Food + Drink

Alfresco Alternative

Picnics are usually old-school summer gatherings held with friends, family, and, of course, Grandma’s classic Southern cooking. There are occasions, however, that call for mixing things up. Charlotte Symphony’s annual Summer Pops series at SouthPark is the perfect spot to show off your exotic-fare know-how with a spread that won’t look anything like what’s on your neighbor’s blanket. These three recipes tap flavors of Asia but use seasonal ingredients—plus, they’re easy to make and most importantly, easy to transport.

Chow Down Uptown Food Truck Rally

While I'm certain that you're already planning on attending Charlotte magazine's annual Best of the Best Party on Thursday night, I do have one additional suggestion for your Thursday evening plans:The Chow Down Uptown Food Truck Rally hosted by Charlotte…

Mango Hometown Tour

Ok, you've got just a few hours left to RSVP for the Mango Hometown Tour Taste-Off at The Liberty in SouthEnd. I realize this sounds like a random event (What? You don't spend all your Friday afternoons eating mango-based cuisine?),…

New Restaurants

These days it seems that every time I turn around a new restaurant has opened. So, because trying new restaurants is fun, here are six you should add to your "let's eat there soon" list:Char-Grill in DavidsonThis burger joint is…

Midwood Smokehouse Opening Soon

According to owner Frank Scibelli (Big Daddy's Burger Bar, Cantina 1511, Mama Ricotta's, Paco's Tacos & Tequila), the new Midwood Smokehouse on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood is set to open next week—and you're going to want to schedule a…

Lulu on the Green is Open

The owner of the Plaza Midwood favorite, Lulu dine|wine, opened a new restaurant last week. Lulu on the Green is located in a small stone kiosk on the new greenway on Kings Drive, just across from Mama Ricotta's and Meskerem.…

Reid's Fine Foods Opens!

When Reid's closed in Uptown last summer it looked like another Charlotte institution had bitten the dust. But now the popular shop has finally reopened in its new Myers Park location—and, from what I saw today, it's worth the wait.Inside…

New Items at Cowfish

The ever popular Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar has made some additions to its already extensive menu including four new sandwiches, which all sound pretty tasty. Here are the menu newbies—in case you need a little inspiration for your next Cowfish…

NoDa Brewing Beer Tasting at Duckworths

NoDa Brewing Company is so new it's not even open yet. But that doesn't mean you can't try its brews.This Saturday (April 23) at 1 p.m., Duckworth's Grill and Taphouse is hosting a FREE tasting of four beers from the…

Taste of Time at the Levine Museum

Since 1997, the Levine Museum of the New South has held its Taste of the New South fundraiser each spring, but this year's event will be called Taste of Time in honor of the museum's 20th anniversary. The celebration is…

Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas from Frank Scibelli

Cinco de Mayo is only three weeks away! It's time to start planning...If there is anyone is Charlotte who knows how to throw a great Cinco de Mayo party, it's Frank Scibelli, the owner of Cantina 1511 and Paco's Tacos…

Frost Bites

Pike’s Old-Fashioned Soda ShopPike’s started out as a true soda shop in a pharmacy. In 2002 Randy Chitwood bought it from the Pike family and kept it filled with fabulous relics from the original pharmacy. Serving more than just scooped…

Dramatic Dining at Mez

Red-velvet rope fittingly marks the entrance to Mez, the popular uptown lounge, theater, club, and restaurant. Once guests are beyond the velvet rope and doormen, they ascend through a cream-colored escalator tunnel illuminated by ever-changing lights and into a large…

Deep-Fried Peaches at Food Lion AutoFair

Every year when the Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts the Food Lion AutoFair they serve up some tasty fair food-themed dishes (we're talking the kind of deep fried stuff that would make your cardiologist cry—one year they actually served fried butter).…

Cooking Class at Blue Restaurant & Bar

Feel like getting creative in the kitchen? This Saturday (April 9th) Chef Gene Briggs is hosting a cooking class at uptown's Blue restaurant  from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.. The class will be on classic sauces and the menu includes…

Artist Series Wine at The Capital Grille

Every year uptown's Capital Grille holds their Artist Series Wine Event featuring an exclusive wine with an original piece of artwork as its label. This year I had the chance to try the wine, a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon created by…

Where Charlotte Chefs Eat

Ever wonder where the talented chef from your favorite restaurant goes to satisfy his post-work culinary cravings? We chatted with the executive chefs from five fan favorites about where they like to unwind and dig in after a long day.

Crafty Cocktails at RE:PUBLIC

Uptown’s newest club, RE:PUBLIC, has a lot of modern touches—like the hostess who checks the guest list on an iPad and a large dance floor with light-filled pillars. But its best effort to bring something new comes from its tequila…

North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival

Mark your calendars! The first North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival will be held on May 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Rural Hill, a 265-acre historic farm in Huntersville. The event, for which proceeds support the preservation…

The Big Brew Ha

On April 15th, at the Mint Museum uptown, lovers of all things brewed can happily unite to imbibe in tea, coffee, and beer—while they eat breakfast for dinner. Personally, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of…

Charlotte Craft Beer Week 2011

The second annual Charlotte Craft Beer Week has begun! Events began on Friday and will go through next Sunday's closing event at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille. For the full list of the week's events, check the week's website. In the meantime,…

Wine at the Ritz

Uptown's Ritz-Carlton is hosting two pretty swanky wine events next month. These kick off a series of wine programs through the hotel's new Urban Sip wine bar. Below are the events: Cakebread Wine DinnerWhen: Tuesday, April 12th at 6:30 p.m.What:…

Shiner Bock Brewmaster's Dinner at Paco's Tacos and Tequila

Next Tuesday (March 15), Paco's Tacos and Tequila is hosting a three-course dinner featuring their tasty Tex-mex paired with hand-crafted Shiner beers. Curious about the brews? The director of brewing operations at Shiner Bock will be there to discuss their…

Vin 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…

BLT 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…

NoDa 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…

Charlotte Restaurant Guide

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