China Express, just outside RTP in Durham, is one of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve found in the entire Triangle. On Friday, I visited with some work colleagues for lunch. We arrived at about 12:15 and were promptly seated. They were quite full, but still had a handful of empty seats. China Express lives up to their name - after ordering we received our food in about 5-7 minutes. Very Fast! An excellent lunch time choice.
What about the food you ask? Exceptional! This time I had the mandarin chicken, with white rice, and egg drop soup. The mandarin chicken had a light sauce that was lightly sweet, but not too sweet. It had a mild spice and a yummy flavor. This was one of their $4.95 combo dishes that is served all day. An excellent value. You get a huge plate of tasty food - really enough for two - for a very low cost. How can you go wrong?!?

This was not my first time to China Express. My family has gotten takeout many times. Overall the food is always tasty, fresh, and never greasy (with the egg rolls being the only exception). I have tried at least eight of the combinations including szecuan chicken, sweet and sour chicken, sweet ans sour pork, general tso’s, and more. They are all the best I’ve found anywhere in the Triangle. Don’t miss out on their big noodle soups. Absolutely, amazing!

China Express
2223 Hwy 54
Durham, NC 27713
919-544-7013
Map

Souper Salad - it’s a great concept, but I find it poorly executed.  My family and I often find ourselves at Souper Salad for a quick, relatively cheap dinner.  The main reason being that the concept wins out over our experience.  Or perhaps it’s the hope that the next time it will be better.  Alright, so let’s start with the positive first.  Souper Salad offers a $6+ all you can eat salad, soup, and mini-hot-bar.  The absolute best thing there is the ginger bread, which is fabulous.  The salad bar is reasonable, but nothing special.  The mini-hot-bar has ultra-thin crust pizza. baked sweet and regular potatoes, pasta, among a few (very few) other things.  There are generally five or six soups as well.  Also, there is a small soft serve ice cream bar.  Finally, a bonus for families is that kids under 4 are free.

Now the bad…  Tonight something on my salad (not sure what) tasted like soap.  Also, the pizza was covered in too much cheese and the cheese wasn’t even melted.  After more visits than I care to admit, this was the first time I tried a baked potato there… How do you screw up a baked potato?  The newly added pasta bar really isn’t one.  It generally has one type of pasta with two questionable looking sauces - one white and one red.  Tonight I didn’t go near it.  A couple weeks ago I had some tortellini which was fine, but on a prior trip the pasta container was empty during our entire visit.  Finally, tonight the ice cream machine was broken.  It just seems that every time we go they are out of something.

My other question is why Souper Salad has a wait staff?  It’s a buffet!!!  Give me a soda machine and I’ll get my own drinks and I’ll bus my own table.  Plus I have to remember to bring a couple of bucks to tip, which is inconvenient because I generally pay with credit.  Not to mention the fact that I hate tipping someone if all they do is bring me drinks when it would be simple enough to set things up so I can do it myself.

All that said, I probably haven’t seen the last of Souper Salad.  It is close to my home, reasonably cheap for the whole family, and who can dislike warm ginger bread.  Not to mention the fact that it is hard to say no to a free buffet for a toddler.

The Souper Salad I visit is at Southpoint crossing in Durham: 

Souper Salad 
202 West NC Hwy 54
Suite 107
Durham, NC  27713
Map

Guglhupf (pronounced Google Hoff) is definitely a reminder of the cafes in Europe that I love so much.  My family just had a lovely January afternoon lunch outside at Guglhupf.  I love the outdoor cafe atmosphere there.  The warmer months are even more fun with a fountain along one side of the cafe area that the kids love.  We split the grilled chicken pesto covered tortellini and a Mediterranean salad.  Each salad is accompanied by a plentiful basket of assorted Guglhupf breads.  Plus, the basket comes with soft (whipped perhaps?) creamy butter, which perfectly finishes off the bread. We also took home a chocolate torte, which was fabulous.  However, it could have been better - I wished I had taken the time to eat the torte there with a hot drink in the beautiful sunshine.  Alas, it was nap-time for my son. 

I find Guglhupf to be both a place for a romantic conversational breakfast, brunch, or lunch, but it is also a great place to bring the whole family.  My wife and I have enjoyed an early dinner and German draft beer on a Friday night right after work.  It’s the perfect place to unwind and relax.  It’s also a great place to take the kids, as the ample outdoor cafe space allow the kids to run around a bit.  The wall around the cafe keeps them corralled and the fountain along one side keeps them occupied.  I’ve never had anything I didn’t like at Guglhupf.  You should definitely have a date or take your family to Guglhupf.  Oh and check out the attached bakery stocked with fresh breads and pastries.  Enjoy!

Guglhupf
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.
Durham, NC  27707
919-401-2600
Map

Cold Stone Creamery - Not much special to say here, but it’s your basic mid-scale ice cream shop.  I do have to say that I like the Cake Batter ice cream with hot fudge, however.  With 20+ flavors it definitely offers a nice variety.  I think the price is a little high in my opinion, $3-$4 a bowl including mix-ins.  It certainly beats Baskin Robbins and the various Hershey’s places around.  My problem is that I’m an ice cream snob.  I like a little more home made flavor or some yummy Italian gelato.  (Wait for the weather to warm up and I’ll point you to some reasonable local gelato.)

 The Cold Stone I frequent is in the Renaissance Center across from Southpoint near the Chilis:
6917 Fayetteville Rd.
Durham, NC  27713
919-484-0893
Map

I recently visited the Melting Pot for a work dinner to celebrate the completion of a project.  I brought along my project team, of which most of the members are newly from India.  This was our third attempt at trying to introduce them to the various ‘American’ cuisine options.  The previous two attempts (BBQ and Mexican) failed miserably.  That’s all beside the point, as the Melting Pot is a great place for a special gathering. 

Being a fondue restaurant, The Melting Pot is appropriately named.  Dinner is typically a 4-course affair.  Start with a cheese fondue and dip breads, vegetables, and apples in for some cheesey bliss.  If you have at least 4 people then you can get 2 different types of fondue on your table so everyone can try different dips.  Next on the menu is a small salad.  Just the right amount so you have plenty of room for the main course.  The entree is a selection of raw meats and vegetables - we had duck, chicken, steak, shrimp, lobster tail, dumplings, potatoes, squash and more - that you cook in fondue pots on the table.  We had chose two vegetable broth based pots, but an oil option for frying was also an option.  We finished the night with chocolate fondue.  Our selection was one pot of flaming turtle - milk chocolate, carmel, and pecans - and one pot of Yin & Yang - dark chocolate and white chocolate in the Yin & Yang shape.  This fondue is served with a selection of fruits, brownies, marshmallows, cheesecake, and more.  The whole experience is a bit pricey - over $50 a person - but well worth the special occassion.  However, it does make for a nice wine and chocolate fondue night as well if you want to keep the price down.

The best part about the Melting Pot is that dinner takes about 3 hours.  This leaves plenty of time for conversation and cooking your own food!  Plus, the Melting Pot is great for both romantic nights out and work dinners. 

We visited the Melting Pot in Raleigh, but I look forward to the one in the Renaissance Center (across from Southpoint) in Durham that will be opening very soon. 

Raleigh
3100 Wake Forest Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 878-0477
Map 

Durham
7011 Fayetteville Road
Suite 101
Durham, NC  27713
(919) 544-6358 
Map 

The Original Q-Shack is a great place in Durham to find some good Barbeque. Located at the corner of University and 15-501 Business, the Q-Shack is regularly packed. While, the Q-Shack doesn’t have that classic American diner feel, it makes up for it with the picnic tables, rolls of paper towels, and yummy food. The Q-Shack is a great mix of North Carolina, Texas, and Midwest Barbeque. Best of all, you can get a Pork Butt sandwich w/ hush puppies, cole slaw, and one other side for just $5.25. This is more than enought food to fill your belly. It doesn’t get much better than that. Check out the Q-Shack website and enjoy some great BBQ! 2510 University Drive Durham, NC 27707 Map

The Bald Eagle Observation Platform is a great, quiet way to enjoy Jordan Lake.  The Observation Platform is a small park with parking at the end of a short gravel road.  It requires 1-2 miles of hiking to reach the lake and the platform, but small crowds and no entrance fee make this the ideal site to enjoy the lake.  The hiking is beautiful, tranquil, and quite easy.  I have done it several times carrying my baby son the whole way without much effort.  As of this writing the water level at the lake is quite low, which has created a very wide beach all around the lake.  I took advantage of this to ride around part of the lake.  In addition, the low water levels make it possible to wade knee deep to a small island just off the Observation Platform.  There was a young boy there with his father and I can only imagine how fun and exhilirating it must have been for him to cross over to that island.  The Bald Eagle Observation Platform is a great way to get away from the world and enjoy nature’s beauty.

The Bald Eagle Observation Platform is 5 miles south of I-40 on 751.  It is marked only by a small brown observation sign (binoculars).  The best way to find it is to start looking for the small sign immediately after crossing the bridge over the lake.  If you pass a gas station or New Hope Church Road on your after this, you’ve gone too far by 200 yards.  The parking area is back a very short gravel road.

• Jordan Lake Park Map
• Google Map / Satellite View

Corn Mazes are lots of fun this time of year. It’s also a great time to take the kids (young and old) out to a local farm. Check out these fun ones:

• Ken’s Korny Corn Maze
• McKee’s Cedar Creek Farm Maze
• Ganyard Hill Farm
• Hill Ridge Farm
• Lazy O Farm
• The Maze at Hector’s Creek

The Herald Sun’s Business Buzz is reporting, unofficially, that a Cheesecake Factory will be opening up in the former Big Bowl and Q-Shack spaces at the Streets of Southpoint mall. The expected timeframe is October or November, about the same time as the new Super Target (Oct. 19th) near Southpoint.

The Buzz is also reporting, “A new seafood restaurant called Old Bay Seafood is coming to Northgate in October.”

Herald Sun’s Business Buzz is reporting that a Mellow Mushroom is opening today in downtown Durham at the American Tobacco Campus.

Mellow Mushroom
410 Blackwell St., Suite 400
Durham, NC 27701
Map
http://www.mellowmushroom.com/

The News & Observer has a nice review of Town Hall Grill, which just opened in Southern Village, and The Symposium Cafe, which had it’s grand opening in June in the American Tobacco campus.

According to the N&O Town Hall Grill, “boasts two bars and 150 seats. That includes some 40 seats on the patio, where Southern Village’s summer music series provides weekend entertainment”

N&O says this about the Symposium Cafe “The Symposium Cafe oozes with urbane stylishness, from its deeply upholstered chairs to its dramatic Renaissance-style paintings to the massive ornate gilt-framed mirror over the bar.”

“That’s not to say that the mood is formal. You’re as likely to encounter a bunch of pre- or post-game Durham Bulls fans (the ballpark is across the street) as suits from nearby businesses or couples schmoozing over fancy cocktails.”

Town Hall Grill
410 Market St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Map
919.960.8696
http://www.townhall-restaurant.com/

The Symposium Cafe
318 Blackwell St., Suite 100
Durham, NC 27701
Map
919.433.0320
http://www.symposiumcafenc.com/

The Herald Sun’s Business Buzz feature is reporting that Le Bron Bistro is coming to the Streets of Southpoint. Also, Triangle True Value in the Woodcroft Shopping Center is opening a pharmacy and Sherwin Williams store soon. The Carolina Theater and Joe & Jo’s Restaurant are offering dinner and a movie for $15. Lastly, a maternity department is being added to the Marshalls store in Durham’s New Hope Commons.

There is lots to do on the 4th in the Triangle Area. For all the details check the following:

• Durham Events from the Herald Sun
• Triangle Events from the Herald Sun
• Festival for the Eno
• Cold Stone Creamery free (with $1 donation) ice cream tasting from 10 am - noon on July 2nd - Cold Stone is located in Renaissance Center in Durham, just across the street from the Southpoint Mall.
• Citysearch listing of 4th Events

It’s June, the sun has set, the air is turning cool, you’ve had dinner, you have a beautiful woman on your arm, and you’re wondering what you should do next. In my case, I was looking for some more romance on the evening. I longingly thought back to the previous summer spent traveling Europe and enjoying all the wonderful open air cafes late into the evening. I wanted something just like that, but where in the Triangle am I to get the same ambiance? Ciao Cafe and Wine Bar of course.

Ciao Cafe and Wine Bar in Cary, located at the corner of N. Harrison Ave. and W. Chatham St., is the perfect place to share a romantic evening with someone. The open air seating beneath a canopy of lights and umbrellas takes you to another time and place.

Ciao offers an extensive list of wines by the glass and the bottle. The staff is always more than willing to help you pick just the right ones for the occasion.

In addition, Ciao offers a variety of light menu items. I was especially impressed by the number of cheeses available. Cheese plates are always a great accompaniment for good wines. Moreover, cheese plates are not something you see that often in the U.S. to step out and enjoy this exquisite treat.

At Ciao, or any wine bar, I highly recommend making an event of it and spending the whole evening enjoying good food and wine. Most wine bars, Ciao included, offer small tapas-like menu items that lend themselves to an evening of variety. So spend a special night trying new foods and new wines with some friends or a special someone. By the time you reach dessert you’ll have shared some good conversation and solidified lasting memories with some tasty treats.

If you can’t tell, I highly recommend Ciao Cafe and Wine Bar. The atmosphere is great inside and even better outside. The staff is friendly and quite professional. The food is fabulous and there are plenty of wines to keep you busy tasting.

Address:
201 W. Chatham Street
Cary, NC 27511
919-469-3021
Map

Directions:

• Take I-40 Exit 287 - Harrison Ave. - toward Cary
• Follow Harrison Ave. about 3.5 miles
• Turn right onto Chatham St.
• Make an immediate left into the parking lot of Ciao’s building