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Saturday, September 28, 2013
Events Upcoming: Dining in the Dark
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 9:30 AM
If there is such a thing as extreme eating, this might be an event that qualifies as such. At least, that's what my my crotchety thirty-something tendencies tell me. Call me old fashioned, but I like to see my food when I eat it. Whenever I dine, I eat twice. First, with my eyes and then with my mouth.
An upcoming event in Charlotte, however, takes this concept and flips it on its head.
On Tuesday, October 1, guests are invited to partake in Dining in the Dark, a multi-course meal hosted by Good Eats and Meets at Bubble Charlotte. Guests will be led to an "inner sanctum of darkness" and treated to a multi-sensory experience sans one thing, their sight. Guest will dine in complete darkness and will have to taste, feel and hear their way through a fanciful dinner that will keep them guessing on multiple levels.
Tickets for the event are $49 per person and $89 per couple. Tax and tip are included in the price. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Foundation Fighting Blindness. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. To purchase your tickets, head here. Bubble Charlotte is located at the Epicentre at 210 E. Trade Street, Charlotte.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Recipe Recipe: Okonomiyaki
Posted By Scott Greenberg on Fri, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:48 AM
I bought a cartload full of vegetables today. No meat. Nothing even resembling meat. And I was fine with it.
And the reason why I was fine with it wasn't because I'm counting calories, and it wasn't because Rachael Ray or whoever the hell's all over daytime TV these days told me I should. It was because vegetables taste goddamned delicious.
That's the only reason you should eat something. Yeah, it's nice that it'll let you live a little longer and probably make it so you can go out in a bathing suit that doesn't make you look like a couch covered in sunscreen. But that's all secondary.
If you're a vegetarian or a vegan or a whatever-an because you don't like meat or killing things that make noises, good on you. I'm happy for you, I really am. But if the first thought on your mind when you sit down to a plate of roasted balsamic brussels sprouts is "BUT THE WHALES DIED TO MAKE THE PLASTIC BAG THESE CAME IN" and not "Holy hell this looks delicious," then you're not eating. You're preaching to yourself while you happen to be putting nutrients inside you, and that's far less satisfying to type, much less to actually do.
Which is exactly why I made Okanomiyaki this week. Because it tastes good, and that's all I need, damnit.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Food News Baku opens today in SouthPark
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Baku restaurant, a new Japanese concept, opens its doors in South Park today. The restaurant features cuisine prepared on robata and yakitori grills. Robata literally translates to "around the fire" and is an ancient style of cooking on a charcoal grill heated to 800 degrees. Yakitori features specialty meats grilled on skewers. In addition, Baku will feature sushi and sashimi, an extensive sake and cocktail menu and lounge areas open until 2 a.m. on the weekends.
While the cuisine is authentic, Chef Michael Shortino says it's not "traditional", leaving room for him to get creative and to spotlight local NC producers.
Baku Restaurant is located at 4515 Sharon Road, Charlotte 28211. Call for reservations 704-817-7173 or visit the website, www.baku-restaurant.com. Hours of operation are Mon.-Thurs. 4 p.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 4 p.m.- 2 a.m. and Sundays 4 p.m.- 11 p.m.
Events Upcoming: Friendship Trays 5th Annual Garden Party
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Charlotte offers a bazillion and one ways to celebrate the fall season with festivals, football games and celebrations for just about everything. Coming up this weekend, Friendship Trays and Slow Food Charlotte are joining forces to present the 5th Annual Friendship Trays Garden Party, a harvest celebration for the nonprofit organization and its good deeds, which continue to grow.
Established in 1978, Friendship Trays is Charlotte's Meals on Wheels program, preparing and delivering more than 750 meals a day to folks in need. Friendship Gardens, its local food counterpart, was established in 2010 to support the needs of this vital program by growing more food.
An expanding network of gardens scattered across the community in churches, schools, institutions and now, backyards helps to serve this growing need and has continued to expand its mission. Last year, Friendship Gardens introduced a groundbreaking mobile produce truck to reach residents living in food deserts. This year, Friendship Gardens is focused on an urban farm project to continue to reach people in need with healthy, local food.
Proceeds from the annual garden party will go to support the continued work of Friendship Gardens and Friendship Trays. The harvest celebration will feature a festival-like atmosphere, field-to-fork appetizers prepared by local chefs, entertainers, music and a silent auction.
The event is Saturday, Sept. 28, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at 2401 Distribution St., Charlotte. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www.friendship-gardens.org.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Liquid Diet When getting canned is a good thing
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 7:00 AM
When NoDa's owners looked at options for entering the world of portable packaging, canning made the most sense because it shields the beer from light, which can affect the beer in a number of ways, including taste. The vibrant design of the cans is courtesy of local brand management company Saturday.
The 16-ounce cans will be available in NoDa's taproom in mid-October, and soon after in Panthers Stadium, bottle shops and other places. "By the end of 2013, we should be into the market pretty heavily," Mister says.
The next beer slated to be canned is NoDa's award-winning porter Coco Loco.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Smorgasbord Playing with food: Rachel Martin makes edible art
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 3:00 PM
- Photo by Rachel Martin
Clearly, Rachel Martin likes to play with her food. I recently caught this local designer making edible art with her CSA on Instagram. Isn't it beautiful?
Martin, principal at Rachel Martin Design, decided to start a creative series that incorporated her love of local food and design. In it, she uses the contents of her weekly CSA to create images using food-related words. Recent images include words like "fresh", "chow" and "savory".
"People always ask what's in my CSA," says Martin. "So I decided to show them while also making a play on food typography."
CSA stands for community supported agriculture. It's a weekly share of produce, usually from a local farm or co-op, that serves as a wonderful alternative or supplement to the traditional grocery store. Martin sources her CSA from Know Your Farms, a multi-farm cooperative in town. Besides a break from her busy day job, Martin hopes to raise awareness about local food options.
"I want to help people understand that CSAs offer really good, fresh food," says Martin.
To view more of Martin's edible art series, head on over to her Instagram feed @rachellmartin and feed your appetite for design.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Events Upcoming: Mid-Autumn Festival
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 4:46 PM
If I hear one more person mention the pumpkin spice latte as the ultimate fall "treat," I am going to freak out.
Let's open our minds for a second, people. Relinquish the corporate brainwashing of seasons and let's celebrate something a little more expansive. Instead of Pinterest-y pumpkin overload, get thee to St. Joseph's Vietnamese Catholic Church for the Mid-Autumn Festival, a three-day cultural celebration of the season beginning this Friday Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 21.
The weekend-long festival is an open invitation to enjoy the fruits of Vietnamese culture, namely the beautiful food, of which there will be plenty. I first had a taste in February during the days leading up to the Tet Festival, commemorating the Vietnamese New Year. The community at St. Joseph's goes to great lengths to put on these events, recruiting the whole community to pitch in with food and festivities.
Here's what you can expect this weekend:
Friday, Sept. 20 (6 p.m.-12 a.m): Moon Festival with handmade lantern contest. There will be a Lion Dance, 50+ food items, games and music. Free admission.
Saturday, Sept. 21 (8 p.m.-1 a.m.): Live concert with performers from Paris by NIght and Asia Entertainment. Six-course from Happy Valley Restaurant. $60 per person, $90 VIP ticket
Sunday, Sept. 22 (9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.): Festival with 50+ food items, games and music. Free admission.
St Joseph's Vietnamese Catholic Church is located at 4929 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte, 28273.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Liquid Diet Upcoming: Sip and Stroll, Sip and Savour, Great Grapes
Posted By Laura Rathbone on Thu, Sep 12, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Me, personally? If I could take a cab to work, I'd have a glass in the morning to start my day.
Either way, wine is an integral part of the lives of many Charlotteans. Lucky for us, three upcoming wine tastings have something for everyone.
The EpiCentre will be playing host to Sip and Stroll, a two-day event set to kick off Friday, Sept. 13 and continue on Saturday, Sept. 14. More than 20 wine selections from brands like The Naked Grape, Tres Agaves and Angry Orchard Hard Cider will be featured during the event. Local and national artists will also be performing live demonstrations both days. Tickets are $25 or $40 for both day. More information can be found at www.sipandstrollcharlotte.com.
The next wine tasting to add to your calendar is Sip and Savour Gallery Crawl, held Sept. 21 with registration beginning at Allison Sprock Fine Art Gallery at 6 p.m. Providence Gallery, Mccoll Fine Art Gallery and Shain Gallery are the next three stops for eager wine tasters. Proceeds will benefit Melissa's Voice to raise money for individuals struggling with eating disorders. Samplings from shops such as The Wooden Vine, Bond Street Wines, Petite Philippe and more will be featured at the galleries. Live music will be at every gallery along the route as well as all of the amazing artwork on display. Tickets are $25.
If you prefer a more laid-back atmosphere to enjoy a day of wine sampling, Great Grapes is a one-day event that features only select North Carolina vineyards and wineries. Great Grapes will be held at Symphony Park in Southpark on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. With more than 220 wines to be sampled this day, a designated driver will be surely needed in every carload. Wineries such as Bottoms Up, Carolina Heritage, Slightly Askew and Southern Charm will be featured. Live music includes the tunes of Celtic rock band Uncle Hamish and the Hooligans. Adult admission is $25 in advance ($30 on site) and comes with your very own souvenir wine glass and unlimited samples and performances.
Recipe Recipe: Apples and Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Posted By Scott Greenberg on Thu, Sep 12, 2013 at 11:16 AM
As much as I love coming up with stupid, improbable, "There's no way that would ever work" recipes and having them turn out somewhat decent, I'm lazy. Sometimes (one of those times being now), I just want to take a handful of stuff that tastes good, take another handful of stuff that tastes good, and throw them in a damn bowl so I can have something that, well ... tastes good. You get the idea.
The point is, not everything has to be a molecular-level triumph in the history of the culinary arts. Take apples and peanut butter. There's no thought behind that one, no innovation. You're not going to see it on any Michelin-starred menus anytime soon.
But if I put a plate of that tasty goodness in front of you right now, right this second ... you'd eat it. You'd damn well eat it. Unless you were at one of those Michelin-starred restaurants, then you'd probably look at me weird while I got thrown out.
Regardless, I decided to take that idea and make it into something even more mindless: ice cream. Pretty hard to not like all those things, unless you also hate puppies and smiles or something. But I'd say hating Apples and Peanut Butter Ice Cream is pretty goddamned difficult, too.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Food News Fourth Ward Bread Co. opens this Friday
Posted By Keia Mastrianni on Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 5:23 PM
If you have driven on North Graham Street in Uptown, it is likely you have gone by Fourth Ward Bread Co. and wondered, "Is that place ever going to open?" The hand-painted letters reading "Cafe" and "Bakery" on the large facade and the logo, airbrushed to the brick on the building's side, invites passersby to stop regularly. I've been by a grand total of five times, like a creeper.
Each time, Ken Schneider, owner of the Fourth Ward Bread Co. welcomes me in and chats me up amidst the chaos and commotion of opening a food business - foot traffic, phones ringing, city delays and inevitable equipment failure.
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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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Eating With Your Dollars: The best fast food money can buy 14
The Food Babe talks juicing.
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Back of the Box: Hershey's Kisses Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies 1
