New Mexican fusion restaurant comes to north Raleigh

Chef David Peraza’s 13 Tacos & Taps will open to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Peraza has been a part of some of the areas most popular Mexican restaurants in the past, which include places such as Gonza Tacos y Tequila, Mez and Jibarra, to name a few. Now with his first brick and mortar with his family, Peraza plans to bring Mexican fusion to the location that use to be Chubby's Tacos inside the Falls River Town Center.

We had an opportunity to talk to Peraza this Friday and sample some of the upcoming tacos he'll be offering to patrons. Take a look below at some photos and descriptions of what's to come.

Shrimp & Grits Taco – Using his craft of fusion this taco is shrimp, seared and infused with chorizo and chile pepper sauce, fresh stone ground NC grits, Oaxaca cheese and green onions on a corn tortilla. A most excellent taco that will satisfy the taco traditionalist as well as the ones who love Southern cuisine. 

Chicken & Waffles – Another great fusion item. Here you get the best of both worlds. Take a double dipped breaded chicken strip with maple syrup, pico de gallo, queso fresco and put that on top of a waffles … and then put that all on top of a flour tortilla! Wow! 

El Chapo Rib – Fill a corn tortilla with a heaping serving of braised short rib meat, and top that off with guacamole mousse and a couple thin slices of radishes – and that’s all you need for a perfect lunch or dinner taco.

Yellow Fin Tuna – Talk about something you can eat just about every day. This chile rubbed Ahi Tuna on sweet and spicy aioli, Asian slaw, Wasabi Rouille, Avocado pearls on a fresh corn tostadas that just melt in your mouth. By far one of our favorites! 

All the tacos looked good as we glanced over our shoulders to check out other plates coming out to guests. That included a seared Filet Mignon taco (Moo Moo Tres), a smoked pork belly taco with apple relish (Porky Asia) and a meatball taco that takes beef and chorizo meatballs and braises them in a sweet and spicy red gravy.

Unlike its predecessor, Chubby’s Tacos, you’ll now find a bar where you can order local craft beers, wine and mixed cocktails to enjoy with your food.

What you need to know about Burial's new Raleigh outpost!

It’s official. Asheville’s Burial Beer Co.’s new Raleigh outpost at the Transfer Co. Food Hall on Davie Street is now open to the public.

Hundreds of fans of the brewery lined up outside on January 5 to purchase some of the brewery’s rare releases such as its latest release, I Used to be an Athlete – a collaboration with Other Half Brewery. Other rarities that afternoon included To Steak Blood Across My Brow IPA, The Virtue of Patience Barleywine and the Houtenhamer Double Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout.

While the line continued to grow outside, I was able to spend some time inside with Burial’s co-owners Doug and Jess Reiser before the bodega opened to the public. The crew inside were getting the glasses ready, the cans stacked and meeting with several media outlets taking photos of the new location.

This write up is to try to give you as much info on the new location as possible. I know there has already been some outspoken beer fans who hopefully this will answer some of your questions as to why things are the way they are. Below are excerpts from my talk with Doug and Jess.

ABOUT THE ART ON THE CANS

The art on all the labels follow love and hate, life and death. The labels showcase the work of David Paul Seymour and Burial’s brand, which shows the evolution of the brewery’s growth and process. “We like to think of it as a symbiotic relationship,” says Jess. Don’t expect to see Burial change the art on their cans, or Seymour illustrating labels for another brewery –  their relationship is exclusive.

ON WHY WE SEE NO TOM SELLECK MURAL IN RALEIGH

“We didn’t want to replicate the Asheville taproom, and Tom doesn’t live in Raleigh, he lives in Asheville,” figuratively through the mural ... says Jess.

ON THE OPTION TO EXPAND

It’s early, so there is no desire to expand at the moment. Down the road there could be a possibility of taking the back wall and adding a door that could lead out back. But for now, as Jess states, they’re happy with the location and having street access at the food hall.

ON TAP ROOM RELEASES

Burial is pleased to announce that when you see a “taproom” only release, that means everyone can get that unique offering right here in Raleigh. “This is good for people who can’t always make it to Asheville,” says Jess. “We appreciate it so much, so we wanted to make it convenient for the people of Raleigh.”

WHY RALEIGH?

After a beer drop at State of Beer last year, Doug states “That was the moment that really spurred the idea that if we did something outside of Asheville, Raleigh was the place.” Charlotte was a possible option, but Doug really likes Raleigh and “sees it changing every time I come out here.”

ON THE SMALL SPACE AT THE FOOD HALL

While places like Hi-Wire’s new location in Durham can cater to many, Doug wanted the Raleigh location to be a place for people to buy some cans, have a drink and go. Inspired by Danny Meyers Daily Provision in New York City, Doug states, “You stand in line. It's credit card only. You buy your box of danishes to go. We want to do that with beer.”

Here at Burial’s Raleigh bodega you won’t find huge communal tables or games. You won’t find them filling growlers because “We focus too much on the art. We aren’t nameless faces,” says Doug. “Why do we have to be forced to open another big place? It’s our choice. We want to do something for us.”

ON NOT TAKING CASH

Doug has already had complaints, and knew this was something they’d hear when they made that final decision. Some of the reasons for being a card-only location is that they don’t want someone to be responsible for a lot of cash, especially during big events. Also, Burial would have to set up a bank here in Raleigh, which they don’t want to do. “We’re pretty small and we’re also considering the safety of our employees. Plus, cash adds about an extra hour to closing each night,” he says. Reiser thinks eventually this will be the way of the future for many more breweries.

You’ve been warned now!

#GivingTuesday reflects back to local Raleigh cat shelter

In Memory of Hamilton "Bones" Baxter

Alumni of SAFE Haven for Cats, Raleigh, NC

November 2003 - June 16, 2018

As a previous volunteer of SAFE Haven for Cats, located in Raleigh, I will never forget the day I first met Hamilton. It was Spring, 2003, and he had just been admitted into the isolation area at the no-kill cat shelter where I was assigned to clean on that particular shift. As soon as I took him out of his enclosure, he gave me the biggest bear hug and I knew he had to be mine. Even though I already had two cats at home and was not in the market to take on a third, he chose me and I could not let him down.

He was the biggest love bug there was and would just sit in my lap for hours. I was in love. When I wasn’t there, other volunteers stepped in and sat with him – for hours. And made sure I knew he was getting the proper attention when I was not there.

Finally the day came when he was ready to come home. And lucky for him, his new grandparents were also in town that day and were there to welcome him to his new forever family. He was promptly placed in a bathroom until he was ready to explore, which did not take him long. As soon as he laid eyes on his oldest sister, Oreo, he was smitten. I was no longer the love of his life as Oreo was his everything which also left the now middle child, Mai-Tai, a little left out but right into my arms. I couldn’t complain.

Oreo and Hamilton - It was love at first sight for Hamilton

Over the course of his life, he was sadly in the shadows of his sisters, which grew by one through marriage, but he also gained a daddy. Hamilton could be a little rough with the girls at times, but rarely on purpose. He loved to sit in the window and watch the birds and squirrels play all day. At times he would be forgotten about as the “girls” drama overshadowed him. But he rarely fussed. He was rarely sick and the occasional hairball turned into a dramatic event – each time. Vet techs loved him and he returned the love.

In 2012, he had to say goodbye to his sister Mai-Tai and we could tell he was a little scared, but with the help of Oreo, he overcame. In 2014, however, his soulmate Oreo, sadly left this world leaving behind just him and his step-sister, Sleestak. The house felt empty. Hamilton and Slee were not the same without Oreo in the house. He became more loving again with me as he used to be all those years ago and sit on the couch with me to watch TV. He yearned for his dad’s attention and demanded to be petted by him. A year-and-a-half after losing Oreo, we adopted again and brought in a 9 month old feline girl who decided it would be a good idea to bully Hamilton. He took it in stride. I warned our newest bundle of joy not to poke the bear or he may poke back! He poked back … finally … and took dominance. Proud momma moment!

For a boy who was never sick, mother’s intuition began to set in early 2018 that something didn’t seem right but I could not put my finger on it. When he went in for his annual, I told the vet but could not tell her what to look for. His blood panel came back indicating overactive thyroid and he was put on medication. On his recheck, the numbers did not come down as expected and we were directed to continue as we were and bring him back in six months unless he continued to lose weight or we saw other signs. Two weeks went by and after we returned from a weekend away, I noticed he wasn’t eating. Now his eating had been a challenge for some time since he no longer wanted his food, but Slee’s food. But he ate. This time he was not and he was retreating to the closet or under the bed. Off to the vet we go.

I won’t go into details at this point except that he went in on a Tuesday, was diagnosed with advanced stage pancreatic cancer, that had already spread to his abdomen, and by Saturday, in the comfort of his own home, in my lap and with the help of Lap of Love, we said our final goodbyes. Way too soon yet in my heart, I know he is reunited with his true love, Oreo, at the Rainbow Bridge. I will miss his bear hugs the most because he had the best hugs EVER!

So, this was Hamilton’s story. Off the streets of Raleigh, into the shelter of SAFE Haven and into a loving home with now heartbroken parents who loved him unconditionally. I write this to acknowledge that without the tireless efforts of these non-profit, no-kill, animal shelters, that cats like Hamilton would never have had a chance at a good life.

To learn more about SAFE Haven for Cats and the work they do to save countless felines, check out their website at www.safehavenforcats.org.

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By Jennifer Primrose

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