Take your tastebuds on a journey around the world without ever leaving Chatham County
By Olivia Paul | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Szechuan Village
A staple of authentic Chinese cuisine, and a must-order item for any visit to Szechuan Village, is the General Tso’s chicken. Tender white meat is fried to perfection and paired with a mouthwatering sweet and slightly tangy sauce. Beyond General Tso’s, Szechuan Village boasts a diverse menu brimming with dishes that promise a unique culinary adventure and a true taste of Chinese culture.
“Our specialty is authentic traditional Szechuan cuisine, with a unique understanding and use of spices,” says owner Jocelyn Yu. “One of the key spices is chili, and through different applications of chili, we create sweet and spicy, fragrant and spicy and numbing and spicy flavors. This exciting and challenging taste experience often leaves people wanting more.”
Aye! Toro
Indulge in the “Toro Tacos” at Aye! Toro Tacos & Tequila – a crowd-pleasing dish you won’t want to miss. Flour tortillas are toasted with cheese before being loaded with mouthwatering carnitas, spicy chorizo and fresh, creamy guacamole. Want to amp up the flavor? Pile on the onions, cilantro and jalapeños.
Co-owner Pedro Llamas recommends pairing this ensemble of authentic flavors with a one-of-a-kind margarita. Each is prepared with freshly squeezed orange juice and homemade sour mix. Flavors include lime, mango, peach, strawberry and blackberry, or choose a spicy margarita with either jalapeño or chile de arbol. In addition to a wide array of delectables, you’re sure to be greeted with enthusiastic hospitality. “We always welcome any client, new or reoccuring, with open arms and give them the highest standard of service,” says Pedro. “We will make them feel like family, and we always look forward to serving everyone!
Kingston 99 Kitchen
Warm your heart with the taste of the Caribbean at Kingston 99 Kitchen. The signature Jamaican oxtail is braised in herbs and spices and served with rice and beans or plain white rice. The savory dish is warm and cozy, with a hint of Scotch bonnet pepper, plus ginger, thyme and garlic. You can’t go wrong with any dish; ask for a Jamaican soda, such as the ginger beer or pineapple soda, to pair with your meal. “It’s our intention to provide service the Jamaican way: friendly, warm and remembering our customers by name,” says owner Jason Rhoden.
Guests can expect authentic Jamaican cuisine with every visit. “The preparation of the oxtail is a labor of love,” Jason says. “It is also reminiscent of our African one-pot-wonder cooking traditions.” Check out the restaurant’s location at The Plant, where you can find a variety of food and beverage spots to pair with your meal or catch a live music performance.
Tarantini
Dive into the veal saltimbocca at Tarantini for a taste of Italy’s rich culinary heritage. The name of the dish translates to “jumps in the mouth,” which reflects the burst of flavor in each bite. The veal is delicately pan seared to ensure a juicy and tender texture and topped with prosciutto and fresh melty mozzarella. It’s served over herb-infused sauteed artichokes and a layer of spinach, and finished with potato croquettes.
Sisters Elaine and Ellie Lopes have worked over the past 15 years to create a familial atmosphere at Tarantini that reflects their passion for Italian food. “As time passed we got to know [our customers] and their families and friends during dinners or events where they celebrate important occasions,” Elaine says. “We want every new customer to feel part of our family.”
S&T’s Soda Shoppe
A nostalgic menu with a welcoming environment to match is what S&T’s Soda Shoppe is known for. “I’ve had people tell me that one of the reasons they came to Pittsboro to look around, and that they like to come into the shop, is because it seems like a nice community,” says owner Vicky Oldham. “Everybody is friendly, and it feels like the type of place that they want to live.”
The restaurant is jam-packed with antique lighting, games, soda fountains and apothecary jars – a nod to the building’s past life as a pharmacy. Settle into a cozy booth and take in the decor while you savor every bite of Steve’s Gambler, a fan favorite, which includes grilled steak served on a hot skillet with seasoned steak fries, grilled onions and garlic bread. You can also enjoy hand scooped ice cream cones and floats at the old-fashioned soda counter or take your dessert to go and take a sweet stroll down Hillsboro Street.
Big Mikes BBQ
Big Mikes BBQ serves up Southern soul food with a local twist in a laid back atmosphere where everyone feels at home. Pair a classic barbecue sandwich with their most popular side dish: smoked potato salad. Robin Stanley, who handles catering and events for the business, says the dish isn’t your typical grandmother’s potato salad. “It’s so flavorful,” she says. The potatoes are cut, fried, cooled down and re-fried to order. Next, they are mixed with Big Mikes 50/50 sauce – a blend of mayo and sour cream – and topped with freshly shredded cheese and pork rub.
“Our pork rub is out of this world and is a really great blend of spices with a perfect balance of sweet and savory,” Robin says. The potatoes are cut, fried, cooled down and re-fried to order. Next, they are mixed with Big Mikes 50/50 sauce – a blend of mayo and sour cream – and topped with freshly shredded cheese and pork rub. But what really sets the potato salad apart is the oil. “We strain some of the rendering from our smokers and add it into the fryer with the regular oil, and it adds an extra smokey flavor to the potatoes – it takes it to another level.”
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