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. Read the full story

Several competitors walked away with awards Saturday, April 30, in the Ada Jenkins Center’s third annual “Fire” barbecue festival. Ten Ten Bar-B-Que was the People’s Choice, voted by those who attended the event. Competitors also faced the scrutiny of area mayors and businesspeople, who judged the day’s other winners. Read the full story

Local eateries are participating in the 2011 Autism Aware Fare fund-raiser on Tuesday, April 26, some with specials and wine dinners. Meanwhile, Davidson Farmer’s Market was blown out and rained out last week, but the farmers are back this Saturday, April 23, with local food for your Easter feast – and more. And we have info about the Davidson Lands Conservancy’s annual Toast the Earth tasting on April 29.
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The 7th annual “Souper Bowl” in Davidson Saturday, Feb. 5, will include a new taste — local foods. Davidson Housing Coalition, the event sponsor, is partnering with the Davidson Farmer’s Market to introduce a new “Best Farm to Spoon” category on the menu this year. Soups competing in that category must include local ingredients.

The tasting begins Saturday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. in the Lilly Family Gallery of Davidson College’s Chambers Building, and continues until 2 p.m. Pre-event tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students 12 and over, and $5 for children under 12. Prices will increase at the door. To purchase tickets, please call 704-892-4486 or email Emily Lytle at Emily@davidsonhousing.org. Read the full story

Want to skip Thanksgiving cooking this year? Charles Semail and his Chef Charles Catering are offering to do it for you. Also in this column: Fall hours begin at Davidson Farmer’s Market; local restaurants join the “Tastes of Habitat” fund-raiser Thursday night in Mooresville, to benefit Our Towns Habitat for Humanity; T1 Tapas has a new fall menu; and neighbors in Mooresville fought unsuccessfully to keep a new meat shop from coming into their neighborhood. Plus other happenings in the next week or so. Read the full story

A half-dozen favorite local eateries have signed up to serve food during the Davidson Housing Coalition’s Festival for Hope & Housing Saturday on the Village Green. It’s the first time the annual festival has incorporated food. Meanwhile, we also have news about a new dinner menu at Campania Cafe, planning for the second annual Lake Norman Wine & Food Festival, and upcoming food-related events.

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With help from donations during a busy market on Saturday, the Davidson Farmer’s Market surpassed its 2010 fund-raising goal of $2,000 by nearly one-half. Officials with non-profit group said Tuesday their Friends of the Market “Sweet Pea” campaign brought in a total of $2,984.
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Davidson Farmer’s Market is in the final week of its 2010 Friends of the Market campaign, which aims to raise $2,000 to support its activities this year. Organizers will be at the market Saturday morning next to Town Hall accepting donations. Come by and make your contribution and they’ll give you a free T-shirt.

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Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, the new restaurant under construction in the Stowe’s Corner building in downtown, has begun hiring a 50-person staff and is eyeing a late July opening. Also in this week’s column: upcoming food events and a link to a recent report about Toast Cafe‘s dispute with its former landlord in Huntersville.

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By NIKKI SAWYER MOORE
DavidsonNews.net

Winner of “Best Overall Soup” at Davidson Housing Coalition’s 2010 Souper Bowl Competition was the carrot ginger soup by Chris Phillips,co-owner and chef at by Restaurant X on South Main Street in Davidson.

Maybe I don’t give carrots enough credit, but I had a hard time believing a soup made from the lowly carrot had taken top honors against a field of worthy soups made by local restaurants. Frankly, I just didn’t think that the orange root vegetable had the star quality to pull it off.

So, it was with great doubt that I stopped by Restaurant X to try the soup for myself. Upon my arrival, co-owner and manager Christina Phillips served me a cup of the soup and left me alone with it. I’m glad she did. I needed some time with this soup; time to wrap my head around the fact that something this delicious could be made with carrots.

The soup, a thick puree, is bright orange with an enticing aroma. A spoonful, with its bits of fresh ginger and hints of curry, tastes exotic, but manages to still be surprisingly comforting. It’s something you can imagine eating at home on a rainy day.

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