Last summer, the husband and I moved away from the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina after spending eight years watching the cities expand and their food scenes skyrocket off the heat-charts. Seriously, the New York Times is obsessed with the place! So I was excited to head back for the weekend in mid-September—my
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Counter Culture Coffee 4911 South Alston Avenue Research Triangle Park Website Free! Durham has several notable coffee roasters–Joe Van Gogh and Bean Traders make my list–but none have as large a profile and the nationwide distribution that Counter Culture does. The company is headquartered here and Durham hosts one of their several training facilities. Counter
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The exciting events for Triangle-based foodies are piling up yet again! Honestly, I’m not sure they ever stop piling — we seem to support an awful lot of delishness for a relatively small metro area. I think that means all us eaters deserve a round of applause … or of digestives. Ouzo, anyone? I’ve cherry-picked
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My Sister’s Kitchen 4716 NC Highway 55 Edge of Research Triangle Park, Durham Website Breakfast: $1.99–$6.99 Lunch/Dinner: $4.99–$10.99 My Sister’s Kitchen is located just past the intersection of highways 54 and 55. It’s in a bright red building now adorned with a mural of a tasty breakfast plate. Breakfast is a big draw for this
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Akashi 2223 NC Highway 54 Research Triangle Park, Durham Website Deluxe Sushi Rolls: $6–$11 (and 50% off) Akashi is a cute Japanese restaurant in the black , yellow, and red complex on Highway 54 right before entering RTP. They are one of five restaurants focusing on sushi in South Durham; I guess we like our
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Sicilian Firefly Serena, Durham Website This pretty, and nicely sized drink, is made with banana schnapps, coconut vodka, and melon liqueur. I admit, the menu description sold me with its poetic waxings about the sweet hues of dancing Sicilian fireflies. The flavors dance as well as their namesakes, with the coconut and melon pairing smoothly.
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Pho 9N9 2945 S Miami Blvd RTP, Durham Website Soups and Entrees: $6.50–$10.00 This is a nondescript, Vietnamese restaurant in the surprisingly food-packed shopping center on the corner of South Miami Boulevard and TW Alexander Drive. Since I’ve only been to one other Vietnamese spot in the Triangle, I definitely had to give Pho 9N9
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