By LIZ WEINDRUCH
DavidsonNews.net

I first had this appetizer five years ago at the Spotted Pig restaurant in New York City.  Since then, I’ve seen it on menus of different types of cuisine – Spanish, Venezuelan, American gastropubs, etc. – so it’s certainly a crowd pleaser. Though they are not going to win any beauty contests, these little bites are delicious and deliciously simple and they disappear very quickly.

This treat is one example where “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”  You get salty, crispy bacon, sweet, oozing dates, and a surprising almond crunch, all together in one bite.

And if you’re not sold yet: this recipe has three ingredients. One of them is bacon. End of story. RECIPE BELOW. Read the full story

The Town of Cornelius is accepting bids from mobile food and beverage concessionaires through Aug. 3. In other dining news, LKN Fun plans an event to raise money for Autism Speaks, Char-Grill in Davidson teams up with Our Town Cinemas on a Harry Potter Day Thursday, and The Wine Cellar celebrates Bastille Day Thursday with a special French wine tasting. Also, don’t forget about the Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week, which starts Friday. Read the full story

Summer colors shine at the community garden in Davidson Springs, off Spring Street. (Rodney Graham photo)

We continue our summer garden photos feature with this entry from Rodney Graham, who lives in the St. Alban’s neighborhood. He’s also a Davidson homebuilder (and recently announced candidate for Town Board). He sends these photos and this entry: Read the full story

Pan-fried Chinese pork buns take me right back to Shanghai. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

I’ve been away from Asia for a few years now, and I’m still looking for an way to get back to Taipei or Shanghai or Tokyo. I miss the food, especially dumplings and buns, steamed or fried. They’re not like anything I grew up eating here in the states, and sometimes they just hit the spot.

Among our favorites are meat buns made with simple yeast doughs. In China, most households don’t bake, but puffy baozi are a staple that can be steamed or fried. It’s never hard to find a restaurant or street stall serving some sweet or savory twist on the theme. Read the full story

Several local dining and drinking establishments will host fundraising events this month to benefit Autism Speaks. They include a wine dinner at Toast Cafe in Davidson and a wine-tasting night at Lake Norman Cottage,, both this Saturday, and an “LKN Summer Soiree” at The Palace in Cornelius. Those plus other restaurant notes below: Read the full story

Nick Gibietis of Davidson's River Run neighborhood is having a good summer in his garden. Here's some of what he's reaped so far. (Nick Gibietis photo)

Today we kick off a new feature: Garden photos from local gardeners. Nick Gibietis from Davidson’s River Run neighborhood must be having a great summer if the photo above is any indication. He writes: Read the full story