Dine & Dish - Charlotte, NC

08/20/10

Charlotte Bites and Brews

For a different twist on restaurant week (think: less gourmet food, more beer), check out Bites and Brews, which started yesterday. The event, which will go through August 29th, features local restaurants offering one appetizer, two entrees, and a bucket of Anheuser Busch beer to participants.

The prices vary depending which restaurant you choose. You'll be paying either two for $25, two for $30, or two for $35. Participating restaurants include Blu Basil Cafe ($25), Revolution Pizza & Ale House ($30), and the new Icehouse Southend ($35), as well as several others.

For more info, check out the Web site at charlottebitesandbrews.com.

08/17/10

TCBY's 4 New Charlotte Locations

There's absolutely no doubt that Charlotteans love their fro yo. Seriously. As a dining editor I don't think a day goes by that I don't get some kind of press release about the city's newest frozen yogurt place. There are imports from LA, locally-owned and operated shops, and more flavors than I can count.

Which is why right now I love that TCBY, a brand that has been around forever, has jumped into the fro yo fray. The owner of the local TCBY shop in Colony Place (it opened in April) has announced he'll be opening three new stores this fall with the chain's new self-serve model. The new Charlotte locations are the first TCBY stores to use the new store design in the US. The design features modern decor and four soft serve machines with twelve rotating flavors. Pricing is $.39... Read more »

Posted at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

08/13/10

Toast to Noble's

Your very last chance to enjoy the famed Noble's restaurant happens on Saturday, August 21st. That night, Chef Jim Noble and his team are hosting "Toast to Noble's," a $75 event that includes a full buffet, dessert table, as well as red and white wines, and Champagne for toasting. The evening will also feature live music from the Big Fun Band. You can make your reservations now by calling 704.367.9463.

Just want your usual Noble's experience one last time? The restaurant is still open and serving at regular hours until the 21st so call for your reservations now.

08/12/10

Pinot on the Patio at Andrew Blair's

Drop in to AB's on Montford Drive next Thursday, August 19th any time between 5 and 8 p.m. and you'll have the chance to sample three wines, as well as some of the restaurant's signature snacks for a total of $10. The wines will range from Pinot Grigio to Pinot Noir and if you purchase two or more bottles from the tasting, you'll get a coupon for getting one entree free with the purchase of another that night in the dining room. AB's dining room is headed up by Chef Marc Jacksina, who uses locally grown items to create seasonal dishes designed to pair with the restaurant's varied wine selection.

Pinot on the Patio will be taking place on the third Thursday of each month through the end of October so plan on making this a monthly occasion.

For reservations and... Read more »

Posted at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

08/11/10

Time Warner Cable BBQ & Blues

Whether you're a lover of tender pork slathered in savory BBQ sauce or just enjoy a good, old-fashioned outdoor festival complete with Blues tunes, this annual uptown fest is where you'll want to be one month from today.

The event runs on Friday September 10th from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday September 11th from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. And there is A LOT of barbecue. There are competitions (including some that involve you getting to eat some of that delicious 'cue) and beer samples and cooking demonstrations, and of course, all the southern music you could want to hear.

So, mark your calendars and prepare your taste buds. You've got one month.

08/10/10

Rooster's Tomato Dinner, Dim "Sumdays" at Kalu, and Tequila Dinner at Cantina 1511

A few dining opportunities worth considering:

Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen is celebrating the summer's tomato harvest using fresh tomatoes from the local NC farm, Fisher Farms, for the Tomato Harvest Celebration Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on August 18th. The five course dinner, which is $59 per person and includes wine pairings, features the following: heirloom tomato caprese croutes, gazpacho with jalapeno creme fraiche, basil gnocchi with sungold tomatoes and parmigiano reggiano, grilled hanger steak with slice gregori and mecklenburg tomatoes, and tomato tart with basil gelato.

You can reserve your spot for this dinner by calling 704.366.8688.

Uptown's newest Asian fusion restaurant, Kalu Asian Kitchen, has begun serving Dim Sum from... Read more »

Posted at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

07/30/10

Carolina Harvest Dinner

If you're a foodie and you're into the whole eating loca thing, then you're going to want to keep reading. Guerilla Cuisine, a group that calls itself "an experiment in collaborative dining" works to bring together chefs, local farmers, and artists for a unique dining experience. So far, the group has hosted nine such events in Charleston and Columbia and each has sold out. Now, they're hosting their first in the Charlotte area.

The Carolina Harvest Dinner will be held at Lake Wylie (2047 Driftwood Circle, Fort Mill) on August 14th at 7 p.m. The event includes wine pairings and live music, plus four courses. It's $50 a person and open to the first 50 people who make their reservations. And now, the most important part, the food:

1st course: NC Creamery Cheese,... Read more »

Posted at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

07/28/10

Zink. American Kitchen is Closing

Harper's restaurant Group has announced the closing of its restaurant, Zink, which is currently located at 201 North Tryon Street in the IJL building. In a press release, Tom Sasser, the owner and president of Harper's Restaurant Group said the location has been purchased for non-restaurant use and that "The buyer has indicated that the space will be renovated for office or possibly retail purposes."

Fifth Third Bank will be putting its name on the building and there has been some speculation that the current Zink location will actually become a Fifth Third bank branch. Regardless of what it becomes, it will no longer be serving its popular lobster roll sliders on its street side patio and that is certainly something worth lamenting.

Want to get in your last... Read more »

Posted at 05:22 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

07/27/10

Pure Taqueria Opening in October, Paco's Opening in August

In case you've been craving Mexican...

Pure Taqueria, the Atlanta-based chain that recently announced it was opening in Matthews, has pushed its opening back to October 4th. It was set to open this summer, but as often happens with restaurant openings has been rescheduled. Unfortunately, this means we'll have to wait a little bit longer before sinking our teeth into one of their famed fish tacos or cooling down with an icy prickly pear margarita. Stay tuned here for more info on the opening!

We've been getting lots of questions about when to expect the opening of Frank Scibelli's (Big Daddy's, Mama Ricotta's, Cantina 1511) newest venture, Paco's Tacos and Tequila. The restaurant, which is opening... Read more »

Posted at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

07/23/10

Fro Yo Explosion

Charlotte can't seem to get enough frozen yogurt. In a city where just a few years ago TCBY looked like the only option for yogurt lovers, there's been an influx of new shops dedicated to serving up bowls and cones of the sweet, semi-healthy treat. Here's the latest news on the city's fro-yo scene:

Pinkberry has (finally!) arrived. The famed tart frozen yogurt chain based out of West Hollywood opened its first Charlotte store last night at Phillips Place (it's at 6908-C Phillips Place Court, across from the movie theater). Pinkberry offers six flavors: original, pomegranate, coconut, chocolate, mango, and the current featured flavor, watermelon. Plus, the shop offers toppings like fresh fruit, granola, and Belgian chocolate. Look for another Pinkberry location... Read more »

Posted at 02:17 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2

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