01.25.2024

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🍽️ Yes, chef

4 Raleigh restaurateurs + eateries are 2024 James Beard Award semifinalists

Cheetie Kumar sitting on a bartop with Paul Siler beside her.

Paul Siler and Cheetie Kumar collaborated to create Ajja. | Photo by Baxter Miller

The 2024 James Beard Award semifinalists have been announced, and four Raleigh eateries + restaurateurs made the prestigious list.

Ajja: Best New Restaurant
Preeti Waas, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium: Best Chef: Southeast
Bittersweet: Outstanding Bar
Crawford and Son: Outstanding Hospitality

This annual award recognizes chefs, restaurateurs, authors, and journalists that exude exceptional talent and achievement.

Ajja, headed by Chef Cheetie Kumar and partner Paul Siler, is nestled in the Five Points neighborhood and features vibrant foods and uses cooking techniques of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and beyond.

Kumar has been recognized as a semifinalist five times by the James Beard Foundation, and twice as a finalist for Best Chef: Southeast — this isn’t Chef Scott Crawford’s first rodeo either.

RAL-CrawfordandSon-Jan24 — Crawford and Son is Chef Scott Crawford’s flagship location.
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Photo by RALtoday

Crawford and Son is led by (you guessed it) Crawford who is a five-time semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast and goes beyond the menu, offering inventive dishes like before-meal savory aperitivo popsicles.

Chef Preeti Waas, owner of Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, earned her James Beard Award debut last year as a semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast and also made moves to expand her good eats into Durham.

This is Bittersweet’s first nomination, but we have a feeling it won’t be the last for the elevated cocktail and dessert lounge.

Finalists will be announced on April 3, and winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 10 in Chicago. You better hurry up and make a reservation to dine at these four Raleigh standout restaurants.

Events

Thursday, Jan. 25

Taste of North Hills | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 6-8 p.m. | Level7, 101 Park at North Hills St., Raleigh | $50 | Enjoy wine tasting, live music, and passed appetizers with a great view of North Hills.
Built2Last | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 6-8 p.m. | CAM Raleigh, 409 W. Martin St., Raleigh | Free | Local artist, designer, and creative director Gabe Eng-Goetz will speak on how to be successful in creative fields.
Briston Maroney: Ultrapure Tour | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 7 p.m. | The Ritz, 2820 Industrial Dr., Raleigh | $45 | Listen to this Knoxville singer, songwriter, and guitarist perform songs like “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate.”
Comedy Speed Dating | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Goodnights Comedy Club, 401 Woodburn Rd., Raleigh | $20-$28 | Let comics help you test the compatibility of a potential partner, strengthen the bond of an existing relationship, or just spice up your date night routine.

Friday, Jan. 26

4th Friday Connections | Friday, Jan. 26 | 9:30 a.m. | Bad Cat Coffee, 411 W. Morgan St., Raleigh | Free | Grab a cup of joe from this Morgan Street Food Hall vendor and network with other Raleighites.
GLOW with the Flow - Meet & Greet | Friday, Jan. 26 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Downtown Cary Park, 327 S. Academy St., Cary | Free | Immerse yourself in a VR experience, explore alcohol ink art in a drop-in session, make connections, and spark inspiration in this creative atmosphere.

Saturday, Jan. 27

Urban Pothos Grand Opening | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Urban Pothos at Raleigh Iron Works, 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Rd., Raleigh | Free | Show up for the ribbon cutting of this plant shop’s second location.

Friday, Feb. 23

Winter Concert Weekend | Friday, Feb. 23-Saturday, Feb. 24 | 8-10 p.m. | The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville | $85 | Chase the winter blues away with a memorable weekend of comedy and yacht rock tunes at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn.*

It's basically Friday, right?

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

Don’t be part of this 80%

Never wait in line at a supermarket again with a Thrive Market membership. | Photo by Thrive Market

80% of Americans are anticipated to abandon their New Year’s resolutions by the end of this month due to life’s unavoidable disruptions.

Fortunately, Thrive Market simplifies the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, with:

Discounts: Shop food and products for up to 30% less than traditional grocers
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Gifts: Receive a complimentary gift, valued up to $60, upon joining
Free shipping: Spend $49+ and get groceries delivered for free

Join Thrive Market for 30% off

News Notes

State

Yesterday, the NC Lottery Commission voted unanimously to authorize mobile and sports betting to begin a day before the ACC basketball tournament kicks off on March 11. The commission had until June 14 to allow sportsbook operators to begin business. (The News & Observer)

Open

Little Native Coffee is open this week with soft opening hours. This 400-sqft industrial-meets-earthy cafe is located right next to Boot & Trunk near Moore Square and is open today through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Monday, Jan. 29, the neighborhood spot will start to operate with normal hours.

Community

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance released its quarterly report for October 1 through December 31 which highlights what’s new and coming soon in downtown. There are 18 developments under construction like Rockway Raleigh, and 44 planned or proposed. Read the full report.

Civic

If you received your property revaluation and think it’s too high, did you know you can appeal it? March 1 is the deadline to file an informal appeal, and formal appeals will be accepted between March 2 and May 15. Learn more about revaluation. (WRAL)

Eat

Triangle Restaurant Week comes to a close this Sunday, Jan. 28. Don’t miss out on your chance to score delicious meal deals like The Willard + Il Falò’s $35 three-course dinner special.

Art

Stop by the Lions Park Community Center to check out a new art installation by Durham artist R. Stein Wexler which is on display now until October. The temporary installation, called “It’s About Time,” is featured as part of SEEK Raleigh and explores the ways in which we use our time.

Home

Perfect for a cleaner, healthier home: this extra-large maple cutting board, which is BPA and phthalate-free and conditioned with beeswax, flaxseed, and lemon oil.*

The Buy

The Buy 1.25.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Your new favorite water bottle: the Owala Travel Tumbler. It combines the best of Stanley’s viral tumbler with Owala’s smart design. We’re liking colors “Bunny Hop” and “Foggy Tide.”

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The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Today’s edition by:
Cat

From the editor

I got so swept up in compiling our Picture of the Year contest finalists that I didn’t stop to say how amazing our readers are. We received over 110 photos, and every one was so stinkin’ sweet. I loved getting to see how you all view Raleigh through your lens. Make sure to vote for your favorite photo — voting closes this Sunday, Jan. 28.

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