Why did the chicken cross the road? … To ace our fried chicken quiz, of course! We’ve cooked up a slew of Q’s about the local fried chicken scene—with a sprinkling of “just winging it” to really test your wits—in honor of National Fried Chicken Day July 6. … Are you even a true Southerner if you don’t love to devour the greasy goodness?! There’s no bones about it—will you chicken out or earn an eggcellent score? Best of cluck!
1. Star chef Ashley Christensen—of Poole’s Diner, Poole’side Pies, and Death & Taxes fame—recently released her shares of BB’s Crispy Chicken to Raleigh-based biz partner MDO Holdings. Which recently reopened bar is the renowned restaurateur also behind?
3. “Y’all come!” … With menu items that’ll make your grandma proud, the State Farmer’s Market Restaurant and its fried chicken biscuits are def worth a try. When did this Southern comfort sup spot settle into its current locale?
a. 1961
b. 1979
c. 1991
d. 2002
4. The combo of our dreams, chicken and waffles continue to remain a supreme mealtime pick. Hummingbird’s menu touts a waffle with maple syrup/hot honey herb butter and a lemon and garlic chicken breast that’s oh-so-tasty. From which foodie city does this kitchen draw inspo?
5. Louisiana fast-food chicken franchise Popeyes launched a fried chicken sandwich so popular that it broke the internet circa 2019. How many Raleigh locations does this chicken chain boast?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
6. Hey, y’all! Tupelo Honey’s scratchmade Southern eats fill hungry bellies with a slew of fried chicken ops—paired with waffles, biscuits and an array of sides—oh, my! In what city did this nationwide nosh spot begin?
7. The plot chickens. Agriculture tops the list as NC’s top industry, with poultry ranking No. 1 on NC’s agriculture list in terms of economic impact. About how much money does poultry bring in annually?
a. $39.76 billion
b. $42.38 billion
c. $57.95 billion
d. $68.32 billion
8. Spread your wings and fry. Mandolin’s fried chicken sammy is stacked with pimento cheese, bacon and a pickled green tomato—but what saucy topping amps up its appeal?
a. Old Bay mayo
b. Chipotle mayo
c. Sriracha
d. Honey BBQ sauce
9. Aim fryer! Wilson’s Eatery’s Southern Fried sando features crispy chicken (natch), pimento cheese, lettuce and house pickles on brioche. Which brewery neighbors this resto—and makes the perf place for a post-dinner drink?
Got balls? Stephen Dewey’s ballin’ truck (formerly dubbed Barone Meatball Company) is rolling into its new and improved era with a new name and an extended menu. See what all the hype is about after noshing on the scratchmade chicken Parmesan, Buffalo chicken, bacon cheeseburger and OG meatballs—served as a sandwich, meatball grilled cheese or over pasta.@baronemeatball
Set your clocks to island time (!). Find this Caribbean truck serving shorely good food reminiscent of the Bahamas—think jerk chicken, conch fritters, Bahamian macaroni and cheese, sweet plantains, and more—that’ll have your taste buds taking a trip to the tropics. Paradise found. @miasbahamiankitchen
Are you bready for it?! Roho your boat for bangin’ bites of sammies and fries (ya can’t beat the classics!). Rise and shine the right way with the breaky bun, or go for the Fat Boy Philly, shrimp roll, a BLT or a slew of other sating sammie combos. … No matter what, fries are always a must. Meat us in the club? @rohosandco
We’re feelin’ this one in our soul. Promising to put a smile on your face (hence the sup spot’s name) are these burgers, hot dogs, fried seafood ops, wraps, wings and more. And the sides also #slay. Think okra, slow-cooked collard greens, onion rings and homemade turkey chili, to name a few. Whew! … Warning: Be prepared for a food coma.@jollyscatering919
Seeking a surprise-filled saunter? Well, buckle up. If you’ve ever wanted to take an adventurous and off-the-beaten-path road trip without all the planning, Guess Where Trips has got you covered.
The brainchild of Jessica Off, what began as a creative Christmas present to her parents has since blossomed into a full-blown biz sending travelers to a slew of surprise scenic spots based on their trip style. The road trip venture touts starting points in cities in Canada and the Southern U.S.—with NC most recently making the list (!).
Guess Where Trips offers five ubercool and curated NC trip itineraries—with Raleigh and Charlotte-area launch pads—ranging from a leisurely travel day to overnight/weekend excursions. For our Raleigh roamers, a “Sandhills Sauntering” could be just the ticket for a low-maintenance warm weather foray (hey, picturesque drives, trail trekking, art explorations and one-of-a-kind photo ops!).
Each trip includes four planned stops and an explanation of what to know before you go—with just enough deets to keep you prepped without ruining the surprise. To wit, the creative travel company doesn’t send travelers out on expeditions they haven’t tried and tested themselves. The team’s boots-on-the-ground approach ensures your mystery adventure will be well planned—with delightful destinations sprinkled along the road less traveled, plus myriad choices to appeal to all types of interests.
“It was so interesting to research all the hidden gems around North Carolina,” says Off. “There are so many historic and quaint towns, fantastic restaurants, photo moments, and scenic roads that made it really easy to plan a road trip there.”
And amping up Raleigh’s road trip appeal, the City of Oaks is Guess Where Trips’ most popular sauntering select in the state—leading Off to consider creating another Raleigh-area trip based on the high demand.
“There’s still so much you can do in the state. I didn’t think I wanted to come home—it was beautiful in North Carolina and I was very in love with it,” laughs Sydney Schouten, trip producer. … Obviously, we have to agree.
As they look to the horizon, the wanderlust enterprise plans to expand excursion opps into the Baltimore and DC area in the near future. … Ready to guess where you’re going next? guesswheretrips.com
Crank Arm Brewing bowing new Durham bike/brewing hub.
Photography by Steffen Gonzalez
Holy spokes! Ahead of its 10th anniversary celebration July 23, Crank Arm Brewing Company has officially signed the dotted line for its second cycling/sip outpost in Durham—and the beer/bike lovin’ biz’s gearing up to open by the end of the year (!).
The new hoppy digs will be situated in the ground floor of luxe Beckon Apartments (also in Durham’s social district—dubbed “The Bullpen”), taking up 3,000+ square feet, boasting rollup doors, an indoor/outdoor space and a mere ~20-step commute from the highly anticipated Downtown Durham greenway trail. To boot, the Bull City location will tout 24 brews on tap (plus, seltzers, wine and ciders—and liquor, thanks to the updated ABC licensing laws!).
At the helm of the buzzy new locale, find the same four partners behind Raleigh’s Crank Arm Brewing—Adam Eckhardt, Michael Morris, Dylan Selinger and Bob High.
Wondering what drew the bikers and brewmasters to the Bull City? “It’s a burgeoning city,” says Eckhardt. “There’s a lot of folks moving here. It’s our sister city, and there’s an active cycling culture here.”
For those with a case of the, er, spins—Durham patrons can expect pop-ups, collabs with the local cycling community, weekly rides and run clubs that echo the MO of the OG Raleigh location. Yet, due to its prime positioning at the bottom level of Beckon Apartments, the team hopes to situate itself as an integral watering hole for residents and those around the area.
“As opposed to a Downtown neighborhood bar, we are literally the bottom of the neighborhood,” says Morris. “We want to be a neighborhood establishment here.”
Echoes Eckhardt: “We’re very excited to become part of the community in Durham the way we have in Raleigh. We are going to start doing pop-up events ASAP, start working with local cycling organizations and just introduce ourselves if folks aren’t familiar—and to meet them as well.” … Ready to wheel up for some brews and pedal up a buzz, Bull City? crankarmbrewing.com
Calling all cheese aficionados! A slew of Gouda cheese-y Qs to snack on.
“Do you like cheese? Why, yes, I do.” And whether or not your fave is Gouda like Viola—er, Sebastian?—in She’s the Man, we rounded up some sharp trivia all about the local cheese scene to top (had to) our best-of burger content. We swiss you the best of luck!
Feelin’ board? Grazin’ Gals is run by food/hostess guru Carolyn Mundorf, who left her job in which sector to follow her creative charcuterie biz dreams? a. Tech b. Real estate c. Hospitality d. Marketing
With vibes that are anything but cheesy, Vita Vite touts art, wine and charcuterie (natch) for a hangout spot where you can relax, socialize or unwind as you sip and snack. From what city does its delish cheese straws hail? a. Wilmington b. Asheville c. Savannah d. Columbus, GA
All a-board! Barcelona Wine Bar feats a treasure of tasty tapas reminiscent of Mediterranean, Spanish and South American flavors—including gobs of cheese ops, of course. In how many states can you find this delish and welcoming wine bar/resto? a. 10 b. 11 c. 12 d. 13
It ain’t easy being cheesy. The Cheese Shop offers sharp skills in cut-to-order cheeses, meats and other gobbleworthy goodies. In which Downtown Carrboro bar is thi sup spot located? a. Glasshalfull b. The Station c. Bowbarr d. Belltree Cocktail Club
The first full-service locally conceived and owned restaurant to drop in Smoky Hollow, Madre will offer cheese board selects to whet or sate those cravings. Which Raleigh sup spot is co-owner Tyler Helikson also behind? a. Happy + Hale b. Barcelona Wine Bar c. Tazza Kitchen d. Layered Croissanterie
Nothing can get cheddar than this! Boxcarr Handmade Cheese offers “artisan cheese handmade with love” via sibs and biz partners Samantha and Austin Genke. What year did the fam first establish their cheesy endeavor? a. 2012 b. 2013 c. 2014 d. 2015
Let’s get shredded. Raleigh Cheesy believes the best way to celebrate significant life events is through cheese (we concur!). What was founder Courtney Bowman’s job before going full-send into the cheese scene? a. Waitress b. Pharmacist c. Teacher d. Lawyer
How legen-dairy. Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar boasts oodles of cheesy delights on its menu—from macaroni and cheese to grilled cheese to cheese fries. (How’s that for Southern comfort food?!) What’s the name of the resto’s sister concept/board game cafe? a. Got Games? b. Stay Board c. The Kitchen Table d. Board Games at Relish
Tastefully, yours. Ladyfingers adds a tasteful touch to both your extravagant affairs and modest mixers (the pimento cheese is always a must). Since what year has this fam-owned business been on the scene? a. 1975 b. 1985 c. 1995 d. 2005
