Sunday, March 10, 2024

Shrimply Delicious

 


Located at 2204 Golden Gate Drive in the Golden Gate Shopping Center in Greensboro, Shrimply Delicious offers fried seafood sandwiches and platters. Family-sized portions, online ordering, and delivery (via DoorDash) are available. The restaurant is open from 11 to 9 Mondays through Saturdays.

 

As a fan of both bad puns and good seafood, I was bound to end up here sooner or later. When a po boy craving struck, I remembered the name and decided to give Shrimply Delicious a try. It wasn’t an entirely regrettable decision, but I don’t think I’ll be back.

 

Shrimply Delicious is a smallish space, and the tables in their dining area are packed somewhat closely together. This is a non-issue if you’re seeking takeout, of course, but if you’re looking to dine in, it may get a bit crowded. The menu boasts shrimp and fish baskets (with sides and drinks), fish sandwiches, and po boys. You won’t find any surprises, but there’s something to be said for staying on-brand.

 

I opted for a shrimp and catfish po boy to go. At $12.75, it was priced roughly between 42 Fry and Full Moon’s versions. The staff here are hard-working, but they were getting slammed with to-go orders, and so I had a longer-than-expected wait (albeit not unreasonably so).





Positives first: the sandwich was large, and the shrimp and fish were breaded and cooked well. Nothing tasted greasy. That said, the fish was fairly salty, the remoulade so-so, and the bread was a lackluster generic sub roll.

 

This isn’t the worst rendition of a po boy that I had, but it’s far from the best. Ultimately, Shrimply Delicious proved to be shrimply okay.

Arrowhead Coffee

Located at 518 North Spring Street in Greensboro, Arrowhead Coffee offers coffee drinks and teas. Specialty drinks change seasonally, and online ordering is available via Square.

Arrowhead rates as one of Greensboro's best coffeeshops and best-kept secrets. Because it isn't in the heart of downtown, it is easy to overlook. Tucked into a small plaza behind Dog Days, it is easy to drive right by it without realizing it is there. However, those who do stop won't regret it.

For starters, Arrowhead's blend of industrial and artsy makes for a unique ambiance. It's a comfortable space with plenty of seating. They don't have a huge selection here, but what they do offer - nitros and flash brews in addition to the usual suspects - helps it stand apart.




During my first visit, I opted for one of their seasonal drinks, the Cherie Berry. This hat tip to our state's erstwhile elevator queen was made from vanilla oat cold brew topped with strawberry foam and freeze-dried strawberries. It wasn't cheap (probably around $7 for a 16 ounce), but it was deliciously smooth and creamy. The strawberry pieces added a hint of tartness and an interesting textural contrast. Service was prompt and courteous.

Arrowhead isn't close to home, so I don't know when I'll return, but I'm glad that I got a chance to knock it off the "to try" list.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Dune: Part Two

 


Presumed dead, Paul (Timothee Chalamet) and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), survivors of the massacred House Atreides, have been hiding out on the desert planet Arrakis. Paul hopes to rally the native Fremen to strike back at their mutual enemy, House Harkonnen. But first, he must learn their ways. As he does so, tribal leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) suspects that he might be their long-prophesized messiah. Chani (Zendaya) rejects the prophecy as a dangerous superstition even as she grows closer to Paul. Meanwhile, scheming Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) presses his nephew Rabban (Dave Bautista) to crush the Fremen, knowing that Rabban’s younger brother Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) waits in the wings as a potential replacement. The Emperor Corrino (Christopher Walken), having allied with the baron to depose Paul’s father, now fears an uprising while his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), seeks to learn the Reverend Mother Mohiam’s (Charlotte Rampling) plans for the future of the throne.

 

The follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s successful 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic, Dune: Part Two manages, improbably, to surpass it. Aesthetically breathtaking and powerfully acted, it avoids the first film’s second-half lag. Though ten minutes longer, Part Two feels like a shorter film thanks to more even pacing and plenty to occupy the audience’s attention.

 

Advances in filmmaking technology have made what would have been revolutionary years ago seem commonplace today, but even by these jaded standards, Dune: Part Two is a visually impressive film. Whether showing an immense sandworm crashing through desert dunes or a gladiator duel in a crowded coliseum (in black and white, no less), Greig Fraser’s cinematography is striking. Hans Zimmer returns to provide another powerful score.

 

The story that accompanies this marvel is largely faithful to the source material albeit with a few pragmatic excisions and expansions. Notable in the book largely for being its narrator, Princess Irulan here takes on a greater role in trying to preserve her family’s standing. Chani here is far less supportive of Paul as his legend grows. This gives her more agency – and a chance for Zendaya to show off her acting chops – but though intended as a voice of reason amid religious fervor, she often comes across as just as much of a zealot (an atheist ethnonationalist rather than a religious one) as the fundamentalists she condemns.

 

Both Zendaya and Bardem felt like odd casting choices the last go-around: the Fremen are Bedouin-inspired, and neither actor is Arabic. However, both seem to have grown into their roles, and Stilgar in particular no longer seems like comic relief. Chalamet handles the lead role, capturing Paul’s virtuousness and rage alike, but he leans more adequate than excellent. Fortunately, he doesn’t have to do more with so many other strong performers around him. Ferguson continues to shine as a woman literally and metaphorically possessed, and Josh Brolin finally gets to do something besides scowl. A nearly unrecognizable Butler makes up for Feyd Rautha’s absence from the last film by stealing scenes in this one. He matches Skarsgard’s bald, pale appearance, gravelly voice, and violent cruelty albeit with a sense of honor in combat that the other Harkonnens lack.

 

Literary adaptations often walk a fine line between fidelity and innovation, and a step too far in either direction risks losing the audience. Exceptions as they may be, Dune: Part Two and its predecessor have shown that it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. 

Friday, December 22, 2023

Poke One

 


Located at 4835 West Wendover Avenue in Jamestown, Poke One offers poke and ramen for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11 to 9 on weekdays and 11:30 to 9 on weekends. Online ordering is available.

 

Poke-and-ramen seems to be the High Point area’s latest restaurant trend, and while Poke One loses some of the novelty by not getting there first, it otherwise seems poised to hold its own. Housed in the former Rockaway Eatery location, it’s clean, colorful, and spacious. The menu boasts a few Japanese apps (edamame, Takoyaki, shumai, and, oddly enough, fries) as well as milk and fruit teas, but poke (in bowl or burrito form) and ramen are the core offerings. There are about a half-dozen varieties of each, and you can also build your own of the former. Poke One wisely supplies paper menus that can be filled out to make BYO ordering efficient and convenient.




 

For our first visit, my wife and I each got a build your own poke bowl and a milk tea (taro and strawberry, respectively). Our orders were completed very quickly, and the brightly colored bowls looked amazing. Fortunately, the flavors matched the presentation. I went with a mixture of hot (spicy salmon, spicy mayo), sour (pickled ginger, pickled radish), and sweet (mango). Add to that some cucumber for refreshment, and the bowl was nicely balanced. The ingredients were also fresh, and they don’t skimp on quantity here. The tea was rather sweet, however. Next time, I’ll go with a classic rather than a fruit flavor.

 

What sets Poke One apart from other local options is the competitive pricing. At $11.95 for a poke bowl and $5.70 for a milk tea with bubbles, Poke One is cheaper than either Poke Dream or Ninja Café/Kung Fu Tea.

 

Poke One may not be an innovator, but being able to provide fresh, tasty food quickly makes it a welcome addition nevertheless.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Qinji Hawaiian BBQ & Ramen


Located at 2224 Golden Gate Drive in the Golden Gate Shopping Center in Greensboro, Qinji HawaiianBBQ and Ramen offers Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-9 Tuesday-Friday, noon-9 on Saturday, and closed Sunday. Online ordering is available.

Our group of four ended up at Qinji when the wait at Mizumi proved too long, but this proved to be the epitome of a happy accident. Cosmetically, Qinji is quite an upgrade from the previous ZC Hawaiian: the interior is tasteful and clean. The menu boasts many tantalizing options from predominantly Japanese apps to more than ten kinds of ramen to rice and noodle dishes to Hawaiian specialties. Vegetarians won’t be hard-pressed to find something here though the meat-eaters among you can take in everything from kalbi to Spam.




It was the first visit for all of us, and we got to experience a variety of dishes: calamari, Takoyaki, spam musubi, veggie roll, Hawaiian pineapple chicken, loco moco, and a combo (katsu fried shrimp and fish and grilled beef). Portions were plentiful, and, as the entrees included rice and salad (green or macaroni) for under $15, quite affordable. While the musubi and the loco moco may conjure some odd associations for anyone who grew up with Spam or Salisbury steak, the food was largely a hit. The beef was flavorful, the seafood was well-breaded without being bone dry, and the dipping sauces complemented the apps nicely. Even though the green salad was little more than lettuce with a few shredded carrots, a terrific mango dressing (bright, crisp, and citrusy) elevated it.

Qinji is nowhere close to home, and while that may preclude me from becoming a regular here, it is definitely a place I will look forward to coming back to during future excursions to northern Greensboro.


The PepperMill Cafe


Located at 2600 South Main Street in High Point, The PepperMill Café serves Greek-influenced diner fare for breakfast and lunch. It is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, from 6 a.m.-noon on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Online ordering is available.

 

I had a craving for bananas foster pancakes, and The PepperMill Café was one of the few places in town that offered it. I was hoping for a passable rendition thereof and little else, but The PepperMill Café exceeded expectations. While not much to look at inside or out, the restaurant is deceptively spacious. Service is also both friendly and hyper-efficient, so while they keep busy, you won’t be waiting for anything very long here.

 

The PepperMill Café offers much of what you’d expect from a classic Greek-owned Southern diner, which means an appreciably large menu with a few Mediterranean-influenced dishes. From omelets and biscuits to pancakes, French toast, and waffles, they’ve got you covered. However, for those seeking something more novel, PepperMill also offers carrot cake pancakes and a kielbasa plate.




 

I satisfied my craving with two bananas foster pancakes/eggs/sausage. The pancakes were large without being too dense, the bananas were nicely caramelized, and the cream cheese butter made for a nice finishing touch. All told, it was a very satisfying forkful. Everything else was decent if less memorable, and pricing is reasonable.

 

I don’t know how the lunch offerings measure up, but for a sit-down breakfast, The PepperMill Café is a rock-solid option.


Saturday, December 9, 2023

Sedgefield Bagels & Deli


 

Located at 5002-F High Point Road in Greensboro, Sedgefield Bagels & Deli offers bagels and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Online ordering is available.

 

This Sedgefield shopping center spot has been home to a number of eateries over the years, and the recently-opened Sedgefield Bagels & Deli is the latest to try to stick. The sister location (Oak Ridge Bagels & Deli) seems to be doing well for itself, and the bagels themselves have the proper pedigree (Long Island by way of New Garden bagels), both of which are positive indicators.

 

Another check in the plus column: selection. There were plenty of bagel varieties to choose from when I stopped by this morning. The sandwich offerings include classic egg/cheese/meat or deli combinations, but there is also a willingness here to go outside the box. This includes embracing Southern ingredients (BBQ pork, pimento, hot honey) and upping the non-bagel offerings (everything from salads to loaded fries to Belgian waffles).


 

I stuck to the tried-and-true for my first visit and went with a Taylor ham, egg, and cheese on an everything. It was as tasty a rendition as I’ve had in the other New York-style bagel shops in the area, and at $6.49, it was slightly less than what High Point Bagel is charging these days.

 

As with most bagel shops, seating is limited, but Sedgefield Bagels does have a few tables at its disposal. Since they are new, this may be a pending addition, but a wall menu behind the counter would definitely improve the ordering process.

 

Given the quality (New Garden Bagels can do no wrong), variety, and convenience (about eight minutes from work), I am glad for Sedgefield Bagels’ arrival, and I hope they can last.