Wooden Nickel Pub (WNP) in Hillsborough, NC

The Wooden Nickel, Bonafide Sandwich Shop and the Creole restaurant called LaPlace are all owned by the same restaurateurs and their food and drink presence in downtown Hillsborough is very much alive. The Wooden Nickel is a small, dark and intimate pub with seats at the bar, a few little nooks by the windows and then a "rail" in the middle where you can stand and drink a beer. 

There are also a few benches outside and it fills up quickly. You have to come early or just wait for someone to leave and grab a table. Wooden Nickel also has an interesting beer theme where they serve one brewery's beer all month on their 12 taps. They will always have one sour on tap and then if a beer runs out, they switch it out with another local beer. March, for example, is all Lagunitas beer. The taps have Sucks, Hopstoopid, Cappuccino stout, Dogtown, etc.If one of the Lagunitas beers is out, I saw them change it out with something like and Evil Twin or D9. The bartender said to check out their instagram and facebook feed to learn about which brewery would be featured each month. It sounds like Stone and Wicked Weed will be coming up soon and I like the concept to feature a brewery each month. They also offer beer in bottles, mixed drinks and wine. 

You can see the kitchen from the open bar window and it is amazing what comes out of that small kitchen. For a small establishment and bar, I was very impressed with the caliber and quality of the food. It rivals some of the best restaurants and their wings are some of the best around. 

You can get wings in 6, 12 or more and then pick your sauces. We had mild buffalo and that had just the right amount of heat and the wings are really huge and piping hot. For my entree, I had the daily special which was fried flounder (lightly breaded) over Jicama salad with smoked pepper crema. It was tropical in flavor and the combination with the jicama salad worked perfectly. Daniel had the chicken tacos and the meat was braised in beer and served on corn tortillas. 

All of the ingredients are fresh and from local farms and next time I want to try the hamburgers. They have two smaller TVsvand it is a small yet lively place on Hillsborough's main street and each time we went, it was bustling. I would highly recommend stopping in when in Hillsborough.

Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina

Henry VIII is coined with saying "Hops are a wicked and pernicious weed". This quote is the motto of Wicked Weed in Asheville and they have done everything right from the very beginning to create one of the best beer destinations in all of North Carolina. Wicked Weed is a brewery, a restaurant, a pub, a tasting room, and a merchandise store. Everything is top quality and they focus on quality, taste, and excellence. 

The main bar area and dining hall is always bustling with people and photos of Henry VIII adorn the walls. Wicked Weed has outdoor dining options and when the weather is nice, it has a very open feel with the large bay doors that make the restaurant feel very spacious. Outside is also a very nice fire pit and people will sit around it in the fall. Dogs are allowed and the ambiance is always relaxed as guests sip on their beer and dine on the delicious food. 

I have had some of the best craft beer and also the best lamb burger at Wicked Weed. The food menu offers hearty appetizers and high-end pub food with burgers, fries, and cheese platters. I have never had a bad meal at Wicked Weed and there is something for everyone. 

The beer choices abound and are all displayed on the chalk boards listing the names and ABV and also on the menus. The Freak Double IPA is great and the Petite Saison is light and refreshing. During my most recent visit in October 2015,  they had added a merchandise store with all kinds of Wicked Weed t-shirts, caps, souvenirs and also boxes of their bottled beer. Mims Distributing in Raleigh most recently picked up Wicked Weed for distribution in the Raleigh area so the Wicked Weed presence in the Triangle will be much greater. 

 There is also a Biergarden downstairs with more indoor and outdoor seating and a Funkatorium that was added about a year ago. The sours coming out of the Funkatorium are just as stellar as their regular beer line-up. I believe you can also sign up for tours. All in all, Wicked Weed is an Asheville destination and a must-visit while in this Western NC mountain town. 

Bonafide Sandwich Shop in Hillsborough, NC

I will admit that the purpose of the visit to Hillsborough was to check out the Bonafide Sandwich Shop and we were just killing time to try to make it to the shop when they opened. The acclaimed sandwich shop opened on Monday, March 7th and is run by the same restaurant team that opened the Wooden Nickel Pub (WNP) and a Louisiana Cookery Creole restaurant called LaPlace. All three restaurants are on N. Churton street and in close proximity of each other.

"Enjoy every sandwich" is the shop theme and it stems from the late singer/songwriter Warren Zevon's life motto. You will also note that one of the sandwiches is called "Werewolves of London".

Bonafide is open every day from 10:30am to 4:00pm. You can either order online, call in your order or wait in line at the shop. There is no seating and you literally walk in, pick your sandwich and drink and wait for your name to be called. The sandwiches come on toasted sub rolls, focaccia, toasted rye and you there are some vegetarian options. They also offer salads, sides and power bowls. Once you pick your menu item, you check it off on the piece of paper and write your name on top. This order then gets put in the register and after you pay, the order slip gets sent to the little kitchen right behind the register on a clothes line pin. You can see all the action in the open kitchen and the ingredients were so colorful and fresh.

For drinks, you can opt for craft sodas and ginger ales in glass bottles (Blenheim's, etc). The other option is to pick one of their non-alcoholic drafts and they offer kombucha, sweet tea, root beer and green tea.

After our sandwiches were ready, we headed to Ayr Mount and had our delicious sandwiches on a park bench. The smokin' chicken sandwich was loaded with meat and all fresh ingredients like celery, mustard grain and red onions.

I also had a bite of the Noble Pig and it was full of meat and flavor. We will be making more trips back to Hillsborough and judging from the lines already, this artisanal sandwich shop in Orange County is hot and becoming a downtown destination.

Hillsborough, NC

It has been years since I have visited Hillsborough. A close family friend named Kathy took me to the famous Italian dinnerware outlet called Vietri outlet about 12 years ago and I have not been back since. During a visit this past weekend to this small town in Orange County, I realized how charming and quaint it is and that there are fantastic culinary finds and outdoor parks and walks. 

We started our trip at the Weaver Street market right as you enter Hillsborough from I-40 via exit 261 from Raleigh. As you come down the hill, you will see Weaver Street market on your left. There is a public parking deck and great location to access the town and Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is a path with about 1.8 miles of walkway along the Eno River and through Hillsborough. It also houses a pieces of natural artwork by Patrick Dougherty. 

      

Spring Flowers inside Weaver Street Market 

 I would definitely stop inside Weaver Street Market to check out the local foods and fresh items. The cheese from Hillsborough Cheese Company is available here and I found it at the Western Wake Farmer's Market in Morrisville as well. The goat cheese is some of the best around and goes perfectly with wine and thin crackers.  Another find that is local to Hillsborough is the Maple View ice cream. You can find it in the frozen aisle of Weaver Street market. I took home a pint of vanilla and a pint of chocolate and creamy and fresh, just how ice cream should be. Next time I will make it to the actual farm and get a waffle cone. 

From Weaver Street, you can walk and make a left on Churchton street. Walk to the light at King Street and make a right. You will pass the Orange County Courthouse and a few restaurants and shops. 

The Visitor's Center is a great place to stop and get some pamphlets, maps and information about the history of Hillsborough and surrounding areas. Inside there is artwork featured from a local artist, music playing on the TV, and a room to sit and listen if there are any lectures. 

Driftwood Southern Kitchen in Raleigh, NC

Driftwood Southern Kitchen is now on my top ten list of favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Located in the miniature-European-replica village of Lafayette off of 540, you have plenty of options to dine and shop. This is such a fabulous restaurant that serves up lunch, dinner and the best brunch buffet around. They offer drink specials every day and focus on local ingredients. The service is always top-notch and you truly get a taste of Southern hospitality at Driftwood. 

The chairs and decor are just amazing and everything from the cork decorations holding the drink specials to the burlap coffee bag cushion covers reminds me of Pinterest projects come to life. Driftwood occupies the space that used to be a market and you can see the white Subway tile wall remains in the kitchen and large windows. There are deco signs and beautiful lighting and the designer of this space just did a fantastic job. 

Their Daily Drink Specials are:

Moonshine Monday: All moonshine cocktails are $5

Tappin' Tuesday: All draft beers are $3

Whiskey Wednesday: All whiskey is half-off

Thirsty Thursday: All glasses of wine are half-off

It's Finally Friday: All house brand liquors are $4

Suds Saturday: All bottled beers are $3

Funday Sunday: All mimosas are only $2 

Brunch is served Sundays from 10am to 2pm and it is $16.95 per adult and $9.95 for kids 10 and under. They also have $2 mimosas and you have to wait until noon to order them. The buffet has about 14-16 choices and includes eggs, green beans, Southern fried chicken, Macaroni and Cheese , and so many other delectable foods. 

The salads are always fresh and colorful and there aren't too many buffet choices where you feel overwhelmed. Everything is tastefully presented on the counter facing the kitchen and you can go up to the buffet as many times  as you wish. 

I also recommend ordering the hot coffee or hot tea. It is included in the brunch price and the presentation on the wooden boards is just beautiful and very artistic. 

If you come back for lunch or dinner, the menu items are just as delectable as the brunch. We came in as a family and had a fantastic meal and everyone found something they liked. 

    Southern Fried Chicken with Watermelon (Summer Dish) 

                        Salmon over vegetables and grain 

You can make reservations on Opentable and I highly recommend coming here during Triangle Restaurant Week, on a Sunday for brunch, or any other day of the week to try the delicious food in a comfortable setting.