The Outsider

When evidence suggests that Oklahoma Little League coach Terry Maitland is guilty of a gruesome child murder, his friend, police detective Ralph Anderson, arrests him. Maitland swears his innocence, and alibi witnesses suggest that he might be telling the truth. Anderson then teams up with private investigator Holly Gibney to unearth the actual culprit before he claims more victims.

Though still synonymous with horror, Stephen King has penned a growing number of mystery/crime/detective novels with his Mr. Mercedes trilogy perhaps the best-known examples. As Holly was an important character in those books as well, The Outsider functions as a quasi-sequel of sorts, and as with the last of the Mercedes books (End of Watch), the investigation takes on supernatural overtones. This isn’t exactly laziness on the author's part: King still does due diligence in developing characters and settings before throwing monsters in the heroes’ path. While the title character – a skin-changer based on Mexican folklore – packs plenty of menace, his victims and pursuers are more compelling, whether it is the devastating ripple effect that besets the murdered boy’s family or the tenacity and resourcefulness of the team of cops, lawyers, and investigators that coalesces around putting an end to the killing spree. That being said, The Outsider tries, perhaps too hard and too obviously, to forge a connection to the Mercedes books, and Holly’s overt comparison of Ralph to her previous investigative partner Bill Hodges makes Ralph seem like a second-rate imitator. Holly herself is still a problematic character. Though King’s gotten better at writing her since her debut in Mr. Mercedes, she still has a tendency to evoke Magically Capable Mentally Ill, to cringeworthy effect.

Earlier this year, Richard Price took a swing at adapting The Outsider as an HBO miniseries, bringing with him a considerable amount of talent (Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Jason Bateman, and Paddy Considine in the cast with Price himself and Dennis Lehane writing episodes and Bateman directing a few). A broadly faithful adaptation that tinkers with some of the details, the series avoids a few of the book’s pitfalls (there are zero Mercedes references) while creating others. The casting is half-inspired, half-head-scratching. Bateman plays Terry Maitland sympathetically and helps sell the charges against him as shocking. But Mendelsohn, best known for playing sleazy, overmatched corporate villains, is a questionable choice for a heroic lead. He’s OK here: the performance is a bit stiff and his American accent has a scratchy, nasal affectation yet he captures Ralph’s dogged sincerity just the same. Erivo’s take on Holly is markedly different from the source material, and it’s definitely an improvement. This version is troubled-yet-crafty/capable without inviting a slew of stereotypes and unwanted implications. The series also makes good use of a sinister score to add tension, but even still, the middle episodes feel terribly slow. While the explosive final two do, to some extent, make up for it, this was a ten-part series that could – and should – have been done in no more than eight.

Whether in book or screen form, The Outsider will likely please King fans as well as those who like their police procedurals with a dash of mythical menace. It is no one’s best work, but it is far from a wasted effort.

Everything Inside

Edwidge Danticat often writes as if her characters’ lives are hanging by a thread, and her latest story collection is no exception. While her searing previous collection Krik? Krak! offered a look at generations of women brutalized by poverty, despair, and the oppressive Duvalier regime, Everything Inside’s tales are more varied and wide-ranging. Some take place in Port-au-Prince, but others explore Haitians in the diaspora (namely, Miami). The characters, which range from college students to grandmothers, also lead diverse lives (which are then upended).

This is not to say that Everything Inside lacks for heartbreak. In “Sunrise, Sunset,” a woman’s dementia nearly leads her to commit an unspeakable crime. In “The Gift,” former lovers reunite, but one has been rendered a widower and an amputee. And in “In the Old Days,” a woman prepares to meet her father for this first time when he is on his deathbed. Beneath all of these tragedies, however, lie glimpses of happier pasts or more promising futures. It is to Danticat’s credit that none of them strike a false note.

Navigating the complexities of human relationships with surgical precision, Everything Inside delivers emotion (affection, angst, and sorrow) without sentimentality and enlightenment without pedantry.

Salt & Pepper

Located at 3793 Samet Drive in High Point, Salt & Pepper serves Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Delivery is available, and the restaurant has a loyalty program (accessible via its Facebook page) with monthly promos/discounts.

Given BBQ Nation’s declining service, this new Indian establishment is a welcome addition to the High Point dining scene. There are a few areas for improvement, but there is also a lot of promise here.

Housed in a plaza between Samet and Tinsley, Salt & Pepper can be difficult to find. Should you locate it, however, prepare to be impressed by the interior. The white and wood look is crisp, clean, and bright, and the chic bar area is an eye-catcher.

Visual appeal extends to the menu as well, which has plenty of recognizable favorites: samosas, pakoras, tandooris, biryanis, masalas, naans, and desserts. As with many Indian eateries, there are quite a few vegetarian options.

For our first visit, my wife and I shared vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis. The quintessential Indian combo platter, each thali came with an app (samosas/pakoras), rice, naan, a dipping sauce (tamarind), and two entries. Here the entrees were chef’s choice, and while that bit of mystery may unnerve those who want to know what they are ordering, we were willing to roll the dice.

Overall, the food rates as good but not great. The non-veg thali came with chicken tikka masala and goat (?) saag. While the chicken was just short of overcooked, both sauces were excellent. The creamy tikka masala was one of the better versions I’ve had, and the hearty green saag was well-spiced and richly flavorful. The vegetarian thali came with palak paneer (usually one of our favorites) and a daal. While the creamed spinach was fine, the lentils were bland and, confusingly (the rest of the food was up to temperature) lukewarm.

Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Some confusion regarding the point of sales system caused a brief delay when paying the bill, but the matter was resolved quickly. Speaking of that bill, thanks to one of Salt & Pepper’s promo offers (BOGO entrees – seriously, check out their Facebook page), it ended up being a steal at $16+tax and tip, but even full fare would have been reasonable for the amount of food.

Salt & Pepper may be the kind of place where you have to order carefully, but what they do well, they seem to do very well. Add a great-looking space and pleasant staff to the mix, and it gives High Pointers a good alternative to braving Wendover traffic to get to Taaza.

Sumela Turkish & Mediterranean Restaurant

Located at 805 North Main Street in High Point, Sumela offers Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and dinner. The establishment is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Catering is available.

There’s more than meets the eye at this long-running Mediterranean restaurant. Housed in a nondescript strip mall across from the library, it is easy to overlook and not particularly inviting from the outside. The inside, on the other hand, is clean and cozy if a bit small.

So too goes the menu. At first glance, there appears to be little that separates Sumela from a half dozen other Mediterranean eateries. You can find the expected kebabs, gyros, salads, and apps (hummus, falafel, etc.), but you won’t find manti (mini-dumplings) or mucver (zucchini fritters). Look past that disappointment, however, and there is a fair bit of flex. You can go heavy or light, meat or vegetarian, and several sampler options exist for those who want a little bit of everything.

My wife and I fall into that last category, so we opted to split a mixed appetizer (hummus, baba ghanoush, piyaz, and stuffed grape leaves), an order of spanakopita, and a sultan platter (lamb kebab, Adana kebab, gyro meat, piyaz, rice, vegetables, and pita). The food arrived quickly, and though the dishes were familiar, the preparations were unique. The spanakopita came in one large square covered with sesame (?) seeds and served with a yogurt sauce. It wasn’t Greek, but it was great. Kudos also go to the kebabs and especially the gyro meat, which was among the more flavorful and tender that I’ve ever had. The baba ghanoush had a welcome smokiness to it and was the highlight of the app sampler though there were no weak links in the bunch.

Service proved attentive, and pricing was moderate (kebab samplers in the mid-teens). Living right near Nazareth Bread for several years threw our perceptions of value (very affordable) and portion sizing (plentiful) out of whack, and Sumela represents a return to earth in comparison. Nothing here is unreasonably expensive though.

All told, Sumela may lack the menu appeal of an Odeh’s or the refinement of a Chef Samir, but it offers a very solid representation of Mediterranean food, and it should not be overlooked.

Lulu and Blu

Located at 2140 North Main Street in High Point, Lulu and Blu offers upscale Italian-inspired fare for lunch (weekdays) and dinner (every day except Sunday). There is a patio, a full bar, and risotto/soup/beef specials that rotate daily.

Like its former corporate cousin Magnolia Blue, Lulu and Blu takes on a well-known and well-loved cuisine, adds its own flourishes, and wraps everything in a classy package. A classic red sauce joint this is not, but if your palate permits a touch of gentrification, this is a damn good place to have an Italianish meal.

Though smaller than expected inside, Lulu and Blu is a comfortable and well-appointed space. Both the wine room and the long bar stand out albeit not ostentatiously so.

Lulu and Blu’s menu runs the gamut from apps, salads, and flatbreads to entrees, filled pastas, and Italian classics. You can go as simple as linguine and meatballs here or as indulgent as cioppino.

For our early Valentine’s Day meal, my wife and I split an order of fried fungus (portabellos, shitake caps, and oyster mushrooms with marinara) and went with pasta primavera (cavatappi, mushrooms, yellow squash, spinach, artichokes, vodka sauce, and grana Padano cheese) and duck cacciatore (cavatappi, guanciale, cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, peas, and red sauce), respectively. The fried fungus offered an interesting play on the typical breaded mushrooms, presenting earthier and more varied flavors. Both pasta dishes were excellent. The cavatappi was perfectly cooked, ingredients were fresh and flavorful, and the sauces were present enough to act as complements without overwhelming either dish. An order of bread pudding (taken to go) wasn’t on the same level, but it was still satisfying in its own right.

Neither pricing nor service left room for complaint. You know going in that this isn’t going to be a cheap meal, but nothing here felt like a reach. While the $21 paid for the cacciatore would have raised eyebrows were it the traditional chicken, duck – prepared well – made it worthwhile. Service was pleasant, and we didn’t have long to wait for our food.

With risotto, cioppino, and an intriguing sweet potato ravioli (with duck, blueberries, and kale) left unexplored, Lulu and Blu commands a return visit. From food to service to atmosphere, this place has everything needed for a great meal.

Intown Donutz

Located at 508 East Mountain Street in Kernersville, Intown Donutz serves donuts, coffee drinks, and sweets. The business is open seven days a week.

No one expects a local donut shop to be cavernous, but even by that standard, Intown Donutz is small. Despite the presence of a few tables, you’re best served grabbing your donuts and fleeing before limited standing room causes a pileup of people behind you. This lack of an inviting atmosphere was abetted by the lone employee on duty who, while not exactly rude, seemed like she would rather be anywhere else.

So why come here? The donuts, man. They are varied, and they are good. Intown offers everything from cake-style and old-fashioned to glazed to fritters and bear claws and more. They will even fill-to-order (jelly, custard, lemon, or cream) their long donuts. Everything was billed as made fresh daily and looked the part.

I picked up a large caffe mocha, a custard-filled maple glazed stick, a jelly-filled glazed stick, and an apple fritter for under $10 to share, and there wasn’t a bad decision in the bunch. The apple fritter especially was one of the best that I’ve had in quite some time.

Moral of the story: come for the donuts and leave quickly before the (lack of) service and space sour you on this place.

Tipsy'z Tacos - Urban Cantina

Located at 1345 North Main Street in Time Square in High Point, Tipsy’z Tacos offers tacos and other Mexican-inspired cuisine. There is a full bar featuring original margaritas and cocktails.

A taco-centric spinoff of burger haven Tipsy’z Tavern, Tipsy’z Tacos opened recently to an auspicious start. Day two of operations saw a continuous line to the door at dinner time despite the roadwork on North Main greatly limiting the location’s convenience and appeal. This popularity made for a loud and somewhat chaotic atmosphere, which was more than mitigated by a hard-working, hospitable staff and tasty food.

Tipsy’z offers apps, burritos, salads, and bowls, but just as the burgers stand out at their original/bar location, tacos are the star attraction here. They come two to a plate, in corn or flour tortillas (or a lettuce wrap if you prefer) with one side included. The styles available range from classic (carne asada, chicken, beer-battered fish) to creative (veggie chimichurri, Hawaiian pork, crispy brussels sprouts) and more. Carnitas, pastor, and chorizo were sadly missing, but they may end up being future additions.

My wife and I decided to go the more conventional route: beer-battered fish with chips and queso and carne asada with spicy red cabbage slaw. Despite the restaurant’s business, we didn’t have long to wait for our food (both the kitchen and front-of-house staff seemed well-equipped to handle the opening weekend rush). Both orders of tacos came well-dressed (greens, cheese, salsa, sauce) and attractively plated, and both tasted as good as they looked. The fish was crisp without being dried out, and the steak was nicely seasoned and none too chewy. The sides were satisfying but weren’t standouts: roasted sweet potato hash may be our go-to in the future. My wife also gave high praise to the pineapple-infused margarita and its chili-lime rim.

Dining at Tipsy’z isn’t as cheap as the casual atmosphere suggests. Most of the taco plates run north of $10, and ours were $13.50 apiece. There are Mexican markets in the area that provide more authentic offerings for a fraction of that, but the counterpoint, as is the case with Greensboro’s Crafted, is that you don’t come here expecting a typical taco.

Time will tell if Tipsy’z Tacos loses some of its opening momentum or if lines to the door become the norm. Even if the latter holds true, if a taco craving hits, these are worth waiting for.