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Monday, June 14, 2010
Smorgasbord / Events Party pics from Taste of Charlotte
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Did you go to Taste of Charlotte this past weekend? If so, see if you are in our album of party pics here.
Best I've Had All Week Best I’ve Had All Week: Cucumbers from my garden
Posted By Tricia Childress on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Even though I am a member of a CSA and have a virtual bounty of locally grown vegetables each week, I still planted a small garden this year.
I had intended to grow more herbs and some heritage tomatoes, but I ended up planting a variety of peppers, eggplants and cucumbers, too. Originally I thought some plants would not be successful, but I was wrong. Even the musk melon seems to have taken an aggressive hold on my suburban dirt. But the cucumbers are magical. Every morning I pick a few and the next day, more are in their place.
The best way to prepare these just picked cucumbers is to make raita by combining cucumber cubes with mint – also from my garden - and Greek yogurt.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Events / Foodie Tour / Pizza Pizza tour tickets on sale now
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Fri, Jun 11, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Pizza, pizza! Tickets for the "Eat My Charlotte Foodie Tour: Pizza" are now available for purchase online.
We'll be taking you to four restaurants for the tastiest pizzas in Charlotte. Eat a variety of pizza styles including classic NY style, a stuffed pizza, dessert pizza and more.
Eat My Charlotte Foodie Tour: Pizza
June 26, 2010
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Departs from the N.C. Music Factory
$25 per person (includes transportation on double-decker bus, food, beer on the bus and SWAG bag)
Limited space available. No walk ups will be taken the day of the tour. No refunds can be provided.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Mouthful / Priscilla Tsai A visit to Blu Basil
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Since moving from the SouthPark area a few years ago, I haven't been back to the Cotswald Village shopping area since and have been unaware of all the happenings down there. I stopped by Blu Basil Cafe (which opened in February 2009) for the first time on my way to Y2 Yoga the other night and discovered that the restaurant actually serves fresh American fare and not Thai food as I had expected. (In my experience, restaurants with the name "Basil" usually end up being Thai.)
If you are looking for something light, but also more substantial than just a salad of leafy greens, I suggest you try one of their salads. I tried the Cobb Salad last night and loved the big chunks of chicken, fresh avocado and their Gorgonzola dressing. The salad comes with a big slice of their flatbread too.
Read more about Blu Basil here.
Blu Basil Café
306 S. Sharon Amity Rd.
Cotswold Village Shops.
704-362-3731.
Hours: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.: Sunday 10 a.m. until 9 p.m..
Breakfast served weekdays until 10:30 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday brunch served until 3 p.m.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Foodie Tour / Pizza Eat My Charlotte Foodie Tour: Pizza
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 5:14 PM
Mama mia! The next Eat My Charlotte Foodie Tour will feature pizza.
Mark June 26th down on your calendar. We'll be taking out the red double-decker bus again and driving you around town to taste some of the best pizza in town. Tickets are not available for purchase quite yet, but stay tuned...
Events Master Wine Tasting Event at The Capital Grille
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 10:45 AM
The Capital Grille is hosting a Master Wine Tasting Event with George Miliotes, a master sommelier. The event will offer guests the opportunity to sample vintages as well as insider wines from the world's most celebrated wine growing regions.
The Master Wine Tasting Event will take place from June 7 through September 5, for $25 per person at dinner. Each tasting will feature generous pours of up to 11 fine wine selections.
The first seven weeks (June 7 – July 25) of The Capital Grille’s Master Wine Tasting Event will feature:
- Wine from California’s famed Napa Valley, including a Bancroft Ranch Merlot from esteemed Beringer Vineyards
- A Cabernet Sauvignon from Sella & Mosca Marchese di Villamarina, and other Italian varietals
- A Pinot Noir and other varietals from Villa Maria Cellar Selection of New Zealand
The second six weeks (July 26 – September 5) will highlight:
- World renowned wines from Napa Valley, including a Chardonnay from Cambria Winery and Vineyards
- An impressive collection from Spain, including a Jorge Ordoñez Muscat Alexandria
- Several wines from Australia, including The Chook Sparkling Shiraz
For additional information about the Master Wine Tasting Event and The Capital Grille experience, please visit www.TheCapitalGrille.com.
Events Trim that beard at Taste of Charlotte
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Hey, scruffy Charlotte dudes, now's your to clean up your act.
WAHL, a leading manufacturer of grooming products, will be coming to Taste of Charlotte this weekend to help the area's unkempt men get a handle on their facial hair for free. This way you guys can nosh down on food at the Taste festival without getting any of it stuck in your facial hair. That is never cute.
The service is part of WAHL's Let It Grow Tour. The tour's mission is to "Support men on their quest to define their personal style, and educate those seeking assistance from facial hair experts." See the press release below for more info.
WAHL’s 30-foot mobile barbershop features a team of professional facial hair stylists who are prepped to groom men, offer tips and when prompted discuss sports, vintage cars and other topics heard in a typical barber shop. For those looking for a little more pampering and entertainment, the barbershop also offers WAHL massage products, a strongman competition and music.Taste of Charlotte from June 11 to June 13 located on Tyron Street from MLK Jr. Boulevard to 6th Street. The trimming team with be in full force from:
- June 11 – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- June 12 – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- June 13 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If looking your best is not enough of an incentive for guys to participate, WAHL hopes they will consider supporting a great cause. For every trim performed, WAHL will donate one dollar (up to a maximum of $2,500) to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, a non-profit organization that honors America’s fallen firefighters and assists their surviving families and coworkers.
In addition, those freshly groomed Charlotte men that participate are automatically entered into the 5th annual WAHL Man of the Year photo contest, a search of the best beard, mustache and goatee in America. One finalist will be named in each category at all tour stops. National winners will receive a 42-inch flat panel HDTV in each category. WAHL will post all eligible entries to www.wahlnation.com beginning May 31, 2010 and voting will remain open through November 8, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST to determine the finalists. All finalists will win an mp4 player. The national winners in each category – beard, mustache, and goatee – will be announced by February 15, 2010. Entry into the WAHL Man of the Year competition can be done on-site during the WAHL Let It Grow mobile tour or at www.wahlnation.com beginning May 28 at 5 p.m. CST.
For more information on the WAHL Let It Grow Tour or Man of the Year contest, visit www.wahlnation.com.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Recipe / Priscilla Tsai Not your average banana cream pie
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 5:15 PM
The weather's hot and this cool dessert is just as hot and sultry. This version of banana cream pie has a spicy kick as well as a nip of alcohol. Hints of curry flavor mingle in the sweet graham cracker crust and the cream of the pie is spiked with rum. Thin slices of ripe banana are layered in the cream too. I found this recipe on epicurious.com, and adapted it to my liking.
The curry flavor is subtle and works well with the other flavors of the pie. Don't expect the results to be your typical run of the mill, vanilla boxed pudding and whipped cream type of pie here ... this one is much, much better.
free food Holla! Yoforia Myers Park is opening
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Get some free fro-yo from the newest Charlotte Yoforia location to open. The Myers Park location is giving out the goods this Thursday, June 10. Find them on Facebook here and print out this coupon.
Mouthful / Smorgasbord Spicy Chicken Sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 2:26 PM
Mmmmm! Chick-Fil-A launched their Spicy Chicken Sandwiches nationwide yesterday, Monday, June 7. This is a big deal for Chick-Fil-A because the Spicy Chicken Sandwich is the first new sandwich to hit menu boards since its Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich, which was introduced in 1989.
The SCS is hand-breaded, seasoned with a blend of peppers, and pressure-cooked in peanut oil. It comes on a toasted bun with dill pickle chips.
CFA was nice enough to drop of a bundle of goodies for us to sample here at Creative Loafing. Check out the spread.
The sandwich did live up to it's name – it was pretty spicy. Some tasters in the office thought it was too spicy to eat, but as someone who enjoys spicy food, I thought it was delicious. After eating 2.5 sandwiches, one taster broke out in a sweat and suffered a slightly runny nose, but still claimed it was very tasty. For those who don't like spicy foods, stick to the original CFA chicken sandwich.
I think we might need to call the fire department... Here's a compilation of comments heard around the office:
"I feel like there's still a small fire burning in my tummy."
"I couldn't finish it ... it was too spicy for me."
"I heard two people say 'Wow, this is hot!' after the first bite and that was enough to scare me off..."
And from spicy food lovers:
"Spicier than I was expecting... way better than the Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy's! I liked the spice."
"The spicy was good. Perfect combo with some cole slaw."
The SPS starts at $2.99 and weighs in at 450 calories and 17 grams of fat. The plain sandwich is more substantial than I was expecting with a nice thick piece of chicken. But if you want more, for $3.59 you can get the deluxe version with lettuce, tomato and Pepper Jack cheese.
Thanks, CFA, for the lunch!
Click here to find a Chick-Fil-A near you.
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Crockpot Arsenal: Teriyaki Sesame Pork with Asian Slaw 1
If you like sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, this will be right up your alley, but also a nice change of pace.
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Restaurant owner Tela Loli talks business
She makes it her goal that everyone who enters Le Peep’s doors has a pleasing, and filling, food experience.
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Charlotte chefs hit the road to help flood victims
Piedmont Culinary Guild is on its way to South Carolina today.
