Monthly Archives: June 2016

The Man Who Walked the Town Announces Three New Sponsors

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You may be wondering why this is “food news” but I can assure you that it certainly is.

Full disclosure, I am the writer of The Man Who Walked the Town blog and host and producer of the upcoming web vlog series. It’s part of the Man About Town media “group.” So, this may be a little self-serving but it’s something that I feel is important for these sponsors and for the community.

Mary’s Gourmet Diner, Atelier on Trade and Hoots Roller Bar & Beer Company have all signed on to be sponsors of The Man Who Walked the Town. The Man Who Walked the Town is a lifestyle blog that is designed to not only keep the writer, Tim Beeman (yes, that’s me) active and healthier, but also focus and highlight the many fantastic neighborhoods that reside in this beautiful town we call Winston-Salem. There will be pictures and then there will be video. It will be turned into a web video series that will be on popular video channels.

When Tim and Stephanie (known collectively as The Man Who Walked the Town) start each walking day, no matter their focus neighborhood, they start at Mary’s, loading carbs to provide fuel for activity. After getting fueled up, they walk to Atelier on Trade and get caffeinated to add that boost to the walking duo. After the walk (usually around 10,000 steps) they always end up at Hoots Roller Bar & Beer Company to have a celebratory adult beverage.

So, if you see The Man Who Walked the Town out and about, please don’t be shy, especially if you see them at Mary’s, Atelier on Trade or Hoots. Walk a few steps with them and recommend your favorite Winston-Salem neighborhoods to them. Also, I don’t have to tell you this, but, all three of these restaurants/food/beverage places are worthy of your dollars and are some of the best at what they do.

Mary’s Gourmet Diner is located at 723 North Trade Street. Atelier on Trade is located at 533 North Trade Street. Hoots Roller Bar & Beer Company is located at 840 Mill Works Street.

Salute! the North Carolina Wine Festival is Here!

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The wine festival that gets me going the most, Salute! the North Carolina Wine Festival, is tomorrow, June 4, from noon until 6pm in downtown Winston-Salem. I’m excited about the wine, the atmosphere, the people watching and yes, the food. I’m going to reprint the entry from the NC Food & Wine University page with some of my own stuff, if you’ll indulge me. Again, this excerpt is property of Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership and Salute! the NC Wine Festival.1045x299_fill_header

For decades it seems, the fine art of wine appreciation and selecting the proper wine to go with certain foods left many beginners a tad intimidated.  There was a sense of mystery surrounding the different varietals and a classic stereotype of “wine snobbery” that accompanied those who had solved the puzzle.  More recently, as wines have become more affordable and available from national, regional and local vineyards, many novices continue to feel unqualified to tiptoe into the world of oenophiles, the wine experts.

Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration wants to forever put aside those feelings of wine incompetence with an entertaining and educational opportunity perfect for all levels of wine-lovers.  De-mystifying the wonderful world of wine, and clarifying the art of food and wine pairings that bring out the best in our North Carolina wines is the mission of “North Carolina Food & Wine University,” back by popular demand at this year’s festival.

Five unique presentations will be held at NCF&WU every 45 minutes throughout the day.  The knowledgeable local chefs from some of the best restaurants and winemakers from some great NC wineries will help unravel the mysteries of wine, including how to swirl, sniff and savor the luscious varietals that are being produced in our state.

But the biggest lesson to learn at NCF&WU is how to relax and enjoy the experience and the experiments of mixing and matching your favorite wines with different foods.  Or maybe you are trying to find your favorite type of wine?  At this University, there are no wrong questions, and the only test will be as you rate the flavors of wines you’ll try while enjoying the festival!  Be sure you don’t skip these classes….plan to attend at least one during your day at Salute!

Schedule of Chefs Demos and Wineries:   

12:30 – 
Chef Stephanie Tyson, Sweet Potatoes and Hanover Park Vineyards 
– Cornbread Hoe Cake with collard green bruschetta & goat cheese topped with Texas Pete CHA! spiced Shrimp with caviar

Chef Stephanie is the culinary genius behind much of Sweet Potatoes’ success, along with her partner, the awesome Vivian Joiner. Hanover Park has always impressed me with their wares and I’ve had several tastings with them in restaurants in this town.

1:30 –
Chef Richard Miller, Graze Restaurant + Raylen Vineyards
– Grilled NC Shrimp and Oysters with Good Night Brothers Country Ham
      Cucumber Salad, Tossed Local Greens, Lemon mustard vinaigrette

Chef Richard is the reigning champion of the Competition Dining series and makes Graze a not-of-the-ordinary hotel restaurant. Raylen is a beautiful vineyard that produces some great wines. They have their own festival coming up in July.

 2:30 –
Chef Travis Myers, Willow’s Bistro and Jones von Drehl Vineyards
ALL LOCAL CHALLENGE featuring fresh produce from Minglewood Farms

– Duck 2ways with Harmony Ridge duck breast, pulled confit leg, duck dirty risotto, wilted Cheshire Farms dino kale, bacon jam & roasted duck jus. 

Chef Travis is one of the most talented chefs I know and there’s a reason I call him “Wonderboy.” You’ll see when you taste his food. I don’t know about Jones von Drehl but I am sure I won’t be able to say that after tomorrow.

3:30 –
Chef Kristina Fuller, Crafted: The Art of the Taco and Raffaldini Vineyards 

– Bahn Mi Taco Bulgogi beef, pickled daikon radishes, carrots and onions, jalapeño, white sauce, cilantro  

Former guest on The Less Desirables, Chef Kris has a way, and a vision, with the non-conventional when it comes to food. She’s a great talent and Raffaldini has to be one of the most pristine wineries in the Yadkin Valley, not to mention in the state. It’s picturesque and looks like you’re in Tuscany (at least from what I have seen that Tuscany looks like), plus the wine is fantastic.

4:30 –
Chef Tirra Cowan from Black Mountain Chocolate and Lake James Cellars 
– Dark Chocolate Torte with Levering Orchards Sour Cherry Compote

Another former TLD guest, Chef Tirra makes some out-of-this-world confections over at Black Mountain Chocolate. You can go by and watch her work through the glass and you can certainly see her do her magic at this event. Like Jones von Drehl, I don’t know about Lake James Cellars but I can’t wait to.

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Salute! tickets are $25 in advance (you should purchase, now!) and $30 at the event. You can purchase tickets and get more info from their website. If you see me out tomorrow, please, come say hello. I love to meet my readers and friends.

The Bar on 4th Street Opens Today

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Will Kingery, Norb Cooper and Lele Nguyen are unleashing their new beast, The Bar on 4th Street on Downtown 13307428_875092205933929_4217598688250689044_nWinston-Salem, this afternoon at 4pm. Kingery and Cooper are already prominent in the Winston-Salem food scene, owning Willow’s Bistro, King’s Crab Shack & Oyster Bar and Silo Bistro & Bar. Ms. Nguyen, a bar manager for all three restaurants, is also the brainchild behind many of the restaurants’ drink menus, especially Silo.

The Bar on 4th Street is what was formerly Downtown Brody’s, up until just a few weeks ago. Downtown Brody’s had started to gain a reputation of a “dive bar” and not necessarily in the good way. The clientele was not necessarily along the lines of other establishments along Fourth and when I asked Will and Lele about the bar, they said that they were going to have an upscale drinking establishment that will be competitive with the style of drinks they serve at a price point that is friendly to everyone. It will also be used as an overflow and pre- or post-dinner location to compliment King’s Crab Shack. If there’s a long wait at King’s, which happens often due to the establishment’s popularity, patrons can walk just two doors down to The Bar on 4th Street and have a lovely adult beverage and the pagers for King’s will reach up there, letting you know when your table is ready.

13330912_874283406014809_7574782693986655080_nI look forward to having a beverage there, myself. I have total faith in Will, Norb and Lele that this will be nothing less than a fantastic venue and on par with what the whole downtown cocktail bar scene, as well as that of Fourth Street. You can find The Bar on 4th Street at 249 W 4th Street and King’s Crab Shack at 239 W 4th Street. Go and enjoy this new gem in Downtown Winston-Salem.  All pictures are ©Will Kingery/The Bar on 4th Street