We have long felt that the user comments are the most valuable part of Carpe Durham.  Because we did not want to discourage participation, when we redesigned the site to include user registration, we left anonymous commenting enabled.  That being said, we recognize that comments on the Internet have the potential to greatly impact (for better or worse) the reputation of local businesses.  To balance accountability and anonymity, within the next few days we plan to implement a new feature displaying the IP address of those users commenting without a registered account.  The primary benefit of this feature will be to allow the Carpe Durham community to detect a single person posting from multiple unregistered accounts.  The IP address of registered users will not be displayed.

Please let us know in the comments if you strongly object to this new policy.

Are you a local graphic designer/artist familiar with making logos for use on a website?  Are you willing to work for below market wages (our budget is $50)  and on a tight timeline because you love Carpe Durham?  Well if so, we love you!  We have a good idea of what we want, but being lawyer types, lack the creativity to execute it.  Please contact us at carpedurham -at- carpedurham (dot) com if you are interested.

If you knew Carpe Durham was making a documentary and you had to guess what it was about, I hope that “tacos” would be in your top 3 guesses.  Actually, a classmate and I are making a documentary about the Durham taco scene for our entertainment law class.  We have a budget of zero dollars so we’re counting on volunteers, and we are now looking for bands who’ll donate their music to score the film.  This could be in the form of already written songs or ones written for us, but they certainly don’t have to be about tacos–just upbeat.  If you have some musical skillz to spare, please email us at carpedurham at carpedurham dot com.  Thanks!

Who has the best chili in Durham? Actually, who has chili at all in Durham?

All right, y’all, confession time:  I’ve never really liked pan dulce from Mexico.  Something about pan mexicano was always too dry, too frosted, too uninteresting.  For years I’ve wanted to like the stuff, admittedly, because it is generally easier to find than Central American pan dulce (which has more rice flour, more egg, more cheese, that sort of thing–look for quesadilla hondurena at Compare! it’ll knock your socks off ((pick one that feels heavy)).  So I went into La Loma somewhat hesitantly the other day, drawn mostly by the relatively recent sign indicating they now have paletas and helados.  In a hurry to get in because it was so freakin’ hot I merely glanced at the handwritten sign on the door saying they also had tacos or tortas or something.  Can I get a bleg! for someone out there to verify?  If a panaderia is running tortas the sammich’d be made more awesome with fresh bread.  Right.

Consider the spread above.  I avoided the omnipresent concha (as it is called in most regions; a puffy round disc smothered in colored sugar frosting) to sample these delights.  The oblong one was predictably the driest and hardest.  A real dipper for coffee, that one.  The large, dark one, bottom right, wasn’t quite as good as I wanted it to be, but it was airy and enjoyable.  Bottom left is a nicely layered version of the concha.  Not quite a Mexican cinnamon roll, but much better than the dry dinner roll taste of many conchas I’ve had (see bottom left of second photo).

Here the limits of my camera are evident, but I tried to show the spiral shape of the last pan dulce.  This one in particular was a delight.  It had the light chewiness of a good bread while maintaining the delicate textures of a sweet bread.  The thought of even sipping my coffee between bites of this one never crossed my mind.  Unfortunately it is the hardest to see in the above photo, but I really recommend eating a dozen of them–if you’re into that sort of thing.

Lastly but not leastly, is the helado.  They were out of paletas but had about six different helados.  I chose the one I knew nothing about.  The baker didn’t know what it was called in English, in Spanish it is la tuna–like the fish, he said–the fruit of the nopal.  It wasn’t until later I realized it was prickly pear.  I’ve never had a prickly pear and can’t really compare the taste of it.  It was light and really refreshing.  It was perfect for the hot day, certainly better than a quite sweet paleta from LocoPops (don’t get me wrong, they do paletas quite right, though they’re generally sweeter than this helado.)

The folks at La Loma are from outside of Mexico City.  Perhaps that region has something going on when it comes to pan dulce.  All I know is that the place smelled great and the breads were much better than I’m accustomed.  They make a french bread that I think would do a po’boy/torta right, for those who venture to do it at home.

Panaderia La Loma (2908 Hillsborough Rd)

If you know of a place (restaurant, food stand, your mother’s kitchen, I don’t care) in the Durham area that serves fresh-squeezed limeade, please do tell.

The only place I am aware of is in Raleigh.  Mitch’s Tavern has $1 limeade where they leave half a lime floating in your cup.  It is deliciously thirst-quenching, but only served certain months (I think summer).  If you know of others (preferably in Durham), please leave them in the comments.  Thanks from all limeade-lovers!

Studying is already making me fat, and there are still more than 2 weeks to go, plus all the soul food and tacos that I endure for this blog lately aren’t helping.  It’s gotten to the point where I actually crave salad sometimes.  Does anyone have any suggestions for good ones?  Here’s what I know:

I actually like the salads at Cosmic.  I was in denial that they could be good, but now the chicken salad is my favorite thing on the menu.  Something about the dressing is different and good (it’s pretty vinegar-y) and they always seem fresh.

Toast‘s salad is simple but delicious.  Has interesting, peppery greens and great cheese.

The Federal’s special salad is usually good (of course!), and tends to have a good (that is, low) ratio of greens to other (fattening) stuff.  Same goes for Alivia’s spinach and arugula salads (not too healthy, that is) which are also a pretty nice price, considering the good stuff on them.

I don’t like Green Tango much. I’ve gotten too many salads there with bitter old spinach and dried out beans, etc.

What am I missing?

It is exam time for us. Does anyone know somewhere in Durham that has outside seating with power available for laptops? WiFi would be ideal, but not absolutely required.

We would appreciate any pointers. Thanks!

It is about time to make some red curry paste, and I can’t find galanga anywhere. Whole Foods used to sell it, but they haven’t had it for about 6 months as far as I can tell. Despite having almost everything, Compare doesn’t either. Any clues? Thanks!

If you don’t know, “bleg” is blogosphere for “request for our blog readers.”

My friend told me that Super Taqueria used to sell great potato tacos. Then they stopped, and told her when she asked that it was because she was the only person who ever ordered them. So if you go, you should casually ask if they have any and act surprised and mildly disappointed if they don’t. Maybe they’ll make a comeback.

Also, if you know of somewhere else with good potato tacos, let us know.

Thanks, readers.