Happy 100th Birthday, “DASH”!
As Winston-Salem celebrates its Centennial this weekend, we wanted to take a look at just some of our favorite foodie-liciousness created right here in Winston-Salem. Maybe you already know it. Maybe some of it will be news to you. But you can bet, it makes living in this innovative, artsy city that much tastier 🙂 and fun!
Not made in Texas, but right in Winston-Salem. TW Garner Food Company actually began around the Great Depression as a family business and barbecue restaurant. A few years later they incorporated and brought us everything from BBQ sauce to chili. But we know it’s all about “the Texas Pete.” Folks around here know it’s really good on eggs, in wing sauce, Bloody Mary’s…well, heck..on just about anything.
There are lots of gourmet pimiento cheese companies and many a restaurant can make some killer versions of it. But we love watching the excitement building over Red Clay Gourmet Pimiento Cheese. Launched by Lance Sawyer of First Street Draught House and his wife, Michele, these little 10 ounce babies come in 4 different flavors: Classic Sharp Cheddar, Flame Roasted Jalapeño, Hickory Smoked Cheddar and Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato.
My sampling
Goat cheese & Sun-dried tomato
Flame Roasted Jalapeño
We still can’t decide what’s our favorite. Each cheesy version is made from Wisconsin Cheddar and local cage-free egg mayo, though the mayo is barely detectable. Then they pack it with other awesome all-natural ingredients like local jalapeños or Durham-based Chèvre goat cheese or local banana pepper. Look for it at a few Winston-Salem produce stands, Whole Foods, select Lowes Foods and of course First Street Draught House. Or click on their name above for a link to their website for other locations across our area and for more about this local company.
Pink Lemondade
From the sugar cookies to the Moravian sugar cakes, the cake squares and especially the Pink Lemonade squares (nothing can compare really), Dewey’s has been a staple in Winston-Salem since it was started by Dewey Wilkerson during the Great Depression. Folks from all over know this is one of the top places for sweets for special occasions and now they even offer ice cream as Blue Ridge Ice Cream has taken up residence inside. Oh and Blue Ridge Ice Cream was also founded, right here in Winston-Salem 25 years ago.
From Carolina Strawberry to Carolina Blonde, People’s Porter, Hoppyum to the super popular and decadent Sexual Chocolate, Foothills has taken full possession of being a front-runner in the local craft beer industry. The list of beer options goes on and on. We can now find Foothills Beer in almost every store, restaurant and certainly, beverage shops. Did you know the brewery has a restaurant? Ha! Of course you did! They are making all kinds of efforts in getting the beer to even MORE out-of-state areas and you can bet that one day, Foothills will be a national name.
And last, but certainly not least:
Yes, duh, of course. All I can say is that if you are a citizen of this fine city and you don’t know that this is where Krispy Kreme has its roots, then you really don’t LIVE here at all. Started by Vernon Rudolph in 1937 in our beloved Old Salem, these delicious confections were asked for hot and served hot and they STILL are. Few things bring more awe and wonder than that conveyor belt loaded with fried dough. Our heart will always belong to the “HOT NOW” sign.
Of course these are just a FEW of the delicious awesomeness of Winston-Salem. But they are some of our down-home favorites and definitely worth the bragging rights. Maybe you can do a Centennial Crawl and hit or taste these spots this weekend and enjoy a little history, old and new! And check out all the Centennial events at www.ws100years.com.
triadfoodies 