Restaurants – Page 7 – Fervent Foodie

Should I stay or should I go {the week in food}

March 5, 2013 9 Comments

I’ve been incredibly distracted the last couple of weeks, spending every breath of free time surfing Craigslist and property management company sites for a new apartment. It’s one of those life moments when I just wish someone would tell me what to do. Should I stay in my current rental and pay the (exorbitant) rent increase or move? And if I move, where? One bedroom or two? Is it safe? Can I walk to work? Does it get good light? Is street parking a deal breaker? Is shared laundry?! Where will I put my shoes? Is there a coffee shop within walking distance? What about good restaurants? Will my beloved green couch fit in the new rental? GAS STOVE!!!! Will my friends and family still come to visit???

It’s a lot to ponder.

With all this rental business looming overhead, I’ve been a stranger to my kitchen. You know what that means. It’s time for a little restaurant recap!

Let’s start with the Common Market hot mama panini–tomato, red onion, red pepper, spinach, Havarti, and mayo plus turkey–that I devoured right there in the parking lot.

No shame, this girl.

Restaurants, What I ate

Lunches, lattes, and lust-worthy onion rings {the week in food}

February 14, 2013 12 Comments

Over the years, I’ve developed a bad habit of eating at my desk and working straight through lunch. Bypassing a midday break means more work gets done, and, all else equal, I get to leave an hour earlier than I would otherwise. It’s a horrible, horrible thing.

Lately, in an effort to maintain my sanity and some degree of happiness, I’ve been making a conscious effort to break away from my desk every day for lunch. Most days, this means me, my salad, and my iPad huddled next to the fireplace in the back of Caribou Coffee. It’s incredibly relaxing sitting next to the heat of the fire and feeling the buzz of the city whirling by. Though, I’m quickly developing and addiction to afternoon lattes. Good thing or bad thing, I’m not sure.

This week, I also squeezed in a lunch at Pure Pizza at the 7th Street Public Market, which I capped off with a delicious latte o’ love from Not Just Coffee. (See? Addicted!!)

Friday, I met my new friend Keia (check out her blog: the Sunnyside Up) at Harvest Moon Grille. Keia and I first met via phone when she interviewed me for her Creative Loafing article on what is means to be a foodie. This was our first official lunch date, and in true Mary fashion I started our convo off by awkwardly exclaiming “So… I want to be you!” I quickly followed our laughter with an explanation that I’d love to work as a freelance food writer and attend an abundance of fun food events as she does. And now you want to be her too, am I right?

Restaurants

Napa on Providence–Charlotte, NC {restaurant review}

January 16, 2013 1 Comment

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.

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.

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.

Restaurants

Restaurant Review Roundup: Nova*s, Midwood Smokehouse, Pewter Rose {Charlotte, NC}

January 7, 2013 6 Comments

Welcome to another installment of Fervent Foodie Flash Reviews! These reviews are my frills-free thoughts on restaurants I’ve recently visited. Quick and to the point–just what you need when you’re starving like Marvin, girl.

NOVA*S BAKERY COFFEE SHOP – Nova’s Bakery has been supplying Charlotte with baked goods since 1996, and a few months ago Nova’s expanded their operations to include Nova’s Bakery Coffee Shop in South End. The 24-7 bakery and coffee shop serves hand crafted coffee and espresso beverages and baked goods straight from their mother location in Plaza Midwood. They have a wide variety of fresh baked breads on hand, including sour dough, focaccia, and olive bread, plus bagels, muffins, and scones. The coffee shop also offers an extensive selection of sweets, including cookies, cakes by the slice, and filled-to-order cannoli. I can personally vouch for the walnut brownies, which taste especially good when warmed up at home and topped with hot fudge and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Just sayin. While the coffee shop is small, there are a handful of tables and ample workstation seating with plugs and free wifi. For a real steal, check out the half-priced day-old baked goods rack. Nova’s is a fantastic addition to South End, but there is one negative. Even with all the delicious fresh bread they have stocked, they don’t serve sandwiches. Did I mention they’re open 24 hours a day?

Restaurants

Two soups, two salads, two trips to Panera

December 7, 2012 3 Comments

I’m sick.

And not just in the present sense of the word, but also the past. And the forseeable future. It’s been a WHOLE week of sniffing and hacking topped with days of my voice cracking like a 13 year old boy on the verge of the big change. You know. The change.

And then my voice just up and left, which has made work rather interesting. I swear, I’m not ignoring my ringing phone for any other reason. Promise. Twice this week as I walked out of the office all I could think about was soup. Hot steamy soup to soothe my sore scratchy throat. So, twice this week I walked over to Panera and whispered my order to two very patient employees.

I’ll have the you-pick-two please *cough* *cough* (while holding up two fingers for emphasis).

I always go with the you-pick-two at Panera, which gives you the options of half sandwiches, salads, and soups. I’m a creature of habit, so I usually go with one of two soups: the Vegetarian Black Bean, which is a teeny bit spicy with garlic and cumin, OR the Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice.

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