By KATIE LOVETT
DavidsonNews.net

Growing up in Wilmington, N.C. I considered my backyard the best place in the entire world. Sure, the giant rope swing and playhouse Grandpa built by hand lent a pretty significant wow factor for a six-year-old. But my favorite backyard activity came every September and October when the grapevine began to sag under the weight of ripe golden scuppernongs. Continue Reading

By KATIE LOVETT
DavidsonNews.net

As the sun disappeared and the air began to chill Saturday night, Davidson College students gathered behind Vail Commons Dining Hall for a free meal – a locally-sourced barbeque dinner. Dubbed “Power, People, Pork,” the meal encouraged diners to think critically about the modern food system. Continue Reading

The North Mecklenburg Rotary has partnered with the Lake Norman Wine and Food Festival this year to plan its 2nd annual event at Kenton Place in Cornelius. This year, three local charities have been selected as the beneficiaries. Also in this column, Alton’s Kitchen and Cocktails and Tenders restaurants in Cornelius host events to benefit the Cornelius Animal Shelter, Alton’s also plans a 5-course wine dinner, Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse unveils new lunch and dinner menus and a gourmet olive oil and vinegar shop, Isabella’s, opens in Mooresville. See details below. Continue Reading

By MADELEINE DICK-GODFREY
DavidsonNews.net

Red Mango, an international frozen yogurt and smoothie chain, has made its way to Davidson. The Red Mango store opened Friday at 536 Jetton St., in the Davidson Commons shopping center near Harris Teeter.

The self-serve shop, which originated in South Korea, features flavors such as Mango, Dark Chocolate, White Peach, and Madagascar Vanilla.  It’s among more than 130 Red Mango stores now open for business across the country. The company was just named the No. 1 Zagat Rated Frozen Yogurt and Smoothie Chain in America.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading

T1 Tapas in Huntersville’s Birkdale Village has undergone a metamorphosis over the past few weeks, becoming the British-themed iPub. Meanwhile, Hot Diggitee Dogz on Davidson’s West Side closed its doors last week, becoming the latest takeout restaurant to fold in the space near Ada Jenkins Center. Its owner plans to reopen in downtown Cornelius. Also, Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse is introducing live music on Wednesday nights, and the Festival for Hope & Housing will include area restaurants serving food on the Green in Davidson Saturday. Continue Reading

As awareness and interest in local food has broadened in recent years, farm tours have become a popular way to educate consumers about the sources of their food. On Sept. 17-18, Davidson-based Know Your Farms LLCwill host its third annual Charlotte Area Farm Tour, a two-day self-guided tour at 32 farms across the region.

“What we’re trying to do is strengthen connections between the farms and consumers. It’s just a fun way to do it, and it’s family friendly,” said Wes Shi, co-founder of Know Your Farms. Continue Reading

Our foodie friend and Davidson grad Nikki Sawyer Moore has a delicious sounding recipe over on her Minced blog today: “Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches With Sriracha Mayo.” It’s not close to lunch but my mouth is watering. She describes it:

“Ground pork, lemongrass, green onions, garlic, jalapeno, and fish sauce combine to make juicy meatballs.  The meatballs are then seared off in a pan, before being placed on a noisily crunchy baguette and topped with pickled carrots, fresh cilantro, and a spicy sriracha mayonnaise.   It’s about the farthest thing from boring and it’s perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, a late-night snack, or a Sunday football game.”

“This is a sandwich you want to feed people,” she writes. OK, we’re ready.

LINK: Sept. 1, 2011, Nikki Sawyer Moore’s “Minced” blog,  “Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches With Sriracha Mayo.”

By LIZ WEINDRUCH
DavidsonNews.net

If you haven’t already guessed, fresh fruits and veggies are the stars of my plates when they’re in season. I prefer my vegetables raw (or barely cooked) with minimal seasoning so I can really taste them.

But my palate hasn’t always been like this. I remember being quite the picky eater as a child. I was open to trying almost anything, and I politely ate what was in front of me, but the words “green” and “vegetable” made me dread sitting down to dinner.  That is, until I tried green beans cooked with bacon drippings…

It was at a typical “meat and three” spot in my hometown of Little Rock, Ark., and my grandmother convinced me to try a bite of hers. I couldn’t have been older than 10 or 11, but that night marked a turning point in my childhood – “Maybe I like vegetables?”

The beans were stewed to almost a mushy consistency and were laced with lots of fresh black pepper and stewed tomatoes. The dish below is a far cry from my original, life-changing love, but it echoes the same flavors and brings a fresh perspective to an old favorite. Recipe below. Continue Reading

A new French pastry bakery called Black Velvet Patisserie has opened on North Main Street in Mooresville, offering cakes to order as well as coffee, pastries and wi-fi in the shop. Meanwhile, Know Your Farms is seeking volunteers for its third annual farm tour this September. Also this week,  Alton’s Kitchen hosts a fund-raiser for Pawbrokers Thursday, andCampania Cafe and Davidson Chocolate Co. are helping out local nonprofits this week by donating a portion of sales on designated days. Continue Reading