Serious Eats Favors Fullsteam Brewery's First Frost

"Right now, though, no one is doing plow-to-pint quite like Fullsteam Brewery, based in the old tobacco town of Durham, North Carolina...Wilson and his team are redefining Southern beer, one experiment at a time. Our favorite of the bunch: First Frost, a winter warmer ale that takes its tart flavor from a combination of farmed and foraged North Carolina persimmons."

"50 States, 50 Beers We Love" Serious Eats

Serious Eats Seriously Loves Taquiera La Vaquita and Li Ming's Global Mart

"Spot this Durham favorite by the cow statue on the roof. La Vaquita makes great carnitas, perfectly juicy with little caramelized bits. They're best simply tucked into the housemade corn tortillas, along with onions, cilantro, and a dribble of the green sauce... Halfway in between Durham and Chapel Hill, tucked into an old strip mall, you'll find Li Ming's Global Mart, with a wide range of "Asian Specialties." The hot bar holds the best deals in the area."

—"Our Favorite Cheap Eats Around The Triangle, North Carolina," Kimberly Gormley, Serious Eats

Serious Eats - Scratch Bakery

"Phoebe Lawless is an endlessly curious, seasonal, artisan baker who knows her fillings. In addition to this nut-studded pie, her sweet potato is also pretty serious."

- Our Favorite Pies in America, Serious Eats