Restaurant X on South Main.

Restaurant X in South Main Square has updated its menu this summer to add often-requested specials to its old favorites. Meanwhile, Know Your Farms summer food camp in Davidson still has openings in its final two weeks of camps. Also, it’s YMCA day at Davidson Chocolate Company today (Wed.) and Davidson Farmers Market wants your best salsa recipe.

DINERS’ FAVORITES JOIN THE MENU AT ‘X’

Restaurant X, at 408 S. Main St.

Restaurant X in Davidson has a steady flow of regular customers, and they’ve recently been give a role in planning the menu. The resturant at 408 S. Main St. in Davidson has added some of customers’ favorite specials to the regular fare.

“RestaurantX has the same clients over and over again, so we thought we would treat them and use their suggestions on our new menu,” said Christina Phillips, who owns Restaurant X with husband Chris Phillips.

The new additions include appetizers such as Baked Brie, Tempura Shrimp, Steak Quesadilla, and Grilled Romaine with home made blue cheese. Those now go along with other favorites including spring rolls and chicken sate.

X also has added several new entrees, culled from recent specials: Fresh Flounder, Pecan Breaded Pork Chop, Angus N.Y. Strip Loin, and Steak Salad. Those supplement other long-time menu items including Seared Tuna, Shrimp & Grits, grilled fresh Norwegian salmon and others.

The menu also includes veggie dishes, including Cous Cous Salad and Veggie & Pesto Pasta, gluten-free items, and a Kids’ Corner (mac & cheese, burger, grilled cheese, pasta and cheese quesadilla). They also have home-made desserts from chocolate pecan pie and chocolate mousse to of course banoffee pie and more.

KIDS UNDER FOOT? SEND ‘EM TO FOOD CAMP

Davidson-based Know Your Farms LLC is offering a series of a series of “Food, Land & People” camps this summer that aim to give kids 8-12 a better understanding of local food and where food comes from. Spaces are open in camps the weeks of July 26-30 and Aug 9-13.

The July week has been revised as a camp for 6-8 year olds, and will be running 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Know Your Farms LLC is a Davidson-based company that runs local food buying clubs in Davidson, Cabarrus County, north Mecklenburg and Charlotte. The company’s goal is to help connect consumers with meat, produce and other food from local producers.

Activities will include helping out with the community garden at Ada Jenkins Center, “Iron Chef” style cooking competitions with boxes of food delivered from local farms, visits to local food businesses such as Davidson Chocolate Co., where kids will learn about where chocolate comes from. Campers also will participate in other activities including behind-the-scenes visits to restaurants, craft projects with recycled objects and scavenger hunts, games and geocaching.

“It’s mostly about having fun with food – the production, the preparation and the preservation of food,” said Christy Shi, co-founder of the company.

More information about Know Your Farms camps is on Facebook.

See our previous coverage of Know Your Farms, http://davidsonnews.net/foodanddining/tag/know-your-farms/

CHOCOLATE DAY AIDS DAY CARE

Davidson Chocolate Co. wraps up its series of Wednesday nonprofit benefit days today, Wednesday, July 14, by donating 40 percent of sales to Lake Norman YMCA.

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

See also our June 9 news article, “Eat some chocolate for the greater good.”

WHOSE SALSA IS THE BEST IN TOWN?

Davidson Farmer’s Market is seeking entries for its first Salsa Showdown, to be held Saturday, July 24, the contest invites local chefs to turn local summer produce into their favorite salsa.

Entries in the Salsa Showdown are due at the market this Saturday, July 17. The non-profit weekly market in downtown Davidson will choose four finalists through a random drawing to face off on Saturday, July 24. The winner gets $25 in Davidson Farmers Market bucks.

The market operates every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon from May to October off Main Street next to Town Hall. Several dozen vendors sell a variety of local produce, meats and poultry, honey, flowers, and baked and canned goods.

To enter the drawing, download a form from the Davidson Farmer’s Market website, (CLICK HERE>)

Entries must be received by Saturday, July 17. (You can drop it off at the market Saturday morning.) Finalists will prepare their recipes at the market the morning of July 24, and all market patrons on will be invited to taste the competing salsas. The 2010 Salsa Showdown winner will be crowned at 10:30 a.m. on the 24th.

More information about the farmer’s market is available at www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org.

DINING CALENDAR

FRIDAY, JULY 16, to SUNDAY, JULY 25 – Queen’s Feast, Charlotte Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants throughout the region will offer three-course, prix fixe dinners menu for $30 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). It’s a great chance to sample the fare at a wide variety of eateries. Reservations recommended. See more info and a list of participating restaurants: http://charlotterestaurantweek.com/

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 8 a.m. to noon, off Main Street next to Town Hall – Weekly Davidson Farmers Market, with local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. This week, chef Kris Reid will be cooking with Cackleberry Farms products to make a stovetop frittata. Open every Saturday. For more information: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net is pleased to be a sponsor of the Davidson Farmers Market.

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 8 a.m. to noon, off Main Street next to Town Hall – Weekly Davidson Farmers Market, with local farmers and vendors selling meats, produce, dairy products, baked goods, and other items. This week’s feature: 2010 Salsa Showdown, to determine the best salsa in Davidson. Entries due July 17. Details in our news item. Open every Saturday. For more information: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org. DavidsonNews.net is pleased to be a sponsor of the Davidson Farmers Market.