Join us for Octoberfest at Flatiron Kitchen Thursday night, Oct. 6, 8-10 p.m., where David Boraks of DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net will be guest-bartending in this hat — and Lederhosen. (That’s leather fancy pants, for all you English-only types.) Just picture him in Lederhosen. What a sight! Come poke fun, poke fun, take his picture – and feed the tip jar.

All tips go to the Ada Jenkins Center, a regional community services center on Davidson’s West Side. Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse is at 215 S. Main St. in downtown Davidson.

By KATIE LOVETT

Monday – it comes around every week, whether we like it or not. We grudgingly leave behind weekend relaxation mode and plan for the busy days ahead. For a growing number of Americans, Monday marks more than just the beginning of another week of work, school and carpools: It’s “Meatless Monday.”

Meatless Monday is a trend taking hold across the United States that can have many benefits, according to Kristie Middleton of the Humane Society of the United Sates, who spoke Sunday night at Davidson College.

Read the full story

By MADELEINE DICK-GODFREY
DavidsonNews.net

From New York City to San Francisco to Charlotte, high-class food trucks are leaving old-fashioned lunch trucks in the dust. Instead of packaged ice cream, hotdogs, or burritos, these trucks are serving up inexpensive gourmet meals from local ingredients.

Now Davidson College students are getting in on the act. The Davidson College Food Club recently launched its Food Cart, an on-campus spin on the food truck phenomenon. Read the full story

How big is North Carolina’s wine industry? Bigger than ever, according to a study commissioned by the N.C. Department of Commerce. The state now has 106 wineries in 49 counties, double the number in 2005. Gov. Beverly Perdue recently proclaimed September 2011 as Wine Appreciation Month in North Carolina.

The state now ranks No. 9 nationwide in wine and grape production, according to state officials. Read the full story

Fall sneaked up on us rather quickly, didn’t it?  I wouldn’t consider myself the kind of person who pines away for a season that has passed. I welcome the chill in the air because I know that it opens the door for lazy Sundays with a pot of chili simmering all day, root vegetables and hearty soups that warm us from the inside. I love apple picking and the wonderful resulting “problem” of what to do with so many apples.

All that said, I would be remiss if I didn’t take advantage of the last crop of summer tomatoes. This salad is less of a salad and more of a very rich and hearty side dish.  The combination of tomatoes, avocados, and blue cheese seems like it shouldn’t work because of the similar textures, but they really make each other sing.  It’s not the prettiest dish in the world, but it is absolutely delicious alongside just about anything. See recipe below. Read the full story

Nothing like a little chill in the air to inspire thoughts of autumn – and beer festivals. The Galway Hooker in Cornelius this Saturday hosts the 2011 Lake Norman Beer Fest, where beer lovers can sample brews from international and regional brewers and listen to a bit of live music. Meanwhile, Restaurant X in Davidson has a benefit night Thursday, and recently won a customer satisfaction award. And Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in downtown Davidson is getting ready to tweak its menu for fall. Read the full story