Brunswick Co.: Some very fine eats

The family headed down to the Sunset Beach area for a conference last week. And while I won't go into the details on the horrendous experience at the resort at which we stayed, I do want to sing the praises of the culinary experiences we had.

Our first stop was dinner at the Sugar Shack in Ocean Isle Beach. Man, oh man, this may be one of the best meals we've ever had. We started with crab fritters (with a fantastic lime sauce) and then split a full rack of ribs. We were a bit suspicious when there was no barbecue sauce with the ribs, but our concern was quickly put to rest. These were perhaps the best ribs we've ever eaten. If you attempt to go to the Sugar Shack, be sure to make reservations.

The next night we hit the Giggling Mackerel, also in OIB. Admittedly, it would be hard for any place to follow the Sugar Shack, but the Giggling Mackerel held its own. The food is not as adventurous, but the service was fantastic, the food was brought out quickly (and when you have a 3-year-old and a 19-month-old, you don't want to dilly-dally), and there's plenty of stuff to do before you're seated. The restaurant is located in a fishing center, complete with a seafood market and a very neat nautical-themed store.

Our third night there was spent at Ella's in Calabash. Some may poo-poo Calabash-style seafood for just being fried, but I'm not complaining. Ella's is one of several Calabash institutions, and the food was fantastic.

Oh, and the best part about all these places? They are VERY reasonably priced -- especially for coastal restaurants. For instance, at Ella's, I got the deluxe fried platter -- with shrimp, crab, flounder, oyster and scallops; fries and coleslaw -- for just $15.

(Sugar Shack image from Myspace; Giggling Mackerel photo courtesy of its homepage)

Do you like seafood? (Opens mouth)

Here's some good news on the economic/agricultural front: North Carolina's commercial seafood harvest increased by 13 percent last year.

"The state Division of Marine Fisheries said Monday that the seafood landings of 71.2 million pounds in 2008 marked the end of a five-year decline in the seafood industry," according to the Associated Press. "The division said more than 32 million pounds of the harvest was blue crab. The crab accounted for $25 million of the $87 million total value of seafood. That was an increase of $4 million over 2007. Division official Alan Bianchi said shrimp harvests were down 1 percent and that might be caused by last year's high fuel prices. North Carolina's oyster harvest was up 5 percent, to 88,008 bushels."

(Blue Crab image from NationalGeographic.com)

Get your eat on in MC

One of North Carolina's best-known festivals (and my personal favorite) takes place this weekend: the North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City.

This is the 21st year of the seafood festival.

"The festival kicks off tonight with the start of musical performances and other entertainment and continues Saturday and Sunday with entertainment on several stages, children's activities, rides, arts and crafts vendors, Coastal Yesterday and Today exhibits and lots of seafood," says the Jacksonville Daily News.

"The main event is the shrimp, crab, fish and other seafood served up Saturday and Sunday by the school groups, churches, scout troops and civic clubs that line the waterfront streets. ...

"The Seafood Festival was started with a six-point mission that includes promotion of the seafood industry and boosting tourism in the non-summer months. Hotels, restaurants and shops benefit as visitors make their way to Carteret County for the event, said Carteret County Tourism Director Carol Lohr, who also helped start the event.

" 'It has grown to be the second largest festival in the state and it is definitely the largest economic factor in the fall in this area,' she said. ..."

Quick hits: Singers and shrimp

Pickler, Daughtry to appear at N.C. State Fair
"This year's State Fair will have an 'American Idol' feel with several members of the hit show appearing on stage," says WRAL.com.

"Ruben Studdard, the 2003 'American Idol' winner, is scheduled to perform at Oct. 14 while Albemarle native Kellie Pickler will perform hits from her debut album on Oct. 16. Chris Daughtry is scheduled to appear on Oct. 20.

"Other music stars slated to appear are Sara Evans, Josh Turner and Trace Adkins.

"The 2007 festival will provide a flair for Southern food as celebrity chef Paula Deen will bring her Southern charm and savvy on Oct. 17. ..."

Big debate over roadside shrimp
"Shrimp dealers and roadside sellers are squaring off in Brunswick County, prompting county officials to consider regulating the roadside sale of seafood," writes the Wilmington Star-News.

"Selling shrimp out of a cooler in 90 degree-plus weather is a health hazard, Southport shrimper Royce Potter said Saturday as he sat near his business on the Southport Yacht Basin.

"Potter, who catches and sells shrimp and fish for Potter's Seafood in Southport, approached the county commissioners July 16 with concerns about people who sell seafood on the roadside.

"He told the commissioners such unlicensed vendors suffer no repercussions if there are problems with improper food storage and therefore could give all seafood businesses a bad reputation. And it's unfair, he said, that roadside vendors don't have to meet the same standards that businesses like his do.

"Glenn Williams, who sells shrimp off N.C. 211 between Southport and Oak Island, says the real objection is to the competition he presents, and he plans to make his case to the commissioners at their next meeting. ..."

Quick hits: I've got some good news, and some bad news ...

Some items found while scanning the web today ...

Seafood festival wins regional award
"The North Carolina Seafood Festival [pictured] held annually in Morehead City has been recognized for the designs that covered posters and T-shirts during its 20th anniversary," according to a news release.

"The North Carolina/South Carolina Association of Festivals and Events awarded the Seafood Festival first place in T-shirt design and second place in poster design for last year's event.

" 'We are truly grateful to receive these coveted awards and many thanks to our poster and T-shirt artist, Anna B. Cordes,' said Seafood Festival Executive Director Stephanie McIntyre. ..."

N.C. tops nation in farm losses
"North Carolina may soon have to decide between progress and loss of a way of life," according to the Dunn Daily Record.

"For the past two years, the state has won a title it may not want to keep - Tops in Farm Loss. North Carolina lost 1,000 farms in 2005, tying Florida and Tennessee for first place in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2004 it wasn't even a tie; with a loss of 3,000 farms, North Carolina lost hands down.

"Director of Public Affairs for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Conservation Services Brian Long said the title is one the state would like to lose, and soon.

" 'North Carolina had 54,000 farms in 2002 and at the end of 2005 we were down to 48,000,' he said. 'That is a 6,000 farm loss over a period of just six years and we've got to take steps now to stop it. It's been one of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler's main priorities in recent years.' ..."

Food tourism in N.C.

This article on CNN.com's Travel page about "food tourism" got me thinking: Would you travel far distances to try out or enjoy different foods in North Carolina? If so, what would they be?

"Nationwide, an increasing number of vacationers are basing their travel around food and wine — and a study released Wednesday says that 27 million Americans have made culinary activities a part of their travels within the last three years," says CNN.

" 'It's something that really took off in the past five years or so,' said Cathy Keefe, the manager of media relations for the Travel Industry Association of America, which helped pay for the study along with Gourmet magazine and other organizations. ..."

Personally, there are some places that are known for food and worth the drive. The obvious ones are barbecue in Goldsboro, Wilson or Kinston; seafood in Morehead City; Moravian cookies in Old Salem; wine in Asheville.

But some are not so obvious: A Pepsi in the soda's birthplace, New Bern; Ashe County cheese in West Jefferson.

I'm sure there are more out there. What are your choices?