Death and Taxes

Perhaps some of the best grilled oysters I have had.
Perhaps some of the best grilled oysters I have had. Image from Yelp.
Image from Yelp.  Could not bring ourselves to take pictures during the meal as we were enjoying conversation too much.
Image from Yelp. Could not bring ourselves to take pictures during the meal as we were enjoying conversation too much.

Late posting this, but we ate at Death & Taxes in Raleigh over New Year’s weekend.  First visit since we went for the Firestarter meal with Sean Brock last May.  In a word, amazing.  We started with char grilled oysters and the main was a perfectly cooked steak with sides of pickled foraged mushrooms and her signature Aligot potatoes.  We knew we did good when the runner said we had the ‘perfect order’ when it was brought out.  Great bottle of pinot to pair with the meal.  Ashley Christensen has definitely upped her game with this new restaurant.  Everything was perfect, not a single complaint or improvement needed.  Food and service were spot on wonderful.

Before dinner we had cocktails at Foundation.  Wonderful bourbon bar with top notch crafted cocktails.  I also overhead one of my new favorite phrases.  ‘Put a Sazerac on the Blackshear’.   I believe we like Foundation a bit better than Fox Liquor Bar, but that is just personal preference since we tend more heavily to bourbon and rye cocktails.  I had a Captain Morgan which is a cocktail version of coke and peanuts.  May have to make some peanut orgeat to recreate that at home.

Koi Pond Brewing Open!

We are all very excited to at long last have a brewery open in Rocky Mount / Nash County North Carolina.  I have brewed with Eric before and he has a good nose for  beer.  The Pond as they named the tap room has

Sadie and I @ The Pond
Sadie and I @ The Pond

eight taps and they were all Koi Pond for opening day.  There may be guest taps from time to time.  Nice variety of styles available and my faves today were the Imperial porter which has gingerbread spices, the Thai basil saison, and the coffee stout.  I have had other seasonals that will be out at some point that are quite tasty including a peach saison that I love.

Tap listing opening get day
Tap listing opening get day

The saisons use honey from the operation Rev. Richard Joyner runs in Conetoe as an outreach for impoverished youth in the area.  Truly amazing work and so glad it is being worked into the recipes.  Eric is looking to source local when possible which also includes hops from Cardinal Pine in Wilson County and peaches from Halifax County.

Normal hours will be Thursday and Friday from 5 to 10, Saturday noon to 10, and Sunday from noon to 6.