NOFO @ the Pig: Southern whimsy at its best
It’s been called sassy, eclectic, funky and cheerful – and these are just the adjectives used to describe its décor. Walk into the retail shop and café in historic Five Points, and what you’ll discover is a one of a kind, homegrown Raleigh favorite that is a complete treat to the senses with an infectiously charming attitude all its very own.
Occupying a renovated Piggly Wiggly grocery store, this two-story, colorful wonderland houses whimsical and artful shopping finds upstairs from local and southern designers. Find fine packaged foods sourced from North Carolina and Southern food artisans along with coffee and tea offerings featuring Counter Culture Direct Trade Certified coffees and loose and bagged teas from around the world, intermixed with house made casseroles and mouthwatering Charleston Crepe Company Cakes among other delights.
Sip on a sample of one of the many coffees while you peruse the local musical CDs curated by Raleigh based Deep South Entertainment and shop the racks of the Carolina Collection -- a selection of apparel and fashion accessories exclusively populated by established and emerging North Carolina designers.
NOFO @ the Pig is local at its very best, and owner and creator extraordinaire, Jean Martin, works hard to keep it that way, carefully choosing all products offered within the shop, and following the mantra “Love Living Local." Her thoughtful, artistic efforts are apparent in every nook and cranny of this lively southern respite. The entire concept beams with creativity from top to bottom.
Starting from the tip-top is the hand-blown glass chandelier of little piggys and pork links designed by Martin and created in Czchoslovakia. Downstairs in the dining café, the creative juices continue to flow to the drinking bar made out of Piggly Wiggly food cans. And when it comes to dining, this is where the Southern art really takes shape. Signature menu items like Bill Neal’s Shrimp & Grits ($12.50 L, $15 D) and the Coastal Benedict, featuring crab cakes with poached eggs and Edwards country ham ($9.95 B) are among regular diners’ favorites, served up with NOFO’s award winning Bloody Mary of course.
NOFO’s local focus translates not only into the products it showcases, but also through its community involvement. NOFO invites different groups to act as a host one Tuesday evening of each month for the purpose of raising awareness for their particular cause at hand. Ten percent of the gross sales of that evening’s event is then donated directly to that charity. Be sure to check the NOFO calendar of events at www.nofo.com for these Tues. evening affairs and more.
For shopping, dining, or simply browsing, this home for local, southern goodness is a pure treat not to be missed.
HelloRaleigh Tip: For a personalized gift, full of local flair, you can’t go wrong with a specialized NOFO gift basket. Create your own little sampler sure to make a memorable impression.
Posted by Angela Risko
