Durham Becoming a BBQ Mecca

Durham, NC's oldest restaurant is a BBQ spot called Bullock's, and up until a few years ago, the second oldest was, too. BBQ runs deep in Durham.


Today it was announced via Twitter that Durham is one step closer to welcoming another BBQ restaurant - this one owned and operated by world-famous pitmaster, Ed Mitchell.

Named Ed Mitchell's Que, this spot is tucked into the Diamond View Three building in the shadow of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park across the street from the American Tobacco Campus on Blackwell Street. It will join 11 other dedicated BBQ restaurants in Durham, and dozens of others in town that offer up 'cue on their menus alongside other dishes. Durham is a town serious about its food and was named the Tastiest Town in the South by Southern Living magazine last year.

The NC barbecue landscape has been earning significantly increased attention in the last few years as diners nation- and world-wide have come to love an respect the dish. Now Durham is going to be a more direct focal point with this new restaurant. "Mitchell is a titan in the field of BBQ. That he is bringing his talent to Durham is a great commentary on the overall dining scene," said Sam Poley, Director of Public Relations for the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB). "And it's especially good news for those who like to eat great food," Poley added.

Mitchell attends BBQ competitions around the world, and is a widely considered one of the very best in the business. Director of the Southern Foodways Alliance John T. Edge, a well-respected authority on food authenticity, named Mitchell the #1 Pitmaster in NC back in 2002. Mitchell has gained additional notoriety by appearances on the Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay where he was victorious in the competition with the renowned NY chef, and on CNN's Eatocracy.

Known for his talent for flavors, textures, and technique. Mitchell is also known for his big personality and story telling.  He's an engaging character who has already made an impact on Durham.  Mitchell was the culinary driving force behind The Pit, a Raleigh restaurant that opened a second location in Durham in November last year. Mitchell is now focusing on his own project that is due to open very soon.

Find Mitchell's restaurant on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter. See a list of Durham restaurants that either specialize in, or highlight BBQ, on their menus online.

Sustainable Agriculture Conference Nov 15-17

It was just last April when Durham earned the title Tastiest Town in the South from Southern Living magazine, and it's a pretty well-known fact that Durham has great food.  Now, that food scene is attracting some of foods most forward thinking folks; local and sustainable agriculture experts will soon be converging on Durham to share tips, tricks and wisdom.

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s 28th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference, happening in Durham, NC at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel Nov. 15-17, 2013, will feature over 70 food and farm workshops, farm tours by bus, hands-on intensives, and locally sourced, organic meals.

The Sustainable Agriculture Conference is one of the oldest and largest conferences of its kind in the U.S.  The 2011 Conference, also held in Durham, brought together more than 1,000 farmers, gardeners, foodies, and agriculture professionals to learn about the latest in sustainable farming methods, community gardening, cooking with local ingredients, and food policy activism.

“The local and sustainable food scene across the Carolinas is positively electric and the momentum continues to grow.  The Sustainable Agriculture Conference is at the heart of the local food and farming movement,” says Roland McReynolds, CFSA’s Executive Director.  He adds, “As always, we put our ideals on your plate with incredible, organic food supplied by local farmers at all of the conference meals, including the not-to-be-missed Local Foods Feast.”

This year’s conference boasts exciting tracks devoted to growing organic produce, pastured livestock, soils, beginning farmers, foodies, policy, and a ‘You Make It - Outdoors and Hands-on’ track.  The Conference features renowned speakers, such as fermentation guru, Sandor Katz, Rodale Institute’s Jeff Moyer, Growing for Market magazine’s Lynn Byczynski, author and food systems expert, Phillip Ackerman-Leist, and Michael Bush, author of The Practical Beekeeper.

Some of the more innovative and unique presentations at this year’s Conference include growing cut flowers, soldier fly production, raising goats, urban orcharding, hands-on farm hacking, mob grazing, farm to restaurant table, raising rabbits, lazy beekeeping, and permaculture.  In addition, classes on basic farm planning, marketing and management will give beginning farmers the skills they need to be successful.  This year, for the first time, the conference features “Big Ideas” talks in which top speakers will discuss provocative subjects, such as Climate Change and Farming, Faith and Agriculture, and Healthy Food Access.

The Friday, Nov. 15 Pre-conference features hands-on, intensive workshops on organic production, pastured poultry, food safety, mushrooms, food policy and foodsheds, and permaculture.  A very special intensive taught by Sandor Katz will teach participants the secrets of fermentation.  There will also be half-day bus tours to some of the most beautiful and successful sustainable farms and gardens in the Piedmont.
One of the highlights of the event is the Local Food Feast and Keynote, to be held on Nov. 15 starting at 6:30 PM.  This magical meal is made with only the best in-season, sustainably grown ingredients supplied by local farms.  This year’s keynote speaker is Sandor Katz, author of Wild Fermentation, which Newsweek called “the fermenting bible” and the newly released, The Art of Fermentation.  Katz is also the author of The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, an exploration of America’s underground food movements. Sandor is a much sought-after speaker and thought-leader.  He lives on a farm in Tennessee.

For a complete list of conference offerings or to register for the conference, pre-conference intensives or tours, or the Local Food Feast, all of which are open to the public, please visit them online

Learn more about agritourism in Durham.

Farm Tour and Sustainable Agriculture Conference This Weekend

The Eastern Triangle Farm Tour is this weekend.  For readers not "in the know" this is the 6th annual tour which, despite the name, features several farms in Durham.

The tour, a ticketed event organized by Carolina Farm Stewards, is an opportunity to visit farms in Durham and the region who open up to showcase how they do what they do.  Farm products are typically for sale, as well. 

The tour occurs on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM with 25 farms on the self-guided available.  Tour goers should be aware that three or four locations is likely the maximum that can be visited given the time window but that many of these farms are on the tour annually so the opportunity is not lost if missed this year.  Tickets are available at area Whole Foods stores and online.

The corresponding Sustainable Agriculture Conference is expected to have about 1200 attendees from North Carolina and South Carolina and will be held at the Sheraton Imperial in Durham from November 11-13th.

Those touring should bring a jacket this year.  The temperature is supposed to drop like a bomb this weekend and be chilly and fall-like...just about perfect for visiting farms.