From the Kitchen of The Hotness!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Greetings!  The Hotness and Sweetly hopes all had a fantastic 2015!  We’ve been stuffing our faces uncontrollably and gloriously during the past several months.  We have no shame in our game of eating and throwing down.  Here are the snaps of our New Year Feast!  Enjoy!

Dish:  Louisiana Style Gumbo

Critique:  One of the favorite dishes from The Hotness childhood, this flavorful homemade pot of gold goodness is stuffed with snow crabs, shrimp, chicken, and hot links.  Bring an empty stomach and wear loose sweat pants because eating this gumbo feast is not a game.
Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties













Dish:  Sweet Potato Bourbon Pie

Critique:  Only the strong with fire in their belly need to volunteer to try this homemade dish from the kitchen of The Hotness.  Sure, Sweetly may have complained that eating the bourbon pie put hair on her chest-but she’s a lightweight and almost not deserving of The Hotness Sweet Potato Bourbon Pie.  It was delish!
Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties










Dish:  Sweet Potato Kahlua Pie

Critique:  We know what you’re thinking…”Does The Hotness have a penchant for sweet potato pies made with liqueurs?”  Absolutely!  Now the Kahlua Pie had a sweet smooth velvety texture that brought out the lush sweetness of the potatoes.  Confession: The Hotness poured half the Kahlua bottle into the pie and Sweetly loved it.  Maybe she isn’t a lightweight after all!  Don't forget the Truwhip!
Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties






Dish:  White Chocolate Cloud Crunches

Critique:  Yes, we’re outta control! We confess that we have been trying to consume all the desserts in the world…just because we can.   These little goodies are quite dangerous to make and they are way more addictive than air because after trying one, these Cloud Crunches make you need them.  Yes, you want the White Chocolate Cloud Crunches! You need the White Chocolate Cloud Crunches in your belly!!
Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties

Oh Babymoon! Please Fly Us to the Moon!

Babymoon Cafe in Morrisville, NC

Dish: Bread with Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil

Critique:  Baby Moon’s bread is always served warm, a little crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  The olive oil and balsamic vinegar is the perfect dipping companion.  Word of advice- try not to eat all the bread before your entrée arrives.  The Hotness failed at this mission.

Score: 3 out of 4 Hotties!












Dish:  Baked Zitti

Critique:  Who let the zitti out?  Chomp!  Chomp!  Hot, cheesy, and delicious-y…just the way Sweetly likes it.  Oh, we’re very happy that Baby Moon let the baked zitti out!  Well done…finger snaps all around the table.

Score:  4 out of 4 Hotties!








Dish:  Dinner Special- Seared Salmon Topped with Lump Crab Over Risotto

Critique:  The Hotness hit the jackpot with this dish.  After taking one bite, she was determined not to share her winnings.  The seared salmon had a buttery taste that caused the fish to melt in your mouth.  Bang!  Then the lump crab had the audacity to truly set it allllll the way off by being even more delicious!  Zoom!  Hamana-hamana-hamana-hamana! Plus the risotto- Pow!  Order at your own peril…hitting the jackpot can be addictive.

Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!



Dish:  Babymoon Brownie

Critique:  “Whenever you’re near, I hear a symphony”  A warm brownie topped with vanilla bean gelato, caramel, and chocolate sauce.  Oh yea, babe!  The chocolate violins fill the air with a gooey waterfall of heavenly goodness.  “Baby, baby I hear a Baby Moon Brownie Symphony…”

Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties!

Watts Grocery...Bringing It from the Farm to the Table!

Watts Grocery

Dish:  Farmer’s Cheese Hushpuppies with Basil Mayo

Critique:  Served piping hot out of the fryer…these hushpuppies were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside- with cheese!  The basil mayo added a unique twist in a very good way.  Bonus points to Mr. Basil for bringing the mayo to the hushpuppies PAR-TAY!

Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!











Dish:  Watts Cobb Salad with Fried NC Chicken

Critique:  This wonderful salad read Sweetly’s mind, which is quite hard to do.  Tossed in a delicious vinaigrette- it gave her exactly what wanted.  From the cornmeal crusted chicken to the bacon to the avocado and deviled egg, everything was perfect and tantalizing.  What else does one need in a salad? Nom Nom!

Score: 3 ½ Out of 4 Hotties!





Dish:  Steak Sandwich with Potato Salad

Critique:  Happy Dance Time!  The Hotness is ashamed to admit that she couldn’t finish this awesome steak sandwich.  Simplicity at it’s very best…Duke’s Mayo, white cheddar and sautéed onions.  Oh Happy Day indeed.  The potato salad could have used more salt, but for some reason The Hotness couldn’t stop eating it.  Go figure.

Steak Sandwich Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties!
Potato Salad Score:  2 ½ Out of 4 Hotties!



Dish:  Carrot Cupcake

Critique:  Normally, The Hotness can demolish a cupcake in one single bite.  However, this cupcake proved to be a challenge.  While the carrot cake itself was divine, the icing was too thick and dense for her preference.

Score:  2 ½ Out of 4 Hotties!

Sushi is as Sushi Does! Waraji Japanese Restaurant

Waraji Japanese Restaurant in Raleigh, NC

Dish: Miso Soup and Garden Salad with Ginger Dressing

Critique:  Sweetly wasn’t swept off her feet with the miso soup.  It lacked flavor and seemed a bit watery.  She wished for more miso with her miso!  Now The Hotness is a ginger aficionado and appreciates all things ginger.  The garden salad was exceptional and each bite of the thick ginger dressing left her wanting más.

Miso Score: 2 Out of 4 Hotties!
Salad w/ Ginger Dressing: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!


Dish:  Suzuki 500 Sushi Roll

Critique:  Salmon! Shrimp! Avocado! Eel! Scallions!  And it’s all deep fried? Yes! Sweetly thought she had a winning sushi combination.  However, the flavors didn’t match and the roll tasted a wee bit bland.  Sweetly has since decided that salmon should never be deep fried.  This dish was strike two for Sweetly…

Score: 2 Out of 4 Hotties!



Dish:  Spider Sushi Roll

Critique:  Crab is like bacon, you can never go wrong with it.  The sushi pieces were SO HUGE that The Hotness needed a chainsaw to cut them into edible pieces.  The roll was perfect- it had soft shell crab, scallions, and spicy mayo.  To all sushi amateurs:  The spider roll brings the sushi!  Can you handle it?  Oh, yes you can!

Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!



Dish:  Tonkotsu Ramen

Critique:  We will never look at ramen noodles the same way again.  Once the dish arrived, we realized that we were robbed of our formidable ramen years.  Oh yea babe, this was how ramen was supposed to taste.  Forget those old school oodles and noodles, this is was the real deal Holyfield! Ramen noodles, sliced roast pork, steamed spinach, bamboo shoots, green onions, and hard boiled eggs. Fantastic! Easy Homerun!!

Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!

Hulk...Smash! We Mean...Smash Burger!

Smash Burger, Raleigh, NC

Dish:  Carolina Chili Smash Burger

Critique:  Go ahead and grab that adult size bib and get ready to make a mess worthy of the Smash Burger.  If you reside in North Carolina, you’ll appreciate the audaciousness of this Carolina Burger.  Beefy chili, American cheese, chopped onions topped with fresh coleslaw inside of a pretzel bun!  Shut yo mouth…uh not before The Hotness stuffs this burger in side of it!

Score: 3 ½ Out of 4 Hotties!








Dish:  Avocado Club Smash Chicken

Critique: Sweetly opted to tackle the Chicken Avocado Club.  The apple wood smoked bacon was so tasty that Sweetly willfully neglected her sharing duties and consumed the entire sandwich.  She had no shame- packed with fresh avocado, bacon, and ranch dressing this mammoth treat demanded not to be shared.

Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties!










Dish: Smash Fries

Critique:  Hot shoestring potatoes tossed in olive oil, rosemary, and garlic. ‘Nuff said, just make sure you have plenty of ketchup!

Score: 3 Out of 4 Hotties!











Dessert:  Hand-Spun Salted Caramel Milkshake

Critique:  Without a doubt, this “milkshake brings all the boys to the yard” and it’s like better than…any other milkshake ever!  Ms. Salted Caramel gives The Hotness a run for her money.  This milkshake is definitely worth the charge.

Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!!

It's Never Too Late to Give Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving!

Restaurant:  From the Kitchen of The Hotness

The Hotness apologizes for the tardiness of this Thanksgiving post.  She had fallen into a food coma due to the abundance of food served during Thanksgiving.  Never Fear!  The Hotness is wide awake and ready to provide fellow foodies with our Thanksgiving feast debrief!

Critique:  Oh yea babe...every single item was delicious.  The Lord truly blessed the hands that prepared each dish.  From the Turkey, Potato Salad, Dressing, Mash Potatoes, Collard Greens, Macaroni and Cheese, Corn Souffle, to the Ham.  The Hotness could go on and on all day about the deliciousness consumed on Thursday, November 27.  But we will let the pictures do the talking- try not to lick your computer or smart phone.  If you do...we'll completely understand.  

Score For All Dishes:  4 Out of 4 Hotties!!

We would like to give honorable mention to the Squash Casserole and Corn Souffle- neither had the opportunity to be photographed, yet both were exceptionally scrumptious. 

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving!!

Bida Manda Restaurant! Bida What? Who Cares, It's Delicious!

Bida Manda: Laotian Restaurant Bar

Dish:  Manda’s Crispy Pork Spring Rolls

Critique:  To be so small, these spring rolls satisfied The Hotness huge appetite.  The house-made sweet –chili sauce complimented the spring rolls perfectly, if we could drink the sauce like water we would.  Each one was packed with seasoned pork, vegetables, and special herbs.  If you’re looking for authentic spring rolls, we highly recommend Manda’s Crispy Spring Rolls!

Score:  3 ½ Out of 4 Hotties!


Dish:  Fresh Summer Rolls

Critique:  A+ on presentation!  The Hotness will admit that her expectations were quite low when Sweetly ordered the summer rolls.  However, that immediately changed after tasting these M.O.P. ‘s (Masters of Perfection).  Not sure if the Summer Rolls were delicious because of the peanut and plum sauce, but they were absolutely exceptional.  Sweetly opted for the summer rolls filled with local North Carolina vegetables, Boy was The Hotness glad with her selection!  These Summer Rolls were on point!
                                                                                    Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!


Dish:  Crispy Pork Belly Soup

Critique:  First of all, The Hotness never orders soup when dining out.  However, after the waiter shared that the Pork Belly Soup was his favorite dish, The Hotness decided to take a risk.  And Boy was The Hotness glad that she did!  This Laotian dish represents Laos at its very best!  From the coconut curry, julienned vegetables, herbs, to the rice noodles- marvelous!  Simply Marvelous.  The Hotness recommends wearing a bib when consuming Pork Belly Soup.  Trust us, you’re gonna need it.

Score: 4 Out of 4 Hotties!!



Dish:  Green Papaya Salad with Grilled Herbal Colossal Shrimp

Critique:  Papaya, heirloom tomatoes, house-made tamarind, spicy lime sauce, peanuts, and sticky rice.  Once again, The Hotness thanks Sweetly for being adventurous with her dish selection.  The shrimp in the papaya salad were beyond fabulous, not sure how they were seasoned but WOW!  This dish is unforgettably scrumptious!

Score:  4 Out of 4 Hotties!





Dish: House-Made French Macaroon

Critique:  As one can see, there is not a picture of the French Macaroon.  That is because The Hotness woofed it down before anyone could take a picture.  It’s not the average macaroon, so be ready to be pleasantly surprised.   Thank you Bida Manda for your delicious goodness bestowed upon the city of Raleigh.

Score: 3 ½ Out of 4 Hotties!