Raleigh took another jump forward in the food scene today with the opening of the much anticipated (and delayed) Morgan Street Food Hall located at 411 West Morgan Street. The concept is a group setting with different food and retail sites. Think of it as a food truck rodeo that is permanently parked.  It allows families (like mine) to satisfy all those picky eaters- the middle child who always wants a burger, the one who eats anything in order to get a yummy dessert and the Mom searching for something delicious yet healthy. 

One sign of a great city is it's eating establishments. Food goes way beyond filling one's belly; it can be a symbol of the area's culture and landscape. North Carolina has been put on the national foodie map which has helped grow the downtown scene for residents and visitors alike. Recently, Time magazine wrote an article about people who are changing the south. Our very own chef-activist Ashleigh Christensen has been building an empire based on food and so much more. I had the pleasure of hearing her at a fundraiser a few years ago, when she was just hitting the national scene. What I recall her saying was something along the lines of: we are all a part of a community and we have the choice to build it how we see fit- food is the way she does it. I like that. Breaking bread with neighbors -strangers or dear friends- is perhaps the lowest bar in a civil society. Maybe it's what we all need right now. I am headed there for dinner tomorrow night. See you there!