Heads up, Port City Foodies! Did you miss any of these feature stories?
Port City Foodie is out and about, compiling the best lists of restaurants and foods, checking in at our favorite specialty food markets, and letting Wilmingtonians and visitors to the Cape Fear region know what’s going on. We’ve got a great foodie community, with the hottest restaurants and superbly talented chefs, and access to the very best local produce, seafood, and food products. We’re thinking pickles, microgreens, honey, and giant squares of cheese biscuits from a local artisanal bakery.
Here’s what we are writing:
Short interviews with Port City foodies, from food bloggers and restaurateurs, to bartenders, chefs and specialty food retailers. We love taking five (or thereabouts) minutes with these busy people and talking about food. What motivates them? What do they love to eat? What do they love to cook? What’s coming out of their kitchens or stores?
We go, we eat, and write… if we love it, that is. Restaurant reviews on Port City Foodie are all about food love, when means that if we don’t think it’s worth telling other foodies to eat there, we don’t write about it. No bitching about servers, complaining about portion sizes, or debating the noise level in the dining room. It’s about food love at Port City Foodie. Food. We love it.
Recipes for Your Port City Kitchen
We’re working on building an archive of tried and tested recipes as a quick resource. We’re posting appetizers, entrees, and a sizeable number of totally tempting desserts. Lots of of our favorite recipes have been contributed by Port City foodies, including Chuck Pennington at The Verandas, and Sarah Koob, who counts a smoker-savvy husband and a fondness for local oysters among her assets.
If you have a story idea for us, or would like to get a press release in front of our writers, send a note to Port City Foodie.
Dowless Casserole: Recipes from The Verandas Bed & Breakfast
This breakfast casserole from Wilmington’s one of the oldest bed and breakfast inns, The Verandas, is deceptively simple. With its elegant presentation, Dowless Casserole will delete your breakfast guests. It is perfect for Easter brunch, or a special Mothers Day breakfast.
Cast Iron Kitchen Pork Belly Is Living High on the Hog
Cast Iron Kitchen and Chef Josh Petty have changed the way the Port City thinks of breakfast and brunch but when they team up with Master Blend Family Farms for a “High and Low on the Hog” dinner, you KNOW it’s gonna be spectacular!
tacobaby has Arrived: Tastebud Nirvana
When I heard tacobaby was having their Grand Opening, I immediately scrapped the family’s dinner plans, scooped everyone up and set sail for the unveiling of what will undoubtedly become one of downtown’s coolest places.
Osteria Cicchetti Maintaining “O.C.” Status
Osteria Cicchetti is, and always has been predictably and consistently delicious. This awesome meal was no exception and yet another reminder why “The O.C.” is so popular.
Cast Iron Kitchen: Worth a Quick U-Turn
Seeing that Cast Iron Kitchen was open meant a quick U-turn and an awesome brunch were my new plans for the day!
Bento Box: Food as Glorious Art
I dropped into the Bento Box in the Forum and so glad I did! When the food came out I honestly felt guilty for eating it because it looked so good.
CHINGŌN! Taqueria: Awesome in Any Language
Tell ya what… CHINGON is worth the drive (and a story). I’ve stepped away from stories because it seems like people really just want a quick couple blurbs and a couple photos. But today’s lunch was yummy fo’ sho’, and merits some extra foodie props!
Hungry Sparrow: Relief for Quarantined Taste Buds
Stuck in the house in full-on pandemic stay-your-butt-at-home mode, I felt my beloved taste buds dulling and dying with every day. Long gone were my romantic walks to the taco trucks and I felt that I’d do just about anything to enter the hallowed halls …
Real Foodies Don’t Arrive Empty-Handed: foodie gifts for the host or hostess
Are you invited to partake of New Year’s revelries at the home of your favorite foodie? Rejoice! There is nothing better than ringing in a new year with craft drinks, special bubbly, and gourmet edibles. But… don’t forget the foodie gift for that special host …
Christmas Gifts for the (Port City) Foodie in Your Life
SANTA IS A FOODIE… Last minute gift ideas for the foodie in your life. So if you’re anything like me, you’ve been so busy trying out all the amazing restaurants in the Port City that Christmas has snuck up on you. And if you’re anything …
Verandas Ghoulishly Delicious Pumpkin Spice Eggnog
If you are an eggnog lover, the day those cartons hit the shelves at the supermarket is bliss. It signals the winter holidays, family gatherings, and feet up in front of the fireplace. This pumpkin spice eggnog pushes the calendar up just a month or …
Foxes Boxes: Mission Marries Menu
As I make my way around Wilmington and the surrounding areas looking for new places to strap on the feed bag and get my “grub on,” I come across a wide variety of foods and eateries. In the ever-growing restaurant landscape that the Port City …
True Blue Butcher and Table Offers a Feast for the Eyes and the Palate
Trying to find the perfect place for a “date night” dinner is a daunting task whether it’s a first date, a night out with your significant other, a special night away from the kids with your spouse or celebrating a milestone anniversary. There are so …
Dram + Morsel: the Foodie Go-To for Small Bites, Drinks, and Tastes
For some strange reason, my friends think that just because I like to strap on the feed bag at some of Wilmington’s best eateries, I must have an “inside scoop” on where to go as if it’s some kind of secret.
Party Perfect: Five Pro Tips for Throwing an Elegant Affair from The Verandas
When your life is being the “host with the most,” throwing the perfect party is all in a day’s work. Chuck Pennington, innkeeper of Wilmington’s four-diamond bed and breakfast inn, The Verandas, is a party pro. He follows the same party planning protocol for the …
Foodie Adventure: Edison Food+Drink Lab, Tampa
Port City Foodie restaurant reviewer and food lover, Ed Walsh, is on the road, and all of us foodies back home in Wilmington NC are lucky enough to have him check in, with tempting food pics and mouth-watering descriptions. Eat, enjoy, and share, Ed.
7 Super Burgers: Port City’s Best Hamburgers
Looking for an incredible burger? We’ve got a list of the seven super burgers. These are the best hamburgers in Wilmington: the juiciest, most flavorful, most substantial burgers that promise to satisfy any meat eater. At least until we find a new favorite burger joint.
Flavor that Wows for Chocolate Lovers from Yes CaCao
Words dear to every foodie’s heart: Here, taste this. They said it, and we complied. Our sample botanical chocolate bars from Yes CaCao arrived in the mail, carefully wrapped and insulated like the precious objects they are.
Carolina Beach’s Joint for Tacos: Nollie’s
What do you get when a retired professional skateboarder with an affinity for tacos decides to bring his love for simple, fresh ingredients and a laid back, cool environment to the area? You get Nollie’s, one heck of a cool place in Carolina Beach serving …
Kitchen Garden Heaven at Shelton Herb Farm
Home cooks, pro cooks, super star chefs all know the key to flavor is fresh herbs. This summer, why don’t you grow your own kitchen garden herbs? Whether you have plenty of sunny space in your yard, or a shady corner on a brick patio, …
Indonesian Gem: Novi and Jeff Rickert’s Candle Nut Restaurant
If you are looking for a restaurant gem in Wilmington, make sure your next lunch or dinner stop is Candle Nut Restaurant. Owners Jeff and Novi Rickert have created an Indonesian restaurant that offers meals with Malaysia, Singapore and Dutch influences.
Shrimp and Grits with a Twist
Ever had a good recipe and made a little change that created a great recipe? Follow the recipe for Sarah’s favorite Shrimp and Grits, and substitute smoked crawfish sausage for the Andouille sausage in the original recipe. Try making our shrimp and grits with a …
Two Hot Appetizers for Cheese Lovers
We don’t think there is anything more universally enticing than cheese-laden appetizers, and these two hot appetizers for cheese lovers are our go-to recipes.
Tasty Tuesday with Kirk Pugh: Roko in Wilmington NC
Foodie Kirk Pugh takes Tasty Tuesday to Roko Italian Restaurant for an elegant dining experience and some of the best Italian food in Wilmington NC.
Seaview Crab Company Tempts Foodies with Fresh Seafood and Seasonal Produce
Brunswick County is continuing to grow and with this growth comes more and more local businesses and new locations. Brunswick County residents, of course, love the two bordering counties that provide some of the best restaurants, chefs, activities and life to our community. But, as …
It’s here: ChurkeyChanga Season in Wilmington NC
It’s ChurkeyChanga time! As the rest of the nation waits for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to enjoy family get-togethers focused on the traditional picturesque turkey dinner, those of us lucky enough to live in Wilmington don’t have to.
Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria Wilmington NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesday
North Carolina meets Italy, and it’s all good at Vivian and Ben Howard’s Greenfield Street District restaurant Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria. Kirk Pugh – broker realtor foodie – takes us out to dinner for wood-fired pizza, southern fried chicken parmesan, and sweet potato gnocchi. What’s …
Vermouth Cocktails: Surprisingly Versatile Aperitif
You know that moment of hesitation when ordering a cocktail? That second when you think you should try something new? May we suggest a Vermouth cocktail?
Gibby’s Dock & Dine Carolina Beach NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesay
Get there however you can: boat, kayak, foot, car, golf cart, bike. At Gibby’s, the motto is “Let’s Beach,” and there are plenty of ways to do just that. Kirk catches some good grub, cold beer, and low key atmosphere at the best place to …
The Return of a Favorite: Buffalo Tater Tots
Sometimes a foodie just has to nosh. Ditch the artisinal ingredients and molecular gastronomy, and order something that is just damn good. And so we celebrate the return of “Buffalo Tots.”
Soulflavor Restaurant Wilmington NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesday
It’s hot, it’s yummy, and it’s on Kirk’s radar. Soulflavor restaurant on Carolina Beach is creating lots of buzz, but both good food and a good beach vibe. Don’t think “soul” food, think Southern food with a twist.
Circa 1922 Restaurant Wilmington NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesday
Tasty little bites from the tapas menu at Circa 1922 grace this week’s Tasty Tuesday restaurant review with Kirk Pugh stopping in at Circa 1922 before hitting the galleries and the Downtown Sundown concert. We love the bar vibe at Circa, too.
Osteria Cicchetti Restaurant Wilmington NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesday
Osteria Cicchetti is the go-to Italian restaurant for lots of foodies in the Cape Fear area, with big-time favorites like their flatbread pizzas, clams with white sauce, and creative seasonal specials. Join Kirk Pugh and his family for dinner out at the O.C.
Take it to the Beach: Nakedfin Poke Bowl is the Bomb
Wilmington seems to be in a bit of an identity crisis. I mean, is the Port City a beach town? A college town? An active lifestyle town? A food town?
Big Thai Restaurant Wilmington NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesday
Fan of spicy? Lover of curry? Head over to Big Thai in Wilmington NC for a great dine-in or take-out meal of authentic favorite dishes from Thailand. Kirk stops at Big Thai, one of his favorite Thai restaurants, for a Tasty Tuesday video.
Art of the Kitchen: Verandas, Wilmington NC
When the pink-orange walls in the kitchen need a refresh, and the kitchen faucet isn’t doing its job, it’s time for a kitchen update. If your home is a AAA 4-Diamond Award inn on the National Registry of Historic Places, the project is both …
Calling all Entrepreneurs: Summer is Lemonade and Cookie Time
As I roam around Wilmington and the surrounding areas looking for new and flavorful ways to feed my face, I’ve come across the full spectrum of eateries. From fine dining to food trucks and pretty much everything in between, I’ve grown to love all the …
Double Happiness Chinese Restaurant Wilmington NC | Kirk Pugh’s Tasty Tuesday Video Series
Double Happiness offers twice the Chinese restaurant dining options with the second location in the Ogden area, centrally located for the beaches and downtown Wilmington. Kirk is celebrating Double Happiness’ opening in his ‘hood and shares an evening of great Chinese food with us in …
Menu mastery: planning the perfect dinner party
The key to planning the perfect dinner party is mastering the menu. From determining the food and beverages, to selecting the dishes and the glassware, effort expended on the front end of a perfectly executed dinner party serves to showcase the meal.
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