Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – You know the Cary restaurant scene is coming of age with the introduction of fusion cuisine. Say hello citizens of Cary to KoMo KoMo, a new French-Korean restaurant in Maynard Crossing.

Korean Mosaic

KoMo is shorthand for Korean Mosaic Kitchen, a blending of French and Korean cooking.

Chef Jae has cooked at Veritas, Danube and Palladin in New York and at the Washington Duke Inn here in North Carolina.

Food: Soup For You

Forget Seinfeld: Chef Jae has soup for you.

How about Asparagus Soup w/ Tahitian Vanilla Lobster Cream? Or perhaps Sweet Potato Leek Soup w/Caramelized Apple? Maybe Parsnip Soup w/Black Truffle Cream and Crispy Parsnip Chips?

Chef Jae’s soups are one-of-a-kind and leave guests and other chefs gasping with delight. You certainly won’t find anything like it in the Triangle.

Chef Jae is a soup artist.

Food: Main Courses

Ssam is a traditional Korean dish. It literally means “wrapped.” Diners will find several Ssam dishes on the menu including Smoked Pork Ssam.

If you’re in the mood for something French, try the Bouillabaisse or Crab Lobster Raviloi w/Citrus Beuree Blanc.

Plenty to choose from for meat lovers at KoMo KoMo. Lift a fork for the Pan Seared Rib-Eye w/Sauce Medoc, Rosemary Potato and Watercress.

Food: Desserts

I like a good dessert and KoMo KoMo doesn’t disappoint. The Belgian Chocolate Brownie with Bourbon Caramel Sauce looks almost sinful and the Ginger Lemongrass Crème Brule is a refreshing fusion take on a French classic.

The Room: Cozy and Cosmopolitan

KoMo KoMo has a small footprint, sandwiched between Corner Tavern and Time Warner cable in the Kroger shopping center at the corner of Maynard and High House.

The room has a quiet elegance with Korean and French influences blending harmoniously.

The intimate setting reminds me of visiting Po, Mario Batali’s first restaurant, many years ago with Lindsey Chester. Mario has super-sized his restaurant empire, but the chef-inspired, personal dining experience is still alive at KoMo KoMo in Cary, NC.

KoMo KoMo

KoMo KoMo is open six days a week (closed on Sundays). They serve a delightful tea every afternoon at 2:30 (reservations only).

• Lunch –  Monday – Friday  11 am – 2:30 pm
• Dinner - Monday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 9 pm
• Tea Service (reservation only) - 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm everyday

KoMo KoMo Korean French Kitchen
Maynard Crossing (Kroger shopping center)
1305 NW Maynard Rd
Cary, NC 27513
919-462-3555

More Great Cary Restaurants

See more of our favorite restaurants in and around Cary in the Restaurants category.

Story and photos by Jeff Strowe. Above, Second Chance Books.

Cary, NC - These days, reading tends to happen online, and hey, CaryCitizen is only available that way, so this is not a complaint.  However, contrary to popular belief, printing presses have not gone silent and books are still being bound, published, and sold, right here in Cary.

Herewith, a tour of four used bookstores in the Greater Cary Metroplex.

A Changing Market for Books

You wouldn’t know this by paying attention to the big box stores; they’ve either shut their doors or turned their focus to the Kindles and iPads.  But there’s still something to be said about having the paper between your fingers as you turn the pages of a good mystery, biography, or rediscovered classic.

Independent bookstores carry the torch, serving as anchors of many metropolitan downtown developments and college towns across America.  Outside of these areas though, the brick and mortar stores are few and far between.

Right here in the Cary area, though, we are fortunate to have four illuminating used bookstores, staffed by passionate and intelligent employees dedicated to serving both the intensely literary-minded and casual readers alike.

Mr. Mike’s Used Books

Our tour begins at The Shoppes of Kildaire shopping center, where you will find Mr. Mike’s Used Books, conveniently located a few storefronts down from Trader Joe’s.

Co-Owner Mike Cullen comes to the job with experience and authority: his first job was in a used bookstore and in 2003 and he realized his lifelong dream by opening Mr. Mike’s.

Today, business is strong as the store specializes in stocking tough to find titles that readers just can’t find as an eBook.  Readers can also stop in at any time to take advantage of the buy-back policy, where titles can be sold for cash or exchanged for store credit.

So, the next time you really want to read a best-seller, but balk at the expensive new cover price, consider Mr. Mike’s and save some money.

Mr. Mike’s Used Books
1341 Kildaire Farm Rd.
Cary, NC  27511

Booksmart Used Books

Next, head down to the intersection of Maynard and High House and visit Roy Long’s Booksmart Used Books.

Celebrating its 6-year store anniversary this month, Booksmart’s pristinely clean atmosphere contrasts with the common perceptions of a used bookstore.  That’s the goal, says Long:  “We work hard to clean all the books and keep the store as customer-friendly as possible”.

The maintenance extends to organization as well, as the store is neatly categorized by genre, allowing for easy browsing and perusal.

Of particular interest to readers is the store’s “Chick Lit” section, which features many popular mysteries and beach reads.

Even non-readers can find something of interest at Booksmart as the store also carries hundreds of used CD’s (remember those) and DVD’s, making it the perfect place to affordably fill out your iTunes library.

Booksmart Used Books
1258 NW Maynard Road
Cary NC

2nd Chance Books

Head down Harrison Avenue and next to the Carolina Pottery Outlet,  you’ll find Mindy Miller’s 2nd Chance Books and her 45,000-strong collection of titles.

Customers can jump in and browse around as Ms. Miller’s voluminous inventory is expertly catalogued with shelves ranging from coffee table art books to how-to manuals to best-selling James Patterson novels.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?  Just ask for help.  During my visit, Ms. Miller quickly located three obscure titles for an appreciative inquiring reader.  It’s that extra effort of customer service that makes 2nd Chance Books unique.  That, and the fact that Bella, Ms. Miller’s Wiemeranier/Great Dane mix will be there to greet you.

If you have a dog of your own, they are more than welcome to tag along as you shop!

2nd Chance Books
Harrison Square Shopping Center
1821 North Harrison Avenue
Cary, NC

All Booked Up

The book tour ends in Downtown Apex’s Salem Street district at Janice Monaco’s All Booked Up.

A Florida native and former real estate broker, Ms. Monaco was forced to turn her home library into a nursery with the arrival of her children.  The difficulty required in parting with these books led her to start on the new career path of a bookseller.

Now, she is firmly entrenched as Apex’s only walk-in bookstore and the neighborhood feel of Salem Street has helped the shop thrive.  Working with a School Media Specialist, Ms. Monaco keeps the required school reading list titles readily available and in good shape.

The store also boasts two distinct features: a local author showcase that highlights some of the region’s most creative talents, and a “Man Cave”, a decked-out separate room that boasts comic books, vintage movie posters, and a large assortment of DVD’s.

All Booked Up
104-B N. Salem Street
Apex, NC 27502

Go Local for Books

So, Cary Citizens…resist that urge to browse Amazon or drive to Barnes & Noble.  Instead,check out the local merchants right here in our backyard and take advantage of their personal expertise and customer service.  I think you’ll find the experience much more enlightening than clicking the mouse a few times or being bombarded by the Nook salespeople.

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Community news on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Cary Visual Art.

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 and photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Want to liven up the dinner table in your house? Try visiting one of Cary’s fine Asian food markets. Specially for Chinese New Year, here’s a round-up of places to get spring roll wrappers, chow fun noodles, daikon radish and a whole lot more.

Asian Food Markets in (and around) Cary

It is entirely possible that we missed something in compiling our list. If so, please share in the comments (on the website).

Grand Asia Market

Grand Asia is a big, busy Asian supermarket on Buck Jones Road. The address says Raleigh but it might as well be in Cary. It’s on our side of 440.

The list of vegetables alone is impressive – seven kinds of bok choy, chive flowers, winter melon, lotus root and something called eddo. See Grand Asia’s List of Vegetables.

Noodles, sauces, meats, seafood and a marvelous selection of teas are also in abundance. You can get a bite to eat at the Joy Luck Club Cafe.

Grand Asia Market
1253 Buck Jones Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27606

SMart Supermarket

SMart (I never know whether to say “smart” or “s-mart”)  is a large, clean supermarket off Walnut Street in Cary. It carries a wide variety of Asian food products, fresh and packaged, with a special emphasis on Korean food. SMart also has a very tasty cafe.

SMart Supermarket
1000 Ryan Rd
Cary, NC 27511

Triangle Indian Market

Right on East Chatham Street is the Triangle Indian Market. Easy to find in the Chatham Square Shopping Center with an iconic mural on the wall. Fresh and packaged Indian foods from mild to wild are sure to enliven your dinner table conversation. Stop by for a jar of Rogan Josh sauce and use it to simmer pieces of chicken. Serve with Basmati rice.

Triangle Indian Market
740 E Chatham St.
Cary, NC 27511

Toyo Shokuhin

Toyo Shokuhin, also in Chatham Square in Cary, advertises itself as the only Japanese grocery store in the Triangle. You can get sushi supplies, miso, Japanese curries, gifts and other interesting things.

Toyo Shokuhin
748 E Chatham St.
Cary, NC 27511

VGS of Morrisville

VGS is a store-front market on Morrisville-Carpenter Road. Great place to pick up a curry or other South Asian item if you live in the area.

VGS of Morrisville
Morriville Square Shopping Center
128 Morrisville Squareway
Morrisville, NC 27560

Apna Bazar

On Davis Drive, also in Morrisville, is Apna Bazar. It’s a newer entrant into the Cary-area food market, specializing in South Asian cuisine. Fresh and packaged goods include dals, curries, masalas, rice and more.

Apna Bazar
3607 Davis Drive,
Morrisville, NC 27560

Garlic stems from SMart

Story by Leslie Huffman. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Here’s an idea that we at CaryCitizen have been promoting since we started. Support of small business.These are your friends, neighbors and local volunteers that help make Cary unique.

One thing we know at CaryCitizen, no one is more passionate about their customers than the small business owner.

2nd Annual Small Business Saturday Nov 26

American Express along with many advocacy groups began their push for this sumo-holiday last year with a massive marketing campaign. First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday.

Now, there’s the annual Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is a day to support the small businesses that fuel our economy and invigorate communities.

This year, Small Business Saturday is on Saturday, November 26, 2011 (the day after Black Friday).

Did You Know

• According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year.
• Did you know that small businesses generated 64% of new jobs created over the past 15 years?
• For every $100 spent in locally-owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures.
• More than a dozen advocacy, public and private organizations are part of the Small Business Saturday movement.
• According to the 2011 Small Business Saturday Consumer Spend Survey, 89 million people said they plan to Shop Small on Small Business Saturday.

Take The Pledge

Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.  Make the pledge to Shop Small on November 26. Please take the time to find a small business and shop there instead of the “big box” stores.

If everyone in our community shopped local, some of our neighbors would not have to struggle to make a living. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge.

CaryCitizen “Go Local” Stories

CaryCitizen has written over 50 “Go Local” stories. Many of them give back to the community on a regular basis too. If you look at our list you will also notice that some of these business are now closed due to the downward economy. Help out and do your part, Shop Small.

What businesses will you support? Are you “in the know” on all the great places to Shop Small in Cary? Share them here!

Story and photo by Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC – The Historic Heater House, at 120 Dry Avenue, was built in 1918 by the Heater family. Years later it was used as a dormitory for students and then owned by several other families. But in the early 2000′s the property was purchased, restored and renovated into an executive suites office building, now named The Historic Heater Center.

Last week, The Cary Chamber of Commerce celebrated the seven businesses that occupy the Historic Heater Center with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. All of the seven businesses are women-owned and operated.

Delancy Carroll, Vice President of Member Business Services, presided over the occasion.

“This business center is a wonderful example of what we are trying to accomplish here in downtown Cary,” said Carroll. “I am especially proud that these are all women owned businesses that reside in this beautifully renovated historic home.”

The Residents Of The Heater Center

Heather Swanner Photography Studio, Inc is a boutique photo studio focusing on weddings, family portraits and customized products for the home. Owner Heather Swanner says that she believes that family photos should be displayed in our homes as prominently as any other piece of fine art. Heather has 18 years of experience working with families.

Next Step Massage & Yoga is committed to helping you reduce your stress and enhance your health. Owner Jennifer Prevost uses a combination of techniques in her massage therapy tailored for the individual. She also offers private and semi-private yoga sessions.

Rouge et Noir skin care studio specialize in facials for all skin types, relaxing and nourishing body treatments, healthy sunless tanning and all types of body waxing. Owner Angela Vorontsova was born and raised in the Ukraine and has studied in France and Spain at the Guinot Institute as a esthetician and has 20 years of experience.

JustNeem produces all natural skin care products made with the healing power of Neem. All natural Neem has been used in India for thousands of years to help restore healthy skin. Owner Magda Radtke travels to West Africa to bring Neem to the U.S. through fair trade practices with impoverished communities in West Africa. Neem is very effective in soothing the effects of dry skin, acne, eczema, psoriasis, or other skin irritations.

Maria Scheel Invitations & More specializes in high end custom wedding invitations. Owner Maria Scheel will assist you in selecting unique, custom invitations, tiaras, favors, and seating scrolls for your wedding, Bar / Bat Mitzvah, Sweet Sixteen, or other special occasion. Maria also carries birth announcements, holiday cards and baby/bridal shower invitations.

Seven Generations Massage & Birth specializes in massage and bodywork therapies to promote and maintain optimum wellness for women of all ages. Owner Donna Zubrod, is a nationally certified and state licensed massage and bodywork therapist who has achieved advanced training and certification in a variety of specialized medical massage modalities. She also offers pre and peri-natal massage, as well as birth Doula services.

Blue Sky Pilates offers private, semi-private and small group mat and Pilates equipment sessions for all fitness levels. Whether you are new to Pilates, looking to advance your current practice, or recovering from an injury or illness, Owner Kellie Loomis will design safe, challenging, and personalized sessions to meet your individual fitness or therapeutic goals.

Breast cancer survivor Bridget McMinn gets new cut and style by Twisted Scissors owner Amanda Kimball at Cut for the Cure

Cary, NC- Haircuts are something many cancer survivors forego during chemo and radiation treatments. Here in Cary, the Twisted Scissors Salon raised money with haircuts to benefit the Susan G Komen For The Cure.

Amanda Kimball who owns Twisted Scissors Salon in Cary, gathered her team of stylists and opened the salon doors at 10am on October 9th for a new event she dubbed “Cut for a Cure”. The salon offered $10 haircuts and $10 pink hair extensions to benefit the Susan G. Komen For the Cure: NC Triangle. The 6 hour event drew 75 people and raised more than $1100.

Among the list of 75 clients were three breast cancer survivors. Bridget McMinn, of Chapel Hill, is the most recent survivor. Earlier this year, Bridget found out she had breast cancer. She had a mastectomy in January 2011 at UNC. She had undergone 16 weeks of chemotherapy and 2 weeks of radiation. Her last radiation was on August 22, 2011.  She spent 7 months on leave from her job at the food bank. Bridget kept her head under a hat for most of the year.

Brigette sports her new 'do with owner Amanda

Bridget took off her hat in public for the first time at the event. Bridget, a Meredith College graduate, will be meeting college friends for an informal reunion next week. Many of these women she has not seen in ten years.  It was the perfect day, the perfect time and perfect event to get the new style she had been thinking about.

It was Amanda’s husband Leroy who met and invited Bridget to the salon’s event. Bridget noticed Leroy’s Cut for a Cure t-shirt and the two got to talking. She had been waiting until the treatments were over; until her hair began to grow back in.

As Amanda began to style Bridget’s hair, Bridget’s smile began to widen. The smile grew larger as the cut & style progressed. When it was finished, Bridget was happy with her new look and her beautiful eyes shone brightly.

All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure: NC Triangle

Story and photos by Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC – Need a ride to the airport? How about a night out on the town without the worry of driving? You can get this kind of service many places. A taxi, a limo, or a van service.

But take it a bit further. What if your driver came professionally dressed and picked you or your group up in a brand new hybrid electric vehicle? And this company cost you the same or up to 25% less that the standard car services?

That makes a huge difference to me. It also makes a major difference to hotels and corporate clients who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint while still providing quality professional services.

Making Better Choices

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States consumes 378 million gallons of gasoline every single day. The environmental costs to all this fossil fuel consumption is staggering.

Also, the vehicles we drive release over 1.7 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year, contributing to pollution and global climate change. Each gallon of gasoline burned creates 20 pounds of CO2. That’s about 6 to 9 tons of CO2 each year for a typical vehicle.

A good solution; make better choices. We should bike, walk, take public transportation and use our consumer power to use vehicles that are either hybrid, all electric or use biofuels.

Welcome EcoStyle – A Green Transportation Company

I recently met with Scott Tyler, Vice President of EcoStyle, at the Umstead Hotel in Cary. Scott came here after playing pro baseball and meeting his wife. He spent some years in the hospitality industry, but wanted to start his own business. He came up with a unique service that was missing in the Triangle.

In April this year, Scott and his business partner started the Triangle’s first eco-friendly corporate transport company, EcoStyle. Already they have contracts to handle all the transportation needs of corporate clients like SAS, Dex One and The Umstead Hotel.

“It makes me feel great knowing that people are accepting EcoStyle and truly appreciate the services that we are providing for them,” says Tyler. “When we launched EcoStyle, our goal was not only to start a company that revolutionized the industry, but added value to the surrounding communities.”

In addition to providing low-emission and energy-efficient transportation, Scott says that high standards, excellent service and a clean professional look is mandatory for all their drivers. They will pick you up from any location and take you where you need to go.

“I want people to know that when they call EcoStyle, they will receive a level of service that is unmatched. Our team at EcoStyle will always go above and beyond to fill our clients needs.”

They will also provide transportation to and from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), or Piedmont-Triad International Airport (GSO).

What Makes Them The Green Transportation Company?

Presently EcoStyle has 4 hybrid vehicles in their fleet with 2 more on order. Looking to the future, they plan to add several all electric vehicles.

• Toyota Prius Hybrid – up to 2 passengers and gets 53 mpg city & 48 mpg hwy
• Ford Fusion L Hybrid – up to 3 passengers and gets 41 mpg city &  38 mpg hwy
• Chevy Tahoe Hybrid – up to 6 passengers and gets 20 mpg city & 23 mpg hwy

If you need something bigger like a bus for 10 or more, Scott will provide one from one of his partner companies. But, to negate the CO2 emissions generated, EcoStyle will then purchase carbon offsets through NC Green Power.

Other “green” initiatives include:

• Paperless email billing & receipts
• Driver’s uniforms made from recycled materials and organic cotton
• Donate a percentage of profits to NC GreenPower, which funds renewable energy projects across North Carolina

While the corporate office is in Raleigh, most of the cars are staged at The Umstead Hotel. And, because of their exclusive use of EcoStyle’s services, the Umstead even installed several electric car charging stations for their use.

Next time my dinner club group is heading for a night out on the town, or I need airport transportation I think I will give Scott a call. When it comes to saving money, and reducing my environmental impact, it just seems like such a simple choice.

Story and pictures by Lindsey Chester. Above, Abby Roberts, owner of the new Scout & Molly boutique in Cary’s Stone Creek Village.

Cary, NC- Cary just upped the fashion factor with Scout & Molly’s now open in Stone Creek Village.

The Stone Creek shopping center in Cary is the fourth location for the locally owned chain.  Scout & Molly’s is a women’s clothing boutique with an eclectic mix of upscale fashion.

I asked store owner Abby Roberts why she picked Cary and she replied that circumstances  just fell into place when she met franchise owner Lisa Kornstein Disbrow. Abby had just packed off her youngest child to kindergarden and was looking for a new project. She was debating opening a store and had begun doing her research when she met Lisa. Lisa had always wanted a Cary location. The Stone Creek Center’s location and surrounding demographics were a perfect fit.

Who’s the Customer?

Abby says she had one idea when she opened the store, but everyday the customer is evolving. A high school student can find a top just as easily as a soccer mom who needs something for a party, or a business woman who needs a jacket.

Premium denim is a best seller

Best Selling Items

Scout & Molly’s is known for their premium designer denim and the Cary store is no different. Jeans that retail around $160 are displayed in a unique way on an antique church pew right down the center of the store. A range of styles and washes is available to fit every body.

Accessories have also been extremely popular and Abby has three local jewelry lines that are arranged artfully on tables in a range of price points. She noted that these lines can do custom orders.

Dresses and dressy tops for a night out  have also been popular. Now that cool weather is on the horizon, some jackets are beginning to sell. A faux leather bomber (fooled me) at about $100 is almost sold out. Military styling also continues this fall and she had a couple jackets near the register with antique buttons calling my name.

One of the many colorful racks at Scout & Molly's

The store is arranged by color with areas of navy, purples, yellow/oranges, black and neutrals gathered together. She buys limited quantities of each style, so a customer won’t run into someone else wearing the same thing on a night out. Most of her lines are exclusive to the store in this area.

Key Brands

In Denim she buys Hudson, Joe’s and AG, and other lines include: Joy Joy, Suzanne Monaco, Alison Ann, Trixie, Michael Kors and French Connection.

Franchise a Big Help

Abby noted that her partnership with franchise owner Lisa is a key to how she was able to open the store and learn the business at the same time. Lisa’s extensive knowledge about brands, margins, and budgeting have been key to this location’s initial success. Each of the four stores buys independently which results in some differences in the merchandise mix.

They all have the pear green and bright color scheme but only Abby’s Cary location has an enormous peacock mural painted on the wall.

Mural painted by local artist Jennifer Wood

Cary, N.C. – Enjoy an old-fashioned pig pickin’, live music, kids’ entertainment and raffle prizes at the Pig Pickin’ Palooza Fundraiser on Sat., Sept. 10, 11 am-2 pm, at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market.

Bring a blanket or a chair and your friends and family for the fun and foods donated by market farmers and vendors, including hormone-free BBQ pork sandwiches from Coon Rock Farm and featuring BBQ sauce from local company Outta the Park, along with lamb from Little River Ranch, a vegetarian option from Martin’s Curry Rice, Redbud ripe tomatoes, and dessert from Annelore’s German Bakery. Muddy Dog Roasting Co. will provide hush puppies, and sweet tea to wet your whistle. Menu updates will be available at the market’s website.

Tickets are for sale at the market on Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30 pm and Saturdays 8 am-12 pm. Tickets are $10; kids’ plate: $5. Your ticket automatically enters you into the raffle to win farmers’ market goodies, and additional raffle tickets will be available for sale.

“Pig Pickin Palooza is what this market is all about–the community coming together for a great day of local food from farmers’ markets and artisans.” says Juliann Zoetmulder, President of the WWFM. “This market has a great sense of community, and this is a really fun way for all of us to come together and enjoy fantastic local food. And to help to support the market. “

Zoetmulder suggests bringing a cooler for market shopping, and then staying for the food, music, door prizes and fun.