"A burger off the griddle has an optimal shelf life of approximately three minutes." - Kenny Shopsin

Best of 2013

With excavators all over Durham literally changing the face of our city's structure, we reflect on the year gone past.  Apologies in advance for the preponderance  of self-referential items.

• Beer Menu: Surf Club
• New opening: Monuts
• In-house food photo: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9wlw5VpeMLA/UiOfW1z1E8I/AAAAAAAADn0/yIQZkpw_uyc/s640/challah.jpg
• Ninth Street Vegan Dinner: Dante's Inferno
• Foodie opening news: Andrea Reusing comes to Durham?
• In-house recipe development: 10-day Pastrami
• Foodie Podcast Episode: http://www.heritageradionetwork.com/episodes/4357-Taste-Matters-Episode-89-Daniel-Rose
• Magazine Bread Photo Spread: http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/rising-star-chad-robertson-of-san-franciscos-tartine-bakery-cafe/#/magazine-gallery/chad-robertson/1
• Downtown Durham Food Development: Mateo finding its stride
• Homage to a Food Culture (Video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxe65DOVIlo
• Foodie Video Series: Munchies
• Munchies Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C26nhTTwahw
• Food Personality: Andrew Zimmern
• In-house blog post: http://blog.berenbaums.com/2013/05/why-south-korean-ladies-dont-get-fat.html
• In-house pastry development: Eccles Cakes
• Food Writing Rediscovered: "Mr. Hunter's Grave", by Joseh Mitchell
• Pie: Ginger Apple Cream Pie, Lauren Hart, featured at Berenbaum's Pi(e) Day, 3.14.13.
• Food Photo: "Matt Props Cooking Ramen", by Jeremy Lange
• Ramen: Pop-up Ramen Shop
• Bar Opening: Bar Lusconi
• New Customer for Ninth Street Bakery: BUNS of Chapel Hill
• Supermarkets: Li Ming Global Mart; La Superior

Llorando / Taste is Memory

We recently had a customer comment that Matt Prop's Indian food was so good it made her cry a little bit.

While I wouldn't want to see our whole dining room bawling, I can understand the emotion -- food that is so well-balanced and well-crafted that its deliciousness takes you away to a far off place, to a place that only the emotions typically associated with memory could reach.

We tend to associate memory with sight and sound, but in fact smells and tastes can be super-powerful, just ask Proust!

Ha

The Fabled Thanksgiving Pastrami (NSFV - Not Suitable for Vegans)

Weekend Update

With the sounds of Kraftwerk piping out the decks, German Night was a total smash.  Many thanks to Chef Matt for going the extra mile to put together an altogether novel menu that paid homage to his European roots.

Also big ups to Amanda R. for holding down our stall at the DTown Holiday Market at Fullsteam on Saturday!