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Friday, March 22, 2013
Mouthful Photos: Viva Chicken
Posted By Kelly Davis on Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM
- Kelly Davis
- Viva Chicken in the Elizabeth Neighborhood
I'm a huge fan of roasted chicken, so I've been dying to try the new-to-me Peruvian restaurant in the Elizabeth neighborhood, Viva Chicken.
- Kelly Davis
- The inside is as slick as a cookie cutter chain restaurant.
I visited on a random Wednesday night around 7 p.m. and was surprised to see that the restaurant, located at 1617 Elizabeth Ave., was very busy. I was also surprised to see that the interior was so modern and sleek. My husband and I immediately jumped on our smartphones to double-check that Viva Chicken isn't a chain. It's not.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Events Upcoming: Charlotte Food Fight
Posted By Kelly Davis on Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 3:04 PM
- Charlotte Food Fight
Food fights seem like a lot of fun on movies and TV shows, but they've never really appealed to me. All that tossing around of food ends up splattered on the floor, in your hair, on the walls, on your clothes. Frankly, I find it rather nasty.
But the Charlotte Food Fight happening on March 23 is a food fight I can get into. The "fight" pits nine food trucks against one another as they battle for best dish winner in three different categories. One of these categories is "People's Choice," which is where you come in. For a $40 ticket, participants will get to eat every dish turned out by each of the food trucks during the competition.
- Charlotte Food Fight Facebook
- The Herban Legend will be one of the food trucks competing in Saturday's event
Kelly DeMario and her husband John, Charlotte Food Fight organizers, have been participating in Relay for Life fundraisers for several years. They had been searching for a creative way to combine food and their fundraising efforts, which is how the idea for the Charlotte Food Fight was born. All profits from the event will go to benefit Relay for Life of Charlotte.
The other two competition categories, Chef's Choice and Best Bacon dish, will be judged by culinary professionals and a local radio personality.
Participating food trucks include:
- The Chrome Toaster
- The Tin Kitchen
- The Herban Legend
- Papi Queso
- Wingzza
- Gourmet Goombahs
- Root Down
- Roaming Fork
- Sal's Roadside Eatery
To purchase beverages such as water, soda, and beer, please bring cash. This is a children-friendly event, but event coordinators ask that you please leave dogs at home.
Date: Saturday, March 23
Time: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Silver Hammer Studios at the NC Music Factor, 817 Hamilton St
Tickets: http://charlottefoodfight.eventbrite.com/
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Food News Now open: Block & Grinder
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:33 AM
I know I'm not a true foodie at heart. Why? Because I'm slightly troubled at the idea of an onsite butcher shop within a few feet of my table as I enjoy a hearty steak - as is the case at the recently opened Block & Grinder.
But, oh, how that slab of meat was so tasty. I also have to admit, I can't wait to go back to gorge myself on the Breslin Lamb burger.
Block & Grinder (located at 2930 Providence Road) opened to the public yesterday, March 18. From the press release:
With the assistance of Sous Chef Mike Courie, Block & Grinder will offer cuisines ranging from premium all natural steaks to their signature ground beef steak burger and several wild game dishes. The menu will rotate dishes seasonally and includes items such as Veal Osso Bucco, seared Magret Duck Breast, Veal Sweetbreads and house made charcuterie."Food is my art. I love to create something that takes people on a journey and lets the senses meld together," said Chef Kent Graham. "At Block & Grinder we will offer exceptional food that ranges from simplistic familiarity to more adventurous offerings and my goal is for our customers to experience both sides of that spectrum."
- Block & Grinder Facebook
- Hanger Steak and Pommes Frites
Maybe there's something to be said for fresh off the block. Have you checked out this new restaurant concept yet? What are your thoughts?
Recipe Recipe: Lemon & Strawberry Oatmeal
Posted By Kelly Davis on Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:54 AM
I posted a couple of weeks ago about my easy strawberry pudding and I just can't seem to get strawberries off my mind!
So this week, I want to introduce to you a bowl of good-for-you hearty oatmeal inspired by the flavors of spring.
For those of you who say you don't like oatmeal because it's bland, well I'm here to fix that. This oatmeal will make you a believer. It's slightly sweet from the honey and creamy from the ricotta cheese. The fruity flavors also add a touch of sweetness. Bland, it is not.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Events Upcoming: Taste of the Mint!
Posted By Kelly Davis on Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 2:53 PM
- Jason Amendolara
- Jason Amendolara. American, 1972- FRED and Friends. Cumberland, Rhode Island, 2004- Food Face Dinner Plate designed 2009 Ceramic, glaze Gift of Jason Amendolara. 2012.44.1
Ever wonder if those kids who play with their food - turning their mash potatoes into landscape sculptures of Mt. Everest and their peas into a self-portrait - are actually on to something?
Food and art don't only cross paths when kids play with their food. The Mint Museum will highlight the merging of creative mediums on Wednesday, March 20 at Taste of the Mint! at the Mint Museum in Uptown.
- Kendrick Moholt
- Chris Antemann. American, 1970- Feast of Impropriety 2010 Porcelain Collection of Yvonne and Richard McCracken.
At 4 p.m., Taste of the Mint! participants will enjoy small plates and a beverage pairing at e2 Emeril's Eatery and Halcyon Flavors from the Earth. The afternoon will conclude with the main event, a tour of the exhibit F.O.O.D. exhibition, which the website describes as "a thematic look at inventive modern and contemporary objects, handmade and mass produced, that have one of three objectives: to prepare, to cook, or to present food."
There are only a few spots left for this upcoming Wednesday.
Cost: $35 for members of The Mint Museum and $40 for non-members
Date: Wednesday, March 20
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: The Mint Museum, 500 S. Tryon St.
RSVP: Reserve your spot here, email kacy.harruff@mintmuseum.org or call 704-337-2018.
Events continue on April 20, May 15, and June 26.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Food News Chrome Toaster specializes in 'American street sandwiches'
Posted By Kelly Davis on Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 2:32 PM
- Kelly Davis
- The Chrome Toaster Food Truck
There's a new school bus ... er, I mean food truck in town. That big silver bullet you see cruising up and down the streets of Charlotte is Chrome Toaster, a food truck specializing in what Chef Aaron Rivera calls "American street sandwiches."
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Food News What - or who - is Joe Hooper's?
Posted By Anita Overcash on Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Old houses sometimes merit renovations, and that was the case for the property at 1300 Central Ave. It's now home to Joe Hooper's Beverage & Sandwich Exchange, an eatery specializing in burgers and sandwiches. Previously occupied by Stackers Sandwich Shoppe and, before that, a barbecue joint, the Plaza-Midwood restaurant reopened in January after getting a facelift.
Hooper's is owned by Bottle Cap Restaurant Group, the same folks who own Brazwells Premium Pub, Whiskey Warehouse, All American Pub and Jack's Corner Tap. It's small - 1,800 square feet, with only 63 seats - but its down-home, warm vibe makes up for its size.
Though the eatery isn't doing groundbreaking things - a burger bar/sandwich shop isn't exactly a new concept - they are striving to take the dining experience up a notch.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Liquid Diet Brewing: What's next?
Posted By Graham Odom on Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 10:26 AM
With any new skill, you reach a point where you have to figure out what comes next. You can see where you'd eventually like to end up, but the intervening steps are a bit of a mystery. How many guitarists finally nail "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and start thinking about learning "Master of Puppets" next? Maybe your friends compliment your Easy Mac preparation for being the best on your dorm floor and you start thinking that the Bœuf Bourguignon recipe is looking tempting.
I've reached that point with home brewing.
I can see being a Brewmaster as a goal, and I have no idea how to get there without flying to Germany (the one in Europe) and asking everyone "Wo sind all die Braumeister bei? Meine hose machen glücklich" until someone will help me.
I've done a few of the low-hanging fruits of homebrewing; for instance: Lagering (a type of beer brewed at colder, more stabilized conditions with a different kind of yeast). Think Beck's or Budweiser, but with more flavor. Actually, don't think about Budweiser. Put it out of your mind. Whatever you do, do not say Budweiser three times while looking into a mirror.
Also, I've been kegging, and it's fantastic. If you homebrew, you entertain people and you have the means to get a keg system, DO IT. It's much nicer to just tell people to serve themselves and not have to worry about all the empty bottles or fridge space. Things with taps just make life easier. If I could rationalize it, I would also install a nacho cheese tap, a ranch tap and a tap-to-be-named-later.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Liquid Diet Featured Cocktail: Just Beet It
Posted By Lauren Blake on Fri, Mar 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Found: Dolce Vita (3205 N. Davidson St. 704-334-1052)
Ingredients: Cardinal Gin (hailing from Kings Mountain), St. Germain, lemon juice (freshly squeezed to order) and house-made roasted beet syrup, shaken and poured over ice and topped with ginger beer and a local candy cane beet and lemon peel garnish.
Among the strand of dimly lit bars in NoDa is an unexpected gem welcoming cocktail connoisseurs, winos and beer lovers alike. Dolce Vita Wine Bar may still look and sound like the same old cozy nook it once was, but a little tweak to the menu has brought a whole new concept through its spirit-serving doors. The eclectic space still boasts a wall of gleaming pinots, chardonnays, ports and other wine varieties, alongside funky artwork and bicycles strung from the ceilings. Yet, now the sound of a cobbler shaker fills the air over chatter from patrons seated at the bar or one of the candle-lit tables or couches. As of January, Dolce Vita has added liquor to the menu - and not just your average beverages, but a tasteful array of concoctions. Many of the cocktails depend on farm-fresh produce and contain unlikely ingredients like greek yogurt, used in the suitably named "Regulator," or red chili flakes, found in the whiskey-based "Celtic Summer." Bartender Evan Christy says the goal is to serve good cocktails without the pretension. "When I was in New York, I kept hearing titles like 'Executive Bar Chef.' That's just silly. People tend to get such big heads ... You're not saving the world, it's just drinks. It's not that serious. I'm passionate about my job, and of course I have pride in what I do and I want what I make to be really good, but at the end of the day, it's a cocktail."
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Events What to do during Charlotte Craft Beer Week
Posted By Kelly Davis on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 4:44 PM
If you're a craft beer lover who has done your homework, then you know there are tons of events going on every single day throughout Charlotte Craft Beer Week - happening March 15-24. Unless you're planning to take the week off from work or you're a professional beer taster (and if you are, how do I sign up for that job?), then there's no way you can make it to every event.
So, which ones are worth your time? Which are the creme de la creme of beer tasting events? I talked to Darrin Pikarsky, founder of Charlotte Beer Week, to ask him what event would he choose if he could only attend one event per day. Here are his top picks!
- Charlotte Craft Beer Week
Friday, March 15 - Kickoff at Taco Mac South Park
Pikarsky suggests the Kickoff because it will be a very educational event from brewers, owners and managers of some great national breweries. Some of these include Belle's Brewery, Sweet Water Brewery, and Southern Tier. He says that this is a very affordable event at only $25 for three hours of unlimited pours for 16-18 beers. Tickets are recommended to be purchased ahead of time at the Taco Mac website.
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Photos: Mint Museum's Allure of Flowers After Hours
A peek into a fancy foodie fundraising event that incorporated flowers into, well, everything.
