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

---

#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! 

10 Awesome Last Minute Father's Day Gifts + Attention Paddlesports People! Get to Great Outdoor Provision Co at Cameron Village

Great Outdoor Provision Co. is a specialty outdoor retailer based in North Carolina founded in 1972. GOPC is filled with gear and clothing for life outside, Great Outdoor Provision Co. is committed to personalized retail encouraging consumers to try on, get fitted, compare and contrast, touch and feel products, and interact with staff who know and go outdoors!

We have enjoyed shopping for gear and outdoor items for many years now in Cameron Village. The staff is always friendly an very knowledgeable in all things outdoors. It got me thinking this is the perfect place for awesome Father's Day gifts and today I'm sharing my top ten gifts for Dad on the blog.
They will even gift wrap your purchase for FREE!

Another bit of great info I'm sharing today... if you are interested in paddlesports this Summer GOPC has an event June 20th where you can test "drive" a boat of your choice at Lake Crabtree Park. Just RSVP and let them know what boat you are interested in trying out.

LOCATION: 2017 Cameron Street Raleigh
HOURS: Monday - Friday: 10am - 9pm, Saturday: 9am - 6pm, Sunday: 12pm - 6pm
TRIANGLE BOAT DEMO: email gopc401@greatoutdoorprovision.com with the boats you are interested in.

---

10 FABULOUS LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFTS FROM 

GREAT OUTDOOR PROVISION COMPANY!

1. Get Dad who needs a break an Eno.

2. YETI coolers and tumblers are a fantastic and useful gift for thirsty and hungry Dad.

3. OLD GUYS RULE t-shirts and caps are great for fun Dad.

4. PATAGONIA makes amazing gourmet provisions for outdoor dining Dad.

5. Get dad a chair that ROCKS, literally! Check out the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker.

6. Guaranteed to love this, a utility belt for dad that works for everything from ARCADE.

7. Traveling + safety Dad needs a SECRID RFID secure minimalist wallet that protects from digital pickpocketing and identity theft!

8. Hawaiian shirts are all the rage and HOWLER BROTHERS has some great hats and shirts.

9. Fabulous flip flops from OLUKAI for Dad who loves the beach.

10. Environmentally aware dad will love the HYDROFLASK!

Great Outdoors Provision Company is the one-stop shop for all things paddlesports. From SUP's to Fishing boats, they've got everything you need including life jackets and accessories including all the proper equipment you need to transport your boat!

If you are new to the sport or looking to buy a boat of any shape or size, mark your calendars for June 20th for an opportunity to try out the boat you are interested in! Just RSVP to gopc401@greatoutdoorprovision.com or call them at (919) 833-1741 and let them know what type of boat you are interested in demoing. They will have the boats available at Lake Crabtree County Park on June 20, 4-7pm. This is a great way to try out the boat you are interested on the water!

---

#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 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!