The Black House at Straw Valley

STRAW VALLEY FOOD & DRINK NOW OPEN
Multi-Faceted Concept Includes Café, Beer Garden and Fine Dining at The Black House

March 10, 2014 (Durham, NC) — Straw Valley Food & Drink and its flagship restaurant The Black House at Straw Valley are now open at 5240 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard off 15-501 between Durham and Chapel Hill. The ambitious concept includes a café, bar, beer garden, fine dining restaurant and event space in a truly unique indoor-outdoor setting that once served as a pottery and blacksmith studio and private residence from the late 1950’s to the 1990’s.

The new business is the brainchild of Executive Chef Adam Rose and Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer. Previously of Il Palio at the Siena Hotel, Rose brings New American cuisine to each Straw Valley venue out of a newly-constructed central kitchen, including family-friendly comfort food in the beer garden, delicious soups and sandwiches in the café and unforgettable steaks, chops and seafood in The Black House. The food is thoughtfully made with carefully selected ingredients from Rose’s established relationships with farmers, creameries, butchers, brewers, bakers, and purveyors of sustainable seafood.

Dexheimer recently moved to Chapel Hill from New York to open Straw Valley Food & Drink and becomes the Carolina’s first Master Sommelier, a coveted diploma denoting excellence in wine and service. Dexheimer left Laurent Tourondel’s BLT restaurants in 2009 to open his own consulting business and in the time since has launched over fifteen restaurant wine and beverage programs throughout the world. At Straw Valley, his team of food and wine savvy servers are dedicated to providing ultimate dining experiences. The accessible wine program focuses on international wines from small importers and artisanal producers. Classic and creative cocktails are mixed with an arsenal of fresh juices prepared on property. Craft beers are sourced locally, nationally and internationally.

Straw Valley Food & Drink is a complex of indoor and outdoor spaces anchored by the following experiences:

The Café & Bar serves locally roasted coffee from Carrboro Coffee Roasters and made to order juices throughout the day starting at 8:00 am. The menu evolves with the day, beginning with farm- fresh breakfast sandwiches and pastry before a lunch service of soups, sandwiches and light entrees. In the evening the space shifts to focus on cocktails, wine and a raw bar. There is seating within the café as well as outdoors on the deck and surrounding spaces.

The Black House at Straw Valley offers fine dining in a welcoming converted Mid-Century Modern home. Rose’s inspired menu features raw, marinated and cured appetizers, handmade pasta, fresh seafood and elegantly prepared meat. Like with a classic steakhouse, fresh vegetables are served a la carte and there are special entrees for two. The Black House serves dinner Wednesday and Thursday from 6-10pm, Friday and Saturday from 6-11pm and Sunday from 5-9pm.

The Beer Garden, to open later this spring when the weather warms, features a sprawling courtyard enclosed by bamboo and canopied by graceful oak trees. Communal tables and chairs, private cabanas, children’s activity area, beverage bar, and bandstand are on the ready. The menu will feature food and drink pleasing to all ages and palates, including burgers and lobster rolls.

“Our goal is to create a culinary playground at Straw Valley,” says Dexheimer. “We want our customers to enjoy coffee in the morning, come back for lunch, bring the family to the beer garden on the weekend, have cocktails and wine in the evening and enjoy a romantic dinner in the Black House. With so many unique experiences available at different price points, Straw Valley Food and Drink is built to serve our customers well and often. “

Straw Valley Food & Drink also offers private event space for parties and hosts wine classes and tastings led by Dexheimer. Future plans include a chef’s table located literally within the kitchen and live music in the beer garden.

Straw Valley Food & Drink and The Black House are conveniently located at 5240 Durham- Chapel Hill Boulevard off 15-501 between Durham and Chapel Hill, directly in front of the New Hope Commons shopping center. For hours of operation and more information, please visit: www.strawvalleyfoodanddrink.com.

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