On the Prowl: Rosewood Market and Deli in Columbia, SC

A busy day running errands and a desire for something cheap, healthy and tasty led me to Rosewood Market today for a quick bite to eat. Columbia's best natural foods store has been a staple of the Rosewood   area since 1973 (!), providing locals with both healthy food options and a quaint deli selection of local gourmet items. They're also are proud to be one of the most environmentally friendly stores in the midlands; whether they are sending their compost to nearby neighbor City Roots or reusing boxes by giving them to Harvest Hope Food Bank, Rosewood Market is always looking for ways to maintain a healthy message both in their food and values. It doesn't hurt that their food is pretty tasty too.

The deli at Rosewood is a lot different from your average deli, providing a host of select seasonal gourmet items including pasta and vegetable salads, various quiches and European/Middle Eastern baked items. Though it is a health food store carrying mostly vegetarian offerings, you can still find some pretty soul-satisfying dishes here to help ignore your carnivore cravings. Today I decided to go for something quick and cool for the hot summer weather, opting for a small portion of their gazpacho along with an enticing spinach and cheese biscuits. The biscuit was spot on: flaky, cheesy, and buttery soft, it was a great side to go along with the zesty, vegetable-packed gazpacho, all of which only set me back for well under $5.

Perhaps the best part about shopping at Rosewood is their selection of bulk bin items. Whether you need lentils, grains, quinoa, or other bulk items, there's a good chance Rosewood has it, and for prices that won't leaving you reeling. If you cook with any of these items on a regular basis, then Rosewood Market is definitely the place you want to be running to. The portions are good, the people are friendly, the food is great, and the prices are reasonable. What more could you ask for? Support local and check them out when you are in the Rosewood area. 

Greenville (NC) Eats: Chef and the Farmer

Chef and the Farmer's sausage and biscuits.

Dinner at Chef and the Farmer was, for me, one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. I know that is a line usually best kept for the end, but it really was that memorable and influential. In fact, this post is almost over a month and a half after the said dinner, just enough time to sit back and reflect on one of the most thoughtful meals in recent memory. The fact that a chef like Vivian Howard, who could have easily worked anywhere she wanted with the skills she has, and co-owner Ben Knight opened Chef and the Farmer, a really high-class eatery using local-just-about-everything food to produce some truly contemporary eating in the tiny town of Kinston, whose population barely registers on the map, is kind of a miracle itself. With all the awards and praise this restaurant has received since its opening in 2006, it still shocks me that this culinary experience, this really unforgettable night I had there started with something as plain, ordinary and Southern as sausage and biscuits.

Of course, these weren't ordinary sausage and biscuits, but delicate, ultra-buttery and indulgent sausage and biscuits using local pork and its drippings to perfection. A simple slab of mustard sets it over the top, making for an eye-opening starter. 

Dinner was a whirlwind affair at our table, in a good way that is, as it was a friend's birthday. A plethora of dishes rained down upon our cozy spot right next to the kitchen, including: wood-fired oysters, wood-fired clam and shrimp and grits, a chef and the farm burger using local cattle, another sausage dish with roasted squash, cauliflower, and thinly sliced radishes, a deceptively simple-looking plate of roasted carrots and beets, pan-seared trout on roasted turnips and wilted turnip greens on a sweet onion bisque, and their cast-iron pimento grits with bacon. 

Wood-fired clams and shrimp and grits.

Our feast was just flat out delicious from top-to-bottom, but the standout for me was definitely the trout, with its perfectly roasted turnips and turnip greens soaking up the sweet onion bisque. Just perfect. The roasted beet and carrot dish, with a lemon aioli and bread crumbs was also dynamite all-around. Chef and the Farmer really knows how to crank great depths of flavor out of the simplest of ingredients, making their dishes stand out and pop. 

It being a birthday, we of course had to grab desert (although, being at Chef and the Farmer is reason enough for desert!). We had some really amazing food already, but this dish, this zucchini crumble with cinnamon brown sugar ice cream on top was just phenomenal. The zucchini was cooked down to perfection; sweet, yet subtle, it has kind of the texture of a peach cobbler  but with a milder taste that was just spot on with the ice cream. We also ordered a buttermilk sorbet with blueberries, which seemed so ordinary on paper but was an absolute "ah-ha!" moment the second one of us at the table took a bite. 

My two years in Greenville has led me to a lot of eateries, some good - even great - but Chef and the Farmer stands miles above them all as one of the best places I've eaten not just in the Greenville area, but in general. This was a meal that might not even had happen if it were any later, as a fire that devastated portions of the facility shut down the restaurant from January to late April. Through some perseverance, however, they reopened, and are back to making the best food East Carolina has to offer. 

Greenville (NC) Eats: B's Barbecue

 

It's kind of ridiculous, when I think about it, that in the two years I have been in Greenville, North Carolina, I have never been to the city's iconic eatery, B's Barbecue. I mean, it's so iconic that it even has it's own road. How does a foodie like myself justify that? It was completely inexcusable that I never even tried to make a dent at the long lines that always surround B's when food is hot and ready. It was an atrocity that needed to be rectified asap, and that's what I finally did this past week. And yes, it was worth it in every way possible.

Food aside, B's itself is kind of an experience all it's own. Smoke from the pit constantly permeates the air with barbecue goodness. The building is historic in many ways, once a grocery that was converted into it's now glorious location. And remember what I said about this place being iconic? Because of that, you can always expect long lines. They only cook one hog a day, and when the food's out, that's it. Come early or don't come at all. 

Despite B's notoriously long lines that I've heard about, my companions and I amazingly got there at the perfect time, with only a few people at the counter waiting for their orders. I decided to split a giant combination plate with my friend. When I say giant by the way, I mean giant. The order easily weighed upwards of three pounds in my hand, and even after splitting with my friend we had more than enough leftovers to share with a third.

The order came with East Carolina staples: crispy corn sticks, a light green slaw, boiled potatoes, classic Eastern Carolina barbecue, and a whole half of a chicken. The chicken was a behemoth, and maybe even better than the barbecue with its lovely char and smoky taste. A light brushing of their vinegar sauce really set it over the top. The barbecue was pretty clean in comparison to others that I've had,  with all the fat and gristle somewhat cleaned out. Cooked over charcoal, you definitely pick up that flavor in the meat. The sauce over it was good and had a bit of an extra peppery bite to it that I liked. 

Overall though, I still may take Pete Jone's wood-fired 'cue just down the street in Ayden. B's chicken and sides, however, are clear winners in the fight. The potatoes had an outstanding meatiness from being cooked with some of the barbecue and chicken drippings no doubt. The corn sticks were crunchy and flavorful, and maybe some of the best I've had in East Carolina. The slaw is on par with every other I've had, perhaps a little less sweet, which was a bonus.

I was pretty satisfied by my meal at B's. For my barbecue cravings, I may still prefer the extra ten to fifteen minute drive to Ayden for some Pete Jones, but the chicken and sides at B's are something that I'd be willing to come back for any time of the week. Definitely worth a trip for the experience alone.

Greenville (NC) Eats: Pop's Old Fashion Burger

Cheap, fast local mom and pop burgers are something that I've always loved for many reasons. The fact that there's something defiantly regional about them that makes it a fun item to get wherever you travel in the US. Butter burgers at Culvers in Des Moines, Iowa where I grew up and pimento burgers in South Carolina are a few things that come into mind. For most of the Carolina's, however, they like to carry on the classic barbecue tradition on theirs, loaded up with slaw, chili, mustard and onions, which is exactly what Pop's is all about.

There are other things going on on their menu these days, but for me Pop's is strictly a burger joint, and what they do best. For starters, they get automatic bonus points for using local naturally grown beef from just down the street in Ayden, NC. And the difference is totally there. The burger is juicy, flavorful and nicely grilled every time. The chili and slaw is not the best I've ever had, but holds up fine. The meat's really the star here, and the juices dripping from it usually satisfies my burger cravings every time. The biggest gripe though? The bun. Not toasted and kind of boring, it's a bit of disappointment in an otherwise good burger.

If you like, you can also pick up funnel cake - I think the only place in town - but otherwise there's not much else I could recommend at Pop's outside of the special. The fried pickles are a bit on the oily side, and the apple pie is not so exciting; a water-downed version of the McDonalds pie in some ways. It all really doesn't matter though; Pop's is the kind of burger joint that's kind of ideal for your random burger cravings, and that they do fairly well, for a fair price to boot.

They currently don't have an urbanspoon, but you can find out more about them here or head over to their spot on the corner of Evan's and 10th in the strip mall behind Krispy Kreme.

On the Prowl: Strawberries on 903 in Greenville, NC

 

Though strawberry season is quickly coming to an end, locals in the Greenville, NC area should, you haven't already, make it out to Strawberries on 903 for berries and fun. Usually around early April to mid-to-late May, strawberry season may be one of the best times of the year in East Carolina, with plenty of fresh, delicious strawberries growing around much of this side of the state. Strawberries on 903 may be the most accessible for locals in Greenville, and also the most family friendly with all the attractions on the side. 

If you haven't gone picking before, it's pretty simple: pick up a box at the front, and dig right in. Prices are relatively reasonable, I usually walk away with half a box - easily a couple of quarts - for less then four dollars. And the strawberries are AMAZING. Coming straight from the farm really ensures you get the very best, and with some careful searching you should always be able to find some really terrific, ripe berries to chow on. Strawberries on 903 is also a certified farmer's market stand, featuring some nice produce on the side as well, sometimes for pretty great prices too. Asparagus, squash, tomatoes and potatoes were all around on my last visit, along with farm-raised eggs and some organic meat if you inquire about it.

Not only can you get some extraordinary strawberries, but you can also easily spend a good morning here enjoying both delicious, velvety homemade ice cream and the animal farm, featuring everything from chickens to goats, pigs, bunnies, and even a pair of peacocks. Definitely family friendly and a lot of fun, make sure you check out Strawberries on 903 before the season's over. If you can make it this year, they still have other exciting fruits to look out for this summer, including blueberries and peaches in July and August, so definitely keep an eye out here.

Where:  If you drive out towards Kingston on Memorial Drive, just outside of town you should be able to spot some signs to lead you there.
4064 NC 903 South
Winterville, NC 28590

Hours:
Monday thru Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturday: 8am to 4pm
Sunday: 1pm to 5pm

To find out more, you can check out their website here:
 http://www.strawberrieson903.com/

Greenville (NC) Eats: Plum Tree Bistro

I tend to avoid upscale eating both because I'm a poor grad student and because, well mostly because I'm a poor grad student. It was graduation weekend though, and being the forgetful person I am, I failed to reserve seats at Starlight Cafe and Chef and the Farmer in Kinston for my family. Fortunately Plum Tree Bistro was only doing walk-ins, and is a relatively unknown restaurant tucked in a strip next to Japan Inn, so finding a table was easy enough. And fortunately, they aren't too bad for what they do. In fact, they were quite good in many ways to my surprise.

Being an American bistro, Plum Tree followed the book to a tee and started off with hot, crusty bread and a light salad. The bread was warm, crispy and actually really satisfying. The house salad was simple: lettuce and mixed greens, sliced red onion, minced carrot (which I like and don't mind seeing more of), cherry tomato, and some sliced cucumber. A no frills salad, exactly what you expect it to be.

For my entree, I decided to order the duck breast, which came with a blueberry port wine sauce. Though a bit on the expensive side for what it was, this was still easily some of the best duck I've had in awhile. Cooked perfectly medium, it was tender and succulent, and the sauce was finely balanced with sweet and sour notes that accentuated the best aspects of the duck nicely. The smashed red potatoes were also nice and buttery, and the steamed vegetables, which I would normally cast aside, actually helped tie everything together nicely, adding some freshness to the rich duck and potatoes and forming a very composed entree. I would order this again if I had the opportunity.

 

My family ordered around the menu, taking in some of the special seafood orders. This swordfish, topped with tarragon butter looked attractive, but had a bit of a frozen taste that wasn't too appealing. The red snapper with a lemon caper sauce was a huge improvement though, and came with a nice sear that really crisped up the fish. The lemon and capers really cut through the snapper nicely and was a hit at the table. The rice pilaf that came with both dishes was kind of forgettable however, something you will want to consider subbing out if you are in the mood for seafood. We also had a ribeye steak, which despite being ordered well-done came out not only well rested but quite tender. Anyone looking for a nice medium, medium-rare ribeye will likely really enjoy their steak.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with my meal at Plum Tree Bistro. There were a few hang-ups, particularly the relatively high price - upper $20s - of some of these dishes. You are definitely also paying for ambiance here, and not just fine dining. If you are looking for an upscale place for special occasions and/or meetings though, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find many other options in town that rival PTB and their bistro fare. While you won't find any exotic dishes like you may at Starlight or Chef in the Farmer, you will find some really solid, no-fear classics to satisfy your carnivore needs.

Charleston Eats: EVO Pizza

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Life's taken me to the Holy City quite often in the past year, so I decided to start taking the opportunity to talk about some of my favorite eats that I've encountered there, particularly those outside of historic downtown Charleston which has been well-covered by locals and visitors alike. 

EVO Pizza, located in Park Circle on the outskirts of North Charleston, may be one of the best bites outside of downtown, and for great prices as well. I've been many times, not only for their great pizza, but consistently rotating menu of seasonal soups and sandwiches, something that would be quite ordinary sounding elsewhere, but at EVO a real pleasure and something I look forward to every visit. This last stop may have been the best, with their local strawberry gazpacho, featuring pureed strawberries (which have been amazing this season), cucumbers and herbs along with a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a pile of blue cheese on top.

 

I would not have thought of the blue cheese in something like this, but the aromatic crumble was pretty dynamite with the super smooth gazpacho. A little tart, and entirely as refreshing as it sounds, this was well-worth the trip alone.

For the entree, I decided to go with one of their signature pizzas, the pistachio pesto. Topped with three cheeses and a smooth, nutty pesto, this was a pizza to die for. The crust at EVO is just spot on. Crusty, crispy, and chewy, but just the right amount of chewiness so it's not a workout. Great. The pesto had a really great nutty quality that didn't make me miss meat at all. I added crushed red pepper and parm, but really this didn't need a thing. Just delicious.

If you're not in the mood for pizza, their panini's are pretty outstanding. Their foccacia tastes housemade and is a beautiful buttery bomb perfect for their cheesy creations. The use of super fresh ingredients at EVO helps them stand a notch above the competition. It's a limited menu, but you'll likely always find something you are in the mood for here. Completely worth a visit, and if you a local, a perfect venue to hideaway from incoming tourists invading downtown this summer.