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Rockin' Moroccan - Babylon Restaurant

Orient Expressed:  The view is spectacular ... and the food and festivities will knock your fez off!  Hidden in plain sight on the cusp of Raleigh's downtown's Glenwood South District and the Capitol District is Babylon - an exotic, cosmopolitan restaurant destination celebrating authentic Moroccan cuisine.  Enter the seductive outdoor dining terrace and wonder the interior filled with U-shaped entrees, geometric patterns, large domes and bright colors ... Babylon exudes the sophistication of southern Europe and the ornate tones of the palaces of Marrakesh.

Authentic Moroccan Cuisine - Transportive Experience: The Moroccan cuisine is rooted in the marriage of regal spices and organic vegetables.  Babylon's pizzas and entrees showcase the interplay of different aromas and Spanish, French, Jewish, and African influences. Try the Chicken Bastilla, Lamb Tagini, or Marrakesh Couscous and their stone oven, Fresh Baked Bread.  Or relax with a light bite from their ever changing tapas menus.  Last night's meal included a delicious trio of Seafood Brewat (think seafood eggroll), Kefta (seasoned lean beef) and a wonderful Moroccan Salad.  The flavors were exciting and complimentary without being overpowering.  Come Drink, Come Dine, Come Dance, Come Often!

Arabian Nights:  Friday & Saturday late nights (11pm - 1:30am) include international music and dancing on the candlelit terrace.  Until then diners can choose patio seating overlooking the resplendent pool and terrace lights. During our Saturday stop our waitress / bartender patiently guided us through the menu, highlighted the unique architectural d�cor, and encouraged us to hang and explore.  WRAL had taken over the courtyard for its employee party and they were definitely rockin' Moroccan.  We didn't stay long enough to witness any amateur belly dancing, but the food, drinks and music were definitely flowing.

Worth the Pilgrimage: One final note ...  Navigating to Babylon is a bit of a challenge.  The best approach is to head south on Capital Boulevard. Stay to the right and before you reach the first stoplight at West Lane Street, look for the restaurant entrance on your right (react quickly to the Babylon Restaurant sign by the road directing drivers into the parking lot).

Babylon:  309 N Dawson St, Raleigh, (919) 838-8595, Open Mon - Thur 5pm - 10pm, Fri - Sat 5pm - 1:30am; Website 

To Bee or Not To Bee

Bacon Makin

Due to sheer laziness and a mild eating disorder, you never actually bring home the bacon.  Muster the energy to learn a little about Bacon, and that'll change.  Thanks to the invention of regular ol' guys who love football, grilling, and of course, bacon, the gourmet industry is shockingly going gang busters on using this secret ingredient for cupcakes to ice cream.   And the taste? To die for!

Bacon.... It's not just for breakfast anymore.  Believe it or not, bacon is currently enjoying a boom in popularity. We blame this food fad on the Internet; everywhere you click, a food blog is waxing poetic about the salted meat. A simple Google search yields endless bacon-related results, including candied bacon, bacon tattoos, bacon salt, deep-fried bacon and even instructions on how to make a bacon bra.

Bacon's not just popular on the Internet, though. The bacon meme has worked its way into real life. Many restaurants and fast-food chains now highlight bacon-heavy entrees on their menus. It's probably one of the most popular food fads ever! So while it last, try these sweet and savory treats actually worth eating.

Gigi's Cupcakes: The new Fall & Winter Menu is out at Gigi's on Oberlin Rd. On the menu you'll find the Canadian Maple cupcake. Maple bacon cake topped with maple buttercream frosting and sprinkled with bacon crumbles. Who knew?  Gigi's at The Shops of Oberlin Court, 1028 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh 27605. And opening this fall at Waverly Place, 302 Colonades Way, Cary 27518. Gigi's Website.   

Salted Caramel and Candied Bacon Ice Cream: Food Stylist, Jenny Park created this concoction saying "I like to think that this ice cream is the perfect dessert for a couple trying to satisfy both a sweet and a salt tooth.  Salted caramel is something I'm actually kind of into and in ice cream form it's kind of amazing. Why candied bacon?  Why not?  Right? Sweet and salty combos are awesome and this one in particular is like died and gone to heaven awesome.  I stuck it in between graham crackers for the photo, but it's just as good on its own....or sandwiched between Ritz crackers...no really, it is! Try it!" Click Here for recipe.

Maple French Toast and Bacon Cupcakes: Just in time for fall's first chill (let's pretend, okay?), the Food Network shares their favorite seasonal recipe and winner of the Maple Syrup recipe contest.  Click Here for recipe.

This latest trend in sweets will have you bringing home the bacon in more ways than one. Yum! 

The Bargain Buzz

Wannit?... Come'n Get It!

Simply-Refined: Just relocated to the Triangle from Miami. This designer may be new to the area, but comes to us with over 20 years of Interior Design experience. Seasoned years along with availability to cutting edge resources are only two reasons to contact Simply-Refined for your Interior design needs. Website.  

Congratulations! Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. Conducts Second Consecutive Million Dollar Sale with their September 16th & 17th Two-Day Fall Catalog Auction. Website.     

Baileys Fine Jewlrey is looking for genuine Bailey Box Moments caught on video and is offering you a chance to win $1,000! So share a blast of your past and create a DVD video moment that may give you your fifteen minutes of Internet fame.  Give the personalized documentary of your wedding proposal, anniversary, or birthday gift-giving a tweak, and enter this contest. Click Here for Rules and Regulations. Deadline is November 30, 2011.  

The Mint Is Extending Restaurant Week... September is Restaurant Month! Come enjoy a 3-Course Dinner for $30 all month.  Complementary Valet Parking beginning at 5pm for all Mint guests. The Mint Restaurant, One Exchange Plaza, 219 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 919.821.0011 phone,  Hours: Lunch; Tuesday - Friday 11:00am - 2:30pm, Dinner; Monday - Thursday 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Friday - Saturday 5:00pm - 10:00pm. Website. 

McKenzie Tribe new fall 2011 lines just arrived! Great selections of button down shirts, sweaters, blazers, and outerwear.This is the last week of their big summer sale too.  Pique knits, button down shirts, shorts, and much more are on sale now. Pique knits at $19.00, button down shirts at $29.00.

The 46th Annual Parade of Homes for 2011 will showcase over 200 new homes for 3 weekends, Oct. 1-2, 7-9 & 14-16. All homes are open free to the public to tour from 12-5 p.m.    

AIA Triangle is proud to be hosting its 2nd annual Tour of Residential Architecture showcasing homes designed by local architects on Saturday, October 1st from 10am to 5pm.

Callie Lowe Designs - Handcrafted jewelry in rich gold hues characterize Callie Lowe Earrings an ever-evolving style paired with vibrant gemstones. Blended with unexpected geometric and textural manipulation, each collection reflects unique qualities wearable for every woman. Click Here   

Y'all Hungry? Then be our guest for a second helping of Raleigh's favorite JLR Cookbookrecipes  from The Junior League of Raleigh.  You're Invited Back is a beautiful cookbook loaded with menus to choose from, whether planning a casual picnic, elegant dinner, or holiday brunch. Some of the recipes are new and some have been handed down through generations of families here in Raleigh. You're Invited Back for another round of Southern hospitality.  Where to purchase 'You're Invited Back': Taylors in Glenwood Village; Lavender & Lace, Bailey's Fine Jewelry, Charlotte's and The Bargain Box in Cameron Village; Charlotte's, Tyler House, Quintessentials & Monkee's in North Hills; The Paper Company in Holly Springs; the NC Museum of History gift shop; A Southern Season in Chapel Hill; The Angus Barn; and Quail Ridge Books and The Wine Merchant in Ridgewood Shopping Center. Or to order online,  Click Here. 

23rd Annual Walk for Hope is Sunday October 9th, 2011. The mission of the Foundation of Hope is to promote scientific research aimed at discovering the causes and potential cures for mental illness in order to develop a more effective means of treatment. Additionally, the Foundation is committed to raising community awareness and supporting effective treatment programs.  Please join us on October 9th, 2011 and become part of the Hope. You can make a difference...and remember, walking together we ARE the HOPE! To register: Website.

Performance Edge Workshop: Are you interested in acting and singing? Performance Edge Total Performer Workshop will have Mark Madama as their guest clinician. This is an amazing opportunity as Mark Madama is a tenured faculty member in the Musical Theatre Department at Univ. of Michigan (one of the premier musical theatre programs in the country).  The workshop is Sunday, October 23rd.  Session One:  10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. or Session Two:  2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (select only one of the two given session times!) Raleigh Boychoir Centre, 1329 Ridge Road, Raleigh, 27607. Cost: $65 Cash or check made payable to:  Performance Edge, 1408 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607. Click Here for Application.

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