Story and photo by Lindsey Chester.

Cary, NC- Narong Sapsuwan, owner of Thai Spices and Sushi, came to Cary and opened his restaurant four years ago, but his journey began long before that.

Journey from Thailand

Narong’s sister had left Bangkok more than twenty years ago to “make her fortune”, and settled in the Berkeley area of California, where she opened her own restaurant, Thai Delight Cuisine. About ten years after that, she asked Narong if he could come to help her. He was married and had 2 children at the time, but made the move with his family to this country and eventually took over her business. He remodeled her restaurant and after 1-1/2 years his business improved about 50%.

He still owns that restaurant with his niece, and his sister still helps out. In fact Narong told me, he will travel to California next week to check up on things.

Choice Between Boulder and Cary

Four years ago, Narong started to think about expanding.   He visited fifteen cities that were listed as top places, finally making a choice between Boulder, Colorado and Cary, NC. When he found his current location at Preston Corners, the deal was sealed.

Narong moved first, renting an apartment adjacent to the shopping center. He left his family behind in California for 2 years, while he got started. He said when he opened in 2008 the economy was very tough to open a new business. He persevered and has survived and now business is picking up.

A Few Favorites

I frequent the restaurant for lunch and often choose a bento box. A Bento Box is a complete lunch, with salad, kimchee, spring roll, rice and a main dish (like House Curry with Chicken) all for under $10. They feature a Massaman curry shipped all the way form Bangkok, as authentic as it gets.

Other favorites include their incredibly fresh sushi. You can see the chef make his creations from most any seat in the house. One of the best are Spider Rolls, (Soft shell crab, asparagus, avocado and masago with spicy mayonnaise)  for just under $10.

Many Thai food lovers will order the Pad Thai, which is another one of our favorites. Their large platter is just under $10 and includes stir-fried thin rice noodles with ground peanuts, tofu, egg, scallions and bean sprouts. You’ll have plenty left to take home to enjoy the next day for lunch!

The staff is always friendly, and the atmosphere inside is an oasis from the usual strip mall box. With private booth and trickling fountain you will think you’ve left Cary. If you are lucky enough to live within 3 miles of the restaurant, they offer free delivery.

Go Local: Thai Sushi & Spices

Thai Spices and Sushi
Preston Corners Shopping Center
986 High House Rd (at Cary Parkway)
Cary, NC

http://thaispicesandsushi.com/

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo of 1992 ribbon-cutting provided by the Cary YMCA.

Cary, NC- Hard to believe, but this year the Cary Family YMCA turned 20 years old. I met with Executive Director, Diane Hillsgrove to talk about the past and future of this powerful community organization.

A Brief History of the Cary Y

I had heard the Cary Y began as a walking club, and Diane confirmed that. The club met at Cary Towne Center (at the time called the Cary Village Mall). But even before that, in 1987, the first fitness classes were offered at East Cary Middle School. That year Tracy Howe was hired (he still works for the YMCA).  Then real fundraising began to build a permanent home, beginning  with the Santa Claus Booth in the mall.

From the walking club, the organization then began children’s camp programs.  Camp Outer Limits was the first summer camp located at West Cary Middle School.

A key part of the plans came together when the land and pool was donated in 1987. The existing main pool was built originally as a neighborhood pool. The pool and 15 acres (current Y location) were donated to the project by Parkway Developers. The Finley Y was also instrumental in assisting. Without that initial vision and donation, perhaps the Y would never have been built.

The building officially opened on January 6, 1992, when this area of Cary was almost a wilderness. The town had 60,000 residents. Cary’s population has more than doubled to 141,000 since then, causing organizers to need to expand, and finally to build the more recent Kraft Y in southern Cary, to accomodate the need for more facilities, camps, and members.

We Build People: Helping Those in Need

One of the most important programs that the Y provides has nothing to do with folks getting their daily workout. The annual We Build People campaign funds outreach programs for kids.

This program was launched in 1993 with a goal of raising $50,000. Diane proudly explained that this year’s campaign beat their goal of $435,000- topping $490,500!! (what recession?) The money raised does not go to capital funds, or Y operating costs – it is 100% invested into Y Learning programs during the school year and summer camps scholarships.

The program is effective. Even during the summer camps, the students get tutoring, as well as swim lessons and weeks at Camp Seafarer. Children that participate achieve better EOG scores than their peers in similar circumstances. More money raised, means more kids able to participate. The aim is to make the Y accessible to all.

We Build People: By The Numbers

• 95 Year round and traditional school and preschool scholarship participants
• 70 Day campers
• 100 Y Learning Tutorial participants
• 160 Camp High Hope campers- fully subsidized

Cary YMCA Milestones

Leaders at the Cary Y weren’t done once the building was put up. Every year, they look at what can be improved. Membership currently tops 5100 units-  families or individuals which could mean as many as 20,000 Cary residents!

• 1997: Expansion- built Gym 3
• 1997: Built lower Oasis Pool
• 2001: Completed the Spray Ground
• 2007: Built the Slide
• 2009: Renovated the Inside, expanding workout areas
• Planning future Expansion- Indoor Aquatics Facility

Diane told me that Dick Ladd, who was an early and instrumental leader, believed Cary needed a Y because of the part a YMCA played in his life growing up. “If not for the vision of these early promoters, there would not be this wonderful facility that has impacted the lives of so many.”  I can vouch for that – my first and longest known friends have come from my 13 years as a Y member. My youngest’s earliest memories are as a Bumble Bee club member in their childcare program.

Our very first story on CaryCitizen (7/28/2009): YMCA Blood Drive.

I call myself a “Lifer” and don’t know what would fill that part of my life if the Y did not exist. Thanks to those who had the vision to build 20 years ago.

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Lindsey Chester has been a member of the Cary YMCA for 13 years.

By Michele McKinley, Advocates for Health in Action (AHA). Photos courtesy of Cary’s Pocket Community Garden.

Cary, NC – With spring just around the corner, it’s time to hit the dirt. In the garden, that is.

Dig In

Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, you may want to check out Dig In, the third annual event all about starting and maintaining community and backyard gardens in the Triangle.

Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) presents Dig In on Saturday, March 10, 8:30 am-12:00 pm at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. Dig In features urban farming experts, hands-on workshops and booths for anyone who wants to build and maintain a community garden or gain expertise for success in his or her home garden.

Registration ($10 per person) is open online at www.advocatesforhealthinaction, but space is limited.

What are community gardens?

Community gardens are urban, suburban and rural gardens where members grow food in a shared garden plot or in their own individual garden plots, depending on a given garden’s structure. Community gardens are found in neighborhoods, schools, churches, workplaces, hospitals, community centers and youth centers. Gardens provide access to fresh, healthy produce and enhance a sense of community and connection to the environment—they come in many shapes and sizes!

In and Around Cary

Cary, Morrisville and Apex are all home to community gardens (plus a variety of school gardens), and many are starting their 2012 planning now and invite new members to join them.

• Cary’s Pocket Community Garden
• Cary Senior Center Community Garden (for gardeners 55+),
• Gracious Harvest Community Garden
• Whole Foods Market-Cary
• Morrisville Community Garden
• Simple Gifts Community Garden (Apex)

Many community gardens in the area participate in programs where gardeners donate extra produce from their harvest to area food pantries and organizations such as the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle through the Plant a Row for the Hungry program.

Gardening Know-How

“Featuring urban farming experts, Dig In is a tremendous resource to gardeners and those who want to grow healthy, local foods for their communities and their families,” commented Laura Aiken, interim director of AHA and director of regional community relations for WakeMed Health & Hospitals. “Community gardens are increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” Aiken continued. “Schools, churches, neighborhoods, community groups and other nonprofits can capitalize on the excitement around sustainable food systems, connect people with where their food comes from and promote environmentally friendly living.”

Dig In includes workshops are offered in two tracks: Track 1: Starting a Community Garden and Track 2: Taking Your Garden to the Next Level.

Track 1 workshops include starting a community and school gardens, composting, and raised beds and container gardens. Track 2 workshops include making money from gardens, preserving foods, engaging youth and seniors in the garden, keeping gardens growing.

Plus, all registrants will take part in a hands-on cooking lesson from Whole Foods Market-Cary and Whole Foods Market-Raleigh (Wade Ave.) about how to enjoy the bounty of the garden. In addition, a variety of educational booths about gardening, local food, composting and more are available at Dig In.

AHA!

Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) fosters and supports community efforts to make healthy eating and physical activity the way of life in Wake County. AHA is a group of more than 50 diverse organizations and community members who are shaping the environment throughout Wake County to ensure available and affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity for all community members.

Story by Matt Young. Photo by Felix.

Cary, NC – To those of you who followed the Panthers Beat this year, thanks.  They had a heck of a year.

If you are a football fan, you know that last week was one of the best weekends for NFL football all year – the NFC and AFC Championships.

I can’t think of many things better than being parked on my couch on Sundays in the fall. Unless it’s with a good beer.

So I got to thinking. There are four pretty darn good breweries in those towns. Baltimore, San Francisco, New York, and Boston.

Why not write about those great cities’ great beers?

Playoff Inspired Beers

We’ll start with the AFC and NFC teams that lost. The Ravens and the Niners.

Baltimore. Home of Clipper City Brewery. Makers of Peg Leg Imperial Stout. First, if you don’t mind, always drink a stout in a glass. An oversized wine glass works great.

Here’s what you get with this beer: it looks like coffee, it even has a bit of a coffee aroma. And the intense taste of malt. And chocolate. It sports an average size head that dissipates pretty quickly. As Clipper City says:  it’s “focused on the malt rather than the hops”. And it’s darn good. Peg Leg is 8% alcohol by volume. That’s twice as powerful as that “Natty Light” in your hand.

By the way, dark beers like stout are dark because the barley used in the grist is “kilned” at higher temperatures that your average brew. Often this barley is referred to as “chocolate malt” or “black malt”. Stouts originated in England, as did many styles.

San Francisco. Genuflect. The original craft beer. The venerable Anchor Steam.  And Fritz Maytag, the founder, is one of the most fascinating businessmen ever. ‘Ever hear of Maytag Blue Cheese? That’s Fritz’ brainchild too. He bought the failing brewery in the mid ’60′s, kept it small, and is credited as the “father of microbreweries”.

Anchor Steam is in a beer style known as a “California Common”. It is made with a California-grown proprietary yeast. It has a great head. It’s naturally carbonated, meaning it does not have CO2 forced through it but is carbonated by active yeast cultures in the bottle. Cool.

The flavor, ironically enough, is bready and tangy, like sour dough. Anchor Steam is a rich dark amber color. It’s a great first craft beer for the beer novice to try.  Afterall it is where all the fun began in this country.

It has character, but is not scary to Budheads at all. And it is a tame 4.9% alcohol by volume.

Super Bowl Beers

The Patriots versus the Giants in the Super Bowl.

I chose Harpoon IPA from Harpoon Brewery (self-proclaimed as “New England’s Craft Brewery”) to rep New England. I chose Brooklyn Lager from Brooklyn Brewery as the New York representative.

New England. One of my favorites – Harpoon IPA - is on the low side of hoppiness for an IPA – or “India Pale Ale”. IPA’s are named as such because the beers that were sent from England to India in the 1800′s for the colonists’ use were jam packed with hops. India Pale Ales, as a result, are bitter. The liberal hops usage was to counteract the dilemma of the lack of available refrigeration and take advantage of the preservative qualities of hops. In this case the hops make Harpoon piney, citrus-y and floral (Cascade hops, if you care). It is 5.9% alcohol by volume.

And delicious. I am not lying. Of course, I am an admitted hophead, I even grow hops in my back yard.

New York. A great brewery is New York Brooklyn Brewery. I mean…”fugettaboudit”! Brooklyn also makes a terrific (relatively low-hopped) IPA.

But in this case I chose Brooklyn Lager.

Lager beer is fermented at lower temperatures with a special yeast that gives it its crisp character.

Brooklyn Lager has more character than many lagers. It is almost ale-y – not “thin” like that Miller Beer that you love (and I do too!).  Brooklyn Lager is 5.2% ABV.

Valentine’s Day is the Week After

For you guys or gals that have been watching football every weekend for the past 20 weeks that want to do something special for your other half…the week after Super Bowl Sunday is Valentine’s Day. Here’s a couple quick tips on pairing chocolate and wine.

Porto Rocha is a reasonably priced Port that goes great with milk or dark chocolate. It brings a burst of cherry flavor on your tongue and is mildly sweet. The Porto Rocha Company is 150 years old and grows its grapes from 100-year-old vines.

Port gets its name from Porto, a seaside port city in Portugal in the 1600′s from which Port was exported. By the way, I just used “port” 6 times in one sentence. Port is “fortified wine” - meaning distilled beverages are added to boost its flavor and potency. In this case aguardente (distilled wine or “grape brandy) has been added. The fermentation (yeast conversion of sugar to alcohol) is also stopped earlier in the process than it is in wines, which gives it the sweet Port character. Give it a try. It comes in a great stencil-lettered bottle too.

If you are into white chocolate, give Alma Negra Sparkling Chardonnay a try. Heck, it would go great with milk chocolate and strawberries too. The general rule of thumb is – the darker the chocolate, the more full-bodied the wine that it should be paired with. But rules of thumb were made to be broken. So experiment! If you are going the white chocolate route, sherry is also a traditional choice.

Salut!

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Food coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Triangle Wine Company.

Story from staff reports. Photo by Sarita.

Cary, NC – Our friends at Carolina Parent run a great Summer Camp & Educational Fair. This year, the fair is on Sunday, February 19, 2012 right here in Cary.

One-Stop Shopping for Camp

Clearly, the best thing about the Summer Camp & Educational Fair is that you can gather a whole lot of info in one afternoon.

Last year, 65 camps and education sumer programs had booths at the fair.

How Would You Like $1000?

We love Carolina Parent – positive news, good information, an asset to the community.

They also run very good events.

At the Sumer Camp fair, you can enter a raffle to win $1000 toward camps and education programs offered at the fair.

They will be other games and prizes as well. Great Outdoor Provision Company will bring a backpack and a variety of camping items. Everyone who attends the fair can take a guess at how much would the full backpack weighs. Closest guess wins the backpack and its contents.

Event Details

Carolina Parent Summer Camp & Educational Fair

Sunday February 19, 2012
Noon – 4:00 PM

Cary Academy
1500 N. Harrison Ave.
Cary, NC

Cost: Free

For more details, visit Carolina Parent.

Recipe by Chef Alan Panzer from the Kroger store in Apex, NC.

If you are throwing a Super Bowl party this Sunday, be prepared to satisfy your New York Giants fans with a proper snack. You can’t go wrong with hand-rolled, hand-twisted, fresh-baked pretzels — hey, after all, they are a New York tradition — everybody loves ‘em!

These warm, fragrant pretzels served right out of the oven will make your guests reminisce about the times they enjoyed these treats at sports events or just on the streets of Brooklyn, if they have ever had that wonderful opportunity.

Your guests will never be able to “fuh-get about it!”

Chef Al’s New York Style Soft Pretzel Recipe

Ingredients

for approximately 8 pretzels

• 1 ½ cups warm water (about 105 degrees)
• 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 Teaspoons salt
• 1 Package active dry yeast
• 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• 1 whole egg, beaten
• 2 Ounces coarse Kosher salt
• Pan spray, as needed

Preparation

You will need a pot of boiling water, with 1 tablespoon baking soda in it, large enough to boil 2-3 pretzels at a time. Also 1 cookie sheet lined with parchment paper on which to bake the pretzels.

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl add the warm water, sugar and salt. Whisk them together to dissolve. Then sprinkle the package of yeast on top. Let stand for a few minutes until the yeast starts to make the solution milky and foamy looking.

2. Add the flour and melted butter. With your hands knead the mixture together to form a dough ball. Remove the dough from the bowl and, working on a floured counter top, knead until smooth and workable. If the dough is really sticky, work a little more flour into it until it is smooth to the touch.

3. Spray a clean bowl with pan spray (Or butter it) and place dough ball in bowl. Spray a little pan spray on top of ball and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside and let the dough double in size. (Approximately 45 min.)

4. Once the dough is ready place on floured countertop and cut strips off. Roll out one at a time to approximately 18 inches long. Make a U shape with the rolled-out strip. Holding each end of the U, cross them over each other, and press onto the bottom of the U in order to make the shape of a pretzel. Pinch to secure the ends.

Cooking the Pretzels

5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

6. Place the prepared pretzels into the boiling water 2 or 3 at a time. They will rise to the top in about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spatula and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

7. Brush each pretzel with the beaten egg and sprinkle a little Kosher salt on each. Bake in pre-heated 400 degree oven for 12-15 min. or until golden brown.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with spicy brown mustard or a cheese sauce. Keep some un-salted and brush them with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar. Enjoy!

Watch How It’s Done

Watch this video of Chef Alan rolling the dough Chef Alan rolling the pretzel dough.

Chef Alan Panzer works at the Kroger store in Apex. Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, has 16 stores throughout the Triangle.

Story by Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality. Photo by Lynn Gardner.

Cary, NC - Old-fashioned New England style clam “chowda” is sure to score with your guests at your Super Bowl Party no matter who wins the game.

Superbowlicious

An American classic that has been around since the mid-18th century, clam chowder should be thick and hearty enough to stick-to-the-ribs, warming you up on a cold winter evening.

Better yet, serve the chowder with smokey grilled BBQ wings for a meal that will satisfy everyone from your daintiest eaters to the biggest and baddest of those manly men gathered and yelling at the top of their lungs around your television screen!

Here are two recipes from my new restaurant in Cary, Rockwell’s American Grill.

Recipe: Rockwell’s New England Clam Chowder

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow onion diced
• ½ bunch celery diced
• ¼ pound bacon chopped
• ½ pound butter
• ½ pound flour
• 1 16 ounce can chopped clams
• 1 gallon milk
• 1T thyme
• 3T Tabasco
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound diced and cooked potatoes

Directions:

Sweat celery, onions and bacon in butter until bacon is rendered.  Add flour and stir over medium heat to make a roux.  Add milk and clams and bring to a simmer.  Add seasoning, spice and potatoes.

Make it a Meal and add these wings.

Recipe: Rockwell’s Smokey Grilled BBQ wings

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup butter
• ½ cup chopped yellow onion
• 3T chopped Shallots
• 1-1/2 cups red wine vinegar
• ½ cup molasses
• 4 cups ketchup
• 2T paprika
• 2T cayenne pepper
• 2T chili powder
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 2T liquid smoke
• ¼ cup chipotle peppers
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 1 cup whiskey

Directions:

Sweat onion and shallot in butter until soft.  Add remaining ingredients.  Puree.  Chill completely. Toss 4 dozen wings lightly in olive oil and salt & pepper and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.  Toss the wings in the sauce and place on grill until lightly charred.  Toss in sauce again.  Serve.

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Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality, has opened a new restaurant, Rockwell’s American Grill, at 1080 Darrington Drive in Cary, NC. 

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Emily.

Cary, NC – If you’re like me, you may sometimes have trouble breaking through to your kids on matters of health and sexuality. Now, the Poe Center is bringing an innovative program to Cary just for parents of pre-teens.

Mom! (Eye Roll)

The cries of “Eww Gross!” or “Mom- I know all that stuff” can be daunting when trying to discuss matters that have serious implications for our children.

In partnership with the Town of Cary, the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education will host Parents Matter!, a five-week workshop designed for parents and guardians of preteens, at the Middle Creek Community Center.

About the Program

Parents Matter! is a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) evidence-based program that provides parents and guardians with the communication tools and information necessary to initiate important discussions related to sexual health, family values and personal responsibility with their child.

This community-level family prevention program is designed to enhance protective parenting practices and promote parent-child discussions about sexuality and sexual risk reduction.

Free Program

This free program requires advance registration.

Here’s a nice sidelight: dinner and childcare are provided!

Only 12 Spots

If you would like additional information on Parents Matter! or would like to participate in this series at Middle Creek Community Center, please contact the Poe Center’s Scheduling Coordinator, Kate Mascho at: (919) 455-1616 or k.mascho@poehealth.org.

Possible Future Programming

Ashley Roberts says that the Poe Center folks recently met with Tony Clark and Maria Di Benedetto of Middle Creek Community Center and are hoping to offer additional programs.

They hope to offer the Drugs Uncovered: What Parents/Adults Need to Know! program and possibly one their anti-bullying programs including Don’t Stand By – Be a H.E.R.O. 

Story by Lindsey Chester and Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC- The Miracle League of the Triangle is about to begin their Spring 2012 season and they are looking for a few good sponsors to support the teams.

The Miracle of Baseball

Don’t know the Miracle League? It’s a baseball league for special needs kids.

The miracle is the joy of sports for kids and families who never expected it or experienced it.

It’s an everyday miracle – you can see it in the pictures or at a game. It never gets old.

Sponsors Make it Possible for Everybody

Each year the organization fields about 22 teams for both a spring and fall season.  Sponsorship ensures that the families of these athletes can participate without undue financial burden. They pay $35 to join and receive all the instruction and uniforms.

In January, director Traci Brown looks to sign up groups as annual sponsors for the league which covers the two seasons. As the league has grown in participants, so has their need for increased sponsorship. See story.

What Does Sponsorship Mean?

Sponsorship is visible in many ways: company names are displayed on field signage, T-shirts and announced at all games and each season they hold a sponsor appreciation day.

But there is a bigger impact. For $1500/year, a group sponsors the joy of community, baseball and sportsmanship for these kids and their families. Many groups come out and help volunteer on game days to experience the games themselves.

Currently the league knows they need at least 8 additional sponsors.

If you think you would like to get involved, contact Traci Brown directly through email, or call her at (919) 238-0333. Or you can download the sponsor form right here.

2012 Miracle League Team Sponsorship

Story from staff reports. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – The Downtown Cary Renaissance continues this week with a couple of noteworthy events.

Tuesday: Public Input on The Cary Theater

Lindsey Chester’s story on Friday about the public input meeting this week for the Cary Theater generated a lot of interest. A picture of a proposed marquee drew 35 comments on our Facebook page. You might be interested to read them. Feel free to add your own (keep it respectful, please).

Event Details

“The Cary” – Downtown Theater
Public Input meeting
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 – 6:00 PM
Council Chambers in Town Hall
316 N. Academy Street • Cary, NC

Thursday: Downtown Cary as Major Transportation Hub

Doc Thorne, President of the Heart of Cary Association, set in this notice:

The February meeting of the Heart of Cary Association will be held next Thursday, February 2nd, at 8AM in the Chamber of Commerce building (307 N. Academy Street, across from Town Hall).

Karen Rindge, Executive Director of Wake UP Wake County will be providing our Downtown Dialogue giving us a look at ‘what we may expect for our Downtown regarding transit interconnectivity during the coming decade’. With all signs pointing to our recently upgraded Downtown Depot becoming the major ground transportation hub for Western Wake County this promises to be not only interesting but highly informative. So, why not invite a friend, neighbor or associate to attend with you?

Breakfast refreshments will be provided beforehand co-sponsored by Cary Innovation Center and Matthew’s House, while afterward Karen has agreed to remain to answer your questions.

Event Details

Heart of Cary Assoc Monthly Meeting
Karen Rindge – Wake Up Wake CountY
Thursday February 1, 2012 - 8:00 AM
Cary Chamber - 307 N. Academy Street - Cary, NC
Free