SOUTHERN CITY HOPPIN’ || RALEIGH TO GREENSBORO TO HOPKINSVILLE TO NASHVILLE || USA || APRIL 2018

One of the ways I got to travel so much was because of work. I would make it a point to at least do one exploratory thing on any work trip I took. In April 2018, I took a work trip to Hopkinsville, Kentucky to test how a new product would perform when produced at a large scale. I took some extra PTO to go visit my family close by. I flew into Raleigh, North Carolina, where I grew up, to see my mom, dad, and best friend. I then went to Greensboro to visit my little brother, who was living there at the time. Finally, I headed over to Kentucky via Nashville, Tennessee, which is typically where I fly out of when making this trip. It was a short trip, but I spent time with family, got to eat some of my favorite things, cooked, and tried some new spots in Nashville.

Raleigh, North Carolina

One of my favorite things to do when I go to Raleigh is to visit the North Carolina State Farmers Public Market with my dad.

We just walk around, look at all the offerings, and talk about life.

We also HAVE to get a fish plate from N.C. Seafood Restaurant while we’re there. I always get a fried combo plate with whitefish, catfish, and fries; extra Texas Pete and tartar sauce.

After hanging with my dad for a bit, I met up with the bestie to go drink wine and chill. We went to Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar in downtown Raleigh.

If there is one person that is as equally down to jump out of a plane as they are to sit at home, it is my bestie! We always have a good time doing whatever.

Side Note: We actually did jump out of a plane together in October 2013 for her birthday. Check out the Free-Falling Blog to read the story.

I think the next year around that time we ended up going zip-lining for the first time which was fun but maybe we did the activities in backwards order. Ha!

After wine, we went to Guasaca South American Grill for Arepas. It was my first time and it was so bomb! I got black eyed peas AND plantains in my arepa!

For dessert, we went to my all-time favorite custard place; Goodberry’s. They have THE BEST custard, hands down!!

Greensboro, North Carolina

The next day I took the Amtrak to Greensboro from Raleigh to visit my brother.

I spent the whole day there and I wanted Bojangles for lunch, so we got some. I have to hit all my food spots when I go back to NC and Bojangles is definitely one of them.

After lunch, we hung out at his apartment, watched TV, and talked.

We then went to a West African market nearby to get ingredients for me to make him jollof rice with goat meat and kpomo before I left. I caught the train back to Raleigh.

When I got back to Raleigh, the next morning, my parents and I went to Dame’s Chicken and Waffles; the Cary location. Another one of my food spots! I always get the Carolina Cockerel. It comes with wings and I swap the blueberry waffle with the sweet potato waffle, orange honeycomb shmears, and get the whiskey crème sauce on the side. I get an order of greens and mac & cheese with it too.

Hopkinsville, Kentucky

The next day it was time to get to work. I made it to Hopkinsville for the plant trial and everything went well. I can’t really give too much info about specifics since it was for work but maybe I should do a “Day in the Life” of a Food Scientist blog. That might be fun to explain what I do outside of Taste Tutor.

After the trial, I left the plant and drove back to Nashville where I was flying out of. The drive consists of plenty of country roads and open fields.

I stopped at an Amish bakery (Schlabach’s Bakery) to see what they had. I always love trying new things from these stores.

There is one in Hamptonville, NC near Winston Salem that me and bestie always drive to when I’m in town. We drive 2 hours to Shiloh General Store just to get warm jalapeno cheese bread. *mouth waters* So good; especially when you wash it down with a cold Cheerwine. It is worth the trip! We started off going every year for wine tasting and stumbled upon the store. Now we just skip the wine and head straight to the bread.

Anyway, onward to Nashville.

Nashville, Tennessee

Once I made it to Nashville I stopped at Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish. It is black owned, and this was one of the original spots to serve Nashville Hot Chicken.

While I was waiting for my order, I got a chess pie from a lady selling them in the restaurant; Estella’s Homemade Pies. Nice little dessert to enjoy after my meal.

After I ate, I drove by Fisk University campus to check it out and then headed to the airport.

Thanks for reading all these words!

Love ya!

Taste Tutor

TRAVEL BLOG THURSDAY - SOUTHERN CITY HOPPIN'