Sharpen your cooking skills at new culinary education destination.
Raleigh clearly has no shortage of restaurants keeping us fed, but nowhere schooling us on how to feed ourselves—until now. Enter Hone-Sharpen, a culinary education and entertainment destination promising to attract aspiring chefs and foodie fanatics alike.
Set to deliver culinary classes, lectures, pop-up dinners and competitions from its Smoky Hollow digs in early 2025, Hone-Sharpen, at its core, is a culinary guild—aka a community inviting similar interests and pursuits in food—in which founder Cherisse Byers aims to foster a welcoming and inclusive space for guests to ~sharpen~ their cooking skills, just as she did.
“While I was a [culinary] student, my husband called me and said, ‘Someone wants to know if you can teach a cooking class,’” recalls Byers. The last-minute opp opened the door for the founder to spend more time as an instructor, and, from “a place of curiosity,” the idea for Hone-Sharpen was born.
When selecting a locale, Smoky Hollow’s unique identity was an immediate draw. “I felt like I could get a great combination of the population in general—a ton of people from different backgrounds,” says the cuisinier, who hopes to educate, entertain and enlighten diverse ages and demographics—from professionals to eager students and beyond.
Catering to that range, a trio of classes meet you where you are. A demonstration kitchen with an island and chairs sets the scene for those leaning more entertainment than education with the casual Night Out experience—which, despite its name, is not limited to evening hours. As the most laid-back option, the relaxed demonstration is fit for newbies and fun alike—perfect for a girls’ or guys’ night out or beginner chefs.
Leveling up to a more hands-on experience, three kitchenettes fronting the demonstration kitchen serve up the aptly named Next Level op, dishing a deeper dive into techniques and ingredients.
And for six to eight would-be chefs—or anyone just wanting to “play chef”—an Intensive class experience rounds out the trio via, well, intensive instruction staged in a commercial kitchen. Plus you can jump between offerings based on the mood of the moment and culinary interests—but no matter your menu select, all courses deliver dishes destined to make you a regular, especially for that symbiotic experience.
When it comes to what the chef values curating most, she’d accept food blunders over sacrificing the energy and feel of the class every time. Not to say the food is trivial, but Byers is “not going to get hung up on it” at the expense of the guest experience. After all, she says, mishaps are at the heart of teachable moments. hone-sharpen.com
» WHERE WE DRINK NOW Country: Whiskey Rose, Tin Roof NCSU: The Village Brewery: Trophy Dive: The Cardinal Party place: Cornerstone Tavern Irish: Hibernian Neighborhood: The Blind Barbour Local live-music dive: Lincoln Theatre
Finch’s courtesy of the News & Observer, NC Archives
» PLACES WE EAT NOW
Diner: Mecca Oysters: St. Roch Pizza: Trophy Italian: Vic’s New American: Crawford and Son Burgers: MoJoe’s Nostalgic: Poole’s Breakfast: Big Ed’s Sushi: Sono Chinese: Five Star Not local but loved: Barcelona Wine Bar 24 hours: Waffle House
Image by Jessica Crawford, courtesy of Crawford and Son
RM’s 2024 Cocktail Classic was the affair of the year. Presented by and at The Exchange’s stunning glass-encased 1000 Social, partygoers rubbed shoulders while sipping on—and swooning over—unlimited stellar sips by our 10 Best Bartender noms in tandem with top-tier liquor labels. Whether you’re dying of FOMO or you joined us and those classic creations are living in your head rent-free, now you can get a taste of the classics and shake up your next bar night at home. While we’re at it, consider this your sign to tap next year’s Cocktail Classic (Saturday, Nov. 15) in your cal—plus stay tuned to our February Best Bars issue to see who’s crowned Raleigh’s next Best Bartender. Cheers! Voting for Best Bartender + Bars open until Dec. 15, raleighmag.com
Recipes by RM Best Bartenders Photography by Forrest Mason
Just Happy to Be Nominated Brian Small (aka “Smalls”) | The Blind Barbour Riff on a Daiquiri | Outer Banks Distilling
2 oz. Kill Devil spiced rum
3/4 oz. lime juice
1/4 oz. ancho chile-infused simple*
1/4 oz. ginger cordial**
1/4 oz. Gran Gala
Dash Crude Pooter bitters
Dash Crude Lindsay bitters
Dash Bittermens Mole bitters
Shake, strain and serve up in a coup.
*Ancho Chile-Infused Simple
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
4 dehydrated ancho chiles
Steep 20 minutes and strain.
**Ginger Cordial
1 cup skin-on ginger, chopped
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup hot water
Blend and strain through cheesecloth.
Hot to Trot Brianna Beatty | Killjoy Riff on a Mint Julep | Holladay Bourbon
Raspberry Lemongrass Julep
2 oz. raspberry lemongrass syrup*
2 oz.Holladay Bourbon
3/4 oz. lemon
Dash ginger bitters
Raspberries garnish
Bushel of mint leaves
In the bottom of a julep glass, muddle 4 mint leaves; then top with crushed ice. In a shaker filled with ice, add raspberry lemongrass syrup, bourbon and lemon. Shake and strain into julep glass. Top with a dash of ginger bitters, a bushel of mint leaves and a few skewered raspberries.
*Raspberry Lemongrass Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup raspberries
1 Tbsp. lemongrass paste
Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Strain to remove any seeds.
Doctor’s Orders Duke Campbell | Dram & Draught Riff on a Penicillin | Johnnie Walker
2 oz. lavender- and hibiscus-infused Johnnie Walker High Rye
1/2 oz. fresh wildflower honey syrup*
1/2 oz. fresh ginger syrup**
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
Wildflower honey foam***
Spritz Ardbeg Wee Beastie islay scotch
Dehydrated lemon garnish
Hibiscus cluster garnish
Candied ginger garnish
Combine ingredients in tin and shake. Strain into rocks glass with big cube. Top with foam. Garnish with cocktail pick with dehydrated lemon, hibiscus and candied ginger. Spritz with islay scotch.
*Honey Syrup 2:1 wildflower honey to water ratio Combine wildflower honey and water.
**Ginger Syrup 1 to 3/4 to 1/4 ginger juice to white sugar to brown sugar ratio Combine ginger juice and sugars.
***Wildflower Honey Foam
3 oz. aquafaba
3 oz. honey simple 1:1
2 oz. Krupnikas spiced honey liqueur
I oz. fresh lemon juice
Charge with two iSi nitro chargers.
The Proper Pecan Jefferson Cañaveral | William & Company Riff on an Old-Fashioned | Cook’s Mill Whiskey
2 oz. browned butter-washed Cook’s Mill*
2 dashes Crude Lindsay bitters
1/2 oz. toasted pecan maple simple syrup**
Candied pecan garnish
Orange peel strings garnish
Assemble browned butter-washed Cook’s Mill, bitters and pecan simple. Garnish with a candied pecan and orange peel strings.
*Browned Butter-Washed Cook’s Mill
Two sticks unsalted butter
750 mL Cook’s Mill bourbon whiskey
Melt two sticks of unsalted butter down in a pan or pot on medium heat. Keep a constant stir until the butter starts to foam and becomes slightly golden. You will see small brown bits at the bottom when it’s ready. Mix the browned butter with the Cook’s Mill bourbon whiskey. Let the butter and bourbon sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours, agitating the mixture every now and then to ensure a good blend.
Place the mixture in the freezer to harden the butter so you can easily separate it from the bourbon. Once you have removed the butter, strain the bourbon through a cheesecloth to make sure there are no butter chunks.
**Toasted Pecan Maple Simple Syrup
8 oz. pecans
16 oz. maple syrup
Toast pecans in a skillet or pan on high heat. Keep a constant stir to make sure pecans don’t burn. Once pecans are a little darker and slightly toasted, add a quality maple syrup and simmer on low until the flavors are combined. Taste as you go—but don’t burn yourself.
Passerby Kaylah Thomas | Gussie’s Riff on a Cosmopolitan | Cathead Distillery
1 1/2 oz peach-infused Cathead vodka*
3/4 oz. mulled albariño**
1/2 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. white cranberry juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
2 droppers Crude orange & fig bitters
Cocktail gummy garnish***
Shake with ice and fine strain. Garnish with cocktail gummy.
*Peach-Infused Cathead Vodka
5 ripe peaches roughly cut, pits removed
750 mL bottle Cathead vodka
Combine and rest overnight to taste.
**Mulled Albariño
1 3/4 tsp. allspice
2/3 tsp. clove
2/3 tsp. green cardamom pods
7 large cinnamon sticks
3 oranges’ worth of peels
1 bottle albariño
Combine all of the above, infuse for 3 hours and strain.
***Cocktail Gummy
1 1/2 envelopes gelatin (3 cocktails’ worth)
Heat water in a pot, but do not let it boil. Slowly stir in gelatin until dissolved. Use a dropper and drop into molds of choice. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Not Another ’Groni Jacob Gallant | The Cellar at Wolfe & Porter Riff on a Negroni | Moonbird Gin
1 1/4 oz. Moonbird gin
3/4 oz. beef marrow-washed Malört*
3/4 oz. Montenegro gomme**
1/4 oz. peach oleo syrup***
Dehydrated candied peaches garnish****
Combine ingredients and garnish.
*Beef Marrow-Washed Malört
5–7 marrow bones
1 bottle Jeppson’s Malört
Harvest 16 oz. of marrow by soaking bones in a saltwater solution for 24 hours (refreshing every 4–6 hours). Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add bones, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 mins. Slide the marrow out with spoon or thin knife. With a double boiler, render the marrow pieces until you’re left with liquid and strain through a nut-milk bag. Weigh out 16 oz. of liquid marrow and combine with Jeppson’s Malört, whisking briskly for 5 mins. Place in freezer for 1–2 hours or until marrow has formed a frozen cap. Lift the marrow cap off and strain marrow-washed Malört through a dampened coffee filter.
**Montenegro Gomme 4:1 Montenegro to gum arabic Combine 4 parts Montenegro and 1 part gum arabic by weight.
***Peach Oleo Syrup
12 peaches
Equal amount cane sugar, by weight
Wash fresh peaches, remove pits and dice. Layer diced peaches and cane sugar in a lidded container, ensuring peaches are completely covered. Let sit at room temperature or slightly warmer (e.g. on top of refrigerator) for 36–48 hours. Strain the syrup, passing through a wetted coffee filter to remove any remaining pieces of peach.
****Dehydrated Candied Peaches Garnish
Take diced peaches that created that lovely oleo, dehydrate at 165 F for 18 hours.
The Aztec Margarita Bryan Nuñez | Flask Cocktail Bar Riff on a Margarita | Partida Tequila
1 1/2 oz. Partida reposado
1/2 oz. Cointreau
2 oz. fresh mango juice
1 oz. jalapeno-infused agave
1/4 oz. fresh lime juice
3 cucumber wedges
Chamoy and tajin rim
Fresh jalapeno and cubed mango skewer
Combine the first six ingredients and shake with ice. Fine strain into a glass rimmed with chamoy and tajin, then garnish with a skewer of fresh jalapeno and cubed mango.
A Saint in the Garden Kellie Corcoran | Clockwork Riff on a Tom Collins | Belvedere Vodka
2 oz. Belvedere Vodka
3/4 oz. lemon cordial
3/4 oz. Chateau Musar Blanc thyme syrup*
4 basil leaves
2 strawberries, cut into small chunks
4 drops habanero tincture**
Tajin
Splash ginger beer
Splash sparkling mineral water
Thyme sprig garnish
Basil leaf garnish
Strawberry garnish
Rim glass with tajin. Separately, muddle strawberries; then add basil leaves, Belvedere Vodka, lemon cordial, Chateau Musar Blanc thyme syrup, habanero tincture and ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass with ice. Top with splashes of ginger beer and sparkling mineral water. Garnish with thyme sprig, basil leaf and strawberry.
*Chateau Musar Blanc Thyme Syrup
1 bottle Chateau Musar Blanc
1 bunch fresh thyme
2 ½ cup sugar
Boil the Chateau Musar Blanc. Reduce heat. Add 1 full bunch of fresh thyme. Steep for 10 minutes and strain. Add sugar and bring back to a boil until sugar is melted.
**Habanero Tincture
5 oz. Everclear
5 oz. 100-proof Belvedere Vodka
1–3 cut habanero peppers
Combine all ingredients in a bottle. Allow to sit until preferred spice level is achieved!
When the Clock Strikes Midnight Rey Kukela | Aunty Betty’s Riff on a Gin Martini | Durham Distillery
2 oz. Conniption American barrel aged gin
1 oz. Bordiga extra-dry vermouth
4 dashes The Bitter Truth cucumber bitters
1 squeeze The Japanese Bitters umami bitters
Rim: seaweed seasoning, Nori Komi Furikake rice seasoning
Combine all ingredients and shake. Rim a cordial glass with seaweed and rice seasoning. Strain beverage into the rimmed cordial glass.
Golden Chai Tyler Etheridge | Watts & Ward Riff on a Gold Rush | Elijah Craig
1 1/2 oz. Elijah Craig Straight Rye
3/4 oz. herb chai honey syrup*
3/4 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. Cointreau
2 dashes citrus vanilla extract**
Honeycomb garnish
Combine all ingredients in a shaker & shake well. Double strain into a rocks glass over a big ice cube.
*Herb Chai Honey Syrup 1:1 Chai tea to rosemary- and thyme-infused honey ratio Brew equal parts chai tea with rosemary- and thyme-infused honey.
**Citrus Vanilla Extract
2 Tahitian vanilla beans
16 oz. 100-proof vodka
1 whole lemon peel
1 whole orange peel
1 whole grapefruit peel
Soak Tahitian vanilla beans in 100 proof vodka and infuse with citrus zest.
Judgment Day is upon us—our annual roast of our top (bottom?) “did they seriously do that” moments. Like the Oscars for best blunders—from flubs and faux pas to shocking lapses in judgment and questionable decisions to just straight screwups—it’s the most wonderful time of the year indeed. And this year’s lot of losers do not disappoint. O come all ye thirsty, cause we’re about to put on a show.
Mark Robinson photo Maxim Elramsisy/shutterstock.com
That’s Going To Leave a Mark In case any local trivia orgs need some updated U.S. history Q’s, we’ve brainstormed some ideas: Which wanna-be NC gov allegedly described Martin Luther King Jr. in racially offensive terms? Which NC lieutenant gov told women to keep their skirts down in reference to reproductive health care? Who allegedly referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” on a porn site? What politician tagged a public Facebook post about parenting #haveyourdeadbeatsspayedandneutered? The answer to all of them: Mark Robinson—NC’s big mouthed politician and overall national embarrassment. Way to represent the Old North State, Markie.
Glen-Wood Avenue You know what they say—if you don’t want your mugshot on the news, don’t whip it out on Glenwood Avenue. Special Deputy Attorney General Torrey Dixon was charged with public indecency and intoxication after (allegedly) exposing himself on the corner of Blue Ridge Road and Glenwood while yelling obscenities—including threats—at bypassers. The scandalous, ahem, outburst apparently came after Dixon was denied entry to the Men Wear Pink Fashion Show at Crabtree because he “appeared intoxicated.” Clearly not the best exposure… if you’re picking up what we’re putting down.
Courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice
Storm’s Brewing Where were you Jan. 6, 2021? If the answer was storming the U.S. Capitol… you may need to rethink, well, everything. So it goes for Cary man James Tate Grant, who was among a crew of five in the first drizzle of rioters who approached and attacked Capitol police officers with a sea of deadly or dangerous weapons. Culminating in a perfect storm, all five men were found guilty for their actions and convicted of civil disorder. Justice served.
Kentucky Not-So-Gentlemen Thanks to cancel culture, elected officials can’t even get belligerently drunk at a bourbon tasting and vomit in a distillery sink anymore… smh. According to an anonymous Reddit user, a group of NC lobbyists and lawmakers got a little too lit at a bourbon-tasting event in Kentucky and proceeded to engage in disorderly conduct—never mind not tipping their bartenders. When asked, an NC Republican Party spokesman said it wasn’t a “state GOP event.” You heard it here first—if it doesn’t happen in-state, it doesn’t actually count.
Courtesy of Chinese Lantern Festival
Cast Away Alexa, play “Damaged” by Danity Kane. The eighth NC Chinese Lantern Festival was washed away—literally—after strong storms caused the fan-fave 200-foot 18,000-pound dragon lantern to sink into the Koka Booth Amphitheatre lake like our very own Nessie, forcing the fest to shutter a few days early. So loose lips sink ships—and apparently torrential rains sink dragons.
We’re the Millers courtesy Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
Tequila Me Crazy The Grinch did indeed succeed in stealing Christmas last year—and he hit us where it hurts (read: 19,000 bottles of stolen tequila). Keeping holiday spirits—and booze supplies—low, only eight of the stolen skids of Hacienda Chactun Tequila were located post-heist… but had to be dumped like a lump of coal due to a chain of custody issues. It’s giving real-life We’re the Millers with liquor in lieu of weed. And we’re willing to bet the squad of Scrooges—er, tequila thieves—are feeling #NoRagrets about their Christmastime crime.
Andrii – stock.adobe.com
Sticky Sitch When Gucci Mane said “A man can get lost in the sauce,” we’re pretty sure this is not what he meant. A tractor trailer carrying 38,000 pounds of steak sauce overturned on I-440 near Wade Avenue, causing traffic to get, well, bottlenecked as crews struggled to wash away the teriyaki marinade and clear the leftover bottles from the road. Fortunately, the saucy situation was unclogged before anyone with a spare filet caught wind of it.
Rawf8 – stock.adobe.com
Twilight’s Last Gleaming NC was feeling charitable (?) this year. An outpouring of love and support (read: cold hard cash) was donated to those who needed it most—aka a group of UNC frat brothers, natch. “Good samaritans” raised $500K+ to “throw a rager” for multiple fraternities after they protected an American flag during a campus protest and were hailed as “American heroes” in boat shoes. It’s not clear where the entirety of the half-mill went, but it’s safe to assume Zyn and Vineyard Vines got their fair share.
Out of Bounds It’s called disrespect—look it up. In a heated match, NCSU bball god—er, guard D.J. Horne—extended State’s infamy of “givin’ ’em the business” when he flashed both middle fingers, resulting in a figurative wrist slap (but no suspension) by the ACC in a mired matchup the Pack clawed back to win while racking up six collective fouls and a Keatts ejection. Consider this game’s flick off the charts.
Courtesy of shutterstock.com, with lizard generated by Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill
The Lizard of Oz Toto, I don’t think we’re in Florida anymore. … Spotted this spring on a self-guided tour of the Cap City, a 5-foot iguana was commandeered by Raleigh Police, marking the second iguana incident of 2024. It’s giving reptile dysfunction—and we’re here for it.
Courtesy of Carolina Panthers
Cup Gate In a fit you’d be more likely to find on a preschool playground, grown-ass tyrant—er, Panthers owner David Tepper—was caught on viral video throwing a “Tepper tantrum” when he chucked a cup toward some jibing Jacksonville fans… and then ran. One of the few completed passes of the 2023–24 season, the moment of utter inTeptitude (s/o Charlotte sports writer Scott Fowler) drew the ire of fed-up fans for its big dictator energy. Failing still to use his words, Tepper basically said “sorry not sorry,” blaming the fans for being mean to him, then managed to avoid suspension and draw a mere $300K for the assault. Translation: $3 to a person with a net worth of ~$200K. … Stay classy, Tepp.
In the Dumps Talk about a major dump. In April, a commercial dump truck hit and knocked down a sign on I-440 near the Hillsborough Street exit, leaving both directions of the highway, ahem, backed up for almost an hour. The clog-up came after the truck’s raised bed caused it to clip the metal structure, which just goes to show you should always squat before you go.
What does cocktail—or any dress code—even mean anymore?
Cocktail. Hip cocktail. Smart casual. Or—our favorite—an invite reads “no dress code,” only for you to get there and find everyone dressed to the nines. Decoding the ever-evolving dress code can be daunting—especially in the midst of holiday festivities—both as a guest who doesn’t want to stand out or as a host who wants their guests to look sharp.
But knowing how to navigate these “rules” can save social fluency. “There is still protocol, and you stick out when you don’t follow it,” says DressCode Style owner and professional stylist Maribeth Geraci, adding that, even though dress codes have gotten a lot more casual, four generations make up the workplace—at least two of which still care about dress codes. Clearly worth keeping in mind while selecting that OOTD.
“We’ve been so obsessed with everyone being their authentic self—which I’m all about,” says Geraci. “But being your authentic self doesn’t mean being inappropriate in a situation that has an invitation and calls for you to make a little effort.” Translation: Feeling awkward at a function with outlined attire is really on you. But rest assured you can dress the part and still feel and look authentically you.
Taboo Turns
Body modifications are becoming more common (32% of adults have a tattoo, and 22% have more than one), but does that mean piercings and tattoos are accepted at professional events? Geraci says it depends. “You have to know when and where to have them showing,” the stylist states. “Showing them is less of an issue [than before], as long as they are not offensive or distracting.”
So, when it comes to tattoos and piercings, you have to think about the arena you’re in. “Who else is in the room? Do you care about making an impact?” Geraci asks.
Black Tie/Formal
Formal means formal, with little room for interpretation. For women: a floor-length evening gown or your dressiest (and not too short) cocktail dress. For men, a suit or tux—and, yes, a tie is a must.
Semiformal
Formal but relaxed, semiformal sits between going to work and going to a gala. Think fun cocktail dresses, long skirts with dressy tops or the classic LBD for the ladies and button-downs, dark dress socks and ties for the gents.
Cocktail
Elegant lite—polished meets poised pizazz in the sweet spot between glam and business casual. Think short party dresses, paired coordinates, suits or trousers and a dressy top.
Hip Cocktail
This isn’t your grandma’s cocktail party. “Hip” is a clear indicator that the host cares what you wear: Trendy cocktail dresses paired with heels for women and suits for men—but fun color schemes and textures are welcome.
Business Professional
No room for interpretation—and no accessories or bright colors. For women, matching skirts or blazers, biz-style dresses with jackets or a pantsuit. For men, a suit with matching belt and shoes is non-negotiable. Pro tip: The darker the material, the more formal the look.
Business Casual
Comfy meets clean and professional. “Make the pause before you walk out,” emphasizes Geraci. Ask yourself: Is this casual look still polished? Think sweaters, dark-wash denim and polos.
Smart Casual
Comfortable but coordinated and classy—think something you would wear on a dinner date. Guys, lean into jeans without holes, polos and logo-free t-shirts under a jacket. Ladies, opt for a sundress, skirts, and lifestyle sneakers or flats. The later the event, the dressier.
Everyday
Look put-together 24/7 by keeping yourself and your clothes clean and wrinkle-free. “Make the extra step to get things tailored, and make sure you are pressed,” maintains Geraci. Translation: You don’t want to look like you just dug your duds out of a hamper. “Having a good life means making an effort, and the results are always tenfold. … You’ll shine.”
Hostess With the Mostess
If you’re hosting, have fun with the dress codes—just be sure to give your guests ample time to prepare their ‘fits (aka not day-of).
