Wine of the Times?

Durham is no stranger to great media coverage as it quietly becomes the worst-kept-secret for food and wine lovers in the US.  Thanks to publications like the New York Times, readers around the world continue to have their dietary resolve ruined by articles extolling the culinary virtues, and dining options, to be had in this bucolic juxtaposition of city and country scenery and corresponding lifestyles.

In other words, Durham, NC is a great place to eat and drink - even when compared to places around the world - and everyone is starting to become keenly aware of that fact.

Great food and a great food culture are natural pairings for great wine, and that is exactly what  reporter and noted wine book author Eric Asimov found here as he researched an article for The Pour in yesterday's edition of the New York Times.

The article notes many things that folks on the ground already know about Durham.  It's an easy going place with no pretension, and it is one that grants wide latitude to visitors and residents alike to be themselves and do what they like.  In Durham, all who want to be are welcomed - even those who prefer to drink red wine with *gasp* fish!

Read about other recent New York Times coverage of Durham here, and about all of the great dining and drinking options in Durham online.

UPDATED: A Heaping Portion of Media Coverage

Durham is a place for food lovers - this is widely known. Despite the loss of culinary icon, The Magnolia Grill, last month, there are plenty of places in Durham that are generating buzz (and drinks and food) that will surely make folks look forward to great meals in the place where great things happen.

Below are two three links to articles that show off some of Durham's great food places. Recently, journalists from Southern Living and the NY Post have spent time here, and their articles indicate they had a mighty good time.  The latest addition is a piece in the Oxford American.

Read the NY Post piece by Jennifer Ceaser. Ceaser hit some high spots in Durham on her visit, including some of Durham's most notable fine dining establishments, and one of it's high end watering holes. This is an example of a journalist making the most of a visit to Durham.

Read the Southern Living Piece by Graham Averil. This article is about the Best Burgers in North Carolina. Two of them can be found in Durham.  Read on and see which ones made the cut.

Read the Oxford American piece by Erin Sroka.
Sroka is from Durham, and this piece is about Dame's Chicken and Waffles. Forewarned is forearmed, it's like to make you very hungry.

Durham's Magnolia Grill is Tops

People around the country and the world are aware that Durham is a dining hot spot.  Bon Appetit called Durham the Foodiest Small Town in America in 2008 and last year Durham was named on the New York Time's list of the "Top 41 Places in the World to Visit" citing it's food as a primary reason.  That NYT article was one of several on the matter that appeared in the publication.

Among Durham's best known restaurants is the Magnolia Grill. Just passing the 25 year mark in November, the restaurant holds two James Beard Awards (think Oscars, but for food) and more accolades than is reasonable to mention, though being number11 on Gourmet Magazine's list of Best Restaurants in the country bears repeating.

Today it was named by the News and Observer's restaurant critic, Greg Cox, as Restaurant of the Year. Magnolia Grill is a venerable mainstay that continues to push the envelope of discovery in the creation of new flavor and preparation within the contemporary Southern sphere. Alumni from the restaurant have opened restaurants both locally and far afield, as well as gone on to positions in some of the world's most notable operations.

Durham's food scene is in large part due to the continued, tireless efforts of the Magnolia Grill's proprietors, Karen and Ben Barker. Collectively, they provide culinary direction that wows guests nightly and provides a bar which many chefs in Durham aspire to reach and best. As the old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats.  In Durham, the Barker's have raised the knife and set a standard upon which those who live and visit can count for the quality of food and service.

Congratulations to the Magnolia Grill family for this achievement.  Congratulations also go to:

• Nana's for their Gold Medal 
• Fairview, Four Square, Revolution and Watts Grocery for their Silver Medals
• Blu Seafood and Bar, Dos Perros, Los Comales, and Vin Rouge for their Best in Class rankings
• G2B and Happy China for being among the Best New Restaurants

For a searchable list of all dining in Durham, see Durham's official visitor website dining section.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate...and It's In Durham

The Food Network airs a show called The Best Thing I Ever Ate.  It's an engaging format where well known food industry people recount stories of the best things they have eaten in four minute segments. Frankly, it's about time they filmed a segment in Durham...which is just what they did yesterday.

According to chef/owner Matt Kelly at Vin Rouge, the show filmed at his restaurant while chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli waxed poetic about the macaroni and cheese that is served in this Durham bistro. Again, Durham is getting some well deserved recognition for having awesome food. 

To be honest, the show is a little cruel given that viewers can't reach into the TV and eat that which is being described...but the point is to motivate folks to go out and eat some great food. For those in Durham, well, they can just hop over to Vin Rouge and get a little mac and cheese in their lives just as soon as the restaurant opens.  Everyone else - they'll just need to pay the Bull City a visit.