Carroll's Kitchen 1-yr Anniversary Party at Highgrove Estate

If you've followed me on social media for the past year, then surely you saw the posts about the then-anticipated opening of Carroll's Kitchen in downtown Raleigh.

They opened, and it's been full steam ahead this entire year. Here we are now 1 year in and at yesterday's 1-yr anniversary party, it was announced that Carroll's Kitchen would be opening a 2nd location. This one will be in the soon-to-open Morgan Street Food Hall in downtown Raleigh. Best part of this in my opinion, is that the hours will be longer than the hours at their current location. The hours are 8am-2pm. Morgan Street Food Hall will have its own hours, so that means that all the vendors will stay open until 9pm. I have a feeling I'll be moseying on down there after 5pm pretty regularly for some Carroll's Kitchen eats.

What is this Morgan Street Food Hall thing anyway... Check out their website: http://www.morganfoodhall.com/

And now for a little back-story about Carroll's Kitchen. The concept of this nonprofit business started as a means to help single women who are coming out of homelessness or prison by employing them at the restaurant, thereby providing them with job skills and life skills as well as housing. Typically 3-5 women live with a mentor during their employment at Carroll's Kitchen. After this, the women are ready to move on to another employer or stay to train the next group of women, or perhaps they'll want to start their own business and employ women who face similar challenges that they once faced. In the end this is good for the women, but this is also good for Raleigh. Neighbors helping neighbors.

Carroll's Kitchen is not a typical sit-down restaurant. It's a grab & go place. Inside, there are just 2 or 3 stools along the window wall area where you can sit and eat. Additionally, there are tables and chairs outside, behind Carroll's Kitchen.

Food quality is superb here. Without this, I can't say I'd be blogging about Carroll's Kitchen even though it's a well-intentioned business. However, they knock it out of the park with everything I've tried there over the past year. Ingredients are local and fresh and prepared well.

Their chef, (Liz Reedy) pictured above, is truly outstanding at what she does. You've got to try the kolaches. (Dough balls stuffed with a variety of fillings). I've loved every kind of sandwich and soup I've gotten from Carroll's Kitchen, as well as the sweets. It's basic eats but it tastes, well, not basic at all.

The ladies who greet customers at the counter are always super friendly and ready to help.

For all these reasons, I am really happy that Carroll's Kitchen devoted a day for their employees and friends & family to come and celebrate their 1-yr anniversary. They have lots to be proud of.

Side note: The party was held at Highgrove Estate (http://highgrove-nc.com/) in Fuquay-Varina. A beautiful setting, and amazing food.