SEASONAL OFFERINGS ON NOW: Bill's Duck a.k.a. Headin' South (seared breast and confit leg served with mashed rutabagas and leeks & cabbage); Brussels Sprouts w/ Blue Cheese (with red onion and sea salt); Duck & Onion Soup; Wilted Salad w/ Salt-Cured Duck (hot vinaigrette over endive & frisee).
OUR NEW SMALL PLATES: Little Pot Pies (Chicken or Steak & Kidney), Winter Vegetable Gratins and Fried Oysters are our likely daily small-plates.
OUR FISH THIS WEEK: Either Monkfish or Grouper pan-fried & served w/ our Green Tomato Relish.
OTHER SAVORY FAVORITES: Cheese Pork! (w/a Madeira sauce & mashed rutabagas), Grilled Hanger Steaks w/Wine Merchant Butter & Jerusalem Artichoke Relish with mashed potatoes and sauteed leeks & cabbage and as always Shrimp & Grits.
FOR THOSE WHO FORGO FISH & MEAT:Winter Pasta w/ beets & augula; the Crook's Classic House Salad; a wonderful Cheese Plate (Chapel Hill Creamery & Celebrity Dairy selections).
EXCEPTIONAL SWEETS: The old-fashioned favorite Gingerbread Baba (with lemon sauce and whipped cream); Christian Science Punch Sorbet; and Lime Sorbet join the classics: Mt Airy Chocolate Souffle Cake; Frozen Mint Julep (w/house made mint sorbet & Rebel Yell - must be 21); The Hot Fudge Brownie and Good Banana Pudding.
SEASONAL COCKTAILS/CONCOCTIONS: House-made tonics are in the house. The French 75, the Vieux Carre', Crook's Corpse R eviver and The Sazerac are all on the cocktail list to celebrate Carnival Season.
ON THE WALLS: The whimsical mixed media works of Louis St. Lewis.
BILL SMITH'S BLOG: A YEAR IN THE KITCHEN (AND ON THE ROAD): Bill Smith's blog has wonderful new posts, including a report from Palmetto Bluff and his promise there to post the recipe for Good Banana Pudding.
TWO NEW VENTURES: First, BREAKFAST & LUNCH is now available 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. MONDAY-FRIDAY at the new CROOK'S ATRIUM CAFE. The address is 100 EUROPA DRIVE (off 15-501, across from the Sheraton). Please join us!
And second, CROOK'S CORNER CATERING. Please call Paul at 919-801-8015 for details.
FOR A GREAT LUNCH in CARRBORO: Matt and Sheila Neal haveNeal's Deli in downtown Carrboro. Check 'em out for some delicious sammies.
