The summer temperatures aren’t the only thing heating up this month in the Queen City. Charlotte’s culinary scene is bringing the heat with new openings, menu offerings and foodie events to explore. Our round-up of the hottest food news for June:
OPENINGS & CLOSINGS
Not Just Coffee Jay St. – Open Now
via Facebook
Stop in to Not Just Coffee’s sixth and largest location in the new Hygge coworking space for your favorite lattes, pour overs and coffee treats. Open at 1026 Jay St.
The Lucky Duck Gastropub – Open now
via Facebook
In Fort Mill’s Baxter Village, find this Irish-inspired gastropub serving small plates like house smoked salmon and Irish poutine, as well as entrees including steak frites bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. Open now at 993 Market St. in Fort Mill.
VeloPops – Open now
via Facebook
Just in time for summer, VeloPops offers fruit and cream-based pops made daily from real, all-natural ingredients. Try flavors like avocado lime, pineapple ginger, watermelon basil, cactus pear agave and more. Find them at 1645 Matthews Township Parkway.
Popbar at Concord Mills – Open now
via Facebook
Shopping just got sweeter. Stop by the newest Popbar location for signature and customizable gelato and sorbetto treats.
Famous Toastery in Arysley – Opening June 7
Famous Toastery will open Friday, June 7 in Steele Creek’s Ayrsley Town Center. They’ll be open daily from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cilantro Noodle – Opening soon
via Facebook
At this fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant, expect dishes like customizable rice and vermicelli noodle bowls, pho soup, banh mi and spring rolls. Opening soon at 2001 Commonwealth Ave.
Recent Closings:
Improper Pig will close July 1 with plans to relocate to Rea Farms in South Charlotte. SouthPark’s Taco Mac closed in late May, as did Ben & Jerry’s at ParkTowne. Siggy’s Good Food in the Belmont neighborhood closed yesterday (Sunday 6/2/19).
FOODIE EVENTS
Freemark Abbey Wine Dinner
June 4 | Sophia’s Lounge | 8:30 p.m.
Grab your seats now for a special Freemark Abbey Wine Dinner featuring cuisine from 5Church’s new Executive Chef Whitney Thomas and sips from the Napa Valley. Winemakers Barry Dodds and James Cunningham will enlighten guests on classically structured and refined wines, while Chef Whitney prepares dishes including Maine Lobster and Cold Smoked Veal. Tickets are $75 per person and include four courses paired with four wines.
Ribera y Rueda Wine Pairing Dinner
June 4 | Bulla Gastrobar| 7 p.m.
Experience a taste of Spain as Bulla Gastrobar hosts a five-course pairing dinner featuring Spanish cuisine prepared by the executive chef and wines from Ribera y Rueda.
Anniversary Fiesta at Bulla Gastrobar
June 5 | Bulla Gastrobar | 5 – 7 p.m.
Help Bulla celebrate their anniversary with festive decorations, $5 red sangrias all day, paella samples on the patio from 5 – 7 p.m. and live music. They’ll also raffle off a $50 gift card to one lucky winner during Bulla Hour.
Beer Pairing Dinner
June 6 | Legion Brewing SouthPark | 6:30 p.m.
Legion Brewing’s second beer pairing dinner features cuisine prepared by Chef Gene Briggs with a beer chosen for each course. View the full menu here. $60 per person.
Garrison Brothers Bourbon Dinner
June 6 | Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse | 7 p.m.
Del Frisco’s Garrison Brothers Bourbon Dinner will feature a five-course menu including Grilled Spanish Octopus topped with White Miso Glaze and Slow-Braised Berkshire Pork Belly with a Grilled Brussels Sprout-Daikon Slaw alongside a variety of neat pours and unique cocktails, handcrafted from the finest ingredients.
Taste of Charlotte 2019
June 7-9 | Uptown Charlotte
The 21st Annual Taste of Charlotte is a three-day celebration featuring the best of the city’s restaurants and culinary destinations. Enjoy six blocks of special restaurant tastings, sample, cooking demos, vendor shops, entertainment and more.
Infusing Flavor in Seafood Cooking Class
June 8 | Upstream Seafood | 10 a.m.
via Facebook
Chef Diminich and the culinary staff at Upstream will teach class participants how to infuse flavor into seafood using a variety of spices, marinades and chiles to produce delicious dishes that are sure to impress. Class includes wine, tastings of each dish and step-by-step recipe cards so you can replicate each dish at home. $55 per person. Call 704.556.7730 to reserve your spot.
Truffle Making Workshop
June 8 | The Secret Chocolatier | 2 p.m.
Grab an apron and see what it’s like to be a professional chocolatier in this hands-on class. You’ll make your own truffle ganache, learn about infusing flavors and take home what you make. $60 per person.
Farmer’s Market Cooking Class
June 8 | Aix en Provence | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Chef Nicholas will instruct participants on the cooking and preparation of three popular summer dishes:
- Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Cucumber Gelée and Yellowfin Tuna Togarashi
- Chicken Milanese with Garden Greens, Lemon Vinaigrette, and Parmesan Cheese
- Strawberry Shortcake
Participants will receive recipes and ingredients lists to take home. After instruction, enjoy these dishes in a special three-course lunch with wine pairings. $50+ per person. Call 704.332.1886 to save your seat.
Magician’s Dinner with Christopher Hannibal
June 12 | Aix en Provence – Charlotte | 7 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of magic and intrigue with a three-course meal with wine pairings, followed by entertainment from magician Christopher Hannibal. $75+ per person plus a $25 entertainment fee. Call 704.332.1886 to reserve your seat.
On the Menu: Experience the Vibrance of Spring at Myers Park
June 15 | Reid’s Fine Foods Myers Park | 12 – 2 p.m.
Chef Wanda, Pastry Chef Mary Director of Wine and Special Events Leyla Arcovio will host this celebration of spring ingredients, with dishes featuring green shoots and stalks, sweet peas and beans, edible flowers and fragrant herbs paired with wines. $35 per person. Call 704.377.1312 to reserve your spot.
Divine Barrel Sushi Class
June 16 | Divine Barrel Brewing | 6:30 p.m.
In this two hour hands-on class, learn how to make perfect sushi rice and rolls, plus tasty sauces. You’ll also learn all about where to shop and buy the freshest sushi ingredients. Includes two rolls and take-home materials.
Donut Making: Your Mom’s Donuts
June 17 | 7th Street Public Market | 6 p.m.
Satisfy your sweet tooth as Your Mom’s Donuts leads this hands-on cooking class. You’ll get to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making the menu and crafting each tasty treat. Tickets include donuts, one drink ticket, recipes and an apron to take home. $45+.
Bordeaux 101
June 18 | La Belle Helene | 6 – 9 p.m.
via Facebook
Jules Martin of Aquitaine Wine Company will lead participants in a five-course wine and food pairing featuring wines from the Bordeaux region. $101 per person, inclusive of tax and tip.
MENU UPDATES & NEWS
A new chef and fresh flavors at Dilworth Tasting Room
At Dilworth Tasting Room, guests can expect fresh new flavors for spring, along with tried and true favorites. The neighborhood go-to for wine, small plates and dinner fare announced Chef Jonathan Shuler as the new Executive Chef, whose boxing skills are just as sharp as his culinary talents. Shuler will add classic Croatian-influenced dishes and desserts, an exciting and fun way to bring the Croatian heritage of DTR’s owners to life.
New spring menu items include lamb meatballs with marinara, feta, basil and crostini, along with a delicious dish combining beets, chermoula, pistachio granola, yogurt with honey and mint. And for vegetarian fare, roasted cauliflower served over romesco and topped with radish, pickled shallots and micro greens.
Each weekend, they feature the chef’s selection of market fish prepared with his own unique and creative style. On Tuesdays, enjoy red and white wine flights accompanied by a complimentary charcuterie board, and on Thursdays, half price rosé.
Tempting new desserts on the menu at Upstream Seafood
Upstream has unveiled a beautiful new dessert menu featuring decadent desserts and seasonal flavors created by Pastry Chef Sharlena Placide.
New dishes at Angeline’s
Angeline’s, a warm hub for locals and visitors to connect over Italian-inspired dishes made with seasonal southern ingredients, is now serving new dishes including Crudo, Chicken Tettrazini, Gabagool Pizza and a Grilled Caesar salad.
Enjoy a Pre-Theater Dinner at McNinch House Restaurant
McNinch House Restaurant now offers a three-course pre-theater dinner (without wine $89; with wine pairings $125). When guests make a reservation for a three-course pre-theater dinner, they can park in the McNinch House lot at no charge, leave their car there and pick it up after the show. The restaurant is a 10-minute walk to the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and a 6-minute walk to Spirit Square.
Lunch service coming soon to SouthPark’s Bar Marcel
The European-style, small-plates restaurant that recently opened in at Morrison in SouthPark, will introduce lunch service in the coming weeks.
Say “thank you” with treats from Twenty Degrees Chocolates
When you want to show your favorite host or hostess some love, Twenty Degrees Chocolates offers many mouth-watering options. Swing by retail partner Petit Philippe to grab a pouch (or 6) of the OMG Caramels.
Midwood Smokehouse and Unknown Brewing team up for a special edition beer
Midwood Smokehouse and The Unknown Brewing Co. have teamed up to celebrate dad with a collaboration brew. Dad Jokes, a full dad-bodied light lager with grains milled with a lawn mower, smoked on Traeger Grills and served from a fresh white Nike sneaker tap, will be available now through Father’s Day (or while supplies last).
