Flavor Of The Past: A Trip to Wilmington, NC

Every week, I compile a list of press releases that turns into a little piece called Road Trips. Published every Sunday in the Life section, there are anywhere between five and eight places/trips featured. I decided to take one of the road trips featured, and I found myself in Wilmington, North Carolina attending Flavor of the Past, an event sponsored by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society.

The catalyst for my trip was Foodbuzz. I contacted Foodbuzz about their Foodie Correspondent Program, I got the green light and an opportunity to get a press pass.

Volunteers dressed in period clothing and portrayed men, women, and children living during the boom times of Wilmington. Everyone did an excellent job, staying in character, and maintaining the preservation of times of long ago.

Flavor of the Past, was a day full of food and history. This year marked the sixth-annual Flavor of the Past. This year’s theme, Boom Times in a Boom Town, focused on Wilmington’s eras of prosperity, from the 1800s through World War II. I'm not sure what years past entailed, but this was an eye-opening, fun and food-filled experience.

We ate all day long. And when I say "all day long," I mean All. Day. Long.


First, was the opening ceremony and greeting at Thalian Hall, a center for the performing arts. I have to admit, I was late and did not see most of the presentation, but I did get the food!

Angie's of Chris' Restaurant provided mini Southern style chicken biscuits, milk gravy, grits, sliced fruit, and sweet tea. As a matter of fact, when I walked into the theater, I was plied with a cup of sweet tea. Southern hospitality at its finest!

The biscuit was a little dry, and the chicken was OK. It was apparent that a chicken patty has been fried and cut into small pieces before being placed on the biscuit. I hate to say it, but McDonald's does a better job. The gravy was the best part. It was just plain ol' milk gravy (no sausage) and it was excellent. It had the right spice, saltiness, and I just wanted to put my face in the tureen! Unfortunately, white gravy on a white Styrofoam plate looks horrid, no matter how much you tone the picture. But just know that it was good!

Although each location was accessible by walking, trolleys were available to take you to each site. I took the trolley and I was fortunate enough to meet a wonderful, sassy group of ladies from the Red Hat Society from Southport, NC. These ladies were my traveling companions during the whole tour. I'm lucky to have met them. I became their "official" photographer and I do believe we all became fast friends. I hope we meet in the near future.


Next, was a stop at the William J. Price House. Inside, we "met" boom-time architects Rufus Bunnell and William J. Price. After a mini-presentation, we got to sample some fare from Sticky Fingers, a local BBQ & rib joint.

Don't you like how bbq places are called joints? Not place, restaurant, or eatery. But joint.







Sweet & Savory Bake Shop provided our afternoon snack.


The raisin cake was the absolute best thing on the plate. It was moist, sweet, and delicious. And I don't even like raisins (shhh...please don't tell my mom. She'll want to know what happened to all of those boxes she gave me for snack in kindergarten...). The gingersnap tasted more of "snap, oh no she di'nt" than anything else. It was horrible. Too tough and too much baking powder. As was the cranberry tea. They forgot to put sugar in it. Or something. I'm not sure.... but the raisin cake's goodness made up for the shortcomings of everything else.