Pharmacy Café Owners Open New Farmhouse Café in Wendell Falls

Wendell Falls, one of the largest  master-planned communities in the Triangle, is launching a new restaurant concept TODAY in partnership with Patrick Cowden and Daniel Whittaker, the co-owners of the Pharmacy Café in downtown Raleigh. Located in the Wendell Falls Farmhouse, the Farmhouse Café will feature creative, seasonal dishes, local vendors and a community-focused atmosphere built on sustainable practices.

The Farmhouse Café will serve breakfast, lunch and a “social menu” for the evening comprised of shareable, small plates designed to be paired with a glass of wine or craft beer. Guests will be able to enjoy a wide list of beverages – almost all locally derived – including gourmet coffees, craft beers, wines and specialties like prosecco and kombucha on tap. Chef Patrick will also host food-related events at the Farmhouse, such as foodie dinners, crawfish boils and wine tastings. 

Last week we got to sample some of the delicious food offerings, including smørrebrød, a southern style take on these typically open face sandwiches (a Danish rye delicacy). We sampled wine and locally made kombucha and new sparkling spirit beverage SERCY by the owner of Mother Earth Brewing, all of which the cafe will be offering.

The Farmhouse Café opens today and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Southeast’s first smørrebrød (featured here with salmon), a Danish rye delicacy.

smørrebrød  on Boulted Rye, arugula, marinated peppers, olives + pesto butter.

Roasted beet humms smørrebrød with cucumber salad, feta, corichon butter, micro greens + toasted cashews

SERCY // New sparkling spirit beverage from Mother Earth Brewing

Exciting Eats, A Special kō•än Summer Pop-Up Series + Dining Al Fresco at so•ca in Cameron Village

Summertime in Raleigh means more opportunities for eating al fresco! Just in case you weren't already aware, so•ca has a fabulous patio with an abundance of outdoor seating. Much of it is covered which is nice for those NC summer rain storms that we know can pop-up anytime!

Not only is there an amazing outdoor patio for drinking and dining, there are some exciting (and maybe a little tiny adventurous) small plates on their menu that are perfect for expanding your culinary palates.

so•ca derives it’s name from several sources: a Peruvian word for sugarcane, a popular style of Caribbean music, and inspiration from a well known geographical divider, the Tropic of Cancer. Located just north of the Equator, this line of latitude divides many countries around the world. so•ca centers its focus on the islands and Americas south of this geographical border (south of the tropic of cancer).

This week I sampled three small plates at so•ca on the patio that were amazing in flavor and beautifully plated to look like works of art! I'm featuring those three plates in my blog post today as well as a colorful and tasty summer cocktail called the La Fiore Contessa.

JUST IN
Another great reason to visit so•ca in Cameron Village soon is a special pop-up they will be doing all summer long featuring their sister restaurant, kō•än opening in Cary this August!

kō•än pop-up at so•ca

kō•än, opening in Cary this August, plans to host a summer-long pop-up series at sister restaurant so•ca in Cameron Village. The pop-up features unique cocktails and small plates that diners can expect to find on the upcoming kō•än menu. Executive Chef Drew Smith and his talented team plan to launch the kō•än pop-up this Friday, June 28th at so•ca, located at 2130 Clark Ave, Raleigh. The regular menu will still be available at so•ca, along with the added kō•än pop-up items.

"The pop-up is a great way to showcase our upcoming menu at kō•än and allows for my team to have fun while being creative in the kitchen," states Executive Chef Drew Smith. He is working with Chef Eli Rodriguez’s talented team at so•ca, featuring craft cocktails by so•ca/kō•än beverage director, Tolson Kenney and pastries by Chef Amanda Haisley.

The limited kō•än menu at sister restaurant so•ca will change weekly each Friday through early August. The first weekly pop-up menu, starting tomorrow, features the following:

Small Plates: Charred Octopus | black rice, edamame, Chinese sausage, wonton and
Yakiton | shoyu glazed pork cheek, ginger ponzu, pickles, sesame.

Cocktail: Ume Spritz | Umeshu, Aperol, grapefruit, St. Germain, Crude ‘Sycophant’ Bitters, sparkling wine.

Weekly pop-up menus will be announced on social media on Thursdays through August, and diners are encouraged to visit so•ca to be the first to taste options from the kō•än menu.

See you on the patio soon!

HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 10pm, Friday: 4pm – 12am, Saturday: 11am – 12am, Sunday: 10am – 10pm | LOCATION: 2130 Clark Avenue

Lots of great patio seating!

La Fiore Contessa | Bombay Sapphire, Lillet Blanc, strawberry, lemon, hibiscus, lavender,
Crude ‘Bitterless Marriage’

Peruvian Calamari Ceviche | grapefruit, mango, leche de tigre, cilantro

Causa de Beterraga | braised beet-potato mash, queso de cabra, avocado, aji mirasol

Charred Octopus Escabeche | butter bean puree, cherry tomatoes, lime, aromatics, hierbas

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#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this SPRING to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Spring/Summer trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

THE WADE: Modern, Classic + Thoughtful Residential Living Coming Soon to Downtown Raleigh

This week I got a sneak peek at a new residential development going up in the heart of downtown Raleigh, THE WADE. It's exciting to see a new residential building so thoughtfully designed and ideally suited to its location. The classic architecture of The Wade, breathes in the history of Raleigh best buildings, placing itself in a stunning neighborhood, providing a unique options for downtown Raleigh living. 

The Wade is a five-story luxury condominium building consisting of 29 residences and is located at the corner of St Mary’s Street and Wade Avenue, in historic Hayes Barton. The location is perfect for downtown living, with close proximity to shops, restaurants, arts and parks. Residents can enjoy short walks along tree-lined streets to nearby Cameron Village or Five Points.

The Wade is inspired by classic pre-war residential architecture but enjoys modern upscale interiors, including 10' ceilings, and bright, naturally lit open floor plans. Each home includes a covered patio and the building will feature a beautifully landscaped rooftop terrace with expansive views stretching from North Hills to downtown Raleigh. A beautiful lounge/ Owners Retreat area will greet owners and guests on the main floor and the building also has a dedicated fitness room. The grounds will host lush landscaping, including a rose garden and pocket park under the canopy of mature oak trees, providing plenty of shade and privacy.

With 60% of the building already sold out, the project is on schedule for an Early Fall completion date. I'm looking forward to going back when everything is done to see the homes and building complete. I've included a few 'in progress' pictures from my visit this week.

Go to 620wade.com for more info and to contact the sales office. 

Rendering of covered porch.

Rendering of living space with fireplace and built in bookshelves.

Rendering of kitchen.

Location is key to so many great places and things to do in downtown Raleigh!

Thank you Beacon Street for the invite to tour the residences as they are in development and look forward to seeing them when the building and grounds are complete!