When one of your gal pals is home with her brand new bundle of joy, there are two things she wants: 1) a magical pill that can mimic a full night of sleep (and not interfere with breastfeeding) and 2) some yummy food that doesn’t take much effort to cook.
Unfortunately the first item is just a pipe dream, but the Queen City does have tons of tasty options for you to bring your hungry homebound hot mama, cementing your status as Favorite Honorary Aunt/Best Friend forever and ever.
Here’s where to go:
Pasta & Provisions
1528 Providence Road
The lasagna is basically a Charlotte-area icon and comes in two convenient serving sizes: a small that will feed just your friend and her hubby, or a large that will feed her entire family who came in from out of town to see the baby. P&P also offers a daily “meal deal” that features an entree like spaghetti and meatballs with all the fixin’s — salad, bread and sauce. Download a menu here. Don’t forget the most important part: a bottle of wine.
Reid’s Fine Foods
4331 Barclay Downs Drive and 2823 Selwyn Ave.
Reid’s is the ultimate one-stop-shop for grab-and-go fare, and they definitely have something your postpartum pal will adore. Pick up a basket full of Southern snacks like cheese straws and chocolate-covered pecans, or grab a boxed lunch with a sandwich, side and cookie (remember… she hasn’t been allowed to eat sandwich meat in nine months!). If her hubby’s a griller, visit Reid’s butcher shop for some choice cuts of meat that will help him achieve Peak Dad Status as well.
Clean Catch Fish Market
2820 Selwyn Ave.
Not all seafood is verboten during pregnancy, but several types are, which means your friend might not have gotten her fishy fix for several months. Head over to Clean Catch for everything from salmon burgers to sushi (a big no-no when you have a bump — so she’ll definitely be craving it). They also have side dishes like ratatouille, truffle-roasted heirloom fingerlings and curried cauliflower with roasted tomatoes and toasted pine nuts. Get there early because the case empties out quickly.
Viva Chicken
1617 Elizabeth Ave. and The Shops at Toringdon in Ballantyne
Since your friend’s fridge is probably full of casseroles by now, get some cool points by bringing something tasty-yet-edgy, like the quinoa-stuffed avocados (served cold so they can stay in the fridge until she’s ready for them) or the quarter-chicken with beans and rice. Don’t forget the sauces!
Mama Ricotta’s
601 S. Kings Drive
Now that your friend’s pregnancy heartburn has (hopefully) died down, she can enjoy the spicy penne alla vodka with tomato cream sauce. For a tamer taste, pick up the penne, broccoli and chicken tossed in a delicate lemon cream sauce. Just call ahead to place your pickup order (family style is the way to go), and offer to heat it up in the oven for your friend (and watch the baby!) while she takes a much deserved shower. If she’s got a sweet tooth, add on a rich piece of tiramisu.
Mellow Mushroom
Multiple locations
More than just pizza, Mellow has tasty sandwiches, huge salads and even healthy options like a delish hummus. If you think your pal is craving a pie, stray from traditional pepperoni with something like the Kosmic Karma: a red sauce base with feta and mozzarella cheeses, spinach, sun-dried and Roma tomatoes with a pesto swirl. They also have lots of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Check out a full menu here.
