by Anna Beth Adcock | Oct 2, 2023 | Eat, October 2023
From the minds of Dram & Draught co-owners Drew Schenck and Kevin Barrett—along with partner Philip Duff—comes a duo of bottled liquors to the market.
Don’t walk, but run—er, rum?—for your fix of two world-class gin and rum bottles debuting Nov. 1. The carefully curated liquors include Moonbird Gin and GOATz Rum. Each distilled with an array of different botanicals and minimal sugar, the bevs are smooth enough to shoot straight, yet balanced enough to mix into a cocktail. Rum drinkers, daiquiris with GOATz come highly recommended (!).
“We distilled 10 botanicals separately, then blended the gins together to create the exact flavor profile we wanted,” explains Drew Schenck, co-owner of the new bottled bev enterprises. “That’s different—with most gins, you add flavoring or you have a gin pot… and what you come out with can vary based on the strength of the oils, peels or the botanical.”
Adds co-owner Kevin Barrett: … “We developed Moonbird Gin to be versatile. [Whether it’s] gin and tonic, a martini, or a Negroni… this gin stands up.”
Truly world-class, both spirits have amassed a fair share of passport stamps throughout the creation process. As for GOATz, the rum is distilled in Barbados, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, then barrel-aged in Amsterdam and bottled in Schiedam, Holland.
“We’re very proud of the GOATz Rum,” says Barrett. “It’s delicious; [it has] a ton of flavor without overdoing the sugar or vanilla. Just like with Dram & Draught, we looked at what was out there and did our best to make something we liked even better.”
The Moonbird Gin is also distilled and bottled in Schiedam, which, fun fact, is best known for its gin—and ~100 years ago boasted a whopping 400 distilleries. Now, there are only four—one of which was used to distill Moonbird.
To boot, the GOATz and Moonbird bottles themselves are not to be ignored. Both designs are baked on ceramic, making the bottles durable and collectible. “You can drop it in water, come back in 100 years and clean it, and it’ll look just like it does,” elaborates Schenck.
Available across 34 states for home delivery this month, the bottled pair are set to shake up the spirits scene. Want these bevs in Raleigh? Request it at your local ABC store. We’ll toast to that! spiritofthedao.com
by Melissa Howsam | Oct 2, 2023 | Eat, October 2023
The Sriracha shortage is real—but this will get you through.
Gaps in grocery shelves. Empty Amazon carts. When it comes to Sriracha, merchants seem to be answering Snoop’s call to “drop it like it’s hot.” And it’s all become a hot mess for Sriracha lovers.
Thanks to the all-too-real ongoing shortage, the cult-classic green-capped Huy Fong Foods hot chile sauce is either impossible to find or excessively overpriced (read ~$50 on Amazon for a lone bottle as of press time—if available at all)—leaving us to fend for ourselves in a lawless land of hot sauce bandits and imposters. Looking at you, Texas Pete “Sriracha”… and never looking again, ick.
And lest you think I’m just some ordinary trendy condiment consumer, I’ve long heralded nicknames like “sauce slut”—and even “Sriracha” as a regular at Sono for my penchant to consume large quantities and plaster the tangy topper on, well, everything. So this is personal—and we decided to fight fire with a fiery fix.
Since those rooster-emblazoned fan fave bottles don’t look to be free-flowing anytime soon—enter climate change debate, but even hot-climate-thriving peppers have their limits—we chatted up MOFU Shoppe for their hot take, as the local shop has turned to mirroring the sauce for consumers looking to blaze up the bland life.
“Our sauce profile is more tangy than sweet,” says chef Jade Ward—“but that’s mainly to offset the richness and sweetness of our twice-cooked pork belly dish.” And if you’re looking to satisfy your Sriracha craving without the kitchen time, “Flying Goose Brand and Grand Mountain Sriracha sauce are comparable,” adds Ward. “More kick, less sweet!” #Fire.
MOFU Sriracha
at Home
• 1 lb. fresno peppers (whatever degree of spiciness you’d like—preferably red peppers for color; optional red jalapenos, red Thai chiles)
• 1/2 cup water
• 10 cloves garlic
• 4 oz. brown sugar
• 2 oz. white sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
Deseed/destem the pepper (for heat preference); chop peppers and smash garlic. Then combine all ingredients into a pot. Let simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes. Optional: Add more/less vinegar or water to taste and consistency. Blend all ingredients.
Let cool and enjoy!
by Heidi Reid | Sep 25, 2023 | Do, October 2023
Raleigh’s newest space for female empowerment has opened its doors.
If you’re looking to renew and revitalize your health, hobbies and mind alongside like-minded women, meet your new go-to safe haven: The Lotus Room. Created as a hub of knowledge, joy and spiritual enlightenment, the sanctuary aims to empower women to “make decisions that propel their lives forward,” according to founder Felicia Trujillo, who is also the founder of boutique marketing studio Food Seen.
Trujillo dreamed up The Lotus Room while embarking on her own search for self-improvement, after finding room for enhancement in many of the spaces she stumbled upon. While some targeted a different age demographic, others just didn’t offer the desired growth she was after. So, the small business owner decided to create her own space for women like her.
“I had an opportunity with this space to bring in other women to learn about something interesting that could improve their lives in some way,” says Trujillo. “Maybe they’ll make a friend or they’ll meet a mentor or somebody to support their business.” After all, connections are everything.
The intimate space holds two to three educational sessions a week on intentional topics like financial literacy, sex and intimacy, chakras, and functional medicine—all inspired by connection and self-care. Sessions are taught by local experts, but questions and dialogue are encouraged. “Sometimes we learn more from each other and the questions we ask than we learn from an educator,” Trujillo maintains.
The entryway to the room will have cubbies for electronics and all your baggage—both physical and mental!—and coffee or wine will be provided before the session starts. Participants are encouraged to kick off their shoes and get cozy amid the rugs and floor pillows. “Come in casual, comfortable wear and imagine you’re walking into your friend’s house and sitting on her living room floor,” urges Trujillo.
Like a private wellness retreat for women, The Lotus Room isn’t a fitness studio, classroom or school, but a laid-back space to connect with both others and yourself over all things physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and professional—NTM bevvys and no shoes. Self-improvement doesn’t get much better than that. @thelotusroomraleigh
by Kara Scott | Sep 20, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Fall for Emily Martin’s Cinnamon Rolls this season
“They see me rollin’” … and they craving Emily Martin’s Cinnamon Rolls—especially now that ’tis the season for baked fall treats (!). Available year-round at Cantina 18, these gooey rolls make the perfect quick breakfast or snack—or gift for a sweets-loving friend or family member (hey, holiday season!).
Creator/owner Martin’s recipe for the delightfully decadent old-fashioned treats blends tradition and innovation, using a sourdough yeast starter and a craveworthy creamy glaze on top. “Cinnamon rolls have been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember,” shares the cinnamon roll chef. “When I learned to make them, I began sharing them with family and friends—and our tradition soon grew.”
Her partnership with Cantina 18 chef and proprietor Jason Smith began three years ago in an attempt to spread the sweetness of her culinary creations with a wider audience—and they’ve remained popular ever since. “We worked together, and his team really took to learning and appreciating the art of making my cinnamon rolls,” she says of the collab.
Enjoy the goods at home via a six-pack bun bundle that requires only a quick heat-up in the oven—and results in a heavenly fragrance and a belly full of goodness. Beyond a delish dessert, the cinnamon rolls make great gifts or menu items for bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, and holiday gatherings.
“Our busiest time of the year traditionally has been holidays, but we have actually seen an increase in demand year-round as people have begun to make them a part of their own special traditions,” says Martin. That said, it’s never too early to begin prepping for the busy season…Roll models of dessert, the buns also pair beautifully with mimosas, coffee or hot chocolate (brunch, anyone?). And in addition to Cantina 18, you can also find them at NOFO. Nice buns, indeed.
by Anna Beth Adcock | Sep 20, 2023 | Eat, September 2023
Pumpkin spice and everything not nice—a few foods that make us say “ew”?
Make no mistake—we love pumpkin spice as much as the next fall flavor fanatic (Thursday’s are PSL day at the RM office!), but some of the seasonal snacks go way too far. Between September to November, pumpkins pummel the flavor market, most notably found in lattes, muffins, cookies and the like. Here, we’ve rounded up some fall foods that cause us pause. Would you give these, ahem, interesting pumpkin products a try?
Pumpkin Spice Vegan Protein Powder
All about those gainz? Make moves and shake things up with some spice in your post- or preworkout sustenance. Could this be the pump you’re looking for or will you take an L…
Simply Gum Pumpkin Spice Chewing Gum
Chew on this? Pop a piece of pumpkin spice chewing gum for fall flavor (and fresh breath!) via this six-pack found on Amazon that’ll either last you until Christmas—or until you toss it. We give it two days…
Pinnacle Pumpkin Spice Vodka
Pumpkin haze might be a new level of tipsy. This vodka could amp up those seasonal cocktail creations with its seasonally spirited pumpkin + nutmeg notes. Spicy spirits worth the sip? You decide.
Pumpkin Spice Avocado Oil Caviar
Top your ice cream, dessert or coffee with this interesting creation (made with 100% avocado oil and sans the fish!) that’s blended with a scad of spices—think cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. Pinkies up?
Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus
Are chickpeas and pumpkin the perfect combo? We’ll let you be the judge. Grab your fave fruit or pretzel to sample a blend of chickpeas, pumpkin, vanilla beans, sugar and a mixture of fave fall spices (cinnamon! nutmeg!). Ready to dip?
Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Trash Bags
“Pumpkin spice is so trash.” Said the creators of the cinnamon pumpkin spice-scented trash bags, probably. If eating it isn’t enough, toss your pumpkin spice leftovers into the bin, also flaunting the aroma of the autumn fruit. What a waste?
