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Last week I shared the beginning of my 2015 food diary.  This is part 2, May through August.

May 23rd- After a few false starts, we finally synched up everyone’s schedule, and had The Kid’s birthday lunch.

The choice was Melting Pot (7011 Fayetteville Rd).  It was my first visit to the famous fondue eatery.  I don’t think it’s for me.

Don’t get me wrong—the food was very good, and the service was excellent.

First, the ordering is a little complicated. When I’m hungry I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.  That’s why I like to check out menus online before I go to a restaurant; so that I don’t have to think too hard while I’m sitting there with and empty stomach.

And secondly, you get the food raw and cook it at the table.  I love to cook, but I am way too impatient to sit and wait while my chicken goes from deadly to delicious in a bubbling pot of stock.

I do think it would make an amazing spot for a leisurely, romantic date though.

June 21^st– Ran into a Target with a grocery department for something quick and easy to eat right away.  They have quite a selection of ready-to-eat items like salads and wraps.  Surprisingly, they don’t have nutrition information on the items.  Eating pre-made food is a minefield of calories, fat and sodium; that’s why I usually don’t partake.  Despite some intriguing offerings, I left empty-handed and hungry.

June 30^th– Was in Barnes and Noble, and went into the café for a coffee.  It was lunch time, and I thought I might grab some grub, but since it’s just a stand in a bookstore figured they wouldn’t have nutrition info available.  I was wrong.

Each location has a notebook listing all the info for all the current choices.

When will every chain get with the program and make the numbers public?  I feel very strongly that customers have an absolute right to know, and a duty to find out.

July 11^th– After a trip to the flea market at the State Fairgrounds, went over to Boulted Bread (614 W South St, Raleigh).

As the mother of a classically trained baker, I can attest to the fact that their pastries and breads are authentic.

Levain is a traditional French country loaf.  It’s perfect for toast and sandwiches.  Boulted makes their crusty, tangy version with organic grains milled in-house with a genuine stone mill.

One of my favorite breakfast breads are bialys.  They kind of look like a bagel, but they aren’t boiled before baking, so they emerge from the oven crispy rather than chewy, and the hole is only a depression which is usually filled with caramelized onions and poppy seeds.  The only place I can find them is Southern Season, in Chapel Hill.  Boulted had them.

And The Kid said their cold-pressed iced coffee is the best.

August 24^th– Such sad news; Daisycakes bakery on Foster St is closing.  From my very first visit to their silver Airstream cupcake truck, ‘Sugar’ to my final visit, Daisycakes was my favorite bakery in Durham.  Not only is quality their number one goal, Tanya and the crew always make me feel like I’m their most important customer and are happy to have me stop by, no matter how many dumb questions I ask.

Their whoopee pie is the best whoopee pie that has ever passed my lips.

The cookie/cake part is crispy and chewy that’s not too sweet.  The buttercream is light, delicious, with ever changing variety.  My favorite is the salted caramel.  The first time I ever had one, I almost cried.

Next week I’ll recount my food adventures from September through December.

Allow me to use this remaining space to wish each and every Durham resident a wonderful holiday.  Please be careful if you’re traveling.  And make sure to slow down and be mentally present in each moment of the celebrations.  Nobody will remember or care if everything isn’t perfect; so just enjoy.

To me, this column is my ongoing gift from the Bull City, which I constantly, hugely appreciate.

Thanks for your time.