Domestic Bliss in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Reynolda House Museum, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, recently opened a new exhibit, "Domestic Bliss: Art at Home in Britain and America, 1780-1840". Running through May 20, 2012, this small, focused exhibit features 15 works from the collections of Reynolda House and Wake Forest University and will be displayed in the West Bedroom Gallery of the historic house. It is a study of the importance of home life as an artistic theme in late 18th-century British and American painting with displays of portraiture, genre, and landscape paintings and prints.

Curated by Morna O'Neill, assistant professor of art at Wake Forest University, with help from her students, this exhibition includes several works of art that are rarely seen at the Museum. Admission to this exhibition is included in the price of admission to Reynolda House.

And if you go in February, be sure to include the behind-the-scenes Hearthside Tour of Reynolda House. This special treat is only being offered the first two Sundays in February at 2:30pm and centers around a winter theme with tours of ten fireplaces, the original coal chute, furnace rooms, and other areas of the historic house normally closed to the public, including kitchens, laundry and mechanical rooms, the squash court, and areas below the swimming pool.

Sounds pretty 'cool' to us (that's a little winter humor).

Beaufort, North Carolina America's Coolest Small Town

Okay all you fans of North Carolina travel. Now's your turn to be heard!

Budget Travel Magazine is looking for America's Coolest Small Towns and it's come down to the wire with Beaufort, North Carolina neck and neck against Hammondsport, NY. Now, we're sure that Hammondsport is a lovely town and has plenty to offer. But Beaufort, the crown jewel in North Carolina's Crystal Coast, combines small town charm with ocean views, killer water sports, loads of maritime and antebellum history, quaint accommodations, and tasty seafood and Southern culinary treats. And that doesn't even begin to mention the incredibly temperate year-round weather. Beaufort should beat out any place in New York on that alone!

Make your voice heard. Vote for Beaufort, North Carolina for America's Coolest Small Town. But hurry....voting ends tomorrow!

And if you want to find out what all the hubbub is about for Beaufort and the Crystal Coast (and perhaps plan a visit), learn more in our our feature in TrailBlazer Magazine

Shrimp and Grits Throwdown in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Bobby Flay ain't got nothing on shrimp and grits! Check out the inaugural Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chefs' Shrimp & Grits Throwdown on February 25 from 1-4pm at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to find out who wins the title and full bragging rights of Shrimp and Grits Champion.

Seven local star chefs from renowned restaurants will compete as they prepare their own unique twist on this.  Southern culinary tradition. The only requirement for the chefs is using shrimp and grits. Other than that, they have full culinary freedom to prepare their version of the signature dish for judges and attendees. And your voice can be heard by casting your vote for "Fan Favorite".

Chefs participating in the Throwdown include: Jeremy Blankenship of Tyler's Tap Room; Trey Cleveland of Top of the Hill; Adam Cobb of Glasshalfull; Bret Jennings of Elaine's on Franklin; Vimala Rajendran of Vimala's Curry Blossom; Jimmy Reale of Carolina Crossroads Restaurant and Adam Rose of Il Palio.

Tickets are $15 per person and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to TABLE, a non-profit hunger relief organization focusing exclusively on Chapel Hill-Carrboro childhood hunger. For tickets or more information, contact Carolina Inn Throwdown.

Think Snow in the North Carolina Mountains

We're gearing up to head back to one of our old ski stomping grounds in West Virginia next week for a little skiing and boarding and it made us think of North Carolina skiing. We know.....the weather doesn't make you think of skiing. But, actually, conditions are pretty decent out west and the slopes are open. Check out this Visit NC.com update on what's new at North Carolina ski resorts for 2012 and hit the slopes. But we would advise to check the weather at each individual resort's website before you go. Just in case. Have fun!

Wilmington, North Carolina Events Selected as Top 20

As if the riverfront town of Wilmington, North Carolina needed more accolades to encourage travel to it's charming city. But the Southeast Tourism Society thought otherwise and selected two annual events held in Wilmington as two of the Top 20 Events for the months of January through March 2012.

The North Carolina Jazz Festival, (February 2-4) and the 4th Annual Cape Fear Wildlife Expo (March 16-18) have made return appearances on the prestigious Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events list again this year. Just goes to show that quality events like these and others help make Wilmington's Historic River District and the islands of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach a fun year-round travel destination.

This year's North Carolina Jazz Festival kicks off Thursday night, February 2, with a concert featuring a "Styles of Jazz" performance and continues throughout the weekend with 15 world-renowned jazz musicians, distinguishing this event as one of the largest traditional jazz festivals in the Southeast. All events take place at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, including a Saturday morning jazz brunch. Be sure to inquire about special hotel rates  available to festival attendees.

The 2012 Cape Fear Wildlife Expo (Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17, from 9am-7pm and Sunday from 10am-5pm) encouraging enjoyment of the great outdoors through hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports and to heighten public awareness of our natural resources and conservation efforts. The weekend event will feature wildlife art and decoy displays; book signings by regional outdoor writers; hunting and fishing product exhibits; boats and accessories; truck and ATV displays; fly-fishing and decoy-carving demonstrations; conservation exhibits; and outdoor sports guides and outfitters. Special interactive children's activities include Sensory Safari, Aquatic Trailer, Mallard Madness Laser Shoot, Monster Buck display, and Kids Gone Wild academic workshops. All events will be held at the Wilmington Convention Center.

Two great events for the jazz lover and the outdoor enthusiast.....all one historic river district.

Carolina Cakes featured in Our State Magazine

As a North Carolinian, we take pride in our indigenous ingredients and regional culinary treats. Whether it's pecans, peaches, and pimento cheese or Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), Lance Nabs (Charlotte, North Carolina) or Pepsi (New Bern, North Carolina), North Carolina has produced (and continues to produce) some amazing food traditions.

And in the February issue of Our State Magazine, recipe developer Wendy Perry has created some amazing cakes using quintessential North Carolina products. We're talking Krispy Kreme Cake, Maple Syrup & Country Ham Cake (pictured above), and Pimento Chesse & Cornbread Cake, just to name a few. Truly one of the most interesting and drool-inspiring articles we've read in a long time.

Pick up a copy of Our State Magazine to read the entire article, check out the video online, or get the recipes. Can't wait to get baking!

Real Housewives Spices up Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival

As mentioned on a previous blog, Wine & Food Festival season is quickly approaching and one festival is really spicing things up this year.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and best-selling author, Teresa Giudice (pictured), will bring her "Fabulicious" persona to the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival April 11-14 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. She will appear at several festival events as well as serving as hostess extraordinaire at the Celebrity Chef Cooking Demo on Saturday, April 14.

In addition to her Real Housewives fame, Giudice has two New York Times best-sellers, Skinny Italian and Fabulicious!: Teresa's Italian Family Cookbook. Her third book, Fabulicious: Fast & Fit! will be published later this year.

Don't miss the festivities as this real housewife takes the food world by storm!

Charleston Veteran Chef Opens New Restaurant

Okay....we know our love of the dining scene in Charleston, South Carolina is obscene but you are going to have to bear with us one more time. Veteran chef (and Johnson & Wales alum) Kevin Johnson of Slightly North of Broad, Anson Restaurant, and the Inn at Little Washington fame has opened a new restaurant in Charleston. The Grocery, located on Upper King St., will be serving seasonal, ingredient-inspired cuisine with a touch of Mediterranean and South American influences.

Housed in the old Altman's Furniture Company warehouse, The Grocery inspires memories of the small-town corner grocery--where locals gathered to keep up with the community goings-on in a comfortable and familiar setting. Chef Johnson has created a similar kind of space, complete with wood-burning oven, and complemented it with a menu based on what is available from the local and regional farmers and fisherman that he has developed relationships and friendships with over the years. 

Diners can sample and share several small plates or larger ones from the ever-evolving menu adding to a sense of community and conviviality. Current menu highlights include fried oysters with deviled egg sauce and bread-and-butter pickles; bouillabaisse of fish, clams, shrimp and squid with grilled bread and aioli; and pork osso buco served with a ragout of Sea Island red peas and cornbread, just to name a few.

The Grocery is located at 4 Cannon Street (at King Street) and is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday at 5pm. 

Okay....we're done for now. Thanks for indulging us.

Books and Boots in Asheville

Don't let the cold days of February keep you indoors. The North Carolina Arboretum will be celebrating the beauty and bounty of the world around us by encouraging indoor and outdoor winter activities at their two-day event, Books and Boots, February 18 and 19.

Located in Asheville, North Carolina, the Arboretum was established in 1986 by the General Assembly as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina and it's 434-acre public gardens have quickly become one of the most significant state-supported attractions in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina.

Held in conjunction with the Arboretum's 25th anniversary season, Books and Boots will offer fun and educational activities for the entire family. Guided hikes, guided geocaching, nature journaling for kids, and winter bird bingo are just a few of the outdoor activities that the Arboretum has in store. Additionally, the event will host indoor readings and presentations by featured authors including James Farmer (pictured above), garden and interior designer and author of the newly released, A Time to Plant: Southern Style Garden Living and Patricia Moore-Pastides, First Lady of the University of South Carolina and an accomplished cook and author who will present cooking demonstrations based on her book, Greek Revival: Cooking for Life.

The event is free for Arboretum Society members or an $8 standard parking fee for non-members and sounds like a great reason to head to the great outdoors of western North Carolina.

Wine & Food Festival Season in the Carolinas

Bobby Flay at Charleston Wine + Food Festival

And there off! It is officially the start of the Wine & Food festival season in the Carolinas. And, although we'll be showering you with tasty and tantalizing details of the upcoming festivities throughout North and South Carolina in the coming months, we thought we'd tempt your tastebuds with an initial menu of upcoming offerings. That way, you can take a look at your calendar, make your plans, and start your diets today.

Here's a few that we know of:
Charleston Wine + Food Festival - March 1-4 in the Holy City, South Carolina
OBX Taste of the Beach - March 15-18 on the Outer Banks, North Carolina
Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival - April 13-17 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend - April 18-21 in the Queen City, North Carolina
Beaufort Wine & Food Weekend - April 25-29 in Beaufort, North Carolina

Know of other? Fill us in....we're always on the hunt for new culinary festivals.

Greenville, South Carolina Native is Mercy Bound

Local rocker Edwin McCain has done it again! Today ONLY (January 10th, until midnight), Amazon.com is featuring Edwin's most recent album, 'Mercy Bound' as their exclusive  'Daily Deal'! 

You can download the entire album for just $3.99. Download it here!

If you haven't heard it yet, Mercy Bound totally rocks and reminds us why we remain huge Edwin McCain fans!

Tasty Events in Blowing Rock

We love winter in the mountains....snuggling by the fire, wooly sweaters, gorgeous scenery and hiking, and the always-possible chance for snow (we coastal Carolinians don't get much of that). And this month, there's another reason to head to the mountains of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The kitchen at one of our favorite restaurants is really heating up with two special events that already have us salivating.

Crippen's Country Inn & Restaurant in downtown Blowing Rock is kicking off it's yearlong "Rising Star Chefs" series with Raleigh chef/owner Chad McIntyre of Market Restaurant on January 20 at 6:30pm. Born in Louisiana, Chef McIntyre learned about food at his family's kitchen table. After cooking stints in the Gulf Coast and Colorado, the call of the South lured him back to Raleigh last year with the opening of Market. Named "Local Hero" by Edible Piedmont last spring, Chef McIntyre brings fresh, clean Southern flavors with an inventive, global twist to his cooking.

Tickets to his multi-course showcase dinner are $39 per person (excluding beverages and tip) and must be purchased in advance at www.crippens.com.

The second taste treat is an all-out culinary throw down of "Battle of the Champions" between WNC Chef Challenge winner Nate Allen of Knife & Fork in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, 2011 Fire on the Rock winner Michael Barbato from Blowing Rock's Chetola Resort, and Crippen's own Stan Chamberlain. The cool thing about this culinary battle is that the diners will vote on the winner.

This culinary competition is on January 24 and will have each chef preparing two courses using any ingredients of their choosing with any combination of flavors. Tickets for the six-course gastronomic extravaganza are $49 per person (excluding beverage and tip) and must be purchased in advance at www.crippens.com.

Bon Appetit in Blowing Rock!

Getting Cheesy in North Carolina

We love cheese. Who doesn't? It's delicious, has lots of health benefits, offers loads of cooking versatility, and is truly a comfort food. But cheese is so complex and there is so much about cheese that we don't know. So one of our goals for 2012 is to become cheeseheads and to learn more about the different kinds of flavors, textures, and forms of cheese. Now, we know you are asking yourself, what does this have to do with Carolina Travel Planner?

Everything! Because we can't think of a better place to learn all things cheese than at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

What began in 1975 as a coffee roastery is now a 60,000 square foot gourmet specialty-foods emporium that features ten distinct areas including candy, coffee and tea, wine, gourmet groceries, housewares, gifts, bakery, takeout and catering, the tasty Weathervane restaurant, and one of the most enviable cheese departments we've ever seen.

We could spend half a day perusing the vast cheese selections and discussing the merits of sheep's milk cheese or hard versus semi-soft with the cheese mongers behind the counter. Talk about being a kid in a candy store. So when we decided to take our cheese knowledge up a notch in the new year, we couldn't help but think that A Southern Season would extol and support our cause.

And, sure enough, upon initial glance at their online cooking class schedule, we found several cheesy options.  Whether it's Cheese: A Tutorial in January or a cheese and wine pairing with the Brothers Kast in February, or Farm to Fork: Goat Lady Dairy in March, we can't go wrong. Cheeseheads unite!

Learn more about A Southern Season in our feature that we did for Taste of the South Magazine a few years back.

Raleigh, North Carolina Best Place to Live

Wow....talk about superlatives! Businessweek Magazine selected Raleigh, North Carolina as the best place to live in the country in their America's 50 Best Cities. Using more than sixteen different indexes, Businessweek determined that the North Carolina capital was the best among the country's 100 largest cities. The criteria included: the number of restaurants, bars, and museums per capita; the number of colleges, libraries, and professional sports teams; the income, poverty, unemployment, crime, and foreclosure rates; percent of population with bachelor's degrees, public school performance, park acres per 1,000 residents, and air quality.

According to Businessweek, Raleigh was chosen specifically because it has a thriving social scene, great parks, and good schools. It also offers a high level of culture including concerts and opera, is home to NC State, Duke, and UNC at Chapel Hill, and sports an enviable 30,000 square foot State Farmer's Market.

Other North Carolina cities that made the list were Charlotte (20th), Greensboro (31st), Durham (37th) and Winston-Salem (46th).

Way to go NC....we couldn't be prouder!

Johnnie Mercer Pier Makes Cover of NC Travel Guide

How cool is it that Wrightsville Beach's Johnnie Mercer Pier made the cover of the 2012 North Carolina Travel Guide?