By Pat Welter

Armando Bacot has left Chapel Hill, but his burger remains.

The “Mondo Burger” has a permanent home on The Town Hall Grill’s menu in the Southern Village. The certifed Angus beef patty, with applewood smoked bacon, onion straws, barbecue sauce and smoked gouda all on a brioche bun was Town Hall Grill owner, David Sadeghi’s first venture into NIL.

Now, almost four year’s later, Sadeghi has expanded his UNC roster.

“All the other NIL players we have, we have a relationship,” Sadeghi said. “Players bring us the next player.”

On The Town Hall Grill menu you’ll find the Seth Trimble Burger, Elliot Cadeau’s Chicken and Waffles, RJ Davis’ spicy Chili Honey Arbol Wings, and the newest addition, Drake Powell’s Cajun Pasta.

“He’s totally different than everything else we do,” Sadeghi said. “He wanted a blackened spicy pasta. So, we did a pasta for him, a ziti dish with blackened shrimp or chicken.”

The pasta also features fresh peas, zucchini and broccoli. A well-rounded meal inspired by one of Carolina’s most versatile players.

“Cajun pasta has always been my second go-to, besides a club sub,” Powell said. “I decided to go with that.”

Eating in Chapel Hill is practically home cooking for the Pittsboro native and former Northwood High School star.

“It’s nice to still have that support from the community of Pittsboro,” Powell said as I sat down to try his pasta dish with him at The Town Hall Grill. “I just want to continue to grow.”

Powell came to UNC as one of the top recruits in not just the state of North Carolina, but the entire country.

“It’s been a big adjustment definitely,” Powell said. “The physicality has definitely increased. There’s little margin for error at this level.”

Powell learned that early during Carolina’s tough non-conference schedule. With just one quad-1 win over UCLA, the Tar Heels have been on the outside looking in of most NCAA tournament projections, but a six-game winning streak before losing to Duke over the weekend has given them a chance.

“Just sticking together through adversity,” Powell said. “During those tough stretches at the beginning of the season, I think that shaped us into how to be successful now.”

Powell has averaged 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists this season, but has taken on a more prominent role lately. After playing most of the season as an undersized stretch four, he’s slotted over to small forward over the course of Carolina’s recent win streak. He’s scored in double figures in three of his last five games. Offensively he can shoot the three at 39%, has a lightning quick first step drive, and is a lock down defender.

“I just love that [defense] is a different way to impact the game other than scoring,” Powell said. “It just brings a certain level of intensity that I think the game needs.”

Powell’s defensive prowess is one of the many reasons NBA scouts have been interested in him since high school. Powell has been listed on many NBA first-round mock drafts throughout the season, but said he hasn’t thought about that yet.

“I’m just staying in the moment and enjoying the company around me,” Powell said. “When that time comes, that’s a big decision to make and I’ll definitely have to talk it over with my family members.”

Powell and the Tar Heels face an uphill battle this week in Charlotte at the ACC Tournament. As a No. 5 seed, they’ll play the winner of Pitt and Notre Dame. The bracket doesn’t set up a quad 1 opportunity for them until a potential meeting with No. 1 Duke in the semi-finals.

“I think we are a team that has showed we love to compete,” Powell said. “And enjoy each other’s success on the court.”

The food arrives, Powell went with the blackened chicken, I went with the shrimp. He’s had this meal many times before. For me, it’s a first. The alfredo sauce isn’t too rich with the right amount of Cajun kick. The shrimp is fresh and grilled on the outside, but nice and juicy within. The vegetables complement the ziti well.  Like the Tar Heels right now, it’s a beautiful thing when all the ingredients come together.

Source: wralsportsfan.com