Restaurant – Fervent Foodie

1897 Market–the Charlotte Douglas Airport Game Changer

August 7, 2015 No Comments

The typical airport meal is frantically grabbed from a cooler on the way to a connecting flight or begrudgingly eaten to pass hours waiting out a delay. Which raises the question, does anyone actually like eating at the airport? When I asked my boyfriend what came to mind when he thought of “airport food” he responded: bags of nuts and bottled water. This is sad.

Take a moment to ponder. What comes to your mind when you think of airport food? Is it chef-driven menus and hormone-free meats? How about handcrafted cocktails and locally sourced produce? Scratch-made pizza and local beer? Not so much, huh? This is precisely why 1897 Market at Charlotte Douglas Airport is a game changer.

1897 Market is the newest concept launched by HMSHost, the world’s largest provider of food and beverage service for travelers. 1897 Market (named for the year HMSHost was founded) is a one-stop urban gourmet shop, with full-service dining room, raw bar, exhibition kitchen, grab-and-go, and retail marketplace wrapped into one.

Located in the Charlotte Douglas Airport Main Atrium, near Concourses A and B, this is HMSHost’s flagship store. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a sit-down dinner, cocktails or last-minute souvenir, the Market is the answer to all of your gastronomic traveling needs.

Restaurants

Flatiron Kitchen & Taphouse–Davidson, NC {restaurant review}

April 9, 2014 No Comments

I think it’s safe to say I dine at restaurants more often than the average eater, that is to say A LOT. I impose mandatory splitsies on my dining companions, which means everyone gets to try everyone’s food, so it’s normal for me to sample several plates during a single meal. This is good for obvious reasons (though my pants may disagree), but trying lots of different things means you’ll inevitably end up with a dish or two that just don’t strike your fancy–something you wouldn’t order again or that you wouldn’t recommend to a friend. Every once in a while, I’ll find myself eating an AMAZING appetizer, and feel my apprehension grow as I worry the remainder of the meal won’t live up to the starter.

This is precisely how I felt when I dined at Flatiron Kitchen & Taphouse for the first time. I started with a glass of Malbec and their fried green Napoleon: salty fried green tomatoes, sautéed spinach, sweet bits of corn, and bacon atop a dollop of warm, creamy goat cheese (a hearty serving for a mere $8).

Restaurants, What I ate

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.

What I ate

Is this what I ordered?! {the week in food}

January 21, 2013 4 Comments

A really bizarre thing happened the other night. I was out to eat with friends at a new-to-me Italian restaurant here in Charlotte. I’d suggested the restaurant solely because I wanted eat their bucatini with grilled shrimp, pancetta, and tomato sauce on the Queen’s Feast restaurant week menu. And if that’s not reason enough to force three of your comrades to dine at a restaurant, I don’t know what is. When the waiter took our order, I pointed at the menu and said “I’d like the Shrimp Romana, please.” Thirty or so minutes later, I was presented with a shrimp pasta dish, though this one had penne (not my beloved bucatini) and a white wine sauce. I was so caught off guard, that I flagged down the waiter and asked if the dish was what I ordered. He hastily assured me it was. And I, somewhat embarrassed and not wanting to cause a scene, ordered another glass of wine and tried to hide my disappointment. What the heck, Mary?! I had never EVER ordered something wrong like this! I was befuddled and sort of sour at the whole situation.

Restaurants

Restaurant Review Roundup: Mert’s Heart and Soul, Eddie’s, Baja Soul {Charlotte, NC}

October 19, 2012 2 Comments

In honor of FRIDAY (hallelujah!), here are three flash reviews of restaurants I’ve dined at this month:

MERT’S HEART AND SOUL: Serving southern soul, low county, and Gullah-inspired dishes, Mert’s has been a common stop for visitors in Charlotte for over ten years. When I hear “Mert’s,” I instantly think of their amazing cornbread: sweet, cakey loaves that arrive at the table hot from the oven with a side of softened butter. Inside the restaurant, the quirky southern soul decor creates a fun environment, and it is a perfect reflection of the food. Some of my favorite dishes at Mert’s are the mac and cheese and the Carolina chopped barbecue pork sandwich, which comes on a hearty potato roll. The banana pudding is infamous, and believe me it lives up to the hype. Don’t forget to save room for cake!

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