Nancy Rezek of La Parisienne shows off some of the shop's chocolates. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net photo)

La Parisienne Chocolate, Coffee & Wine Lounge on North Main Street is attracting a following with its unusual mix of chocolates, wines by the glass and free wireless internet. More below, as well as news from Davidson Farmers Market’s Charles Semail about his plans for a Davidson shop, Chef Charles Grill 2 Go.

CHOCOLATE, WINE & WI-FI

A few weeks back, at 9:15 on Saturday night, a friend shot an email from La Parisienne, a new chocolate and wine bar on North Main Street in Cornelius:

Sitting here with J. enjoying great wine and ridiculous chocolates. If you haven’t been here, you need an editor’s trip and wine/chocolate review. I feel I am back in NYC.

La Parisienne Chair Factory shops, 20700 N. Main St., 110, Cornelius 704-892-8070 laparisiennelkn@gmail.com Mondays: noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays: noon to 5 p.m.

A month has gone by and we finally had a chance to stop in. La Parisienne Chocolate, Coffee & Wine Bar opened in late November with a menu of chocolates, barks and other confections, French wines by the glass, coffees and espressos, hot chocolate, pastries and cookies. They’ve even got a brie-and-cracker plate to go with that glass of red or white.

Owners are Nancy Rezek and the wife-husband team of Kristin Bou Zeidan and Elie Bou Zeidan. (Mr. Bou Zeidan’s paintings are on the walls, and he teaches painting classes there as well.)

The chocolates are the highlight. Chef Kristin Bou Zeidan is a Buffalo native who studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her confections are unique both in their flavorings and their appearances: Many are covered with bright luscious hues, from red-black-white Strawberry-Balsamic chocolates to bright yellow Lemon Meringue to the blue swirled Cognac Almond.

The shop also sells barks, Buffalo-inspired “sponge candy” and “single-source” chocolates, those whose chocolate is from a single plantation and harvest. Current varieties are from Trinidad, Mexico, Ghana and Peru. “It’s very high quality and very pure,” Ms. Rezek said.

DAVIDSON QUARTERS FOR CHEF CHARLES

Charles Semail, a caterer, chef and popular personality at Davidson Farmers Market, plans to open a local shop this spring called Chef Charles Grill 2 Go.

He’s cut a deal to take over the former Raeford’s Grill, at 300 Mock Street near the Ada Jenkins Center on Davidson’s West Side. He’s doing some painting and renovations and says he hopes to open in mid-April.

Chef Charles Grill to Go will offer prepared foods cooked in his own Charlotte catering kitchen, with some “finishing” done on-site in Davidson. He hasn’t announced hours or a menu yet. Stay tuned.

Mr. Semail studied at The Cooking School of Chartres, southwest of Paris, and moved to Charlotte 15 years ago. He worked at Dean & Deluca at Phillips Place as executive chef, and helped open three locations in the Charlotte area. He later was executive chef at Quail Hollow Club, and founded his Charlotte-based catering business in 2003.

Hours at the new shop will be weekdays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning in early April.

LINK: chefcharlescatering.com

NO SHACK, BUT MJ’S STILL BAKING

As we reported in January, MJ Bowman has shut down her Main Street cupcake business, MJ’s Sugar Shack. The reasons for leaving the shop, which still houses La-Dee-Da’s, were personal – illness in her family and duties at home.

But she wants everyone to know that she’s still in business, taking special orders for baked goods and cakes and delivering them free to Davidson and Cornelius. Eventually, she’d love to be back on Main Street.

“My hopes are to come back to downtown Davidson soon with a full bakery and I will continue to be as much a part of things downtown as possible,” Ms. Bowman said.

MJ’s Sugar Shack can be reached online at www.mjs-sugarshack.com or by phone, 704-953-3458.

COMING ATTRACTION: FLATIRON KITCHEN

In case you missed it: We reported Feb. 10 on our main page that a group of restauranteurs and investors is planning to open Flatiron Kitchen & Tap House this summer in the Stowe’s Corner building downtown. “Flatiron Kitchen & Tap House coming to Stowe’s Corner.”

HAVE NEWS?

Have news for our Food & Dining page? Send it to editor David Boraks at editor@davidsonnews.net.

The Egg's Robert McCrary.

Owner Robert McCrary said it’s too early to tell what the impact will be on his business, because the theater only opened Christmas Day and because Davidson College has been on winter break. But if dinner proves popular, he could introduce new items and specials for dinner, such as “pasta nights (and) White Castle hamburger nights.”

The Egg @ Davidson opened in January 2008. It’s at 231 Griffith St., Sadler Square shopping center. www.theeggrestaurants.com.

RELATED LINKS

Jan. 7, 2008, “The Egg at Davidson opening soon,” a preview of the restaurant and interview with owner Robert McCrary before the 2008 opening.