^[1]Davidson Chocolate Co. is giving back to the community this summer with a series of monthly sale days on behalf of local nonprofit organizations, beginning next Wednesday, June 16, with Davidson Housing Coalition. Also today, we introduce you to Heather and John Lin, who recently bought Bonsai Grill in Davidson. And we have news of a new lunch menu at Prosciutto’s Pizzeria, Pub & Restaurant in Cornelius, and a new pizza place on South Main Street, Cornelius.

EATING CHOCOLATE FOR THE GREATER GOOD?

Davidson Chocolate Co. is planning a series of five Wednesday nonprofit benefit days this summer, in which it will donate a portion of sales to local nonprofit organizations.

First up is Davidson Housing Coalition, which will receive 40 percent of total sales next Wednesday, June 16. That means Davidson Chocolate will give a big chunk of the day’s sales to the nonprofit housing group.

“Throughout the year, we work pretty hard to help with silent auctions and support different community organizations,” said John Elliot Jr., vice president of Davidson Chocolate. “But we’re always looking for ways to do that with greater depth. We thought this would be a great way to support organizations that are in such great need at this time.”

Other nonprofits who will benefit from a chocolate Wednesday include: Hospice & Palliative Care Lake Norman (June 23); Ada Jenkins Center (June 30); Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center (July 7); and Lake Norman YMCA (July 14).

Davidson Chocolate Co. offers chocolates, ice cream and drinks daily from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., at 610 Jetton St, Suite 150, across from the Harris Teeter. Detailed information on the event and participating nonprofits is available at www.davidsonchocolate.com/benefitdays ^[2]

NEW OWNERS AT BONSAI GRILL

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John and Heather Lin, with one of their daughters. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

If you’ve been into Bonsai Grill on Depot Street recently, you’ve probably noticed some new faces. Heather and John Lin, natives of China’s coastal Fujian Province, purchased the Asian grill in February.

The Lins, who have two daughters, have been in the U.S. about 15 years, mainly working in the restaurant business. Originally working New York City, they moved five years ago to Pearisburg, W. Va., where they were in the restaurant business. They came to Davidson because they liked the local landscape and its seemed a great place to raise their daughters.

The Lins are sorry to see the students disappear from the Davidson campus for summer. But they’re hoping to keep the crowds coming. Lately, they’ve been trying out some new daily sushi roll specials. Other than that, they’ve made no major changes to the decor or menu at Bonsai, which has been known for its sushi, noodles and meat-and-rice dishes.

“Our restaurant is like a family style place. You see parents and kids and students in here,” Heather Lin told this reporter, speaking in Mandarin.

Bonsai is now open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. See more info in our Dining Guide listing for Bonsai ^[4].

NEW LUNCH MENU AT PROSCIUTTO’S

Prosciutto’s Pizzeria, Pub and Restaurant at Shops on the Green in Cornelius has introduced a menu for weekday lunches, with offerings ranging from a Prosciutto’s Signature Salad with pineapple, feta, black olives and tomatoes to a Caribbean Jerk Chicken Wrap to a Pastrami & Swiss sub. There’s also a menu of burgers, including the Sicilian – a burger topped with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion.

Prosciutto’s is open for lunch weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s also open Monday to Thursday until 11 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It’s at 20920 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius in Shops on the Green. Details in our dining guide listing. ^[5]

QUICK BITES

• Mama’s Pizza Express opened last Thursday, June 3, at 19741 S. Main St., Cornelius, in the former LaSpada’s cheese steak shop.
• In case you missed it, please read our update on The Creole House in Cornelius, which has been closed for renovations and dealing with health and building code inspection issues in recent weeks. We’re following the story as owner Darrin Nicolas tries to reopen the restaurant. See “Working with inspectors, Creole House seeks to reopen.” ^[6]

HAVE NEWS?Have food or dining news for DavidsonNews.net? Send it to editor@davidsonnews.net ^[7]. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}