Gadding About at A Place at the Table in downtown Raleigh

A Place at the Table is a nonprofit community restaurant where everyone can eat regardless of your ability to pay.  The food is quite delicious and there's a nice variety of breakfast and lunch items from which to choose.  This was the first time that I and my granddaughter Grace had been to this place, but today we decided to have brunch there.  It was a nice choice.  We both thought it was a good way to start our Sunday.

Josh, the manager of the cafe.

Grace ready to enjoy her waffle and latte. 

Grace's Belgian waffle. 

My waffle with bacon and two perfectly cooked poached eggs. 

The nonprofit restaurant was opened in early 2018 as Raleigh's first pay-what-you-can restaurant.  Prices are comparable to other downtown places, and those who can afford to pay full price can do so and even if they choose they can buy a token for a $10 donation or leave a tip that goes into the operating fund of the restaurant. Those who may not be able to afford full price can come in and choose a token and get a meal.  The person who uses a token must then volunteer their time in the restaurant in return.  Maggie Kane, the young Raleigh native, who opened the restaurant says this is a hand up rather than a handout.  I was also pleased to learn that the folks who work there are paid a living wage!

Outside tables as well as inside (Photo by Walter magazine.)

It was nice to be enjoying a good meal with people from all walks of life.  This is going to be one of my places to eat on a regular basis now, and I might even sign up to volunteer. It is such a wonderful way to help those who may otherwise go hungry, and it makes me proud to live in a city such as Raleigh.

Check out this article about Maggie Kane and APATT in Walter Magazine.

Gadding About With The Chef and The Farmer in Kinston, NC

Ever since Vivian Howard opened The Chef and The Farmer in Kinston, NC eleven years ago I have been dying to have dinner there.  Yesterday I finally had my chance thanks to my friend Jen who discovered that Walter Magazine was featuring an event, A Day With Vivian Howard.  Jen and I signed up early and were among the 80 guests who were lucky enough to get tickets (There were 40 folks turned away).

Our first treat was making biscuits with Lillie over in Vivian's Test Kitchen.  Three volunteers from the crowd under Lillie's supervision made biscuits using Lillie's recipe.  As an hors d'oeuvre before dinner (in the south where I grew up, the noon meal was called dinner and the evening meal was called supper) we had a taste of  biscuit with various kinds of jams and preserves.

Making biscuits with Lillie and Vivian in the Test Kitchen (Photo by Jen Salisbury).

A short walk back over to the restaurant and dinner was ready.

The four at our table shared Vivian's Party Magnet with Mimosas served from the bar.

The bar with a reflection of Jen in the mirror above the bar.

Next came the crispy apple salad topped with shaved Calavander cheese.

Until now I have not been a fan of collard greens, but that changed once I tasted the Vegetable Collard Chowder.  It was my favorite course of this meal.  There is no photo, because I was so taken with the soup that I forgot to take one.  I hope the recipe is in her book, because I will make that.   The main course was a melt in your mouth pork with field peas and potatoes and garnished with cress. Yum, yum, yum!

What better than an apple fritter with buttermilk creme fraiche to top of this unbelievably delicious meal!

Vivian Howard is bringing Kinston back to life!  The Chef and The Farmer is as outstanding as the superb reviews it has garnered and awards it has won!  I'll be back.

This event sponsored by Walter Magazine was a day long event, so I will be posting a second blog later about our afternoon and evening fun. Stay tuned.