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Monday, September 27, 2010
Smorgasbord / Priscilla Tsai Look what came in the mail
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 5:25 PM
My donut pan arrived!
Uh. oh.
Be ready for some baked donut recipes to come ...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Food News / Smorgasbord The Capital Grille introduces new prix fixe dinner
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM
It's officially fall tomorrow, and while the air isn't crisp and chilly here in Charlotte (at least not yet), you can enjoy fall flavors courtesy of The Capital Grille.
The Capital Grille has rolled out a new prix fixe dinner menu inspired by the Pacific Northwest.
The three-course "Flavors of the Pacific Northwest" menu features flavors reflective of the Northwest area of the country (think cherries, halibut, Washington apples, etc). See menu below.
The $39 per person dinner is only available The Capital Grille from now until Oct. 31, so get on it.
201 N. Tryon St., IJL Financial Center
Reservations: (704) 348-1400
Friday, September 17, 2010
Smorgasbord / Priscilla Tsai The Pioneer Woman really does it this time
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 3:44 PM
I read Ree Drummond's blog The Pioneer Woman Cooks! almost every day. Most of her recipes are hearty foods, perfect for her family's ranching lifestyle out in the country. The food isn't dainty, but that's not what you expect from her.
Ree specializes in dishing up items that are flavorful, fatty, and rich. Mini meatball sandwiches, pastas with thick creamy sauces, chocolate sheet cakes, and the like.
I enjoy looking at the beautiful photos of her dishes oozing with butter and sauces, and delightful desserts full of sugar. I live vicariously through those photos, since my conscience never (or rarely) lets me indulge in making such caloric, sinful foods.
Well, today, she's really done it. She's packed in more butter than I ever thought possible. Today's recipe truly horrifies me.
It's called "The Bread" and it only has two ingredients. Can you guess?
Yep... bread ... and butter. Lots of it. One entire stick for each half loaf. Shut. Your. Mouth! Check it out here. I'm still in shock.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Mouthful / Smorgasbord / Priscilla Tsai New Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt now open in Carolina Place Mal
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 2:48 PM
Located in the food court at Carolina Place Mall, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt allows customers to self-serve multiple flavors of frozen yogurt from wall-mounted machines, and add customized toppings, similar to Yoforia. Also similar, they both charge 39 cents per ounce.
Orange Leaf offers both tart and non-tart flavors, which to me, seems more like the frozen yogurt of the TCBY variety in both flavor and texture.
Customers can choose a waffle cone in addition to the paper cup. A few of the more unique toppings include Asian jellos and waffle cone pieces.
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
11025 Carolina Place Parkway
Pineville, NC 28134
(704) 839-1705
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Smorgasbord / free food Grand opening: Blynk Organic at SouthPark
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 4:06 PM
Blynk Organic is celebrating the official grand opening of its kiosk in SouthPark mall with some specials for you. See press release below:
CHARLOTTE, N.C.- after a test phase the blynk kiosk, located in the food court of southpark mall, will celebrate its official opening in the week of September 13 -18, 2010 and feature a whole week of specials like e.g. half-price sandwiches, half price salads, etc. (details will be also announced on blynk organic’s webpage and facebook page).monday, september 13: first 30 customers eat free – hurry to be there at 11:00 am (limited to one sandwich or one salad per person)
tuesday, september 14th: salad zest - all large salads half price
wednesday, september 15th: souper bowl - free soup with the purchase of one sandwich
thursday, september 16th: smoothie love - all smoothies 75% off
friday, september 17th: sandwich buff - all sandwiches half price
saturday, september 18th: free $5 gift certificate for your next purchase - for all purchases over $5 (limited to one per person)
monday - saturday, september 13th - 18th: free organic coffee 2:00 – 6.00 pm
the kiosk has an eco-friendly, modern design with a local made, wooden counter as its center piece.
the kiosk menu will feature: a variety of made from scratch soups, fresh, chef-crafted sandwiches with artisan bread, custom-made wraps, and paninis - hot from the press, as well as some healthy kids’ choices. the fresh offerings are made from mainly organic, all natural and/or local ingredients.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Mouthful / Smorgasbord / Brunch Take a look at the scenery from Big View Diner
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Big View Diner is certainly big, and you'll certainly have a great view ... of their baked goods on display when you first walk into the restaurant. The south Charlotte diner starts serving breakfast at 7 am everyday, and goes on to offer lunch and dinner until 10 or 11 pm.
Don't be fooled by the "diner" in it's name. You won't find an silver prefabricated restaurant with kitschy booths here. Big View is modern with high ceilings, wood accents, white web-like globe pendant lights, and just a few persimmon-colored retro accents around the restaurant.
On the menu you can find egg platters, an assortment of variations of egg benedict, buttermilk and buckwheat pancakes, two types of french toast, and also breakfast sandwiches. See the entire menu on their website.
Read Tricia Childress' review here.
16637 Lancaster Hwy
Charlotte, NC 28277
(704) 544-0313
Mon-Thu, Sun 7 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 7 am - 11 pm
Friday, August 13, 2010
Smorgasbord / Priscilla Tsai Photos from Wow Factor Cakes' debut party
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 2:50 PM
I was wowed by the beautiful assortment of cakes and cake pops at Wow Factor Cake's debut party last night.
Walking into their cake shop, located on Central Avenue, was like walking into a Martha Stewart magazine. Shiny silver linens, hot pink flower arrangements, sparkles, and gorgeous displays of cake everywhere ... all for sampling!
The store does special order cakes, catering only (no storefront shop). Owner Amy Craparo designs gorgeous cakes that are not only stunning, I can honestly say they taste amazing as well. My favorite was probably her rendition of red velvet cake. I thought I died and went to heaven. Check out her beautiful creations and party pics:
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Smorgasbord Addicted to Yoforia
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Yoforia must put MSG, crack cocaine, or something of that sort in their frozen yogurt because I am addicted.
The self-serve tart (and non-tart) yogurt shop now has three locations in Charlotte. With over 10 flavors to pick from at any one time, you swirl out the yogurt from the wall-mounted machines yourself, and then sprinkle (or pack) on your toppings of choice.
Toppings include Butterfinger crumbles, wafer cookies, Oreos, cereals and granola, crushed graham cracker crumbs, M&Ms, Reese's peanut butter cups, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, mango, mochi, melon ... I can go on, and on.
With the giant cups they provide, you can help yourself to as much as you want – just keep in mind they charge by weight. It's 39 cents per ounce.
According to Yoforia's website, they use organic and low-fat yogurt and milk to make their frozen yogurts. At only 25 calories per ounce, it's hardly a guilty pleasure...
SouthPark Mall
4400 Sharon Road, #E10A
Myers Park
2823 Selwyn Avenue
Piper Glen
6432 Rea Road
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Smorgasbord Photos: King's Kitchen
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 4:14 PM
King's Kitchen, a not-for-profit restaurant, recently opened up where ARPA used to be at the corner of Church and Trade Streets Uptown. The restaurant is the newest Charlotte venture for Chef Jim Noble, of Noble's Restaurant and Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen in SouthPark.
The King's Kitchen menu features Southern classics such as deviled eggs, wings, fried vegetable of the day, fried chicken, pork chops, shrimp and grits, and a variety of Southern sides.
Because sister restaurant Rooster's serves up excellent food, I expected similarly amazing food at the new restaurant. I can't say my expectations were fully met...
Bread: Their cornbread is moist and very corny, and their biscuits are flakey, bordering on crumbly.
Appetizers: The deviled eggs were tasty, but only for those who like mayonnaise (they were very mayo-heavy), the wings served with blue cheese dressing were just okay, and the fried vegetable of the day happened to be mushrooms, where were pretty good. The mushrooms were served with a tomato sauce and also homemade ranch (which was a bit too thin and watery for my liking).
Entree: My shrimp and grits entree was extremely flavorful, but I fear it was due to a large amount of butter in the grits. Though I didn't try the fried chicken myself, I heard from fellow diners that it's good, but not as good as other fried chicken places around town (ahem... Price's and Bojangles (!)).
Desserts: For dessert I ordered the banana pudding, which came out served in a beverage glass, parfait style. They made a good effort to fancy it up by toasting the meringue topping, but the meringue seemed to have separated over time and ended up as a curdled wet mess on top of the pudding. The brown sugar pound cake wasn't any better either – it was very dry. Bad dessert always leaves me feeling sad. It was a sad ending to a decent meal.
King's Kitchen
129 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202-5305
(704) 375-1990
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Smorgasbord Mattie's Diner opens tomorrow at N.C. Music Factory
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 2:11 PM
Mattie's Diner at the N.C. Music Factory opens its doors to the public tomorrow ... and won't close them all weekend.
The diner will be serving up burgers, hot dogs, breakfast goods, milkshakes and fried foods galore 24 hours around the clock on the weekends, and hopefully in the future, on weekdays, too (they will open at 6 a.m. on weekdays).
The new restaurant is located right across from The Fillmore (also near Wet Willie's, Black Bear Saloon, and Butter), and it seems like the perfect spot for late-night partiers to grab some grub.
A few menu items to note: Fries with gravy, deep fried hot dogs, deep fried oreos, fried pickles, and the milkshakes (which are made from scratch at the makeshift milkshake bar behind the counter).
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Recipe: Rose Water Tea Cookies 1
Cookies, tea and shouting. In that order. Ascending order.
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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.
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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.
