Month: June 2011

Klausie’s Pizza

I few weeks ago I sampled Pie Pusher’s pizza (you can read about that here) and in it I mentioned the Triangle’s other pizza truck, Klausie’s.  I’d been to Klausie’s once but hadn’t had my camera with me.  Klausie’s usually hangs out in Raleigh and only swings by the Chapel Hill/Durham area for special events or when Duke is in session during the Spring and Fall.  Today, Klausie’s made a rare stop in the Chapel Hill area and I decided to take advantage of their location to re-sample their slices.

Klausie’s specializes in deep-dish, skillet-baked pizzas.  When I rolled up to their truck today I was the only one in line, but evidently they’d been greeted by an early rush of eager Chapel Hill eaters.  Klausie’s keeps an active Facebook and Twitter feed, so it is extremely easy to follow them.  I ordered two cheese slices and chatted with the owner, Michael Stenke, while waiting.  After a few minutes my slices were ready.  I’d brought a tupperware for transport (apparently I am not the only one to do this!) and was soon making the five minute drive back to the house to eat my food truck pizza.

Don't worry, I did not eat both of these slices, one was for Jon.

In Midwestern (I think) fashion, the sauce is on top of the cheese.  This might strike you as odd, but it really showcases the fresh, springy taste of the sauce.  I thought that Pie Pusher’s sauce was not as tasty as Klausie’s, and second tasting verified this memory.   The cheese is also good, mild but not too mild, and just as fresh tasting as the sauce.

As you can see, this is a deep-dish slice people.  I’m not usually a deep-dish lover, too bready for me, but this is a good crust.  Doughy and chewy and I daresay a little yeasty in the best possible way.  Also, fresh–it is not sitting around under a heat lamp, waiting to be eaten.  If you’re in the mood for a deep-dish, rectangular slice, you really can’t go wrong with Klausie’s.

They always have a pepperoni slice and also have slices with special toppings, which rotate depending on the day.  When I try I slice I like to stick to the basics, however, just to ensure that the basics are solid.

I know that there have been many debates about what is “real” pizza.  When I envision pizza I usually envision a New York Slice, but I’ve been lucky enough to eat all kinds of pizza.  I am not a purist and I am not a pizza philosopher: I will not tell you what “real” pizza is.  I love me a good Neapolitan pie.  I also love a classic New York Slice.  And I love a great, carby deep-dish slice.  Klausie’s absolutely fulfills that craving.  Keep an eye out for them on the streets!

Oh hey guys, I saw PRINCE

I cannot believe that I forgot to tell y’all about this, but back in March, I think the date was March 19th to be exact, I saw PRINCE.

Oh my lord guys Prince.

And look, someone made this time-stamped photo montage of “Purple Rain” from Purple Rain complete with the sunglasses-sad-face nod.  Yessss.

What is there to say about Prince that has not been said?  It is all true, he really is that good. he really does put on that fantastic of a show, in high heels, at age fifty-something, it is amazing.  He makes the panties come off, I am really surprised that all the women in the RBC center did not hurl their panties at Prince.  I was positive the lady behind me was going to have a heart attack; she kept screaming and whirling her handkerchief and screaming and, lordy.

I put on my best duds: purple shirt, raspberry beret (yes I legit own a raspberry beret, I might actually own two or three), purple scarf, etc.  I screamed and I sang along.  I was super-jealous of the folks in the expensive seats near the stage, because they got to go onstage and DANCE WITH PRINCE and cluster around his PURPLE PIANO oh, my heart.

That’s the stage, as you can see.  It is in the Prince shape.  And it has lights.  The lights turned purple for “Purple Rain” (duh) which was like a religious experience y’all.  Prince could have just played “Purple Rain” on repeat the whole night.  Oh, victory.

Yep.  Oh, by the way, Chaka Khan opened.  She was pretty fly too. But Prince, he’s the best, he still has it, if you have the opportunity to see him DO IT.  He’s one of the last great performers, and you won’t ever see showmanship quite like this.

Golden Belt Third Fridays

If y’all haven’t been making regular visits to Golden Belt on their Third Friday events then you are definitely missing out.

It isn’t just the artists and their open studios, which are fantastic mind you (especially my friend Heather Gordon!  She’s the best!  And I’m not just saying that because she is my friend she is really the best.  Isn’t it nice when you can legitimately recommend your friend’s artistic endeavors, instead of just gritting your teeth through a friend’s mediocre band/film/theatrical performance.  Man, it is nice when your friend is legit talented, like Heather!  Also, Heather isn’t related to me, even though my name is Lindsay Heather Gordon and her name is Heather Gordon and we both went to UF.  It is just like, a thing, y’all).

Anyways, Golden Belt Third Fridays are a happening, y’all.  The most recent one, on June 17th, had three food trucks (Only Burger, Parlez-Vous Crepes, and The Parlour), the opening party for Dogstar Tattoo’s new location (read my coverage here!), a benefit for David Alsobrook’s New Neighbors, and a big reopening party for the newly relocated Scrap Exchange.  And this was all on top of the normal Third Friday open studio festivities.

Oh yeah, there were also some bands playing in honor of Dogstar Tattoo.  I mean, y’all, this was a happening.

I never got to the Scrap Exchange in their old, pre-monsoon location so was excited to finally visit it.  I think they are ideally situated at Golden Belt.  It is already such an artsy, creative community and it gets a lot of foot traffic.  I enjoyed scrounging about with my friends but I didn’t find any scrappy things that I was dying to have.  There were a number of events going on, however, including face painting and a cake walk.  Like a little carnival but surrounded by stuff.

Jo found a book with wallpaper scraps from Monticello. She was happy.
Life's a cake walk.

Anyways, between eating a fantastic burger from Only Burger, eating some great ice cream from The Parlour, stumbling around the Scrap Exchange, chatting with the artists in Golden Belt, and interviewing the Dogstar Folks for my Triangle ArtWorks article, it was quite a full evening!  I had a great time, I always do.  The events Golden Belt hosts really fosters a sense of community in the Durham cultural scene.  Golden Belt is such a fantastic Durham institution and if you haven’t visited you absolutely must go!  Especially on a Third Friday!

One last picture, dragon tattoo from Dogstar, for good measure!

Aches and pains

A haiku for my muscles, which have been sore all week, because I do not know how to cool it at the gym:

My abs are so sore/ Boot camp, too many crunches / It hurts me to laugh

What on earth guys, my abs have been sore since Monday, what is my damage?

Oh hey you know what is useful for sitting upright and moving and everything? CORE MUSCLES.

Maybe I’ll feel better tomorrow.

Self Self Promotion: Triangle ArtWorks

Hi friends!

I’ve started writing for Triangle Artworks, which is information central for all the artsy, cultural stuff happening in the Triangle.  You should go to the site and read my first article, which is about Dogstar Tattoo’s new location at Golden Belt.  Yes I wrote my first article on a tattoo parlor, no I don’t have any tattoos.  A learning experience for one and all!

I hope to write more articles for Triangle ArtWorks soon.  In the meantime go read about tattoos!  I’m also trying to post more at Carpe Durham (yes I used to write for them once, long ago), so if you didn’t already read my Reliable Cheese Company article on this blog then go read it there.  Or just, you know, go there anyways.

Oh my lord guys why aren't dragons real?