Dine & Dish - December 2009

12/30/09

New Year's Eve

Still looking for New Year’s Eve plans? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Common House in Plaza Midwood is hosting (for the second time) Rich and Bennett’s NYE Bash. This is the 7th annual NYE party by Rich and Bennett and all six before have sold out. Tickets are available online at rockhouseevents.com or at Common House tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. The bash goes from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and features heavy hors d’oeuvres, a DJ, and open bars. The cost is $70 for women and $90 for men.

The Liberty is offering three courses for $40 including wild Scottish salmon, crabcakes, chocolate cake, and more. Go to Read more »

Posted at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

12/22/09

Whiskey Warehouse Opens

The first thing I heard about the new Whiskey Warehouse in Plaza Midwood was that the restaurant and bar would have a Jack & Coke slurpee machine. Obviously, I was intrigued because that sounds, well, delightful. And so, as a Plaza Midwood resident myself, I began to make frequent trips by Whiskey Warehouse’s location (in the old Creation space on The Plaza) in hopes of it opening soon.

It has finally opened. And today I went, wondering if a workday lunch was an inappropriate time to test out that slurpee machine. As it turns out, I didn’t have the chance to ponder that question for long because the machine is still en route to the restaurant—it should be there next week. However, today Whiskey Warehouse, which is owned by the... Read more »

Posted at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

12/21/09

Pierre Bader to open Aria

Richard Thurmond here with a guest post on Dine & Dish.

A couple weeks ago, restaurateur Pierre Bader gave me an impromptu sneak peek at Aria, the Italian restaurant he's opening soon in Founders Hall. Designed by LITTLE, It's a gorgeous space. There's a lounge upstairs (in the photo) which Bader is calling La Scala and promises will be open for post-show drinks. Downstairs, it's a clean, modern look with a homey square bar in the middle. Behind the bar is a temperature-controlled wall of wine -- 1000 bottles worth. There's an old farmhouse table right in the kitchen -- the city's first true chef's table dining. He says it will open January 15.

I just got the menu for the new place. It is pasted below for your mouth-watering pleasure:

12/18/09

Celeb at Sullivan's

Charlotte's not exactly Los Angeles when it comes to celebrity spotting, but occasionally one will turn up around town. Last Saturday Chandra Wilson (you know her as Dr. Miranda Bailey from Grey's Anatomy) dined at Sullivan's Steakhouse in South End before going to Levine Children's Hospital.

Apparently, Wilson enjoyed asparagus bisque with jumbo lump crab, salmon filet, and horseradish mashed potatoes with sauteed veggies. I actually had lunch at Sullivan's yesterday and can say with some certainty that she probably seriously enjoyed the mashed potatoes as they are the kind of creamy that puts new meaning to the word sinful. As for the bisque, Sullivan's was out yesterday... maybe Wilson's enjoyment has increased it's popularity?

Know of... Read more »

Posted at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

12/16/09

Lunch at BLT Steak

Want to check out one of uptown's hottest new restaurants, but not ready to commit to a $45 ribeye? Well, now is your chance.

BLT Steak has just introduced a prix fixe express lunch. The lunch features any two items from a selection of soup, salad, and half sandwiches for $18. It's available during regular lunch hours on week days. Currently, those items include tasty choices like chesnut apple soup with bacon and brown butter, endive salad with gorganzola, walnuts, and pear, and a roasted leg of lamb and provolone panini.

BLT Steak is in the bottom of the new Ritz-Carlton at 110 North College Street. Make reservations at 704-972-4380.

12/02/09

New at M5

If you've been a fan of Upstream in Phillips Place, then now would be a really good time to start going to M5 Modern Mediterranean, another Harper's Group restaurant in SouthPark. Upstream's executive chef, Scott Wallen, is taking over as the executive chef at M5 and he's bringing a menu that sounds quite good with him.

The chef's new items on the menu will include slow braised lamb shank, stuffed pork chop with morels, seafood orichetta, veal spaghettini, and chicken breast with garlic-herb linguini. In other words, they're going to be offering some serious comfort food. Personally though, I'll be going for the newest starter, a braised short rib with porcini gnocchi and sweet onions. (Seriously Charlotte chefs, can't say enough how much I'm a... Read more »

Posted at 05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

12/01/09

Holiday Dining

It's December 1st. This means you've made it through the first onslaught of turkey and dressing, but there is still plenty of festive holiday dining to be done over the next several weeks. Restaurants around Charlotte are hosting holiday dinners, parties, and specials—plus, many are giving to those in need during the holiday season. We'll be doing our best to keep you updated on all the top ones right here.

First off, you're going to want to check out Maddi's Southern Bistro(pictured) in Birkdale in Huntersville. Every Sunday this month it's serving a "Candy Cane Brunch" from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The brunch will feature seasonal food and drink specials. Or for something fun to do this week, go to Maddi's tomorrow night for the Beer... Read more »

Posted at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1

	12/30/09 New Year's Eve Still looking for New Year’s Eve plans? Here are a few ideas to get you started: Common House in Plaza Midwood is hosting (for the second time) Rich and Bennett’s NYE Bash. This is the 7th annual NYE party by Rich and Bennett and all six before have sold out. Tickets are available online at rockhouseevents.com or at Common House tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. The bash goes from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and features heavy hors d’oeuvres, a DJ, and open bars. The cost is $70 for women and $90 for men. The Liberty is offering three courses for $40 including wild Scottish salmon, crabcakes, chocolate cake, and more. Go to Read more » Posted at 01:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	12/22/09 Whiskey Warehouse Opens The first thing I heard about the new Whiskey Warehouse in Plaza Midwood was that the restaurant and bar would have a Jack & Coke slurpee machine. Obviously, I was intrigued because that sounds, well, delightful. And so, as a Plaza Midwood resident myself, I began to make frequent trips by Whiskey Warehouse’s location (in the old Creation space on The Plaza) in hopes of it opening soon. It has finally opened. And today I went, wondering if a workday lunch was an inappropriate time to test out that slurpee machine. As it turns out, I didn’t have the chance to ponder that question for long because the machine is still en route to the restaurant—it should be there next week. However, today Whiskey Warehouse, which is owned by the... Read more » Posted at 01:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	12/21/09 Pierre Bader to open Aria Richard Thurmond here with a guest post on Dine & Dish. A couple weeks ago, restaurateur Pierre Bader gave me an impromptu sneak peek at Aria, the Italian restaurant he's opening soon in Founders Hall. Designed by LITTLE, It's a gorgeous space. There's a lounge upstairs (in the photo) which Bader is calling La Scala and promises will be open for post-show drinks. Downstairs, it's a clean, modern look with a homey square bar in the middle. Behind the bar is a temperature-controlled wall of wine -- 1000 bottles worth. There's an old farmhouse table right in the kitchen -- the city's first true chef's table dining. He says it will open January 15. I just got the menu for the new place. It is pasted below for your mouth-watering pleasure: Read more » Posted at 03:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 4
	12/18/09 Celeb at Sullivan's Charlotte's not exactly Los Angeles when it comes to celebrity spotting, but occasionally one will turn up around town. Last Saturday Chandra Wilson (you know her as Dr. Miranda Bailey from Grey's Anatomy) dined at Sullivan's Steakhouse in South End before going to Levine Children's Hospital. Apparently, Wilson enjoyed asparagus bisque with jumbo lump crab, salmon filet, and horseradish mashed potatoes with sauteed veggies. I actually had lunch at Sullivan's yesterday and can say with some certainty that she probably seriously enjoyed the mashed potatoes as they are the kind of creamy that puts new meaning to the word sinful. As for the bisque, Sullivan's was out yesterday... maybe Wilson's enjoyment has increased it's popularity? Know of... Read more » Posted at 12:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	12/16/09 Lunch at BLT Steak Want to check out one of uptown's hottest new restaurants, but not ready to commit to a $45 ribeye? Well, now is your chance. BLT Steak has just introduced a prix fixe express lunch. The lunch features any two items from a selection of soup, salad, and half sandwiches for $18. It's available during regular lunch hours on week days. Currently, those items include tasty choices like chesnut apple soup with bacon and brown butter, endive salad with gorganzola, walnuts, and pear, and a roasted leg of lamb and provolone panini. BLT Steak is in the bottom of the new Ritz-Carlton at 110 North College Street. Make reservations at 704-972-4380. Read more » Posted at 04:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	12/02/09 New at M5 If you've been a fan of Upstream in Phillips Place, then now would be a really good time to start going to M5 Modern Mediterranean, another Harper's Group restaurant in SouthPark. Upstream's executive chef, Scott Wallen, is taking over as the executive chef at M5 and he's bringing a menu that sounds quite good with him. The chef's new items on the menu will include slow braised lamb shank, stuffed pork chop with morels, seafood orichetta, veal spaghettini, and chicken breast with garlic-herb linguini. In other words, they're going to be offering some serious comfort food. Personally though, I'll be going for the newest starter, a braised short rib with porcini gnocchi and sweet onions. (Seriously Charlotte chefs, can't say enough how much I'm a... Read more » Posted at 05:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	12/01/09 Holiday Dining It's December 1st. This means you've made it through the first onslaught of turkey and dressing, but there is still plenty of festive holiday dining to be done over the next several weeks. Restaurants around Charlotte are hosting holiday dinners, parties, and specials—plus, many are giving to those in need during the holiday season. We'll be doing our best to keep you updated on all the top ones right here. First off, you're going to want to check out Maddi's Southern Bistro(pictured) in Birkdale in Huntersville. Every Sunday this month it's serving a "Candy Cane Brunch" from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The brunch will feature seasonal food and drink specials. Or for something fun to do this week, go to Maddi's tomorrow night for the Beer... Read more » Posted at 09:55 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1

December 2009