Dewey's Bakery: Anniversary Cake

My husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary yesterday. We married in an old Victorian house on 9th Avenue in Pensacola, FL just five days after he proposed. Needing a witness, Joe's grandfather stepped in as Maid of Honor and Best Man. We were young and excited to start a life together. Our families in North Carolina sent champagne and a box filled with something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a special penny for my shoe. It was a glorious November day in Pensacola, much like it was in Winston-Salem yesterday, with clear skies, and temperatures in the mid 60s. We went to the beach, enjoyed lunch and dinner at favorite restaurants, and spent the night at a local B&B as a gift from our families. It was the perfect, no-stress wedding day that we both remember fondly.

The one thing that was missing, however, was a wedding cake made by Dewey's Bakery. So many birthdays and celebrations in both of our lives included a Dewey's cake with white cake and white icing. There were local bakeries in the area, but none that could capture the flavor and the happy memories that Dewey's can with a simple cake and frosting. So this year, and every year since we have returned to Winston-Salem, we have celebrated with a Dewey's Anniversary cake. Thank you, Dewey's for being a part of our happy memories for so many years and the years to come.

Old Fourth Street Filling Station: Grilled Salmon Salad

Today was one of those rare November days where the temperature was 63 degree and the sun was shining. We opted for a place where we could enjoy this beautiful weather and enjoy lunch on a patio. The Old Fourth Street Filling Station has an award winning patio (Smitty's Notes Best of Winston-Salem), so it seemed like the best location for our party of nine.

Trying to eat healthier, (seriously, you guys have seen what I have eaten in the last 5 months) I decided to try the Grilled Salmon Salad. This a fabulous combination of sweet and savory, and it is a great portion for a lighter-fare lunch. Mixed greens, grilled salmon, goat cheese, purple onions and candied pecans. I highly recommend the balasmic vinegrette for this salad because the tangy/smokey/sweet is a perfect compliment to the salmon and does not overwhelm the lighter mixed greens. The two items that make this salad so special is the goat cheese and the candied pecans. I could have eaten just these two items and I would have been satisfied. The goat cheese was fresh and creamy, while the pecans added a sweet crunch. Finally, to give it a little extra somethin-somethin, they give you a muffin made of lemony-poppyseed goodness. This may be my new favorite item at the Filling Station. Simple and delightful.

There were several large parties on the patio today, but the service was on top of things and our large party was able to get in and out in about an hour and fifteen minutes. Enjoying the beautiful weather, I secretly wished that it had taken twice as long. :)

Rose's Deli - #8 Club Spinach Wrap

The second dish in my workweek rotation is the club wrap from Rose’s Deli. If you find yourself resistant to trying a restaurant that shares the same building as a gas station, fear not, it’s actually a really cool place with decent indoor seating and a spacious patio with heating for the winter. They have a friendly staff that knows how to move a line through, so grab a menu on your way in. All of the ingredients are fresh and I haven’t tried anything that I did not like there, however, I have settled on the #8 club sub (on a spinach wrap instead), fries and a drink.

The wrap has fresh ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and two cheeses. I don’t know how they cram all of this into a wrap, but it’s a generously portioned meal. I’m also not much of a fry person, but these fries are like crack cocaine deep-fried to crispy golden perfection. (*Disclaimer: I have never tried crack cocaine nor do I think you can actually deep-fry it. I may be wrong.)

All in all, it’s a great casual place to stop in for a quick FRESH meal that won’t break the bank.

They also have a few beers on tap and I imagine this becomes a chill evening hangout for Wake students, though I’ve never ventured back to this side of town for supper or a beer. Rose’s Deli is located on the corner of University Parkway and Bethabara Park Blvd.

Big Shotz Tavern: Fish Tacos

I went to Big Shotz Tavern on Stratford Road for lunch* today and they have such a diverse menu in food and price point, it is easy to find something for everyone. I ordered the Fish Tacos, three soft flour tacos filled with grilled tilapia, fresh pineapple salsa, and Asian slaw. The ingredients were fresh and delicious. The pineapple salsa and Asian slaw are what makes this dish so unique from others I have tried. The flavors are sweet and the crunch from the Asian slaw gives the tacos a really nice texture. Three tacos is the perfect amount and the side of fresh fruit allowed me to be satisfied without feeling stuffed. Service was fast, in and out in less than an hour, which is important to those of us who have a tight lunch schedule.

Big Shotz has two locations:

Big Shotz Tavern - Clemmons Location
1480 River Ridge Drive, Clemmons

Big Shotz Tavern - Winston-Salem Location
109 South Stratford Road, Winston-Salem

*The lunch that I attended was a Lunch & Learn hosted by Professional Women of Winston-Salem. Lunch & Learns are a great way to learn about a topic of interest, while getting out of your dining comfort zone and trying someplace new. While I enjoyed my fish tacos, I learned about effective blogging tips from Sara Wilson, editor, skirt! Winston-Salem.

Washington Perk and Provision Co

O and I wanted to grab a quick bite and we kept meaning to check out our own little neighborhood store so we combined the two. We wandered the aisles to see what all we could buy to support our local spot and then we headed over to the counter to order dinner.

They have some great wines and beers to grab if you want to swing by and pick up something to go with dinner. They offer some great coffee selections to go or to enjoy there. They also support some local farms and have fresh, local veggies, eggs, milk, etc. I for one took home some ice-cream from Homeland Creamery.

We both ordered sandwiches. I ordered a basic grilled cheese and O ordered the ham sandwich. I also grabbed a bag of chips, which I begrudgingly shared with O. We both picked up bottles of yumminess from the cooler and then (after paying) headed outside to eat. I noticed on the way out that they offer a book exchange if you need to pick up (or drop off) some reading material.

The sandwiches were good. O picked up a Chai Cola, which reminded him of a drink he used to have as a child and I enjoyed a root beer - because really who doesn't enjoy a root beer - and we watched the traffic drive by as we ate.

Stop by and grab some groceries or a sandwich to go, or both. :)

Screaming Rooster: A Whole Lotta Fresh and Local Goodness

I have to admit, at times I take pictures of the food and then I get behind. I have eaten at the Screaming Rooster three times in the last two weeks, so I am doing a cumulative post. One of the things that I like about the Screaming Rooster is how fresh the food is every time I visit. When I go to a restaurant, I like to try a variety of things, but often I get "repeat" items to test for consistency.

The Rooster is consistent and the flavors are good. The menu has staples that many people like, but gets very creative with the specials that they offer- often based on ingredients that have been purchased at one of the local Farmer's Markets earlier in the week. As a result, there is a nice variety with a local and fresh combination. The Rooster is open for breakfast and lunch only, but they are open and have a special menu for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Below are some of the items that my dining companions and I have enjoyed.

Scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns,
fruit and sourdough toast

Cranberry and Pecan Pancakes
with fruit & a side of scrambled eggs

Chicken and Waffles, fresh fruit, and Cheese Grits
(Brunch Special)

Bacon & Tomato Quiche, fresh fruit,
and apple cinnamon muffin

Lunch items



Tomato and Squash Quiche
with bluberry muffin
and fruit 



Chicken Salad with Walnuts,
served with a side salad and fruit



Breakfast of Course: Pear Streusel Coffee Cake

Pear Streusel Coffee Cake

While browsing updates on Facebook yesterday, I see a posting from Breakfast of Course, Mary's Too. I am usually a savory breakfast girl- bacon and eggs in some shape or form is what I usually go for- but I started planning my breakfast for the following day about 20 hours in advance after seeing the FB post for the Pear Streusel Coffee Cake. This is no ordinary coffee cake, it is made with pears from Walter Farm, from a tree that is over 100 years old. When you eat this coffee cake, you may be happy the it is all organic and whole grain, but there is the bonus of eating the fruit from a tree that has seen decades of sunshine. How can you top decades of sunshine? (Evidently with butter, sugar and cinnamon.) Nature never tasted so good.

Here is my personal slice, consumed with a cup of hot coffee. (Hot husband not pictured, but also made the dining experience a treat.) We arrived at 7:15am to assure that I would not miss out on such deliciousness. It was a wonderful way to start the day.

You can get your own updates of deliciousness from the BOC Facebook Page.  Local Dish is not responsible for cravings that this may create.