September 2019 – Food & Drink Issue

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At the end of July, I took the first weeklong vacation of my adult life (finally). My partner and I stayed with friends in a 1940s-era cottage on Kure Beach, which has been in our friend’s family essentially since Kure Beach itself was incorporated.

It took me a while to acclimate to beach life, and I probably responded to one too many emails during the trip. But when I was able to relax, it was glorious.

Still, you miss some of the comforts of home when you’re away, and I kept craving a meal or a drink from our excellent restaurants and bars. (You can only survive on tomato sandwiches and mimosas for so long, after all.)

We went out for sushi our first night, and – while I love sushi in all forms – it still didn’t hold a candle to M Sushi or Shiki. The next night, weary from a day in the sun and not wanting to put much effort into dinner, we ordered your basic delivery pizza, and, as you can imagine, I was left missing my Pie Pushers, Hutchins, and Toro. You couldn’t beat noshing on a burrito on a beachfront patio, but I found myself wishing I was digging into one from Cosmic or NuvoTaco. The Thai place we got takeout from was a shadow of what I would expect from Thai Cafe. Really, the best meal we had on the trip was a low country boil we made ourselves on our last night, complete with freshly caught shrimp, just-shucked ears of corn, and Old Bay seasoning – luckily, I can count on Saltbox Seafood Joint for all my seafood needs. Our friends are gin lovers, and so we made plans to reunite in early 2020 to visit Durham Distillery’s craft cocktail bar Corpse Reviver when it opens (see more on page 55).

Rejuvenated after a week of beach views and spectacular sunsets, I was glad to be back in the Bull City with the dishes and drinks I’ve grown to love.

THE 10TH ANNUAL FOOD & DRINK ISSUE

40 Around The World in Eight Plates
The owners of these globally influenced restaurants share the dishes that best exemplify their brand, roots and passions

50 Cheer to 150 Years!
Close to a dozen restaurants and bars created a cocktail with Durham Distillery Conniption Gin to commemorate the Bull City’s sesquicentennial

56 Keep on Truckin’
Two Puerto Rican food trucks are bringing tastes from the Island of Enchantment to their new downtown restaurants

DURHAM INC.

93 Cleaning Up
Get Spiffy has tapped into the on-demand market by bringing the car wash directly to the consumer

95 Biz Briefs

99 Networking: Precision BioSciences Opens Manufacturing Facility in RTP

100 Breaking an Antiquated Code
Coding boot camps are helping women and minorities gain ground within an industry long devoid of diversity

SPONSORED CONTENT

34 Healthy Durham: The Making of the Durham County Health Assessment

38 Adopt a Pet

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

8 Go. See. Do.
September’s hottest events

22 Noted
What we’ve heard around town …

26 Getting Warmer
This fall, update your closet with rich hues of burgundy, brown and gold

28 A Toast to Nana’s
Duke’s Dr. David S. Pisetsky revisits Nana’s following its brief closure

30 History in the Making
How Provident1898 is attracting a diverse and inclusive next generation of entrepreneurs

32 Back-to-School Meals and Deals
Some of the best spots in Durham to hit for quick, easy and discounted meals

36 It’s All About the Climb
What you need to know before checking out Durham’s newest rock climbing gym

65 Taste
Discover our city’s best restaurants

74 Home Makeover
Three interior designers breathe new life into both historic homes and new builds

103 Engagement & Wedding
Tying the knot, Bull City-style

CITY PICS

12 Mother’s Day Ball at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

14 WE Pitch at The Carolina Theatre

16 Lincoln Community Health Center’s Community Leadership Breakfast

18 24th Annual North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival at The Carolina Theatre

20 Coastal Credit Union Foundation’s Fourth Annual Power of Sharing Gala

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Amanda MacLaren

Amanda MacLaren is the executive editor of Durham Magazine. Born in Mesa, Arizona, she grew up in Charlotte and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in journalism. She’s lived in Durham for eight years. When she’s not at work, you can usually find her with a beer in hand at Fullsteam, Dain’s Place or Bull City Burger or getting takeout from Guasaca.
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