Memories Served Warm at The Farm House: A Taste of Grandma’s Kitchen

The Farm House is located at 562 E. NC 55 Highway, Mount Olive.

I recently stopped by to check out The Farm House Café and Bakery in Mount Olive. They have a location in Newton Grove and have recently opened a new location in the former Rita’s on Hwy 55. I attended the ribbon-cutting because our chamber board hosted it. I thought I would be able to eat, but the event was on a Monday, and the restaurant is closed on Mondays. It took me a few weeks to get back there, but I made my way there after one of our chamber meetings.

Everything Nice Sweets and Bakery Brings Sweet Touch to Downtown Kenansville

A new bakery is in town, and you know I had to check it out. Funny enough, the day I walked is was the opening day. I had no clue, but lucky me, right!

The bakery is located on Front Street in Kenansville

Tacos and Wings: a Mount Olive pickleballer’s favorite recovery food

I have these two friends, Sam and Pernell, who are pickleball fanatics. In reality, whatever the name of the pickleball association is, they should be paying them because they recruit harder for the sport they love than anyone I have ever met. I often tease them, but let’s just say they are really good at their job. No matter where we are (out to eat, in a meeting, at an event, etc.) they are going to tell every person they talk to about pickleball, young, old, and every race. They don’t discriminate. Sometimes, even if those who are just minding their own business aren’t safe. HAHA!

My Experience at the Robert Burns Scottish Dinner

Hey Foodies! It's been a while. I've missed you! I had a few really cool experiences recently and I couldn't help but to start writing about it. I was recently assigned to cover the Robert Burns Dinner at the Country Squire Restaurant and Winery.

Outlaw's - The Neighborhood Grill

The front of Outlaw's Grill still looks the same from my childhood!

I’m from Scott’s Store. A small neighborhood in the outskirts that is often not categorized as Duplin or Wayne County. We have Mount Olive addresses which are in Wayne County, but are mostly associated with Duplin County. I went to Duplin County Schools, and most of the people I know are in Duplin County. BUT we are still in a town that is in Wayne County. It’s very interesting to say the least. We have a very small population and only 1 flashing light. So as you can imagine there is nothing to do and not many places to eat. 

A Random Stop by Indulge Nutrition

Indulge Nutrition employee

              I love going to events, and luckily enough for me, my profession requires me to attend and host events all the time. So I went to the 1^st annual Blossom festival in Wallace to cover it for the newspaper and found out while I was there that it was being hosted by Indulge Nutrition and Redefined Home Décor Gifts and More. They are two local businesses inside the Wallace Crossing Shopping Center where the Walmart used to be. The shopping center has been empty for years, and now that there are businesses there the two business owners thought it would be a good idea to host an event there to bring awareness to the shops there.

Puerto Escondido Brings Fun, Authentic Mexican Food to Kenansville

Armando and some of his staff

One thing you are always hearing people say (and yes I am guilty of it too), is that there is nothing fun to do in Duplin County. Well brothers-in-law Armando Gabriel and Felix Garcia, are changing that narrative.

Enjoy a Celebration at the Kitchen Table

Peggy's Kitchen is located on Kenansville Hwy in Warsaw, NC

Every year in January there are celebrations throughout the month from people all over the country. No, I’m not talking about the New Year or even MLK Day. Many Divine Nine sororities and fraternities have what they call Founders’ Day in January. The Divine Nine consists of the nine recognized Black Greek-letter organizations, that are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Founder’s Day is a very special occasion that represents the day their particular organization was founded. It’s a day to not only pay homage to the founders but also to celebrate all the great works they did. Divine Nine organizations were at the forefront of the civil rights movement.

A Trip to Farmhouse: Beulaville's New Treasure

    It’s been a while since I’ve done a review. You know sometimes life just happens, but it’s a new year, and it’s never too late or a bad time to try new food! When I decided it was time to start writing again, I was torn on where I should visit first, but my editor (I have a food column in the Duplin Times Newspaper) already had something in mind. She mentioned that she heard about Farmhouse opening a new location in Beulaville. That’s all she had to say - I was all over it!

A Visit to Neomonde Mediterranean

I was on the way home from dropping off a friend to the airport when I realized my stomach was singing a tune. Man was I hungry, and did it seem to come out of nowhere! I recently decided to eat with the confines of a Mediterranean diet, and back home where I live there are literally no healthy places to eat it or diversity in our food. So when I am out of town I often look for those options. This go round the lucky winner was Neomonde Mediterranean Restaurant in Morrisville. 

   

A Little Mo'Joe Please

    If you follow my monthly column or my food blog called "It’s a Foodie Thang", you probably know by now that I love me a cute little coffee shop. They're good for so many things: business meetings, free office space, a meet-up with friends or family, a quick stop for breakfast or lunch, or just for a little pick-me-up cup of joe! Some coffee shops have even expanded and offer live music, games, and events. No matter what your flavor is, a coffee shop can usually give you what you need. When I walk into coffee shops I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I feel happy, regardless of what I faced before I walked in, and I forget about everything I am going to have to deal with after I leave.

A Coffee a Day Keeps the Grumpy Away

     I thought I was seeing things when I saw a coffee shop one day in Mount Olive. It’s such a small town and doesn’t usually have many changes. Downtown seems to only have about ½ the business that it used to when I was younger, so it appears to me. And a lot of houses and buildings are now vacant, old, or run down, but Amy Brogden had a brilliant idea when she decided to open a coffee shop close to the college and in the center of town.

Every Photo Has a Story - A Visit to Gotham's Deli

I just recently started working in Smithfield, and a new area means more chances to try new restaurants! One day on the town, I stumbled across Gotham's Deli in downtown.

Who Said You Can't Have Dessert for Breakfast

Burney’s, not to be confused with the big purple dinosaur we all loved as kids, is the new buzz around town. I had a friend suggest I check it out, and I have been wanting to get there for months. Unfortunately, I don’t live nearby (about 40 minutes), and hardly ever travel in that direction, so I would have had to make a special trip to check it out. Anyone who knows me knows that I have 0 to -0 (yeah I made that up) time to spare.  This month…I decided to make the time.

Eggscellent

One of my favorite breakfast spots is actually inside a grocery store. Crazy right!? It’s probably not so surprising if you live in or near the Kenansville area because every morning IGA Foodliner has people lined up to get breakfast.

IGA is a grocery store that has 2 locations in Duplin County. Beulaville is the second location, and both locations sell food from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm seven days a week. Leo Jackson first purchased a dry food store in 1945 which he ran for 24 years, and by 1969 he created the IGA that we know today. He ran IGA until his death. The store has continued to be in the family ever since, and is now operated by 3^rd generation David Jackson.

A Visit to Our Neighbor, Tokyo Sunrise

    This month I visited a neighbor of The Duplin Times, Tokyo Sunrise, a Hibachi-style restaurant located right in the heart of Downtown Kenansville on Center Street. It’s literally on the same block as The Duplin Times, so of course, I already had an experience with it from when I was working out of the office regularly, but surprisingly I have only eaten there once. I was catching up with a high school friend that day so I was more focused on that than judging the food.

You’ll Never Go Hungry at Country Boy Kitchen

Antonio Moore is one of the newest entrepreneurs to the town of Faison. At just 33 years old he has multiple businesses operating and even some new ones in the making, but Country Boy Kitchen is the latest talk on the street so you know I had to check it out. Faison doesn’t have a lot of options for dining out. Most people have to go to nearby towns for more options.

There’s a new girl in town

    It seems like there is a curse over the Main St. building storefront restaurant in Kenansville. Has anyone else noticed how often the restaurant changes in that building? I don’t know why; It’s at a great location right in town. It’s close to the courthouse, many other office spaces, the board of education, and the hospital. It has a parking lot with adequate parking space, and even additional parking across the street. It has plenty of room for dine-in and even has an extended area upstairs. You can also go through the drive-thru if you don’t want to dine in. It appears to have all the amenities to set a restaurant owner up for success, but it also seems that renters are always in and out! Welp, needless to say…there’s a new girl in town, and the owner Buddy said that Madison’s is here to stay!

Oh, How Things Change

In other parts of the country, having an amazing hot cooked meal in a grocery store is odd. But in the south, it’s the norm. A lot of our grocery stores serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s not just sandwiches and salads. I’m talking a full 3 section delicious meal. And they're usually at a great price.

Ruttabegas, corn, and field peas

You Won't Feel Like Royalty at China King

    I recently visited China King in Kenansville. It wasn’t my first time, and just like every other visit, I left pissed off. I am not going to lie, their food is good. I had a large order of garlic broccoli which so BOMB, and I also had vegetable lo mein. I really enjoyed my food so it sucks that I had such a bad experience.