Last year, the Charlotte food scene was abuzz about a great new breakfast place in Rock Hill called The Yolk. Located in a dumpy strip mall, it boasted a homey atmosphere, intriguing specials and lines out the door every weekend. Say the word "pancakes" near me, and I'll tell you the best ones I've ever had were at the Yolk (and believe me, I've had my share of pancakes).
Owners Greg and Subrina Collier already had a relocation in the works when an electrical fire last August shorted out their plans. Finally, after months of insurance claims, construction and inspections, the Yolk has risen from the ashes, opening its new doors last Wednesday.
The restaurant's second home at 1912 Mt. Gallant Road is another shopping mall, only 50 years newer and in a better location. Ignore the old "Big Wok II" sign high on the façade and look for the small banner over the door announcing that breakfast is back in town.
For anyone who has ever treasured a family recipe, this app is for you. Whether cookbook junkie, recipe hound or sentimental foodist, a recipe is often much more than a recipe. It is a story, a legacy, a piece of a loved one left behind.
For Charlotte-based tech duo, Jill Bjers and husband Torgny, the loss of a beloved family recipe spurred the development of Food.les, a digital cookbook and recipe archive designed to preserve recipes online and in print.
Bjers lost her grandmother 10 years ago and with her, the recipe for Divinity, a Southern confection similar to nougat. Bjers calls it a dense marshmallow. Though she can recreate Divinity through other recipes, it just isn’t the same. As a mother herself, Bjers realized the importance of preserving recipes and began researching online recipe archives to see what was out there.
The tech goddess, who throws big brains behind some of Charlotte’s most notable tech events like TedXCharlotte, BarCampCLT and most recently, Geek Girl Camp, uncovered a need for a more comprehensive online archive. Bjers, who loves the feel of flipping through cookbooks, wanted the online space to feel the same but could find none who did it successfully. She also found a wealth of sites that allowed for recipes to be archived but made it requisite to share with the public at-large. She didn’t want to do that either.
For Luca and Jessica Annunziata, Passion8 is more than the name of their eight-year-old restaurant. The couple's work at their Fort Mill location was an expression of love, from their determined support of local farmers to the warm atmosphere created for a long list of regulars who enjoyed Luca's elegant fare.
This weekend, Passion8 grows from passion into love, dropping the "Bistro" from its name and moving into the upscale Elizabeth neighborhood. Inside the high-ceilinged space that seats 120 diners, Fort Mill's brash décor of lush reds gives way to a more sophisticated palette of earthy burgundy, sage and muted gold. The large area is divided into three primary dining rooms and an airy bar, plus a 10-seat chef's table with a plate-glass view into the kitchen. Curtains and partial walls define each section, lending the whole an open, yet intimate feeling. As Jessica noted, lighting is key here, and the gorgeous chandeliers add their own touch of decadence and charm.
The 9-year-old neighborhood bistro in Plaza Midwood posted on Facebook over the weekend that its last night open will be New Year's Eve. A two-and-a-half month notice? Get in while you fit in.
With the recent departure of Cantina 1511 from its old post, there’s a new Mexi-Cali restaurant that seems to be taking over East Boulevard. Bakersfield is an odd mix of Johnny Cash, margaritas and Alamo-era western movies. All that’s missing are sombreros and an upstairs brothel.
Perhaps Friday night was the wrong time to try to find a seat at the bar, but once finally positioned, it’s best to know whether you would like to start the night with a single margarita or the whole pitcher (hey, I’m not here to judge). What seems to set these libations apart from the rest is their use of real lime juice and agave, instead of sour mix and sugar. Even I, who swears against anything tequila, enjoyed the sweet and salty elixir.
You’d think Nan and Byron’s owners would be leery of change. The rustic eatery's aesthetic is clearly derived from the iconic Grant Wood painting of a pitchfork-wielding farmer and his spinster daughter. Edison light fixtures adorn the interior, as do vintage furnishings and reclaimed barn wood. The food is classic comfort (though hardly dull).
But Nan’s isn’t stuck in the past. The newly minted SouthEnd staple has announced it is making a change in the central part of its kitchen: Kyle Rhodes, formerly the chef de cuisine at 5Church, is its new executive chef.
Say hello to the newest gastropub in town, Draught. It's pronounced “draft” — draught just happens to be its British spelling. More importantly, it’s not pronounced “drought,” which bartender Ryan says would defeat the purpose of the bar and its 34 taps.
First, we had our own beer at Birdsong. Then JJ's Red Hots gave us a hot dog. Now, Creative Loafing is making its mark on the sushi world. We're taking over, guys.
Join us at AZN Azian Cuisine in Piedmont Town Center tonight as we celebrate the launch of our very own roll. If you haven't eaten lunch yet, you may want to stop reading. This roll features spicy tuna, cream cheese, cucumber & tempura shrimp rolled inside, topped with salmon, kabayaki sauce and rice crispy pearls.
If you haven't been to AZN yet — which was awarded Best New Restaurant last year by our critics — tonight's as good a night as any. There will be $5 drink specials.
Thursday, Aug. 14
5-7 p.m.
AZN Cuizine Charlotte
4620 Piedmont Row Drive
For two days, the folks at Nano's Dominican Cuisine are stepping back and letting someone else rule their bar area.
On Aug. 8 and 9 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Haunt Bar will bring their special combinations of elixir to Nano's customers. The restaurant specializes in Caribbean, Latin and Cuban cuisine.
Known for bringing the unique art of the cocktail mixing to the Charlotte area, Haunt will mix up a variety of Dominican rum drinks, including flavors from the Brugal brand.
To compliment the drinks, Nano's will offer special Dominican small plates along with the full dinner menu.
This two-day event is one you don't want to miss. Cheers to the weekend.
After persevering through several setbacks — for example, a freezer malfunctioned and froze bottles of wine, beer and sodas, which, sad face, they had to throw away — the folks at Earl's Grocery finally opened their doors on July 28.
Sisters Tricia Maddrey and Bonnie Warford — owners of Carpe Diem, a restaurant and catering business — knew they wanted to create a spunky and upbeat atmosphere for customers to eat some great food.
Earl's Grocery is less than a block away from Maddrey and Warford's upscale restaurant. Here you'll find hidden treasures often not available in other stores: from handmade pasta to Cilantro and Lime Beef Jerky to Armenian-grown Harvest Song cured walnuts.