive through pick-up. Go to logantrd.com/plant-a-row to let their team know what you would like to grow and whether you’ll be growing in containers, raised beds or in the ground. Then, when they’ve put your starter kit together, you’ll receive an email letting you know you can pick it up. Once harvest time comes, Logan’s hopes you’ll return some of your produce to the store’s drive-through area for the Inter Faith Food Shuttle to pick up and distribute.
“There’s never been a better time to consider your neighbors in need, and Logan’s is here to help us grow as a community in sharing love with one another,” says Leslie Logan, Logan’s general manager. “Join the movement and sow seeds of generosity this spring!”
Logan’s is located at 707 Semart Drive. Learn more at logantrd.com or follow them on social media.
This is an updated version of a story that ran in Raleigh Magazine’s April 2019 issue.
by Cindy Whitt | Apr 8, 2019 | April 2019, Retreat, Stuff
When you’re planting your garden this spring, consider adding a row to help feed families in need. Plant a Row for the Hungry is a national program that encourages gardeners and community groups to donate produce to those at risk of hunger.
Logan’s Garden Shop, a nursery in Seaboard Station, got involved with the program last year to inspire locals with green thumbs to help fight food insecurity through gardening.
“The Logan family saw a need in our community and had a strong desire to help feed families that were struggling to get fresh produce on their tables,” says Joy Sweeney, the store’s project manager.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, a nonprofit that distributes food to low-income families in seven North Carolina counties, is the local affiliate for Plant a Row. Logan’s partnered with the Food Shuttle to take donations and spread the word.
“Logan’s has been an incredible partner of ours,” says Katie Murray, the development relations manager at Inter-Faith. “They have provided an immense amount of support for our garden education programming.”
Logan’s collects donations from families, community groups and churches. Inter-Faith distributes the produce through several of its programs, including the Mobile Market, a temporary food bank that travels to people in need and allows them to shop for free.
One pound of produce can supplement four meals, so the 25,000 pounds collected last year helped round out 100,000 meals with fresh vegetables and fruit.
Logan’s hopes to collect 40,000 pounds this year, encouraging gardeners with any level of experience to stop by and impressing on parents the value in teaching their children the joys of gardening and the importance of helping others.
April is the ideal month to start planting a garden in North Carolina, Sweeney says, and almost anything can be planted now, barring the misfortune of a surprise snowfall.
Vegetables gardeners should consider planting lettuce and leafy greens, cucumbers, bell peppers and any variety of beans, including snap beans, lima beans and snow peas. They’re popular with recipients and hold up well during distribution. All produce is accepted and can be dropped off at the store during business hours.
Events take place every Saturday through April 13th at Logan’s location at 707 Semart Drive. Learn more at logantrd.com or follow them on social media.
by Cindy Whitt | May 31, 2018 | Eat, June 2018
Raleigh is known for its vibrant food and beer scene, running the gamut from nationally-recognized restaurants to beloved hole-in-the-wall joints. Capital Boulevard, one of the city’s most-traveled corridors, doesn’t usually come to mind as a destination for a world-class meal or a tasty local brew; dotted with chain restaurants and big box stores, it can be hard to find the hidden gems. But, if you’re willing to venture outside the Beltline, here’s a guide to a few unique places to visit. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised at all that Raleigh’s busiest thoroughfare has to offer.
Soo Café
2815 Brentwood Road
The fried chicken at Soo Café, a Korean restaurant just off of I-440, was named one of the best in the south by Southern Living, so it’s not exactly a secret. The chicken is fried twice, which makes it extra crispy, then slathered in your choice of sauce: original, SOGA (soy garlic), North Carolina hot & spicy, old fashioned or Soopreme—a layer of SOGA, and a second coating of either original or old fashioned. The chicken isn’t the only thing buzzy about Soo Cafe; the restaurant is also getting popular for its private room in the back, where you can host a karaoke party complete with all the latest K-pop hits.
Aggie’s Grill Station
3027 Capital Blvd.
The menu at Aggie’s Grill Station can be overwhelming. With a mix of American, Asian and Italian dishes, it’s a great lunch option for a group with different tastes, but it can be hard to decide what to choose. There are several Aggie’s locations throughout North Carolina, and the spot in Raleigh has friendly staff members who are always eager to suggest their favorites, although they’ll tell you they think all the dishes are equally good. Two standouts are the Hibachi-style grilled chicken with fried rice and vegetables, and the chicken wrap, a toasted tortilla filled with seasoned chicken, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato and Aggie’s gourmet sauce. And, in case you’re wondering, the restaurant, and the sauce, was named after the owner’s daughter.
Michael’s English Muffins
3611 Spring Forest Rd., Suite 114
Michael’s English muffins are not what you’d expect, and, if you’ve never tried an English muffin baked from scratch, owner Annabell Comisar’s are a good introduction. “At first glance, folks usually comment on the size, intrigued at how much bigger and thicker they are in comparison to what they think of as an English muffin,” says Comisar. “But after tasting a sample, we hear that they taste like a donut without sugar.” After selling her English muffins to local restaurants and vendors for three years, Comisar opened the store in January and expanded her menu. The shop serves regular and sweet potato English muffins that can be topped with an assortment of offerings, including local honey butter, seasonal jam or avocado and cucumber. Comisar also sells sandwiches such as the popular Originator, which is filled with sausage, American cheese and habanero pimento cheese.
Roma’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
3805 Brentwood Road
Pizza from Roma’s Pizzeria.
Just off Capital Boulevard in the Brentwood neighborhood, you might miss this small restaurant hidden behind a gas station. But the location hasn’t kept the Jaouhari family from building a following over the last 36 years. The partition at the counter is covered with handwritten messages from customers showing their love for the family’s New York style pizza. Once the space became too crowded with graffiti, Amal Jaouhari started keeping a book for customers to sign. “We have customers who have been coming here for years,” says Imad Jaouhari, Amal’s husband, who offers newcomers and regulars the same special: “Buy a pizza, get a free joke.” It’s become such a tradition that his daughter even had a baseball cap made for him bearing the tagline.
Pho Far East
4011 Capital Blvd.
Talk to a local foodie about pho and you will probably hear about Pho Far East. Last year, Raleigh Magazine asked local chefs where they like to eat and three of them named it one of their favorites. The restaurant is tucked in a strip mall on the corner of Capital Blvd. and New Hope Church Road, but once you find it you won’t soon forget their authentic Vietnamese dishes.
Owner Thu Bui is responsible for the famous pho they have been serving for 10 years. Her daughter, Hoa Trinh, even took the family recipe to use at her restaurant in downtown Raleigh, Sushi O Bistro & Sushi Bar. If a giant bowl of pho doesn’t suit your fancy, another popular choice is one of their varieties of bún, vermicelli noodle bowls.
