Tag Archives: The Porch

Eat Drink Restaurant Week Is Here!

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The time is here! Eat, Drink, Restaurant Week has arrived in the Triad.

Now, I know I mainly focus on WSNC restaurants but this event is everywhere in the “Triad” and Triad-Adjacent locations.

What is “Eat, Drink, Restaurant Week” you may ask?

It’s basically a competition between area restaurants. Is there a prize? There is… that prize is bragging rights. You want to say your restaurant is the best at what you do and you want it to come from customers and not just you saying you are, right?  That’s what is happening here. But, that’s not all. “Restaurant Weeks” are a perfect way for you to get your culinary feet wet with a restaurant or cuisine you have maybe been wanting to try but not ready to jump in for the price. And, maybe you want to introduce your family to your favorite place, but don’t know that it’s right for them? Whatever the reason, it’s meant to be fun while getting the establishments some recognition and love, and providing you a good meal, all at the same time.

Each restaurant will have a QR code for you to vote for them. It should be on a table tent or equivalent so you can vote while you’re there. This eliminates folks just going on and voting. The point is to drive business.

These restaurants will be competing in three different categories, so a fast-casual restaurant needn’t be outshined by a prestigious fine dining establishment. I’m going to highlight them so you know right away. The meals will be capped according to the category the establishment falls under. You can add to it for a nominal charge, I believe but the dish itself is capped at the category’s assigned price. There are no substitutes and when a restaurant sells out of that dish, there isn’t a replacement meal for it. So, it’s first come first served.

First, is the Fast-Casual category. These restaurants will be providing a meal capped at $10.

Next, is the Casual Dining category. These restaurants will be providing a meal capped at $15.

Finally, we have the Fine Dining category. These restaurants will be providing a meal capped at $25.

There you have the roster and lineup of culinary deliciousness to choose from, nosh, imbibe, enjoy, share, and vote. Take pictures! Use the hashtag “#eatdrinkrestaurantweek”. Tag @manwhoatethetown me in your pictures! Tell me what awesome delights you’re trying.

Bon appetit!

 

 

Alma Mexicana and The Porch Reopens After C-19 Quarantine

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We are happy to re-open our doors tomorrow for Pick-up, Delivery, and Outdoor Dining. You can place take out orders via our app or by calling us. You can visit our website to make a reservation for outdoor dining Wednesday – Saturday nights from 4 – 9 pm. As always, we will continue to follow all CDC and the Health Departments’ best practices and guidelines to keep everyone to be as safe as possible in light of COVID-19. Masks for staff have been required, but we will now also require customers to wear masks upon entering the restaurant, even just to pick up meals. We will have masks available if you do not have one. While we hope to remain COVID-free, we will be as transparent as possible if and when another staff member contracts COVID-19. We want to be here for the long run, and we appreciate your support during these challenging times.

Phone Number: (336) 317-1254
Online Ordering: https://direct.chownow.com/order/10685/locations
Website: www.almamexicanawsnc.com

We’re back in action 🥳 We’re open 11-8 pm tonight with Grab n’ Go, Take Out & Delivery! Visit our website www.dinnersontheporch.com to view our menu, call us to place an order (336) 893-8361 or place an order online for pick up/delivery: https://eat.chownow.com/discover/restaurant/12732

Before entering The Porch please be sure to wash your hands in our hallway restroom, put on gloves that we’ve provided and masks are required to enter. We will have some available if you don’t have a mask. Thanks for helping us keep our customers & staff safe!

Triad Food and Beverage Coalition Partners with AT&T and the Porch Restaurant to Provide Free Meals for Essential Workers and Low-income Residents

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Winston-Salem, NC, May 22, 2020 – Today, the Triad Food and Beverage Coalition, in partnership with AT&T, Love Out Loud and the Porch, Kitchen & Cantina, is providing 300 free meals to low-income residents. Meals will be available at Shiloh Baptist Church from 5:00 to 6:00 pm and Iglesia Cristiana sin Fronteras from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Shiloh Baptist Church916 E. 12th St., 271015:00 – 6:00 PM
Iglesia Cristiana sin Fronteras5490 Shattalon Drive, 271065:30 – 6:30 PM

The Triad Food and Beverage Coalition, a program of the Winston-Salem Urban League, launched its essential worker and low-income resident meals program with support from a $10,000 AT&T grant. Over seven weeks, the program provides meals to essential workers and low-income residents while simultaneously providing a much-needed influx of cash to local restaurants.

Over seven weeks, the effort will partner with seven local restaurants to provide 2,100 meals to essential workers and low-income residents. The meals will be distributed by program partner, Love Out Loud.

Claire Calvin, owner of the Porch, Kitchen & Cantina, Alma Mexicana, and Canteen Market & Bistro, said, “We are honored to be part of this effort. It feels so amazing to be able to provide a service to the community in these dark days. We feed people in ways both physical and emotional.”

Algenon Cash, Director, Winston-Salem Urban League’s Triad Food and Beverage Coalition, said, “The COVID-19 crisis has made the work of the Triad Food and Beverage Coalition more important than ever. We are uniquely able to help the community by providing meals while supporting local restaurants that are in a time of need. This wouldn’t have been possible without AT&T’s partnership and support.

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About the Triad Food and Beverage Coalition

The Triad Food and Beverage Coalition is a program of the Winston-Salem Urban League, designed to promote a healthy food and beverage community by providing members with strategic programming, marketing assistance, operational support, and direct input on governmental affairs and administrative public policies that encourage regional economic growth.

About Winston-Salem Urban League

The Winston-Salem Urban League is a mission-driven non-profit organization focused on helping residents become financially secure and prepared to meet the demands of today’s job market through training, education, and job placement services. The agency provides comprehensive training and paid work experience program for over 300 seniors annually as well as the general public.

An Open Letter to North Carolina Residents, Support Independent Restaurants

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The following was published via NC News Network today. This is a repost and is fully-owned by NCNN. A great piece written by our very own Claire Calvin from The Porch, Alma Mexicana and Canteen Market and Bistro:

Claire Calvin (©NCNN)

I am a small business owner and resident of an incredibly resilient city; I own three restaurants in Winston-Salem – The Porch, Alma Mexicana and Canteen Market & Bistro.

Independent restaurants are the economic engine for so many other local businesses – family farms, vendors, suppliers, and service companies. Chipotle is not hiring your neighbor’s graphic design firm for a new logo or a local attorney for legal advice. 

We support the state and local tax base, donate to local charities and schools, and invest our time and money into improving the community.  Collectively, we employ our neighbors who in turn pay rent, buy cars, shop, go out to eat and otherwise participate in our local economy. 

And, of course, we feed people in ways both physical and emotional. These past few weeks, while our dining room and two of our three restaurants have been closed, our kitchen at The Porch has continued to make and sell food for take-out and delivery, and that has felt so amazing to be able to provide a service to the community in these dark days.

Every person and every industry will have much work to do in the next year to rebuild and restore some sense of normalcy, and the challenges to each are unique and complex. Some industries will be more disrupted than others, but all will face new and difficult problems.

For independent restaurants, the challenges are many and survival depends, in large part, on how federal agencies, state and city governments proceed. Like airlines, hotels and entertainment venues, independent restaurants – particularly ones primarily sustained by dine-in sales – are still in free fall. Simply re-opening is not a solution that will address the needs of most restaurants, so if we care about saving them at all, we need action that specifically targets the issues they face.

As states begin to move away from total lockdowns, there will be many bumps in the road, and no one knows exactly what will happen. We’re all in uncharted territory, and we must observe and learn from others.

In the past weeks, I have been working long days in the restaurant trying to keep our business afloat doing take-out and delivery, and before and after work reading as much as I can to learn best practices on re-opening safely from around the world, talking to restaurant owners and industry leaders around the country who are trying to re-imagine their businesses, and creating one scenario after another for our own restaurants. I am exhausted, mentally and physically, and I know that the next 12 months will require even more of all of us.

I am willing to do the hard work ahead, and I expect the same from our government leaders. “Allowing” restaurants to reopen without financial help, stringent regulations and public (government) support is unconscionable and it will bankrupt small businesses.

Many years ago, I was asked to write about my “why” for getting into the restaurant business, and I remember that I wrote the line “This was never about food.” It is about building community, and food is the tool we use to do it.  The work we do is about building up and serving the collective community and the people in it. We use food to gather you to our spaces, but then we get to watch magic happen when you all are there with us in that noisy, chaotic and living space.

Please join with us in the hard work it will take to bring back that magic. I really do believe we can get there and beyond, but we need you all to make it happen.

Claire Calvin is a founding member of Triad Food & Beverage Coalition and owner of The Porch, Alma Mexicana, and Canteen Market & Bistro. Reach her at clairecalvin@gmail.com

Local Restaurants Offering Takeout/Delivery/Curbside

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These are the restaurants that have reported to me that they are offering Takeout (T), Delivery (D) or Curbside Pickup (C). Please refer to their Facebook pages (the links provided) as anything can change at a moment’s notice. Some of these places had released statements before and I have included the links to those posts in which I published the statements. This list will be ever-changing, too, as I find out more info.

Stay safe and wash your hands!

Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro: (T, C) 11-7p (336) 703-5400

Slappy’s Chicken: (T, D)  — (336) 761-0268

Zesto Burgers & Ice Cream: (T, D) — (336) 793-5548

Skrimp Shack: (C, T, D) — (336) 331-3026

1703 Restaurant: (T, D) — (336) 725-5767

Carolina Ale House: See this post.

Xcaret: (C) working on it. (336) 955-1345

Wine Merchants/Vin 205: See this post.

Omega House: (T) presumably — (336) 724-5262

East Coast Wings: (T, D, C), Brent from the Peters Creek (336) 784-6700 and Reynolda (336) 293-4422 locations said they were. Country Club (336) 659-9992. Not sure of the others.

Camel City Coffee: (T) presumably — (336) 955-2246

Tart Sweets: (T) presumably — (336) 724-5663 Tart Sweets has closed temporarily.

Acadia Foods: (T) food only. Beer, wine and groceries still available as well. (336) 331-3251

Thai Harmony: (T, D) (336) 842-5532

Wingstop: (T, D) presumably — (336) 738-0129

Mozzarella Fellas: (T, D, C) — (336) 377-7179 New hours are 11-2/5-8. In-house delivery or online services.

Black Mountain Chocolate: (C) — (336) 293-4698

Taqueria Luciano: (D, T) — (336) 755-4782

Mary’s Gourmet Diner: (C) Fri thru Sunday 9 am-1 pm — (336) 723-7239

West End Poke and Burke Street Pizza: See this post.

The Porch, Alma Mexicana and Canteen Market: See this post. Only the Porch is doing takeout, now, including the take-and-bake.

Stoked and Social.: See this post.

Jeffrey Adams, Young Cardinal Cafe and Dogwood Hops and Crops: See this post.

Salem Organic Supply is offering FREE delivery within 25 miles of downtown WSNC and free shipping. — (336) 721-4367

Davie Tavern:  See this post.

West End Cafe: See this post.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill: 12:00 to 9:00 Monday-Thursday and 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday for (T). Delivery (through Uber Eats/Door Dash) 4-9p customers are asked to stay in their cars. — (336) 831-0580

Jugghead’s Growlers & Pints: open 3-7 daily for Growler and sales from the fridge. Carry out only. — (336) 546-7754

Spruce Street Garden – Craft Tavern: See this post.

J and J Food Mart: (T, D, C) — (336) 283-9609.

Camino Bakery: See this post.

Mission Pizza Napoletana: See this post.

Camino Real Mexican Restaurant: (T, D) — (336) 923-0001 or (336) 210-9517

Camel City BBQ Factory: (T) 11-9 — (336) 306-9999

Ryan’s Restaurant: See this post.

Crafted – Art of the Taco: See this post. Crafted has halted ALL services, including their takeout and delivery service.

Milner’s American Southern: See this post.

Whitaker Square Pizza: See this post.

Moji Coffee and More: online sales, Swipeby and call ahead ordering, online takeout ordering! Gift cards available here. (336) 939-6654 Also… Grab-n-Go purchases of espresso and other coffee drinks, bagels, muffins, scones, sandwiches and more.

Village Juice: (D) through DoorDash, (C, T) — (336) 986-9402

Miss Ora’s Kitchen: 11-7 call ahead for curbside delivery. (336) 725-6257

Campus Gas: See this post.

DiLisio’s Italian Restaurant: See this post.

Mellow Mushroom: See this post.

Bobo’s Deli and Grill: See this post.

Real Q on Country Club: (T) — (336) 760-3457

Organix Juice Bar: See this post.

Cafe Vera Du: See this post.

La Botana: See this post.

Finnigan’s Wake: Closed 3/18 and 3/19. Takeout on Friday forward. (336) 723-0322. Opie says closed until regular business hours and services return.

To Your Health Bakery: (D, C) — (336) 618-5275

Zito Pizzeria and Grill: (T, D) M-Thur 11 am to 2:30 pm/5 pm to 8 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am to 3 pm/5 pm to 8:30 pm. (336) 765-9486

Happie Food: Delivery all day, every day. (336) 701-2911

Stonefield Cellars: Open for takeout wine only (they’ll carry it to your car, too). — (336) 644-9908

Bonefish Grill: (T, D) 1-9 every day for pickup or you can do grub hub or door dash. (336) 724-4518

Baked Just SO Bakery: See this post.

Corks Caps & Taps: See this post.

Foothills: (C, D) More details as they’re available.

Cracker Barrel: (T) (336) 712-9880 Clemmons.

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: (D) https://order.baddaddysburgerbar.com/

Diamondback Grill: (T, D) from 11:30pm-3pm and 5:30pm-7:30pm. Order from their scaled menu here. (336) 722-0006.

Katharine Brasserie and Bar: (T, C) Delivery could be soon, according to Erin Doby, F&B Manager (336) 761-0203 (note: Chef Adam said they are doing a truncated menu with lower price points).

Bib’s Downtown: (C, D) Use their website here or call (336) 722-0007.

Pacific Rim Food Truck: Truck… watch their Facebook and Instagram for where they may be. (336) 772-3051.

Food Freaks of NC Food Truck: Truck… watch their Facebook and Instagram for where they may be. (704) 299-1865.

Jimmy John’s: (C, D) Call ahead to have them come to the curb. The delivery app has a “leave at doorstep” option. Check your local listings for more details.

Krankie’s: (T) full-menu, coffee and bags of coffee. (336) 722-3016.

Honky Tonk Smokehouse: (T, D, C) 11:00-8:00, Tuesday – Saturday (336) 794-2270. Swipeby for (C) Take Out Central or Postmates for (D).

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill: (T, D) Enjoy 20% OFF ToGo with promo code 20TOGO on their website! DoorDash, UberEats or Postmates (D). (336) 659-3973

Goody’s Grill: (T, C) Curbside being a drive-thru. 336-765-3100

HakkaChow: (T) (336) 893-8178

Rooster’s – A Noble Grille: (T) — (336) 777-8477

Village Tavern (both Reynolda Village/Hanes Mall): (T, C) 15% off to go and 25% off bottles of wine. (336) 760-8686 (HM); (336) 748-0221 (RV).

Cloverdale Kitchen: (C) — (336)725-4701

Small Batch: 11-8:30pm food and growler fills. (336) 893.6395 (T, C through Swipeby, D through Uber Eats)

Mossy’s: (T, C) Via their website or (336) 766-7045.

Viva Chicken: (T, C) via their website or Viva Chicken App. (336) 607-5355.

Cugino Forno: (T, D) via their website or (336) 448-0102.

Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing: (T, C) online or (336) 999-8945

Forsyth Seafood Market and Cafe: (T) — (336) 748-0793

Greek Guy’s Grill: (C, T) Drive-thru. Call ahead pick up at the window. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, full menu. (336) 794-2545

HakkaChow Asian Eats: (T) — (336) 893-8178

Vincenzo’s: (D, T) — (336) 765-3707

West Coast Wanderer, Food Truck: Truck (303) 834-5984

Intown Donutz: (T, D) — (336) 331-3414

3 Layers Cakery: (T, D) — (336) 701-0510

Little Richard’s Barbecue: (C, D, T) All Locations — (336) 766-0401

Duck Donuts: (T, C) — (336) 893-5356

Bad Daddy Burger Bar: (T, D) — (336) 893-6456

Los Toritos Mexican Cuisine: (D, T) — (336) 829-5232 DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub

Restaurant Week Comes to Downtown WSNC February 20-26

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The 2017 edition of Restaurant Week is upon us, starting today! Like The Big Eat before it, Restaurant Week highlights the fantastic food in Downtown Winston-Salem, offered by many delicious restaurants on uniquely made prix fixe meals.  Reservations are highly recommended and if you’re not going to make your reservation, be courteous to the folks who may want your spot, and to the restaurant themselves: call and cancel as soon as possible.

You can find all the specials for each participating restaurant on the official page for the event, HERE.

According to the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership the following rules apply:

Restaurant Week Specials are dine-in only.
Restaurant Specials are subject to change, excludes tax and tip.
Please check with individual restaurants concerning food ingredients, allergens, and any additional restrictions, thank you.
Restaurant Week Specials are subject to availability.
Restaurants may run out of the Special.
If there is an error on this page, the official restaurant special at the Restaurant is correct.
Please check with restaurants prior to dining if you have questions about the Specials.
The restaurant is not obligated to provided a replacement dish.
Coupons are not accepted in conjunction with these specials. Check with restaurants for coupon policies.

The restaurants that are participating are:

6th & Vine, Bernardin’s, Bib’s Downtown, Burger Batch, Carolina’s Vineyards and Hops, DiLisio’s Italian Restaurant, Downtown Thai & Pho, Foothills Brewing, Hutch & Harris, Jeffery Adams on Fourth, King’s Crab Shack, Mellow Mushroom, Meridian, Miami Restaurant, Mission Pizza, Mooney’s, Mozelle’s, Old Fourth Street Filling Station, The Porch, Quanto Basta, Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar, Sweet Potatoes, Thai Harmony, Tokyo Shapiro, Twin City Slice, and Willows Bistro.