Category Archives: North Carolina

Best Restaurants of 2018

There’s one list left in my Best of 2018 series, and it’s a doozy: best restaurants of the year! Continue reading

Posted in Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Cleveland, Drink, Edinburgh, England, Food, Germany, Hotels, Italy, Japan, London, Luxury, North Carolina, Ohio, Restaurants, Scotland, South Carolina, Spain, Tennessee, Texas, Travel, USA, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best Beer of 2018

I pour on with my Best of 2018 series to provide a heady brew of the tastiest beers I enjoyed during the past 12 months. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Basel, Beer, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Cleveland, Drink, England, London, North Carolina, Ohio, Pubs, Shopping, Switzerland, Travel, USA, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blackbeard’s Wake | Weighing Anchor

Hey folks. I’m weighing anchor and sailing on to cover other topics, but I hope you enjoyed reading about my Blackbeard-based tour of the Carolina and Georgia coast and that you had a chance to listen to my two related podcast episodes. Continue reading

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, Cars, Georgia, History, North Carolina, road trip, South Carolina, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Discussing Fact and Fiction with Historian Kevin Duffus | Blackbeard’s Wake | #TCTalks Episode 38

Another tie in with the Blackbeard’s Wake miniseries on my blog, Episode 28 of tikichris Talks finds me in conversation with research historian, author and documentary filmmaker Kevin Duffus. Continue reading

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, Books, History, interview, North Carolina, Podcast, TCTalks, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ocracoke Historian Philip Howard | Blackbeard’s Wake | #TCTalks Episode 37

Episode 37 of tikichris Talks is a tie in with the Blackbeard’s Wake miniseries on my blog. It features an interview with Ocracoke Island historian, Philip Howard. Philip is the eighth-generation descendant of William Howard – the fourth and last colonial owner of Ocracoke who before that allegedly served as quartermaster for the infamous pirate Blackbeard. Continue reading

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, History, interview, North Carolina, Podcast, road trip, TCTalks, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ocracoke, North Carolina | Blackbeard’s Wake

From Greenville, I made for the Outer Banks, specifically to the island of Ocracoke, where Blackbeard’s legacy seemed to hang in the air like Spanish moss on a live oak. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Beer, Blackbeard's Wake, Blogs, Drink, Food, History, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Greenville, North Carolina | Blackbeard’s Wake

As much as I savoured reacquainting myself with such a tasty town, I was primarily there to take a peek into the East Carolina University lab where artefacts from Blackbeard’s sunken flagship are being preserved and studied for a more accurate record of North Carolina’s coastal heritage. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Beer, Blackbeard's Wake, Drink, Food, History, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Blackbeard’s Wake

Ahoy, y’all! I’m back in London and starting to sift through the notes from my latest road trip. This one was along the US Atlantic coast of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia on the trail of fact and fiction pertaining to one of the world’s most notorious pirates: Blackbeard. Continue reading

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, Cars, Georgia, Good Cause, History, North Carolina, road trip, South Carolina, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best Hotels of 2015

My list of favourite hotels veers toward the luxury end of the spectrum. But there are some budget friendly considerations included. In large part, hospitality and appreciation won out over bling or lavish excess. Continue reading

Posted in Barcelona, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Food, Hotels, Italy, Luxury, North Carolina, Restaurants, Sicily, South Africa, Spain, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best BBQ of 2015

To kick off my Best of 2015 series of yearend posts, I’d like to start with a roundup of the 25 best BBQ restaurants visited during my BBQ Bound road trip through the American South in October. Continue reading

Posted in Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Food, Georgia, North Carolina, Restaurants, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

#BBQbound: South in the Mouth Success!

My BBQ Bound miniseries chronicling my three-week quest for the best BBQ in the American South has now come to a burnt end. Ready for the recap? Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, BBQ Bound, Food, Georgia, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

#BBQbound: Pitt County, North Carolina

An epicentre of epicurean wonder (as long as you love whole hog BBQ), Pitt County is a prime destination for some of the best tasting meat in America. I had no idea so much good BBQ could come from such a concentrated and largely rural area. Continue reading

Posted in BBQ Bound, Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

#BBQbound: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill is a city I know fairly well from more youthful days. But I’d not been back there for well over a decade – and I must admit I knew nothing of the BBQ there. I’m pleased to report the town is as agreeable place as even – and that the BBQ is fantastic. Continue reading

Posted in BBQ Bound, Drink, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#BBQbound: Hillsborough, North Carolina

The small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina made a big impression on me, despite only being able to drop in for a short overnight stay. Completely off my radar before planning my BBQ Bound itinerary, the town is now my top choice for a repeat visit of all the stops I made during my three weeks on the road. Continue reading

Posted in BBQ Bound, Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

#BBQbound: Lexington, North Carolina

This small town (population 19,000) is home to its own signature Lexington style of BBQ (also known as Piedmont or Western Carolina style). Made with wood-smoked (a mix of hickory and oak) and chopped pork shoulder (aka Boston butt) and usually served “wet” with a vinegar and ketchup based red sauce, the BBQ as a sandwich or more typically as a tray jammed full of BBQ and a side of “red” coleslaw that’s been mixed with the same red sauce instead of mayonnaise, and hushpuppies. It’s distinctive and delicious. Continue reading

Posted in BBQ Bound, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment