A neue experience: fried brussel sprouts, wine on tap and a goat at shinola

Yesterday I jumped in line at the Neue Southern Food Truck (pronounced Noy-a, in case you were wondering) in the North Main area of Downtown Greenville, brought to us by Chefs Lauren Zanardelli and Graham Foster. Let me tell you you won't mind eating your brussel sprouts at this place! They came highly recommended via people in line. I placed an order for way too much food, grabbed a cold bottled Cheerwine from the cooler then made my way to the "lunch room" in Community Tap to sit with some new friends and graze.

I sampled Schnitzel, Banh-Mi, BBQ Pommes Frites (big thanks to Claudia for sharing!) and their Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chunk and Candied Bacon and Chocolate Cookie drizzled with Bacon Fat Icing, but the sprouts stole the show -fried up with apple cider gastrique and popcorn. They were super salty and sweet and crunchy.  My lunch buddies were oohing and ahhing.  I think there were a few happy tears. (I packed up the leftovers for the hubs.)  Affordable and deliciously different lunch.  You can  follow them on FB here. (I think they will be open Friday and Saturday nights for dinner starting at 5ish.)

While I was in the area, I popped into a few of the shops in Stone's Point before hitting Shinola (an antique/junk shop) just up the street.

Before leaving Community Tap I grabbed a growler of wine. I secretly admit a deep jealousy of beer drinkers.  I want a growler too dang it!  I finally got my growler on. I tried the Cab and Chardonnay but settled on red: a Charles and Charles Cab/Syrah blend.  My cousin just happened to stroll in while I was there, so we caught up a bit.  I love living in a place where you see people you know wherever you go.

Couldn't help myself. 

Hey, did you see my new green LOVE GREENVILLE Parachute t-shirt on Facebook?  I would wear it every day if I could. Best. Shirt. Ever. Well you can get your very own at Dapper Ink.  I swear its the softest t-shirt I've ever owned. The custom print shop has a huge selection!  I wanted to just hang out in there and absorb the good vibe. Seriously cool place.

My last stop here was Sparrow Boutique. 

Then Shinola.  

What can I say about Shinola... I walked in and my mouth fell open.  Interesting stuff packed from ceiling to floor.  I found some pretty amazing art and if I had a decorating bone in my body, I'd have been in heaven.

 I made my way through the maze and out the back door to find a goat. A super cute goat.  And mosquitoes. Which ate me alive so thus endeth my Shinola trip.  Anyone else afraid they're gonna get West Nile? 

But what a very cool afternoon.  

Check in on Neue Southern's Facebook page for hours and go get your grub on people! 

 I'm off to get some work done.  Oooh and a bearded Jake Gyllenhaal and my childhood idol Punkie Brewster are on the Today Show this morning.  My lucky day. I chatted with Soleil Moon Frye on Twitter once.  That was wicked! The wonders of social media.  

Enjoy your Friday and your weekend.

indie craft vip night (the crowd and the haul) and a photography show opening

I finally met Johnny Battles in personal last night at Indie Craft Parade's VIP night! (Whoot! Whoot!)  He's the brilliant taste master/magical chocolatier behind Sweeteeth Chocolate, which, if you follow the blog, you know I am a HUGE fan! I admit to being a 100% food nerd/food product producer stalker person.  You'd think I met the lead singer of a band.  For real.  

Here's a song.

I'm a dork.

So I racked up last night at the 3rd annual Indie Craft Parade.  I bought a red Indie Craft Parade 2012 t-shirt, a green (love green!) LOVE GREENVILLE t-shirt from Parachute T company, some Sweeteeth (of course), and a pair of green earrings from 17 Dove Street cause a girl's gotta have earrings to match her green shirt!   

I loved this booth, but I just can't get into TOMS.  Love the business premise behind the shoes, but they so look like you got hurt and had to bandage your foot.  Now if I'd had a pair of Chuck's on hand, I would have had him stamp the hell out of them. 

Some pretty awesome folks were out for the VIP party: my former editor/boss from G Mag was manning the check-in (Great to catch up lady!), also in the house were filmmakers Chris and Emily White, Jay Spivey from Greenville's Fete Magazine, Saige from Saige Consignment Boutique, Angie from L's Consignment on Augusta, Marie and Payton Blough, and Kim Hassold from Talk Greenville.  I'm telling you, I couldn't throw a fork without hitting someone amazingly awesome.  The ladies with Indie Craft Parade know how to throw a party.  

Chef 360 Catering did a hell of a job with catering too!  There were food stations all over the place serving up finger noshings.  Here's a sample.

Okay, so it's not too late to get on out there and check it out for yourself.  I'm telling you, this Indie Craft show keeps getting better and better every year.   They're open today (Saturday) 9-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.  Support the artists: go spend some cash!

Photographer Brian Kelly (left)

We also dropped in on my buddy Brian Kelly's Photography Show opening last night at Village Studios and Gallery on Pendleton Street in Greenville.  Tons of our friends were milling about and Brian's brother Adam Kelly of Leopard Forest Coffee Company was on hand serving up some joe (he promised me a coffee tasting soon --- oh, sorry, he said I must call it a cupping "because it's not wine" though that sounds kinds inappropriate, don't you think?!).  The exhibit is going be up for a month, so go check it out. He's one of the few photographers that I know left in these parts who can actually use a dark room.   

That's it folks.  My husband has been frantically working on our mess of a house while I've been working on this for you guys.  I'm starting to feel the guilt.  Gotta go clean and get started on some homemade ketchup!

  

Gatsby, a child headed to therapy, foodie finds and my sandbucket list

I saw the new Great Gatsby movie trailer last night. First of all, I can't believe that I am old enough for Leonardo Decaprio to be playing a "mature" adult.  What the hell?  And second, Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books EVER.  That movie was perfect. Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Sam Waterston? PERFECT!  I'm dubious of a remake. Would they remake Gone with the Wind?  I think not.  Sigh!  Well I have to wait until December to find out. I'm gonna reread (again) this summer.

Only a week or so til school is out. After Memorial Day, what's the point people?  I can already feel my toes in the sand and the island sun on my face. I can't wait to take my Hipstamatic for a snapping good time on the coast! On the last day of school, I have a tradition: embarrassing my daughter.  I drive up to school BLARING Will Smith's Summertime with a big grin on my face, windows down. BOOMING!  Then I make her listen to the High School Musical School's Out, Scream and Shout song (as I sing very, very loudly).  She yells at me from the back seat. Ah, the memories. 

Some of the other tunes I recently added to the summer playlist are: Zac Brown's Chicken Fried southern anthem (thought I'd share), Cruel Summer from the Blue Crush Soundtrack, and OneRepublic's Good Life.  There are few things better than singing your lungs out as you drive down the road with your hair whipping in your face.

I hope to be on the road a bit more this summer. Fingers crossed!  I interviewed for a very cool writing job this week in Columbia that will involve a little bit of travel and a lot of fun.  Hearing back something mid June-ish.  Here's hoping!

Do you have whiplash yet from my rapid change of topics?

Upcountry Provisions should be finally (softly) opening for lunch today in Travelers Rest.  I'm so excited!  A grand opening date is coming soon.  Don't forget to comment on the Snag that Swag #2 post so you'll be entered to win lunch on me and a few other bits of swag from the new cafe!

(she takes a quick coffee refill break) 

I wanted to cover a few more quick things that have been sitting on my desk to share with you.

A new little market and art shop is opening soon on Hwy 290 in Travelers Rest.  The Appalacian inspired market is called The Hungry Drover and will have farm to table foods in the cafe, market to table meals to go, a space for private events and music nights, etc.  It's located in a little building at the intersection of Tigerville Road and Locust Hill Road which in the early 1900's was a General Store. My friends John and Debbie Wilson are in on this endeavor so I am so proud for them and can't wait to give it a visit.  

Another little restaurant on Hwy 290 grabbed my attention a month or so ago.  Flour Haven Restaurant and Bakery is on my way to Target, so I pass it all the time.  An afternoon fit of crazy hunger finally drew me in, that and the sign that promised fresh donuts.  I grabbed a few to go.  They are like if Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts had babies.  They have a giant list of breakfast offerings including eggs, crepes, pancakes and french toast and have a selection of fresh breads and pastries for grab and go, too.  I hear their morning offerings are fabulous, though I haven't gotten there that early yet. 2345 Locust Hill Road, Greer.  Go check them out! 

(flipping through my stack)

On a particularly bonkers day in early Spring, I walked to my mailbox and discovered a package from my Aunt Kay in San Diego.  It was filled with Chocolate!  God bless that woman.  I swear I almost fell to my knees with thanks.  I'm telling you, it was THE BEST DAY IN THE WORLD to get a package full of chocolate.   My cousin was attending CalPoly, San Luis Obispo, where, wouldn't you know, they make chocolates on campus.  What the heck, right?  They actually offer a chocolate production course, the only one taught in an American university, as a part of their "learn by doing" philosophy.  During a visit to see him, she snagged me a handful of bars and dropped them in the mail so I could share with you folks.  I apologize it has taken me so long.  Folks, this ain't Hersey's.  It's dark and rich, made with organic, fair trade bittersweet chocolate.  Though I preferred the plain and the coffee varieties, there were also a few bars made with a variety of spices and chilies.  Not a fan of super spicy chocolate. Anyway, if you're heading Cali way, go check out the chocolate factory.  For more details or to order your own for a tasting go here. 

A friend of mine posted something on her Facebook page this week that was kindof fun.  Have you heard of a Sandbucket List?  It's not things you want to do before you die, but things you want to do before this summer ends!  Here's my list:

1) Read. Read. Read.  The stack groweth.
2) Standup Paddleboarding on the coast
3) Waterpark!
4) Grits and Groceries.  A very awesome restaurant. Look it up.
5) Take my daughter to the Columbia Zoo to draw the animals.
6) Lake with Griets.
7) Plane ticket to Cali.

Wow!  I really had to think on that one! What's on yours?

I am now a little bit closer to a clean desk!  I hope you all have a fantastic day!