Vino and carbo loading {the week in food}

If it weren’t for the random snapshots of food in my phone, I’d have no proof at all that a whole week slipped right through my fingers.  Of course by food I mean large amounts of wine and assorted carbohydrates.  And some chocolate, here or there*.

* here or there = everywhere

After last week’s flop (in which I was served a dish I didn’t order and left to eat it anyway), I was a little hesitant to plop down thirty big ones on another restaurant week dinner.  But the girls at work convinced me to join them at Pisces for some Asian cuisine.  There was a lot of sushi to choose from, but in an effort to meet my daily stress-induced carb quota, I opted for the shrimp and garlic noodles and some pork potstickers (that oddly reminded me of mini Mrs. T’s pierogies, and yes, that IS a good thing).

pisces collage

The $30 menu was a great deal, considering it came with a glass of wine and THIS chocolate cake…

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Napa on Providence–Charlotte, NC {restaurant review}

I’ve never been to Napa Valley, but I’ve dreamed of the gorgeous hillsides, world-class vineyards, and earthy, sophisticated cuisine.  In my mind, Napa is the epitome of relaxing destinations—a place to unwind and let your mind linger on the food and the local wine (and not much more).

Here in barbecucentric Charlotte, California cuisine is practically nonexistent.  That is, until Napa on Providence opened in November 2012, taking over the space that Providence Café occupied for twenty plus years, and infusing the Charlotte food scene with a little spice of the northern California countryside.  The vibe inside the remodeled restaurant is polished, warm, and inviting with a large bar area plus an attractive patio.

As the name suggests, Napa on Providence specializes in Californian cuisine, the root of which is fresh ingredients, simply prepared.  Napa takes this tenet seriously–all dishes are made to order, from the sauce for the macaroni and cheese to the outstanding white beans with house-made sausage, which taste like they’ve simmered together for hours.

Napa on Providence - White Beans

Everything is thoughtfully executed, all the way down to the drinking water they distill in-house and the hammered copper drinking glasses they serve it in.  Even the house bread is special.  The rolls are handmade by a retired Navy baker.  They are dense and chewy and served in recycled cork baskets along with pomegranate honey butter.  Once in season, the pomegranates will be harvested from a hundred year old tree at the foot of Napa’s patio.

Napa on Providence - Lobster Mac

Dinner at Napa starts with small plates, and sharing is encouraged.  The food arrives at the table in rustic cast iron skillets perched upon stark white dishes, and each selection is beautifully composed.  The small plate offerings include charcuterie, both grilled and raw oysters, and several salads.  The meatballs are my personal favorite. Made from a mix of beef and pork, they are studded with small chunks of carrot, stuffed with house-made mozzarella, and served perched upon polenta cakes with homemade tomato pomodoro sauce.

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Amaze(meat)balls.

I shamelessly consider myself a meatball connoisseur.  If meatballs are on the menu, you can bet your last breadstick I’m gonna order one.  Just one solitary meatball is all I need for my analysis.  Texture, taste, accouterments.  More often than not, I’m disappointed.  I’m not a fan of mushy ones and I need them to be thoroughly seasoned, preferably bobbing along in a vat of marina sauce (though I’m flexible on that stipulation).  Every once in a while, about 1 in 5 tries, I will sink my teeth into an amazing meatball and for that brief moment this crazy messed up world is right again.

Healthy Meatballs (1 of 6)

I have been trying to create a delicious healthified meatball recipe for YEARS, and have been wholeheartedly devoted to the cause.  I’ve tried dozens of impromptu turkey meatball concoctions, but they always left something to be desired.  Too dry, too poultry-ee, not meatbally enough, etc.  I kept crawling back to my favorite, albeit it no-so-healthy, meatball recipe:  Meatball Nirvana on Allrecipes.com.  I LOVE this recipe because it results in meatballs that are juicy, flavorful, and that have the coveted sink-your-teeth-in meaty texture.

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