Smallcakes! Grand opening and Giveaway

So, it's my birthday tonight, so I thought what would be better to post about than...cupcakes!  There's a new spot in town and it's the perfect place to satisfy any sweet tooth!

What it is:  Smallcakes is a new cupcake shop located in the Woodcroft Shopping Center, already home of several of our favorites-Chubby's Tacos, Pulcinella, and Menchie's.  There are currently about 90 Smallcakes location nationwide, but each individual location is able to put their own local spin on their sweet treats.  The Durham Smallcakes just opened up a few weeks ago and we stopped by to sample their cakes on opening day.

We walked in and the shop is decorated perfectly.  They have a fabulous Durham mural on the wall to complement the counter filled with delicious looking cupcakes.  While they didn't have any seating on our initial visit on opening day, the owner, Andrew Fisher, confirmed that a few small tables would be arriving shortly.  Oh, and they also have coffee from another local favorite, Bean Traders as a perfect compliment to their cupcakes.

My boys both, of course, selected chocolate cupcakes, one resembling the Hostess variety only more decadent and the other being a "sundae" cupcake.  My husband opted for the red velvet with thick, cream cheese frosting, and I decided to try one of their daily specials, the Wedding Cake flavor.  We took them to go in a beautiful, very well designed box (complete with little notches in the cupcake holes for easy cupcake removal).  Then, we divided them up and proceeded to sample.  They were all moist, with just the right amount of frosting, just like a cupcake should be.  The Wedding Cake was my favorite so I hope they bring it back as a special soon, but you really couldn't go wrong.   Prices are $3.50 a cupcake which is a tiny bit higher than most other local stops but in the same basic price range.

While Smallcakes is already open and you can already stop by to get their delicious cupcakes, their official grand opening is yet to come!  Make sure to stop by on January 24 for their grand opening celebration and party!!

What we liked:  The cupcakes were delicious.  They have perfected their regular flavors but continue to create unique and different specials so there's always something new!

What we would change:  Currently, they don't have any restrooms, but that's certainly not going to stop me from heading back over at my soonest convenience to try more of their delicious treats!

Website and other important information:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/SmallcakesDurham

Address: 4711 Hope Valley Road, Durham

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 12-5pm

Photos:

Thank you so much all of you dedicated cupcake lovers who read down to the bottom of this post because you will be rewarded!  Smallcakes is offering a FREE CUPCAKE to the first ten Stir Crazy Moms blog readers who comment on this post.  This time, it has to be on the actual blog to count, so thank to Smallcakes and enjoy!

Sunni Sky's Homemade Ice Cream

Since the arrival of frozen yogurt shops on the scene, I've been missing good ol' ice cream places. While we enjoy the Parlour and Mapleview Farms (a lot), a few weeks ago we visited another great stop to get some real old fashioned ice cream.

What it is:  Sunni Sky's Homemade Ice Cream is an ice cream shop located way down south of Raleigh and Fuquay-Varina in Angier.  Our friends had sworn to us that is was the best ice cream around, but since it's so far away, we hadn't had the chance to get down there.  However, it was in the perfect spot to hit on the way home from our trip to the SC beaches, so we stopped by.

It's actually just off of Hwy. 55.  Yep, the same one that's in Durham only about 50 miles further south. We parked in their lot and headed in.  On that particular Saturday afternoon, their small shop was pretty crowded.  Immediately, we figured out why there were so many people in their just standing.  They have 120+ flavors of ice cream and are constantly developing new flavors.  Plus, they offer free samples, so if you're anything like us, you might take a while to decide what you want.  After some sampling and much debating, I went with the traditional mint chocolate chip so I could compare it to other places I've tried.  My husband sampled red raspberry, my older son tried mint-oreo while my youngest son sampled strawberry daquiri.  Everyone said their flavors were delicious.

Sunni Sky's ice cream has been featured on several different TV shows. They were featured on the Food Network for a particular flavor they have called Cold Sweat.  It's made from 3 different kinds of hot peppers and two different kinds of hot sauce and it's so hot that you have to sign a waiver to try it.  We weren't brave enough to sample it, but you always have that option.

There's no seating inside the shop, so we sat outside on some rocking chairs they had set on their porch. They even had small sized chairs for the kiddos.  There were also picnic tables across the parking lot where we could have enjoyed our treat.

What we liked:  We loved how many flavors they had and how you could sample any of them.  All of the ones that we tried were delicious.  Also, their prices were very good at just $1.50 for a kiddie cup or cone and  $2.50 for a single cup or cone.

What we would change:  Of course, the drive is long, but if you're headed down in that direction, then it's a great stop! Oh, and the day that we went, there were quite a few bugs buzzing around, but I don't know if that's a regular thing or not.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.sunniskys.com/

Address: 8617 Highway 55 S, Angier, NC  27501

Hours: December, January, and February: CLOSED, March: Sunday-Thursday 12pm-11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-Midnight, April-September: Monday-Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-12pm, Sunday 12pm-11pm, October-November: Sunday-Thursday 12pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-Midnight

Photos: 

(the sign)

(a small portion of the flavors listed behind one of the counters)

(some of the 120+ flavors)

(additional seating)

(even more flavors)

Miel Bon Bons

What it is: We were so sad to hear that Local Yogurt closed its location near the intersection of 15-501 and University just next door to Bull City Craft.  We were wondering where we would go after we stopped by Bull City Craft when we wanted a sweet treat.  Well, fortunately for us, our problem is solved.  Just across the street from Bull City Craft is the newly opened Miel Bon Bons where you can go to pick up all manner to delicious sweet confections.

I first heard of Miel Bon Bons when they were located in Carr Mill Mall in Carrboro.  My husband came home from a work party saying that he had just had the best cake ever, and it had been ordered from Miel Bon Bons.  So, we were really excited when they opened in Durham.  I stopped by with my boys before we headed over to the Bull City Craft ornament party, which I will tell you all about a little later.  We needed a little sweet treat to tide us over.

We parked right out in front and headed in.  Immediately, we saw all kinds of beautiful chocolates and truffles waiting for us.  They were beautifully colored and shaped.  My boys immediately saw a couple of solid chocolate cell phones and were sold.  It took me a little longer to choose the flavor of truffle that I wanted to sample.  I landed on the ginger and it was delicious.  I can't wait to go back to try some more of their chocolates, French macaroons, cookies, tarts, cakes, candy apples, or other sweet treats.  The people were nice and took a lot of care in what they did which produced a very high quality dessert.

What we liked:  The chocolate was beautiful and high quality.  Plus, it's great to have a new sweet treat stop in that location so you can combine it with a trip to other nearby kid stops like Bull City Craft, Rockwood, or Forest Hills Park.

What we would change:  As soon as word about the deliciousness of this stop gets out, parking might be tricky because their are only a few spots.  Plus, you don't want to park in the lot across the street because you will get towed.  (Oh, and on a personal note, my fabulous dentist (Dr. Ray) is also located in that building and now, I will feel incredibly guilty when I go to the dentist and immediately head down to get some sweet treats afterward!)

Website and other important information: 

Website: http://mielbonbons.com/

Address: 2514 University Dr, Durham

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10am-7pm, Sunday: by appointment only

Photos: 

(Can you believe it, I arrived at Miel Bon Bons without either of my cameras or my phone!  However, I promise when I go back, I will get a bunch of pictures of their delicious chocolates which are definitely photo-worthy!)

Throwback Thursday: Parker and Otis

I just wanted to remind everyone about this great stop in downtown Durham.  In December of last year Parker and Otis had to close as the result of a fire.  Thankfully they opened with a new remodel in February, so we didn't have to miss them for long.  It's a great place for both kids and adults.  Just writing this makes me want to head back over immediately!

What it is: I've been hearing about Parker and Otis for a while now as a great new restaurant in downtown Durham.  I kept meaning to head up there and check it out.  Then, it recently was mentioned in an article in the NY Times, the article in which Durham was named #35 on a list of 41 places to go in 2011.   I definitely couldn't stay away any longer!

On Saturday morning, I headed to Parker and Otis with my family.  A few other people had the same idea as me, it was pretty crowded.  We stood in line to get our food and then had a wait a few minutes for a table to open up.  My husband and I both had sandwiches and a side of their pesto pasta salad, which was seriously the freshest pasta salad I had ever tasted!  My son enjoyed a grilled cheese and a beautiful side of fruit.  While we ate we peered around at all of our surroundings.  Parker and Otis is one of those places with so many things to look at that you're not sure where to look next.  It doubles as a shop as well as a restaurant and they have countless unique items to buy in every corner of the building.  Needless to say, after we ate, we had to shop for a little while.

What we liked: I loved the atmosphere of the place, and the food was local, fresh, and delicious!  Even though their food was creative and innovative, they still had a grilled cheese and fruit for my picky son to enjoy.  They also have a wide array of items and food in the store.  You can order breakfast or lunch, get a coffee from their coffee bar, or enjoy dessert or chocolates.  You can also grab some candy from large candy bins set up in the center of the restaurant, or even pick out a nice bottle of wine.  There's a little bit of everything at Parker and Otis.  There are also quite a few options for seating including the main dining area, the coffee bar, and a large outdoor patio.

Oh, and don't forget the train station is right across the street.  So, if you time your stop right, you can watch the train leave or come in to the station before you enjoy your great meal.

What we would change: The food was a bit more expensive than a typical lunch out for us and the sides cost extra.  In addition, some aspects of the restaurant were not kid-friendly on a crowded Saturday morning.  We had to wait for a table to open up, which can be tricky with a fidgeting toddler.  Then, with the crowds, maneuvering the stroller was especially difficult.  A table opened up, but we couldn't take it because simply couldn't get the stroller over there. My husband also noticed that they have lightweight chairs which our toddler almost tipped over several times.  Fortunately, they did also have high chairs for another option if necessary.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.parkerandotis.com/store/index.php

Address: 112 S. Duke St, Durham, 27701

Phone Number: 919-683-3200

Hours: Open Mon-Thu,Sat 7:30am-7pm; Fri 7:30am-8pm; Sun 10am-3pm

Photos: 

1. My delicious pasta salad and sandwich

2. One of the shopping areas

3. A candy nook

 4. The counter where you order

5. The dining area

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

So, we've already told you about he wonderful aquarium at Ft. Fisher just south of Wilmington, but today I'm going to tell you about another great day trip option in the same area.

What it is:  With summer waning and school starting, our family wanted one last taste of summer.  So, with my extended family visiting from the middle of the country, we took them out to the beach.  Now, we thought about heading to Wrightsville Beach which is the absolute closest beach to Durham.  However, we have experienced the difficulty and cost that is associated with parking in Wrightsville, so we kept looking.  We decided to head about a half an hour further south to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area.  While it was further away, parking was plentiful and free.

On the way down to Fort Fisher, we found a great stop to make the morning even better.  We stopped about 5 miles north on the Carolina Beach boardwalk at Britt's Donuts.  We had heard that it was rated the second best donut place in the country, so we couldn't pass it up.  Parking was a bit tricky, so we dropped off my husband and let him stand in the long line while we drove on in the other car to the beach.  If you only had one car, you could either all park and wait in line or drop someone off and circle while they pick up their donuts.  However you do it, this place is definitely worth a stop.  Our family picked up 2 dozen of their fresh donuts and they were polished off far too quickly.  What a great start to the day!  Oh, keep in mind that Britt's Donuts is cash only and open seasonally so plan accordingly.

Once at the beach, parking was easy, and it was a short walk from our car to the boardwalk where you could find restrooms and a seasonal refreshment stand (which we didn't check out so I can't tell you about that).  Just past the restrooms is the beautiful beach.  There is a section that is lifeguarded near the boardwalk and then 6 miles of pristine beach beyond that.  You can even bring your truck and drive on the beach to get a little further away from the crowds if you so desire.

We chose to stay in the lifeguarded area just because we had four children under 5 with us.   There were plenty of people there, but we never felt crowded.  The waves were a bit rough in the morning but they calmed down in the afternoon and there were quite a few people swimming all day.  The transition from beach to ocean was a little steep, but that didn't seem to bother anyone and our little ones could easily get up and down the slope.

After our great day at the beach, we packed up our stuff, rinsed off and changed in the restrooms, stopped my nearby Kure beach to get some dinner, and drove home.  (Yes, I had expected the little ones to pass out and sleep the whole way home.  Oh alas, that didn't happen for us, but it could happen for you.)  Regardless of how hyper and jazzed our little ones were on the way home, it was a fabulous day and I definitely recommend that beach for a great and very doable day trip.

What we liked:  We loved the ease of parking and it's proximity to Durham.  It only took us about 3 hours to drive down there.  The stop for donuts also added a little something special to the day, and if you really wanted to go all out, you could easily visit the actual Fort Fisher historic site or the fabulous aquarium also at the site.

What we would change:  There's not much I would change about this stop.  Of course, I wish it were closer.  Plus, the restrooms and shower stations got a bit crowded as we (and everyone else) were leaving at about 4 pm, but it wasn't too bad.

Website and other important information:

Beach Website: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fofi/main.php

Britt's Donuts: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Britts-Donut-Shop/189424071099111

Beach Address: 1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, NC 28449

Britt's Donuts: 11 Boardwalk, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Photos: 

(Yes, they were gone that fast.  This was the only picture of the two dozen donuts that I could get.)

(A beautiful day at the beach)

Cocoa Cinnamon

What it is:  I had been hearing about Durham's newest coffee spot that recently opened up in downtown  Durham.  They started off as bikeCOFFEE which is just what it sounds, a mobile, bike-driven coffee stand.  Then, owners and couple Leon and Areli began a kickstarter campaign to start Cocoa Cinnamon.  The campaign was obviously successful, and we were ready to see what they had to offer.

Cocoa Cinnamon is located in what is now a pretty cool corner of downtown Durham.  It's at the corner of Geer and Foster Streets sharing the intersection with Geer St. Garden, King's Sandwich Shop, and Man Bites Dog Theater.  It is also just next door to Central Park School for Children.  We parked in their lot which was very crowded.  There is also lots of street parking nearby, but make SURE you don't park on the street next to the school in the mornings, the person behind the counter said that was not a good idea.

Once we found parking, we came in.  They didn't have a menu posted that I saw, but they did have coffee and some delicious pastries behind the counter.  I also knew they sold tea and a delicious little something called "sipping chocolate".  I ordered a sipping chocolate for my son and I to split and a cookie-something delicious-looking called, I think,  "Milton's favorite".  It took a little while for them to make us our chocolate, but that's ok because we just grabbed a picnic table in their lovely outdoor space and enjoyed looking around.  Our chocolate was in a tiny little cup, but they made a little extra and we got two cups.

My son and I LOVED the cookie, but he tried the sipping chocolate and thought that it was too bitter and dark.  That was OK with me because it was pure, decadent deliciousness and I enjoyed every sip.  I have a feeling, though, if I had added some of their simple syrup before I had given him a sip it would have been a treat he would have liked.

What we liked:  It was a beautiful space, especially with the garage doors open to the outdoors in the good weather.  The cookie was delicious for my son, and the chocolate was an absolute treat for me and something I would definitely go back for.  I would also love to hear what a coffee or tea drinker thinks of their coffee and tea because, based on the sipping chocolate, I bet their pretty, darn good.  It would be great fun to head back after a great downtown dinner or date night to finish off the night with some sipping chocolate and adult conversation without the kiddos as well.  It's really nice to find a place that works both as a fun kids date or a just for grown ups treat.

What we would change:  As I said, the parking lot was a bit crowded, but there did seem to be plenty of safe street parking on Geer St.  Also, as a person who is not a coffee or tea drinker, I was surprised to see how expensive a specialty beverage can be, but it was definitely, definitely worth it (and not any more expensive than your nearby chain).

Website and other important information:

Website: http://cocoacinnamon.com/

Address: 420 W. Geer St, Durham, 27701

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-10pm, Friday and Saturday: 7:30am-midnight, Sunday: 9am-9pm

Photos: 

(A view of their front entrance from our seat)

(the counter)

(a view of the whole shop)

(Mmmm...cookie)

(pure chocolate deliciousness)

Daylight Donuts

We just told you about our outing at Millbrook Exchange Pool in North Raleigh.  If you're headed up in that area any time soon, we have the perfect stop for you!

What it is: Daylight Donuts is located in North Raleigh and it's a great family owned and operated business that sells, that's right, delicious donuts.  They had countless different flavors of donuts and muffins; "fancies" including scones, eclairs, cinnamon rolls and more; great coffee as well as other drinks like OJ and milk; and even seating where we could sit and enjoy our donuts.  The costs were very reasonable, but the best part and the reason why I just have to tell you about it is that they are COMPLETELY PEANUT/TREE NUT FREE!  So, if you have a child with an allergy issue, this is one place where they can go and pick out what they want!  YAY!

What we liked:  We love the fact that they are completely nut free.  Also, their donuts were really good.  My boys scarfed their vanilla with sprinkles and my french toast donut was moist and yummy!  I would have liked to dig in and try a few more of their flavors.  Oh, and they donate all of their uneaten donuts to local charities feeding the hungry-awesome!

What we would change:  The only thing we would change is how far they are away from us Durhamites.  However, they are definitely worth the trip, especially when you can combine it with another great Raleigh stop.  As we have already said they are only about 5 miles from Millbrook Exchange Pool and only 5 miles in the other direction from Umstead Park.  Oh, and the fact that they're only open until noon makes it a little harder to stop by.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.daylightdonutsraleigh.com/default.asp

Address: 7550-101 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh

Hours: 5am to Noon, Tuesday-Sunday, Closed Monday

Photos: 

(A view of some of their goodies in the front and on the wall in the back---we were later in the morning so clearly some of the treats had already been eaten.)

(the kids' choice)

(my french toast donut-yum!)

(a view of the storefront)

Go Greenly

What it is:  You know that we can sniff out a frozen yogurt place anywhere in town, and boy, there are plenty.  (There are 8 within 5 miles of my house!)  The newest player in Durham's frozen yogurt scene is Go Greenly which just opened up about two weeks ago, so of course we had to go check it out.  It's located in the old Carnival Delights location in the Indigo Corners shopping center near the intersection of I-40 and 15-501.

For the most part, it's pretty similar to the other frozen yogurt places.  You can serve yourself your frozen yogurt, pick your toppings and then pay by weight. They had a wide variety of yogurt flavors, a reasonable selection of toppings, and lots of sauces.  The yogurt was tasty and not watery at all which can be a weakness that we've found at some of the other froyo spots.  In addition to having frozen yogurt, they also had smoothies which was a nice, healthy touch.

Once we sat down to eat, I started noticing some of the aspects of Yo Greenly which give it its "Green" title.  They use all recycled cups, napkins, and spoons.  Some of their furniture was even made of solid cardboard to be more environmentally friendly, and it was just as comfortable as a regular chair.

What we liked: The yogurt was tasty.  I loved their focus on being environmentally friendly.  Plus, it's nice to have a dessert place in the whole 15-501 retail cluster including New Hope Commons.  That way, when you can take the kiddos there as a treat after they've been good through countless errands.  I think the smoothies are a nice touch that make this place a little different.

What we would change:  It seemed like they didn't have much seating inside, but they made up for that with some nice outdoor tables.

Website and other important information:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/gogreenlydurham, http://www.go-greenly.com/

Address: 5324 New Hope Commons Drive, Durham, 27707

Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 11am-9pm, Thursday-Sunday: 11am-10pm

Rose's Meat Market and Sweet Shop

What it is:  I first heard about this new Durham shop when they had their Kickstarter campaign.  I was pretty excited.  There aren't many places in Durham to get fresh, local, pasture-raised meat.  So, Katie and Justin Meddis decided to open a butcher shop, and since she specializes in making delicious pastries, the shop would also sell delicious sweets.

Now, the Kickstarter campaign was successful and about two weeks ago Rose's opened its doors just behind Brightleaf Square on Gregson Street.  We stopped by this weekend to check it out.  If you want to get delicious meat for your family, this is the place.  We bought some smoked pork chops to sample, and when they cooked them up they really did taste like a delicious bacon steak.  They also sell delicious sandwiches that you can buy for an immediate yummy meal.

Finally, to finish off the perfect shopping trip, they also have a case full of fantastic looking sweets.  My boys selected some meringues with dark chocolate in them.  Now, I don't typically like meringues all that much, but these were awesome!  We also tried a few of their caramels made with lard, YUM!  Rose's also sold Big Spoon Roasters peanut butter, Chapel Hill Creamery cheese, and Melina's homemade pasta and several other locally made yummies.  We will definitely be back!

What we liked:  We loved the fact that you could purchase local meats.  Plus, everything we tried was absolutely delicious!

What we would change:  They didn't have any seating, so when you purchase your treats you'll have to buy them and eat them elsewhere.  There are some nice parks nearby like Trinity Park, Northgate Park, Duke Park, and more where you could take your picnic.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.rosesmeatandsweets.com/

Address: 121 N. Gregson St, Durham, NC

Hours: 11am-7pm Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday, Closed Monday

Photos: 

(yummy pastries)

(yummy meats)

(A view behind the counter of everyone hard at work)

Amelia Cafe

What it is:  We noticed this spot when we stopped by Brightleaf Square to go to The Little Dipper for Mothers Day, a cute little cafe tucked away in the middle of the square.  I knew I wanted to head back and check it out.  You can't have enough places to stop and get a sweet treat in Durham!

So, my boys and I headed over after a doctor's appointment at Duke.  We parked across the street in the Brightleaf parking lot.  If you take your ticket with you and get it validated when you're visiting any shop or restaurant in Brightleaf, your parking is free.

We crossed the street and headed in to Amelia Cafe-which is about halfway down the square.  Their cases were full of beautiful pastries and my boys were absolutely drooling.  While they were picking out their sweet treat I noticed that the cafe also sells all kinds of coffee and sweet and savory crepes.  They also had a gelato case, but when we went it was broken.  They said it would be up and running in a few weeks though.

After we had checked out all of the possibilities, the boys both landed on a chocolate covered meringue while I decided to sample one of their savory crepes which was under $4.  The service was a little slow, but the crepe was made fresh.  Once we had our goodies we didn't want to disturb all of the people that were working on their computers inside so we headed out to some lovely tables outside in the square and enjoyed out treats there.  The crepe was delicious, and I would love to try one with a sweet filling next time.  The boys also enjoyed their sweet treat but want to come back when the gelato machine is fixed.

What we liked:  We love having a little cafe option in Brightleaf Square.  It's a great place to go to get some dessert after a dinner at one of the Brightleaf Square restaurants or just as an afternoon stop where the kids can stretch their legs in the square after their treat.  The treats that we had were delicious!

What we would change:  As we mentioned, the service was a little slow while we were there, and we were bummed that the gelato machine was broken.  We'll have to head back in a few weeks and let everyone know it it's been fixed!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ameliacafe.us/

Address: 905 West Main St, Suite 23J, Brightleaf Square

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30am-9:30pm, Saturday 8:30am-10pm, Closed Sunday

Photos: 

(One of the yummy dessert cases)

(more delicious treats)

(a view from our seats)

(the restaurant)

Videri Chocolate Factory

What it is:  So, when I heard that there was a chocolate factory in the Triangle, we knew we had to go check it out.  After a morning of play and a pack lunch we headed to downtown Raleigh, right across the street from The Pit restaurant to check out Videri Chocolates.

When we drove up, we could park in the parking lot right next to the factory specifically for the patrons of that shopping center, The Depot.  Someone asked us if we were really there to shop at The Depot because lots of people try to use that lot for the restaurant across the street.  We walked in and were directed past the store in the front of the building to the factory in the back for the self-guided tour.

It was a VERY quick tour, but I think it was interesting for the kiddos to see how chocolate was actually made.  There was a window where we could stop and watch someone dipping and decorating chocolates.  Then, we followed five signs (the first one is outside the factory doors) to show us through the steps of the chocolate making process.  We saw a chocolate bean roaster, what chocolate looks like at various stages of the process, and a huge mixer mixing up the chocolate.  As I said, the tour wasn't long, but I thought it was fun stop.

After the tour we headed back out to the shop and we each were able to sample a delicious piece of one of their chocolate bars.  Then we purchased one of their chocolate covered marshmallows for under $3 for each of the kiddos (and a Mexican chocolate for me, yum)!  They also had a coffee shop in the same store where you could pick up some delicious coffee or hot chocolate for the kiddos.

We would have eaten our chocolate goodies on their outdoor porch space which would have given the kiddos more room to stretch their legs, but it was under construction when we stopped by.  Hopefully it will be open the next time we stop by.

What we liked:  It was a unique experience to show the kids how chocolate was made.  Plus, they had delicious chocolate treats!

What we would change:  The tour was very quick so you would have to combine this stop with another outing like a trip to one of the great downtown museums or The Pit restaurant.  Also, it was a bit pricey (with chocolate bars priced at $8) but they did have chocolates that were more affordable than that.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://viderichocolatefactory.com/

Address: 327 W. Davie Street, "Sweet" 100, Raleigh

Hours: 11am-7pm Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-9pm Friday and Saturday

Photos:

(the factory doorways)

(the roaster)

(the beans-step by step)

(the store)

(A piece of their delicious chocolate)

The Parlour

In case you didn't know, Durham was just voted the "Tastiest Town in the South" according to the voters at Southern Living.  We all knew it was true!  Stir Crazy Moms has been busily checking out all the great Durham foodie stops and letting everyone know whether they are kid-friendly or better for a kid-free night out.   So, in tribute to our tastiest town status, we bring you another tasty Durham treat for your kiddos' taste buds.

What it is:  If you guys have ever been to a Durham food truck rodeo then you are probably familiar with The Parlour.  They have been a food truck delivering fabulous ice cream to Durham for several years.  You can check out our post about their food truck from Katie at The Southern Part of Heaven here.  Now, they have brought their ice cream to a brick and mortar location in downtown Durham in the same square as the bull statue, and boy is it delicious!

We headed over after lunch today.  Now that my boys have given up naps we have a lot more time in the middle of the day to kill.  Anyway, there was plenty of one hour parking off of Market St. and in the parking lot across the street.  The ice cream flavors were all a little unique which was nice for the grown ups, but there were still things that appealed to my picky kids.  One tried the chocolate malt and the other tried the strawberry tangerine made from goat's milk.  That's the one that I also tried and it was awesome!  It's nice that they can still have their usual strawberry and chocolate flavors that were kicked up a notch.  Some of the other flavors offered included salted butter caramel, brown sugar roasted apple, and girl scout mint, yum!

The single scoop was $3.50, the double-$5, and the triple $6, and the sprinkles that the boys got on top were 50 cents.  You could also get a soda, float, sorbet, pastries, or select espresso drinks to make your sweet tooth happy.  The Parlour also offers vegan flavors.  There was a convenient restroom in the back as well as free water for thirsty kiddos.  I can't wait to head back!

What we liked:  The ice cream was delicious!  It's definitely places like this that make Durham the South's Tastiest Town!  Plus, parking was easy for a downtown stop and their hours are convenient-they're open from 12pm-10pm daily except Monday.  Oh, and the kids can also head over and play for a few minutes in the square around the Bull statue if they need to run out a little of that sugar.

What we would change:  They are a little more expensive than other local sweet treats, but not by enough that it would make me hesitate in the slightest to go back.  The deliciousness was definitely worth it.  You can tell they're using quality, seasonal ingredients to make a quality product.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://theparlourdurham.com/

Address: 117 Market St, Downtown Durham

Hours: Noon-10pm, every day except Monday

Photos: 

(A view of their sign)

 (The interior of the store)

(A view out their window)

(playing by the Bull)