Champloo

 

Complete with Boba tea, rolled ice cream and K-pop videos, Champloo Desserts is a mecca for preteens and their suffering moms. A group of girls danced to the music while waiting for their order.

The ice cream is made on the spot by mixing the flavors in a slurry and then quick freezing flat.  It is then scraped off the cold plate in rolls.  Supposedly a street food in Thailand...?

Theme Day: Outdoor Cafe

The theme for June is Outdoor Cafes.  

There are several restaurants with outdoor seating in Raleigh, but what's better than ice cream?

 

Why so many pigs?

 

Farmer pig stands out in the entrance to the Farmer's Market restaurant with his wife Mrs. Pig.  

A lot of restaurants in North Carolina have a pig theme going on.

Is that a commentary on the food or the customers?

 

Moo Moo Cha

Once a month I go with a group to a Black owned restaurant for lunch.  This month it was a Boba tea shop called Moo Moo Cha.  It was started by identical twin girls who fell in love with boba at age 14.  They opened their tea shop at age 19 at the beginning of the pandemic.  They've survived well.  (see here for an article about the shop.)

We felt our age, everyone there was either a teen or a pre-teen with mom.  "Hannah Montana" and "Saved by the Bell" played on the TV.  We didn't understand anything on the menu even though it was in English.  The girls kindly helped us through our order.

 

Fiction Kitchen

Do they cook up novels here?  or is the food not real?

No, it's a vegan restaurant in downtown Raleigh.

 

Eat

This restaurant reminds me of Seinfeld.  It's not the same as the one used in the series, but it's similar.  (see here)

 

Bacon and Eggs

Big Ed's is a southern comfort food restaurant in Raleigh.  It's a busy place for breakfast with a line out the door most mornings.  They offer "country ham" or "city ham"  (very salty or salty) and  if you order unsweet tea they know you're not from around here.

This pig welcomes customers at the counter.

 

Buena Vida

 

This mural is painted on the side of  Buena Vida, a new restaurant.  Driving by and getting a quick look I saw a pretty girl with flowers.  The more I study the picture the more intriguing it is.

Enter at your own risk

This handsome gentleman was standing guard outside a taco and tequila bar.  I thought he was enough incentive to stay out, until I saw his companions.

They were lurking farther in by the door.  I had to watch for a while to see if they moved.  They were just scary mannequins.

Mellow

The Mellow Mushroom, Durham, NC

It's not what you think.  It's a Pizza restaurant.

Elvis in the house

Elvis sits in front of Yanna's restaurant in Swansboro.  Lunch at Yanna's might mean a long wait during the summer months, but the food and atmosphere are worth it.  (see here)

Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant

The Sanitary Fish Market and restaurant is a landmark in Morehead City.  It has a long history (see here).  But do you have to advertise the cleanliness of your establishment in the name?

Cock-a-doodle-que

North Carolina does have great barbeque.  One of my favorites is City Barbeque.  

Chihuly?

My guess is this isn't Chihuly.  (see here)  We went into a sushi restaurant, looked up and saw 3 chandeliers.  They look like Chihuly, and the waiter said they were expensive, but looking online, there are a lot of blown glass lights for sale that are "Chihuly style."  They're very cool anyway.

New cafe

Caretta Coffee and Cafe just opened in North Raleigh.  It's named after the Loggerhead sea turtle.  Their first location is in Hilton Head, and they are dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles.  See here.

Bottom Feeders

I know that shrimp and lobsters are bottom feeders, but I don't want to be reminded of that when I'm eating them...I'm not sure that this new seafood restaurant is going to do well.

Zoe's Kitchen

A restaurant just opened up serving mediterranean food.  Very shiny and new...Zoe's Kitchen.

Veggie surfing

We were in line at a new fast food salad restaurant called CHOPT when I noticed the wall paper.  These little dudes are surfing fruits and veggies.  (I'm not sure they actually serve okra, but he seems to find it surfable...)