Happy Thanksgiving, y’all—time to go full baste mode. In the famed words of Clark Griswold: “This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency. We’re gonna press on.”
For our Favorite Family Thanksgiving Recipe comp, in partnership with Wegmans, we asked, you cooked, and the entries rolled in like a holiday parade. From crowd-pleasing classics to secret-family twists to Southern staples, we reveal the three top takes that take the cake—er, pie—earning a coveted feature + a Wegmans gift card to boot.
So, feast your eyes on the top trio, get inspired, crank up your ovens, maybe hum a little holiday ditty—because these dishes promise to make this year’s table the stuff of legends.
6 oz. jar orange marmalade ½ cup water or OJ (for more citrus flavor) 12 oz. bag fresh cranberries 2 Tbsp. local honey 1 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Rinse cranberries, discarding any damaged fruit. Drain well. 2. In medium pot, combine cranberries, marmalade, water (or juice) and honey. Set over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring often. 3. Once cranberries begin to pop, reduce heat and simmer, about 10 minutes. 4. Remove from heat. Stir in cayenne pepper and cinnamon (if using). 5. Let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. 6. Transfer to a lidded container and refrigerate. Relish will thicken as it cools and can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Broccoli Salad
Winning Recipe by Irish Dunlap Serves: 6 (double recipe for large groups) | Prep Time: 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
2–3 stalks fresh broccoli (or 2 bags of florets) 1 medium red onion (or white), finely chopped 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated or preshredded ½ lb. bacon (or turkey bacon), cooked and crumbled ½ cup Duke’s mayo 1/4 cup sugar 1 Tbsp. white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
DIRECTIONS
1. In large bowl, combine broccoli florets, onion, cheese and bacon. Set aside. 2. In separate bowl, whisk together mayo, sugar and vinegar to make dressing. 3. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated.
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) salted butter, plus softened butter for the baking dish 14.75-oz. can cream-style corn 15-oz. can corn kernels, drained 1 cup sour cream 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. kosher salt 8.5-oz. box corn muffin mix (preferably Jiffy)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 2½-qt. casserole dish. 2. In a large bowl, combine 8 Tbsp. melted butter, creamed corn and corn kernels. Stir to combine. 3. Stir in sour cream, eggs, sugar and salt. 4. Gently fold in the cornbread mix only until dry ingredients are incorporated. 5. Scrape batter into prepped dish. 6. Bake until golden on top and nearly set in the center, about 30 minutes. The spoonbread should look slightly undercooked; a knife inserted 2 inches from the center should come out clean. 7. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.
The latest J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study confirms what locals already know: RDU is taking off. Those record 15.5 million passengers in 2024 aren’t just passing through—they’re experiencing the airport as a destination unto itself—a curated journey that reflects the airport’s intentional “reimagining of its restaurant scene,” says Stephanie Hawco, director of media relations at Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “The new restaurants reflect the vibrant flavors of the Triangle region and elevate the airport dining experience to a new level.”
And it’s working. Travelers are taking note—and taking bites. Add to the gaggle of goodies that have dropped over the last year (see below) the inbound Raleigh Beer Garden in Terminal 1. The Hibernian Hospitality Group concept—repeatedly recognized by USA Today as a top 10 beer garden in the country—is going wheels up in November. Also brewing up in T2: Bond Brothers Kitchen & Bar, Lonerider, Adios! By Oscar Diaz, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay—plus mod Italian eatery Puro Gusto in T1.
Hibernian Hospitality Group
By embracing the Triangle’s F&B scene from the ground up, RDU’s serving up far more than taste—it’s serving a sense of place. Dining isn’t just functional, it’s part of what makes the airport feel uniquely like home in the sky. From Raleigh-inspired menus to lounges that balance comfort and efficiency, travelers find themselves lingering a little longer, elevating a layover to a mini-vacation.
And it’s not just the food that is leveling up. With a record 82 nonstop destinations, including 15 international routes, RDU has officially outgrown “regional hub” status. Air Canada and WestJet now link to Vancouver and Calgary, respectively; Breeze Airways’ will add a RDU crew base come 2026 with tentative nonstops to Montego Bay, Jamaica and Punta Cana in March; and Aer Lingus is set to launch year-round service to Dublin in April.
To keep pace, RDU’s building big: a massive new runway (by 2029) to ease congestion, expanded terminals (T1 to 24 gates, T2 to 53), upgraded customs facilities and a 7,000-space parking deck with sustainable solar-covered walkways. Every upgrade signals a single message: RDU isn’t just growing—it’s future-proofing.
That momentum extends well beyond the terminals and tarmac. The 2021-nee Triangle Takeoff Coalition—a cadre of local businesses and community sponsors who rely on air travel—has served to fortify those connections by recognizing RDU’s role as an essential driver of regional growth and a key factor in the “best places to live” awards sweep. Today, the airport fuels roughly 140K jobs and $24B in annual economic impact, and incentive programs are helping lure more international carriers.
So, as RDU climbs the charts, it’s taking the Triangle along for the ride. From first-time flyers to frequent jet-setters, everyone can feel the care in every detail. The airport isn’t just taking off—it’s landing in the spotlight and earning national acclaim. With the runway stretching farther, new gates multiplying and the skyline rising higher, one thing is clear: RDU—and Raleigh—are just getting started.
TARMAC TO TABLE Heavy hitters redefining airport eats
There’s still time to give to our annual Give Raleigh campaign.
Let me weave you a tale. A Raleigh professional—just like you and me—left work early one day with a migraine. Vision blurred, she swerved into a median—totaling her car, crippling her ability to work, and ultimately costing her job and home.
Just one of our 1,200 neighbors without a safe place to sleep, hers is the real face of homelessness. “I never knew from one day to the next if I was going to live or die,” she said. Homelessness isn’t a headline—it’s human: Your child’s teacher. A local fireman. The grocery cashier down the street. Your favorite Uber driver. These are the couch surfing, car-sleeping and motel-hopping neighbors who make up the local homeless population—nearly doubled since 2020 alone.
If you’ve ever moved, you get it. The struggle isn’t the monthly payment—it’s the upfront costs: security deposits, first month’s rent, down payments, application fees. Through Give Raleigh, Cooper Charitable Foundation grants remove those barriers via seven local nonprofits that help families, foster youth, women in crisis and those in recovery move from uncertainty into stability. For them, these grants aren’t charity—they’re a fresh start.
“We can’t just be out there for ourselves,” said CCF Executive Director Mary-Ann Baldwin. “We have to work together.” … So, please. Don’t just flip the page. Swap today’s latte for $10—or multiples of 10, if you can—by Nov. 10 at giveraleigh.com.
Bonus: TowneBank/Towne Insurance will match the first $10K, so your gift goes twice as far. Together, we can make sure no one has to wonder where they’ll sleep tonight.giveraleigh.com
Guide Your Giving
CCF’s small grants mean big impact. Support the organization that hits home by picking from these seven CCF partners at giveraleigh.com.
Equips families facing homelessness, crisis or disaster with the essentials to rebuild their lives Furnishings • appliances • cookware • household essentials + decor
Empowers former foster youth to earn degrees, launch careers and build independent lives Tuition • fees • stipend • mentorship • comprehensive support system • integral life skills • financial guidance
One-stop shop connecting individuals and families at risk to housing, employment and health resources Coordinated care • meals • showers • laundry • public computers + phones • urgent medical services • public + mental health services • youth assessments
Provides single women and their families a day shelter to prevent and end homelessness Meals • laundry • showers • clothing • basic needs • primary + behavioral health care • counseling • day storage • housing support • instructional and enrichment workshops • case management
“Our vision is to ensure that everyone has a chance for a better life. Safe and stable housing is key. Working together, we can help those in need access stable housing. Your generosity makes a difference.” —COOPER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Once a city of startups and sweet tea, Raleigh is now parking itself squarely in the lane of ultra luxury. And, by spring, Capital Boulevard will welcome a brand-new exclusive bespoke Rolls-Royce dealership—one of only two freestanding in the world—the other in Dubai. That’s right: Dubai and Raleigh.
It’s a “look ma, we made it” moment of the grandest scale. The Cap City is no longer a small market, it’s a global one—and, clearly, people here aren’t afraid to dream big anymore.
Ehsan Khani would know. The Iranian-born self-made business mogul arrived in Raleigh in 1987 with only $4K in his pocket. Speaking zero English, he started from scratch, enrolled at Wake Tech and built his empire brick by brick. “I’ve been everywhere in the world,” says the Westgate Auto Group dealer/principal. “And where I come from, this opportunity we have here—to become the 1%—doesn’t exist anywhere else.”
Fast-forward, and he now owns multiple dealerships, Westgate Wine, plus a million square feet in real estate holdings. And, until Charlotte’s rolled out in May, he has been the only Rolls dealer/principal in the state since 2018—and soon, will roll out the country’s first-ever Rolls-Royce-only signature showroom.
It’s the realization of “if you can see it, you can be it”—precisely what’s defining the local luxury shift. And it isn’t about Old Raleigh money or transplants. In fact, explains Khani, today’s buyers are more localized, self-made and visible.
Post-pandemic, the “life’s too short” mentality played a heavy hand, as did the brand’s premiere Ghost daily-driver and Cullinan SUV, both playing pivotal roles in skewing the demographic younger—a tilt accelerated thanks to social media’s democratization and celebration of luxury, which lit a fire under would-be Rolls enthusiasts in real time, adds GM Tony Enderle, noting clients now clock in a full decade younger on average. “Success now is not to be looked down upon—it’s to be strived for,” he says. “‘Old money’ isn’t as attracted to the Rolls-Royce experience—because it’s showy—whereas social media has made success visible. What once felt unattainable now feels possible—there’s just nothing you can’t achieve,” adds Enderle, nodding to entrepreneurs, influencers and the like.
Two such 20-something influencer spouses just bought a pair of Rolls after only two years in the digital spotlight. Call it the modern luxury shift from the Warren Buffett Cadi-driving wealth to the Zuckerbergs, Bezoses and Musks who don’t handcuff wealth enjoyment—success as content, aspiration as lifestyle.
Rolls-Royce Motor Company
And the Raleigh market is catching that current in real time—even savvy kids. Enderle invites them to sit in a Rolls, pad of paper in hand, and write down their goals. “There’s no place better to dream than in a Rolls-Royce,” he says. “It’s ‘I am. I will. do,’” adds Khani.
But it’s not all youth-based aspiration. Local entrepreneurs and developers who’ve helped turn the Triangle into a luxury ZIP code are also driving the market. “Real estate equals wealth,” he says of the $10M homes now starting to dot the area. Echoed in their clientele roster, consider the 34-year-old self-made rental-real-estate savant who now teaches others how he made it, or the 55-year-old Hickory woman who fulfilled a lifelong dream this summer. “We mostly see people who have aspired to greatness,” says Khani of the ~95% local clients who grew up supporting the community.
When the new tech-driven jewel-box dealership opens, it won’t look like your typical car lot. Beyond the automatically opening RR Pantheon Grille doors revealing the Spirit of Ecstasy, you’ll move through curated spaces from reception and seating areas to the speakeasy-esque lounge pouring Champagne and cappuccinos to four artfully lit demo spaces showcasing the Ghost, Spectre, Phantom and Cullinan. And, of course, there’s the Atelier customization lounge, where patrons can craft their dream machine from some 84,000 possible combos.
“This isn’t a car lot—it’s a gallery,” says Khani. “It’s an experience. Every inch has to meet Rolls-Royce’s standards,” echoing the brand’s MO: “Take the best that exists and make it better.”
Which is exactly what Khani has done since acquiring the brand. Clocking in at a cool $350,000 to start, most dealerships sell just three to four a year. Khani sells upward of 30. Already outpacing expectations—and quadrupling sales under his watch—the new dealership expects to further drive demand for its bespoke builds, starting around $350,000 each. But the number isn’t really the point. What’s striking is that Raleigh can now sustain that level of luxury.
There are only 35 authorized Rolls-Royce dealers in the U.S., says Enderle. Not every city qualifies—especially for one of the largest in the U.S. and only the world’s second freestanding dealership. The fact that Raleigh does? That says everything about where we’re headed.
And that’s really the story. A city once defined by potential is now living it—in drive, in design and in daring. Rolls-Royce didn’t just choose Raleigh because it’s growing. They chose it because it’s arrived. Because, clearly, if you build it, they will come.
“I came here with $4,000 in my pocket. But step by step, build by build, it grows. … Here, you can work hard and set goals—and put yourself into an ’I am, I will, I do’ mindset, and it will come.” —EHSAN KHANI
By the Numbers
133 Authorized Rolls-Royce dealers in the world 35 Authorized dealers in the U.S. 2 Exclusive freestanding dealerships in the world 1 Exclusive dealership in Dubai 1 Exclusive dealership in Raleigh
Got milk? NC State footballer Hollywood Smothers does. While getting an inside take on the star running back’s upcoming milk promo as the ultimate OG recovery drink, we got to know the man behind the helmet.
Fave spot on campus? Carter-Finley
How does it feel to be back playing in your home state? It means everything. I play with a lot of guys I actually played with growing up, like Sean Brown on my team. … Also having more of my family come through. It ain’t nothing but a two-hour drive for them to get to the game. That’s the best part ever.
CFB moment you’ll never forget? Georgia Tech touchdown run in the last couple minutes. I should’ve kneeled, should’ve took a knee and slip at the 1, but we needed a play at that moment. Feels like that was one of my good plays.
You’re a rapper? I just do it for fun. … Growing up, my dad used to produce music, so I always had an ear for it. In my free time, I’ll just record a song on my phone. After my friends heard it, they were like, ‘Just put it out and let other people hear it.’ I started dropping a few songs, and a lot of people on my team will listen to it.
Fave local restaurant: Ruckus Pizza—I eat there a lot.
Show you’re binging: I’m probably late, but I just started getting into Power on Starz.
