Cary Living magazine November/December

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

Decadent Holiday Dinners

FESTIVE DECOR 7 WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE 2020 GIFT GUIDE

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Why go anywhere else?

Anyone can provide advice. At Edward Jones, our goal is to provide advice and guidance tailored to your needs.

That’s why we live and work in your community. When it comes to your financial needs and goals, we believe you deserve face-to-face attention.

You talk, we listen, and we get to know you.

• Retirement Plan Rollovers and Consolidation • Individual Retirement Accounts • Portfolio and Retirement Plan Reviews • Business Retirement Plans • Education Savings Strategies • Insurance • Fixed Income Investments For more information or to schedule a complimentary financial review, call or stop by today.

Brian Mullins

H

ow do you make a difference in your community? Sorting vegetables at a food bank? Buying from local businesses? Volunteering in your child’s classroom? There are many ways to lend a hand — but always more needs than the average person has enough time or resources to attend to. If you’re like me, you may feel you need to do, or give, more. Especially this time of year.

That’s why I’m incredibly humbled and inspired by seven local women who are making a purposeful effort to better their communities.

We share their good deeds and outstanding character with you beginning on page 44. These remarkable women have battled human trafficking and catastrophic events, made local government history, created opportunities to buy goods that benefit communities in need, taught and supported local artists, and helped local children in need. As Thanksgiving and the winter holidays approach, I’m grateful for their devotion to our community — and excited for you, our readers, to meet them.

Speaking of the holidays, what will your celebrations look like this year? Will they be virtual, or will you gather with loved ones at home? Turn to page 58 for tips on how to create a virtual holiday event. And for those of you who may prefer spacing tables and seating further apart, and replacing mints with masks for your guests, turn to page 42 for expert advice on how to host a safe — and distant — holiday meal everyone can enjoy.

When it comes to planning that meal, local restaurants are here to help. On page 24 discover several that are offering decadent side dishes and desserts — even entire meals — you can take home for your holiday feast. As a bonus, these restaurants have shared select recipes with us so you can make some of their most popular holiday dishes at home.

While seasonal gatherings may be smaller — or virtual — this year, they are still reason enough to fill your home with festive décor. On page 38, local designers offer ideas for how you can take a simplified approach to decorating your home during this magical season.

And be sure to explore our holiday gift guide, which starts on page 31. It’s your one-stop shop for finding unique and memorable treasures every person on your list will love.

Meet the Cary Senior Writers’ Group on page 56, and discover how ACME Pizza in Holly Springs delivers an authentic taste of Chicago to southwestern Wake County on page 54.

Bonnie Fischer, AAMS® Financial Advisor

113A North Salem Street Apex, NC 27502

919-362-5449 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

There’s so much more to discover in our November/December issue. We hope the stories we share here will inspire you to cherish every person, meal and tradition that makes your holiday season special. And then when those moments come to an end, bring on 2021. I think we’re all ready!

Beth Shugg, Editor Correction: Our September/October 2020 cover description and “Game On: Fall Fashion-

Forward Moves for a Socially Distant Night With Friends” feature contained the following errors: In the cover description on page 8, Metallicity Jewellery Design’s Sterling silver cuff bracelet from Twig Collection ($575) was accidentally labeled as a John Hardy cuff; on page 22,

we omitted recognition of Metallicity Jewellery Design’s 14 karat yellow gold ring from Twig

Collection ($624) on the model’s right hand. We apologize for these errors and are grateful to Metallicity Jewellery Design for loaning these beautiful pieces to us for our photo shoot.

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Cary Living magazine.

Please email beth@caryliving.com with your comments.

6 | caryliving.com

Photo by Bruce DeBoer

EDI TO R’S LETTER

THE DREAM TEAM Photo by Somer Handley

WHO WE ARE WHAT NEW SERVICES ARE YOU EXCITED TO OFFER? Patients are often anxious to get back to their fitness routine after surgery. We now offer patients complimentary post-op Emsculpt treatments, which allows them tomaintain some aspects of their fitness level and further improve their physique during recovery. We also offer Emsella to strengthen the pelvic floor, which can enhance the results of a Mommy Makeover.

HOW DO YOU SHOW PATIENTS YOU CARE POST-TREATMENT? We are preemptive and proactive about post-operative pain control. Our goal is for patients to leave the recovery area with a smile and to enjoy a less than 24-hour return to light, routine daily activities.

DESCRIBE YOUR DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP DYNAMIC. We pay very close attention to our patients’ goals, routine and lifestyle to tailor a plan that suits them best.

WHAT SETS YOUR PRACTICE APART? Our practice is designed for the most discerning patients, many of which are physicians, physician’s assistants and nursing professionals.

We only employ board-certified anesthesiologists and our on-site ambulatory surgery center has both AAAASF and Joint Commission accreditation. Our high-profile patients appreciate our discreet private entrance.

MOMMY MAKEOVER Actual patient of Blue Water Plastic Surgery

WHAT IS THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS MEDICAL MYTH YOU’VE HEARD? That breast augmentation is a“simple surgery.”

Merely making breasts bigger is pretty easy to do, but creating augmented breasts that look and feel natural, that have an aesthetically ideal shape and that maintain a beautiful appearance for years to come requires expertise, attention to detail and an artist’s eye.

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PUBLI S H ER Ronny Stephens EDI TOR Beth Shugg C R EATI V E DI R ECTOR Linda J. Van de Zande A DV ERTI S I N G DESIGN Jordan Beard COPY EDI TO R Cindy Huntley SOCIAL MEDIA/ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Brittany Murdock S EN I O R ACCOUN T EX EC UTIVE S Meredith Mills Charis Painter ACCO UN T EX EC UT IVE Aubrey Finley DI STR I BUTI ON Joe Lizana, Manager distributech.net CON TR I BUTI N G WR I TER S Elizabeth Brignac, Melanie Deziel, Mandy Howard, Katie Jansen, Elizabeth Kane, Nancy Panko, Charlotte Russell CON TR I BUTI N G PH OTO G R A PH E RS Bruce DeBoer, MASH Photography, Brian Mullins, Dustin Peck, Ty Van de Zande

Cary Living magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.

Cary Living magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography, or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material will become the property of the magazine and will be subject to editing. Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Cary Living magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

SUBSCRIPTIONS 6 print issues (1 year) Available online at caryliving.com 4818-204 Six Forks Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone: 919.782.4710 Fax: 919.782.4763

8 | caryliving.com

Dr. Todd Bovenizer Dr. Chris Baker

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Corner of Green Level West Rd, Hwy 55, High House Rd

Schedule Your Free New Patient Consultation Today!

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CONTENTS N OV E M B E R | D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 0

MASH Photography

F E AT U R E S

Brian Mullins

24

42

24

DE CADE NT H OL I DAY DI NNE RS

Preorder a multicourse meal—or scrumptious sides—

from local restaurants

31

THE

Ideas from local shops and

boutiques for everyone on your list

38

COMFORT AND J OY

Your guide to creating simplified—

but beautiful—holiday decor

42

PL ANNI NG SAFE —AND DI STANT—HOL I DAY ME AL S

Expert tips for ensuring guests

feel comfortable in your home

44

WORKI NG FOR CHANGE

Meet 7 Wake County women

who are making a difference

2020 H OL I DAY GI FT GUI DE

ON TH E C OVE R: Pumpkin Custard Bread Pudding With La Farm’s Pumpkin Challah, photographed by MASH Photography

10 | caryliving.com

S

CONTENTS N OV E M B E R | D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 0

E PA R T M E N T S D 54 C H E F’ S TABLE

ACME Pizza is following a deep dish dream

CallisonRTKL

56 C O M M U N I T Y The Cary Senior Writers’ Group forges on, despite COVID-19

C O M M U N I T Y 56

58 E N T E R T A I N M E N T Tips for taking your holiday celebrations virtual

iStock Rimma_Bondarenko

I N

EVERY ISSUE

15 O N T H E S C E N E Social Scene ǀ Home Styler ǀ Sister Cities E N T E R T A I N M E N T 58

60 O U T & A B O U T

Dine & Draft ǀ Events ǀ New Around Town

Town of Cary

66 K A L E I D O S C O P E L I V I N G

12 | caryliving.com

E V E N T S 63

S

Visit us for

WEEKLY CAMPUS TOURS - or -

OPEN HOUSES SHEPHERDING Hearts CULTIVATING Excellence

October 24, 2019 Octo & January 21, 019 2021 January 23, 2020 6:00 P.M. 6:00P.M. - 8:00 8:0- 8P.M. Contactt us to register: re r: 919.303.2560, 9 2560, ext. 2 252 carychristianschool.org car anschool.

1330 Old Apex Road | Cary, NC 27513 | www.carychristianschool.org

LESS RED KETTLES + GREATER NEED = NO PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE $500 online gift sponsors a family in need. Please visit wakearmy.org.

Sponsored by #RESCUECHRISTMAS - WAKEARMY.ORG 14 | caryliving.com

the ON SCENE |

HOME STYLER

|

SISTER CITIES

ENCHANTED AIRLIE

Brett Cottrell

SOCIAL SCENE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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SOCIAL SCENE

Let’s Connect!

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

If you’re in the Holly Springs area, stop by the newly opened Bestow Baked Goods, located at 4209 Lassiter Road. Cupcakes, cookies and the most incredible oatmeal cream pies await.

Spice up your lunch routine with Kõ•än’s Xpress menu.

The Korean-style chicken wings and cauliflower are among some of our favorite items off its diverse and affordable menu. Place your order online and call the restaurant when you arrive for easy curbside pickup.

Kõ•än is located at 2800 Renaissance Park Place in Cary.

Get Social With Us! 16 | caryliving.com

caryliving.com

carylivingmagazine

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“From customized attire to casual sportswear, the Gentlemen’s Corner has you covered.�

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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HOME STYLER

DINE FESTIVELY –IN–

STYLE

2

BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VENDORS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

1

1 VIETRI Optical gold stem champagne flute, $26 | Quintessentials

Dress up your dining room table in style this holiday season with tableware and decor from local shops.

2 MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check enamel 5-quart casserole, $195 | Bailey’s Fine Jewelry 3 Ardmore napkins (set of 2), $60 | The Warehouse Interiors 4 Canadel’s Loft Collection dining table, $2,783 Canadel’s Loft Collection dining chair with upholstered seat, $432 Canadel’s Loft Collection dining bench with upholstered seat, $848 Canadel’s Loft Collection buffet, $2,899 | Furnish 5 Three-tier vintage cake stand, $65 Streets of London Antiques

3

5

Canazel

4

18 | caryliving.com

Getting Creative with Classics At Ravenscroft, learning comes alive as students explore literature, history, fine arts and world languages in a rigorous classroom environment that encourages critical thinking, communication and collaboration — 21st-century skills that will prepare them to lead and learn no matter where their passions take them.

919.847.0900 • www.ravenscroft.org 7409 Falls of Neuse Road • Raleigh, NC 27615

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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SISTER CITIES

Sensational Holiday

Jonathan Coleman/CMS

Lights

Take a weekend trip

BY CINDY to Charlotte or Wilmington to enjoy these must-see light displays.

HUNTLEY

Charlotte Area Christmas Town USA

NCPix.com

If you’re visiting the Charlotte area for the holidays, don’t miss McAdenville’s transformation into Christmas Town USA, where residents and business owners in the downtown area put on charming Christmas-themed displays. Now in its 65th year, the town was voted as the No. 2 Best Public Holiday Lights Display in the Nation by USA Today. While this year’s event will be scaled down due to COVID-19, the sights are still sure to impress. The displays run December 1–26.

Visit mcadenville-christmastown.com for more information.

CARS LINE UP ANNUALLY IN MCADENVILLE/CHRISTMAS TOWN USA TO SEE THE LIGHTS.

Wilmington Area Enchanted Airlie

Beautiful by day, Wilmington’s Airlie Gardens transforms into a stunning evening wonderland of lights and music to celebrate the holiday season. Due to COVID-19, some changes have been made to this year’s celebration. Tickets must be purchased in advance (this event often sells out). Visit airliegardens.org/events/enchanted-airlie to purchase yours, or to obtain more information.

Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla

It’s hard to beat the sparkly lights of Christmastime, but Carolina Beach’s Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla makes them all the more magical as the lights dance on the surface of the water. Enjoy this spectacular celebration along the Intracoastal Waterway, as local fishing and pleasure boats compete for prizes with their electronic light displays. The event, which is free, will not take place this year due to the pandemic, but you can learn more about it for a future visit there pleasureislandoflights.com/christmas-flotilla.html.

20 | caryliving.com

ENCHANTED AIRLIE

November 18 - 22 The Carolina Hotel 80 Carolina Vista, Pinehurst A BeneďŹ t for Sandhills Children’s Center

Speedway Christmas

On your mark, get set, Christmas time! Each holiday season the Charlotte Motor Speedway puts on a breathtaking drive-through light show. Tune into 101.3 FM to enjoy holiday music as you navigate the 3.75-mile route, which includes most of the racing oval and features more than 4 million lights. Christmas-themed drive-in movies are also offered on select nights. Find more information at

Due to COVID-19 restrictions,

Festival of Trees will be a reserved

admission event. Patrons MUST reserve the day and time of their visit.

For complete details and to reserve your spot,

visit www.FestivalofTrees.org

charlottemotorspeedway.com/ events/speedway-christmas.

1FBL$JUZ$#% DPN

$#%

$#% NBZ IFMQ XJUI BOYJFUZ TMFFQ BDIFT QBJOT JOŤBNNBUJPO Brett Cottrell

Steve Rankin

Charlotte Area

.BEF JO $BSZ 'BSN UP #PUUMF $IFNJTU $SBGUFE

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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The Garden on Millbrook Â

Events

Edibles Elegance

Celebrate Magical Moments at Millbrook

�� � �  ­ € � �‚ � �� ‚ � � �� ­ � �

22 | caryliving.com

FEATURES

Brian Mullins MASH Photography

DECADENT DINNERS

|

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

|

FESTIVE DECOR

| TABLE SETTINGS

|

INSPIRING WOMEN

ST. ROCH’S RAW OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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24 | caryliving.com

Decadent Holiday Dinners Preorder a multicourse meal — or scrumptious sides — from local restaurants

BY KATIE JANSEN PHOTOS BY MASH PHOTOGRAPHY ROSEWATER’S TAKEOUT PRIME RIB DINNER

Holiday gatherings

are quickly approaching, and it’s time to start thinking about the food you’ll serve. At the end of the unprecedented and stressful year that was 2020, you’ll likely want to keep your holiday meal planning simple — while still enjoying a decadent, multicourse dinner.

Restaurants in Raleigh and surrounding towns are prepared to help. Here are a few offering holiday dishes and meals for takeout, so you can enjoy their amazing food in the comfort of your own home.

Bonus: Several of these restaurants have provided recipes you can make at home for your holiday guests.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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ST. ROCH FINE OYSTERS + BAR 223 WILMINGTON STREET, RALEIGH strochraleigh.com

ST.ROCH’S PIMENTO’D ROASTED OYSTERS

MANDOLIN’S APPLE AND LEEK BREAD PUDDING

This holiday season, fans of New Orleansinspired St. Roch Oysters + Bar can preorder a variety of dishes to bring a taste of Louisiana home. Offerings include specialty items, such as the smoked pimento cheese with fried saltines and “trinity syrup,” a housemade cocktail syrup based off the “holy trinity” of New Orleans cooking — carrot, bell pepper and onion.

Other options include andouille and boudin sausages and seafood gumbo. Oyster lovers can choose between fresh and roasted platters — shucked and packaged on ice with all the fixings, including mignonette, cocktail sauce and pickled banana peppers.

Those looking for a new holiday dish can pick up the gator bolognese, a meaty pasta sauce made of — you guessed it — gator, ready to be served over fresh pasta, which is also available from St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar. “People eat differently in different places,” says owner and chef Sunny Gerhart. “We’re taking these things eaten traditionally in New Orleans and making them a little bit more approachable and versatile. People get to try something new and likely wouldn’t even realize they’re eating gator.”

MANDOLIN 2519 FAIRVIEW ROAD, RALEIGH mandolinraleigh.com Mandolin is offering prepared meals that diners can pop into their ovens the morning of their holiday meal. Like Mandolin’s dine-in menu, the restaurant’s Thanksgiving menu takes an elevated approach to Southern classics. For example, you can bring home aligot, a French version of a cheesy mashed potato dish; or the savory leek and apple bread pudding in place of a stuffing. Other sides, which are served with the traditional turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce, include green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole and yeast rolls. For dessert, choose a pie or two.

While Mandolin chef and owner Sean Fowler hasn’t finalized the Christmas menu yet, he says diners can expect offerings structured similarly to the Thanksgiving meal. His holiday meals are an extension of the Farmhouse Meals program, a delivery program that Mandolin launched shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic forced all restaurants to close for dine-in services.

26 | caryliving.com

ROSEWATER KITCHEN & BAR

110 PARK AT NORTH HILLS, RALEIGH rosewaterraleigh.com At Rosewater, diners don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas Day to celebrate the holidays with amazing food at home. Chef Brian Jenzer is offering a takeout prime rib dinner Thursdays through Saturdays throughout November and December.

The dinner also includes roasted fingerling potatoes with lemon garlic butter, marinated olives, the restaurant’s signature charred Caesar salad, and bread from Union Special in Raleigh. Diners can add desserts from the regular menu and request a wine bottle pairing.

NOFO @ the Pig

ROSEWATER’S PRIME RIB

2014 FAIRVIEW ROAD, RALEIGH nofo.com

NOFO @ the Pig has been offering holiday meals for nearly 20 years. While the holiday menu is separate from the regular café menu, it does include a few year-round favorites, like the collards.

Prepared by Chef Dan Gray, the holiday meal offers a choice between warm pimento cheese or crab dip, roast turkey or beef tenderloin with gravy, and oyster dressing or traditional dressing. Other offerings, which can be customized in any combination for any number of people, include country ham rolls, snowy potatoes, corn pudding, smoked bacon braised brussels sprouts and dinner rolls with honey butter. To order, call the restaurant at 919.821.1240 and ask for Jean or Dan.

La Farm Bakery

4248 NORTHWEST CARY PARKWAY, CARY 220 WEST CHATHAM STREET, CARY 5055 ARCO STREET, CARY (inside Whole Foods Market) The holidays are the busiest time of year at La Farm Bakery, with many guests returning annually for their favorite breads and baked goods. “This is the most exciting and special time for us because we see so many customers, and many of them have been visiting us for decades because sharing our breads with their families has become tradition,” says master baker Lionel Vatinet.

“Because people feel so connected to our breads, we make sure to keep the same ones every year — like the pumpkin bread and the stollen — while also adding a few new offerings to the mix.”

New offerings this year include the Holiday Brioche, which is covered in sugar, and the Cranberry Noel, which Vatinet describes as a “snow-capped brioche” made with a hint of cinnamon and topped with a meringue crust.

During November, shoppers can pick up buttermilk yeast rolls to accompany their meal, available in ready-toeat or heat-and-serve options. Dessert offerings for November include pumpkin and pecan tarts. And for those looking to make a scrumptious treat at home, don’t forget to pick up a loaf of pumpkin challah — which can be used to make a delicious bread pudding that is perfect for either dessert or brunch.

NOFO @ THE PIG’S CORN PUDDING

LA FARM’S PUMPKIN SPICE CHALLAH

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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Holiday Recipes From Local CheFS Pumpkin Custard Bread Pudding With La Farm’s Pumpkin Challah Ingredients for the Pumpkin Custard 1 loaf of pumpkin spice challah 1½ cups of eggs, whole 1½ cups of half-and-half or milk ²∕³ cup of pumpkin puree 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 1 tablespoon of maple syrup 2 tablespoons of sugar ¾ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice Pinch of ground cloves Ingredients for the Pecan or Walnut Topping 3 tablespoons of brown sugar ²∕³ cup of pecans or walnuts ½ teaspoon of cinnamon ¹⁄8 teaspoon or pinch of nutmeg

NOFO @ The Pig’s Corn Pudding

Ingredients 40 ounces of fresh or frozen corn, chopped 3 heaping tablespoons of all-purpose flour 1 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon of salt 1¼ pounds of butter 6 eggs, beaten 2 cups of warm milk Pinch of Cayenne or crushed red pepper Directions Mix all ingredients well and pour them into a 9-by-13-inch greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with vegetable oil. Slice and cut the bread into 1-by-1-inch pieces. Place the pieces in a baking pan.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs together. Then add in the sugar, half-and-half (or milk), vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, maple syrup and pumpkin puree.

Pour the custard mixture over the top of the bread cubes.

Place all ingredients for the pecan or walnut topping in a bowl and mix them with fork. Layer the pecan or walnut topping evenly over the challah cubes and custard.

Bake for 35–45 minutes or until the custard is cooked through. Test by inserting a knife into the center (the knife should come out clean).

To serve, cut into approximately 6-by-2-inch pieces to create 12 portions. Top with your favorite bourbon sauce, caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream or powdered sugar.

Rosewater’s Lemon Garlic Butter for Roasted Potatoes Ingredients 1 pound of butter at room temperature ¼ cup of rosemary, chopped ½ cup of parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon of salt ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper 2 lemons, juiced and zested ¼ cup of garlic puree

Directions Place all items in a food processor and blend together.

Check for seasoning. Drizzle over roasted potatoes.

Mandolin’s Apple and Leek Bread Pudding Ingredients 3 quarts of brioche, diced into ¼-inch cubes 7 large egg yolks 1½ quarts of heavy cream 4 tablespoons of bacon fat 1½ tablespoons of thyme, picked from the stem 1 tablespoon of rosemary, picked from the stem and minced 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, grated 2 teaspoons of salt 1½ teaspoons of ground black pepper 1 pint of leeks, julienned 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 3 apples (Honeycrisp, Pink Lady or Stayman) 1 quart of water 2 lemons 3-quart casserole dish 3 tablespoons of butter 1 pint of diced celery Directions Render the bacon fat over low heat on the stove or in the microwave on high for 30 – 45 seconds until melted. Whisk the yolks, heavy cream and rendered bacon fat together.

Whisk in the thyme, rosemary, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Set the mixture aside.

Sauté the leeks in the vegetable oil over medium heat until just softened, for about two minutes. Set aside.

Juice the two lemons into the quart of water and mix together. Dice the apples into ¼” cubes, placing the cubes into the lemon water. This prevents the apples from turning brown. Discard the cores, seeds and stems. Reserve the diced apples in the acidulated water.

Butter the surface of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish.

NOFO @ THE PIG’S CORN PUDDDING

In a large mixing bowl, toss together the celery, bread and leeks. Strain the apples out of the water and add them to the mixture. Toss lightly to evenly incorporate all of the ingredients. Loosely pack your bread mixture into the casserole dish. Lightly whisk your custard mixture and pour it evenly over the top of the casserole. Firmly press your bread mixture into the pan until it is tightly packed. Nearly all of the bread should be soaking in the custard. Cover it tightly with the casserole dish’s lid or aluminum foil. You can refrigerate the pudding for a half a day before baking it. Bring it up to room temperature before putting it into the oven.

Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, covered.

Remove the cover and bake the dish for an additional 15 minutes or until the custard is set and the pudding is golden brown on top. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 – 10 minutes, then serve.

28 | caryliving.com

ROSEWATER’S LEMON GARLIC BUTTER ON ROASTED POTATOES

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Whether you’ve moved across the country, across the state, or across town, we want to meet you to say hello and to help you with tips as you get settled. Our basket is loaded with useful gifts, information, and cards you can redeem for more gifts at local businesses.

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THE 2020 HOLIDAY

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Whispering Willow Lavender Bath Salt, $14.99 Whispering Willow Lavender Hand Soap, $13.99 Whispering Willow Lavender Bar Soap, $7.99 Whispering Willow Cedar Soap Dish, $5.99 Sixpence Accents

10 Millimeter Wide Sterling Silver Ring, $165 6 Millimeter Wide 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring, $625 Metallicity Jewellery Design

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Smitten for You Clutch in Gray, $85 Smitten for You Clutch in Tortoise, $85 The Gatorbug

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Ippolita Earrings, $595 Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

Zodax 5-Piece Mikhola Bar Tool Set, $120.95 NOFO @ the Pig

Camp Craft Cocktails Sangria Kit, $26.50 DECO Raleigh

Tonya’s Pecan Brittle, $12.99 “Mama Dip’s Family Cookbook” by Mildred Council, $18.95 Sweet Tea & Cornbread Cornbread Mix, $12.99 Sweet Tea & Cornbread Pound Cake, $45 Tonya’s Chocolate Pecan Crisp Cookies, White Chocolate Pecan Crisp, and Pecan Crisp Cookies Three-Pack, $27.99 Sweet Tea & Cornbread NC

Insulated Wine Duffel, $34 Insulated Beverage Bag, $34 StUf n SUCh

Hand-Carved Mango Wood Salad Servers (Set of 2), $32.85 Steven Shell Living

Bella Cucina Pane Rustico Italian Flatbread Cracker, $9.99 Bella Cucina Spinach Artichoke Bruschetta Spread, $20 Bella Cucina Artichoke Lemon Pesto, $15 Bella Cucina Sweet Pepper Pesto, $15 vomFASS

Golf Club Bottle Opener, $24.99 NOFO @ the Pig

NC Marble Board, $32 Swagger

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LE CRESUSET

Le Creuset Rectangular Casserole Dish, $80 Le Creuset Heritage Loaf Pan, $50 Le Creuset French Press, $75

Le Creuset Heritage Mug, $18 Le Creuset Braiser, $360 Le Creuset Cast Iron Skillet, $180

Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven, $360 Le Creuset Utensil Crock, $50 Whisk

FJÄLLRÄVEN

Fjällräven Original Kånken Backpack, $80 Apex Outfitter & Board Co.

34 | caryliving.com

LAFCO Reed Diffuser in Scent Sea & Dune, $109 Opulence of Southern Pines

Waterfowl Decanter Set, $80 Onward Reserve

Move Over Pillow, $40 Swagger

Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Steel and 18 Karat Red Gold With Anthracite Dial, $12,100 Fink’s Jewelers

Secrid Wallets, $44.95 – $134.95 Liles Clothing Studio

North Carolina State University Pillow, $69.60 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Pillow, $78.20 Steven Shell Living

Solo Stove Titan Camp Stove, $89 Apex Outfitter Board & Co.

Edwin Jagger 3-Piece Classic Shaving Set, $160 Opulence of Southern Pines

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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“A Christmas Carol” – A BabyLit Book, $9.99 “Anne of Green Gables” – A BabyLit Book, $9.99 DECO Raleigh

Cavallini & Co. Butterflies Vintage Puzzle, $19.95 DECO Raleigh

Happy Camper Set by Maileg – Girl Hiking Mouse, $34 Happy Camper Set by Maileg – Boy Hiking Mouse, $34 Happy Camper Tent, $38 Rubber Boat by Maileg, $24 Stylish Living

Zippy Paws Interactive Puzzle Dog Toy – Box of Chocolates, $13.99 Elk Antler, $19.99 Roam Ossy Dog Chews, $13.99 Phydeaux

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“Savings Were Never More Fun” Custom Piggy Bank, $40 StUf n SUCh

Handcrafted 3D Wood Animal Puzzles With Surprise Inside for Dogs, $147 Handcrafted 3D Wood Animal Puzzles With Surprise Inside for Cats, $182 Cocoon Gallery

Wicks for Wags Chestnut + Vanilla Soy Candle, $12.99 White Paw Hound Seltzer Dog Toy, $14.99 Woof Gang Signature Pumpkin Treats, $8.95 Gotcha Day Dog Bone, $9.99 Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming

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GIANNI COOLING

BirdRock Baby Moccasins in Classic Brown, $26 Mission Market

The Dog Bow Tie, $69 Gianni Cooling

Doc & Phoebe’s The Hunting Feeders, $19.99 Feline Frenzy Sassy Sushi Nip Toy Collection, $8.99 Juicy Bites Cat Treat, $4.49 Kong Naturals Premium Catnip, $4.49 OurPets Eek! Mouse, $3.99 Bergan Turbo Plastic Ball, $.99 Phydeaux

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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38 | caryliving.com

Comfort Joy AND

YOUR GUIDE TO C R E A T I N G S I M P L I F I E D — B U T B E A U T I F U L — H O L I DAY D E C O R

BY ELIZABETH KANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN PECK

T

he holidays have arrived.

Can you feel it? The warmth of sparkling lights, the smell of freshly baked treats, and the splendor of lush greenery adorning mantles, stairways and doorframes surround you, engaging all of your senses and building anticipation for upcoming holiday celebrations.

Although this long and challenging year has delivered many hardships, nothing can break the spirit of the season. Holiday gatherings may be smaller — and perhaps some will be virtual — but they are still reason enough to fill your home with festive décor, no matter what your celebration (or budget) looks like. We asked local designers to offer pro tips on how you can take a simplified approach to decorating your home during this magical season. Let’s dive in.

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BRING

in the

OUTDOORS

Bring the scent and look of the outdoors into your home this holiday season. Adorn your

mantle and tables with lush greenery from tree clippings. Venture outdoors to look for natural items, like magnolias, magnolia leaves and pinecones. Cover flowers with spray paint. Scatter items strategically around your home, or arrange them in vases and decorative containers.

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iStock/NTabitazn

— Vicky Serany, principal designer of Southern Studio Interior Design

Place a wreath in the center of your table instead of candles. Arrange battery-operated twinkle string lights in bowls.

— Mitch Danforth, Danforth Designed, newly renamed Bungalow Theory

E M B R A C E T H E U N E X P E C T E D — A N D YO U R O W N C R E AT I V I T Y Showcasing your family’s creative talents might have always been a part of the holiday season, but it’s especially important in 2020. “I think this year is about embracing the unexpected, embracing reinvention and embracing humor,” says Mitch Danforth, lead designer with Raleighbased Danforth Designed, newly renamed Bungalow Theory. “It’s a good year to be thoughtful about how we create our surroundings.”

Since this celebratory phase lasts only a short time, most people feel comfortable changing up and taking a more creative approach to their home décor, Danforth says. He encourages pulling a few outdoor pieces ​inside​ this year. “Why not have one of those [decorative outdoor] reindeer inside your house, and have this chuckle when you walk in?” he suggests.

Regarding those outdoor market lights you might have on your deck or patio? Danforth suggests bringing them indoors and hanging them up across a room of your choice using some small hooks to “amp up” the festive look. (See our sidebar for more tips on how to festively bring outdoor décor into your home.)

Danforth also suggests using wrapping paper to cover walls, in addition to gifts. “Create a temporary holiday backsplash in a kitchen, a festive background wall for video calls or even a horizontal stripe around a child’s bedroom,” he says.

C R E AT E T I M E L E S S , V E R S AT I L E S C E N E S Vicky Serany, principal designer of Southern Studio Interior Design in Cary, says she doesn’t bother buying a lot of “busy” trinkets. Instead, she encourages investing in classic, timeless items you can change around every year.

“I like pieces that have interest and can be used in many different ways,” she says, adding that the right décor can last through winter. For example, twig trees can be placed by a screen porch or door to create a wintry look.

Judy Pickett, founder and senior designer of Design Lines Signature in Raleigh, also encourages planning winter-themed arrangements so you can enjoy the décor longer. Take inspiration from seasonal elements such as birds, snow, stars, forest trees and woodsy pieces that celebrate the full season, she suggests.

Danforth recommends scaling down the number of items you think you’ll need. Choose one piece or theme you really like and repeat it over and over again, “instead of trying to do it all,” he says. For example, place white tea candles throughout your house and light all of them for a special night. “That can make it feel like the holidays,” he says, adding that using light in this way is powerful and inexpensive.

Jennifer Harris, an interior designer with Design Lines Signature in Raleigh, suggests looking for “decorations you can see yourself using for a longer period of time.”

Go with a “more neutral palette,” she offers, buying items you can continue to use each year, no matter how your furnishings or accessories may change.

CRAFT NEW TRADITIONS Since many people likely won’t venture far from home this year, Christie Stewart, an interior designer with Design Lines Signature, says this might be a great holiday season to “make crafts with children and create new traditions within the home.” Hilaire Pickett Martin, head of operations with Design Lines Signature, agrees that this holiday season provides the perfect time to forge new traditions — like planning a festive baking day with the kids or cutting down your tree together.

You can also incorporate children’s holiday crafts into your decorating scheme. “You don’t have to get high-dollar items,” says Pickett Martin. “Get some pinecones and put glitter on them,” she suggests, adding that you could have the kids create a chain garland with construction paper or snowflakes using macaroni noodles.

LIGHT IT UP Both Stewart and Pickett suggest adorning your home’s exteriors with garlands, wreaths and white lights since, as Pickett explains, outdoor decorating can act as an outlet. “It’s a way of expressing your comfort and joy to others who may pass your home.” Exterior lighting strategically incorporated throughout your decorating scheme can be the key to creating a magical holiday look, she adds.

No matter what difficulties lie ahead, the enchantment of the holidays offers an opportunity to celebrate the people who truly matter to us and to appreciate the gifts we already have. We may be celebrating differently this year, but we can still make our gatherings beautiful, festive experiences.

Display ornaments in a pretty bowl as a centerpiece. Put small, white poinsettias in decorative pots or baskets and arrange them around the house. Bring out old holiday cards and place them on a serving tray, or have the kids cut them into ornaments and let them decorate their own little tree.

— Vicky Serany, principal designer of Southern Studio Interior Design Weave a beautiful ribbon into your wreath and consider adding in real or artificial cranberries.

— Design Lines Signature staff

Use a simple ribbon to hang a holiday wreath on your door. Wrap a piece of ribbon around white candles for a festive look.

— Vicky Serany, principal designer of Southern Studio Interior Design

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T Planning

S A F E A N D D I S T A N T

Holiday Meals B Y C H E RY L C A PA L D O T R AY L O R

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN MULLINS

he leaves have changed colors, cooler temperatures have arrived and winter holidays are near. Many families are planning festive dinners with friends and relatives gathered around their tables.

Or are they?

This year, we are dealing with a real Grinch who is threatening to steal our holiday spirit. Many wonder what the holidays will look like during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s hard to imagine celebrating this special time without our favorite people around us. But is it safe to be together? “We are social people and we want to be with our loved ones, and that is really great. But we need to protect each other — and especially the loved ones who are at higher risk of complications,” says Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, M.D., North Carolina’s state health director and chief medical officer for the Department of Health and Human Services. “Although we can’t make anything 100% safe, there are ways to reduce some of the risks involved.”

Since we’ve all become fairly adept at remote meetings with Zoom, FaceTime and Google Meet, some families may decide to celebrate holiday dinners together virtually. But for those who want to gather in person, Tilson and Emily Sickbert-Bennett, director of infection prevention at UNC Medical Center, share their best suggestions for enjoying a healthy holiday celebration.

LIMIT YOUR GUEST LIST AND COVER THE BASICS

Both doctors agree that families should follow these guidelines to keep each other safe: Limit the number of dinner guests you invite over, physically distance at least 6 feet apart while indoors and outdoors, wash hands and surfaces to prevent contamination, and wear masks while not actively eating or drinking. These measures are especially important if elderly grandparents or someone with an underlying health condition is present.

“Every family needs to be specific about which things are most important for them this holiday season, and can use these tools for making their most important things as safe as possible,” says Sickbert-Bennett. “It’s absolutely critical to stay home from any function — public or family — if you aren’t feeling well.”

DINE OUTDOOR— OR IN A LARGE ROOM

Tilson says the risk of spreading the virus is lower in outdoor settings, so if weather permits, hold your gatherings outside on the porch or deck.

Winter temperatures in our region can be quite mild, but if the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor dining, choose the largest room in your house and move the festivities where there is more space to safely distance.

E X T E N D O R U S E M U LT I P L E TA B L E S

Extend the table or set up tables in multiple rooms. Another idea is to host two small group dinners separately instead of one large gathering.

Patience, creativity and flexibility will go a long way with holiday planning this year.

S E T TA B L E S C R E AT I V E LY

While our holiday gatherings might look different, we certainly don’t have to sacrifice beauty when setting the tables. “This is the year of innovation,” says Vicky Serany, founder and principal designer of Southern Studio Interior Design in Cary, adding: “We are going to have to get creative on how we can all be together safely.”

Since buffets and shared serving utensils are out, Serany suggests preparing individual crocks of special holiday dishes, along with individually plated appetizers and desserts. Prepare food beforehand, so folks aren’t gathering closely in the kitchen. Tie a pretty ribbon around travel-size bottles of hand sanitizer for each place setting. A creative holiday mask can double as a table decoration and take-home party favor. And don’t forget to light the candles. “Make it simple, but special,” Serany says.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, CONSIDER USING FESTIVELY ADORNED, DISPOSABLE PAPER PRODUCTS TO HELP YOUR GUESTS FEEL SAFE. THE DECOR AND PAPER PRODUCTS SHOWN HERE WERE STYLED AND PROVIDED BY NOFO @ THE PIG IN RALEIGH. 42 | caryliving.com

P L A N A N D C O M M U N I C AT E

It’s important to understand and accept that this is new territory for all of us, but with mindful planning concerning health and safety, and clear communication about expectations, the time your family spends gathered this holiday season can still be festive and meaningful. “We still need to live our lives and we still need to be with our loved ones,” Tilson says.

Perhaps this year, we will discover — like the Grinch — what is truly worth celebrating. Let us all raise a glass at the table, in person or virtually, in gratitude and shared hope for a kinder new year.

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Working for Change Meet 7 Wake County women who are making a difference

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE DEBOER

From leadership and entrepreneurship to creating nonprofits and guiding us through emergencies, these women are building on their creativity, strength and talents to make a difference in our community.

44 | caryliving.com

Nicole Bernard Director of Shield North Carolina Shield North Carolina is dedicated to eliminating human trafficking at the community level. After serving in a Durham-based anti-trafficking organization, Nicole Bernard recognized a need in Wake County for community-level protection for individuals vulnerable to trafficking. Shield North Carolina educates people in direct-service work on how to identify and interact with victims of human trafficking.

It also advocates for policy change on every level of government and seeks to reduce demand for human trafficking by reducing consumption of products that use trafficking as a labor source.

The group disseminates information in many ways: By consulting with groups, public speaking events, research resources, podcasts and even Bernard’s young adult novel, “A War Against the Cowbird.” Bernard hopes other communities will build similar shield programs focused on grassroots prevention and awareness.

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Mandy Cohen

Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen’s department includes health care, child welfare and employment services, among many others.

Her current primary focus is leading North Carolina’s COVID-19 response, in which her policies have emphasized slowing the spread of the virus through prevention efforts and increased testing capacity.

Cohen has also focused on building long-term health in the community by encouraging people to take a more proactive approach to their health. “We really get to help people in many aspects of their lives, and at most of the levels where health is determined,” she notes. She aims to coordinate DHHS care systems to support one another in establishing the wellbeing of the whole person.

Cohen’s mother, a nurse practitioner, made her aware from childhood of the health care system’s challenges, motivating Cohen to get involved in building health care policy as an adult. An internal medicine physician, Cohen ran North Carolina’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services before becoming DHHS secretary in 2017.

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Eliz Colbert Director, North Carolina Virtual Public School North Carolina Virtual Public School, the second-largest state-led virtual education program in the country, allows North Carolina students to enhance their base curricula with subjects formerly relegated to metropolitan areas — forensics, for example, as well as many world languages and specialized advanced placement courses. Virtual courses also allow students who live far from business centers to learn about prospective careers from professional experts. As director, Eliz Colbert brings a rich history of outside-the-box teaching to NCVPS. She has led schools and classrooms focused on museum-based teaching, multi-age teaching and other innovative educational approaches. Colbert celebrates the support that NCVPS recently has been able to offer North Carolina’s teachers as they adapt to virtual education.

From March through August, more than 40,000 educators enrolled in NCVPS classes to learn — from the experts — how to make virtual learning accessible and engaging for their students.

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Chandra Cox Artist and Professor of Art and Design at North Carolina State University For decades, Chandra Cox has made community contributions as a public artist and university professor. She has designed many public art works, including projects at major transit stations in Charlotte where thousands of people interact with her work daily. Presently, she is working with the City of Raleigh on a commemorative design for Historic Oberlin Village, one of North Carolina’s first freedman communities.

Through her position as a North Carolina State University Department of Art and Design professor since the 1980s, Cox introduced Art2Wear, a student-led fibers and apparel runway extravaganza that has launched student careers in textile and fashion design.

She also initiated NCSU’s design studies program, which teaches history, culture and theory of design alongside traditional studio work. Cox has influenced many students, watching them go on to make extraordinary strides in design-oriented professions.

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Mary Donny Senior Manager, Global Event Management Center The Global Event Management Center is a Verizon division that provides threat monitoring, risk analysis and incident management when emergencies arise. As senior manager, Donny is in charge of coordinating seven global crisis management teams that facilitate response and recovery operations so first responders can communicate during emergencies. Her work also enables people caught in catastrophic events to communicate with emergency responders and family members. If service goes out during a community crisis, Donny’s department is responsible for restoring it.

Donny has served as Verizon liaison to state emergency operations centers, providing communication assets to emergency departments during times of crisis. She became senior manager of the Global Event Management Center after years of coordinating regional emergency response programs for the Eastern North Carolina Region of Red Cross and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

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Cary Heise Founder and Executive Director of Designed For Joy Cary Heise already had a history of small business entrepreneurship when she met a Rwandan woman helping sex-trafficking victims support themselves through skilled artisan labor. Heise modeled Designed For Joy, a brand of leather bags, jewelry and home décor items, on this very approach. Her business partners with direct-service organizations to provide vocational support to vulnerable women in Raleigh.

Women who have trouble finding employment due to criminal history, substance abuse history, mental health concerns or other difficulties can find a living wage at Designed For Joy, while also building skills, resumes and confidence. In the three years her business has been open, it has hired 35 women and paid nearly $90,000 in wages.

“We are launching equipped women into the marketplace,” Heise says.

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Maty Ferrer Hoppmann Director, Centro para Familias Hispanas Maty Ferrer Hoppmann directs Centro para Familias Hispanas (The Hispanic Family Center), a Catholic Charities USA organization that helps Hispanic families in Wake County integrate into the local community.

The center, which emphasizes children’s resources in particular, helps families access community systems and resources, and find affordable housing. As director, Hoppmann wears many hats. In addition to serving clients directly, she oversees the center’s programs and represents the center on many city committees. She coordinates with nonprofits and government agencies to bring the center into different parts of the community and establish service partnerships. “It has been very powerful — when you help people restore their lives and restore hope,” she says. “And that’s what we do every day.”

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TIPS FOR CARVING OUT SOME ME-TIME

BY CINDY HUNTLEY

With what feels like the weight of the world on your shoulders these days, it’s sometimes hard to prioritize self-care — but carving out the time to take care of yourself is important. We asked some of Wake County’s top local spas for suggestions on ways you and these hardworking women can recharge and reinvigorate your minds and bodies on a tight schedule.

• Start your day off right with sun protection. Meredith Harris of New Life Aesthetics encourages wearing physical sunscreen containing zinc and/or titanium dioxide EVERY day — rain or shine, inside or out. Try New Life Aesthetics’ proprietary Purely Physical SPF 47, a gentle and lightweight broad-spectrum sunscreen designed for daily use.

• Detox your body at Skin Sense’s Himalayan salt cave with a 45-minute session perfectly timed for your lunch break. The breathable particles used in this anti-inflammatory therapy will penetrate your body on a cellular level, drawing out toxins and impurities, and allowing your lungs and skin to absorb the nutrients your body craves.

to a close, we invite you to give a holiday gift that might mean more to a family, or community, than any gift ever has before.

• For those of you who are looking for medical-grade body-firming, R&R Spa offers non-invasive ultrasonic cavitation treatments that last just 30 – 45 minutes and require no downtime. Or for similar results with a more spa-like approach, try R&R Spa’s Circadia Body Treatment, a wrap that smooths and tightens, improving the appearance of cellulite and skin texture.

Shop the

• Working from home? Treat yourself to an at-home facial with the Museum Spa and Laser Center’s ZO Skin Health products. Start with the Getting Skin Ready kit and ZO Complexion Clearing Masque, then apply the ZO Enzymatic Peel for overnight treatment.

You’ll wake up with refreshed and glowing skin.

Donate a gift that will have a lasting impact in the lives of people in countries around the world.

Make a difference at

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52 | caryliving.com

• Unwind after a busy day with an aromatherapy massage at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. The long strokes of Swedish massage aid in muscle relaxation and promote circulation throughout the body, while calming scents reset the body and mind.

• And last but certainly not least, be sure to take care of your skin daily by using medical-grade skin care. Kile Law of Blue Water Spa says the levels of active ingredients in products available through plastic surgery practices are much higher than those same products sold in department stores or online. Law recommends Blue Water Spa’s Saturday Night Peel Pads, which she says are as close to a professional facial as you can get. Designed to be used just once a week for two minutes or less, they leave skin with a youthful glow and refined texture.

iStock/NightAndDayImages

COVID-19 has brought severe challenges for those facing hunger across the globe. Rise Against Hunger has been working around the clock to reach families in extreme crisis.

• Reverse the signs of aging and smooth away frown lines with a Botox treatment at Regenesis MD — then add on vitamin IV nutrition to support your immunity and keep your energy level high. With no downtime required for these treatments, you can head straight back to the office after you’re done.

DEPARTMENTS |

CO MMUNITY

|

ENT ERTA INMENT

ACME Pizza entree by Brian Mullins

CH E F ' S TA B LE

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D E PA R T M E N T S C H E F ' S TA B L E

ACME PIZZA FOLLOWING A DEEP DISH DREAM

BY KATIE JANSEN PHOTOS BY BRIAN MULLINS

54 | caryliving.com

F

or seven years now, the LaRussas have been bringing Chicago-style pizza to the Triangle by way of California. JP and Gwynne LaRussa, the husband-and-wife team behind ACME Pizza in Holly Springs, always dreamed of opening a restaurant of their own. JP, who grew up cooking with his Italian family, first worked in a restaurant as a dishwasher at age 17. The restaurant specialized in two things: deep dish Chicago-style pizza and salad. He worked his way up through the business, eventually becoming general manager. But eventually, the family tired of Oakland and began to look for a place to make their dream a reality.

After many Google searches and a few visits to the Triangle, they fell in love with Holly Springs.

They admired the tight-knit community and found a space for their restaurant that would be close to their home and to their three sons’ high school. So they packed up their belongings and their passion for deep dish Chicago-style pizza, and moved across the country.

‘DEEP DISH’ DEFINED

A quick lesson for the uninitiated: Deep dish gets its name because the crust is cooked in a deep pan rather than being tossed by hand like other pizzas. It’s a misconception that the crust is thick, Gwynne explains — it’s actually thin, with thicker, supportive sides that hold in the sauce and toppings. One of the most popular pizzas at ACME Pizza is “The Meathead,” which features Italian sausage, bacon, pepperoni and sliced meatballs, all on the same deep dish.

When the LaRussas first arrived in Holly Springs, deep dish wasn’t a familiar concept to some of their customers. Getting deep dish to catch on took some education, and even — in the case of New York transplants who were die-hard New York thin crust fans — some persuasion. “But we’ve been able to convert some of them,” JP says, laughing.

DEEP MENU

ACME Pizza has a staff of about 15 people, but JP and Gwynne lead the way — JP as the head chef and Gwynne as the baker for all of the desserts. They each have their specialties; Gwynne comments on the popularity of JP’s garlic knots, and JP compliments Gwynne’s “world-famous brownies.”

But more about these garlic knots. When the LaRussas arrived in Holly Springs, they had never even considered serving garlic knots; they just weren’t part of California’s food culture.

But they soon learned there were a lot of differences between what was eaten in California and in North Carolina, and they began to listen to their customers to learn what they expected from a pizza restaurant. (One of their most common findings: People want ranch dressing.

And at ACME, it’s housemade.)

To truly understand and master garlic knots, JP began tasting them at various places.

However, he found they were often afterthoughts, made with pieces of leftover dough and brushed with artificial butter. He thought he could do better for ACME Pizza.

So he did. He created “Killer Garlic Knots,” which are larger than typical garlic knots, cooked in a deep fryer, brushed with fresh garlic oil, and sprinkled with Parmesan and parsley. They’re now one of the things for which ACME Pizza is best known.

The ACME menu has branched out in other ways, too. In California, he says, restaurants could be successful by specializing in only one thing — but here, people want variety. So the LaRussas’ menu delivers with additions like calzones, pastas, subs, salads and even non – deep dish pizza. For those who aren’t in the mood for Italian food, ACME Pizza also offers a burger menu (although you can mix the two cuisines with the pizza burger, which is topped with pepperoni, mozzarella and housemade marinara).

DEEP CONNECTIONS

One of the LaRussas’ main motivations in moving to a smaller town was to become deeply involved in their community. Through their business, they’ve done just that — delivering free pizza to the high school football team and hosting spirit nights to raise money for causes ranging from breast cancer to children with special needs.

And the community has returned that support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers are rallying around the town’s local restaurants, including ACME Pizza. Delivery and takeout business has been so strong that the LaRussas have been able to retain all of their full-time staff, even with reduced hours.

ACME’s primary emphasis has always been customer service — it’s a full-service restaurant with servers who take care of their customers’ every need, from beer and wine to dessert. As people begin to venture out to restaurants again, Gwynne says she expects this focus to become even more defined.

“We have to offer a space where people feel safe and comfortable, and we will continue to be focused on our interactions with every guest,” she says. “The way people feel in a space and the interactions they have will be the deciding factor between sitting down to eat or getting food to-go.”

ACME’S KILLER GARLIC KNOTS

1. Hand toss a large dough ball into a 16-inch round.

2. With a pizza cutter, cut the round in half. Then make six or seven perpendicular cuts, creating 12–14 strips of dough.

3. Tie each strip into a “knot.” Let the knots rest and rise a bit at room temperature for about half an hour.

4. Deep-fry the knots at approximately 350 degrees for 5–6 minutes, or until golden-brown, crispy on the outside and tender in the middle.

5. Place the knots in a large bowl and coat them in garlic oil (made from your favorite oil and fresh garlic cloves).

6. Sprinkle the knots with sea salt, freshly grated parmesan cheese and a pinch of dried parsley.

7. Serve with marinara on the side.

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D E PA R T M E N T S C O M M U N I T Y

The Cary

BY NANCY PANKO

Senior Writers’

A

Group

Over the years, we’ve been blessed with the presence of many unforgettable, unique people. For instance, Harry Zoller was a World War II veteran who began writing his heartfelt, riveting memoir at the age of 92 and continued right up until his death. We’ve missed him very much. Sometimes, unpredictably, the lights in half of the room will blink or go out. Some of us will look up and say, “Hello, Harry!”

William McElrath (Mac), a former missionary writing under the pen name Perry Thomas, was an active participant until he moved to Hawaii. By the age of 87, Mac had published more than 65 books, principally focused on history and Christianity for young people. We sorely miss his wisdom.

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THE CARY SENIOR WRITERS' GROUP

Creativity continues despite COVID-19

bout 10 years ago, author Ellen Kennedy approached the Cary Senior Center and offered to deliver a speech on mystery writing. The center requested that, instead, would she teach a four-week course? She granted their request and the course went well. In the end, attendees asked if they could bring their work to read to the group. Thus, the Cary Senior Writers’ Group was born and, by popular request, became a regular gathering. I, a fledgling author at that point, joined the group. It was one of the best decisions I ever made to hone my craft.

Currently, The Cary Senior Writers’ Group ranges in age from 21 to 80 — which means, technically, we aren’t a senior group. But we are a group of dedicated writers. Once our group began to grow, we realized we needed more space, so we moved our weekly meetings to Cary Alliance Church. We members read aloud from our work and received helpful suggestions and much-appreciated encouragement.

THE WRITERS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF

James Lewis, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and retired police detective, has penned a series of police procedural mysteries. “Back in the Game” is his latest installment in the series.

Willa Brigham, a poet and two-time Emmy winner for performance art, is the author of a delightful children’s book, “The Pizza Tree.” She also hosts a Saturday morning TV show on WRAL: “Smart Start Kids.”

Laurie Winslow Sargent*, the author of “Delight in Your Child’s Design,” is currently working on a unique book about true tales from a 1920s diary and letters belonging to her grandmother Gladys, a gutsy American expatriate in the British Raj Indian jungles and the Andaman Islands.

Dea Irby*, a true Southern belle, is a gifted writer of devotionals, an experienced TEDx speaker and host of “The Homeowner Connector” video series.

Linda Loegel* writes compelling historical fiction and has nine books to her credit. The latest is titled “Remaking Danny.”

Barbara Bennett* has penned “Anchored Nowhere — A Navy Wife’s Story,” which focuses on her crazy adventure of 26 moves in 17 years.

Cynthia Baughan Wheaton’s “Are You Ready to Start Your Own Business?” is used in entrepreneurship courses at two colleges, one of which includes Meredith College in Raleigh.

Karen Mulligan is a first-time author of “Mess to Masterpiece,” a moving story of surviving childhood trauma.

JoAnne Check* writes both contemporary and historical fiction books for school-age children.

Terry Hans*, a retired dental hygienist, is working on a compilation of hilarious stories — Erma Bombeck–style — as told to her by patients in the exam room. This book will be a hoot!

Janet Harrison’s amazing adventures hiking the Appalachian Trail as a woman over the age of 50 will make for a fascinating book. I can’t wait to read it.

Emily Dykstra, our youngest member, is a master of fantasy, intriguing us with tales of vampires and werewolves. She is wise beyond her years in writing dialogue.

Ellen Kennedy*, aka E.E. Kennedy, is the author of four cozy mystery novels with intriguing titles starring a high school English teacher: “Irregardless of Murder,” “Death Dangles a Participle,” “Murder in the Past Tense” and “Incomplete Sentence.”

I, Nancy Panko*, am currently completing my second novel, “Sheltering Angels,” the fictional tale of a little girl who can see and talk to her guardian angel. My first book, “Guiding Missal: Fifty Years, Three Generations of Military Men, One Spirited Prayer Book,” won an award from the Military Writers’ Society of America.

to more with expanded wellness opportunities at Glenaire.

THE CHICKEN COOP

Our group has made history. Eight members, denoted with an asterisk by their name, have been published in issues of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” contributing 32 stories collectively. Amy Newmark, editor and publisher of the famous series, calls us “The Chicken Coop.” In an astounding coincidence, three members of the group each had a story accepted for “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Believe in Miracles.”

Newmark met with us via FaceTime to say that we had broken new ground in the history of these uplifting books. We are very proud of that achievement.

During another FaceTime meeting with Newmark, we suggested that “Chicken Soup for the Soul” put together a humorous book.

Imagine our surprise when we received a story callout for the first-ever “Chicken Soup for the Soul” humor book. When published, “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Laughter is the Best Medicine” broke all previous sales records in its first week.

Up until COVID-19, the Cary Senior Writers’ Group met Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at the Cary Alliance Church. Since our tightly-knit group can no longer gather in person, our group leader, Ellen Kennedy, learned — by trial and error, with some expert tutoring — how to conduct Zoom meetings, and each member navigated their electronic devices to join.

Whatever the genre, regardless of the participant’s age, we are all equal when we sit down to read our work each Friday. Some have called our gatherings therapy sessions, and sometimes they truly are.

We have collectively supported members experiencing personal crises and similarly rejoiced in every members’ success. Not only do we listen and give constructive critique, but we pray for and mentor each other.

This unique entity we call a writers’ group has become much more than that. It is in this spirit of friendship that the Cary Senior Writers’ Group was founded and continues through Zoom, despite COVID-19.

Find out how you can enjoy an all-inclusive approach to life and wellness, including a spin room, sports court, music room, day spa, dining and more! It’s all here at Glenaire, giving you more opportunities for an active, healthy, fulfilling retirement.

Call to learn how to make Glenaire part of your future.

919-460-8095 | GLENAIRE.ORG 4000 GLENAIRE CIRCLE CARY, NC 27511 A Presbyterian Homes, Inc. Community

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 PHI-19107 Cary 3.5x9.875_treat_yourself.indd 1

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D E PA R T M E N T S E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Santa Has Entered the Meeting Taking your holiday celebrations virtual

BY MELANIE DEZIEL

A

s North Carolinians continue to adjust their work and social lives to fit social distancing requirements, so too will many of us adapt our holiday celebration plans.

But there’s no reason for a virtual party to feel like a stuffy office meeting.

Drawing on the lessons learned from virtual event planners and savvy party experts, you can create a truly memorable holiday experience, even if you’re celebrating through a screen.

“Think of the event as a full experience, and plan mini experiences throughout,” says Jill Schiefelbein, author of “Digital Communications.” Here are some other tips to help you celebrate in style, even while socially distant.

CREATE ONLINE AMBIANCE

One easy way to set the mood is to plan the backdrop that will appear on camera behind you. Decorate a designated wall or corner, set up in front of a decorated tree or crackling fireplace, or use a virtual background if you’re short on space and decor.

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You might even arrange for a special guest with a red suit and white beard to make a brief cameo. Consider sending out virtual background options to your attendees, with instructions for how to apply them.

PLAN ON-CAMERA ACTIVITIES

Another concern with virtual events is how you’ll keep everyone engaged and the conversation flowing. “Ugly sweater contests can happen virtually,” Schiefelbein says. Ask your attendees to wear their most festive look, then use the platform’s built-in polling feature (which most have) so attendees can vote for the best ensemble.

“Take it a step further by creating a virtual photo booth, where everyone has a different prop,” Schiefelbein suggests. “You can then use breakout rooms to create a thematic screenshot with your props, and give a prize to the most creative.”

You can also ask everyone to bring something holiday-related that is special to them, then host a virtual holiday show-and-tell.

Other ideas: Host a singalong, cookie-eating contest, dance break, holiday craft-making demo or festive fashion show.

Since your attendees will be eating separately during the party, consider how you can make the experience more united. Send out your favorite holiday recipes to inspire fellow home-chefs, or collect recipes from attendees to make a shared virtual holiday cookbook.

You can even bring in outside experts to lead a food or beverage demo for your attendees, like a live holiday cooking show or cocktail mixing demo where you’re all members of the audience.

“One thing that we have done and are hoping to do more of for holiday parties are virtual cocktail and appetizer demos,” says Kelli Harrison, director of sales for Catering Works in Raleigh. “We package the ingredients — such as a cocktail kit or beer or wine tasting, along with the appetizer recipe ingredients — and then we lead a virtual cocktail party on how to make these items.” (See the sidebar containing some of Catering Works’ holiday cocktail recipes.)

SEND CHEER IN ADVANCE

If you want to create shared experiences, even from afar, consider sending a few goodies in advance to each of the attending families. “Create a hands-on cookie or gingerbread decorating activity, and make it a fun competition with prizes,” Harrison suggests. Send each participating family a cookie decorating kit with a homemade sugar cookie or gingerbread cookie cutouts, royal icing, buttercream icing, sugars and other holiday decorations.

Other ideas for sending cheer to your attendees in advance include packaging up holiday cookies, hot cocoa kits, candy canes, festive-scented candles, ornaments or other small favors.

SIMPLIFY GIFT-GIVING

There’s no reason to forgo gift-giving just because you’re social distancing. Instead of gifts from all, to all, set a higher budget and draw names so each participant buys and receives one gift from the entire family. This will reduce complexity, expenses and trips to the post office. Tools like Elfster (elfster.com) can help facilitate this while keeping an element of secrecy to the gift exchange.

Apply the same concept to simplify a cookie exchange.

Ask participating families and attendees to bake a batch of cookies to be sent to one other participant that you assign, so that everyone who bakes also receives a batch of cookies made with love. “Alternatively, arrange smaller groups — such as groups of six — for mini Secret Santa activities, and then use breakout rooms within the bigger event when it’s time to open the presents,” Schiefelbein suggests.

The time and planning you put into a virtual celebration will not go unnoticed. “Creating a holiday party experience that is more than just another virtual meeting with a festive sweater shows that you care, and your attendees will have something memorable to share together,” Schiefelbein says. With a little preparation and creativity, you can make your 2020 holiday celebration one to remember.

iStock/LumiNola

iStock/NightAndDayImages

DISPLAY FESTIVE REFRESHMENTS

Festive Cocktail Recipes W

ant to host a festive cocktail hour during your virtual holiday event? Consider sharing these recipes, provided

by Kelli Harrison, director of sales for Catering Works in Raleigh, ahead of time so attendees can stock up on ingredients. You can even send kits to attendees before the event so everyone is ready to say “cheers.”

Hot Ruby Toddy — Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum blended with cranberry juice and mulling spices, served hot and garnished with a cranberry lemon pick.

iStock NightAndDayImages

Eggnog Latte Martini — Add a festive and elegant twist to this holiday favorite by mixing vanilla vodka and coffee liqueur with creamy eggnog, served chilled in a martini glass with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Sugar Plum Fairy — Just in time for “The Nutcracker,” this sparkling cocktail will make a great impression. Mix prosecco with a splash of Pearl Plum Vodka, served in a champagne flute with a sugar plum garnish.

Holiday-Jito — This fun and festive cocktail is created with white rum, pomegranate juice, club soda, limes and mint syrup.

Artfully garnish it with fresh mint and pomegranate seeds.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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OUT&ABOUT

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DINE & DRAFT

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EVENTS

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NEW AROUND TOWN

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SIGHTINGS

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KALEIDOSCOPE LIVING

DINE &DRAFT CARY LIVING

A FOODIE GUIDE TO WESTERN WAKE

American

The Abbey Road Tavern & Grill 1700 Center Street, Apex 919.372.5383 1195 W. Chatham Street, Cary 919.481.4434 711 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.762.7731 abbeyroadnc.com ACADEMY STREET BISTRO 200 S. Academy Street, Cary 919.377.0509 academystreetbistro.com APEX WINGS RESTAURANT & PUB 518 E. Williams Street, Apex 919.387.0082 apexwings.com AVIATOR SMOKEHOUSE 525 Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.557.7675 aviatorbrew.com AVIATOR TAP HOUSE 600 E. Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.552.8826 aviatorbrew.com BASS LAKE DRAFT HOUSE 124 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs 919.567.3251 basslakedrafthouse.com CHICKEN SALAD CHICK 302 Colonades Way, Suite 202, Cary 984.207.5516 chickensaladchick.com THE CORNER TAVERN AND GRILL 1301 NW Maynard Road, Cary 919.460.0088 cornertaverncary.com DAME’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES 1823 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary 919.234.0824 dameschickenwaffles.com HERONS AT THE UMSTEAD 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary 919.447.4200 theumstead.com/dining JOYCE & FAMILY RESTAURANT 129 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.567.1717 facebook.com/joyceandfamily LUCKY 32 7307 Tryon Road, Cary 919.233.1632 lucky32.com THE MASON JAR TAVERN 114 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs 919.964.5060 themasonjartavern.com MY WAY TAVERN 301 W. Center Street, Holly Springs 919.285.2412 mywaytavern.com THE PEAK ON SALEM 126 N. Salem Street, Apex 919.466.6060 thepeakonsalem.com THE PROVINCIAL 119 N. Salem Street, Apex 919.372.5921 theprovincialapex.com RUDY’S PUB & GRILL 780 W. Williams Street, Apex 919.303.5061 rudysofapex.com SCRATCH KITCHEN & TAPROOM 225 Salem Street, Apex 919.372.5370 scratchkitchenandtaproom.com TRIPLE BARREL TAVERN 2221 N. Grassland Drive, Fuquay-Varina 919.762.0940 triplebarreltavern.com TWO GUYS GRILLE 4149 Davis Drive, Morrisville 919.462.9336 twoguysgrillemorrisville.com

VERANDAH 301 S. Academy Street, Cary 919.670.5000 themayton.com/downtowncary-restaurant WOODY’S SPORTS TAVERN & GRILL 8322 Chapel Hill Road, Cary 919.380.7737 woodysportstavern.com

Asian

ASIAN GARDEN 242 Grande Heights Drive, Cary 919.462.8598 asiangardencarync.com BANANA LEAF 1026 Ryan Road, Cary 919.468.9958 bananaleafcary.com BAAN THAI 758 W. Williams Street, Apex 919.629.6399 baanthaiapex.com C&T WOK 130 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville 919.467.8860 ctwokrestaurant.com CHINA UNO 308 Village Walk Drive, Holly Springs 919.557.9888 china-uno.com DIM SUM HOUSE 100 Jerusalem Drive, #104, Morrisville 919.380.3087 dimsumhousemorrisville.com G.58 CUISINE 10958 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 919.466.8858 g58cuisine.com GENKI RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR 3420 Ten Ten Road, Cary 919.363.6636 genkicary.com GINGER ASIAN CUISINE 2048 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.859.8998 gingerasiancuisine.com GOJI BISTRO 100 Maynard Crossing Court, Cary 919.466.8888 gojibistro.us HIBACHI & COMPANY 708 Judd Parkway, Fuquay-Varina 919.552.8899 hibachicompany.com HIBACHI BLUE 1500 Village Market Place, Morrisville 919.462.9899 hibachiblue.com

LITTLE TOKYO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 1401 SE Maynard Road, Cary 919.467.5011 sushi-little-tokyo-restaurant.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_ medium=referral LUCKY 7 906 NE Maynard Road, Cary 919.380.7550 lucky7nc.com MEI WEI ASIAN DINER 1424 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.762.7128 meiweinc.com NEW RAINBOW 3427 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.567.8272 newrainbowchinese.com PHO 919 3504 Davis Drive, Morrisville 919.377.0318 pho919.com RED BOWL ASIAN BISTRO 2020 Boulderstone Way, Cary 919.388.9977 redbowlcary.com SUSHI AT THE PARK 1163 Parkside Main Street, Cary 984.333.0198 sushiatthepark.com SUSHI IWA 2026 Creekside Landing Drive, Apex 919.387.7022 sushiiwa.org SUSHI-THAI CARY 106 Kilmayne Drive, Cary 919.467.5747 sushithaicary.com TAIPEI CAFE 9825-G Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 919.380.8568 taipeicafemorrisville.com TASTE VIETNAMESE CUISINE 152 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville 919.234.6385 tastevietnamese.com TASU ASIAN BISTRO 525 New Waverly Place, Cary 919.977.4037 shikitasu.com TERIYAKIN’ 10970 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 919.443.2279 yelp.com/biz/teriyakin-morrisville THAI LOTUS 3450 Kildaire Farm Road Suite 150, Cary 984.229.7333 thailotusinc.com THAI SPICES & SUSHI 986 High House Road, Cary 919.319.1818 thaispicessushi.com

JJ CAFE 2143 Ten Ten Road, Apex 919.367.8686 jjcafeapex.com

THAI THAI CUISINE 108 Osterville Drive, Holly Springs 919.303.5700 thaithaicuisinenc.com

KABUKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 220 Nottingham Drive, Cary 919.380.8081 kabukicary.com

YAMATO STEAK, SEAFOOD & SUSHI BAR 700 E. Williams Street, Apex 919.303.8088 yamatoofapex.com

KASHIN JAPANESE RESTAURANT 309 Crossroads Boulevard, Cary 919.851.7101 kashin.com

YOHO ASIAN BISTRO 8204 Tryon Woods Drive, Cary 919.859.8081 yohoasiancary.com

KOBE HIBACHI & SUSHI 515 N Main Street, Holly Springs 919.557.1437 kobehollyspringsnc.com

YURI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 1361 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.481.0068 yurijapaneserestaurant.com

KUMO SUSHI 2916 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.986.0983 kumosushifv.com

ZENFISH POKÉ BAR 9924 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 919.234.0914 zenfishpokebar.com

Bakeries & Dessert Cafes

ANDIA’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM 1008 Ryan Road, Cary 919.234.0037 10120 Green Level Church Road, Cary 919.822.1866 andiasicecream.com ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD 1115 Hatches Pond Lane, Morrisville 919.650.2865 eatandys.com ANNELORE’S GERMAN BAKERY 308 W. Chatham Street, Cary 919.267.6846 anneloresbakery.com ASALI DESSERTS & CAFE 107 Edinburgh S. Drive Suite 106-A, Cary 919.362.7882 asalievents.com/cafe BESTOW BAKED GOODS 4208 Lassiter Road, Holly Springs 919.473.9225 bestowbakedgoods.com BIG DOM’S BAGEL SHOP 203 E. Chatham Street, Cary 919.377.1143 bigdomsbagelshop.com BONAFIDE BAKESHOP & CAFE 1232 W. Williams Street, Apex 919.372.5000 bonafidebakeshop.com BRECOTEA 1144 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.234.1555 brecotea.com CARIBOU COFFEE 109 SW Maynard Road, Cary 919.319.6265 cariboucoffee.com CHANTICLEER CAFE & BAKERY 6490 Tryon Road, Cary 919.781.4810 chanticleercafe.com CHOCOLATE SMILES 312 W. Chatham Street Suite 101, Cary 919.469.5282 chocolatesmiles.com COFFEE & CREPES 315 Crossroads Boulevard, Cary 919.233.0288 coffeeandcrepes.com CREMA COFFEE ROASTER & BAKERY 1983 High House Road, Cary 919.380.1840 cremacoffeebakery.com CRUMBL COOKIES 1105 Market Center Drive, Morrisville 919.364.1100 crumblcookies.com CULTIVATE COFFEE ROASTERS 128 S. Fuquay Avenue, Fuquay-Varina 919.285.4067 cultivate.coffee DUCK DONUTS 100 Wrenn Drive #101, Cary 919.468.8722 duckdonuts.com FOUNT COFFEE + KITCHEN 10954 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 984.888.5454 fountcoffee.com FRESH. LOCAL ICE CREAM 138 E. Chatham Street, Cary 919.234.1155 109 N. Salem Street, Apex 919.267.9716 freshlocalicecream.com

GOODBERRY’S FROZEN CUSTARD 2325 Davis Drive, Cary 919.469.3350 1146 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.467.2386 goodberrys.com GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY 1240 NW Maynard Road, Cary 919.460.8158 greatharvest.com HAPPYCAKES CUPCAKERY 9958 Chapel Hill Road, Cary 919.694.5251 thehappycupcakery.com HOT BREADS CAFE 1901 NW Cary Parkway, Morrisville 919.677.1331 hotbreadscafe.com JAVA JIVE COFFEE & TEA 2425 Kildaire Farm Road Suite 403, Cary 919.655.7655 javajivecoffeeandtea.com JUICE VIBES 1369 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.377.8923 juicevibes.com LA FARM BAKERY 4248 NW Cary Parkway, Cary 919.657.0657 320 W. Chatham Street, Cary 919.650.3117 5055 Arco Street, Cary (inside Whole Foods) 984.228.0300 lafarmbakery.com MILK LAB CAFE 6418 Tryon Road, Cary 919.200.0016 milklabcafe.com NIL’S CAFE 513 Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.567.0887 nilscafe.weebly.com NOTHING BUNDT CAKES 2008 Market Center Drive, Morrisville 919.694.5300 nothingbundtcakes.com ONCE IN A BLUE MOON BAKERY & CAFE 115-G W. Chatham Street, Cary 919.319.6554 bluemoonbakery.com PINTS ICE CREAM & BEER 512 Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.351.9704 facebook.com/pintsicecream PURE JUICERY BAR 716 Slash Pine Drive, Cary 919.234.1572 purejuicerybar.com RISE BISCUITS & DONUTS 1100 Market Center Drive, Morrisville 919.377.0385 169 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs 919.586.7343 risebiscuitsdonuts.com SIR WALTER COFFEE + KITCHEN 242 S. Main Street, Holly Springs 919.390.2274 sirwaltercoffeekitchen.com STICK BOY BREAD CO. 127 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.557.2237 stickboyfuquay.com SUGAR BUZZ BAKERY 1231 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.238.7224 sugarbuzzbakery.com A TASTE OF BROOKLYN 101 N. Salem Street, Apex 919.362.8408 atasteofbrooklynnc.com

PLEASE CHECK WEBSITES OR CALL FOR TAKEOUT OPTIONS. Highlighted restaurants are Cary Living advertisers.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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VIDA DULCE 836 E. Chatham Street #104, Cary 919.378.9722 vidadulcenc.com

LUGANO RISTORANTE 1060 Darrington Drive, Cary 919.468.7229 luganocary.com

Delis/Sandwiches

MAMMA MIA ITALIAN BISTRO 708 Laura Duncan Road, Apex 919.363.2228 mammamianc.com

NEW YORK BAGEL & DELI 2050 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.851.9050 newyorkbagelanddelicarync.com SERENDIPITY GOURMET DELI 118 S. Academy Street, Cary 919.469.1655

Italian

ANNA’S PIZZERIA 100 N. Salem Street, Apex 919.267.6237 138 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.285.2497 annaspizzeria.com BABYMOON CAFE 100 Jerusalem Drive Morrisville 919.465.9006 babymooncafe.com BELLINI FINE ITALIAN CUISINE 107 Edinburgh S. Drive #119, Cary 919.552.0303 belliniitaliancuisinecary.com BOCCI TRATTORIA & PIZZERIA 2425 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.803.5358 bocciitalian.com DANIEL’S RESTAURANT & CATERING 1430 W. Williams Street, Apex 919.303.1006 danielsapex.com

JASMIN & OLIVZ MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 1109 Ledsome Lane, Cary 919.469.1112 9934 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 919.234.6900 jasminbistro.com MEDTERRA GRILL 108 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs 919.762.7851 mediterranc.com

OSTERIA G 5160 Sunset Lake Road #101, Apex 984.229.7480 osteriag.com

NEOMONDE 10235 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville 919.466.8100 neomonde.com

PRO’S EPICUREAN MARKET & CAFE 211 E. Chatham Street, Cary 919.377.1788 prosepicurean.com

SAI KRISHNA BHAVAN 10970 Chapel Hill Road, Cary 919.481.0910 saikrishnabhavan.com

ROMA’S ITALIAN DELI & PIZZERIA 203 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary 919.468.1111 romasitalian.net RUCKUS PIZZA, PASTA & SPIRITS 1055 Pine Plaza Drive, Apex 919.446.6333 8111 Tryon Woods Drive, Cary 919.851.3999 1101 Market Center Drive, Morrisville 919.388.3500 ruckuspizza.com STELLINO’S ITALIANO 1150 Parkside Main Street, Cary 919.694.5761 stellinositaliano.com

Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern

ENRIGO ITALIAN BISTRO 575 New Waverly Place Suite 106, Cary 919.854.7731 dineenrigo.com

BABA GHANNOUJ MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO 2468 Walnut Street, Cary 919.233.0907 108 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs 919.762.7851 babaghannouj1.com

GARIBALDI TRATTORIA 900 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.552.8868 garibalditrattoria.com

BOSPHORUS RESTAURANT 329-A N. Harrison Avenue, Cary 919.460.1300 bosphorus-nc.com

SASSOOL 1347 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.300.5586 sassool.com TURKUAZ MARKET 203 N. Harrison Avenue #110, Cary 919.455.1890 turkuazmarketnc.com

FIESTA MEXICANA 2839 Jones Franklin Road, Raleigh 919.859.1303 fiestamexicananc-cary.com 990 High House Road, Cary 919.378.9895 fiestamexicananc-nwcary.com 428 Village Walk Drive, Holly Springs 919.346.1330 fiestamexicananc-hollysprings.com LA RANCHERITA GRILL & TEQUILA BAR 102 N. Salem Street, Apex 919.303.2448 laranchnc.com LA TAQUERIA MEXICAN GRILL 973 E. Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.552.5532 LOS TRES MAGUEYES 110 SW Maynard Road, Cary 919.460.8757 lostresmagueyescary.com 325 N. Main Street, Holly Springs losmagueyesnc.com 919.552.6272 401 Wake Chapel Road Fuquay-Varina 919.552.3957 lostresmagueyes.com/varina-nc

BRAVO’S MEXICAN GRILL 208 Grande Heights Drive, Cary 919.481.3811 bravosmexicangrill.net

LOS TRES MEXICAN RESTAURANT 10120 Green Level Church Road Suite 202, Cary 919.267.5444 lostresmagueyesgreenlevel.com 1301 E. Williams Street, Apex 919.367.6797 lostres-nc.com 995 Airport Boulevard, Morrisville 919.465.0217 morrisvillemexicanrestaurant.com

EL DORADO 112 E. Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.557.0287 eldoradomexicanrestaurant.com

MI CANCUN 1106 Grace Park Drive, Morrisville 919.650.1718 micancunmx.com

EL LOBO MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1311 E. Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.557.9540 facebook.com/ellobofv

RANCHO GRANDE 1401 SE Maynard Road, Cary 919.469.4245 taqueriaranchogrande.com

Mexican ARANDAS MEXICAN CUISINE 5460 Apex Peakway, Apex 919.362.7363 arandasmexcuisine.com

TACOS MEXICO RESTAURANT 1430 N. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina 919.439.8047 tacosmexicorestaurant.com TACOS MEXICO RESTAURANT & CANTINA 209 E. Williams Street, Apex 919.362.8074 tacosmexicoapexnc.com TORERO’S AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE 1207 Kildaire Farm Road Suite C, Cary 919.468.8711 torerosmexicanrestaurants.com TOTOPOS STREET FOOD & TEQUILA 1388 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 919.678.3449 totoposfoodandtequila.com

Steakhouse

CAPITAL CITY CHOP HOUSE 151 Airgate Drive | Morrisville 919.484.7721 chophousesofnc.com JIMMY V’S STEAK HOUSE & TAVERN 107 Edinburgh S Drive | Cary 919.380.8210 jimmyvssteakhouse.com

This is a condensed version of Dine & Draft. For the entire guide, visit caryliving.com/dine-draft.

Disclaimers: Cary Living advertisers have been highlighted.

Some restaurants do not have websites and must be contacted by phone. Please call or check websites for takeout options.

Bakeshop & Cafe 1232 W. Williams St. | Apex | 919.372.5000

NOW ING ACCEPT Y HOLIDA ORDERS 61 | caryliving.com

•Specialty Baked Goods •Salads & Sandwiches •All-Day Breakfast •Vegan Friendly BONAFIDEBAKESHOP.COM Open Daily 7 AM to 7 PM

BY BRITTANY MURDOCK

Harvest Artisan Market

November 14, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

300 West Ballentine Street, Holly Springs Spend the morning shopping for items created by local artisans.

It’s a great opportunity to begin your holiday shopping. A list of vendors will be posted before the market opens. hollyspringsnc.us

Drive-in Movie: Trolls World Tour

November 20 Holly Springs Parks & Recreation is hosting a series of drive-in events in a fun and safe environment. Check the website for more details. hollyspringsnc.us

Letters to Santa

Town of Cary

November 23–December 14 319 South Academy Street, Cary Little ones will enjoy this annual tradition as the Town of Cary prepares for Santa’s flight over Cary. Drop letters into the Santa Mailbox located in Downtown Park

by December 9 and your child will hear back from Jolly Old Saint Nick. Include your child’s name and return address on each letter.

Heart of the Holidays Annual Gifting Tree Project

December 7, 2020–January 2, 2021 Downtown Cary Stroll along South Academy Street and through Downtown Park to see Cary’s downtown district transformed into a dazzling Christmas tree display.

Local families, schools and organizations decorate trees in a competition to win a donation (provided by The Mayton) to the nonprofit group of their choice.

Vote for your favorite tree online.

Town of Cary

EVENTS

townofcary.org

Sharing Stories of Light: Virtual Community Candle Lighting and Storytelling Celebration

December 10, 7–8 p.m.

Join a virtual and festive evening of Chanukah candle lighting, singing and storytelling. The event will feature master storyteller Gerald Fierst, who will tell tales of Jewish folklore. Community members are also welcome to share their Chanukah memories. shalomraleigh.org/jfed-events

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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Broadstone Trailside

NEW AROUND TOWN

Gentlemen’s Corner

BY CINDY HUNTLEY

BROADSTONE TRAILSIDE LUXURY APARTMENTS COME TO MORRISVILLE Broadstone Trailside, a luxury apartment community in Morrisville, offers some of the first smart apartments in the Triangle market. In collaboration with Dwelo, Google and Nest, all residents enjoy a cutting-edge suite of smart home features.

The property also overlooks Shiloh Greenway, which makes it a unique complex that blends intuitive homes with Morrisville’s charming tranquility.

GENTLEMEN’S CORNER MEN’S CLOTHING STORE OPENS IN CARY The Gentlemen’s Corner men’s clothing store has opened in Cary’s MacGregor Village. Owned and operated by brother-and-sister duo Harrison and Emily Sasser, the store offers custom clothing as well as casual sportswear.

Brands include Peter Millar, johnnie-O, AG Jeans, On Running, Hickey Freeman and more.

5860 McCrimmon Parkway, Morrisville 919.439.1129

broadstonetrailside.com

AVAIL AESTHETICS— A MED SPA FOR EVERYONE

WESTERN WAKE WELCOMES LIGHTBRIDGE ACADEMY CHILD CARE CENTERS Western Wake is home to North Carolina’s first Lightbridge Academy locations—one in Holly Springs, and a second one underway in Apex. More than just a day care Lightbridge Academy offers a high-quality early childhood educational program. The centers are currently offering remote learning options through the fifth grade, and have implemented advanced health and safety protocols—including an air purification system— to keep children safe.

1840 Ralph Stephens Road, Holly Springs 919.387.2004 1075 Newland Avenue, Apex 919.367.9175 lightbridgeacademy.com

Avail Aesthetics

Lightbridge Academy

Becky Grovestein

thegcorner.com

Avail Aesthetics has opened in Cary, offering products and services that help customers look and feel their best—from skin rejuvenation and body contouring to antiaging treatments. The spa is proud to feature the newest devices available, and promises better results in fewer sessions, with less down time.

251 Keisler Drive, Suite 201, Cary 919.322.5440

availaesthetics.com

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK OPENS IN WAVERLY PLACE Chicken Salad Chick takes its namesake menu item to a whole new level. The restaurant makes 12 flavors of this Southern favorite by hand each morning, using premium chicken tenderloin along with secret blends of spices and seasoning. Fans also rave about Chicken Salad Chick’s fresh side items, homemade pimento cheese, gourmet soups and seasonal desserts.

302 Colonades Way, Suite 202, Apex 984.200.9546 chickensaladchick.com

63 | caryliving.com

Chicken Salad Chick

107 Edinburgh South Drive, Suite 109, Cary 919.650.2766

SIGHTINGS TU N N EL TO TO W ERS

FO U N DATI O N G I FTS N EW H O M E TO FA L L EN H ERO ’S FA M I LY

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, established in memory of fallen

9/11 firefighter Stephen Siller, honored the service and sacrifice of

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew J. West by giving his family a new, mortgage-free home in New Hill, just outside of Apex.

West was inspired to join the armed forces after the tragedy of 9/11 and served courageously during his three deployments. West was

killed in action in Afghanistan on August 30, 2010, when his vehicle

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

was hit by an IED. He left behind his wife and three young children.

Olivia Bowler

M R. H AN DYMA N

P ROV I D ES S ERV ICE S TO

TH E CA RY I N G PLACE O N

Olivia Bowler

N ATI O N A L DAY O F SE RV ICE As part of the National Day of Service on September 11, technicians and owners from Mr. Handyman of Western Wake County performed construction, repair and

maintenance jobs on four of The Carying Place’s homes free of charge. The services included pressure washing,

deck and trim repairs, door and miniblind replacements,

gutter cleaning and more. The Carying Place serves working homeless families with children who are experiencing

homelessness by teaching life skills for attaining independent living, while providing short-term housing and support

Mr. Handyman of Western Wake County

services to address their individual needs.

HABI TAT F OR HUM ANI TY SHOWCASED I N

PARADE OF HOM ES Along with an array of builders and custom home finishes,

the 2020 Triangle Parade of Homes featured a little something different this year: Habitat for Humanity homes. The Habitat Wake entry included three homes in various phases of

construction, located side-by-side in the Johnson Place

neighborhood in Garner. The entry was graciously comped by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, and

the completed home included staging with furniture from area ReStore locations.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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KALEIDOSCOPE LIVING

BY CHAROTTE RUSSELL PHOTO BY RON LOWE PHOTOGRAPHY

TWO BOWLS WITH AN URN T W O B O W L S W I T H A N U R N , 2 0 2 0 ; P O R C E L A I N W I T H M A C R O C RY S TA L L I N E G L A Z E .

U R N : A P P R O X I M AT E LY 8 . 5 B Y 6 I N C H E S . B O W L S : 1 0 . 5 I N C H E S A N D 1 2 I N C H E S .

JEFF ROSS, PIEDMONT POTTERY “There is a lot of science in pottery. I spend a lot of time developing glazes and trying to understand glaze chemistry,” he says.” There is a lot of art in science. The two are strongly interlinked.”

Because Ross takes a scientific approach to potterymaking, he often spends years creating custom glazes, like the macrocrystalline glaze he used on the porcelain bowls and urn pictured here.

65 | caryliving.com

Apex potter Jeff Ross creates pottery that seamlessly fuses science, art and function. He was introduced to pottery in the mid 1970s at the University of Dallas, where he studied clay and glaze formulation, as well as basic and intermediate pottery techniques. Today he works out of his studio and gallery, Piedmont Pottery, in Fuquay-Varina, with his wife and fellow potter Lisa Ross. Using locally sourced clay, unique glaze formulations and various firing techniques, Ross makes works of art with a technical purpose. He is inspired by ancient pottery, North Carolina folk pottery and forms found in nature. piedmontpottery.com

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Experience Matters.

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103 Oakpond Court | Cary 27513 | $ 1,995,000 | MLS# 2336154 KAREN COE 919-523-6267

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