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Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Best I've Had All Week Best I’ve Had All Week: Mother’s Day Dinner
Posted By Tricia Childress on Tue, May 11, 2010 at 3:03 PM
If your mom is also a restaurant critic, preparing a meal for her can be daunting – at least my kids tell me that. But in truth my sons have developed finely honed palates from an early age and some accomplished culinary techniques as well. One son specializes in barbecue and sushi rolls, two distinctly different skill sets and both were started before he turned 9. The current discussion, though, is with our family’s dedication to fresh food, the idea of establishing a fresh water eel colony in our bog pond was brought up — and nix just as quickly.
My youngest son’s choice of specializing in both barbecue and sushi shows where Charlotte is today, culinary speaking. Barbecue is part of our roots; however, sushi is more commonly consumed.
But on Sunday we had neither barbecue nor sushi. My kids opted for one of their favorite comfort foods: risotto with wild-caught North Carolina shrimp. Although they had not anticipated how much broth and constant stirring risotto requires — colorful kitchen banter could be heard — on this night they worked together to create a special sense of taste and occasion.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Food News Cheese Mo'z has closed
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Mon, May 10, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Cheese Mo'z owned by retired Pro Bowl and former Panther linebacker Dan Morgan, has closed its doors. The Village at Robinson Farm restaurant specialized in serving up coal fired pizza.
Food News / Events Pioneer Woman comes to Charlotte
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Mon, May 10, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman of food blogging fame, visited Charlotte on Friday, May 7, for a cookbook signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in SouthPark.
Dressed in a kimono-like tunic top, leggings, and boots, she answered questions from the crowd, spoke about the wonders of her Spanx, and then signed books for hours for her mass of fans. She was as cute and funny in person as she is on her blog. Ree also announced on Friday she finished the last few words of her book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels while in Charlotte.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Food News / Smorgasbord / Events / Priscilla Tsai USNWC kicks off summer party series
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Fri, May 7, 2010 at 4:33 PM
The U.S. National Whitewater Center kicked off their weekly summer season party "River Jam" last night Thursday, May 6. The Thursday parties at USNWC draw out the outdoorsy, t-shirt-and-shorts crowd (which is a nice break from the Ed Hardy-wearing people Uptown at Alive After 5). Admission is free and parking is $5. Guests are able to enjoy the whitewater loop, trails, and rock walls, along with live music, drinks, and food. Kids and dogs are invited too.
Their restaurant River's Edge Bar and Grill sits right atop the whitewater loop with a view of the park. With both indoor and outdoor seating, the restaurant serves up giant bowls of salad, tasty classic appetizers with a gourmet twist, sandwiches, and "bowls" of meat, beans and rice.
With the great weather and live music, the wait for an outdoor table was long and the waitstaff was slammed with bustling business last night. Pictured below are the Tidal Wave Tuna appetizer, Apple Walnut Chicken Salad, and Peach and Blackberry Cobbler with Ice Cream. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. The tuna didn't taste "fishy" and was perfectly seared, with a rare center. Try the warm cobbler with ice cream – it's the perfect summertime dessert.
Recipe / Priscilla Tsai Praline Baked French Toast
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Fri, May 7, 2010 at 12:28 PM
If you've got some sibling rivalry going with your brothers and/or sisters and are vying for the spot of "Mom's favorite child," you've got it in the bag this Mother's Day. Just make her this Praline Baked French Toast with Macerated Strawberries on Sunday and you will be anointed favorite child.
Thick slices of rich challah bread are layered into a casserole dish, soaked overnight in a custard, then spread with a butter, sugar, pecan mixture, and baked into a buttery, bubbly oblivion. After one taste of this french toast topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and a scoop of macerated strawberries, your mom will want to smack her grandma. Yes, it's that good.
I brought a pan of these into the office today and it was demolished. I'm sure CL's insurance premiums just went up ... the french toast has a cup of butter and a cup of brown sugar. I won't lie.
Despite that tidbit of information, I say you make it anyway. It's truly awesome. You won't have to wake up early on Sunday to put this together because it's all done the day before. On Mother's Day, you just have to pop it into the oven. Piece of cake... I mean toast.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Food News Last clean up on aisle nine
Posted By Tricia Childress on Wed, May 5, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Here’s my take on the closing of Reid’s Fine Foods at the end of June: When Pam and Chuck Richards opened the place in 1998, downtown Charlotte was in its infancy – maybe just a twinkle in Hugh McColl’s eye. There was no grocery store. And without a place to buy food, folks just weren’t going to be moving downtown. The Richards left (enticed to leave) their cushy digs in Myers Park to move downtown. They waited for the light rail and the density of First Ward to approach their location– the latter's still not there, by the way.
Meanwhile Reid’s has carried many local or North Carolina produced food items and was the place I went for Crooks grits.
Now there is competition – which only goes to show what these urban pioneers achieved: more residents downtown. We all benefit from having a vibrant city center.
The Richards plan to relocate Reid's.
Best I've Had All Week Best I’ve Had All Week: Greens from my CSA
Posted By Tricia Childress on Wed, May 5, 2010 at 10:44 AM
I’ve been a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for several years. The idea behind this is you buy a share of a local farm and then weekly you and the other members of the CSA are provided with equal shares of the produce. In good years, agriculturally speaking, the box is packed; in challenging years, you share the risk with the farmer. I support the idea of having local farms by being a member of a CSA. The main benefit besides eating uber-fresh food has been to learn what to do with an over abundance of specific vegetables - like okra.
This week my box primarily was filled with greens: arugula, red leaf lettuce, romaine, green lettuce, kale, and spinach. Some of my family members prefer the tomato and pepper season, but I enjoy these salad days with these first spring vegetables tasting of newly turned earth.
CSA’s work best if you have others to share the bounty and many people buy shares with friends and neighbors. Even if you do not belong to a CSA or if you are on a waiting list (many of the older area farms have these), area farmers’ markets currently offer these sensational greens.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Food News / Mouthful Beijing opens tomorrow
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, May 4, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Beijing restaurant opens in SouthEnd tomorrow, May 5. The new restaurant offers dine-in as well as take-out Chinese cuisine, with some Thai influences.
The food isn't your normal greasy Chinese food fare. At Beijing, they steam the dishes and then sautee the ingredients with the sauce (instead of using liberal amounts of oil to cook like most places do).
I stopped by for lunch yesterday and was treated to a feast. I sampled the crab rangoon, house special soup, garlic chicken, seafood hot pot, and cheesecake and fried bananas for dessert. My favorite was the house special soup, which consisted of clear soup broth, fresh veggies, chicken, shrimp, and slices of roasted Chinese bbq pork.
Don't feel like cooking some nights? You can always count on some delicious Chinese food because they are open 7 days a week, from 10:30 am to 10 pm (Sunday through Thursday) and 10:30 pm (Fridays and Saturdays). The restaurant is located on the corner of South Boulevard and E. Park Avenue, next to Sub Station. They currently will not have delivery service, but hope to expand to offer door-to-door service in the future.
Take a look at a few of their dishes:
Beijing
1603 South Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203
074-333-1088
Food News / free food Yoforia now open in Piper Glen
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, May 4, 2010 at 11:28 AM
If you love fro-yo as much as I do, you'll be excited about this news. Yoforia Frozen Yogurt has opened their first location in Charlotte at the Shops at Piper Glen last Wednesday.
To celebrate the opening, the Yoforia is offering a ‘Free Yogurt Coupon’ on Facebook that customers can redeem all day this Saturday, May 8th, at the Piper Glen location. Get your fro-yo fix at the store 12 p.m. – 11 p.m. The ‘Free Yogurt Coupon’ is currently available at facebook.com/yoforia.
Also opening within the month are the other two stores at Myers Park (Selwyn Corners - 2823 Selwyn Ave., Suite J) and SouthPark Mall (next to Sephora, between Belk and Dillard’s). Operating hours will be: Sun - Thurs: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Fri & Sat: 12 p.m. – 11 p.m. and mall hours for the SouthPark location (Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 9:00 p.m. Sun: 12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m).
Yoforia is a guilt-free treat. Check out what they offer:
At only 25 calories per ounce, this guilt-free treat is made of organic milk and yogurt that touts a refreshing ‘sweet yet tart’ flavor. The new locations will feature self-serve yogurt machines and a topping station that enables Yoforia customers to create a personalized yogurt experience. Yoforia offers up to 12 flavors in its self-serve, low-calorie’ lineup—ranging from original to pomegranate, dark chocolate, mango, cookies ‘n cream, pineapple and more! Toppings include seasonal fruit, granola, breakfast cereal favorites and popular cookies and candies.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Mouthful Photos from Bubble Tease
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Mon, May 3, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Bubble Tease opened in the University area a few weeks ago and I stopped by to check it out yesterday. The tea lounge offers bubble tea and other tea-based drinks. The taro-flavored bubble tea I got was a tad sweet for me, but the tapioca "bubbles" were cooked to perfection.
Bubble Tease
9211 North Tryon Street @ Mallard Pointe Shopping Center
Open 7 days a week
Sunday through Thursday, 10AM-10PM
Friday and Saturday, 10AM-midnight)
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Recipe: Rose Water Tea Cookies 1
Cookies, tea and shouting. In that order. Ascending order.
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Dish on this: Charlotte-based chefs join ACF Culinary Team USA 2016
As fall approaches, local chefs prepare for a culinary battle in Germany.
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Recipe: Pomegranate Gingerbread Granola
Breakfast logic: Things that are crunchy are good. Granola is crunchy. Therefore, it is good.
