News 14 Carolina: Party benefits needy children in Zimbabwe

Good food, African wine and beautiful photography will help dozens of children and orphans in Africa. Zely & Ritz, an organic Tapas restaurant in Raleigh, played host to an African wine tasting party and photo exhibit Wednesday night. [Full story]

News 14 Carolina: Call it Fear Factor meets Iron Chef

Local chefs faced-off to create tasty dishes using insects – grasshoppers, ants, meal worms and crickets - as ingredients Friday, at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. [Full story]

Runner's World Features Advice From Chef Sarig Agasi

After qualifying for Boston with a 3:01 in his first marathon (New York City, 2004), Sarig Agasi set out to create a dish that would prime him for the storied 26.2-miler.[Full story]

Endurance Magazine features Chef Sarig Agasi

In addition to being an accomplished in the kitchen, Chef Agasi is also a long distance runner. He is featured in an article on the connection between successful entrepreneurs and endurance athletes. [Full story]

The News & Observer featured a story on the partnership between Zely & Ritz and Coon Rock Farm. [Full story]

Zely & Ritz Featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine

Saluting Our Local Farm to Restaurant Connection: Coon Rock Farm and Zely & Ritz. Famous restaurants across the country are enriching their menus with a delightful, earth-friendly innovation-- they’re growing their own organic produce, either on site or in partnership with local organic farmers. Happily, the Triangle can brag about being part of this trend via the vision of the dedicated owners of Zely & Ritz, an award-winning all-organic restaurant in Raleigh’s popular Glenwood South. [Full story]

Zely & Ritz Wins Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence”

It is an incredible honor to win this award but it is even more amazing for a restaurant that has only been open a few months to win such an award. Please join me in congratulating Nancy for such an incredible achievement by joining us for one of our monthly wine dinners or just taking an extra good look at the wine list that Wine Spectator not only said was excellent but also inexpensive. Anyone can build a great list by filling it with expensive, well known brands, but at Zely & Ritz we like to find special, small vintage, boutique wines to pair with Chef Sarig’s special dishes at reasonable prices. We are honored that Wine Spectator recognized this vision.

Best Organic Restaurants in America

The October issue of Organic Style Magazine has named Zely & Ritz as one of the 20 Best Organic Restaurants in America.To read the article on line click here.

What do a North Carolina organic farmer, an owner of an upscale restaurant on
Raleigh’s “restaurant row,” and a software developer with an international client base
have in common? Conventional wisdom might suggest not much. An exception
is Hillsborough’s Richard Holcomb who wears all three hats ---- simultaneously. [Full story]

By Jon Fish for the Stewardship News of the Carolina Farm Stewards Association

Sarig Agasi, erstwhile owner of Butterflies in North Raleigh, has turned his attention to tapas with his second venture. His seasonally changing menu of small plates draws on a global pantry of flavors, with an emphasis on organic and, whenever possible, locally grown ingredients. The resulting dishes such as scallop seviche with pink grapefruit, North Carolina littleneck clams in Riesling broth, duck and cherry pie, and risotto with lobster and tarragon offers a delight at every turn. Atmosphere is vibrant and contemporary, with a long communal table one of the seating options. [Full review]

By Greg Cox

The  News and Observer Lifestyles section that chronicles a full day in Chef Sarig's life at the restaurant on March 20, 2005.  It's a fascinating story about an amazing chef with beautiful pictures of Sarig in action.  [Full story]