My friends call me a culinary tourist. When it comes to food I prefer not to have mine handed to me in a bag through an open car window. I believe a good meal should be a memorable experience, not just a means to fill a hungry stomach.
With that in mind, I'm always on the lookout for the next foodie adventure. So each weekend, I head out, safety mask in hand, in search of the next great bite. I'm not a food snob. I'm not even looking for something exotic. No ostrich egg omelet. No fried tarantula. I just want a good, simple meal I can share with my friends. I want to have my taste buds get excited and ask questions. I want the foods I have eaten before to feel fresh and new.
This weekend I found myself in Nash County right off of 64 East, not even an hour from Raleigh. I spent the next couple of days hiking 3.9 miles along the Tar River Trail, wandering through converted mills that are now Art Galleries and building up quite an appetite. The restaurants in Nash County did not disappoint.
Here are a few standouts:
PRIME SMOKEHOUSE
Located in the Rocky Mount Mills, I could smell the aromas of the Prime Smokehouse from blocks away. The sweet flavors of hickory and cherry hardwood like an olfactory lighthouse drew me to a table. The menu offers fish, grits, grilled steak, and a variety of other Southern fare. But, let's face it, I'm here for the Barbecue.
There's no debate of Eastern-style or Lexington-style BBQ in here. This is Texas-style brought to Rocky Mount by owner and chef, Ed Wiley. The key to great BBQ is patience. Here, Ed uses a dry rub and vinegar sauce on his brisket and cooks it low and slow over indirect heat. The result is a plate of Barbecue that will make you believe in a higher power.
Ed's father was a great cook and famous jazz musician. He passed the love of food and music down to his son. With each bite you can taste the harmony of a generations-old recipe and the genuine joy of someone who loves what they do.
BARLEY AND BURGER
It's hard to take something as traditional as a burger and make it seem new and different. But Barley and Burger does that from the moment you open the menu. This small, crowded restaurant is a local favorite. It combines the nostalgia of great movies with some new and unexpected burger combinations.
After debating the merits of the Godfather (fried mozzarella, marinara, pepperoni and fresh basil) over the Goonies-inspired Truffle Shuffle (caramelized onions, fried mushrooms, swiss cheese and truffle aioli), I saw a different future for my meal. I chose the Marty McFly (american cheese, chili, slaw and mustard) with a side of gourmet tater tots. Then, faster than you can reach 77 miles per hour in your modified Delorean, the food arrived.
The burger was 100% black angus beef, sourced from world-renowned butcher and Chef Pat Lafrieda and cooked to perfection. A good burger is a thing of beauty, a satisfyingly messy combination of all things you know you shouldn't be eating but do anyway. This burger was an explosion of beef, grease and cheese. Diet be damned. Today I will count the slaw as my vegetable and name my tots as their own food group.
TIPSY TOMATO
The Tipsy Tomato is the perfect example of the food you want, precisely where you want it. This little artisan, wood-fired pizza restaurant is located just minutes off the Tar River Trail and right beside the largest Craft Beer campus in this part of North Carolina. So get your steps in and pop over for a couple slices and a cold one.
I ordered the Bianca (Ricotta, mozzarella, fresh garlic, fresh basil). In terms of Pizza, I tend to look at things rather simply. For me it comes down to crust and cheese. The Tipsy Tomato does both perfectly. The crust was not too doughy or too crunchy. A great pizza crust will bend, but not break. The cheese was applied by a generous chef. That is to say there was a lot. It was warm, stringy and heart-stopping (but, in a good way).
For those interested in math, walking the entire 3.9 miles of the Tar River Trail I burned 865 calories. Each slice of pizza (I ate two) was 288 calories. So, with that in mind, I ended up walking out with a couple hundred calories to spare. NOTE: Beer calories do not count on the weekend:)