The Alamance Foodie went far afield recently–to Provence. What better place is there for foodies to indulge their passions? Cafe and restaurant food ranged from very good to sublime, and the prices ranged from ridiculous to: “with the subprime mortgage mess, can I get a second mortgage to pay for this dinner?” There are two realities about French cooking. One, it is a matter of personal pride to any Frenchman who prepares food to prepare it very well. And, two,even without the very unfavorable exchange rate for the Euro, French restaurants are expensive.

Here are two examples. In a small restaurant in a small village we paid eight Euros ($12.80 at the current exchange rate) for an appetizer of fresh asparagus spears with a vinaigrette sauce. This was not a Michelin starred place. In fact, it is not even mentioned in the Red Book. The asparagus was fresh and tender, and the sauce was fine–but 13 bucks?

On another day we had lunch at a cafe in a small village. Nothing fancy, just a local watering hole that served coffee in the morning and pastis in the afternoon. Two of us had ham and cheese sandwiches and a small carafe of house rose. Sixteen Euros–or $25.60 for lunch. The sandwiches are not to be confused with what passes for a ham and cheese sandwich here. Thin slices of dark red, lean ham and local cheese were served on fresh baguettes sliced lengthwise. Expensive, nevertheless.

All was not lost, however. Every village and town in Provence appear to have a weekly market. Vendors of everything from cheese to wine to sausage to vegetables and flowers set up in the village centers. The sight of all of this beautifully displayed food is a treat.

Wonderful thumb-shaped radishes were sweet and tender. Asparagus and artichokes were in season as well.

We found we could buy an herbed sausage, a wedge of artisanal cheese and a freshly baked baguette at a local street market and enjoy a wonderful picnic for less than the price of the asparagus salad we had in the restaurant.

Our favorite dinner in Provence came from a street vendor in the lovely village of St. Remy de Provence. As we navigated the stalls full of flowers and food, we came across a man cooking Paella in a huge wok. The aromas of shrimp, saffron rice and mussels compelled us to buy our dinner on the spot. That night accompanied by tender radishes, fresh asparagus spears, a loaf of great, crusty bread and a Cotes de Provence rose, the paella was the tastiest meal we had in Provence!

Though not yet up to the glories of French markets, we have our Farmers’ Markets as well. Last Saturday, at the market in West Jefferson a vendor gave us a recipe to go with her garden fresh arugula. It’s seasonal, easy, and very tasty.

Split a baguette lengthwise. Lightly brush with olive oil. Crumble gorgonzola cheese and chopped walnuts on top of the bread. Top with pieces of arugula leaf. Broil just long enough to melt the cheese.

Try it, you’ll like it!

What better way is there to cheer one up and warm the soul on a rainy, raw day than a hearty serving of comfort food? And what better place to have it than the Blue Ribbon Diner? White walls and polished aluminum greet the soggy diner as he sloshes in from the gray wet outside. The atmosphere is bright, warm and inviting.

The original Burlington Blue Ribbon Diner and its newer sibling in Mebane are traditional diners. The menus run from burgers and fries to hot dogs and fried chicken with milk shakes for dessert. The foodie is drawn to the Blue Plate Specials. For six and a quarter bucks you can get chicken pot pie, home style meatloaf, country fried steak, or the foodie’s absolute favorite–the Thursday special, Roast Turkey and dressing. Yes, it’s real turkey, and it comes with dressing, mashed potatoes and a side. The Saturday Blue Plate Special is an Angus Chuck Steak with salad and either mashed potatoes or fries. That’s fairly priced at $7.95.

The Blue Ribbon folks brag about their award winning sweet tea, which they have dubbed “The house wine of the south.” If you prefer real wine, they have a list limited to three plonks–a Glen Ellen Merlot, a Glen Ellen Chardonnay and a Beringer White Zinfandel. The latter could give their tea a run for the money on sweetness. No matter. One doesn’t go to a diner looking for a cru bordeaux. Several domestic beers are also available.

One Rolaid–watch the chili cheese fries.

The round up:

Where: 2465 South Church, Burlington and 1004 Mebane Oaks Road, Mebane

Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM

Telephone: 570-1120 (Burlington) 919-563-7020 (Mebane)

Kids Menu: No, but lots of baskets and kid pleasers like mini corn dogs

Vegetarian Offerings: Yes, they even have a Veggie Blue Plate Special

Service: Table and Counter

Limited Wine and Beer selection. Stick with their sweet tea…

Take out Service: Yes with Curb Side pick-up.

Health Ratings: Burlington 99 (3/2008) Mebane 100.5 (4/2008)

Where can the Foodie begin with a report on a recent lunch at Mi Casa Mexican Grill in downtown Burlington? The first surprise was the relatively sparse lunch crowd in the middle of the week. During past visits, many more tables were filled. Since an earlier visit, the restaurant has hung a huge mural in the main dining room. It depicts an Aztec carrying a maiden either to and from a sacrificial altar. It may be art, but, whether he’s coming or going, the scene isn’t appetizing.

Mi Casa has also added a $5.95 lunch buffet. Salad, rice, beans and a selection of burritos and enchiladas are offered.

We selected a $4.75 lunch special that included a cheese quesadilla, a burrito, and a guacamole salad. The meal was served promptly and hot. The salad was cut up iceberg lettuce served under a raw slice of hot house tomato and a dollop of guacamole dip. The meat burrito was tucked under the salad and helped to make the tasteless greenery more palatable. The quesadilla, served on the side, was more tortilla than cheese.

The final indignity was paying for the meal. I was presented with a check for $6.69–the total for the lunch special, a $1.35 glass of tea and tax. The lady at the register rang up $6.96. When I asked about this, I got a funny look and a receipt for $6.96 for Texas fajitas and “no drink.” It was a mistake I hope, but I’m glad I wasn’t paying for four dinners…

Four Rolaids–the art and the bill can cause indigestion

The round up:

Where: 120 E Front , Burlington

Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM

Telephone: 222-0275 222-6069 (Fax)

Kids Menu: Yes. A Selection of $3.25 Meals

Vegetarian Offerings: Yes but limited

Service: Table

Full Bar Service

Take out Service: Available for lunch and dinner menus

Health Inspection Score: 96

A fellow foodie writes:

I love seafood and one item in particular, Crab Cakes. But I am really stumped here in B-town. Many seafood emporiums over crab cakes but they are either burnt, soggy, full of bread stuffing or other gooey binder. Have you found a good crab cake here other than in your own kitchen?

Are there any nominations? The foodies will check them out and report back.

It has been a rough time for restaurants. Last month the Times-News reported that Bob Evans and Rock-Ola Cafe shut down operations in Burlington. On Monday of this week a feature story in USA Today was headlined, “Hard times are on the menus at restaurants.”

Higher food costs, less disposable income, and a general financial pinch kept customer counts flat at chain restaurants in 2006 and down 2% last year. According to the report 49% of restaurants reported to the National Restaurant Association that January same store sales fell, and 54% reported less traffic for the fifth month in a row.

Lone Star Steak House closed 27 stores, putting 1500 out of work. Starbucks has announced they plan to close 100 units–though the foodie wouldn’t call Starbucks a restaurant.

Randy Cox, of The Village Grill and Blue Ribbon Diner reknown, agrees that things are tough right now. He says that his food prices have gone up 3% a year in each of the past two years while economic pressure have kept the restaurants from being able to raise prices. Despite all the competition from new chain restaurants at Alamance Crossing, The Village Grill was doing a brisk business at lunch last Monday.

On a local note, the foodie is very disappointed that B’s Bistro is no longer open for lunch. They closed for lunch in December to do private, holiday parties. When Chris Russell and company decided to keep Benjamin’s open for lunch, apparently the decision was made to make the Bistro a dinner only venue. Too bad. They had good lunches, and the atmosphere is great for lunch. With Spring around the corner, we’ll miss outside lunches at B’s Bistro.

Two fast food chicken joints couldn’t make it at this satellite location at the Burlington Square Mall. But a trattoria serving traditional Italian food has built a loyal following. Waiters in black slacks, crisp white shirts and neckties sport burgundy aprons. A Placido Domingo disc plays on the sound system, and popular arias are interspersed with an inspired version of Volare.

Prego’s serves everything from antipasti to pasta to risotto to tiramisu. Daily specials–at lunch and dinner–are displayed on a dry erase board. The foodie particularly enjoys the seafood specials and the home made pastas. A home made pasta is featured every day.

The foodie has been a fan of Prego’s since it opened more than a year ago. Imagine our dismay when the bread served at a recent lunch was stale and the polenta appetizer had either been fried too long or reheated once too often! To top that off, the salad that came with our entree was wilted and served with unripe, pink tomatoes. In a feat of redemption, the home made chicken ravioli in vodka sauce was excellent. The aroma alone was enough to ease the earlier disappointment. Vincente Hernandez, the owner, was not in. When he is there, he pays so much attention to what is going on that I’m sure the bread and salad would not have made it out of the kitchen.

Hernandez came to Burlington from his native Ecuador via New York City, where he worked in Italian restaurants for twenty years. If you’ve eaten in Little Italy in New York, you know what it is like to eat at Prego’s.

Prego’s serves complete lunch and dinner menus with a short but interesting wine list. On several occasions they have hosted wine dinners with good wine pairings. These are irregular so you have to watch for their ads or check the web site.

Three Rolaids–the sauces can be spicy

The round up:

Where: 2740 South Church, Burlington

Hours: Monday - Saturday 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM

Telephone: 586-0292

Kids Menu: Same as adult menu

Vegetarian Offerings: Yes but limited

Service: Table

Full Bar Service

Take out Service: Available for lunch and dinner menus