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Thursday, September 6, 2012
Recipe Recipe: Figs à la Claire
Posted By Kelly Davis on Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 2:11 PM
While the rest of you are fighting the traffic and the crowds of the DNC, I escaped the drama to relax on the rural North Eastern coast of North Carolina at my in-laws house. One of the things I like best about coming out here is my husband's family always have a lot of seasonal produce, especially fruit.
- Kelly Davis
- Fresh Ripe Figs
This time of year, figs and pears are abundant. As soon as I arrived, they invited me to taste their huge juicy figs. I cut one open and marveled at the magenta jeweled center. One bite of a fresh fig and the difference between them and grocery-store-bought figs is obvious. These were no different. They were at the peak of their ripeness.
I have big plans to make fig jam later today, but first I wanted to share with them (and you) one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh figs.
I can't take credit for this recipe. Two years ago, I complained that figs weren't sweet enough to my liking on my own personal blog and a friend and reader reached out to me to tell me her favorite way to enjoy the fruit. I only made one small adaptation to the recipe, choosing to broil the figs to bring out their succulent juices, as opposed to leaving them raw. Other than that, this recipe is completely Claire's.
It would make a lot more sense if I called this recipe Figs du Claire, but Figs à la Claire just has a better ring to it?
Making sense is the least of my worries.
- Kelly Davis
- Before and After
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Food News Mobile produce truck leaves a lasting legacy
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 9:18 PM
The Democratic National Convention brings more to the Queen City than just celebrity fanfare and unprecedented traffic jams. As the convention sweeps through town, swishing its hips down Charlotte's crowded streets, several partnerships have been working to ensure that Mayor Anthony Foxx's legacy programs leave more behind than just the lipstick-stained wine cups of convention goers.
As part of the Healthy Children, Healthy Families initiative — to combat childhood obesity, increase access to local foods and promote a healthy lifestyle among Charlotteans — the convention host committee partnered with local organizations Friendship Gardens, the Charlotte Area Transit System and Humana to launch Friendship Gardens To Go. It's a mobile produce market inside the Charlotte Transit Center at Fourth and Trade streets.
The mobile market aims to bring healthy, fresh produce on a weekly basis to the transit hub, a central stopping point for Charlotteans who have trouble accessing healthy foods. Currently, 70,000 Charlotte residents live in food deserts — areas with an overabundance of fast foods but with limited access to foods needed to maintain a healthy diet.
Friendship Gardens To Go represents a collaborative effort that began well before the convention came to town.
- Photo courtesy of Friendship Gardens
“This is a project that has been waiting in the wings for some time” says Kathy Metzo, director of garden development at Friendship Gardens and treasurer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council.
Eat With Your Dollars: Genetically modified organism-free dining in Charlotte
Posted By Vani Hari on Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 8:00 AM
When I told a friend recently that my next post was going to be on avoiding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) at restaurants, he responded “good f*&*ing luck!'" It’s nearly impossible to avoid GMOs if you are eating out, and my friend's reaction illustrates exactly how dire the situation has become here in America.
Since it’s a serious feat to avoid genetically modified foods, I investigated all of my favorite restaurants here in Charlotte. Of course, I found GMOs being used at almost every single one. There were only two eateries that were 100-percent clean of GMOs:Luna’s Living Kitchen and Viva Raw.
As I was echoed in the New York Times this week, Luna’s Living Kitchen is one of my favorite restaurants. It’s the most truly organic place in Charlotte and if you are visiting in town this week for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), having breakfast there is a must. My favorite option is the organic coconut milk iced coffee (the ice cubes are handily made from coffee, so your caffeine buzz doesn’t get watered down) and the raw bagel with cashew cream cheese pictured below. They also have a coconut yogurt parfait that is to die for, if you are looking for something sweet to start your day.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Food News DNC invades Charlotte restaurants, bakeries
Posted By Kelly Davis on Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 12:00 PM
The Democratic National Convention might be all about politics, schmoozing with big-wig leaders, and trying to catch a glimpse of a Hollywood celebrity, but that doesn't keep local Charlotte food purveyors from using this national spotlight to participate in the fun.
While you can be sure you won't find any price specials at restaurants around town (DNC'ers are more than happy to shell out big bucks for a meal), what you can find are special additions to menus in celebration of the DNC. These menu items may be sweet, savory, or thirst-quenching, but they all have one thing in common — they hope to draw the attention of all the new tastebuds in town.
- Kelly Davis
- 5 Church's American Kobe Flatiron Steak and Blue Moon Martini
Last week, 5Church in Uptown introduced a new menu item for the upcoming DNC — the American Kobe Flatiron Steak. The generous portion of juicy steak is served with heirloom tomatoes and crushed potatoes.
Blue Moon is being proudly served all over town since it is known as one of President Obama's favorite beers. But 5Church is putting their own chic spin on the summertime classic with a Blue Moon Martini.
- Kelly Davis
- The Boulevard at South End sells DNC candy from Curlicues and Confections.
If you have a sweet tooth, check out the DNC themed candy at The Boulevard at South End. Made by Curlicues and Confections, the boutique offers patriotic lollipops and tootsie rolls. But what's really impressive are the DNC marshmallows with DNC slogans as well as the President and First Lady's faces.
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Dorie Greenspan's Tiramisu Cake
This layered cake is definitely a "pick-me-up" with a little booze and caffeine.
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Braised Chicken with Shallots 2
I don't think I'll be making this again, but hey, if you like shallots more than a fat kid likes cake, then go for it.
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Crockpot Arsenal: Pork Tenderloin with Chunky Pear Sauce 1
When standing over a hot stove sounds an awful.
