Happy New Year!

Entering into the 5th year of this blog, I continue to be exceedingly grateful for your readership. Whether you're a visitor or call Raleigh your home, my sincerest of hopes is that this little space on the internet guides you to good eats around the city.

The fact that five years later individuals come and browse this site still astounds me. The idea that this blog led me to the opportunity to be featured on the pages of our city's official visitors' guide leaves me with no words to describe my pride and excitement.

So thank you reader. No matter if this is your first and only entry or if you've been a reader from the start, I'm happy that you decided to come to this blog. I hope for you to have the most happy and safe new year. And may 2013 be filled with joyful memories and excellent food from this amazing city.

- Elliot
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American Indian Heritage Celebration

For the past 17 years, the North Carolina Museum of History has hosted the American Indian Heritage Celebration. The Bicentennial Plaza fills with spectators and visitors soaking in the rich history and culture of North Carolina's native people. 

"According to the most recent census, North Carolina is home of the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River... American Indians are not just a lost or historic people, they're living and thriving among our people in our state today."  

Squeezed into the narrow pathway between the Museum of History and Museum of Natural Science, the celebration brought to life a quiet afternoon in downtown with vibrant colors, dancing, chanting, drum circles, exhibits, and fry bread. 

Navajo Taco

Fry bread is about the one thing I know about American Indian cuisine. A simple dough, fried but still maintaining a wonderful chew and softness. 

The American Indian, Alaskan, Hawaiian Native Resource Center painstakingly hand rolled and freshly fried each piece of bread.

When I asked the group if they knew of any restaurant in Raleigh that does American Indian food, they unfortunately did not. But they were very willing to offer their catering services. 

Across from the wonderfulness of fried carbs was the Sappony tribe offering pumpkin bread and salsa.

Munching down on samples of pumpkin bread, one of the table workers offered me a sample of the salsa. "Make sure you get the hominy! It's the best part!" she exclaimed while holding the bowl of salsa.

Sappony Salsa

And she was right-- the hominy gives the salsa a different texture and taste than traditional versions.

Pumpkin Bread

Although I enjoyed the chips and salsa, my stomach was ready for something sweet, so I took a slice of pumpkin bread with me as I enjoyed the rest of the celebration.

Sappony's version of pumpkin bread had pine nuts sprinkled along the top of the loaf, giving a great nuttiness to the sweet and dense bread.

These days it can seem as if the American Indian culture is overlooked and forgotten, but this celebration is a reminder that their culture is vibrant and their food is pretty good too.

American Indian Heritage Celebration
http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/AIHC2012/index.html

Waba

Perched on top of Hillsborough St., looking down on the ever-evolving street, is an NC State mainstay that survived the endless construction that took its toll on many Hillsborough St. businesses. Waba has always been somewhat of a mystery. Searching the restaurant's name on Google doesn't find a official site, not even a functional Facebook page. Reviews of the restaurant are months to years old. Pictures of the inside of Waba are nonexistent and pictures of the food are slim to none.

Out of everything that has failed on Hillsborough St., from the amazing Frazier's or the all-you-can-eat cereal joint Bowls, how was it that Waba was the one that survived?

Kimchi Stew

As I pushed Waba's door open and meandered up the stairs, my excitement began to build. Like the masked magician revealing magic tricks, I was finally going to unravel the mystery that has been Waba. What greeted me was a little less dramatic then what I've been building in my imagination-- it's a tranquil and quiet place. I approached the counter to place my order from a simple menu full of typical Korean dishes. Every dish is numbered and pictured for those unfamiliar with Korean cuisine. And as I read over dishes like bibimbap and bulgogi, it was the stews that caught my eye.

Craving the fermented goodness of kimchi while still wanting something hot, I decided on the kimchi stew. Served in a clay pot to keep the stew hot throughout the meal, it was scalding by the time I brought it to my table. Pieces of cabbage, pork, and tofu floated around in a bright red broth. The unique fermented flavor of kimchi was the highlight of the dish. Throw in to the pot  the rice and egg served on the side, and the meal is warming and satisfying, especially on cold winter afternoons. In the end, behind the mystery of Waba is simple food that satisfies.

Now... if only I could figure out the mystery behind Gangnam Style.