Greenville, North Carolina - and great PIZZA!

WELCOME TO THE EMERALD CITy

Tar River, Greenville, North Carolina

Lovely Southern home in Greenville.

Greenville, North Carolina is widely recognized as the thriving cultural, educational, economic, and medical hub of Eastern North Carolina. Enjoy world-class events and East Carolina University and the Greenville Convention Center. Experience our vibrant art, live music, and culinary scene in the Uptown Greenville and Dickinson Avenue Districts.

AND

If you're ever in town be sure to visit Luna Pizza Café

Perhaps, like us, your travels sometimes include crazy, one-off visits to places you hadn't really planned to visit. Right now we're taking a road trip to Eastern North Carolina to use free hotel nights before they expire on June 30th! Just returning from the UK, I hadn't expected to be packing up again and leaving hearth and home!

First stop was here in Greenville because I had read an article in a magazine about this amazing pizza place. The owner, a former university professor at East Carolina University, enrolled in a famous Florence, Italy pizza academy to learn the intricacies of making fermented dough and how to lightly char Neapolitan pies in a high temperature oven. Long story short, he retired from teaching and opened Luna's here in Greenville......and soon there will be more locations, hopefully one closer to home for us. . . . . . like right across the street from us in north Raleigh's burgeoning Midtown PLEASE owner Richard!

Our favorite Neapolitan pizza EVER was enjoyed in Palermo, Sicily. Our ship dropped us off for a day ashore and after sightseeing we ended up sitting outside with friends overlooking the water enjoying fabulous pizzas!  A VERY close favorite  has to be this pizza Margherita tonight at Luna's right here in North Carolina, excellent in every way, along with an amazing appetizer, Involfini do Melanzani (rolled, stuffed eggplant), and we shared the best Tiramisu dessert ever!  The dining experience was so enjoyable. Beside the wonderful food, Walt the Manager, and Kelly our server, were most hospitable and helpful, and took time to chat with us.

Perfect Pizza Margherita 

Good to the last crumb!

Very good Italian rosé!

We just may be heading back to Greenville again soon as tonight's meal
 was fabulous!
Back on the road tomorrow heading to Elizabeth City via the historic towns of
 (Little) Washington and Bath. 

I had hoped to post this last evening however the WIFI in the hotel room quit!

Thanks to Italian kitchens. . . . . . . . . . .

No, not from my kitchen this time!

Sometimes you just want someone else to prep, cook and clean up, don't you?

A recent hot evening drew us out of the house. Our a/c was still on the

 blink upstairs and it was Hades in reverse with the temp. reading 90F.

 So, a quick drive over to Midtown where we allowed Mia Francesca's

 chefs to cook for us, and the great staff wait on us.

Loved every moment, and even came home with enough of my

 Pizza Napoletano for another day!

Bob of course had a chance to eat meat which he rarely gets at home!  

Must admit the bowl of spaghetti and meatballs looked fabulous. . . . . .he said

 it was, and gobbled the whole plateful. Fortunately we don't eat lunch!

Photos via iPhone

A last glimpse of Sicily. . . . . . . . . .

Prior to moving many photos off the laptop into portable storage, 

just wanted to share these remaining ones taken in Sicily in May.

Enjoy, and remember, this Italian island is a truly beautiful place to visit if you

 have the chance. I would love to return some day for the scenery, the history,

 the oranges and lemons. . . . . . and the best pizza ever!

"Arrivederci stunning Sicily".

SWELTERING HEAT!

Still much too hot to be out here on the front porch.

104F today!

Even the trumpet vine looks frazzled.

Getting a bit tired of chilly meals so decided a quick oven flatbread wouldn't 

overheat the kitchen too much.

Readymade crust by Stonefire topped with thinly sliced tomatoes and fresh

 mozzarella, topped with a scattering of shredded low-moisture mozzarella,

 salt and pepper - baked for 15 minutes. 

Removed and topped with a garlicky basil and pine nut pesto whizzed in the
 food processor, a few fresh basil leaves, and a dusting of grated parmesan.

It was really, really good, honest!!!!

Storms tonight brought much-needed rainwater to the garden.

Fortunately no damage in this area but the lightning was serious and scary!

Saturday Suppers - Burrata. . . . . . .

My neighbor has been away for five days and, besides taking care of his

 sweet kitty cat Ms. Nala, I was given the green light to pick the fresh harvest

 from his little kitchen garden. So I did!

Here on my plate, his beautiful large leafed basil and crunchy cucumber.

The flatbread pizza I put together using a very good ready-made

 'rustic crust' (Costco box of three), brushing lightly with a good olive oil,

 drizzled on a little sauce which comes with the crust, some shredded Italian

 cheeses, and fresh tomatoes roasted earlier in the oven. A quick 10 minute

 bake, then topped with fresh peppery arugula tossed with a bit more olive oil, 

  and a grind of healthy sea salt. . . . . Saturday supper was ready.

And the burrata?

Oh my, I love this fresh cheese which, when cut open,

spills out its creamy deliciousness and a quick supper becomes 

almost a gourmet meal!