Thursday, May 3, 2012

What's your N.C. fantasy food tour?

The web site Grub Street has a slide show up this morning with their picks for the 52 best places in the U.S. to make a summer food pilgrimage .

It's worth a run-through if you're traveling to another state this summer, although I'll save you the clicks and tell you the Carolinas picks: Gullah Grub on St. Helena Island for South Carolina, Price's Chicken Coop in Charlotte for North Carolina.

Now, while I make no secret of my fondness for Price's, I admit I was a little disappointed. It's not that Price's doesn't deserve it, it's just that so many other places do, too.

One of my food-writer fantasies has always been to put together the ultimate N.C. road food tour (preferably by Greyhound, which feeds into my lingering country singer fantasies). I'd have a mix of restaurants and food places, stores and experiences. I'd have places like the Old Mill of Guilford, Skytop Orchards on a clear early fall morning, Mott's Channel Seafood in Wrightsville Beach and Yoder's Amish Market in Blanch.

Sure, I'd have a barbecue restaurant or two, but no more - barbecue gets as much attention as Price's.

So I'm throwing it open to you: If you were putting together a fantasy food tour of North Carolina, what would you include (Greyhound station not mandatory)?

13 comments:

cmac said...

B's BBQ in Greenville. Thats the only BBQ stop you need.

Ex Coastie said...

C & H Oyster Bar in Elizabeth City. Everything on the menu is great, but why try it. Give me three dozen on the half, and a Bud Light or three.

Anonymous said...

Olde Hickory House Barbecue, N. Tryon St. The BEST!

Pig Knowledge said...

If the question is BBQ, then there is only one answer. Bridges in Shelby. Nothing else is even close.

Anonymous said...

Tupelo Honey Cafe in Asheville
Mama Dips in Chapel Hill

Anonymous said...

Bloomsbury Bistro in Raleigh...not a jeans and t-shirt kind of place, but very worth the money!

Anonymous said...

Rohan Said

I've eaten at Gullah Grub...not a fan. Try a Shrimp Burger at the Shrimp Shack instead, further out on 21 on St Helena Island SC

Ken said...

Sigmon's Grill on NC 16 between Conover and the Oxford Dam. It is one of a dying breed -- the rural restaurant that used to be the mainstay of crossroads communities.

Cline's Farm about two miles off Sipe's Orchard Home road outside of Conover. Was one of the first pick-your-own strawberry places in the country (Saveur magazine featured it in their inaugural edition). Ira Cline died and they don't strawberries anymore, focusing on blueberries instead.

Brian said...

Yoder's in Blanch? I'm surprised you know of that place! I used to deliver newspapers there about 12 years ago when I worked for the weekly in Caswell County. I'd hit Short Sugars in Reidsville, Holt Lake in Smithfield and Stamey's in Greensboro.

Kathleen Purvis said...

Those are great ones, Ken. (Ira Cline died? I'm sorry, I didn't get the word. I spent a morning picking blueberries with him once. Nice fellow.)

And sure, Brian. You bet I know Yoders. I get around.

Anonymous said...

Kings Kitchen in Uptown Charlotte...great food and non profit organization. All proceeds goes towards ending homelessness in Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Kings Kitchen in Uptown Charlotte...great food and non profit organization. All proceeds goes towards ending homelessness in Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Bonterra in Charlotte and Provision Company in Holden Beach