Whether you’re seriously sober, just relaxing things during Dry January, or simply curious about the zero-proof cocktail trend, Killjoy has the class for you! Purchase tickets to attend their mocktail class on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Save the Last Skate for Us ⛸️
It’s your last chance to skate in Downtown Raleigh this weekend! THE RINK presented by UNC Health closes on Monday, Jan. 16. Head to Red Hat Amphitheater to enjoy the thrill of ice skating in a winter wonderland.
Arrgh You Ready for the Weekend?
Grab your best Viking or Pirate attire and head to Geek & Grub’s Market Sea Raider Edition on Saturday, Jan. 14, from 11 until 3 p.m. at Fred Fletcher Park. This event is free to the public, is great for all ages, and will feature geeky games, cosplay, competitions, vendors, grub, and more. Get your geek on, friends!
Nothing Says “I Love You” Like Italian Food and Vino!
Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, and Mulino is one of the most romantic restaurants in Raleigh, perfect for celebrating the day of love with your loved one(s). This year, they are offering a special four-course meal prix fixe menu (vegetarian options available), a welcome drink, and a bottle of wine per couple for $125/guest.
It’s Been a Week…
I swear I don’t know what it is about a short week, but damn if it doesn’t make it feel like the longest. By the time this hits many of your inboxes, you’ll be reading this on Saturday morning, so thanks for welcoming me into your weekend with you, y’all! I was so excited to share this fresh start to the new year with some of my favorite salads you can enjoy at lunch or dinner and not leave disappointed that I just didn’t want to skip pushing this week’s edition out. Did I miss one of your personal favorite salads? Hit reply or drop a comment to let me know where I can keep working on that 2023 “eat better” resolution!
I Don’t Even Scan the QR Code Menu at Tazza, This Is the Salad I’m Having
Hands down, I’m coming out of the gate with this week’s lineup with my #1, all-time, don’t @ me, this is the salad that all salads wish they could be. And as Raleigh Weekend’s vegetarian who eats a lot of tired salads simply because that’s my only selection on the menu, I can tell you that this is the one I crave when I’m trying to make better lunchtime decisions. Drum roll, please… Tazza Kitchen’s Crunchy Potato and Arugula!
Say “Hello, Old Friend” to Bella Monica’s Longtime Salad Staples
This week I enjoyed my third Bella Monica meal in less than a month—which, by the way, doesn’t even begin to elevate me to “regular” status at the longstanding West Raleigh neighborhood favorite—and my sister-in-law welcomed her Pear & Gorgonzola Salad (topped with beautiful shrimp) with a warm, “Hello, Old Friend!” This selection of mixed greens, chianti-braised pears, walnuts, gorgonzola, and pear and thyme dressing takes the idea of a tired lunch or dinner salad and walks it politely out the door.
This “Chef’s Baroom and Restaurant” Consistently Serves up One of the Tastiest Salads in Town…
If memory serves, as the seasons change at Downtown Raleigh’s Whiskey Kitchen, so do some of the menu selections, but I’ve never had a salad here that rubbed me the wrong way. On the menu currently are a Smoked Mozzarella Salad (pictured above – local greens, house-smoked mozz, cherry tomato, picked red onion, croutons, citrus and champagne vinaigrette) and a Spiced Honey Crisp Salad (local greens, beet puree, shaved fennel, local apples, spiced pecans, chai vinaigrette), both of which sound spectacular, especially with those better-than-uninspired-ranch dressing offerings.