The chef, wine educator and owner of Raleigh-based Vitis House Wine School share’s her favorite culinary spots around town
by Catherine Currin

For our 2024 Guide to Where to Eat and Drink in the Triangle, we asked ten food and hospitality industry folks to share their tried and true spots for everything from a casual lunch to happy hour to a place that’s worth hopping in the car and heading out of town. One of those interviewees was wine and food expert Doreen Colondres. Colondres moved to Raleigh five years ago to open Vitis House. Colondres also launched the blog The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite almost two decades ago and has appeared on numerous cooking shows in multiple countries. Prior to Vitis, she worked around the world as a celebrity chef and wine educator for more than 15 years. Here are her favorite spots around town.

Where do you go for happy hour?

Barcelona Wine Bar

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Chargrilled oysters at Hummingbird

What’s somewhere that’s worth the drive?

Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro or Seabird in Wilmington

Where do you go for lunch?

Raleigh Raw or Herons at The Umstead Hotel

If it were your last meal in the Triangle….

Sushi Mon with a great bottle of sake!

What’s your favorite new spot?

Ajja

What’s your favorite coffee shop?

BREW Coffee

Where do you venture for a bite to go?

Pana’s Flavors

Where do you take out-of-town guests?

Hummingbird, always good and consistent

Char-Grill or Snoopy’s?

Char-Grill

This article was originally published on December 28, 2023 on waltermagazine.com