North Carolina: Restaurants get creative in cooking (and their names)

The adobo pork tostada at the Guadalupe Cafe in Sylva, served over beans and brown rice with a spicy roasted tomato-cumin sauce, goat cheese and a side of grilled plantains. CONTRIBUTED BY BLAKE GUTHRIE

The adobo pork tostada at the Guadalupe Cafe in Sylva, served over beans and brown rice with a spicy roasted tomato-cumin sauce, goat cheese and a side of grilled plantains. CONTRIBUTED BY BLAKE GUTHRIE

Guadalupe Cafe

Located in a former drugstore that retains its old-fashioned soda fountain counter, this eclectic eatery serves a dynamic fusion of Caribbean and Mexican fare in a laid-back atmosphere on Main Street in the mountain town of Sylva. Menu includes tapas, full plates, and brunch on the weekends. Tapas start at $3, full plates at $13.95.

606 W. Main St., Sylva. 828-586-9877, www.guadalupecafe.com.

Canyon Kitchen

Housed in a rustic wooden barn between Cashiers and Sapphire, this is elegant multicourse, mountain-casual dining at its finest with a fixed-price menu. Many of the ingredients come from the gardens outside the kitchen door. $68 for a four-course dinner.

150 Lonesome Valley Road, Sapphire. 828-743-7967, lonesomevalley.com/cashiers-nc-restaurant.

Laughing Seed Cafe

This long-standing vegetarian and vegan restaurant downtown serves a wide array of international fare that you would never know was meatless unless somebody told you. Dinner entrees start at $13, small plates at $7.

40 Wall St., Asheville. 828-252-3445, laughingseed.com.

Jinks Creek Waterfront Grille

This waterfront establishment on Ocean Isle Beach (next to Holden Beach) serves gourmet Lowcountry-style fare along with traditional fresh seafood classics. There’s a Tiki bar deck overlooking the creek and marsh. Dinner entrees start at $17, seafood baskets, $9.99, platters, $15.99.

14 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach. 910-579-9997, www.facebook.com/jinkscreek.

Sweet Potatoes (well shut my mouth!!)

Yes, that’s the full legal name of this restaurant in the Downtown Arts District (DADA) of Winston-Salem. Down-home Southern cuisine for lunch and dinner and a popular Sunday brunch. Dinner entrees start at $12.59.

607 N. Trade St., Winston-Salem. 336-727-4844, www.sweetpotatoes.ws.

IN OTHER TRAVEL NEWS: