For when you can’t make the four-hour trip to the coast

The sous chef has a flair for chemistry and cooking

People who make cocktails for a living inevitably pour something of themselves into their drinks, even when they’re traditional whiskey sours or gin and tonics. But when they’re free to create their own drinks in Charlotte’s ever-growing roster of cocktail bars—that’s when you really get to know them. We spoke with four mixologists about their signature drinks, how they came up with the recipes, and what each means to them. (And, of course, we savored each one.)

The owner of The Cocktailery lives every hour like it’s happy hour

Charlotte may not be the old South, but the city has plenty of good soul food and Southern cuisine

Plus: A recipe for her Chocolate Pot de Crème

The executive chef has mastered Mediterranean cuisine—and dropped 60 pounds in the process

It’s a crystalline afternoon on the first day of March—Fat Tuesday, as it happens. The promise of spring seems to shine on my shoulders as I stroll into Lenny Boy Brewing Co.’s taproom on South Tryon Street an hour before…

A 'sipper for the springtime'

Joe and Katy Kindred’s new all-day café in Davidson rests atop their signature starch cloud

The story behind the popular pop-up looking to become a brick-and-mortar

The 23-year-old executive pastry chef leads a sweet new dessert program

Big portions and family traditions have held tight for 50-plus years at this gem

In Charlotte and elsewhere, a new generation of drinkers feels the power of the sour

The New Orleans native merges low country and Creole flavors