The Saturday after Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, is now being labelled “Small Business Saturday”. The large business retail chains get the foot traffic on Black Friday, and small business owners want to encourage that traffic to continue the next day.

Small Business Saturday (WRAL 5 Video)

WRAL TV 5 mentioned Small Business Saturday earlier in the week, but then had a small blurb about it on Sunday morning, the day after. In this packet, a business in “Lafayette Village” called “Savory Spice Shop” was prominently displayed. I think they showed the interior, and I definitely remember the exterior… and I immediately said to myself, “I didn’t know they had a spice shop there”. I also immediately took my Chromebook, which was probably already in my hands for other purposes, and googled “Savory and Spice” and had their web site up on the screen, getting their schedule and location. They would be open later Sunday morning at 11 am, and they were located on Honeycutt Road (also facing Falls of Neuse Road).

I decided that this would be my Sunday adventure after I had breakfast. I got the address into my phone so that I could enter it into my navigation program. Later, once in Raleigh, I pulled off of Capital Blvd. and tried to get the best route to Savory Spice. The first option was to go up Capital Blvd. and get on 540… but I don’t know if all or just part of 540 is a toll road, so I decided I would try a different route. I enlarged the map and saw that Falls of Neuse Road would be easy to get to, and that it would take me almost all the way to where I wanted to go. If I had looked a little closer, I would have seen that although Lafayette Village was listed as being on Honeycutt Rd., Falls of Neuse Road went right past the retail shops and offered another entrance there.

I got to Lafayette Village shops a little before 11 am, so I used my “Gas Buddy” app to find the best price/nearest gas stations/convenience stores. There was a Sheetz station relatively near that I ended up going to. I then returned and it was just a few minutes before Savory Spice opened. The owners of Savory Spice, Bob & Cindy Jones, arrived a few minutes before their business was to open, and went in. Cindy brought out a sign, and as she turned to go back inside, another customer asked if she could come in a little early. Of course it was alright and both women headed into the shop.

I got out of my car and came in close behind the two women. It was a wonderful spice shop. Various canisters and “test tubes” of assorted spices, spice mixtures and salts were displayed on all four sides of the shop. Bob very soon came over to me and asked if he could be of assistance. He began to explain about what was for sale, and that there were “Tasters,” I think that was the label on the smaller containers which were samples to smell and taste of the various salts & spices. There were trash receptacles, but I didn’t immediately find them, and began to wonder

what to do with the spice powders that were quickly beginning to accumulate in my left palm. I didn’t want to brush them on the floor without a thought, but I didn’t want to put them in my waiting pockets either.

During my time there, several other customers came into the store. In listening to their conversations, it was interesting that all of us must have seen the Small Business Saturday blurb on WRAL just that morning and had found our way to the Savory Spice Shop just because of it. Later, while I was visiting a nearby specialty tea shop, another lady popped in asking where Savory Spice was located. I had to ask her, although she was definitely in a rush, if she had heard about it on WRAL that morning. She said, “Yes,” and quickly was back out the tea shop door heading around the corner.

While in Savory Spice, I mentioned to the gentleman owner that it would be nice to have a specialty olive oil store next door. He quickly replied, that “we already have one, just around the corner… but I’m not sure if it is open on Sunday.”

I bought several spice items, and a flaky salt from Australia, and headed out the door and around the corner. But, before getting to the specialty olive oil shop, I came to the tea shop “Mavalios”. I popped in to see what they had. The manager/owner of the shop was working behind the counter and greeted me. He looked Hispanic Cuban to me, and dressed “from the City”. Hey, I’m a fat, white guy from the South. He was just getting ready to brew some sample teas. He showed me and let me smell the aroma of several teas while explaining their intricacies or strengths. I said I was actually looking for the olive oil shop and would pop back in shortly to sample his tea.

I walked up to the olive oil shop and looked at their posted schedule. It was either on the door or a window, but there was a note that said for Nov. & Dec. (I think.) that they would also be open on Sundays… not normally though throughout the year. I tried the door and walked on in.

There were two women in the shop as I entered. Both appeared to be part of the staff or management. They both welcomed me and and proceeded to look around. I’ve been in a couple of other specialty olive oil shops (one called the “Crushed Olive” in Hickory, NC) and this was laid out pretty much the same. You have large cannisters of oils and vinegars which you can sample. There are little paper cups to place your samples, some napkins, and small trash cans about the store. There are various sizes of brown glass bottles labeled with the name of the oil or vinegar.

I tried quite a few oils and and few balsamic vinegars. I was looking for something that I hadn’t already purchased elsewhere. I don’t recall the name of the balsamic vinegar, but one poured out of the small spout about the speed of cold molasses. It was very sweet and good.

I bought about 3 items there, and then before leaving asked if I could take their picture. I told them that I blogged about the various places/stores that I visit and that I tried to add a photo that would back up what I had written. I also told them that they could stand wherever they would like, to display or highlight anything especially. The owner (one of them) thought to put on her apron before being photographed. I took their picture, asked if it appeared to be okay… my eyes don’t always focus and sometimes even clear pictures appear blurry to me. The picture was okay to them and I headed out the door with my picture and my bag of items.

I stopped in front of the shop, put my bag down and turned and took a picture of the exterior of the shop. I then headed back to the tea shop.

By this time the tea had brewed and was sitting on a counter with cups nearby. Both

owners were now in the store working behind the counter, near the cash register. We talked, I tried both samples of tea, and decided to buy the gentleman’s favorite. He packaged it up, and while doing so, I asked if I could take their picture. I took one picture… obviously out of focus, even to me… and then another. Maybe it was the leather hat matching the jacket that made me think he was a “city” boy. No offense meant. I didn’t ask if he was from New York City or some other large Northeastern metropolis, but he looked it to me. *He did mention that in addition to being the shop’s co-owner, he was also a lawyer.

Out the door again, another photo of this shop’s exterior and then back to my car.

As I backed out and headed around the shops, I saw that there was a bakery/cafe and decided to pop in to see what they had to offer. There were several customers sitting at small tables inside, and a short line of people waiting to order… perhaps breakfast baked goods… maybe coffee too. I walked on through only briefly stopping to look at the decor… various artwork on the walls, and then out the opposite side’s door.

There was one or more restaurants nearby, and I think it was still too early for them to be open. I rounded the corner and there found what, for me, was the gem of this adventure. The Village Market. I wasn’t sure if this was an actual market, or perhaps a catering business with a catchy name. I went to the door and walked inside. Oh boy! A specialty market. There were assorted good looking cuts of meat in the glass display counters along the back of the store. There were cheeses, specialty teas, olive oils, vinegars, and what appeared to be good prices on Italian pastas.

There were samples of hummus, salsas, and homemade pimento cheese. I tried the hummus first. Good. I then tried the pimento cheese. Very good! In fact so good that I think I tried it 3 times. *I did buy some of it before leaving, along with a couple of vinegars (the cheap ones) and some brie.

Drew, a young man met me as I first came in and let me know that if I needed his assistance he would be behind the meat counter. When I finally made my way to the meat counter, I saw that they had some fresh Italian sausages, both hot and mild. The butcher was talking to Drew (I’m not sure if Drew is also a butcher.) behind the counter. I asked them about how much a pound of sausage would be… how many links make a pound. It was the same as at Whole Foods… 4 links make about a pound… or in my case just a little over a pound. I bought two mild and two hot links. Drew said they would be good for a sandwich, but I said that I was planning to split the skin, peel it off and add the sausage to my spaghetti sauce. He agreed that that would also be a good idea.

It wasn’t clear where the pimento cheese containers, for sale, were located. Drew took me around the corner from the display area and pointed them to being there.

As Drew rang up my purchase, we talked and I also asked if I could take his picture. In the brief conversation, he mentioned that his mother either lived in Asheville, or was planning to visit. I had such a good experience during my visit to Weaverville and the “Stoney Knob Cafe” that I googled it on my phone and showed it to him. He said he would mention it to his mother because it sounded like a place she would like to visit.

Apparently, Lafayette Village is owned by one person and he has created a “foodies” mini paradise in North Raleigh. I do plan to go back to sample some of the meats at the Village Market. Surprising what a few moments on the TV can do to drum up business. No telling what actual commercials do for these shops.

I was in Belks in Fayetteville, NC in the morning, a day or two before Thanksgiving. I think I bought a sweater vest, black, to match the purple one that I had bought earlier. I also bought 9 pairs (3 sets of 3 pairs) for about $12 (down from $17@) each set, of Black Gold Toe socks. *Funny that as a child one of the things that you really didn’t appreciate for Christmas would be socks, and as an adult, socks would be a nice present. Something to replenish your supply for the year… an annual event.

Before going downstairs (the Men’s Dept. is on the second floor), I walked over to the kitchen section and walked by the Guy Fieri Cookware set (10 pcs.). I had looked at it sometime in the past several months. Suddenly, I thought, “I’m going to buy this before the Chancellor gives us whatever bad news that’s coming next Monday. *About 5 days ago, I saw an email that said a “mandatory” meeting was scheduled for the Monday after Thanksgiving, where the Chancellor was going to address the whole ITTS Department. No hint at what he might be wanting to say, but since I’ve never seen him over in the ITTS area (maybe once when he was talking with someone about taking some of the department’s space for another department), then I know it can’t be good. Maybe he is going to outsource the department, or most of it, or maybe we may have to take a cut in pay. I really don’t know what it will be. We definitely haven’t been a premiere unit for many years. The Budget cuts went from “doing more with less”, to “doing less with less”. From “cutting the fat”, to cutting muscle.

The cook set has glass lids and has a nice weight for each of the pots & skillets. I have used a few of the utensils and am happy with them. I just fixed some mashed potatoes, with the skins, and they were very good… thyme, marjoram, salt & pepper, butter, and some onion flakes. I reheated a steak, and fixed a salad and used up the remaining Mandarin orange vinagrette dressing that I had made for the apt. warming.

While I was cooking, I happened to put one of the new pot lids on my old Revere Ware pots. It fit perfectly! I then got out my steamer insert for the Revere Ware, and it fit perfectly in the new Guy Fieri pot. I do see that the skillet lid for the new cookware does not fit on the large Revere Ware skillet. *I had thought of getting rid of my old cookware, but I may keep a few pieces (definitely the steamer & dutch oven inserts).

So, I plan to go into work this coming Monday, all day, so that I can attend the Chancellor’s “special talk” with ITTS. I was supposed to be off until this coming Wednesday, but I’ll take off Wednesday instead. **The State Legislature gave State Employees a 1.5% pay increase, and 5 “special” days that had to be taken before the end of the next fiscal year. When I heard about the 5 days, for apparently the second time, I decided to immediately take them. I used those days in early September, going to Asheville, NC and staying at a garage loft for under $80 a nite. It was an enjoyable trip.

Well, those days would normally have been taken from Vacation Leave, and then a few weeks ago, I realized that I had a bunch of leave (about 19 days) to take before the end of the year. If we have more than 240 hours of Vacation Leave at the end of the year, the excess rolls over into Sick Leave. I didn’t want that so I planned, with Michelle’s help, which days I would take off. I have two stints of 12 days off (modified by the Chancellor’s Talk) and then several weeks where I work maybe 1 or 2 days at most, punctuated by long weekends. I do have to work the week just before Christmas as Suzanne is leaving on Dec. 14th on her vacation.

Well, let’s see what the Chancellor comes up with on Monday. I sure don’t want to have to move again this soon, especially since I have such a wonderful setup now. I have lived like a Troll for the past 15 years, and now, with the recent move, and much “outgo”, have most of the things that I might ever want, and need.

 

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ADDENDUM [01/20/25]:   I just used the Stock Pot to make some homemade Chicken Broth which turned out really well. I don’t recall what the Chancellor thought was important, but it wasn’t very important, and no where what I had imagined. Wish I had written down what it actually was about. [end]

Back at the end of May, I was making a mini-vacation tour which took me through Lincolnton, Hickory and back up through Salisbury and onto Fayetteville. This was just before it became apparent that I would need to move from my apartment of 15 years residence.

I left Hickory and as I drove down to Lincolnton, I proceeded to stop at various grocery stores along the way. I wasn’t particular. It could be a Food Lion, IGA, Harris Teeter or any other that presented itself. I had a game plan. I was going to make my Avocado, Mango, Pineapple, and Chipotle Salsa for lunch. I had my pocket knife to slice up the avocado, and mango if necessary. I stopped at either a Dollar Tree or Dollar General store to get a couple of plastic containers. One container to make the salsa and one to store the left over avocado, etc. I don’t recall, but I must have had a plastic fork or spoon from some fast food visit.

The canned pineapple was easy to find as was the chipotle peppers and then the avocado, but fresh mangoes were not easy to find along the way. I think it was at a Food Lion in Lincolnton that I found a jar of sliced mangoes. *As I recall, I also saw a very attractive young woman there also. Shopping with her mother on Father’s Day getting a last minute card for dad.

I left Lincolnton and headed up toward Salisbury. My game plan was to stop at a State rest area along the way, and fix my lunch, and then head on to Salisbury where I would surprise Jaime & Danny and Mary Ann (who was supposed to have surprised them with her visit also). *When I got to Salisbury, I found Jaime’s house, but no one was there. I was to learn that they had all changed their plans and Mary Ann was back in Hubert already, and Danny working, and Jaime & Si doing missionary work at a hospital.

Just after crossing a branch of Lake Norman (I think?.) I saw a State boat ramp and parking area. I turned in there and found a partially shaded space to park, away from the boat traffic to/from the ramp. I got all my ingredients out and proceeded to prepare them. Here is what it looked like. Very good, and relatively easy to prepare “on the road”. *It would have been nice to have an ice chest to store the left overs, but nothing spoiled afterward.

A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, I was running a little ahead of schedule in Raleigh. I had already stopped by the NC State Farmers’ Market and bought several things. Now, I was on my way over to Whole Foods (or perhaps Crabtree Valley Mall, first) via Wade Ave. As I approached Cameron Village, I turned in and made a brief tour around some of the shops. At some point, my eye spied the Fresh Market. I’m not sure if I had ever been in this Fresh Market, but I knew the “high end” market and decided to take a quick tour.

As I was walking down one of the isles, I noted plastic containers of dried kiwi fruit. I love kiwi, so I got a couple of these. One for me, and one to share as I visited around (friends & relatives). I then turned to the opposite side of the isle where there was a row of bins (barrels) with plastic lids covering assorted dried items. I then saw what was called an “Okra Chip” and I knew I had to try this. I got one of the nearby plastic bags and grabbed the scoop and opened the lid to the bin. I scooped up some of the okra. They were whole okra, vacuum fried, so they were extremely light in weight. The price on the bin cover said that they were $12.99 per pound. This sounds expensive until you realize how many okra it takes to make a pound. My first bag only cost about $4.00 when I made it to the check out counter.  *Yes, after trying my first chip I went back inside and bought an even bigger bag to share and it only cost around $7.

After I paid for my dried kiwi and okra chips, I went out to my car and sat down to try each before leaving. Wow!!! What amazing okra flavor when I bit into my first okra chip. If you love okra, then you should definitely love these. They are light in weight and intense in okra flavor. The moisture has been removed in the low temp, vacuum frying process. They seem to be both like biting into fragile glass, as the texture fragments easily, yet never a hint of being pierced by a “shard” of the snack. They are lightly sweetened and salted, but neither overpowering. The processor doesn’t even cut off the knob on the vine end of the okra. You usually do this if you are frying okra, but in this process, the whole okra becomes light and crunchy. I’ve read that the low temp oil is only about 130 degrees F. so the negatives of cooking over high heated oil aren’t passed on in the product. *It may never happen, but I would love to buy a home model for frying with this process. Seems like someone could come up with a oil/pressure cooker device in a manageable size.

All the friends that I’ve given a taste of okra chips have loved them. That is if they liked okra in the first place. I would imagine that even okra haters. Those that hate the gummy, stringy stewed okra, would like okra chips.

I have since found okra chips also at Harris Teeter in Fayetteville, NC. They were pre-packaged, but I think a little cheaper in price and selling around $5 per plastic bowl. I’m not sure that these were as intense in flavor as the bulk ones I found at Fresh Market.

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As I’ve said in earlier posts, I have really learned to love hummus since I made it at home several months ago. I had opened two cans of Garbanzo beans, at different times, and only used half a can (because that is what fits well in my chopper). I must have not realized that I still had a plastic container of beans in the fridge before I opened the second can. Well, both plastic containers sat in the fridge for days, if not at least a week until this week. I opened and smelled one container and then tasted one bean. It was fine, and I made some hummus. A day or two later I repeated the process with the older plastic container of Garbanzos, and they were good also. Apparently, Garbanzos will last a long time out of the can, as long as they are refrigerated.

The extra things that I did to this week’s hummus was to add some flavored olive oil and a handful of Italian parsley. I had purchased the flavored olive oil in Hickory, NC some months ago. The one I used was a mushroom flavored oil, very earthy in aroma and flavor. I added some roasted garlic, capers, lime juice and some regular olive oil (Frantoia). Boy, this produced a very distinctive and flavorful hummus, and the parsley gave it a beautiful green color.

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I ate at the Red Lobster in Fayetteville yesterday for lunch. The waiter told me that they were out of the red wine vinaigrette but before he left I thought to ask if they had vinegar and oil. He said yes and brought the two vials out with the house salad. The vinegar appeared to be red wine vinegar, both in color and flavor. Perfect! I asked for a little sauce bowl and put some oil and vinegar in and then added several packets of artificial sweetener. It needed a little more vinegar, but this was as close to their red wine vinaigrette as I needed, and it was good.

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A little over a week ago, I was in Harris Teeter and tried a sample of cheese. Normally, I try it, find it to be nothing special, and walk away. But, not this time. It was a white American Cheese and reminded me of all those Kraft American Cheese slices that I had grown up with. Reminded me, but having a much better flavor. I even mentioned this to a man standing behind me at the time. He tried it, and then offered a sample to his wife/girlfriend,… and they bought some of this cheese also. *I’ve since gone back and bought a little more of this cheese. And, when I did, I bought a small loaf of olive bread. So, I’ve been eating my flavored hummus, with a little American Cheese, and a slice of the olive bread, with a little mayo, on the bread, and on freshly sliced tomatoes, and alternating with some ripe Spanish and French olives, and maybe adding a little Turmeric or freshly ground Cumin to the tomatoes. It is so natural for me to snack off my kitchen island. I might go to Crate and Barrel in Winston-Salem this coming weekend to get a chair to use with the island cart.