Executive Chef Bradley Labarre slices a plantain for students to taste. (Christina Ritchie Rogers / CorneliusNews.net)

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
DavidsonNews.net

Eighth graders in Community School of Davidson‘s cooking enrichment class have expanded their classroom to include an “edible garden” behind the school to grow lettuce, sweet potatoes, collard greens and other foods.

The students planned the garden as part of this semester’s practicum, a community-based enrichment class, which meets Fridays. And they’re working with a county dietitian as well as the chef from the Galway Hooker Pub. Read the full story

Love local food? Like working with farmers? Have a logistics expert locked inside you? Davidson Farmer’s Market is seeking a new market manager to replace founding manager Mary Jane Leach, who is stepping down this spring. Details of that, plus a reminder about this Saturday’s farmer’s market and news from local restaurants, including word of Sunday changes at Il Bosco Ristorante and Irish dance for St. Patrick’s Day at Restaurant X. Read the full story

Local farmers Cassie Parsons and Natalie Veres and their Grateful Growers Farm will be featured in a segment tonight (Wednesday) on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Now” program. Meanwhile, if you’ve got a good chili recipe, consider entering it in Davidson College Presbyterian Church’s upcoming 2nd annual Chili Cook-Off on Feb. 27. Details about those happenings below, as well as restaurant news: the debut of Kilwin’s confectionary and ice cream shop in Birkdale, Latitude 36, which has replaced Midtown Sundries in Cornelius, and a reminder that tonight is a “Wine Wednesday” at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson. Read the full story

Il Bosco partners Patrick O'Leary (left) and Jimmy Hermann. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Il Bosco Ristorante & Bar opened its doors this week in downtown Davidson. Longtime Charlotte restaurateur Jimmy Hermann is hoping to lure diners from around the region with a menu of Italian regional fare, Italian wines and a casual atmosphere.

Mr. Hermann describes Il Bosco (which means “the woods” in Italian) as “a destination restaurant, providing a moderately-priced fine-dining experience to the Davidson community and surrounding areas.” Read the full story

It should be cold but sunny on Saturday for the biweekly Davidson Farmer’s Market winter tailgate market off Main Street, next to Town Hall. Stop by for a hot cider at the farmer’s market table while you shop. Meanwhile, the Davidson Senior Scholars will hear from an organic gardening expert at their meeting next Wednesday, Jan. 26. And Sabi restaurant will provide the food Feb. 6 when Davidson College’s Asian Culture & Awareness Association hosts its annual Lunar New Year celebration. Read the full story

Jennifer and Greg Coleman with one of their White Leghorn hens

Davidson’s recent adoption of new rules allowing us to keep up to four hens in our backyards may have you thinking about what it might take to join the trend.  This Saturday, Jan. 8, Greg and Jennifer Coleman on Virginia Road will offer a free how-to workshop, based on their experience raising chickens in Davidson and former homes in Raleigh and Austin, Texas.

The session will be Saturday, 3-5 p.m., at 740 Virginia Road, off Pine Road. Read the full story