Empty Bowls After-Party

After the show it's the after partyyyyyy! While I am not an outlandish R & B artist, I do enjoy keeping the good times rolling. So after the Empty Bowls event was over, Sara and I headed to the official Empty Bowls after-party. A food truck rodeo held between Motorco and Fullsteam that featured seven food trucks. In honor of the Empty Bowls event, the food trucks featured a special dish that were served in a bowl and donated 10% of their proceeds to the Urban Ministries of Durham.

Popeye-opolis

When the food truck revolution took over Raleigh Durham, one of the original trucks and champions for the movement was Klausie's Pizza. The Klausie's truck is focused around Detroit-style pizza. When I thought of the Motor City, I did not associate it with having its own pizza identity. Detroit for me meant embarrassed Lion fans, Pistons fans getting punched by Metta World Peace,  and the Red Wings losing game 7 to the Penguins.  Unlike those embarrassing sport moments, Klausie's pizza shines with perfection. As if we were being served everything that is right about Detroit in a delectable square treat.

It all begins with the crust. Twice baked and brushed with butter, Klausie's crust has unparalleled crispiness. After biting into the crust you get the textural delight of a soft and chewy dough. The dough is topped with oozy cheese and a great red sauce that drips from its sides. Klausie's pizza shows that Detroit has a lot more to offer us than cars and rap stars.

Mac and Cheese

For their bowl dish for the evening Klausie's owner and head chef Michael Stenke persuaded us to try their new mac and cheese. At first I was going to pass on the dish but Stenke is a good salesman, enticing us with a combination of 5 cheese and their crust sprinkled on top of the dish. The mac and cheese did not disappoint, with the roasted cherry tomato giving the needed acid and contrast to the baked shells and cheese sauce.

Like a good food blogger, I sacrificed my gastroenterological comfort for the sake of documenting more food trucks.

Smokey Polish Sausage with Pimento Cheese

I've heard about the Farmhand Food's Sausage Wagon for sometime now and they've carried the reputation for having amazing all-local sausages. The spice combination and the local pork gave a element of flavor to the sausage that you do not find with your regular super brand sausage. I thought the sausage was one of the best ones I've ever had.

Before we could finally call it an evening, Sara couldn't resist the call of ice cream from the Parlour. Ice cream trucks carry a great deal of nostalgia for me. Whenever I heard even the faintest sound of ice cream truck chimes, I immediately stop what I was doing and started running after the sound. I've wanted to operate a ice cream truck as a post-retirement occupation, be a modern day Mr. Tastee.

Vegan Chocolate Cookies and Cream

Sara was excited to try a vegan alternative ice cream. Made with almond milk, I was surprised that the ice cream didn't lose any of its creaminess. It was smooth and tasty. Topped with juicy dark cherries, no maraschino cherries here.  The cherries tartiness was a nice change of pace from the ice cream's creaminess.

We headed back to Raleigh full bellies and happy hearts. Grateful for the way the culinary community supported such an important event. And even more grateful for the Urban Ministries of Durham's impact to Durham County.

Urban Ministries of Durham
http://www.umdurham.org/

Motorco Music Hall
723 Rigsbee Avenue Durham, NC 27701
(919) 901-0875

http://motorcomusic.com/

Fullsteam Brewery

726 Rigsbee Avenue Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-2337
http://www.fullsteam.ag/

Farmhand Foods' Sausage Wagon
http://www.farmhandfoods.com/sausage.php


The Parlour
http://theparlourdurham.com/

Empty Bowls 2012

There is something soul satisfying about a bowl of soup. The way the heat resonating from the bowl and warming your hands, the steam clearing your sinuses, and the hot broth defrosting your insides. This warmth is the same warmth that the Urban Ministries of Durham provides to those experiencing homelessness in Durham County.

Chicken Curry - Revolution

Last year the results from a Point In Time survey documented more than 600 people experiencing homelessness in Durham County. For those individuals, UMD's work and services are not just soul satisfying but critical. Empty Bowls was created six years ago to assist UMD with its important work.

Chicken with White Bean - Mad Hatter's Cafe & Bake Shop

Entering into the Armory that evening was almost overwhelming. The room swelled with people while live jazz filled the air. Around us was station after station of restaurants eager to serve us little cardboard cups of their soup. Wandering around until we got our bearings, we found ourselves in the Revolution line for chicken curry soup. The rich curry flavor woke up our taste buds and was a great start to the night. We turned immediately to the next line for Mad Hatter's chicken with white bean soup. It was a hardy soup, the most filling of the night.

Cauliflower Puree with Brown Butter & Capers - Toast

While shuffling our way through the mass of people we reached the next couple of lines. We were able the grab a bowl of cauliflower puree from Toast and wild mushroom from Guglhuph. Two of Durham's premiere restaurants were able to execute some excellent soups. At the end of the night, Toast's cauliflower puree received the fan's choice awards.

Wild Mushroom with Spring Onion & Barley - Guglhuph Cafe and Bake Shop

New England Clam Crowder - blu Seafood & Bar

After two vegetarian soups it was nice to get some protein in form of the New England clam crowder from blu Seafood.

Bread provided from Loaf

Loaf was gracious enough to provide their delicious breads for the evening. Perfect for soaking up the soups.

Butternut Squash Bisque - Watts Grocery

Watts Grocery originally was offering a chowder as well but quickly ran out of the soup. As a replacement they offered a butternut squash bisque. They were remorseful for not having the originally intended soup but I gleefully accepted the bisque. As bisque takes second place to no soup.

Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup - Thrill from the Grill

Out of the restaurants that were present at Empty Bowls, the only one I wasn't familiar with was Thrill from the Grill. I learned that Thrill from the Grill is not a restaurant at all but instead a catering company based out of Durham. Not knowing what to expect, I proceed with a bit of pessimism. Yet to my surprise, Thrill from the Grill's sweet potato soup was the tastiest soup of the night. Filling lentils and croutons, sweet and tender sweet potatoes, and a spicy and savory broth, this was a complete soup. The celebrity judges agreed as they awarded Thrill from the Grill soup of the night's honors.

Hot and Sour - Whole Foods Market

Roasted Cauliflower with White Truffle - L'Uva

Creole Tomato Bisque - Papa Mojo's 

Tried and soup-logged we collected the next three lines of soup and took a seat at a table. They were all fine soups but the unfortunate victim of food blogger too saturated and too stimulated to write anything of real substance about them.

Sara was very impressed by the centerpieces for the event. Can't go wrong with upcycling.

Empty Bowls

Desserts

Despite being completely stuffed we couldn't pass the oppurtunity to try out some homemade desserts, a wacky selection made by volunteers. The 7-Up cake was a first for us and we really enjoyed it.

Walking out the door and heading to the after-party with a full belly, I couldn't help to be reminded that this event is for those who have much less. To give those individuals who are in great need even just a piece of the fullness and enjoyment that we took in that night is why the Urban Ministries of Durham is so important.

Urban Ministries of Durham
http://www.umdurham.org/

Restaurant list:
Guglhupf
Revolution
L'Uva 
Papa Mojo's Roadhouse
Thrills from the Grill
Watts Grocery
Blu Seafood
Whole Foods
Toast
Saladelia Cafe
Mad Hatter Cafe and Bakeshop

18 Seaboard

Let me summarize this entry in the first sentence: 18 Seaboard is on my short list of the best restaurants in North Carolina. 

I jumped on 18 Seaboard's extensive bandwagon only recently. Although 18 Seaboard has earned a stellar reputation and multiple awards in Raleigh, its merit did little to tingle my culinary senses.  For no real reason my preconceived notions of 18 Seaboard included visions of an old money boys' club with bougie food. Only after years of multiple awards and promises of good food did we finally give 18 Seaboard a chance. 

Amuse-Bouche

A surprise in the form of an amuse-bouche immediately greeted us. The fresh cucumbers topped with a tart goat cheese were the perfect way to tantalize our palates for our coming meal.

Steak Tartare

(Please pardon the restaurant's mood lighting in the dark photos.)

Granting the appetizer selection to Sara, she surprised me when she declared she wanted to try the steak tartare. Despite being a novice to steak tartare she attacked it like a pro. Tender and flavorful, the dish was a tremendous introduction to steak tartare for Sara.

Duck confit, swiss chard, cheddar grits, and blueberry reduction

Out of all the various amounts of grits I've had since moving to the South, 18 Seaboard's grits are simply my favorite. Creamy and loaded with a sharp cheddar, these grits stole the show from an excellent duck confit.

The leg of duck featured a flawlessly crispy skin. I lavished in the greasy, crispy, crunchy goodness that one expects from a well done piece of poultry.

Pecan encrusted flounder, sauteed spinach, fingerling potatoes topped with mango-sweet pepper chutney 

Sara went for the nightly special, the pecan encrusted flounder. Since the first time visit to 18 Seaboard Sara has raved about their sauteed spinach. Simple and fresh, it shows off the spinach's natural deliciousness. Even on a plate with a perfectly flaky flounder, Sara was once again taken with the spinach.

Mocha crème brûlée with homemade biscott

One of the recommendations we've received about 18 Seaboard is their dessert menu, made in house by 18 Seaboard's pasty chef. We indulged in the mocha crème brûlée. The torched sugar gave a crunchy ceiling for the rich custard below.

There are not enough good things I could mention about 18 Seaboard, and that's just about the food alone. 18 Seaboard's service and prices are on point as well. Morale of the story: give every bougie place a shot!

Empty Bowls 8 Giveaway Winner!

I would like to thank everyone who entered into my Empty Bowls giveaway. I had a bunch of entries and I wish I could provide tickets for all of you. But the lucky winner is...

Jyotsna J. !

Thanks so much for entering and please consider supporting the Urban Ministries of Durham by attending the Empty Bowls event or the after-party at the Motorco Music Hall.

Empty Bowls 2012

March 8, 5:30 - 8:00

The Armory | 220 Foster Steet Durham, NC

http://umdurham.org/news-and-events/events/empty-bowls-2012.html

Purchase tickets

Urban Ministries of Durham

http://www.umdurham.org/