A Secret No More: Merritt's Store and Grill

Our State magazine July 2013 issue featuring Merritt's Store and Grill.

 A feature article in this month's issue of Our State magazine was "10 Best Kept Secrets in North Carolina", and one of those listed was Merritt's Store and Grill in Chapel Hill.  Judging from the crowd that was there on Wednesday, it's no longer a secret.  I had hardly noticed this tiny little store on South Columbia Street that I passed each time I visited my PCP at the ACC in Chapel Hill.  But after reading that this Grill is known for its B.L.T.'s and learning that it is the little store that I had passed so many times, friend Marcia and I headed over for lunch the other day.

Marcia at the side of Merritt's Store and Grill.

Robin Britt and her husband Bob own this Store, and it was she who greeted us as we entered.  She explained that we ordered at one place, waited until the sandwich was ready while we selected our drinks from the cooler and then moved to the other side of the store to pay at the cash register.  So we got in line and both ordered the single B.L.T. (they come in three sizes single, double, triple---based on the number of layers of bacon, lettuce and tomato) between two slices of homemade sour dough bread.

Their BLT's come in three sizes.

Making sandwiches.

Our sandwiches were made very quickly, (the service was faster than most so called "fast food" places) and by then a long line had appeared.

Long line of customers waiting for their favorite sandwiches.

We just managed to get a table where a couple were leaving.  There is outdoor seating as well, and I noticed that many were getting their sandwiches to go.

I must say it is one of the best, if not the best, B.L.T.'s I have ever eaten.  And for my drink I chose an old-fashioned Cheerwine in a glass bottle with the metal cap. They have an old-fashioned bottle opener mounted near the door. 

My BLT.

Cheerwine in old-fashioned glass bottle with metal cap.

The store, at one time an Esso station, is now just a country store that is well-known for its sandwiches, particularly the B.L.T.  Sometimes on Saturdays, there is live music in a corner of the store.

After sharing my experience with my dear husband, my son, and my grandson, they are all ready to go with me the next time I head over for a B.L.T.  Best Kept Secret no more, not in our family.

A Sandwich With Some of My Favorite Ingredients

Green Goddess grilled cheese sandwich. (Photo from tastespotting).

Recently I ran across a recipe for a sandwich that includes some of my favorite ingredients: cheese, avocado, spinach, and pesto.  I finally got around to making it for supper last night.  The recipe is from the blog Tastespotting.  I didn't make my own pesto and I substituted yogurt cheese for the mozzarella, but boy was this a good sandwich.

Adding pesto to bread.

Spread pesto on two slices of whole grain bread.

Add cheese.

Add a slice of cheese to one slice of the bread.

Add avocado.

Add spinach.

Add the avocado and the spinach to one side of the sandwich.

Add remaining slice of cheese.

Add the remaining slice of cheese.  Top with the other slice of bread.  And grill in a bit of olive oil until brown on each side.

Grill until browned.

After toasting, cut in half.  Dan and I each had half of the sandwich with a bowl of soup for a delicious supper.

Enjoy!

For the recipe go to the tastespotting blog.  Also check out her great photos of this sandwich.  I'm going to follow her blog.  She has amazing suggestions for healthy sandwiches.

NC State Hunt Library on Centennial Campus

Photo from the Hunt Library website.

Friend Marcia and I ventured over to the NC State University Centennial Campus in the rain today to see the new James B. Hunt, Jr. Library which recently opened.  It is a gorgeous building---very modernistic.  It makes me want to be a student at State again.  When I was there, the Centennial Campus was not even planned I believe.  Although, I think, the Botany Department is probably still on the old campus.

The Library is named for former Governor Jim Hunt who served the state for four terms and was a great governor.

Governor Hunt. (Photo from the Wilson Times.)

Photo from the Hunt Library website.

Photo from the Hunt Library website.

Photo from the Hunt Library Website.

The lead designer for the Library was the Norwegian and New York firm Snøhetta and one can certainly see the Scandinavian influence inside and out.

Marcia at the bottom of the "yellow brick road". All the stairs are painted yellow.

Marcia relaxing in an egg chair.

Me in egg chair having fun. (Photo by Marcia.)

After visiting the Library we headed over to WhichWich for a sandwich of our choice.  This was Marcia'a first time at WhichWich.  This is the place where you can design your own sandwich.  I had an egg salad with pesto, and Marcia had a pork barbecue.  Both were delish.

You fill out your choice on the bag provided.

Indicate your choices of sauces, veggies, etc. and put your name on it before you place your order..

Your sandwich is then delivered to you in the bag that you turned in specifying Which Wich you wanted.

  We had a great time gadding about today.

Green Eggs and Ham

“Do you like green
eggs and ham?”“I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like green
eggs and ham!” .............

“I do so like
green eggs
and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!”

This was one of our children's favorite Dr. Seuss poems.  I liked it too.  At one point I think we could all quote it line by line from memory.  Last night I decided to try a new twist to egg salad and ham sandwiches for supper.  I made egg salad using pesto, and it turned out to be a lovely shade of green.  That with a slice of ham made for an interesting sandwich. Throw in a few sweet potato chips, and you have supper that even Theodor Geisel would have enjoyed.

Egg salad made with pesto.

Ham on one side, "green" egg salad on the other. 

A supper of green eggs and ham and a few sweet potato chips.