photo by Danielle Cushing
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is a chain restaurant with locations all across the U.S., so I didn’t go in expecting to be wowed by its mass produced food. But I was pleasantly surprised.
There were eight meats on the menu, but only the southern pulled pork is “pulled” in the traditional southern way. I also ordered the signature chopped beef brisket because it sounded close enough to “pulled” – and it was.
The pork barbecue was the best I’ve tasted so far. Usually I find pork too dry, but this was really juicy and tender. There was also a hint of a smoky flavor.
The beef brisket was so tender that the slices just fell apart at the touch of a fork. It also had an interesting woody flavor that I enjoyed.
The meat didn’t need it, but there was a wide array of sauces to go on the side. I tried Dickey’s original sauce and the southern barbecue sauce (of course). The original sauce was much different than any bottled sauce I’ve ever tried. It was really sweet and then got mildly spicy and made my tongue tingle. I don’t think it was vinegar based, but it tasted like apple cider vinegar to me.
I was really excited for the vinegar-based southern sauce, because I love southern coleslaw. But I didn’t like the sauce at all. It had red pepper flakes in it and just tasted like spicy white vinegar. It could be good drizzled on a sandwich, with the bread to offset the flavor a little bit, but I didn’t like my meat dipped in it.
Hushpuppies come with every meal at Dickey’s, and they’re good – freshly made and too big to eat in one bite. However, I was a little disappointed with them (though not as disappointed as I was that Jim’s Famous BBQ didn’t have them at all) because they lacked the right texture. Superb hushpuppies have a crunchy outside and a light crust, but these were kind of uniform and the crust was a little too oily for me.
There were 12 other side items, of which I chose the green beans and bacon and the dill potato salad. I always order a vegetable so I have something green and healthy on my plate, and I hate it when I end up with something green and greasy or green and buttery. The green beans here were excellent! The bacon gave them a great flavor.
The potato salad was delicious too. I love anything dill-flavored because it’s such a fresh flavor. This dish reminded me of my mom’s potato salad, which she makes with dill pickle relish.
Overall, I’m going to mark Dickey’s one step behind Q Shack, but one step ahead of Jim’s Famous BBQ. The meat was delicious, they at least had hushpuppies, and they have a wide variety of sides, so anyone can find something they will enjoy.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
5218 New Hope Commons Drive (near Wal-Mart)
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 419-1101
-Danielle Cushing
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Tags: barbeque, Chapel Hill restaurants, dickey's barbeque pit, hush puppies, pork, Restaurants near UNC, southern food
New Moon: Bad moon on the rise
Hate is a strong word. Hatred should be associated with intangible notions or vague persons: the waiting room at the doctor’s office, Al Qaeda, the word “hullaballoo.” I personally don’t see the point in hating a movie, a book, Miley Cyrus. Why waste any time or energy hating something that won’t care enough to hate you back?
Just saying. ‘Cause, despite that logic, the futility of dislike has never stopped me before. So, here goes: I hated “New Moon.”
The second movie adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s culture-rocking book series had a few redeeming qualities. Taylor Lautner’s body, Kristen Stewart’s awkwardness (it kinda grows on you) and a general lack of Robert Pattinson are all working in the movie’s favor. The actors, however, can’t save the movie from a dull storyline and an equally uninspired script.
I read the entire “Twilight” series during the summer of 2008, getting my head in the game just in time for the release of the final volume, “Breaking Dawn,” at the end of July. While I knew a “Twilight” movie was in the works, it was hardly something I giddily obsessed over. It was spontaneity more than anything else that drove me and my roommate Binita – who had never read the books, barely heard of the movie, and responded “what kind of messed up crap is that?” when I tried to explain the plot to her – to the “Twilight” midnight premiere last November. I left the theater thinking the movie was lousy and mis-casted; Bini left in love with R Patz.
But of course, you know the rest of the story. “Twilight” went on to become a worldwide sensation, the sensationally introverted Robert Pattinson somehow became a sex symbol, sexy vampires became the “it” phenomenon, and the rest of us non-Twihards became phenomenally fed up. Yeah, it’s been a fun year.
Despite my obvious bias against “Twilight,” I was pretty excited for “New Moon.” “New Moon” actually had a big budget. I thought this would mean improved acting, a beefed-up version of the book’s mediocre plot, a vibrant, energy and cinematic tone and an emphasis on Bella’s emotional torment.
Maybe I just expected too much.
The movie tails the book’s plot in a painstaking fashion, hardly daring to take any liberties. It’s a shame director Chris Weitz was too afraid to experiment with elements such as humor and intelligence, because it’s been proven that moviegoers actually like such things.
As a big “Harry Potter” fan, I know I complain when the movies write in scenes that aren’t in the book or royally corrupt entire plot points (good job leaving the Elder Wand lying out in the open at the end of movie six, instead of burying it with Dumbledore, geez). But at least the “Harry Potter” movies know how to build toward a climax using emotion, intensity and cleverness.
The “Twilight” movies, on the other hand, expect us to swallow exactly what they spoon-feed us without giving us any reason to do so. I guess we are supposed to buy it because Stephanie Meyer wrote it, but so freaking what if that’s how Meyer wrote it? The movies should improve upon her mediocre writing rather than just feeding her lines to actors. In “Twilight,” Meyer detailed how Edward, the vampire who can read minds, falls in love with Bella Swan. Readers never quite understand why he falls in love with her; she may possess the one mind his powers cannot penetrate, but using that logic, I’m going to fall in love with the next dude that passes me on the street, simply because we fail to read each other’s minds. It ain’t gonna happen.
The “Twilight” movie could have delved into how Edward came to love Bella, why Bella loved him back, all the throes of teenage romance that “Dawson’s Creek” explored oh-so-well, but instead… nada. The movie introduced us to the pale, lipstick-wearing Edward, made him hardcore stare at Bella for 10 minutes, and then pronounced the two were in love.
“New Moon” employs the same formula. Edward breaks Bella’s heart about 15 minutes into the movie, leaving her stranded in the woods like the classy gentleman he is. While this scene is actually one of the most emotionally compelling in the book, the movie again fails to capitalize. Meyer’s words were powerful and touching. Weitz’s visualization tries for heartbreak, but rather than showing us emotional intensity, he tells us about it. Why are viewers supposed to care that Edward leaves Bella? Oh that’s right, because you told us we should.
While the movie completely mishandles the Edward/Bella romance – it’s only what the series is known for, no big – the Jacob storyline is actually adequately explored. Once Edward vacates, the next hour treats viewers to the characterization of Jacob Black, a loyal, dependable friend who provides the emotional support that Bella needs.
Taylor Lautner, I am happy to say, pleasantly surprises as a convincing actor behind his chiseled body. Lautner deftly portrays the multiple facets of Jacob: the anger he feels toward Edward for wounding Bella, the residual longing Jacob has for Bella despite her undying love for Edward, and, most importantly, the severity of his sadness as Bella twice rejects him for the lipstick-wearing vamp.
I like a few of Weitz’s cinematographic choices. The first is his panoramic camera shot of a depressed Bella sitting in her room watching the months pass quite literally before her eyes. Edward has left her, she sees no point in functioning, and although her voice-over is of the emo-screamo, cheesy Meredith Grey variety, the unbroken camera shot is a good artistic choice. The second notable scene is Bella confronting Jacob about his really bad skills at returning phone calls. She yells at him over the pouring rain, neither of them caring how soaked they’re getting. The rain complements both Bella’s seclusion, now virtually dumped by two guys in six months, and the cold change in Jacob’s once-cheery demeanor. The third notable scene cuts intermittently between Bella climbing to the top of a cliff she intends to jump off while her father Charlie, police chief, hunts a killer “bear” in the woods. “Hearing Damage” by Thom Yorke creeps over the dark, unsettling scene, which climaxes with Bella catapulting herself into the sea below and evil vampire Victoria strangling Harry Clearwater.
Still, three artsy scenes are hardly worth my $7.50 ticket and two and a half hours of boredom. It’s too bad “New Moon” fails to capitalize on its buzz and daringly create the romantic thriller it should have been. It is too bad Bella becomes an adrenaline junkie but Weitz fails to transfer that exhilaration to his viewers. It’s too bad the “Twilight” saga is about the raw emotional lust between Edward and Bella, but the scenes with Jacob pack more of an emotional punch than Edward ever does. It’s too bad my only thought at the end was, “wow, Bella’s a bitch.”
And it’s too bad so many teen girls idolize Edward and Bella’s relationship, when she’s the epitome of a weak, pitiful girl who can only survive if she has a “man” in her life, and he personifies an emotionally abusive male who will drive his girl into a four-month depression and has only to revoke his words to make her fall back into his arms.
-Sonya Chudgar
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Tags: abusive realtionship, Bella Swan, Breaking Dawn, Chris Weitz, Edward Cullen, Grey's Anatomy, Harry Potter, Jacob Black, Kristen Stewart, Meredith Grey, New Moon, Robert Pattinson, Stephanie Meyer, Taylor Lautner, twilight, vampires
As the second stop in my series of barbecue blogs, Jim’s Famous BBQ ranks just behind the Q Shack. They serve up a variety of pit-smoked meats including pulled pork and chicken, chopped pork, beef brisket and more.
Photo by Danielle Cushing
I felt obligated to try the pulled pork (on the right) since that’s what traditional southern barbecue is. It was a bit dry for me, but had a really nice smoky flavor. The texture was nice too; it was stringy and easy to pull apart into smaller bites. I chose the pulled chicken (on the left) as my second meat. It was melt-in-your-mouth moist. I couldn’t put my fork down! Both were served with a drizzle of barbecue sauce which was a tiny bit sweet, but had a surprisingly spicy aftertaste.
For my sides, I ordered the collard greens and corn pudding. The collards were unseasoned and bitter. They were so watery that I thought maybe the cook forgot to drain them after they were cooked. I love corn pudding and was excited to see it on the menu, but ended up being disappointed with it. There was too much filler, not enough corn and a little greasy.
I’m not sure why any barbecue restaurant would leave hush puppies off the menu, so I mentally deducted a few points for that too.
Jim’s Famous BBQ
115 S. Elliott Rd. (beside Whole Foods)
Chapel Hill, NC
919-942-7427
-Danielle Cushing
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Tags: barbecue, Chapel Hill restaurants, chicken, Jim's Famous BBQ, pork, southern food
Dealing with Funny Business
Four years ago, television insiders were rocked by a fear that the half-hour comedy genre was on its final legs. The field that was once defined by “I Love Lucy,” “Three’s Company” and “Cheers” could not hold an audience. Take, for example, the case of NBC’s powerhouse block of “Must See TV” Thursday. This block defined sitcoms for the latter half of the ‘90s, thanks to hits such as “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Frasier” and “Will and Grace.” Once “Friends” and “Seinfeld” ended in 2004 and “Will and Grace” signed off in 2006, however, multi-camera comedies – those taped in front of a studio audience – were suddenly endangered. CBS had launched the moderately successful “Two and a Half Men” in 2003; for the next six years, this would be one of only two multi-camera comedies to make it past three seasons.
With the demise of the multi-camera comedy, luckily, came the rise of the single-camera bracket. Single-camera comedies usually don’t use laugh tracks. The humor is portrayed more subtly and the cameramen have a longer creative rope to zoom in and out and experiment with angles. Popular examples of multi-camera comedies are “The Office,” “Arrested Development” and “Malcolm in the Middle.” While critics love this genre, the broader audience historically does not, hence the cancellation of “Arrested Development” despite its strong cult following. It used to be that networks needed more patience with multi-camera comedies. Whereas single-camera sitcoms either found audiences quickly or not at all, multi-cameras’ greatest strength was word of mouth, and this required time. This fall season, however, is changing all the rules.
2008 entry “The Big Bang Theory” regenerated America’s love of comedy, and this season ABC has miraculously managed to launch a successful two-hour comedy block. While The CW eliminated comedy from its primetime schedule altogether, it’s undoubtedly a strong field for the other networks. So, which honeys bring the funny and which has-beens are wearing thin?
“She doesn’t even know I exist.”
If you’ve never heard of a TV show, it’s understandable. But if Doc Sonya has barely heard about it, you know it’s bad.
- Brothers
It’s a new comedy on Fox. Comes on during what TV insiders so fondly refer to as “the Friday night death slot.” The network obviously doesn’t want it to succeed, so why should you?
- ‘Til Death
This show is still on? Really??
Time to Break Up With…
- Two and a Half Men
Why do I feel so revolted by “Two and a Half Men”? It’s not the fact that it’s a “dude” comedy that objectifies women; I actually couldn’t care less about that. My dislike probably stems from “Men’s” lack of comedic class – neither the crude jokes nor the scenes in bed nor the dialogue is refined. There’s a little something called taste, and “Men” leaves one in your mouth comparable to vinegar.Bottom Line: It’s sad that this is still one of the highest rated comedies in primetime. - Accidentally on Purpose
On par with “Two and a Half Men,” this tired concept should never have made it to the air in the first place. “Dharma & Greg”’s Jenna Elfman is wasted here as the “cougar” who gets knocked up by a twenty-something dude. Unfunny dialogue and stereotypical guy humor ensue (if the writers want to discover the proper execution of guy humor, they should watch “The Hangover”).Bottom Line: Bor-ing. Turn off the TV after “How I Met Your Mother” airs.
One-Night Stands:
Ultimately forgettable, but momentarily entertaining.
- Ugly Betty
I loved “Ugly Betty” when it premiered as a bright, quirky comedy in 2006. Much like “Heroes,” however, “Betty” fell into a sophomore slump and has since reached only mediocrity. The show now lacks the charm and whimsy that made it so delightful during its first season.Bottom Line: While Daniel has no memorable storyline to speak of and Betty’s romantic entanglements are dull and repetitive, Wilhelmina, Marc and Amanda continue to bring the inspired comedy the show sought its first season. Dump the other characters and give these three their own show. - Gary Unmarrried
Another uninspired comedy on CBS’ schedule. While “Gary” is certainly more refined than “Men” and “Accidentally on Purpose,” it’s hardly a superior selection. It easily identifies with other marginally successful dad-centered comedies of past years: “The War at Home,” “According to Jim” and “Yes, Dear” come to mind.Bottom Line: Americans have proven that there is indeed an audience for these sub-par shows, and they thus continue to survive. Why not try something saucier, though?
Casual Dating:
“You’re pretty funny. Plus, you paid for dinner. I guess we can go out again.”
- The Middle
“The Middle” centers on the Hecks, a middle-class family in Indiana. While Patricia Heaton is the star, funnyman Neil Flynn, who previously played the Janitor on “Scrubs,” is my reason for watching. I’d say “The Middle” could be appointment TV, but with so many satisfying comedies out there, a girl can only watch so much.Bottom Line: Reminiscent of “Malcolm in the Middle,” “The Middle” demonstrates how mixing kooky with funny plus a tinge of heartfelt emotion makes for an entertaining half-hour. - Cougar Town
I’m sure you’ve heard of this Courtney Cox show. Question is, is it any good? Answer: Eh… “Cougar Town” tries for the laughs a smidge too hard, and the slapstick bits don’t quite fit in with today’s comedy demands. However, there’s no denying Cox’s charm, and as son Travis, Dan Byrd’s downplayed comedic timing reminds me of Michael Cera’s spot-on underacting on “Arrested Development.”Bottom Line: Not a bad show, but not a standout, either.
- The New Adventures of Old Christine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus of “Seinfeld” fame plays Christine, a divorced mom who runs a gym. Her sidekick is the hilarious Wanda Sykes. I’m going to be honest with you: I’ve never seen this show. It’s shameful, because there’s no real excuse for it. But I’m going to endorse it because everyone who’s ever seen this show loves it. Plus, it comes with a top recommendation from my brother, and I’m OK with trusting Doc Sunny on this one.Bottom Line: Whether I’ve seen it or not, this show has Wanda Sykes. Come on, people, watch it. She’s quite possibly one of the funniest comedians ever.
Long Term Dating:
Comedy depends so much on personal preference, so it’s hard to figure out which shows to hate on and which to brag about. But the following are keepers. Girl Scout’s honor.
- How I Met Your Mother
This year has been a breakout year for “Mother” scene-stealer Neil Patrick Harris. The guy starred in Joss Whedon’s online saga “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” He finally hosted an episode of “Saturday Night Live,” as well as the Tony Awards and the Emmy Awards, and he garnered an Emmy nomination himself for his work on “mother.” Folks, Doogie Howser has grown up. But Harris, as legendary/awesome playboy Barney Stinson, is only one element that makes “How I Met Your Mother” so fantastic.The ensemble cast includes Alyson Hannigan (“Buffy”! “American Pie”!); Josh Radnor; Cobie Smulders; and Jason Segel, who you probably know as “that guy” from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “I Love You, Man,” and “Knocked Up.” Together, these five comedians bring us the multi-camera, next generation version of “Friends.” These friends live in NYC, hang out in MacLaren’s Bar (sorry, Central Perk), and make bold use of flashbacks to bring us one of the most subtly entertaining comedies we’ve seen in years.Bottom Line: “It’s gonna be legen… wait for it… and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant, because the second half of that word is dairy!”-Barney, “How I Met Your Mother”
- The Big Bang Theory
You’ve probably at some point (quietly) laughed at a nerd for something he or she said. “The Big Bang Theory” thankfully allows us to laugh at nerds loudly and proudly, thanks to a stock of sitcom characters who are nutty, naïve and endearingly neurotic. Good for a laugh are Raj Koothrappali, an Indian stereotype with a thick accent, bad dress sense and the inability to speak in front of women; Howard Wolowitz, a short Jewish man who dresses in bold colors and will do anything to be with a woman; and Leonard and Penny, the two characters we can most easily relate to.
Jim Parsons, however, steals the show as Sheldon Cooper, Leonard’s socially awkward physicist roommate who neurotically must eat at the same restaurant every night, depending on which day of the week it is, cannot discern sarcasm and always settles a dispute with a good round of Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock: “Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock…
Bottom Line: …and as it always has, rock crushes scissors.”
- Modern Family
ABC’s breakout comedy follows three families, related in some way or another, over the course of their daily activities. Sound dull? It could be, except “Modern Family” is the first show to successfully mix elements of multi-camera and single-camera comedies, so along with the blatantly hilarious lines, there’s a slew of dialogue so witty that one can’t help but laugh. My favorite part is Ty Burrell as Phil, whose over-the-top attempts at being the “cool” dad mock everything our generation is about. With possibly the most laugh-out-loud moments of any comedy on TV right now, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not watching.Bottom Line: “I’m a cool dad, that’s my thang. I’m hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face.” (cut to Phil doing the dance to “High School Musical’s” “We’re All in this Together.”)
- Glee
I’m sure you’ve heard of “Glee” by now, what with its musical numbers ripping up the iTunes chart week after week. Combining America’s love for undiscovered talent with nutty plotlines and distinctive high school personalities, “Glee” is broadcast television’s scripted answer to reality TV. What I like best about “Glee” is that it’s not a show focused on singing. It’s a character-centered dramedy with musical numbers sprinkled in. While the story about Will’s wife Terri pretending to be pregnant is frustrating, Jane Lynch’s portrayal of maniacal cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester more than makes up for it.Bottom Line: “I’ll often yell at homeless people, ‘Hey, how’s that homelessness working out for you? Give not being homeless a try!’” -Sue, explaining that people should be motivated to better themselves.
- Community / Parks & Recreation / The Office / 30 Rock
Like I said, NBC’s “Must See TV” Thursday was the place to be in the ‘90s, and its revamped “Comedy Night Done Right” is no different. Each of these multi-camera comedies not only defines but also glorifies the genre. There’s no need to expound on “The Office”; I’m sure every college student has seen it at least once (“that’s what she said!”).“30 Rock” isn’t as popular, but it really should be. Every character is a standout. My favorite is Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, VP of East Coast Television for NBC (probably because I want his job one day). “30 Rock” never hesitates to mock NBC or television or politics or anything else for that matter. Not only is “30 Rock” bold, it is also smart, never insulting the audience or throwing jokes in our face. Much of the humor isn’t in the dialogue – it’s visual (just when Jack says “I need your guidance” and reaches for a picture of Jesus on his desk, he picks up the one behind Jesus… of Nixon.)
- Parks & Recreation
When Amy Poehler vehicle “Parks & Rec” debuted last year, it was shaky at best: the scripts weren’t quite funny and the acting was too forced. This season, however, the show has found its legs. Sometime, when America quit watching, “Parks & Rec” got funny. Poehler’s grown into her role, and the standout cast of supporting players now receives the emphasis it deserves.
- Community
“Community” is the 2009 entry into NBC’s Thursday night comedy line-up, and if its ratings hold (or grow!), it will round-out the comedy block perfectly for years to come. Like the other comedies, “Community”’s greatest strength is the ensemble cast, led by “The Soup”’s Joel McHale, as manipulative lawyer Jeff who’s back in community college because it was finally discovered that his degree came not from Columbia University, but Colombia, South America. This show is, I kid you not, hilarious. The best comedic pairing is undoubtedly Abed and Troy, and the executive producers have realized this: they now dedicate the final thirty seconds of each episode to an Abed-Troy gimmick, be it rapping in Spanish, taking over the school’s PA system or talking in a Batman growl.
Bottom Lines:
“How long have you known about the pregnancy? A week? A month? A year?” –Michael Scott, “The Office”
“I haven’t had this much trouble with a book since “Where’s Waldo” went to that barber pole factory.” -Tracy, “30 Rock”
“Whenever Leslie asks me for the Latin names of any of our plants, I just give her the names of rappers.” -Tom, “Parks & Recreation”
“Our first assignment is to make a documentary. They’re like movies, but with ugly people.” -Abed, “Community”
-Sonya Chudgar
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Tags: 'Til Death, 30 Rock, ABC, Accidentally on Purpose, Alec Baldwin, Alyson Hannigan, Amy Poehler, Arrested Development, Brothers, CBS, Cobie Smulders, comedy, Comedy Night Done Right, Community, Cougar Town, Courtney Cox, CW, Dan Byrd, Doogie Howser, Frasier, Friends, Gary Unmarried, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Jane Lynch, Jason Segel, Jim Parsons, Joel McHale, Josh Radnor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Malcolm in the Middle, Modern Family, NBC, Neil Flynn, Neil Patrick Harris, Parks & Recreation, Patricia Heaton, Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, T.V., The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Office, Thursday TV schedule, Tina Fey, Tow and a Half Men, Ty Burrell, Ugly Betty, Wanda Sykes, Will and Grace
Taste of fall
Photo by Danielle Cushing
Just because Halloween is behind us doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some fall treats. I visited four Chapel Hill bakeries to test out their seasonal goodies.
Carrot cake cupcake from Sugarland bakery in Chapel Hill. Photo by Danielle Cushing
Sugarland
Although none of the items at Sugarland are “seasonal” per say, a lot of their items feature fall flavors. I tried the carrot cake cupcake, which turned out to be a good choice despite my low affinity for carrot cake. The cupcakes were very different from the manufactured carrot cake you buy in the grocery store. The cake was moist, with a strong buttery flavor. The chewy carrot contrasted well with the crunchy pecans and the whipped cream cheese frosting was very light in comparison to the dense store-bought kind.
Other fall-flavored menu items:
- Creme brulee cupcakes with raspberry filling
- Vanilla chai cupcakes
- Pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes
- Caramel apple cupcakes
- Apple pie bars
- Pecan bars
- Caramel dipped apples
- Caramel apple cheesecake
- Ginger scones
- Apple spice donuts
Vegan carrot spiced walnut cupcake from Bliss Boutique Bakery in Chapel Hill. Photo by Danielle Cushing
Bliss Boutique Bakery
I went for another cupcake at Bliss since that’s their specialty. The vegan carrot spiced walnut cupcake was delicious – a lot better than I expected a vegan cupcake to taste. The texture is more like a quickbread, like pumpkin raisin bread or banana nut bread. It’s moist and sticks to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter. Carrots and walnuts add good flavor and texture. There is also a little drizzle of icing – the kind of icing you put on a Toaster Strudel – over the top.
Other fall-flavored menu items:
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- Vegan Apple Spice Cupcakes
Sour cream apple pie from Foster's Market in Chapel Hill. Photo by Danielle Cushing
Foster’s Market
Foster’s isn’t specifically a bakery, but they do have a coffee bar with baked goods and a glass case full of cakes and pies. I tasted the sour cream apple pie, but wasn’t wowed by it. I must brag – I make the best apple pie in the world. The apples were tart and crisp, just like they should be in an apple pie, but the sour cream was also tart. I think it would have been better if the flavors had a bit of contrast. The crumb topping was OK – it tasted like oats and sugar and was kind of chewy – but it wasn’t as good as the crunchy, buttery crumb topping on my apple pie. I will go back to try the ginger snap – a huge, molasses colored cookie with a coating of sugar crystals.
Other fall-flavored menu items:
- Bourbon pecan pie
- Carrot cake
- Pumpkin custard pie
- Walnut orange scones
- Ginger snaps
- Pumpkin quickbread
Pumpkin swirl bread from Great Harvest Bread Company. Photo by Danielle Cushing
Great Harvest Bread Company
Great Harvest specializes in bread, but you may also find a few other menu items to calm your sweet tooth. Their pumpkin sugar cookies are perfect. The cookie isn’t too sweet, so the sugary frosting isn’t overwhelming. The frosting isn’t the hard, crispy kind you get on prepackaged cookies – it’s fresh, wet and messy. The pumpkin white chocolate macadamia bar was disappointing. It had a hint of fruit, maybe cranberry or orange, but for the most part, it tasted very commercial. One of the great things about Great Harvest is that they offer you a free slice of fresh bread when you walk in the door. I got the pumpkin swirl bread, but I had trouble getting the whole slice home because I couldn’t stop nibbling. The bread had a hint of pumpkin flavor and tasted yeasty, which I like. It was extremely fresh and the cinnamon swirl was still gooey.
Other fall-flavored menu items:
- Pumpkin cinnamon chip scones
- Pumpkin pecan streusel coffee cake
- Gingersnap cookies
- Apple crunch bread
- Cinnamon chip oatmeal whole wheat scones
- Cranberry orange scones
- Maple pecan scones
-Danielle Cushing
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Tags: apple pie, baked goods, Bliss Boutique Bakery, carrot cake, Chapel Hill bakeries, cinnamon swirl, cupcake, Foster's market, Great Harvest Bread Company, pumpkin, Restaurants near UNC, Sugarland bakery
Halloween Costumes on the Cheap
For Halloween this year, I am dressing up as Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island. My costume is a checkered shirt, denim shorts and plain Keds. The total cost of my outfit was $4—I just had to grab a $4 shirt from Goodwill to complete the look. The key is to think of costumes you can create from basic closet essentials. Here are some great costume ideas for little (or no!) cost.
- Blair from Gossip Girl: She’s the epitome of Upper East Side prep. Channel back to her days at Constance Billard School for Girls and start with a navy skirt. Wear a white button-up shirt tucked in and a string of pearls (faux will do). Top with a flashy headband. Finish the look with knee socks and high heeled shoes of your choice.
- Little Red Riding Hood: Go to any costume store and get a red cape (just because it’s red doesn’t mean it’s only meant for superheroes). Wear a white shirt and a gray skirt with flats. It’s easier and cheaper than buying a complete costume.
- Angel. Walmart sells cute Halloween T-shirt costumes for less than $15, and the angel one is my favorite. The angel “costume” is a T-shirt with angel wings drawn on the back. The shirt comes with a halo.
-MaryAnn Barone
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Tags: angel costume, Blair Waldorf, cheap, costumes, Gilligan's Island, Gossip Girl, Halloween, Halloween costumes under $20, halo, Little Red Riding Hood, Mary Ann, party, Walmart
Carving the perfect pumpkin
Photo and pumpkin design by Brittany bass
Autumn is my favorite time of year. The weather is finally cooling off, the leaves are all changing into gorgeous reds and oranges, and best of all, HALLOWEEN! One of my fondest memories of autumn is carving pumpkins with my family. We’d all go to our local produce farm, pick out the biggest and baddest pumpkins we could find, buy way too much apple cider and head home to carve the pumpkins.
When it comes to picking pumpkins, though, looking for the biggest is not always the best approach. According to the Pumpkin Masters, when selecting a pumpkin you should look for an unbruised pumpkin that is the shape of your design. It should be reasonably smooth for easy design transfer and have a flat bottom to prevent it from tipping over and possibly catching on fire. Also, beware carrying your pumpkin by the stem because that cute little topper might just break off.
OK, so you have your great, healthy pumpkin; you’re rocking out to Monster Mash and sipping apple cider. Now what? If you have not chosen a carving design you should do so now. Maybe a simple spider, or a cool cat, or a ghost with gravestones in the background? You want something creepy and fun, and simple if you’re a newbie carver.
Photo and pumpkin design by Brittany Bass
First, cut the lid off the top of your pumpkin. You can trace a small bowl around the top to get a clean circle, and then add a “tooth” to easily get your lid back in place. Use a knife to angle inward toward the center of the pumpkin so the lid can sit on top.
Time to use your handy dandy Seed Scooper (a spoon). Go ahead and scrape out all the gunk, guts and seeds in the pumpkin. You don’t have to get rid of those seeds either! Just rinse, add some melted butter and salt and throw them in the oven for a delicious snack later.
Finally, you are ready to carve your pumpkin. Tape your pattern to the pumpkin and “poke” along all the lines till the whole pattern is transferred like a connect the dots. Now hold the pumpkin in your lap (hopefully you’re wearing your pumpkin proof pants) and hold the miniature saw at a 90-degree angle to the pumpkin, and gently go ahead and cut out your pattern.
Stick a tea light in the center and enjoy your masterpiece! Sit back, pop some pumpkin seeds and watch your neighbors gape at your gorgeous creation.
-Brittany Bass
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Tags: autumn, decorating tips, fall, Halloween, How to carve a pumpkin, jack-o-lantern
Tuesday: Sci Fi Exploration
After years of attempting to debut a successful science fiction pilot, the Big 5 networks seem to have accepted defeat at the hands of cable television. Viewers proved they are not interested in the sci fi fare offered by broadcast networks – “Reaper,” “Journeyman,” “Bionic Woman,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” and “Day Break” are among the sci fi shows that failed to make more than two seasons in the past three years. Instead, sci fi diehards turn to SyFy and BBC America to get their fix.
What does this mean for Doc Sonya’s recommendations to you? Since we’re exploring strictly broadcast shows, this means there are only a handful of sci fi shows even on the air, and of those, only one gets my recommendation.
Time to break up with…
- “Heroes”
“Heroes” is a classic example of a show that debuted a phenomenal first season, became too hyped, and suddenly failed to live up to its expectations. While it is somewhat expected for shows to experience a sophomore slump, “Heroes” never climbed out of the pitiful ditch it dug itself into. Now in season four, “Heroes” is exploring Claire’s sexuality (yawn), killing off/bringing back to life Nathan and Hiro (like they’re really going to kill off series regulars), and failing to capitalize on its breakout star, Zachary Quinto.
Bottom Line: Grab season one on DVD; skip the rest.
Flings: Don’t require a whole lot of commitment from you. If it’s on, watch it. If you get distracted by something shiny, you probably won’t miss too much.
- “Flash Forward”
Flash Forward is ABC’s follow-up to megahit “Lost.” While it lacks the flair, intrigue, and mythology of Lost, “Flash Forward” has a fascinating premise – the issue is whether the execution is good so far.
The concept is that for two minutes and 17 seconds, everyone in the entire world blacked out and caught a glimpse of their lives six months in the future. Some premonitions were good, others bad, some intriguing, and some nonexistent. This show reminds me of CBS fan-favorite “Jericho” (2006-2008), which chronicled an isolated town dealing with a nuclear terrorist attack in America.
Bottom line: “FlashForward” would make for a fun disaster/action movie, but as a TV serial, it needs to pick up the pace and make the characters into people we actually care about, or it’ll meet “Jericho”’s demise.
Casual dating: These shows are not the crème de la crème of the genre, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential. These are campy and/or guilty pleasures, just short of appointment TV but good enough that you’ll stick around to see the end of the episode. Feel free to indulge if you like what you see.
- “The Vampire Diaries”
This show is the CW’s response to the vampire trend, and for once, it seems like the CW actually made a decent creative decision. Based on the ’90s novels of the same name,”The Vampire Diaries” follows Elena, a teenager whose parents recently died in a car crash, as she navigates high school – with a vampire (no one knows, of course). Oh, and the vamp’s devious older brother spooks the town too.I like Ian Somerhalder (Boone from “Lost”) as older brother Damon. The rest of the characters, however, are written poorly and stereotypically; I wouldn’t be surprised if the character’s name on the script reads Best Friend or Main Character or Good Vampire. We don’t get a sense of a three-dimensional person on the show. We just see how an undeveloped personality reacts to events.Bottom Line: I won’t deny it’s a good choice for those into the vampire thing. However, for a similar premise but better characters/plots/actors, check out the WB’s “Roswell” on DVD. You won’t regret it
- “Fringe”
“Fringe” was a huge critical accolade when it debuted last fall, but the furor seems to have died down a bit since then. The show is about a team that investigates (you guessed it) the paranormal. “Fringe” does well with the mythology, meaning the overarching storyline is strong, sensational, and sometimes surprising. However, given that “Fringe” comes from “Alias” and “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams, I don’t think it is living up to its potential.Bottom Line: It’s a slightly more difficult show to get into than, say, “The Vampire Diaries.” It’s also got a more serious overtone. Not bad for a show in its sophomore season, but it certainly has yet to find what it is creatively capable of.
Long-term dating: Arguably the best show currently on television…
- “Supernatural”
“Supernatural” debuted on The WB in 2005, the WB’s final year as a network. It stars my future husband Jensen Ackles Dean and Jared Padalecki as Sam, brothers who hunt things that go bump in the night. In a nutshell, Dean and Sam lost their mother to an evil demon when they were kids, causing their father to delve into the world of the paranormal and raise his sons as hunters.What started out as a procedural premise quickly turned into the most campy, addictive show on TV. While the standalone episodes are fun, witty and often scary, “Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke’s true mastery is the show’s mythology. There is more to Dean and Sam than the show ever let on during the first season, and now that “Supernatural” is in its fifth (and potentially final) season, viewers can see the threads that were sewn nearly four years ago. The show is unafraid to throw certain stereotypes on their heads. For instance, this season the mythology is stopping God’s angels (they’re the antagonists) from unleashing the Apocalypse – oh, and while Sam and Dean are at it, they need to locate God and stop Lucifer from rising.Whatever the season’s mythology, “Supernatural”’s strength is undoubtedly the bond between Sam and Dean, which is unlike any portrayal I’ve ever seen on TV. One second, the brothers are pulling a prank on each another, and the next, they’re making deals with demons to save each other’s lives.
Bottom line: Still not convinced? TV Guide magazine critic Matt Roush recently wrote, “My decision to get busy and catch up on (the previous seasons of) Supernatural was the best call I made all year.”
-Sonya Chudgar
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Tags: ABC, Alias, BBC America, Bionic Woman, CBS, CW, Day Break, Eric Kripke, fall 2009 TV schedule, Flash Forward, Fox, Fringe, Heroes, Ian Somerhalder, J.J. Abrams, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Jericho, Journeyman, Lost, Matt Roush, Reaper, Roswell, sci-fi, science fiction, Supernatural, SyFy, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Vampire Diaries, TV Guide, WB, Zachary Quinto
