Raleigh is rising in the ranks as a top taco town, with delish and authentic taco outposts popping up in droves. But turning a good taco into an extraordinary one requires extra attention—read: fresh homemade tortillas.
That said, the Triangle is starting to see dedicated tortilla oases make their debut. Bull City-based Del Norte Tortillas’ locally sourced small-batch creations are a frontrunner of the upcoming fad that’s already a norm in fellow taco city, Austin. And an array of local eateries are also answering the call by chefing up their own homemade tortillas.
“In Texas, fresh, hot and ready corn and flour tortillas are a staple,” recalls a Texan-turned-Raleighite, noting the Lone Star State boasts a slew of stores (think H-E-B) with the popular product on offer. “That’s not something easy to do in Raleigh. I wish there were more places to get authentic tortillas, but it’s nowhere near as convenient as it is in Texas.”
But there’s hope yet: DTR Mexican eatery Centro makes its corn tortillas fresh daily with an ingredient called maseca, essentially a corn flour made from dried treated corn soaked in an alkaline solution. And its upcoming sister concept, Mala Pata, is set to level up the process by grinding corn in-house.
Clearly, quality tortillas are stirring up quite the craving—with a ream of Raleighites even taking to the streets to locate the circular flatbreads, and one local willingly posting up in line for hours outside Taqueria El Toro in search of a stash to showcase at a Super Bowl soiree.
And, so, the City of Oaks tortilla takeover is only just heating up. Ready to level up what’s holding all those fillings?
Where to get your handmade tortilla fix around town
Ponysaurus Brewing debuts third iteration at Raleigh Iron Works.
Rawr. Galloping into Raleigh Iron Works, Ponysaurus Brewing’s third iteration is slinging bevs and 14-inch pizzas (compliments of a collab with Oakwood Pizza Box’s Anthony Guerra), plus a fleet of chef-driven droolworthy bar fare.
Leaning into a more museumesque ambiance, the watering hole/grub hub is set to stand out from its Wilmington– and Durham-based sister spots. Case in point: the one-of-a-kind lifesize ponysaurus statue shipped from Denmark and assembled by an archeologist from the Duke Lemur Center.
“We didn’t want to make a cookie-cutter repeat,” says owner Nick Hawthorne-Johnson of the recently debuted Raleigh locale. “There is a sour- and barrel-aging facility and the production space is very viewable.”
Beyond its curated environs, two-story barrel room and pizza program, the outpost touts a restaurant helmed by chef de cuisine Roxy Garza of Lily’s Pizza and Fiction Kitchen, and renowned executive chef Jeff Seizer of Royale fame (NTM his stint at NYC’s Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Park Hotel).
DINOMITE: Wondering what a “ponysaurus” even is? When the idea of opening a brewery was still simmering in the conceptual phase, Hawthorne-Johnson and his then-partner thought they’d be tasked with creating the brand art themselves. Armed only with the knowledge of how to draw a dino or a pony, they opted to merge the two—eventually bringing on third partner David Baldwin, formerly of Baldwin&, who created the branding for the biz. (Photo courtesy of Ponysaurus)
“We’ve gotten together over the years to celebrate and cry over beers,” reflects Hawthorne-Johnson of his longtime friendship with Seizer. “We always talked about how fun it would be to work together—and he’s done a great job of bringing the menu to life and putting his stamp on it.” Positioned to complement the ’za, the grub is, as the owner puts it, “awesome”—(s/o to the brewery’s Pilsner beer-braised mussels!).
As for its setup in Iron Works, Hawthorne-Johnson notes the mixed-use development calls to mind bustling big-city hubs such as New York’s Chelsea Market and Atlanta’s Ponce City Market. “I was impressed with the thoughtful curation of the retail space [in Iron Works],” he says.
The eatery/drinkery is already gaining popularity as a gathering space for Raleighites to grab a bite or a pint, catch a game, or simply kick their feet back and relax. “People can come to a place they think is cool and share it with others—and it’s exciting to be part of the food scene [at Raleigh Iron Works] and the city,” he says. Cheers to its T-rexcellent oasis! ponysaurusbrewing.com
New happy hour activity found—and sparking a golf revolution.
If you thought golf was only for the business bros, think again. Taking over happy hours at 15 courses across the Triangle, Spark Golf is teeing up a new type of greenway play that’s social and approachable for everyone from Tiger Woods-level golfers to first-timers on the fairway.
“We set up Spark to be more fun and social than competitive,” explains co-founder and CEO Charlie Klaus. “Our average golfer is not a very good golfer—we wanted to bring the fun, accessible vibe [you get at places like Topgolf] to the green grass golf course.”
The league—which boasts 200,000 members and 2,000 courses spanning the country (and Canada!)—has relaxed rules to set golfers up for success. Think nine-hole games, gimmes within a putter’s length and playing out-of-bounds—with a bit of friendly competition still sprinkled in, natch.
Sparking up a golf revolution, the league seeks to expand golf games on the greenway as a stress-relieving hobby for all, redefining the sport’s stereotype as an exclusive activity found solely in swanky country clubs.
“If you look at traditional golf leagues, they are typically closed—and the general public can’t just walk up and play,” notes Klaus. “[Spark] is public, social and organized—and it’s fun!”
The social swings tee up weekdays after 5pm, stacking up as an above-par way to blow off a bit of steam after the office. And for those seeking to expand their personal and professional roster—there’s natural ops for that too. Essentially, a hole-in-one way to spend an evening. … Catch ya on the course? spark.golf
Dinner parties are the new “it” event. Here’s how to host one without breaking the bank.
Hungry but want to keep the party at home? Good news: 2024 has been dubbed “the year of the dinner party,” allowing hosts with the most to create a private ambiance feat. home-cooked—or catered—dishes and QT with family and friends sans the stress of navigating the hoopla of heading out for a meal (read: booking a rez, finding parking and changing out of your PJs).
Digging further into the trend, as the cost of eating out increases and the desire to imbibe decreases (hey, sober revolution!), many millennials and Gen Zers are opting to take hospitality into their own hands while simultaneously keeping costs low—and sharing on their social feeds, natch.
Clearly, the movement is sweeping society, with Evite data showing searches for “dinner parties” have boosted by 148% compared to last year. See also: local startup small biz Canary honing in on providing the resources for said stylish abode events—from originally decorated tablescapes and curated themes to an array of glassware and table rentals, Spotify playlists and place mats.
For the lowdown on how to throw down via your own foodie night in, we tapped event planning extraordinaire Catrina Vienrich of Vine Rich Events. Here, her tips and tricks to host a showstopping at-home supper soiree—without breaking the bank. Cheers to a house (dinner) party!
Shake It Up • For an elevated experience sans the upward of $20/cocktail price tag, stir up a fun welcome alcoholic or nonalcoholic bev with ingredients already in your pantry (mod cocktail database Make Me a Cocktail always has great ideas!). Or grab a cheap bottle of wine and mix with fruit on-hand and your fave juice for an easy and budget-friendly sangria.
Hey, Buds • Get guests in the dinner-party mood without shelling out Benjamins on pricey buds via a bouquet (or two!) of flowers for the table from the farmers market or grocery store.
On Theme • Pick a vibe—then go ham flexing those Pinterest skills to create your own decorative tablescape, invitations, dress code and ambiance. Pro tip: Cut costs further by repurposing what you already have or visiting a local craft store or thrift shop.
What’s Cooking • If you opt for full-fledged dishes over snacks and starters, prep your meal(s) ahead of time rather than calling in a caterer—and keep the dishes in a warming drawer if needed while you wait for your guests to arrive. Taste of Home has a smattering of tasty—and affordable!—recipes that promise to smack.
Familiar Fare • Instead of snagging fancy ingredients and products from the store, keep it simple and stick to your strengths. Think of emulating A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving—it doesn’t always matter what you’re eating… just who you’re with!
Keep It Sweet • Don’t forget dessert! Truly the inexpensive cherry on top of an appetizing evening, the most important part of the meal stays price effective with ops like a DIY ice cream bar or batch of brownies. Or for summer vibes, stay stacked with s’mores prepped in the oven or out on the bonfire
If you have a necklace or bracelet that never leaves your body—think sleep, shower, gym and beyond—now you can weld it on. Like, literally. Enter permanent jewelry—aka the latest all-the-rage jewelry op that allows you to trade the clasp, tangle and tarnish life for custom-fit and welded—or “zapped” on—selects.
Not to be confused with tats, these typically thin and dainty 24/7 forever chains are lightweight and hassle-free. Plus they match almost everything (read: neutral). And while bracelets have garnered the most traction to date, necklaces, rings, waist chains and anklets are gaining ground as the concept takes root.
One of the first to jump on the permanent jewelry bandwagon locally is jewelry brand HEIR Raleigh, whose founder Sophie Wiseman-Floyd noticed Raleigh was ready to take advantage of the everlasting bling. “I would say [the trend is] just now hitting the less urban areas like Clayton, Garner and Wake Forest, where it’s still very novel,” says Wiseman-Floyd. “Places like NYC have had it for five years. In Raleigh, it’s been like two.”
Serving up such selects as sterling silver- and gold-filled chains—NTM BYO go-to special pieces—HEIR zaps at its studio, as well as public events.
And commitment-phobes, fear not. While the jewelry is permanent, it doesn’t have to stay on forever. If your mood shifts, you can cut it off at any time. But it’s durable enough to outlast most day-to-day shenanigans. Notes Wiseman-Floyd, if you go out or workout a lot, you’re more likely to req replacement or a reattachment sesh.
And the concept is proving to be more than just a passing fad. “I think it’s similar to piercing and tattooing, and there’s going to be more and more opportunities to be diverse with charms, getting into earrings, that sort of thing,” maintains the local zapper. “There’s so much room for opportunity.” So, looks like permanent jewelry may be forever?! @heir.raleigh
