tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83146828847727101172024-03-27T19:55:15.011-04:00Zac Rates the UniverseMovie/music/restaurant reviews and other assorted opinions.Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.comBlogger710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-23850088320382489782024-03-24T23:25:00.000-04:002024-03-24T23:25:13.100-04:00Aqui es Mexico Cocina Mexicana<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYzbf16Xg0J5oD07rcU3JOIce9M25A8GCkP0t_eKzK1WYCfOsCvpptJelnjQWN6MJHTgDYvlgQgXhA-cyFWRjb-vFrTJMZpeFC96xY2qKMkHUMJMBngvFvl1m3V_tGhBDi2_yVMNtb-Exh94rp5DyRdT1eFwj5BegaIydO8xubSdJDK-f0eB7tsBbhjj2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="179" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYzbf16Xg0J5oD07rcU3JOIce9M25A8GCkP0t_eKzK1WYCfOsCvpptJelnjQWN6MJHTgDYvlgQgXhA-cyFWRjb-vFrTJMZpeFC96xY2qKMkHUMJMBngvFvl1m3V_tGhBDi2_yVMNtb-Exh94rp5DyRdT1eFwj5BegaIydO8xubSdJDK-f0eB7tsBbhjj2A" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
1800 Westchester Drive in High Point, <a href="https://www.aquiesmexico-nc.com/#home">Aqui es Mexico</a> offers Mexican cuisine for
lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11-2 a.m. on
Friday and Saturday. There is a full bar, food specials change daily, and both
outdoor seating and online ordering are available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When Aqui
es Mexico succeeded Guacamole at this location last year, one thing became
clear not long thereafter: this place is different. Aqui es Mexico offers both
traditional dishes not always available elsewhere as well as interesting fusion
offerings such as Mexican sushi. Add to that an active social media presence
and some tantalizing specials (i.e. $5 Wednesdays or half-priced app Fridays),
and if nothing else, Aqui es Mexico deserves credit for trying to separate
itself from the pack.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My wife
and I visited on a Friday night to find the place busy, but given how big the
restaurant is, we had no trouble getting a table. Colorful murals adorned the
walls, and the atmosphere can best be described as lively. The music is loud,
but unless someone is celebrating a birthday (they go all-out in recognizing
that here), it isn’t overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The menu
is extensive, and I appreciated the page’s worth of seafood offerings. Whether
you’re in the mood for the tried and true (burritos/tacos/fajitas) or want to
try something different (the aforementioned sushi, several different molcajetes,
more margarita variations than you knew existed), Aqi es Mexico has you
covered. Hungry and eyeing leftovers, we went with an empanadas starter, carnitas,
and cochinita pibil.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Beto
provided excellent service throughout the meal, and the kitchen was
impressively fast and efficient. Though it was a busy night, we got our food
quickly. The pricing was moderate – entrees in the teens – and we got a good
amount of food for our money.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wYwq6TOUdKhkDfArclMJG658tSEtF-f-1qYYdDuNN-C9r9NMfus8bIw7e_JlcLwv4OsHUyIyLrJ2nPYJNIEPHugRaM4vctMJcZjfSneqperMuds9207RjT9-AfTROrlXf09jLw2hfaMv_yqpH0BF5bE2HjTp79n4zoP9Zfgf3tsZorswAT5t6v79TX8X/s4080/PXL_20240322_233347744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wYwq6TOUdKhkDfArclMJG658tSEtF-f-1qYYdDuNN-C9r9NMfus8bIw7e_JlcLwv4OsHUyIyLrJ2nPYJNIEPHugRaM4vctMJcZjfSneqperMuds9207RjT9-AfTROrlXf09jLw2hfaMv_yqpH0BF5bE2HjTp79n4zoP9Zfgf3tsZorswAT5t6v79TX8X/s320/PXL_20240322_233347744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yJevev6yeDdXzJZKiuaeQWwMYX8eowKaigI2XEXwZfEv1GprqZjEUgI23xAfsqyRmcr1BMKUlUinbZIQnTWmzz9ZdfczYJlLOBQCVGkWzfprMW0un2CnJe_30Vqq7kU2VvMLxVNtJEtsI3pgm1uwbSu3kBrnMxyuP8rj3KBW3p0qYAkA8ZMYXdYuVdfT/s4080/PXL_20240322_233808522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yJevev6yeDdXzJZKiuaeQWwMYX8eowKaigI2XEXwZfEv1GprqZjEUgI23xAfsqyRmcr1BMKUlUinbZIQnTWmzz9ZdfczYJlLOBQCVGkWzfprMW0un2CnJe_30Vqq7kU2VvMLxVNtJEtsI3pgm1uwbSu3kBrnMxyuP8rj3KBW3p0qYAkA8ZMYXdYuVdfT/s320/PXL_20240322_233808522.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9uTeRENAfeCC7Ek4szFzif0vUNSSwuFW0GxVMh1XRhfRNypK3OMFUqqNBru9yTJbxKAmsnk_chVwGVahHYxnaLyPmooOGvNA8SnfgijPePAaA_htmcD9ZWbF9nwhVCDKSpRzlx9egDtOWSbKSdV4Hnr8us_Qoz8jV5quLECSUo_OazKJBEtd3hRjI9kz/s4080/PXL_20240322_233812386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9uTeRENAfeCC7Ek4szFzif0vUNSSwuFW0GxVMh1XRhfRNypK3OMFUqqNBru9yTJbxKAmsnk_chVwGVahHYxnaLyPmooOGvNA8SnfgijPePAaA_htmcD9ZWbF9nwhVCDKSpRzlx9egDtOWSbKSdV4Hnr8us_Qoz8jV5quLECSUo_OazKJBEtd3hRjI9kz/s320/PXL_20240322_233812386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA2ZjJ9V-vnq1fW5dyVxMoAwwLpyZeyAv3G76ej6zpddAzUcK6qOkqlUV4zM08e4UFB4OFgj2tlg646GGQS2oEJbUHtnEsSHEi1CLfL9FYhJIOtMnF3zTcaX3DimahkK6qXCOtaCXnSUieJJ_mq-Jv9Zy-vnH_FnxjiQufEp7DvJs2JF6kSAMF_WfQpJ4/s4080/PXL_20240322_233815112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA2ZjJ9V-vnq1fW5dyVxMoAwwLpyZeyAv3G76ej6zpddAzUcK6qOkqlUV4zM08e4UFB4OFgj2tlg646GGQS2oEJbUHtnEsSHEi1CLfL9FYhJIOtMnF3zTcaX3DimahkK6qXCOtaCXnSUieJJ_mq-Jv9Zy-vnH_FnxjiQufEp7DvJs2JF6kSAMF_WfQpJ4/s320/PXL_20240322_233815112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0MmRAYAtFOVRx5pK-dMBIsSZ5Q-uvgzQBWvTOLOuWLn5MVb8MBn5J5XUd_XGj02tKruHbrZvY7rYDsC3rs1_dQBxpZYNZMWguN42gNGlRQ-96GltgQ3JHXiaOSZIg6ukoO7hn4LToyFZsxkaSGYDQkmQ3GMiQ_jjqTa7RJ2-YIYQaczy4Drkro-dCH_W/s4080/PXL_20240322_234031469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0MmRAYAtFOVRx5pK-dMBIsSZ5Q-uvgzQBWvTOLOuWLn5MVb8MBn5J5XUd_XGj02tKruHbrZvY7rYDsC3rs1_dQBxpZYNZMWguN42gNGlRQ-96GltgQ3JHXiaOSZIg6ukoO7hn4LToyFZsxkaSGYDQkmQ3GMiQ_jjqTa7RJ2-YIYQaczy4Drkro-dCH_W/s320/PXL_20240322_234031469.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For as
much thought went into the menu and décor here, it’s unfortunate that the food
wasn’t as impressive. Our empanadas (two beef and two chicken) looked great as they
were fried to a golden brown. The beef were tasty, but the chicken were
decidedly bland. The cochinita pibil was nicely sauced though not as intensely
flavored as I’ve had elsewhere. Ditto the carnitas, which were appealingly
crispy on the outside but underseasoned. The sides were your standard rice/beans/salad,
akin to what you’d find in many Mexican restaurants in the area.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Because nearly
everything else – service, ambiance, menu variety – was a plus here, I definitely
wouldn’t rule out a return to Aqui es Mexico. Here’s hoping they can up their
seasoning game.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-83613390159622295582024-03-21T20:22:00.000-04:002024-03-21T20:22:11.473-04:00Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUkzfGYDnGZGjTydZyndO8KY31FsCB8yfRsb2x7FjFO6HxK3OidAOxmDT2DhlVU8F337-oP3EwpVDkUHL2YpT4bA2VLis5zURi2FLl6Qbf6FXm6Xw_yncb_c9cp0EZUr-OKGfV1Bs2HJPzOW9kq5AZ0jmFku8Bktzrzbaej2CEMerqZ52wMmlffnQomJaJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUkzfGYDnGZGjTydZyndO8KY31FsCB8yfRsb2x7FjFO6HxK3OidAOxmDT2DhlVU8F337-oP3EwpVDkUHL2YpT4bA2VLis5zURi2FLl6Qbf6FXm6Xw_yncb_c9cp0EZUr-OKGfV1Bs2HJPzOW9kq5AZ0jmFku8Bktzrzbaej2CEMerqZ52wMmlffnQomJaJ" width="160" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ichiban
Kasuga, the goofy eternally optimistic ex-yakuza, has taken to helping other
former criminals find legitimate work while his formerly down-and-out comrades
Adachi and Nanba also seem to be thriving. But when a viral video threatens
their fortunes and Kasuga’s dating life implodes, he receives a surprising mission
from his former clan captain: go to Hawaii and track down his presumed-dead
mother, Akane. Upon arrival, Kasuga finds several dangerous factions hunting are
hunting for Akane as well. Fortunately, he acquires unexpected allies,
including legendary former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu, who is on a mission of his own
and whose days may be numbered. Will the group find Akane and discover why she
is wanted before it is too late?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The newest
entry in Sega’s long-running Yakuza series is the follow-up to 2020’s <i>Yakuza:
Like a Dragon</i>, a game that controversially moved the series from action
brawler to turn-based RPG. In its own way, however, <i>Infinite Wealth</i> is
no less revolutionary. It’s the first game in the series with an American
setting, and, the first that really shows longtime protagonist Kiryu’s age (55)
and health catching up with him. He’s still quite a formidable fighter, but we
get to see him as more of a team player and less of a one-man army this
go-around, and the bonds he forms with Kasuga and other party members help
flesh him out.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Kiryu is
but one of several surprisingly well-developed and well-written characters
here. From inane plot contrivances to completely detestable megamaniacal villains,
subtlety and complexity are not always Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios’ strengths. <i>Infinite
Wealth</i> still has plenty of zaniness – Kasuga imagines street punks as
monsters, presumed-dead characters pop up as bartenders who troll their
patrons, and you fight malicious construction equipment on more than one
occasion – but it's tempered by a more mature approach to characterization. Newcomers
Tomizawa and Chitose are introduced as a petty criminal cab driver and a
spoiled heiress, respectively, yet both have sympathetic motivations and grow to take responsibility and control
of their lives. Returning character Seonhee, the seemingly stern queen of
Yokohama’s Korean underworld, lightens up around Kiryu and displays a sisterly
affection for underling Joongi Han. Club owner Saeko rebuffs attempts to woo or control her and asserts her independence. While
one of the main antagonists fits the all-conquering mold, the others have more
understandable rationales for the extremes that they go to.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Much of
the voice cast returns from the previous game, and among the English-language
performers, Kaiji Tang (Kasuga), Greg Chun (Nanba), and Elizabeth Maxwell
(Saeko) continue to impress. Here, we’re also treated to Danny Trejo voicing a character modeled after himself, machetes and all. That said,
vtuber Yong Yea is both too young and too inexperienced to really do Kiryu
justice. The performance grows on you after a while, but it’s almost worth
switching the language to Japanese for Takaya Kuroda’s familiar baritone alone.<br />
<br />
While the turn-based combat in <i>Like a Dragon</i> was serviceable, it’s both deeper
and more fluid in <i>Infinite Wealth</i>. Positioning plays a bigger role as you can
move around to set up back attacks and environmental attacks. New job classes
(each with unique abilities) open up possibilities to suit different playing
styles that emphasize attack or magic or healing. Kasuga can perform tag-team
attacks with party members once their hype meters fill. Kiryu, thankfully,
retains his ability from older games to switch between fighting styles, and
when his meter fills, he can step out of turn-based combat entirely and simply
start punching and kicking opponents at will (similar to the old Extreme Heat
mechanic).<br />
<br />
There is much in <i>Infinite Wealth</i> that manages to be both fun and utterly
shameless. The <i>Pokemon</i>-ripoff Sujimon collection side activity is back,
and it is joined this time by an <i>Animal Crossing</i> ripoff: Dokondo Island.
I’m not a fan of either franchise, but the former eventually grew on me – the latter
continues to feel tedious. Another string of side activities can best be
described as a Kiryu nostalgia tour as he triggers memories of characters from
past games and even gets to observe some from afar (he’s been declared legally
dead, and the shadowy faction that arranged it tries to distance him from his
past life). Add to that everything from dungeon crawl battles to fishing to
baseball and more, and there is no shortage of things to do in this game.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Well-designed,
well-written, engaging, and eminently playable, <i>Like a Dragon: Infinite
Wealth</i> has, if not, infinite potential, then at least a reasonable
approximation of something for everybody. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-64888974584141270292024-03-21T19:23:00.001-04:002024-03-21T19:23:18.058-04:00Peppers Indian Grill and Bar<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_MTSsbnCCMEvd7FlL8dsl8aK7am2We54E9uSRzMxdloBIiGLwWjd7vUgRF9IJ27VYMnxLjy8Dx0Vof9KTfoOITiLhqSt2x_Uc1dE28G7sE0gTCFSiO-88CxGuxATmbNcqkJzAgysEFOlXbnfHCNNCV7-ItQWGHzHNi41BWORA10RdfldFLMMREelOUNL7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_MTSsbnCCMEvd7FlL8dsl8aK7am2We54E9uSRzMxdloBIiGLwWjd7vUgRF9IJ27VYMnxLjy8Dx0Vof9KTfoOITiLhqSt2x_Uc1dE28G7sE0gTCFSiO-88CxGuxATmbNcqkJzAgysEFOlXbnfHCNNCV7-ItQWGHzHNi41BWORA10RdfldFLMMREelOUNL7" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
727 West Main Street in Jamestown, Peppers Indian Bar and Grill offers Indian
cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11:30 to 3 daily and from 4:30 to
9:30 (or 10 on Fridays and Saturdays). There is a full bar, and a lunch buffet
is offered on the weekends. Online ordering is available as are catering and
private dining/an event space.<br />
<br />
I was sad to see the frequently excellent and just as frequently understaffed
Namaste Lumbini close its doors. Thankfully, Peppers, which opened in the same
spot, retains some of the Nepalese offerings. Add to that some experienced
hands in both the front and back of house as well as a buffet, and there’s a
lot of potential here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My wife
and I stopped by on a Sunday to try the aforementioned buffet, and we were
impressed with the variety of offerings. There were multiple soups and chicken
dishes, a paneer, a lamb, a biryani, a fish, several apps, salads, desserts,
and even multiple beverage options, all of which were conveniently labelled. At
$17ish per person, it was a good value. Though the buffet side of the
restaurant was fairly busy, the hard-working staff did a good job of keeping up
with the demand: none of the buffet stations stayed empty for long.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvSRNpRcrcxvkNH40rW3XUPnYJoa40WeEA1bxFB6o-mXlAw8ZpF1BKm9qylITeK1BwYTNemp8jaMKoYmVudq9SimDul2xwqMla5sKhmGCM6QNSbOlAmzAxH7xTGXH9v_25OLUnTty-GlwMXaRDsGD7V8gARANgpST_K-TlAe9Cm7UuV4Bhl_m7PU7EAVD/s4080/PXL_20240310_165658567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvSRNpRcrcxvkNH40rW3XUPnYJoa40WeEA1bxFB6o-mXlAw8ZpF1BKm9qylITeK1BwYTNemp8jaMKoYmVudq9SimDul2xwqMla5sKhmGCM6QNSbOlAmzAxH7xTGXH9v_25OLUnTty-GlwMXaRDsGD7V8gARANgpST_K-TlAe9Cm7UuV4Bhl_m7PU7EAVD/s320/PXL_20240310_165658567.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EkTo2jFu-Xj2AAlTdKN6jHDSBnAJaaCV6_KC4JGyEAbs0yCmGhLhl-uFkbewzwwSFXNkEq_yh7HkOPLl8tUec-Q9qwCFp53NUWcV8S55qchsHzdrsdOaHznKlXyuV2sy7gdfn9ZquGqDKUzavwrAkUPahaOnukpsEM6FqIuRTqhmCtNR5Z522WMSEgGI/s4080/PXL_20240310_165721365.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EkTo2jFu-Xj2AAlTdKN6jHDSBnAJaaCV6_KC4JGyEAbs0yCmGhLhl-uFkbewzwwSFXNkEq_yh7HkOPLl8tUec-Q9qwCFp53NUWcV8S55qchsHzdrsdOaHznKlXyuV2sy7gdfn9ZquGqDKUzavwrAkUPahaOnukpsEM6FqIuRTqhmCtNR5Z522WMSEgGI/s320/PXL_20240310_165721365.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As with
Namaste Lumbini before it, the food at Peppers is better than you’d expect. The
succulent tandoori chicken was among the best versions I’ve had, and the
watermelon drink was very refreshing. Certain dishes (i.e. the fish) had a lot
of tiny bones, but blame nature rather than Peppers for that one.<br />
<br />
I don’t know if Peppers will have staying power, but given what their kitchen
is capable of, one can hope. In the meantime, I look forward to returning for
chicken 65, jhol momo, and other favorites while I can.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-59056535952961129772024-03-10T20:46:00.001-04:002024-03-10T20:46:04.031-04:00Shrimply Delicious<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/248421012_109879664818262_940316907235335067_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=vxnKtazuM7QAX-nLgHP&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCYyFf5U8PtXN_4NOHWiZAi3ZFu8krHGPnhrjX-IoUHOw&oe=65F286D5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="797" height="186" src="https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/248421012_109879664818262_940316907235335067_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=vxnKtazuM7QAX-nLgHP&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCYyFf5U8PtXN_4NOHWiZAi3ZFu8krHGPnhrjX-IoUHOw&oe=65F286D5" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uAHuMlwg7FIsoi3YJVhLgCXzq275r3t-4OYQOoJK51qE-MtxRJ0_W9UGyYEDUcOhczftBSqMF4Sl59UVFfYz_jE6gX3p9DtM-Tq-aMz_3LFNGm30T9W2PfW05mkBNoVjuClgS_ZF-FLkfIt-agifQBkar2h4a2rEWRjj3jWUl8zZy9sIeX7f3oGZfwwT/s4080/PXL_20240308_183543506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uAHuMlwg7FIsoi3YJVhLgCXzq275r3t-4OYQOoJK51qE-MtxRJ0_W9UGyYEDUcOhczftBSqMF4Sl59UVFfYz_jE6gX3p9DtM-Tq-aMz_3LFNGm30T9W2PfW05mkBNoVjuClgS_ZF-FLkfIt-agifQBkar2h4a2rEWRjj3jWUl8zZy9sIeX7f3oGZfwwT/s320/PXL_20240308_183543506.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-16363771211426554022024-03-10T20:19:00.003-04:002024-03-10T20:19:53.174-04:00Arrowhead Coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/412348600_796510952489152_9061198729572933615_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=x2HtnT2-JMIAX-3BmcC&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBRtt2lld-Tlz-JA8iNTpqZ8NF9qhk1t2LTBHbbdl5YdQ&oe=65F3609D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/412348600_796510952489152_9061198729572933615_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=x2HtnT2-JMIAX-3BmcC&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBRtt2lld-Tlz-JA8iNTpqZ8NF9qhk1t2LTBHbbdl5YdQ&oe=65F3609D" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Located at
518 North Spring Street in Greensboro, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arrowheadcoffeegso">Arrowhead Coffee</a> offers coffee drinks
and teas. Specialty drinks change seasonally, and online ordering is available
via Square.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<br />
<br />
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.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wLzvexYXYh3NPW8R7QwPPTsbYE86j6PZz3s6Bj9uqEJ0IQEhoZZmJI5pVhOBrRzxP4nz8GhLU2vo6VLGws0JlkhwoC3L6nmT6BMNTzLWlw6vDhq8jb9AyR9g-KaGEP4JE_2s8-JEVgm8bpOE7g9n51uO0QErcG0uxfVRFlh5GwrsMFKtzv2bGyA-leJr/s4080/PXL_20240308_172323948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wLzvexYXYh3NPW8R7QwPPTsbYE86j6PZz3s6Bj9uqEJ0IQEhoZZmJI5pVhOBrRzxP4nz8GhLU2vo6VLGws0JlkhwoC3L6nmT6BMNTzLWlw6vDhq8jb9AyR9g-KaGEP4JE_2s8-JEVgm8bpOE7g9n51uO0QErcG0uxfVRFlh5GwrsMFKtzv2bGyA-leJr/s320/PXL_20240308_172323948.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-18406718142885442452024-03-05T21:37:00.002-05:002024-03-05T21:37:15.456-05:00Dune: Part Two<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Dune_Part_Two_poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="384" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Dune_Part_Two_poster.jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s successful 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s
sci-fi classic, <i>Dune: Part Two</i> manages, improbably, to surpass it. Aesthetically
breathtaking and powerfully acted, it avoids the first film’s second-half lag.
Though ten minutes longer, <i>Part Two</i> feels like a shorter film thanks to
more even pacing and plenty to occupy the audience’s attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Advances
in filmmaking technology have made what would have been revolutionary years ago
seem commonplace today, but even by these jaded standards, <i>Dune: Part Two</i>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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, <i>Dune: Part Two </i>and its predecessor have shown that it is possible to
have your cake and eat it too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-22758434896839124682023-12-22T15:00:00.000-05:002023-12-22T15:00:01.973-05:00Poke One<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83HhvIqUJWstrWRkeRqXTjdVxaTNVIN6d4AdXnDtsMlcCWK5myy2mRyRATUXcNDmctDbj3wy-RLwNkZN651ZiyKNkLy777GaKfh2IYt2Ix5OQE_ruZjvVAvpZeELsqjyW2EGE224a5_Eg2gwrTkmcxUXH2BizXaDE01eSaEca5INsCrYhIYh39dGeSg4_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83HhvIqUJWstrWRkeRqXTjdVxaTNVIN6d4AdXnDtsMlcCWK5myy2mRyRATUXcNDmctDbj3wy-RLwNkZN651ZiyKNkLy777GaKfh2IYt2Ix5OQE_ruZjvVAvpZeELsqjyW2EGE224a5_Eg2gwrTkmcxUXH2BizXaDE01eSaEca5INsCrYhIYh39dGeSg4_" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
4835 West Wendover Avenue in Jamestown, <a href="https://www.pokeonenc.com/">Poke One</a> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjshtTpOfK3MHqryjUZNYd3BAMCsiDBAVhJ8Kxa91iTRzmTV5IPUgOQ_lZjbrxCGzMSNFYbPWg8ExIOVp6ZdTD30ftHgrWUknzubLyBvtHTqZ8Y-WVIO-NJ1JgvU4-m-VMfHsAEtLtgGSf6R_Ff9frEDdnP_ZNly7pv5hiCodLaulrE2M11RWWXIF6cl1/s4080/PXL_20231219_230933843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjshtTpOfK3MHqryjUZNYd3BAMCsiDBAVhJ8Kxa91iTRzmTV5IPUgOQ_lZjbrxCGzMSNFYbPWg8ExIOVp6ZdTD30ftHgrWUknzubLyBvtHTqZ8Y-WVIO-NJ1JgvU4-m-VMfHsAEtLtgGSf6R_Ff9frEDdnP_ZNly7pv5hiCodLaulrE2M11RWWXIF6cl1/s320/PXL_20231219_230933843.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Poke One
may not be an innovator, but being able to provide fresh, tasty food quickly
makes it a welcome addition nevertheless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-35911965718850802912023-12-18T17:06:00.002-05:002023-12-18T17:06:18.886-05:00Qinji Hawaiian BBQ & Ramen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjupVqrrow-XDZ7zfj_r89rWGxX9vCZ-k3hXUXhP9VHdxnduZYM-9S_xBYpaGULJuhCWlAVwKY5mNuZGn2bDL-uu3pNmGMkAL-W1mKG0-qOMbuGnf60RU9U0yPDzCxcZxhSW9kYaUZOYR5Holn-KLSLTyAzpSV3qmLlhAbS8IdGa33HTuR1uomI52Q2ALOv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjupVqrrow-XDZ7zfj_r89rWGxX9vCZ-k3hXUXhP9VHdxnduZYM-9S_xBYpaGULJuhCWlAVwKY5mNuZGn2bDL-uu3pNmGMkAL-W1mKG0-qOMbuGnf60RU9U0yPDzCxcZxhSW9kYaUZOYR5Holn-KLSLTyAzpSV3qmLlhAbS8IdGa33HTuR1uomI52Q2ALOv" width="311" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Located at
2224 Golden Gate Drive in the Golden Gate Shopping Center in Greensboro, <a href="https://order.qinjigreensboro.com/">Qinji HawaiianBBQ and Ramen</a> 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.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfSBaUN4YSKRj_zBiiW8NPKSU-odMMFES0KQa6xdUvGJRMrqQiZseZfE9qAPfADXxQHv5aeFKVx22zyAte3xfHKrzd5r1xj0yuMmJyzfraUhcRR0QH7xklvdGBKjSP_O7WfI6LdLyRWrs0Cg9EtOwZ1wAz-JK4xy2BtkCbE4S2z3NfHLqSbiSop7tt3ti/s4080/PXL_20231216_232943704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfSBaUN4YSKRj_zBiiW8NPKSU-odMMFES0KQa6xdUvGJRMrqQiZseZfE9qAPfADXxQHv5aeFKVx22zyAte3xfHKrzd5r1xj0yuMmJyzfraUhcRR0QH7xklvdGBKjSP_O7WfI6LdLyRWrs0Cg9EtOwZ1wAz-JK4xy2BtkCbE4S2z3NfHLqSbiSop7tt3ti/s320/PXL_20231216_232943704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1lsNrgZqdkRz67kBmDk8Ih20QvfGZnuJBdal2co6M2c3brk-EozXT_ctI8VGBaMPWfpg_4rDkb-HhASqVFU_a_846iF_VfkBblMMv_DfkWeZ4V8lAbijzCLOQd-cdXTcawRxO1U_2JmyufpeRpRPAmwOX_dRjgIsarvTvdc8f7fBAJadfX73mIhNKDnG/s4080/PXL_20231216_233059863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1lsNrgZqdkRz67kBmDk8Ih20QvfGZnuJBdal2co6M2c3brk-EozXT_ctI8VGBaMPWfpg_4rDkb-HhASqVFU_a_846iF_VfkBblMMv_DfkWeZ4V8lAbijzCLOQd-cdXTcawRxO1U_2JmyufpeRpRPAmwOX_dRjgIsarvTvdc8f7fBAJadfX73mIhNKDnG/s320/PXL_20231216_233059863.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<br />
<br />
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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-62103113598985815772023-12-18T16:32:00.002-05:002023-12-18T16:32:35.888-05:00The PepperMill Cafe<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxvGDiROD3ChyWDVUwrjDCuuZJYSK1Muw_F6dioKRGBAGVe_JfhB5jXeWBlNqzdWPXsrpJoU1O5YFznjq-eEw1Na8qOwGYhEZvks_VQd-JwYPUTC-d14Xj9BRSKbYZDHOmS7m99Gw0vWCHAYA64w68nqLDB-hpn-Ar_wrDzb8jS16ZlDScat7aEifGt1sJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="465" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxvGDiROD3ChyWDVUwrjDCuuZJYSK1Muw_F6dioKRGBAGVe_JfhB5jXeWBlNqzdWPXsrpJoU1O5YFznjq-eEw1Na8qOwGYhEZvks_VQd-JwYPUTC-d14Xj9BRSKbYZDHOmS7m99Gw0vWCHAYA64w68nqLDB-hpn-Ar_wrDzb8jS16ZlDScat7aEifGt1sJ" width="283" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Located at
2600 South Main Street in High Point, <a href="https://www.peppermillcafe.com/home.html">The PepperMill Café</a> 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.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN9b4mLpR0M4h2q241x75Ugu0kJ4oM8Q-uKMZxTatJiT16ykob6Hy7zsTLnv9eu8Uc3WmB16uaUMlVT7Crn5RSjE6sUwloMJnlJwx3_aS7jTTFI1dLj0Ln10wXEYJt7R0gUcA4HwDVDkNzwcOyQcT9P5-poyc1qlxA8wtwUcyuRf1dh34gqEK47XUs49l/s4080/PXL_20231216_153729131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN9b4mLpR0M4h2q241x75Ugu0kJ4oM8Q-uKMZxTatJiT16ykob6Hy7zsTLnv9eu8Uc3WmB16uaUMlVT7Crn5RSjE6sUwloMJnlJwx3_aS7jTTFI1dLj0Ln10wXEYJt7R0gUcA4HwDVDkNzwcOyQcT9P5-poyc1qlxA8wtwUcyuRf1dh34gqEK47XUs49l/s320/PXL_20231216_153729131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I don’t
know how the lunch offerings measure up, but for a sit-down breakfast, The
PepperMill Café is a rock-solid option.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-83512907127993643042023-12-09T18:19:00.004-05:002023-12-09T18:19:55.844-05:00Sedgefield Bagels & Deli<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigYU0J0vszLfjHLDm28uM_KjY1YrdT5dUHJ6UZPyDgLfjTc9tgbIZz2PAtn3KS3E5JreVxNZAV7_ecWaMCBjeWmYixWwN4jdS2o-meeQavHtcVc8iTkk3_SsqtMDaCBVJTgEDxq_03PeXDnGSLPli5EYSk3arz9OYECqJnHbYn2Wy54vvHCgZEcuSmdseK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="344" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigYU0J0vszLfjHLDm28uM_KjY1YrdT5dUHJ6UZPyDgLfjTc9tgbIZz2PAtn3KS3E5JreVxNZAV7_ecWaMCBjeWmYixWwN4jdS2o-meeQavHtcVc8iTkk3_SsqtMDaCBVJTgEDxq_03PeXDnGSLPli5EYSk3arz9OYECqJnHbYn2Wy54vvHCgZEcuSmdseK" width="280" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This
Sedgefield shopping center spot has been home to a number of eateries over the
years, and the recently-opened <a href="https://oakridgebagels.square.site/">Sedgefield Bagels & Deli</a> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUNpUdJS7IHCTTjUOzoiQUbnEr0xaiCzLpGqPamrLK_50EESnbt3Sf_p2gUdInCbpXmqKv2GkTLoRQOS0MDHPXu9rRX-ii3eJ8oAhPR3IwT3aOcG3qEWtpDqclSINpijqhyGrsCgkp8NvJaUre4L7NhYdpnhX-aSTB6Tz8XZbWFaASCdeZObth1jgM4nE/s4080/PXL_20231209_150815470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUNpUdJS7IHCTTjUOzoiQUbnEr0xaiCzLpGqPamrLK_50EESnbt3Sf_p2gUdInCbpXmqKv2GkTLoRQOS0MDHPXu9rRX-ii3eJ8oAhPR3IwT3aOcG3qEWtpDqclSINpijqhyGrsCgkp8NvJaUre4L7NhYdpnhX-aSTB6Tz8XZbWFaASCdeZObth1jgM4nE/s320/PXL_20231209_150815470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-74611990389165096922023-11-20T17:51:00.004-05:002023-11-20T17:51:47.799-05:00Poke Dream<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
274 Eastchester Drive #178 in High Point, Poke Dream offers poke and Japanese
cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11 a.m. (noon on weekends) to
9:30 p.m. daily. Online ordering is available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">From
gourmet cheesecake to now poke and ramen, this plaza on Eastchester is
certainly getting interesting. Poke Dream is housed in a former Chinese takeout
spot, and like its predecessor, it offers little seating. There, however, is
where the similarities end. Bright, clean, and inviting, Poke Dream boasts
friendly staff and an impressive menu. The appetizer offerings include various
salads and dumplings while the poke bowl options let you fully customize your
own (though the seven signature bowls are well worth investigating if you’re
feeling indecisive). Moreover, Poke Dream offers ramen, a rarity for High
Point. There’s even mochi ice cream for those who want a change-of-pace
dessert.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I put in
an online order for a seafood bowl (salmon, tuna, shrimp, crab salad, cucumber,
carrot edamame, sweet soy, and spicy mayo) with a few apps and sides (crab Rangoon,
char siew bao, and spicy Thai noodles) to share. Online ordering was convenient,
and food was ready when it was supposed to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKsnBYUfkL_ugxcMrOJvmBjRT56pFpCUfDUmegjRWB6bt2qGuuk4MZUEjZ1vv-ZN0xtoJk2SnVMt9Un5CIKnig9pzqr5hK-EPYj36L5KhKm_8ouqoXX7PD7NEftpI6achCV1w5poanjaB6RJqDeEXiA-elaJiOinATGF3gA0WCh6pJFqg05wIh7ffAt5u/s4080/PXL_20231115_233936174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKsnBYUfkL_ugxcMrOJvmBjRT56pFpCUfDUmegjRWB6bt2qGuuk4MZUEjZ1vv-ZN0xtoJk2SnVMt9Un5CIKnig9pzqr5hK-EPYj36L5KhKm_8ouqoXX7PD7NEftpI6achCV1w5poanjaB6RJqDeEXiA-elaJiOinATGF3gA0WCh6pJFqg05wIh7ffAt5u/s320/PXL_20231115_233936174.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My poke
bowl was a definite winner. The ingredients were fresh, the sauces imparted
plenty of flavor, and everything mixed well. The portion size is certainly respectable though the fact that Ninja Café offers up more for less money with
miso included calls into question its value.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Poke Bowl
made a decidedly positive first impression, and I look forward to trying the
ramen as the weather cools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-66158226526587599742023-11-20T17:34:00.001-05:002023-11-20T17:34:03.991-05:00The Marvels<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9YWzd4a63q64cyH7X6HxjF4cXNj7YnfQJ-3KTgIAQ9yS10mDcG9g6uMwdm0RQmj4Pb73T1WJ1Cvxcxuz7CtrbN4U6t-twqZHMZr1BFHZIVAOELIZ-66Rs7GPJFNZoMKo2sn5wNKRtUH0AfaX7lvH6wG3RA3ywrNm2KiigFwEKpMqMHm0hKh1uxL3Tf-dk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="238" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9YWzd4a63q64cyH7X6HxjF4cXNj7YnfQJ-3KTgIAQ9yS10mDcG9g6uMwdm0RQmj4Pb73T1WJ1Cvxcxuz7CtrbN4U6t-twqZHMZr1BFHZIVAOELIZ-66Rs7GPJFNZoMKo2sn5wNKRtUH0AfaX7lvH6wG3RA3ywrNm2KiigFwEKpMqMHm0hKh1uxL3Tf-dk" width="162" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As the
Kree home world Hala lays dying, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) seeks quantum bands
that will allow her to create jump points that tear open the fabric of space
and harness the power of the sun. She finds one, but the other is held on Earth
by Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel. Spymaster Nick Fury (Samuel L.
Jackson) operates the space-based defense agency S.A.B.E.R. and sends Monica
Rambeau (Teyonah Paris) to investigate a jump point while Carol “Captain Marvel”
Danvers (Brie Larson), Kamala’s idol and Monica’s estranged surrogate aunt,
tracks Dar-Benn. When Monica approaches the jump point, she, Carol, and Kamala experience
a quantum entanglement that causes them to switch places when they use their light-based
powers. Amid this complication, Dar-Benn’s relentless pursuit of the other band,
and Kamala’s worrying parents, the three marvels will have to find a way to
work together.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Sometime
during the past few years, “Marvel fatigue” metamorphosized from the sour
grapes of elitists to a phenomenon much harder to deny. Delays, declining
quality, runtime bloat, weird tonal shifts, and a general lack of vision have
hampered MCU projects as of late. Add to that the lack of publicity stemming
from recent Hollywood strikes, and <i>The Marvels</i> never really stood a
chance. That makes it a victim of circumstance, undeserving of either anemic
box office or critical scathing though even under more favorable conditions, it
would still skew more adequate than impressive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Director
Nia DaCosta (who co-wrote the script), best known for indie debut <i>Little
Woods</i> and the <i>Candyman</i> remake, seems an odd choice of director here,
but it’s hard to fault her taut, fluid directorial work here. The titular leads
play well off of one-another. In the <i>Ms. Marvel</i> streaming series,
Vellani played Kamala with hyperactive enthusiasm, and while she starts in that
mode here, she’s given more opportunities for depth and nuance here. Monica,
dealing with the trauma of her mother’s death and Carol’s prolonged absence, is
often thrust into being the responsible adult in the room, and Paris captures
her frustration well. Larson, long unjustly derided as wooden, continues to be
a more-than-capable Captain Marvel, and even when the material is below his
ability, Samuel L. Jackson is never bad as Nick Fury.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">On the
other hand, Ashton, a newcomer, is utterly forgettable as Dar-Benn (following,
sadly, in the way that previous films mangled the character’s predecessor,
Ronan). At 105 minutes, <i>The Marvels</i> is mercifully tauter than recent MCU
outings, but it also can’t help but feel somewhat disposable. The convoluted plot
certainly won’t resonate. Flerkens (alien cats that can spawn a mouth full of
tentacles) are back and feature prominently, but while they represent the “good”
kind of crazy, the same cannot be said for an utterly contrived musical
sequence that seems shoved in to give Larson a reason to sing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For those
who have felt themselves straining to maintain interest in recent Marvel
projects, <i>The Marvels’</i> lightness may be a refreshing change of pace.
However, one can hope that it is but a stop on the elevator ride back up, not
the new top floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-49024745023552217042023-11-01T19:55:00.000-04:002023-11-01T19:55:15.846-04:00Angry Troll Brewing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxEKj7LI_8BYt7Q4BlfMUMlUJwyjE-9Lu-AW9WvO8SrJzl1iHVKsb8_nR-AKJ9e-2K_lN056dIVVbwdRpoRg5fZf7peboMr5kxMRJHftrIQ1-qLUYh0r1apMEpF5aQzUZ0U2OiiuoEdu1NkuzYa0uv3w0cSehQCLCnj_ZttASjJ1wz4lBZE59LWVW5TDe2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="155" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxEKj7LI_8BYt7Q4BlfMUMlUJwyjE-9Lu-AW9WvO8SrJzl1iHVKsb8_nR-AKJ9e-2K_lN056dIVVbwdRpoRg5fZf7peboMr5kxMRJHftrIQ1-qLUYh0r1apMEpF5aQzUZ0U2OiiuoEdu1NkuzYa0uv3w0cSehQCLCnj_ZttASjJ1wz4lBZE59LWVW5TDe2" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
222 East Main Street in Elkin, <a href="https://angrytrollbrewing.com/">Angry Troll Brewing</a> is a brewhouse that serves
beers made in-house and pub fare. It is open 4-11 Monday and Thursday, 11:30-midnight
Friday and Saturday, 11:30-11 on Sunday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Outdoor
seating is available. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Angry
Troll is essentially Foothills in the actual foothills in that it’s a spacious
brewpub offering a solid lineup of taps and better-than-average bar food. It’s
housed in a historic brick building with plenty of room. Despite the size,
Angry Troll does keep busy, especially on game days, which can lead to a
(thankfully not unreasonable) wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The menu
here is about what you’d expect: fried apps, wings, nachos, salads, sandwiches,
burgers, and pizzas. Add to that eight in-house beers (plus others available in
bottles/cans), and you’ll likely find something that you like. Our personable
and hard-working server, Virginia, was kind enough to offer a few suggestions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It is in
the quality of the food where Angry Troll stands apart. Fried pickles were cut
into thin chips perfect for dipping. A BBQ chicken sandwich offered tender meat,
lots of cheese, crispy bacon, and a slathering of aptly-named Sweet Heat sauce.
It was a beast to eat, but it was worth every messy bite. My wife opted for a
Southern Comfort burger featuring local beef, house-made pimento, and an onion
ring, and it too proved tasty and satisfying.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIEMNFrcIS0xtV4Cg2cwdmUNlhULeqh1fErV2HooFL8wiujbvb7NmTJbZI45U56sJyKc0LUr2eFIgDhddqBC9hJO6QIfOSPgxg3kDILFOG4ufsZedBVOPxDCnlsRIrdzuJ76jlRgvLe7rKiIi2qUNZP7CdxWSNuAYnmyYZXUVa4lBKbkLptTYMLGrI3Vy/s4080/PXL_20231008_180958954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIEMNFrcIS0xtV4Cg2cwdmUNlhULeqh1fErV2HooFL8wiujbvb7NmTJbZI45U56sJyKc0LUr2eFIgDhddqBC9hJO6QIfOSPgxg3kDILFOG4ufsZedBVOPxDCnlsRIrdzuJ76jlRgvLe7rKiIi2qUNZP7CdxWSNuAYnmyYZXUVa4lBKbkLptTYMLGrI3Vy/s320/PXL_20231008_180958954.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUZe_X7tMA-MU7si9fxq-tea526xOfJd20HBn80I45qOY5cWRAawKN4r5KVc4PVc7GTqEtbMNL4c018Xfi_oNyBF4TbvkLukNTVKUqTxvXJRXqqutVjqxEJsJjt6uaAAwcOkgW0_fnG2iEPfKLVxgXM3qeC_x0fe1Z8TdaD8y9mIgccbJqR6ojHwF9Fgg/s4080/PXL_20231008_180952709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUZe_X7tMA-MU7si9fxq-tea526xOfJd20HBn80I45qOY5cWRAawKN4r5KVc4PVc7GTqEtbMNL4c018Xfi_oNyBF4TbvkLukNTVKUqTxvXJRXqqutVjqxEJsJjt6uaAAwcOkgW0_fnG2iEPfKLVxgXM3qeC_x0fe1Z8TdaD8y9mIgccbJqR6ojHwF9Fgg/s320/PXL_20231008_180952709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPBcXHeAOT-yR-wECaZwZaT3WXiCITtN9vaxahk79afoUhfOCwqcTJXkiOa7ps3AVeDdjgqOmkpu5-0LP1NNd1XgtSj8W3ibGw3hYYqZJ5sM9dq38GtjfdqifFNsGoTscPEh8vqOV9qSnY9pgDfjT-l3fEvhYS2RshhqwH1SrJisFk5WI2AZWN7GkE5vB/s4080/PXL_20231008_180454935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPBcXHeAOT-yR-wECaZwZaT3WXiCITtN9vaxahk79afoUhfOCwqcTJXkiOa7ps3AVeDdjgqOmkpu5-0LP1NNd1XgtSj8W3ibGw3hYYqZJ5sM9dq38GtjfdqifFNsGoTscPEh8vqOV9qSnY9pgDfjT-l3fEvhYS2RshhqwH1SrJisFk5WI2AZWN7GkE5vB/s320/PXL_20231008_180454935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Prices are
moderate (burgers and sandwiches clock in at $9-$10 without sides), and the
ambiance is casual. It’s a lively atmosphere with TVs everywhere, but it doesn’t
get headache-inducingly loud.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">All told,
Angry Troll delivers well-executed food in a laid-back setting. It’s well worth
a stop if you’re out Elkin way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-28676968692172104162023-09-16T17:51:00.000-04:002023-09-16T17:51:10.385-04:00Justified: City Primeval<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM2ShV2gPc2aQEsCqBG5gN1AGw9MDAPSyxopXTJ7PmJNmAO3SGwOv0W4jx6pTV4lZTRuKQjJAiDZrQUXihDgv_fTQkVcDXLHuuRS5palK9YuUqDflGY-JhA0BzJOue4ixoJ1hXgYi4e-n-gRMTo4W-BqqbJmYl2WqP2Z3CTLQC5-SgXZ3unJQGUVNnvT8P" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="275" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM2ShV2gPc2aQEsCqBG5gN1AGw9MDAPSyxopXTJ7PmJNmAO3SGwOv0W4jx6pTV4lZTRuKQjJAiDZrQUXihDgv_fTQkVcDXLHuuRS5palK9YuUqDflGY-JhA0BzJOue4ixoJ1hXgYi4e-n-gRMTo4W-BqqbJmYl2WqP2Z3CTLQC5-SgXZ3unJQGUVNnvT8P" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Years
after leaving Kentucky for Florida, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy
Olyphant) is taking his daughter Willa (Vivian Olyphant, Timothy’s actual
daughter) on a road trip when an encounter with a pair of dumb criminals
prompts a detour to Detroit. There, Raylan butts heads with corrupt judge Alvin
Guy (Keith David) and tough defense attorney Carolyn Wilder (Aunjanue Ellis).
When Guy is murdered, Raylan joins Detroit police to catch the killer, who
turns out to be Wilder’s client Clement Mansell (Boyd Holbrook), the Oklahoma
Wildman. Things get even more complicated when Clement enlists his drug-addled
girlfriend/accomplice Sandy (Adelaide Clemens) to dispose of the murder weapon,
their friend Sweety (Vondie Curtis-Hall) sees an opportunity, and a group of
Albanian gangsters comes seeking revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">City
Primeval: High Noon</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
in Detroit was the first Elmore Leonard novel I ever read and remains one of my
favorites. It draws parallels between both criminal and cop who are ill-suited
for a changing world and would be much more at home settling things with a duel
in the streets. The cop of that book was Raymond Cruz (played in a cameo here
by Paul Calderon, reprising his <i>Out of Sight</i> role), but substituting
Raylan, he of the cowboy hat and shoot-first attitude, makes sense on paper. In
practice, it’s an odd fit. The series as a whole definitely has its moments,
but the inevitable comparisons to its inspirations (the aforementioned novel
and <i>Justified’s</i> original, Kentucky-based run) do it no favors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For
starters, most of the original series’ non-Raylan cast is absent (sans a few final
episode cameos), and Raylan himself often feels sidelined. This is justifiable
(pun unintended) to an extent (he’s in unfamiliar territory and thus must tamp
down his bravado), but the elder Olyphant’s talents feel wasted for how often
he is asked to look bewildered. Whereas the original show could get quite dark,
it also had uproariously funny dialogue and plenty of dumb criminals to mock.
Here, we’re entreated to a fairly grim world, and while there are still pockets
of humor to be found, there’s nary a Dewey Crowe in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Even
though the <i>Justified</i> elements feel decidedly off, the creative team (including
original series director Michael Dinner) did a commendable job of contemporizing
the novel. As with the book-to-show transformation of Boyd Crowder, Mansell
here is a less boorish and more charismatic figure. He’s still a violent,
impetuous killer, extortionist, and thief, but he’s also an aspiring musician,
and Holbrook plays him with aplomb. Wilder’s character is also greatly expanded,
and while the book version came across as a self-assured street-dumb lawyer
playing with fire, Ellis’s take is smarter, hardier, and more sympathetic.
Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the show’s writing is Marcus “Sweety” Sweeton.
In both book and show, he’s a bar owner with criminal connections affiliated
with Mansell and reluctantly caught between him and the police. Here, however,
he’s also a veteran musician, a father figure to Carolyn, and a man who sees
all the angles. Curtis-Hall gives him both a palpable sense of regret and a
quiet dignity. For as strong as these performances are, however, Vivian
Olyphant and Joseph Anthony Bird (as Sweety’s partner), struggle at times to
keep up with the more experienced cast around them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">If <i>The
Many Saints of Newark</i> is the nadir of beloved series continuations (though
that was a prequel), then <i>Justified: City Primeval</i> benefits from not
leaving nearly as bad a taste in series fans’ mouths. It’s solidly made, but it
does more to remind us of what we’ve missed rather than filling the void.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-35469822025922931152023-09-16T17:10:00.000-04:002023-09-16T17:10:08.563-04:00PiesOn. Pizza Co.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBMZtXHKUykXo-fFYN88P5Vma0ibcTh6xIrruEHfXc73-j2D4u-gRKB4G036y8iWFp_ZWvnzpzVXgaMQttuqj04eX0mIz-oIR0sDTL8qeYSt-PM0l3TVH8PyRDiiF9z7T-E0V279gHEUkNA6f_ErHluI6O2u0IfowFfV9Eci0Szvzr6yNMMW9x2AdKNVPj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1058" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBMZtXHKUykXo-fFYN88P5Vma0ibcTh6xIrruEHfXc73-j2D4u-gRKB4G036y8iWFp_ZWvnzpzVXgaMQttuqj04eX0mIz-oIR0sDTL8qeYSt-PM0l3TVH8PyRDiiF9z7T-E0V279gHEUkNA6f_ErHluI6O2u0IfowFfV9Eci0Szvzr6yNMMW9x2AdKNVPj" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
275 North Elm Street in the Stock + Grain Assembly food hall in Downtown High
Point, <a href="https://stockandgrainhp.com/merchant/pieson-pizza-co/">PiesOn</a> offers New York-style pizza, appetizers, sandwiches, and
desserts. It opens at 11 daily and closes at 9 Monday-Wednesday, 10 on
Thursday, 11 on Friday and Saturday, and 7 on Sunday. Online ordering is
available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">PiesOn’s
unofficial motto should be “Pizza by people who know what they are doing.” The
owner, Stephen, also owns Times Square Pizza in Lexington while his wife’s
family owns Elizabeth’s Pizza in High Point. There’s a pizza pedigree here
going back generations, and it shows in the final product: quality toppings,
good sauce, and a crust that is neither burned nor tastes like cardboard. As a
New Jersey native, I often ratchet down my pizza expectations. Here, I don’t
have to. I’d go as far as to say that PiesOn. is the one Stock + Grain establishment
that is completely worth the food hall’s inflated prices that I often grumble about (12-inch pies are
$18-$19).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While
competent execution would be a strong lure in its own right, PiesOn. also
benefits from a tantalizing and creative menu. You can still go classic (pizza
margherita, a meatball parm sub, and wings are among the offerings) here, but
for those looking to mix things up, PiesOn. also offers Havana-topped
(ham/cheese/pickles/mustard) fries, a brie/honey/fig/thyme white pizza, and
even an inverted pizza. Several of the menu items are Stranger Things
shout-outs (the meaty Vecna and the Hawaiian Surfer Boy), and there are
vegetarian options as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiaArJ209by8pFihmX0141wNwaexCXFT9iFNuFp0TiMmrhG1fc89bNyMV-Y20ETclETVXeiqOIM-c9amO4yjz-OmZ4WJXwttQxfZgz9DI_8KDluWGDf5LhGlnVXM2SdN7ovi5g-ulqWvlfajMftcBcqbCDw8dR-523gBGmAY6r6gh2j6Hr3UFJT2tbWDB/s4080/PXL_20230908_222838413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiaArJ209by8pFihmX0141wNwaexCXFT9iFNuFp0TiMmrhG1fc89bNyMV-Y20ETclETVXeiqOIM-c9amO4yjz-OmZ4WJXwttQxfZgz9DI_8KDluWGDf5LhGlnVXM2SdN7ovi5g-ulqWvlfajMftcBcqbCDw8dR-523gBGmAY6r6gh2j6Hr3UFJT2tbWDB/s320/PXL_20230908_222838413.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-WMAkhNsJhmN146t90aCfQOxhST3060zKS_mBEKRU9LS2qZAJs9ivxHSbhCsQ_umUe3zyEEqaj9F65VEE-VknwbhhkJ4p6spskfcfrJj-iN3cvEyaqwEedxRvHYePTgThQKq-lDg8DZXrgV_RQwdZ7BGSI016fKeOS1tn-SvpEr_42gsweCVQbyMj9LV/s4080/PXL_20230908_222833563.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-WMAkhNsJhmN146t90aCfQOxhST3060zKS_mBEKRU9LS2qZAJs9ivxHSbhCsQ_umUe3zyEEqaj9F65VEE-VknwbhhkJ4p6spskfcfrJj-iN3cvEyaqwEedxRvHYePTgThQKq-lDg8DZXrgV_RQwdZ7BGSI016fKeOS1tn-SvpEr_42gsweCVQbyMj9LV/s320/PXL_20230908_222833563.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For our
first visit, my wife and I opted for the Seek & Destroy (spicy soppressata/grape
tomato/chili oil) and the Don Dom (white pizza with roasted garlic cream sauce,
mortadella, arugula, pistachio, and burrata). Both were served fresh and were very
flavorful. The chili oil wasn’t burn-your-mouth intense, but it added a welcome
kick. The garlic cream/arugula combo here is right up there with the Let It
Ride (shallot cream/collards) at Sticks n Stones – the pistachio adds a hint of
sweetness. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There are
other places around that offer perfectly decent pizza for less, but if I want pizza that
really impresses, I may have to make PiesOn. my go-to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-86167060560791068372023-07-31T15:53:00.003-04:002023-07-31T15:53:25.926-04:00Element Gastropub<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqHDETIlV7-CEI0_UrSr4JJKxeTKYWVlroewEt6gRjXflcM2UaJcFhCx3BoG8VSkQChBjX9SQhdm98BC66bqFF3mWrUJCJ_w8oYBbPxLOT5u2oqCYREzWhzj59ozfNUT2AF04XkLcC-tR88VKrRITWqFIMYyxm8KfD6pTVp5FeeKtEiJtEFOQ6dUElrJYs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="144" data-original-width="400" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqHDETIlV7-CEI0_UrSr4JJKxeTKYWVlroewEt6gRjXflcM2UaJcFhCx3BoG8VSkQChBjX9SQhdm98BC66bqFF3mWrUJCJ_w8oYBbPxLOT5u2oqCYREzWhzj59ozfNUT2AF04XkLcC-tR88VKrRITWqFIMYyxm8KfD6pTVp5FeeKtEiJtEFOQ6dUElrJYs" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
421 Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh, <a href="https://elementgastropub.com/">Element Gastropub</a> serves vegan
cuisine, craft beers, and cocktails from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and
11-10 Saturday and Sunday. Food specials change regularly and there’s a brunch
on weekends. Online ordering, outdoor seating, group reservations, and catering
are available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Conceptually,
a plant-based gastropub screams “trying to be trendy,” but Element has been
alive and thriving long enough to evade charges of faddishness. Its location — across
from the City Center Marriot and a short walk from the Convention Center – is both
a blessing and a curse: its proximate to everything but also in the thick of a
restaurant-heavy area. Granted, none offers exactly what Element does, but unless
you are specifically seeking vegan fare, it may not top your list.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Should you
forgo the patio, Element offers an interior that suits its concept well: green
trim (for the plant-based menu) and a “beer”iodic table graphic that add to a
casual (read: seat yourself), comfortable atmosphere. There’s also a wall of
taps, which looks impressive but may not include every draft advertised (it
took my wife three beer requests to find one they weren’t out of).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Element’s
menu is classic pub fare – apps, salads, burgers, and sandwiches – though the
specials may get a bit more adventurous. My wife and I opted for a Carolina BBQ
sandwich and a Nashville Hot Chickn sandwich, respectively, both with fries as
our side.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iZ09fNYIstLMjJXrcjR-15JfCTvVaH0yHFPpEgAktgpmYQ-GNM1rSXFT6-BLeDa6m_HsO247U8-Dnb8e384DbqgSrXUARQdwI_aDHKMxnAljgqA0_yTI6E07ho7zDn7C6J-cU2sDpz89yJB8SdY2ovRTsZzh_uqUYFoITMApJXLPqWvdIgEajebE2cwG/s4080/PXL_20230729_174424855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iZ09fNYIstLMjJXrcjR-15JfCTvVaH0yHFPpEgAktgpmYQ-GNM1rSXFT6-BLeDa6m_HsO247U8-Dnb8e384DbqgSrXUARQdwI_aDHKMxnAljgqA0_yTI6E07ho7zDn7C6J-cU2sDpz89yJB8SdY2ovRTsZzh_uqUYFoITMApJXLPqWvdIgEajebE2cwG/s320/PXL_20230729_174424855.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4_Q3d2ymUXRuhcZSvwXdjQWmm6uI2jWHj8u0cX8mz9kckPWfHQgoPgXWNkseviklPjm58Gnw4MnH_6dt3b60JMW4cymIaixha22HM1ZlbR7awaVZHMhZxc4AwkEj6Lm0PbLADp2XSYqPZcXCOE_oN9UdHiaiOqfyknoYklT3xbWSV30ngEgIQA4INGY-/s4080/PXL_20230729_174420011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4_Q3d2ymUXRuhcZSvwXdjQWmm6uI2jWHj8u0cX8mz9kckPWfHQgoPgXWNkseviklPjm58Gnw4MnH_6dt3b60JMW4cymIaixha22HM1ZlbR7awaVZHMhZxc4AwkEj6Lm0PbLADp2XSYqPZcXCOE_oN9UdHiaiOqfyknoYklT3xbWSV30ngEgIQA4INGY-/s320/PXL_20230729_174420011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As other
reviewers noted, the kitchen here is a bit slow. The wait for our food wasn’t
ridiculous, but it was long enough to be noticeable. The fries, however, were
worth it. Element does them in a malt vinegar powder, and they came out
perfectly crisp and addictively good. Ask for a side of ranch, and you’ll get a
delicious, herby (mmm…dill) homemade concoction. The BBQ sandwich will raise
the hackles of smoke-seeking purists, but it was perfectly tasty in its own
right.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In lieu of
a Nashville Hot sandwich, however, I ended up with a plain crispy chickn: no
pickles, no sauce, no heat. The texture – faux meat is often hit-or-miss – was fine,
but flavor was lacking. Our apologetic server offered a replacement, but having
already taken a bite to confirm I wasn’t hallucinating, I opted to simply apply
some Texas Pete. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Element’s atmosphere
and location score points in its favor, and as a meat-eater, I didn’t find
myself missing the real thing eating here. That said, I would probably only
return for the outstanding fries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-70426324738629003122023-07-18T13:17:00.002-04:002023-07-18T13:17:50.570-04:00Ghassan's Fresh Mediterranean Eats<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimrz7kzyt0VGo98H1Q7nOPMaPurqDxAK1D-4gl7r1RjIm8LBAHHGd4gObH6ZNqWe85btySdAOMTJI4_BdAgPNdS9HyQ8WeNARfV9xw2xVmwhYAtHmiyzIs8HB1GO0TBAygKQ898Wsfe8YScrFuMSQd2vcq9CSa4yBMEqwde6MtWKdNfs9kZEaoTQoC15Dh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimrz7kzyt0VGo98H1Q7nOPMaPurqDxAK1D-4gl7r1RjIm8LBAHHGd4gObH6ZNqWe85btySdAOMTJI4_BdAgPNdS9HyQ8WeNARfV9xw2xVmwhYAtHmiyzIs8HB1GO0TBAygKQ898Wsfe8YScrFuMSQd2vcq9CSa4yBMEqwde6MtWKdNfs9kZEaoTQoC15Dh" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
6027 West Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro, <a href="https://ghassans.com/">Ghassan’s</a> offers Mediterranean
cuisine from 11-9 Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays). Online ordering and
catering are available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The newest
location of this Greensboro institution opened recently in the Grandover
Village shopping center near Publix. Those who have been to the Battleground or
Cornwallis locations (or the old Coliseum-area spot) will find few surprises
here. For the uninitiated, Ghassan’s serves up thoroughly average food quickly
and affordably.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Though it
doesn’t boast a huge menu, Ghassan’s offers a fair amount of flexibility. You
can go light with a salad, hummus, or falafel bites, dig into a sandwich or
pita, or load up on a bowl or platter. Meats include spiced chicken, kofte, and
gyro (as well as a steak sub), but there are plenty of vegetarian options as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Seeking a
lighter meal that would still leave me a little left over, I opted for a gyro
pita with zaatar fries and added a side of tabouleh. Online ordering was easy,
and Ghassan’s prices are wallet friendly ($9 for the gyro and a side, $1 more
for the tabouleh). Everything was ready and waiting on a pick-up shelf when I
got there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljSznOtqswhVF2rR_rnm050gLwsK6gi-QiQRFk5DRSUU03VD8uhlxT9Lrq3Mfg-kQ1wb6cEX3pDECrunm7ADvMtzYpr2IyE9R4uK7B5Yzd0safQJPd6-6se-XvaWarDluHEzkrE93P90RvFxWgoVLMiIQuk03GQtVMpbf3ZxGqmo74tKgNDbh-qFVbtQI/s4080/PXL_20230713_233752874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljSznOtqswhVF2rR_rnm050gLwsK6gi-QiQRFk5DRSUU03VD8uhlxT9Lrq3Mfg-kQ1wb6cEX3pDECrunm7ADvMtzYpr2IyE9R4uK7B5Yzd0safQJPd6-6se-XvaWarDluHEzkrE93P90RvFxWgoVLMiIQuk03GQtVMpbf3ZxGqmo74tKgNDbh-qFVbtQI/s320/PXL_20230713_233752874.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For as efficient
and convenient as Ghassan’s is, the food is, on average, merely OK. The zaatar fries
(crispy and nicely seasoned) are quite good, but the tabouleh didn’t distinguish
itself, and the gyro was bland. Unless you are brand-new to the
Greensboro/Jamestown/High Point area and made Ghassan’s your first stop, you’ve
likely had better Mediterranean food elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">All told,
Ghassan’s is a great place to grab a quick and healthy lunch, but if you have
the time to sit down and enjoy your meal, there are stronger contenders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p><br /></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-26328989866736641262023-07-17T22:18:00.002-04:002023-07-17T22:18:45.399-04:00Asteroid City<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbM3hDyXN-ZzwP89Nghta59d5FfFA0hgHVKqisLUuUqbUFi5L2XlijxC42c5y0WUC8io6hi0YxojFW9YjmHMdOiLi-yy7x4khsR-hnKjgZHcyssgEbslNlgjOLOrZ18yK0sSIs1MyfSNOkp0e8QqCznPWqWZSyixUjiAuVxrGduVZ-ZLYnKKSuX8gHzJkC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbM3hDyXN-ZzwP89Nghta59d5FfFA0hgHVKqisLUuUqbUFi5L2XlijxC42c5y0WUC8io6hi0YxojFW9YjmHMdOiLi-yy7x4khsR-hnKjgZHcyssgEbslNlgjOLOrZ18yK0sSIs1MyfSNOkp0e8QqCznPWqWZSyixUjiAuVxrGduVZ-ZLYnKKSuX8gHzJkC" width="162" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In the
1950s, a television host (Bryan Cranston) introduces an adaptation of the play <i>Asteroid
City</i> by esteemed playwright Conrad Earp (Edward Norton). Set at a military science
installation in the desert, the play is centered on a Junior Stargazer
convention to honor the inventive wizardry of a group of teen geniuses. They
are joined by their parents - the emotionally numb war photographer and recent
widower Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman), the famous yet guarded actress Midge
Campbell (Scarlett Johansson), and others – as well as June Douglas’s (Maya
Hawke) elementary school class, singing cowboy Montana (Rupert Friend) and his
band, the astronomer Dr. Hickenlooper (Tilda Swinton), Augie’s disgruntled
father-in-law Stanley (Tom Hanks), a motel manager (Steve Carell), and General
Gibson (Jeffrey Wright), who is overseeing the convention. Another arrival
(from the skies) upends the status quo for everyone. Meanwhile, amid scenes
from the play, the playwright and lead actor foster a relationship while the
director (Adrien Brody) loses one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Wes
Anderson’s latest film bears many of his trademarks: precocious yet alienated
kids, nostalgia, a huge ensemble cast, an Alexandre Desplat score, and a
distinctive visual style (the play scenes are in bright, highly saturated color
while the frame story/interludes are in sharp black and white). To this, he
adds hearty doses of retrofuturism, pandemic quarantine metaphors, and metatextual
commentary on the process of creation. It is, like most of Anderson’s oeuvre, divisive
(one person’s artistry is another’s puzzling pretension), and, truth be told,
less than the sum of its parts, but for anyone with any appreciation for
Anderson’s usual tricks, there is still a lot to like here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For
starters, the film handles its insanely talented cast well. Even the smaller
roles are memorable and distinctive (a barely recognizable Carell fills in for
a missing Bill Murray). These include all of the above plus Matt Dillon as a
mechanic of questionable competence and Margot Robbie (barely recognizable as
well) as an actress whose scene was cut. In some cases, the casting gleefully
subverts expectations: Swinton, who so capably portrays an ice queen, is warm
and encouraging as she bonds with the stargazers while the oft-genial Hanks
gives Harrison Ford a run in the grumpiness department. The constant
deadpanning is a source of humor (along with recurring visual puns like a
never-ending police chase and a Looney Tunes-appropriate roadrunner), but
though many characters are exaggerated in one way or another, those with the
greatest presence also have the greatest complexity. Schwartzman plays Augie as
enigmatically detached yet Augie’s actor Jones Hall in his usual anxious
manner, trying desperately to find an “in” into the character. Johansson’s Midge,
the subject of exploitation as well as adulation, is deeply unhappy despite her
fame.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While the quirky
characters and the striking aesthetics are enough to hold our attention, <i>Asteroid
City</i> is narratively underbaked. The circumstances that bore it (COVID
quarantine and its resulting detachment) left an imprint on the production, but
the film never really rises to full-on satire. While the interlude scenes
provide context for the audience, they also rob the play-within-the-movie of
scenes that may potentially help it gel. Perhaps as an overcorrection, the cast
awkwardly chants a mantra at the end. “You can’t wake up if you don’t fall
asleep” isn’t an unworthy message though the delivery leaves something to be
desired.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Asteroid
City</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> will not win
over any Wes Anderson converts and may even test the patience of his fans, but
it is worth seeing for the cast alone. It may not hold up to a lot of scrutiny,
but then again, neither did the Atomic Age sci-fi that it artfully evokes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-60270514872869395782023-07-07T20:45:00.003-04:002023-07-07T20:45:57.416-04:00Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJgTq4gKFKqREW9NLnDqBxoqXN00o_ike-VXk5SQFSTsyqOI9vaPBmBE66dEp3jXFwuzZNtgUEYgvJJXNFu3WDzsecEgpQb938uBpibSwximfDyJdlTzKi4LV9aW7PSQWT-I1RewjCKUUJn0iBGDX46G1WVD5fDTfCVeBVwLUH7yBHKPBbph8bmTWFdOG6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJgTq4gKFKqREW9NLnDqBxoqXN00o_ike-VXk5SQFSTsyqOI9vaPBmBE66dEp3jXFwuzZNtgUEYgvJJXNFu3WDzsecEgpQb938uBpibSwximfDyJdlTzKi4LV9aW7PSQWT-I1RewjCKUUJn0iBGDX46G1WVD5fDTfCVeBVwLUH7yBHKPBbph8bmTWFdOG6=w262-h400" width="262" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">In 1944,
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and fellow archeologist Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) retrieve
half of Archimedes’ Dial, a device believed to reveal fissures in time, from
Nazi scientist Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen). In 1969, a newly retired Jones
receives a visit from Shaw’s daughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), who is
seeking the dial despite the fact that it drove her father mad. Voller is also
in pursuit, and thanks to his contributions to the American space program, he
has CIA protection. Soon, Indy finds himself thrust into adventures he thought
were behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The fifth
and presumably final Indiana Jones film boasts new faces in the director’s
chair (James Mangold, who also co-wrote the script – George Lucas and Steven
Spielberg served as consultants) and among the cast but is otherwise as
throwback as throwback gets. <i>The Dial of Destiny</i> walks a thin line
between satisfying nostalgia and shameless call-back obsession, but despite
its flaws, it’s an entertaining film more times than not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">From Nazi
villains to an overmatched archeology colleague to a Short Roundesque kid
sidekick to a hulking villainous henchman, <i>The Dial of Destiny</i> tries to cram as many of the series staples into one film as it can get away
with. Even Helena – a much younger woman – is suspiciously similar
(quick-thinking, adventurous, and morally questionable at times) to the Indy of earlier films
(albeit with a welcome dose of British snark). Mercifully, in its thirst to ape
the past, the film doesn’t neglect Ford’s age. He’s (convincingly) digitally de-aged
for the opening World War II sequence, but for the bulk of the film, he’s old, grumpy, complaining about various maladies, and (rather poignantly) saddened by
losses. He still dons the hat and cracks the whip, but when Voller (a cold,
bitter antagonist role that Mikkelsen plays with ease) suggests that the world
has passed men like them by, he isn’t exactly wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The lack
of novelty extends beyond characterization and plotting though when it comes to
the film’s production and aesthetics, this is hardly a grievance. The globe-hopping
settings (France to New York to the Mediterranean) are eye-catching, and
Mangold’s polished, fluid direction helps the film feel shorter than its
two-and-a-half-hour runtime. A nonagenarian John Williams provides the score,
and he hasn’t lost his touch. On the other hand, the film’s chase sequences
feel a bit rote and the one true bit of innovation – a climactic battle scene
toward the end made possible via time travel shenanigans – is ridiculous even
by this franchise’s standards.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">If it
truly is the last film in the series (Waller-Bridge’s Helena could easy take up
the mantle), <i>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</i> isn’t exactly a grand
finale. It’s a step up from the much-maligned <i>Kingdom of the Crystal Skull</i>
but lags squarely behind the first and third films. However, it gives Ford a chance
to reprise an iconic role without looking silly doing so, and there is
enough of a classic feel here to give series fans a satisfying note of closure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-91347463005277489282023-07-07T17:28:00.001-04:002023-07-07T17:28:07.474-04:00Kapadokia Grill<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-43BPWxm-2sGNkO_VJoTBrwIBs6Pxb00ymtnBf7eZl5H3Zlb-lakVBthSEbVEYBYIkYEnAGaBCFerKzsubSjItLNImyIhHikcJaizruJvI4ubuSxkjDSpE3saEbmCbuxkWevkWqOvUVj8axvh1951WvWod-MHtgQmE3is6o_dfq4ZmrlxqRCQG4dhgEf9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-43BPWxm-2sGNkO_VJoTBrwIBs6Pxb00ymtnBf7eZl5H3Zlb-lakVBthSEbVEYBYIkYEnAGaBCFerKzsubSjItLNImyIhHikcJaizruJvI4ubuSxkjDSpE3saEbmCbuxkWevkWqOvUVj8axvh1951WvWod-MHtgQmE3is6o_dfq4ZmrlxqRCQG4dhgEf9" width="240" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
5814 West Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro, Kapadokia Grill offers Mediterranean
and Turkish cuisine for lunch and dinner every day except Tuesday. Online
ordering is available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This
building beside the ABC Store in the Sedgefield area has been home to several
eateries over the years, and given the prior tenants, a Turkish restaurant is
definitely something different. Staying power and consistency are long-term
question marks, but Kapadokia Grill has made a very favorable first impression.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For those
well-versed in Mediterranean fare, you’ll find familiar favorites such as kebabs,
falafel, and hummus. However, <a href="https://kapadokiagrill.com/">Kapadokia Grill</a> also offers a few dishes not as
readily available elsewhere. These include gozleme (cheesy flatbread) and
tarator (a beet/yogurt/herb dip). There are plenty of vegetarian options, and
for those with a sweet tooth, baklava and Hershey’s ice cream (a holdover from
the previous tenant).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Hoping to
try a little bit of everything and make our order last for a few meals, we went
with a Kapadokia Sampler (kibbeh, cheese rolls, falafel, tahini), a Mezze
Sampler (any four mezze selections – ours were baba ganoush, spicy red feta,
tabuleh, and dolmas), and a small Doner Kebab (with rice, a
tomato/onion/cabbage salad, pita, and Turkish salsa). I ordered online and
everything was ready by the estimated pickup time. The owners seemed friendly,
and a display case of sides near the register was a reassuring sight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4mxO90Bz0uvX9jG-mpo9JMJPg83-He2pzvM8QgAuI5ns7d8iAqW57chbpZ57K6Nayd_saUcoyjC6B0z9YYrLT0HrzJxBs1Z0Ye8ImDn3eq8T7BInjZw--vW-YX08NDofYy4Fin8BdDS0u7vYKlnQAJMT6Jc6K8y1VIvnYVZUs4hKbzGr4PR0Dq3sMjPR/s4080/PXL_20230706_223647823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4mxO90Bz0uvX9jG-mpo9JMJPg83-He2pzvM8QgAuI5ns7d8iAqW57chbpZ57K6Nayd_saUcoyjC6B0z9YYrLT0HrzJxBs1Z0Ye8ImDn3eq8T7BInjZw--vW-YX08NDofYy4Fin8BdDS0u7vYKlnQAJMT6Jc6K8y1VIvnYVZUs4hKbzGr4PR0Dq3sMjPR/s320/PXL_20230706_223647823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKFGdjadQMgoCriRww25b7-bkyOO0UfzklklpeIqLG1A02P3lzvoLFdT-hDKAL9KX1toFPNF-mp6cjSZ2yzjAU3z4o_ZdhWT5h12hPeli1-4qkBUxJqQoXp6IAsoSvEyyVcIZjMvHHfVlRxbYpRxUJtrmSdncZ4PAMDSNa0OQAIt7_Eutj_m28rvLtAOL/s4080/PXL_20230706_223644698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKFGdjadQMgoCriRww25b7-bkyOO0UfzklklpeIqLG1A02P3lzvoLFdT-hDKAL9KX1toFPNF-mp6cjSZ2yzjAU3z4o_ZdhWT5h12hPeli1-4qkBUxJqQoXp6IAsoSvEyyVcIZjMvHHfVlRxbYpRxUJtrmSdncZ4PAMDSNa0OQAIt7_Eutj_m28rvLtAOL/s320/PXL_20230706_223644698.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5VPSUJ2hn8wOlRfSBzu63hT6lcyfnGdlNb3opKJoFv3OoUfc2bCNPE73IaFyU_jLMFnk7Z0_ANEyuCD3uiAH5FxMA5Sb0dDSsibfJbh1weXpbPs2Q7fAru_AJ3A-7UMAaT2IBSK5s5iVfuxFn-ce5dBwz4hkJN_n7-fcM2iyYnQPiYpMsNvqoxIgH3PE/s4080/PXL_20230706_223642000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5VPSUJ2hn8wOlRfSBzu63hT6lcyfnGdlNb3opKJoFv3OoUfc2bCNPE73IaFyU_jLMFnk7Z0_ANEyuCD3uiAH5FxMA5Sb0dDSsibfJbh1weXpbPs2Q7fAru_AJ3A-7UMAaT2IBSK5s5iVfuxFn-ce5dBwz4hkJN_n7-fcM2iyYnQPiYpMsNvqoxIgH3PE/s320/PXL_20230706_223642000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrGWdfQN1y48bSHjV779zwex2sGZJo8LQLrzjrY3YT9XHDpkr-V6VUgDY31satGVoCKAwsNHAbCPoqi0X2MHbDVRqmN0x1NRrfQIgKDYtRUe89dhAS0MAwXLnSoFxXjkRTmEqlllevWw_h1dh7WIJ6_UIzET_8N494VJZaBgvBl4b61D5ovR8PA-Yqnf4/s4080/PXL_20230706_223635073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrGWdfQN1y48bSHjV779zwex2sGZJo8LQLrzjrY3YT9XHDpkr-V6VUgDY31satGVoCKAwsNHAbCPoqi0X2MHbDVRqmN0x1NRrfQIgKDYtRUe89dhAS0MAwXLnSoFxXjkRTmEqlllevWw_h1dh7WIJ6_UIzET_8N494VJZaBgvBl4b61D5ovR8PA-Yqnf4/s320/PXL_20230706_223635073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The food,
overall, was good with the potential to become great. All of the apps in the
sampler were tasty and offered a welcome crunch. While the baba ganoush may not
top Odeh’s, it was quite good in its own right: creamy with a hint of
smokiness. The tabuleh had an herb/vegetable-to-wheat ratio that heavily
favored the former, which made for a light yet savory bite. Speaking of savory,
the thin slices of kebab meat were very nicely seasoned. On the other hand, while
the “spicy” red feta did have a slightly sweet red pepper flavor, it wasn’t the
least bit spicy. The pita here is much thicker than what you’ll find elsewhere,
closer to a pide bread. One of our rounds was a bit overdone, but it was still
well-suited for dipping.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Kapadokia
Grill is a welcome addition to the Adams Farm/Sedgefield area and well worth a
visit for anyone who enjoys Mediterranean cuisine or simply wants to try
something new.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-218541737658024362023-06-30T17:46:00.003-04:002023-06-30T17:46:51.297-04:00Savor the Moment<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY_KyNs-UWWlhybyWge1rbM5wGxmTFEB5Cln_doPf3X9W0L11_wWmyU4KsKA1EvKoBbypcz_AgLJoVt5BJLwjFjmoIzKlsojtS19IrwyLyZjPlT4tCARpYE7H8lmDhca93zlweg237iDDt0SCPAneaw5C4-mPMJyVg2uE1tRL0ASK-6pcekSUdqXMiFwu7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY_KyNs-UWWlhybyWge1rbM5wGxmTFEB5Cln_doPf3X9W0L11_wWmyU4KsKA1EvKoBbypcz_AgLJoVt5BJLwjFjmoIzKlsojtS19IrwyLyZjPlT4tCARpYE7H8lmDhca93zlweg237iDDt0SCPAneaw5C4-mPMJyVg2uE1tRL0ASK-6pcekSUdqXMiFwu7" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Located at
274 Eastchester Drive in High Point, <a href="https://www.savorthemomentbakery.com/">Savor the Moment Dessert Café</a> offers
cheesecake treats and coffee drinks from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. There
is limited seating inside and out. Online ordering and catering are available
as are premium memberships with monthly discounts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Operated
by the same folks who own Savor the Moment Bakery in Greensboro, the High Point
branch offers a somewhat different concept. The focus here is on customizable
stuffed cheesecakes, so don’t come looking for cakes or cookies. It’s a premise
that may have a more limited appeal, but it also offers something different.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
stuffed cheesecakes are essentially cheesecake slices covered in a crispy shell
and topped with whatever fruits, sauces, and crunchy things you desire. A la Coldstone,
you can customize to your heart’s content or choose from more than a dozen
preset options. There are also minis and cake sundaes/parfaits as well as hot
coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWjQP75Ky6_GmXmkL2rOUR9kfWCsFteFSbLqVTql0aMclY-2y12bfCeD4jyHdvbjjdvA_hoeJC-lNKILJBfq17Owouu3RE1ZNUkNruUV55QCMnkXaRCKAlJjVsx-sBM6ABWldJvJCLMqPAYKQuYcfjpRgO2f1Gsm8BMCfVRAT2_3ogatlArjD2W1cOUQJ/s4080/PXL_20230630_161305146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWjQP75Ky6_GmXmkL2rOUR9kfWCsFteFSbLqVTql0aMclY-2y12bfCeD4jyHdvbjjdvA_hoeJC-lNKILJBfq17Owouu3RE1ZNUkNruUV55QCMnkXaRCKAlJjVsx-sBM6ABWldJvJCLMqPAYKQuYcfjpRgO2f1Gsm8BMCfVRAT2_3ogatlArjD2W1cOUQJ/s320/PXL_20230630_161305146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIPij4LVSoea1-qhvwozx0jYzfeNFFJFFxTD6Ficnjmok7bzdHYRFqMbEmD9c-_SFyFuRhoUpy_1PhsyADBkCdK01e1_2pXqHzU3MRQKvu-LkMBHWtFOQKt_AZWNwOIhYsABoytb8tqchaPjjKacdD4ywoZ1L-rtQSP2AiB1UdXRySQlz21mj4rTHzA3G/s4080/PXL_20230630_161138969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIPij4LVSoea1-qhvwozx0jYzfeNFFJFFxTD6Ficnjmok7bzdHYRFqMbEmD9c-_SFyFuRhoUpy_1PhsyADBkCdK01e1_2pXqHzU3MRQKvu-LkMBHWtFOQKt_AZWNwOIhYsABoytb8tqchaPjjKacdD4ywoZ1L-rtQSP2AiB1UdXRySQlz21mj4rTHzA3G/s320/PXL_20230630_161138969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQd71gdQUEvQ0M4dBtKj7QbPACatWU3ExNH4c7SJLs_MDd_AkND26SlWAti3TctLGhXGhDjeS4BhFC1L80sMvg7aHWSo0Kpggsr0vmIvlpwKjG5mt7MqROWrbgyRRwPpADWzdiX8uyGE__w-Vfauubhu-863qvEAVs4jjU_MsVsec15SsHojIimLhqrFx/s4080/PXL_20230611_191337966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQd71gdQUEvQ0M4dBtKj7QbPACatWU3ExNH4c7SJLs_MDd_AkND26SlWAti3TctLGhXGhDjeS4BhFC1L80sMvg7aHWSo0Kpggsr0vmIvlpwKjG5mt7MqROWrbgyRRwPpADWzdiX8uyGE__w-Vfauubhu-863qvEAVs4jjU_MsVsec15SsHojIimLhqrFx/s320/PXL_20230611_191337966.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">At $8.95
for most of the offerings, the stuffed cheesecakes aren’t cheap, but if you
have the calories to spare, they are worth it. I went with a cherry pie (graham
cracker shell topped with cherry pie filling) touched up with white chocolate
and Oreo pieces. The cream cheese cheesecake base is dense and a bit tangy, but
the toppings provided plenty of sweetness. There was also a very satisfying
textural balance between creamy and crunchy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Savor the
Moment offers a clean, well-appointed, open space, and the folks who work here
are kind. If and when the business grows, it could do with more seating (and more days open),
but for now, it’s a welcome weekend treat destination. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-626055281180281832023-06-22T21:55:00.002-04:002023-06-22T21:55:51.980-04:00The World and All That It Holds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mpd-biblio-covers.imgix.net/9781250883537.jpg?w=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://mpd-biblio-covers.imgix.net/9781250883537.jpg?w=900" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Rafael
Pinto, a young Bosnian Sephardic Jewish doctor, steps away from his father’s pharmacy to
see Archduke Franz Ferdinand shot and the world irrevocably altered. Plunged
headfirst into the horrors of war, Pinto ends up finding the love of his life
in a fellow soldier, Osman. Though enemy soldiers and political intrigue
threatens them at every turn, together they fight for survival and a shared
future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Aleksandar
Hemon’s latest novel is among his most ambitious, spanning not only decades and
continents but languages as well. Though written primarily in English, <i>The
World and All That It Holds </i>mixes in untranslated Bosnian, German, and even
Ladino (“Spanjol”). To further complicate matters, Pinto is also a habitual
opium user, and the line between the story’s reality and fever
dream/hallucination can be tenuous. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">All of
this makes for a challenging read, but for the patient, there are rewards: the
tenderness of Pinto and Osman’s relationship (and, later, that of Pinto and his
adopted daughter Rahela’s) amid the savagery of their circumstances, their striking
contrasts (Pinto is introspective, soulful, and sensitive but also downbeat while Osman is
brave and bold, and whether in the flesh or in imagined memory, constantly an
encouraging presence), richly rendered settings (from the Sarajevo of a century
ago to Shanghai on the cusp of a Japanese invasion), and Hemon’s distinctively
lyrical prose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">There are,
however, frustrations as well, the biggest one of which is the intrusion of an author-narrator
commenting on the historicity of Pinto’s tale. Granted, <i>The World and All
That It Holds</i> is steeped in the telling of folktales, and so adding a meta
layer makes sense, but it also makes for a somewhat incongruous presence, especially in the
epilogue. A further disruption comes courtesy of a British spy who crosses
paths with Pinto and seems imported from a Graham Greene novel, an amusingly
larger-than-life character who nevertheless seems tonally out-of-place here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
World and All That It Holds</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
is far from an ideal entry point to Hemon’s work, and those well versed in it
may miss some of his more constrained earlier efforts, but there is still
plenty to appreciate in the spectacle he’s created here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-56358114601456618502023-06-15T22:00:00.001-04:002023-06-15T22:00:21.754-04:00Damn Good Dogs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/346039214_1266870970586537_1675262116976831320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=s9Co3WS6eaAAX8_Aoy3&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe3wxQ5SBWU-oaU8sco_ydluzpFb86JPf2P3e-DpXr3A&oe=6490E313" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/346039214_1266870970586537_1675262116976831320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=s9Co3WS6eaAAX8_Aoy3&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCe3wxQ5SBWU-oaU8sco_ydluzpFb86JPf2P3e-DpXr3A&oe=6490E313" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
275 Elm Street in the Stock and Grain Food Hall in Downtown High Point, <a href="https://stockandgrainhp.com/merchant/damn-good-dogs/">Damn Good Dogs</a> offers hot dogs, burgers, and fries. It is open from 11-8
Monday-Thursday, 11-9 Friday and Saturday, and 11-6 on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">On food
alone, Damn Good Dogs lives up to its name. It offers five gourmet dogs (in New
York, Philly, or Carolina styles, topped with bacon, or topped with chili and
cheese), single and double burgers, and a few vegan options as well. I went
with a New Yorker: sweet onions, kraut, and spicy brown mustard. It was well-dressed (any dog that doesn't have you reaching for napkins is sad), the bun was
soft, and the dog had a nice slightly smoky flavor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ajbll3mlBGRqr2qw1Coapyl9Y_bi-uJr5iDE4oPsHRyhnJgK4eeljduVY0zJMjUjZdoY3ClJhs4iQlqRc63-jnqRIDYIZKb9IP807lrpbJGwHp0DN24hwRt-Pu9xZzWsO_fkfAbPThqnUH9M-pgGXbLShb0VcLPPTrm7PUy9yj5ivO5yQuEUT_LNmw/s4080/PXL_20230610_171529711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ajbll3mlBGRqr2qw1Coapyl9Y_bi-uJr5iDE4oPsHRyhnJgK4eeljduVY0zJMjUjZdoY3ClJhs4iQlqRc63-jnqRIDYIZKb9IP807lrpbJGwHp0DN24hwRt-Pu9xZzWsO_fkfAbPThqnUH9M-pgGXbLShb0VcLPPTrm7PUy9yj5ivO5yQuEUT_LNmw/s320/PXL_20230610_171529711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Pointing
out that Stock and Grain prices run high is beating a dead horse at this point,
but even by those standards, $6 for a not-very-large hot dog was a reach.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">If you
have a craving and don’t mind the overpay, Damn Good Dogs won’t let you down in
the flavor department. Chances are, however, that you can get your hot dog fix
more cheaply elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-58010090552747562472023-06-15T21:46:00.001-04:002023-06-15T21:46:28.394-04:00Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Spider-Man-_Across_the_Spider-Verse_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="259" height="385" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Spider-Man-_Across_the_Spider-Verse_poster.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Gwen Stacy
(Hailee Steinfeld) is struggling to keep her identity as Spider-Woman hidden
from her police captain father George (Shea Whigham) when they encounter a
villain displaced from another universe. Gwen is recruited by Miguel O’Hara/Spiderman
2099 (Oscar Isaac) and Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman, themselves from alternate
universes, to help them track down such anomalies. Meanwhile, in yet another
universe, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) finds that his activities as Spider-Man
have made him appear secretive and distant to his concerned parents. His
problems are compounded when Dr. Jonathan Ohm/The Spot (Jason Schwartzman), a
scientist whose body became infused with spot-like portals following a lab
accident, blames Spider-Man for his disfigurement and vows to make him suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
follow-up to 2018’s successful <i>Into the Spiderverse</i>, <i>Across the
Spiderverse</i> is nothing if not ambitious. It’s the longest American animated
feature, and it’s packed to the gills with alternate versions of Spider-Man
from the British anarchist Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) to Spider-Man India (Karan
Soni) to the classic Peter Parker (Jake Johnson, playing him as a middle-aged
dad). Each universe explored has its own distinctive art style, and the film is
a treasure trove of easter eggs and references to comic book lore. As such, <i>Across
the Spiderverse</i> walks a thin line between being a labor of love for
Spider-fans and a study in excess.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
central idea here is one of fatedness: would the Spider-heroes be the heroes
they are if they were not shaped by tragedy? Miles seems determined to find
out, but for Miguel, privy to deeper losses than the average Uncle Ben, it’s
too dangerous a possibility to ponder. This is both mature turf for an animated
comic book adaptation and a conceit on the verge of becoming hackneyed (The
upcoming <i>Flash</i> movie is the latest of several properties to play around
with the consequences of disrupting fate to prevent tragedy).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This weightiness
and Isaac’s intense voice performance aside, <i>Across the Spiderverse</i>
still manages to be solidly entertaining. The animation is varied and kinetic,
taking us everywhere from a Lego dimension to a teeming Mumbattan of Spider-Man
India’s realm. The early Spot sequences are pure slapstick as Ohm is a bungler
who has no idea how his powers work, but a later escape sequence is full of
tension-pumping adrenaline.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Across
the Spiderverse</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> is
the middle film in a planned trilogy, and it ends on a shamelessly blatant
cliffhanger, a frustrating lack off payoff for the 140-minute run-time. And
yet, it offers hope that the next installment can be entertaining and visually
daring just the same. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314682884772710117.post-34430055706653843762023-05-19T22:02:00.008-04:002023-05-19T22:02:51.195-04:00Basil Cafe & Catering<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Located at
215 East Lexington Avenue in High Point, Basil Café & Catering offers
soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. It is open from 10:30-3 Monday-Wednesday,
10:30-9 Thursday-Saturday, and closed Sunday. Food specials change daily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This small
spot at Lexington and Hamilton has all the makings of a sleeper hit. It’s clean
and more spacious than it appears from the outside. While the menu is somewhat
limited and a bit basic, the daily specials (which include entrees and desserts)
show more flair. Prices are affordable, and Sherry, the owner, is friendly and
upbeat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3zyYPpAOFfRDlsWcCuGrENpTHlOaL9ePq3fdBB76nOWtrDzYaoMuImzyQ7-mQ0is3yBmwzHLLfuRPWts1g8lBbrVB8cMsivJIm4UFqk_-sIYqMAsvXJE65xfe9m1S2UhRonUy0Q-T87ZvahodBwUJSAjynfexLZxWw4kBzgzLitgeymCRRta_jMyQA/s4080/PXL_20230518_181806318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3zyYPpAOFfRDlsWcCuGrENpTHlOaL9ePq3fdBB76nOWtrDzYaoMuImzyQ7-mQ0is3yBmwzHLLfuRPWts1g8lBbrVB8cMsivJIm4UFqk_-sIYqMAsvXJE65xfe9m1S2UhRonUy0Q-T87ZvahodBwUJSAjynfexLZxWw4kBzgzLitgeymCRRta_jMyQA/s320/PXL_20230518_181806318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">For my
first visit, I took a chicken pesto flatbread and cherry cobbler (both daily
specials) to go and was not disappointed. The flatbread (chicken, pesto,
tomatoes, onion, and mozzarella) was excellent: tasty pesto, juicy chicken, melty
cheese, and fresh flavors all around. The cherry cobbler, while less memorable,
was still quite satisfying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">All told,
Basil Café is a very promising lunch option that should not be overlooked.</span> </p><p><br /></p>Zachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147127302806729234noreply@blogger.com0