Exploring North Carolina with KathieyV

Did you know that New Bern North Carolina was the birth place of Pepsi Cola?   I did not.  On my trip to New Bern I had the pleasure of visiting The  Pepsi Store . (Note: In italics you will find quotes from various sites about Pepsi) "The Birthplace of Pepsi, located in historic New Bern, North Carolina, is the actual site where Pepsi-Cola was first invented by Caleb Bradham in his pharmacy in 1898" "On August 28, 1898, Bradham renamed his drink “Pepsi-Cola." He believed the drink was more than a refreshment but a “healthy” cola, aiding in digestion, getting its roots from the word dyspepsia, meaning indigestion." The Pepsi Store Website   The store has a nice bar area when you can enjoy a Pepsi beverage.... 1906 -  Pepsi gets another logo change, the third in eight years. The modified script logo is created with the slogan, "The Original Pure Food Drink." The Pepsi Store Website    "Mountain Dew  (stylized as  Mtn Dew )

Guess what I received for my birthday?  A wonderful gift from my daughters.  They bought tickets to a   Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tour. Here is a description from their website, Welcome to Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours! Come experience North Carolina’s best restaurants and food shops in the most unique way. Go behind the scenes to chat with chefs and artisans, and enjoy their delicious food. What better way to get to know Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill/ Carrboro, Hillsborough, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Asheville than on a walking food tour? Join us for the tastiest tours in North Carolina!  We decided to take the Hillsborough tour.  I was so excited to go on my first ever food tour. We met our tour guide,  Jessica , at the entrance of Saratoga Grill. FYI: Jessica is the perfect host, she was great company plus well informed about the venues and the history of the area.  Although Saratoga Gill was not part of the tour the day we went, I have

As I was exploring downtown New Bern I stumbled upon the cutest cafe,  The Cow Cafe . It was a rather hot day, and the thought of ice cream was inviting.   So I decided to check it out. Here is a quote from their website... "The black and white Holstein awnings is the hint that Cow Cafe isn't your ordinary eatery.  Nestled deep in the cow country of New Bern, North Carolina (or Moo Bern in cow language), we serve a full line of sandwiches, wraps, salads, plates and, of course,  HOMEMADE ICE CREAM!" The menu items looked good, but I was here for the ice cream.  I decided to go with the "Udder Pecan".  (I used to enjoy butter pecan ice cream with my mom, it was her favorite). There is a variety of seating.  The main dinning room is in the front of the restaurant. In the back is a room that the kids will love.  This room has an outdoor feel with the walls painted to look as though you are on the farm. Read the history of the Cow Cafe  here

ZenFish Poke Bar 9924 Chapel Hill Road Morrisville, NC  27560 Their Moto is "Guilt-Free, Healthy, Fast-Casual Dining" ZenFish "And when we say  good , we mean our ingredients are sourced from local farmers  as much as possible and everything we use is compostable -  so you can feel great about what you're eating."  ZenFish First off what is a poke bowl?  It would be a good thing to get the pronunciation right.  It looked like poke, so that is what I said: "Poke."  The correct way to say the word is "POH-keh." I looked up the  definition and here is what Wikipedia had to say... Poke  (Hawaiian for "to section" or "to slice or cut") is a raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine, and sometimes as a main course. ... Increasingly popular ahi  poke  is generally made with yellowfin tuna." At ZenFish they do have raw protein options and they have many cooked options as well.

I was excited.  I was finally headed to New Bern NC.  I had been planning this trip for some time.  Now, where to stay? I found a Bed and Breakfast that received outstanding reviews on  Trip Advisor.   What do I look for in a review? Friendly people, excellent location, and fantastic sheets.  I love luxurious sheets:-) After a little over a two-hour drive and thanks to my GPS, I arrived at my destination.  (How did we survive without GPS is the big question.  I remember the passenger would be the map reader and instruct the driver in the way they should go and this did not always make for a pleasant trip.) (Everything in italics is quoted from their website)  " The historic Street-Ward residence, circa 1882, is home to The Aerie, the premier New Bern, North Carolina bed and breakfast inn and event center. The Aerie features a total of  nine well-appointed rooms , each with private bath, modern amenities and tasteful décor that reflect the home’s late-Victorian heritage.&