February 2010

From buffet to sit-down, Asian to Southern, picking the right food to serve can be a headache! Three of Cary Magazine’s Elegant Weddings Gala Caterer Sponsors — LM Restaurants, The Matthews House and Urban Food Group — offer simple tips on how to create your wedding day spread.

What are the current trends in catering?

Urban Food Group: There seems to be much more focus on quality ingredients as well as local and organic. Also, clients are looking for unique items that have a big wow factor.

LM Restaurants: Casual, heavier appetizers and lighter meals.

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Tips to take your workout to the next level

Chelsea Dale is the regional group fitness manager and personal trainer at O2 Fitness. She was certified by Aerobic & Fitness Association of America in 2001 and since then has become certified in a multitude of Les Mills programs that include Bodypump, Bodycombat, Bodyjam and RPM. Visit O2fitnessclubs.com for more information

How to Reach Your Goal

For weight loss — aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio four times a week

To tone up — add a sculpting class and/or weight lifting routine to your regular workout

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Contributed by Wake Radiology

About five years ago, Dr. Steven Taylor noticed that he was developing varicose veins in his legs. It didn’t surprise him, as nearly everyone on his mother’s side of the family has them.

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Contributed by Julia Messer, a licensed psychologist in private practice with Orenstein Solutions

Nathan logged off of his work computer and noticed that it was 6:45 p.m. He had worked later than planned, as usual, and quickly rushed out of the building to his car. Thoughts of the day ran through his mind … the meeting was not productive; someone was going to have to tell a co-worker that funds were no longer available to support his position; no one was getting a raise this year. Nathan glanced down as his cell phone rang, and he answered, “I know. I know. I’m on my way. I’ll grab dinner on my way to the game.

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The importance of getting involved in your child’s life

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Stylish men will embrace spring’s welcoming of more comfortable, more versatile and more modern designs, according to Arlene Goldstein, fashion director and vice president of trend merchandising for Belk Inc.

Relaxed yet pulled together sensibility is the way to go this spring and will give any guy fashion confidence. According to Goldstein, the key to a solid wardrobe this season is re-examining core items and building on the basics.

So guys, take inventory of your closets, purge outdated and unnecessary items and incorporate these must-haves for sure-to-turn-heads, impressive springtime style.

Photos Provided by Belk

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William Stone is not your typical troubadour. This international singer of opera, oratorio and art song for nearly three decades with the major opera houses and symphonies of America and Europe who has appeared with the world’s leading conductors and symphonies happens to reside right here in Cary.

Described by neighbors as “a nice guy who is always willing to help out,” Stone also enjoys pottery and fishing as often as possible. This Goldsboro native who is presently the professor of voice and opera at Temple University, who travels back and forth for work and has performed for the likes of royalty and even the Pope himself, could live anywhere in the world but has chosen to call Cary home.

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Some of us dream of making the team. Sports choreographer Hernando Planells creates the team, big-screen style.

You’ve seen his sports scenes in films such as Coach Carter, The Longest Yard and Spider-Man 3. But they’re just a part of his story.

Planells’ coaching career began at age 19; at 20, he became the nation’s youngest varsity basketball coach, at Immaculate Heart High in Arizona. Since then, he’s led high school, college and professional teams and conducted coaching clinics across the U.S. and abroad, most recently as head coach for the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Okinawa, Japan.

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Summer is a sweet time of exploration and inquisition in a child’s life. Warm, endless days filled with opportunities to learn a new skill, expand a child’s mind and broaden horizons.

It may sound early to start planning summer camp, but March is the deadline for many programs. The good news is you don’t have to venture far to find a wide array of programs available to traditional school students and those in year-round schools. Below is a sampling of programs to cater to any interest, but for a more complete listing, visit our SUMMER CAMP GUIDE.

The Artist

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Folks in the Triangle poured into the Raleigh Convention Center on Feb. 16 to celebrate Mardi Gras and raise money for a good cause at the Ninth Annual Fat Tuesday Benefit for Meals on Wheels of Wake County.

Attendees dined on a festive Cajun-style buffet and made bids on live and silent auction items. Zydecopious, a swinging Zydeco band, had everyone tapping their toes.

In 2009, close to $47,000 was raised at Fat Tuesday to support Meals on Wheels of Wake County, which equals 12,000 meals. This year’s goal is to double the number of meals purchased.

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Hit the greens this spring in style and class with new golf gear and an improved golf game.

Robert Talbott Blue V-neck Sweater, $185
Robert Talbott Green Polo, $160
Robert Talbott Khaki, $245
Maintain a tailored look on the fairway with Robert Talbott’s Monterey collection in spring’s array of colors.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Triangle Town Center, Raleigh
www.saks.com

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This spring offers a great opportunity to enjoy some superb fish selections at various Western Wake restaurants. Our choices run the gamut from fast casual to fine dining and everything in between. Whether you choose grilled, battered or pan-seared, you can’t go wrong with any of these keepers!

Cornmeal-Crusted Carolina Catfish
Like virtually everything Lucky 32 brings to the table, the Carolina Catfish ($19) reflects the restaurant’s newfound dedication to offering authentic Southern fare. Served with Creole mayonnaise and three sides, the catfish filets are perfectly breaded and will leave you feeling satisfied. Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, 7307 Tryon Road, Cary, (919) 233-1632, lucky32.com.

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When it comes to the Triangle-area dining scene, Giorgios Bakatsias is considered among the most innovative and enduring local restaurateurs. The recent opening of Giorgio in Cary, his latest destination, adds Mediterranean cuisine to a culinary resume that already includes French, Asian and American, to name a few.

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Brews and burgers are the name of the game for Cary’s newest sports bar and restaurant owned by a company with a longstanding reputation for good food at a good value.

Rocky Top Hospitality recently opened Tribeca Tavern, which is the company’s first venture into the Cary market. On tap are regional microbrews and casual, family-friendly fare that will focus on gourmet burgers made from fresh ingredients. The new restaurant will feature a state of the art AV package and outdoor seating for 100 guests.

“Rocky Top is eager to finally be stepping over to Cary,” said Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality. “We have always wanted to bring our dining experience to new corners of the Triangle.”

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Editor’s Note: We have an office full of green thumbs. Many of us enjoy getting our hands dirty in the garden and have some perplexing plant and garden questions for our buddy and garden adventurer L.A. Jackson. Perhaps you face the same plant conundrums. Check out Jackson’s solutions to our pressing botanical questions.

Q. What would make the best houseplants for someone with a “brown thumb” (one for whom most houseplants die in a very short time)?
— Sheri Elderfield, Bookkeeper

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Beverly Hills meets Apex in this resort-style backyard sanctuary

There’s something soothing and magical about water and fire — basic elements that become naturally poetic when utilized as the cornerstones of a well-designed dream backyard.

That was the vision for an outdoor pool and landscape project by designer Eddie Rider when he worked with an Apex couple looking to “escape” in their own backyard. Six months of planning turned into a one-year project that was well worth the wait.

“Instead of traveling, they wanted to retreat to the backyard for the weekend,” Rider said.

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Two of Cary Magazine’s Elegant Weddings Gala Floral Sponsors: Flower Station and English Garden

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The vows are recited, the food is devoured and now it’s time for a little entertainment. Not sure what to play that will please Grandma and your bridal party? Check out these suggestions from DJ Joe Bunn:

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Cary’s Unaabi Grill, which opened last February, bills itself as a purveyor of the “finest Afghan cuisine in North Carolina.” It also represents the first totally authentic restaurant of its genre in our area — if not the entire state.

Fittingly, the food at Unaabi is prepared by Afghan-born Chef Tahir Yasin. His credentials include running a well-known kebab establishment in New York City’s Times Square for more than 20 years.

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“We bake the cakes in candy-sized bites, infuse them with a variety of fillings, then dip them in white and dark chocolate or a combination of the two, and decorate them like truffle candies,” said Sweet Memories Bakery owner and executive pastry chef Donna Ford.

“Move over traditional candy and flowers — Cake Trufflettes are our bestsellers this season.”

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Handling sticky situations with your wedding guests   

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It’s the man or woman of your dreams, the person you want to capture every romantic moment of your wedding day with. It’s the person who holds all your dearest memories in their hands. It’s your future husband or bride-to-be.

No, actually it’s your photographer!

Some of Cary Magazine’s Elegant Weddings Gala photography sponsors offer several tips for brides to consider when choosing a photographer. Plus they share new trendy ideas for planning your big day!

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Celebrate Mardi Gras and raise money for a good cause at the Ninth Annual Fat Tuesday Benefit for Meals on Wheels of Wake County at 6 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh. 

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