February 2011
02/28/11Vin Master Wine Shop is Opening Soon
This week, Atherton Mills in South End is getting a new addition. On March 2nd (tentatively), Vin Master Wine Shop, which began as a wine consulting company in 2008, is opening a retail location. The new shop will be focused on sustainably grown and organic wines, but will not be exclusive to those types. Here you'll find more than one hundred different kinds of wine ranging in price from $10 to $100, with most being in the $10 to $30 range. While there will be some local North Carolina wines, you'll also find bottles from California to Italy. (Look for Taltarni, an Australian Shiraz that is exclusive to Vin Master in the Charlotte area!) Tastings will be offered and Vin Master owner, Chris... Read more » Posted at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/24/11BLT Steak Bargains, New Dishes at Paco's, and Vida Beer Dinner
Uptown's BLT Steak is celebrating its birthday on March 3rd and in honor of the occasion the restaurant will be offering specials at lunch and dinner on main courses, sides, cocktails, and desserts. Mains (think Dover sole and New York strip steaks) are priced at $33.04,while sides (think jalapeno mashed potatoes and creamy spinach), cocktails (think Rosemary Margarita and Pineapple Caipirito), and desserts (think crepe souffle and peanut butter chocolate mousse) are priced at $3.03. Make your reservations by calling 704.972.4380. Robb Walsh, the famed Tex-Mex expert, consulted with Paco's Tacos and Tequila on the development of its original menu. Now, after Walsh's recent visit to Charlotte, the restaurant has... Read more » Posted at 08:56 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/23/11NoDa Brewing Company
My first thought upon hearing about NoDa Brewing Company was "It's about time." If Charlotte ever had a neighborhood where a craft brewery would make perfect sense, it is the artsy, edgy NoDa with its small pubs, cozy restaurants, and popular music scene. Todd and Suzie Ford apparently thought the same thing. The couple is planning on launching NoDa Brewing, which will offer small batch premium beers, on North Davidson Street in October of 2011. They plan for the brewery to have a tap room with views of uptown where visitors can enjoy their beer in pints or in take home growlers as they check out the brewery's brew kettles and fermenters. The couple, who are both passionate about beer, has traveled often to Portland and visited many breweries on the... Read more » Posted at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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02/22/11Dining in the Dark at Bask
The NC Music Factory's newest dining spot, Bask on Seaboard is holding a Dining in the Dark event with Good Eats and Meets on March 9th. If you're not familiar with the concept, it's exactly what it sounds like: Guests begin the evening mingling over cocktails and then are led into a pitch black dining area. Then you're served a three course meal. You can't see your food. You can't see your fellow diners. All visual stimulation is gone (and, so as to prevent cheating, your phone is checked prior to dinner so that stimulation is gone too, which may be the most notable thing of all). The evening starts at 7 p.m. on March 9th. It's $50 and includes three courses plus one glass of wine or a cocktail. A portion of the proceeds go to... Read more » Posted at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/21/11Avett Brothers Dining Discounts
The Avett Brothers may have hit the big time with their recent Grammy Awards performance, but the locally-based band still has plenty of love for Charlotte spots. On April 9th the band is returning to Charlotte to perform at Bojangles Coliseum and in honor of their show, several local businesses are offering discounts and prizes to fans. You can check out the full list on their Facebook page, but here are two great food deals: Joe Kwon, one of the members of the band, has designed two sandwiches for Laurel Market. Those sandwiches will be available March 1st through April 9th and anyone who purchases one will be entered into a... Read more » Posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/16/11Pig Out at Zink
Zink's executive chef, Scott Wallen, is introducing a special dinner available on Monday nights (in addition to the regular menu) that will include all things pork. The dinner, called "All-American Pig Night," will feature locally-sourced pork from the environmentally conscious farm, Rock House Farm in Morganton, NC. The dinner's prok-centric menu will change weekly, but will always be three courses for $35 per person. Next Monday's dinner will include a creamy potato and bacon soup, braised pork belly salad, confit of pork meatlof, and a warm chocolate and bacon lava cake. (Everything on the menu will also be offered a la carte, for those diners not interested in a full pork meal.) Plus, for a seriously decadent treat, on Mondays, Zink's hand-cut Idaho potato fries... Read more » Posted at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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02/15/11Lang Van: Menu Optional
Today I went to Lang Van, the small Vietnamese restaurant on the corner of Shamrock and Eastway in East Charlotte, for lunch. After researching sandwiches all over town for our "Great Sandwich Guide" (check out the March issue!), my appetite has been whet for the more interesting versions of food on bread and so I decided to order the banh mi. However, my server, who also appeared to be the owner, had a different idea. "I'd like the banh mi, please," I said, handing her the menu. "No," she shook her head. "Not good. You like noodles?" "Um," I wasn't sure how to respond. Sure, I like noodles. I also like banh mi. Which is why I was ordering it. "Yes?" "You like pork? You like shrimp?" She... Read more » Posted at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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02/14/11Fried Pickles: Penguin/Pinky's/Diamond
Ok, so first Greg Auten left The Penguin where he had been a chef and co-owner, moved across town, and opened Pinky's Westside Grill. Then, in January, The Penguin reopened under franchisor Big Game Brands. And now, Brian Rowe and Jimmy King, who had been operators at The Penguin and became partners in the nearby Diamond, have released The Diamond's much-anticipated menu and are (finally!) set to open to the public any day now. (Side note: The fact that Charlotte is able to support three new restaurants where hot dogs and burgers play such prominent roles probably says something about our city. I'm not sure what. At the very... Read more » Posted at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments: 4 |
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02/11/11Victoria Beer Comes to Charlotte
On February 14th some folks will be celebrating undying love and romance and all that kind of stuff. In case you're looking for something else to celebrate, here's your chance: Mexican beer, Victoria, is arriving in Charlotte markets for the first time on February 14th. It's a Vienna-style lager beer with an amber color and a crisp finish. It's been produced in Mexico since 1865 and was only available there until earlier this year—now it's being released in select U.S. cities (like Charlotte). According to a press release, Bill Hackett, the president of Crown Imports said, "With a great dining scene in Charlotte, beer aficionados in the area are increasingly on the lookout for new and unique brews. We are excited to introduce Victoria to import beer... Read more » Posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
02/10/11Charlotte Wine & Food Kickoff Event
Tickets are now available for Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend's kick off event on Saturday, April 16th from 7 to 10 p.m. (Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend occurs every two years. This event starts the fundraising for the 2012 weekend.) The kick off, which will be held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will be attended by special guest and racer, Randy Lewis, will include a live and silent auction, a chance experience the Race Day Simulator, and of course, plenty of wine and food. (May we suggest enjoying the wine after trying out the Race Day Experience Simulator?) Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased at charlottewineandfood.org. (Dates for the 2012 Charlotte Wine &... Read more » Posted at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0 |
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