Hello everyone! Welcome to The NC EAT & PLAY Podcast.
I’m MEGAN, your host. As the HEAD CURATOR\TASTER AND EXPLORER of NC Eat & Play, I am thrilled to welcome you to our podcast.
I started NC Eat & Play to highlight and celebrate local businesses, establishments and “worth-the-trip” destinations in North Carolina. Growing up here, I love the fact that we’re helping thousands of locals discover great local food finds and activities curated for sensible budgets and everyday play.
I like to always say… I’m a local wanderluster whose adventures include my husband, Harrison and my toddler, Dean. They always make it fun and exciting. And as a young family, making the most of our time together is important.
A Look Back at the Week
I don’t know about you guys, but my days are definitely starting to run together and I’m trying to find ways to stay busy and active. We’ve been enjoying taking several walks together and my favorite place to walk right now is a greenway in Morrisville, right behind my house. It’s super beautiful and I’m going to share some pictures with you guys on my Instagram. Stay tuned.
Pizza is life! And I’m so excited to share my new favorite pizza place, Pizzeria Veritas I just tried in Cary the other day. The pepperoni pizza is just heaven! The garlic knots are some of the best I’ve ever had and the marinara sauce is incredible. I can’t recommend them enough!
I also visited Kanki, a Japanese restaurant, and had some delicious food. While you can’t enjoy the fun time at the hibachi grill right now, they are still offering take out. It’s a great deal for the amount of food you get too. Definitely try their yum yum sauce.
We also went to Lake Crabtree for a nice walk. They have a beautiful view of the lake while you stroll through the hills. If you decide to visit Lake Crabtree, make sure you search “old reedy creek parking lot” into maps to take you to my favorite spot. Thank you to everyone who saw my Instagram post and tagged me in their pictures too. It makes my day when you guys try my recommendations and I love seeing you enjoying your time with your family.
We also got take-out from Bosphorus in Cary, which serves authentic Turkish and Mediterranean dishes. They offer complimentary bread, which was some of the best bread I’ve had. If you go, definitely try a dish called cigar bourek – it’s a Turkish take on Mozzarella sticks and is just delicious.
Finally, we had take-out from Soca in Raleigh. We had pan de yuca, which are little bread rolls filled with cheese. It’s the ultimate cheese pull y’all! Definitely give them a try.
Did You Know
Okay…. Next up… I always like to play a little game called: DID YOU KNOW? My family plays this game all the time. It’s a great way to learn more about our southern roots and about each other. Today’s topic will be on how I met my husband, Harrison.
Did you know that Harrison and I met as teenagers at Carolina Beach? We actually went to the same church growing up as kids, but we never met until we were 16. I’m so thankful that we never met earlier because the awkward stage that I went through was REAL. I’m telling you that I was unrecognizable.
We went to different congregations within the church and when I was 16, our church pulled all the congregations together for a beach trip. My mom went with me and while she was making me apply sunscreen in front of everyone (which I hated), Harrison walked by and saw how embarrassed I was by my mom. He turned to me and said, “It’s okay, I have a mom too.” I was immediately smitten with him and it just took off from there.
The Main Course
I really want to emphasize how important take-out and delivery are right now to support our local businesses and restaurants. I really want to highlight the places that I feel are well worth the trip and drive.
Top 6 Restaurants to Order Takeout
DeeLuxe Chicken in Durham
OPEN Tuesday-Sunday from 12 pm – 4 pm
They make the most unreal, delicious chicken sandwiches in the area. They are also offering an amazing deal at the moment – a sandwich, side of your choice and hush puppies all for only $6.00. You can also get a family-size order – just call them 24 hours in advance.
Debbie Lou’s Biscuit Shop in Durham
OPEN Thursday-Sunday from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm
They have the most amazing and unique biscuits like lobster, garlic butter and blueberry chicken chipotle. I’ve loved every flavor that I’ve tried so far.
Empanada Factory in Wake Forest
CALL FOR HOURS
This is one of Harrison’s favorites! They are open every day starting at 11 am. They have so many flavors and they are all so delicious. Don’t forget to try their dessert empanadas – my favorite is the oreo cheesecake. Also, right now kids eat for free with every adult purchase, which is especially great during these difficult times.
Zenfish Poke in Morrisville and Durham
OPEN DAILY at 11 am
If you haven’t had a poke bowl yet, it’s unwrapped sushi in a bowl form and super delicious. The quality is spectacular. If you don’t like raw fish, they also have some cooked varieties, like crab and crawfish. They have tons of house sauces to choose from too.
Salt & Lime Cabo Grill in Raleigh
OPEN Tuesday-Sunday from 4 pm – 8 pm
They have some of the best tacos I’ve ever had in the triangle especially the Bangkok shrimp, braised short rib, and the Korean BBQ. I highly recommend the queso – it’s the chef’s personal recipe and is made fresh. No canned queso here!
Alpaca Peruvian Chicken through the Triangle
OPEN DAILY from 11 am – 9 pm
You guys, this is not just your regular chicken. This is the best chicken I’ve ever had, from the crispy skin to the flavor. I love their yuca fries and fried plantains. They also offer jerk chicken on Fridays and have many delicious sauces to choose from.
Family Activities During COVID-19
I know that this current situation we’re all facing at the moment is difficult and I want to encourage everyone to find ways to have fun and enjoy meals with your family. I created a little list of some fun ways to enjoy your time with your family while social distancing:
- Picnic at the Park: Grab a blanket, pick up some take-out and have a nice day outside.
- Candlelit Dinner at Home: Pick-up your favorite takeout and have a nice date-night at home.
- Camp in the Backyard or Living Room: Set up a tent, make some smores and enjoy some take-out.
- Have a Themed Dinner: Create a theme and dress up as your favorite characters.
- Zoom Dinner Party: Have everyone order food from the same place and enjoy dinner together.
- Order Delivery: Please remember to tip your delivery driver well or just leave them a nice thank you note. This is a fun way to teach our kids to help others during difficult times.
I want to thank you for listening to this podcast. I always like to end every show by asking for your willingness to support local businesses as much as you can. I really hope that the information we share is of benefit to you and encourages you to support, shop, dine, explore and play more, locally.
I want to remind you that you can follow NC Eat & Play on Instagram and on Facebook. I’d love to connect with you and get suggestions and insights to great places you recommend.