While I haven’t been blogging, I’ve still been snapping photos of food before chowing down. Here are a few eats from the past year that were noteworthy. Asheville, Charleston, Holden Beach, and Charlotte are a few of the places we’ve tasted since my last post.

I hope you’re not hungry.

-Maggie

As I mentioned yesterday, there hasn’t been much going on lately.  Looking back, there were a few instances where I should have snapped a photo and seized the opportunity to tell you about it.  But when something delicious is sitting right in front of your face and your camera is further than arm’s reach, you have to make a choice.  I’m trying.

Thanks to my Mom, David and I tasted practically every sweet treat from the Whole Foods dessert case over the weekend.  Cookies on Friday, carrot cake on Saturday, and German chocolate cake on Sunday.  I’m totally a baked goods snob.  I don’t even like being in the same room as a crappy, store-bought sheet cake.  Offer me cookies from a box and I’ll throw them in your face.  Okay, okay, I’m exaggerating.  I would never be so rude.  You get the point though, right?  Keep in mind, however, this is Whole Foods we’re talking about.  I don’t expect anything less than perfection and boy, did they deliver.

I could give mouth-watering descriptions of the baked items, but I’m afraid I’ll hop in my car and go spend what few dollars I have on every cake they have in stock.  Trust me.

Okay.  I know you like seeing pictures.  Don’t we all?  Lucky for you, I snapped a couple of food photos while eating lunch with the mother mentioned above.  We dined at one of my favorite Winston establishments: The Carving Board.  A pasta salad lover’s paradise for sure.  I always get giddy about eating at The Carving Board.  Why, you ask? Two words: spicy noodles.  They are life changing.

Check out my Three Salad Plate.

Everything was so fresh and delicious and perfect.  They had a new salad which was made with watermelon and feta cheese.  I know it may sound a little strange, but it was a match made in flavor heaven.  I want more.

There’s Mama’s.

She kept raving about her lemon and basil chicken salad.  Her little wheels were turning trying to decipher the ingredients for recreation purposes.

That’s all I’ve got. Farewell!

David and I did go to a nifty little coffee shop not too long ago.  I took pictures.

Cafe Roche is cool, my friends.  The barista, Justin, treated us like old chums, chatting away as he prepared our beverages.  If I remember correctly, it was around 10 am on a surprisingly brisk July morning.  I ordered a latte and David had an iced coffee.  Of course, by iced coffee I mean a banana milkshake.  I think Justin was a bit confused by the request but was happy to oblige.

If he insists on milkshakes for breakfast at least he goes for banana.

Chug, little dairy king, chug.

Latte for the lady.

Well, it’s safe to say I’ve spent more time with dogs than humans this week.  Between dog sitting for a friend and my usual routine of helping with my sister’s pooch, I’ve been with canines non-stop.  The dog sitting gig is one of the best I’ve had.  The pups are sweet and well-trained and the house is fully stocked with lots of Trader Joe’s eats.  Score.

I’ll have to take some pictures and do a post dedicated to all the four-legged friends in my life.  Would you enjoy that?  Of course you would. 

That’s all I have to say for now.  Have a good afternoon!

So, back to Saturday.  David and I took Alex to a place in downtown Winston-Salem that we ourselves had never visited: Skippy’s Hot Dogs.

I know, I know.  Maggie, in a hot dog joint? Blasphemy!  Well, before you get your panties in a wad, I’ll go ahead and inform you that they have veggie dogs.  Now that may be blasphemy in most American’s opinion, but it was delicious!

There’s something you should know about Skippy’s dogs.  They don’t come nestled in your run-of-the-mill, limp, hot dog bun.  They are served inside an amazingly soft, chewy, fresh-baked, pretzel bun.  Made on the premises, no less!  It’s fair to say the buns are the star of this show.

Oh, look. Three weenies and fries!

I would have gotten better photos, but this place was packed and by the time these guys arrived at the table, we were way past hungry.

I did manage to get up close and personal with the French fries, though.  They deserve special attention.  These fried potatoes were amazing.  Freshly cut, hot, crispy, starchy heaven.

Aren’t they gorgeous?

Go get some.  Tell them Maggie sent you.  They’ll have absolutely no idea who you’re referring to, but it sure would be cool if they did.

Alex is coming to visit this weekend.  Remember him?  David and I will probably take him to a few Winston-Salem joints.  Food will be documented.

In other news, I’ll be dog/house-sitting all week.  The dogs are quite cute.

It feels weird making a post with no photos.  Let’s see if I can find something worth sharing.

Yeah, that’ll work.  That’s a miniature Richard Petty.  The third grade class I student taught with had Biography Day where everyone dressed up as influential people from history.

Happy Friday!

Thankfully, Gary’s (or as I like to call him, Daddy) garden has finally produced a bounty of beautiful tomatoes.  With so many tomatoes at our disposal we gladly incorporated them into several components of dinner.

One word.  Salsa.

Perhaps my mom has some unknown Hispanic heritage.  Her homemade salsa is SO delicious.  David claims it’s so good, you could drink it…so that’s exactly what he did.

On the menu: insalata caprese, a tomato, feta and squash frittata, Belva-baked bread, and cucumbers in vinegar.

It’s okay, you can drool.

Oh, yeah.

So at this point you may be thinking, “Wait, Maggie. What about dessert?”

Well, a few weeks ago I planted a seed in my mother’s mind.  I casually mentioned how much David loves banana pudding.  That being said, if David expresses a love for something edible, my mom will make it.  Fortunately, I too love banana pudding.

Anyway, when David and I arrived at my parent’s house last night, Mom was stirring away at pudding made from scratch.  This pudding would ultimately play a crucial role in the final product.

I could tell you how wonderful it was, but just look at.  You can tell it’s perfect.  Creamy, sweet, southern bliss.

The fruits of your labor were enjoyed immensely, Mama. Thanks.

Until next time, friends.

One perk of unemployment: being able to plan your entire day around perusing a local farmer’s market until your heart’s content.  Unfortunately, farmer’s market funds dwindle more quickly sans job.

None the less, I picked up some fresh okra, two bulbs of garlic, and a head of purple cabbage. Three bucks, people.  That’s not too shabby.

Before making it back to Alex’s we came across this little gem…

If you guessed that this place had frozen yogurt, you’d be right.  SELF SERVE frozen yogurt.  Dangerous.  We treated ourselves to some frozen refreshment.

YUM.

I just realized that when you write a blog about the food you eat, it seems as though all you do is eat.  Oh, well.

Several hours of plane watching and puppy playing passed before we were ready for our next meal.

Hey, Casey!

Seeing as how the men met their meat quota for the week at lunch, I went out on a limb and suggested we have dinner at an all vegetarian restaurant I’d discovered on the web.  Thankfully, my carnivorous counterparts were more than willing.  They truly are gentlemen.

Yes, yes, and yes! Take me back.  I need to go back right now!

This was easily the best Indian food I’ve ever eaten.  The guys loved it too!  We couldn’t stop talking about how delicious everything tasted.  We ordered several random things from the menu.  A game of menu roulette if you will.

Everything was so fresh and full of flavor.  Jill, you would have loved it.  Why don’t you come home from Chicago and I’ll take you there?

Well, folks.  This concludes David and Maggie’s adventure in Charlotte.