Afternoon tea at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary is my favorite thing to do. The tea is held in the elegant lounge of the hotel every Tuesday through Saturday between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. My daughter and I celebrated my birthday there recently listening to a harpist while we sipped our tea. We chose from six different varieties that included a Darjeeling, Oolong, Earl Grey, flavored black, green tea, and herbal tea. (I had the Oolong, and my daughter chose the Darjeeling that was served in lovely individual teapots.)
An assortment of tea sandwiches included cucumber, smoked salmon, pimento and goat cheeses, and ham salad. That was followed by the most delicious buttermilk scones that I've ever had, which were served warm with Devonshire cream and fruit preserves. Our attentive waitress brought us another pot of tea and tea pastries that were served on a silver triple-tiered tray; we finished with fresh strawberries with Grand Marnier Chantilly Cream. Wherever you choose to sit — near large windows overlooking a fountain and wooded area, by the fireplace, or the center area near the harpist — the experience will be delightful.
The tea is priced at $32 per person and is a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion. — discovered by Roxann Larotonda, Raleigh
Every three months M'Coul's Public House in Greensboro plays host to a seasonal beer tasting. This is a secret that M'Coul's is more than happy to share, but those of us who attend religiously don't mind keeping to ourselves. Demand for the $40 seats has dictated that each event now spans two evenings. A little more publicity and the beer dinners may become weeklong festivals.
This past fall, M'Coul's' tasting featured beer and food courses inspired by the cooler weather and the recent Oktoberfest. As always, the staff did an outstanding job pairing the six featured beers to some incredible food. This menu contained some strange and exotic titles. Not being a culinary expert, I needed some explanation of the more foreign terms: rouladen, zwetschgenkuchen, salad, etc.
The barroom buzzed with discussions of the different subtle nuances of the beers and the food's enhancement of the unique flavors. Our table's favorite this time around, La Chouffe Golden Ale ($18/bottle, 8 percent ABV, or alcohol by volume), was outstanding and then improved upon when coupled with the Lamb Carbonnade and buttery tarragon spaetzle. Exotic words that tasted great.
Check out www.mcoulspub.com for information about upcoming events. Just don't tell my friends how you found out about the beer dinners. Oh, and FYI, it turns out that a salad is a mixture of vegetables and fruit. I realize that doesn't sound like anything one would eat with a J.W. Lees Manchester Star Ale ($8/bottle, 7.3 percent ABV), but when served underneath a hazelnut encrusted fried brie is so tasty that it'll make you want to ... well, eat a salad. — Mike Davis, Greensboro
M'Coul's Public House 110 West McGee Street, Greensboro (336) 378-0204 www.mcoulspub.com
Nowadays, I wish that I could have enjoyed the luxuries that I've seen in the glamorous movies from the 1940s and '50s, roamed the Rat Pack's real Las Vegas, and cruised in style to Europe "dressed" for dinner each night surrounded by incredibly attired women. It didn't happen for two reasons: (1) money, and (2) I was in my single-digit years — born too late to be Cary Grant.
Then, one winter evening I came upon the S.S. United States lounge at Windmill Point Restaurant in Nags Head. The original kidney-shaped bar was salvaged from the Promenade Deck of the fastest ocean liner ever built. Launched in 1952, the luxurious ship sailed the Atlantic for 17 years, and its bar was the preferred social spot for Hollywood elite and military royalty.
My usual beer was replaced with a dry martini as I picked out the bar stool once occupied by the guy who was president when I was born (the same year that the sexy ship sailed) — Harry Truman. (Small bronze plaques commemorate the names of notable folks, such as Truman and even John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, and Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, who've claimed a place in history at this bar.) I'm usually pretty practical, but this place had me playing make-believe as I looked out at the sunset over Roanoke Sound. Imagining myself dressed in black tie and dinner jacket rather than khakis and boat shoes, I waited for my leading lady.
The S.S. United States lounge is the real thing, but way out of place. And, that's actually a good thing. It's a surprise. It invites dreams and melancholy. I go back every trip to Nags Head because there is nothing like it. It's comfortable and folks talk. Tip the piano player and he will play your favorite tune from a great old movie. My request? "As Time Goes By," of course. Glenn McVicker, High Point
S.S. United States Lounge Windmill Point Restaurant N.C. Highway 158, Nags Head (252) 441-1535 www.windmillpointrestaurant.com
First of all, I am terrified of flying and always have been. This has caused many problems for my family and me over the years when it comes to vacation planning. There is a company based in Raleigh that I found, and they provide luxury ground transportation to basically anywhere you would ever want to go. One holiday, my immediate family and I took a luxury SUV to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. On another occasion, they took 12 of us down to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, in a limousine. The best part is, it was actually cheaper than buying 12 plane tickets!
This company is my little North Carolina secret to unique family vacations, and I recommend it highly. —Nancy Kennerly, Raleigh
Capital City Sedan Limo 230 S. West St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603 (919) 834-3455 (866) 96-SEDAN www.capitalcitysedan.com
