6 October 2024 Belmont Welcomes Marrelli’s Italian Restaurant

Belmont Welcomes Marrelli’s Italian Restaurant

October 6, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Belmont was the first town we lived in when we relocated from Northern New Jersey to North Carolina, so we have a soft spot for it. The quaint, warm Charlotte suburban town has a vibrant food and bar scene (have you experienced The Jailhouse) that’s now made even better with the arrival of Marrelli’s Italian Restaurant. When the popular eatery, Heirloom, announced its closing, it was sad news, but the brightside has been Marrelli’s taking over the space at the train station and making it its own.

The Story
Marrelli’s Italian Restaurant is a family owned and operated restaurant. Owner, Linda Marrelli Murphy, has family roots from Calabria, Italy. From the Old Country, her family emigrated to the United States to settle in Glasco, New York.

When Linda was young, her family moved to New Jersey where she grew up with fond memories of visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles and experiencing the enticing aromas and taste of all of the homemade meals.

This foundation is what drives the Marrelli’s team to prepare food with love, in a warm and friendly environment as if eating at the Marrelli family home.

The Space
One of our dining pet peeves since moving to the Charlotte area has been the bright lights at restaurants. Most restaurants have lighting better suited for a Walmart than a dining establishment. Not the case at Marrelli’s where the lighting is dim creating the perfect ambiance – well done! The decor’s been updated to have an Italian vibe, with tables properly spaced.

The Drinks
While we didn’t enjoy cocktails during our first visit, the offering is interesting and many of the libations sounded great, we’ll try them next time.

We settled for an Italian beer, Costanza Berra Flea Bonde Ale ($7.50) and a glass of Montepulciano Nicodemi, “La Murate”, Abruzzo, Italy ($14.00).

The Food
Having lived in New Jersey for 15 years, we’d been spoiled by the Italian food scene. While we’ve found solid options in the Queen City, Marrelli’s brings back memories of proper northeast Italian fare.

First, don’t pass on the delicious Focaccia offered as a meal starter. It’s outstanding.

Calamari
Arancini

For our starters, we selected the Calamari Fritti ($15.00), fried calamari served with lemon, marinara and aioli. This was the best fried calamari we’ve had in Charlotte. Perfectly fried, crispy and only made better by the two sauces served with it – bravo! Our second starter was the Arancini ($14.00), risotto-filled balls, deep fried and served alongside basil pesto and topped with a sprinkling of mozzarella and grana with a side of zesty marinara. Again, the best rendition we’ve had since moving south.

For our entrées, my husband selected the Chicken Parmigiana ($29.00), his favorite. The properly cooked chicken cutlets were topped with Mozzarella, Parmesan and basil, and served with spaghetti and tomato sauce. An excellent example of the popular dish. I ordered the Linguini Mare ($39.00), seafood and pasta, one of my favorite Italian dishes, and was pleasantly impressed by the freshness of the shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops and fish cooked in a garlic, white wine and lemon broth, another winner.

Seafood Pasta
Chicken Parmesan

On our next visit, we’ll try the Mussels ($16.00) served wither with Sambuca, basil cream or fra diavolo sauce and crostini and the Beef Carpaccio ($15.00) with capers, Parmesan, arugula, lemon, and crostini. Entrées, we’ll check out are the Spinach Cannelloni ($26.00) and the Lasagna ($28.00) made with beef-pork-veal meat sauce and béchamel.

LOCATION
33 Glenway Street
Belmont, NC 28012

CONTACT
https://marrellis.com
(704)-829-8232

HOURS
Fri, Sat: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Tue, Wed, Thur: 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Cheers,

Veronique

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Lose Some Win Some – Elk Ave Tavern

July 20, 2024 By

When it was announced that popular Charlotte area food truck, Cibi Cibi, would be closing down, fans, including us, were saddened by the loss. The good news, and the win, is that the fine folks behind the Rock Hill-based food truck, were opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant – Elk Ave Tavern.

Disco Fries

Elk Ave Tavern opened three weeks ago to a fanfare from loyal Cibi Cibi customers and local diners.

The Space

Elk Ave Tavern is situated in the heart of downtown Rock Hill in the Space that formerly housed Sweet Tea Cafe. From the old bicycle turned into an adorable bar top to the handsome blue facade, the feel from the outside is a clear « welcome ».

The welcoming feel continues as one enters the cozy space with a warm greeting from the hostess. When we visited on opening weekend, the wait was 45 minutes for late lunch, the place was hopping on its second day of business. Bar seating is on a first come, first serve basis and we quickly found two seats to enjoy drinks and food from. The dining room is decorated in a way that creates a homey feel. Many of the decor items come from family heirlooms.

The Bar

First, bartender Russ, he was fantastic even with a very busy bar and many drink orders from the nearby tables. He immediately made us feel welcomed. While the cocktail, beer and wine lists are concise, they offer creative options, and local choices. The place was abuzz so in an effort to help the staff, we simply ordered beer, a couple of local brews. The made-to-order cocktails looked amazing and Russ was getting great feedback from patrons. I was pleased to see one of my favorite Oregon wine producers featured, Sokol Blosser, with its Evolution Pinot Noir served by the glass or bottle.

The Food

The introductory menu features fun new items and some cult favorites from the Cibi Cibi days. While this team’s been known for its incredible burgers and cheesesteaks, at Elk Ave Tavern, there are many vegetarian and healthy options. Having spent 15 years in New Jersey where they’re a diner staple, we had to order the Disco Fries. The shareable dish showcased nicely cooked fries topped with soon-to-be-famous stout braised beef and Mozzarella cheese. An incredibly flavorful, decadent dish we’ll be certain to order again. We had to order the Double Cheeseburger, just to ensure the kitchen staff hadn’t changed the winning formula that made Cibi Cibi famous. While it now features shredded lettuce, the burger is unchanged, thankfully, and still the best the Charlotte metro has to offer. It’s beefy, juicy on a great bun – perfection. We’d read about the new Lamb Burger, so we opted for one and were very pleased with our choice. It’s ultra flavorful, with great lamb flavor without it being overpowering and served with Feta and roasted red peppers. As our sides, we chose Crispy Brussels, absolutely delicious, and fries, great without the cheese and braised beef. We didn’t order dessert, but will next time. Some of the items we’ll be ordering on future visits are the Falafel, Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Street Corn. I understand the cheesesteak is back, so that’ll be up next also.

Lamb Burger
Double Cheeseburger

It was an absolute pleasure to see the place so busy with customers genuinely happy, like we are, to see such wonderful people having early success with their new restaurant. The residents of Rock Hill are fortunate to have such a gem to call their neighborhood spot.

Congrats to owners Anthony Legatie and Hunter Newton and team.

Cheers, Veronique

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Best Dishes 2023

December 28, 2023 By

My travel schedule in 2023 had me away more than home, allowing me to enjoy food at many outstanding restaurants, in America and internationally.

As is true of past lists, the 2023 Best Dishes list encompasses a blend of fine dining and casual dishes, which were truly the ‘best’ dishes of 2023 (see past lists).

I’ve narrowed down all the incredible dishes I enjoyed to the following 15 Best Dishes 2023. The list is in restaurant name, alphabetical order.

3rd Cousin, San Francisco, CA – Darling space, talented culinary team, outstanding service is how I’d describe this Michelin-recognized restaurant. When we dined at this popular San Francisco restaurant, they were shaving black truffles on standard menu dishes, so I indulged with a hefty serving on my incredible Maine Lobster Risotto served with snap peas, demi sec cherry tomato, yuzu and Reggiano.

Audrey, Nashville, TN – Named after Sean Brock’s grandmother, Audrey serves up humble, delectable Appalachian-influenced food in an intimate, welcoming space. We were wowed by all the dishes we shared, but don’t pass on the Appalachian Sourdough Bread served with cultured butter stuffed with candy roaster squash jam. It was the most perfect way to start our meal at Audrey.

August, New Orleans, LA – I’ve made repeat visits to this elegant NOLA institution with the sole purpose of revisiting the most perfect dish of all time, the Gnocchi “Black and Blue”, pillowy gnocchi with black truffles, jumbo lump crab served in a Parmesan sauce.

Cafe Martorano, Fort Lauderdale, FL – Love this elevated neighborhood place and when our waiter mentioned one of the signature dishes, Veal Cutlet Martorano, I knew I had to order it, and glad I did. It’s a pounded thinly, perfectly cooked breaded veal tenderloin cutlet served with gnocchi in a cheesy sauce. Not for the faint of heart, but worth every calorie.

Casa Benigna, Madrid, Spain – While there are many places to have outstanding Paella in Madrid, this cozy family run restaurant is a must-try. We sampled the Snail and Rabbit Paella and it was perfectly cooked over open flame in a pan customized for the restaurant.

Clam Bar, Portland, ME – This roadside clam shack came highly recommended, so we stopped by on the way to the airport and WOW, did it deliver. While we sampled multiple items, including a better-than-most lobster roll, the star were the perfectly fried Clam Bellies.

Codex at Conrad Punta de Mita, Punta de Mita, MX – This chic, seaside restaurant served up our favorite meal of the vacation. Particularly noteworthy was the simply named TUNA starter, yellowfin tuna, house made corn tlayuda chips, wild herb mousse, sea asparagus and an artisan chorizo sauce.

Cúrate, Asheville, NC – While I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve tried at this popular, James Beard winner, the favorite dish we ordered in 2023 was the Rossejat, thin noodles prepared like a paella in squid ink and shellfish stock. The dish transported me back to Spain’s seaside.

Josie Wyatt’s Grille, Moab, UT – This hot spot was located in the Hoodoo Hotel we stayed at, and we ate here twice as it was so delicious. Our favorite of the items we enjoyed was the American Wagyu Carne Asada made using Snake River skirt steak and served with charred onion, Dove Creek Pinto beans, grilled jalapenos and a side of perfect flour tortilla.

O-Ku, Charlotte, NC – This is one of our very favorite restaurants in the Queen City for its sexy vibe, great service and incredible food. We love sampling shared dishes, and our favorite is the Lobster Temaki, handrolls stuffed with butter-poached lobster, asparagus, chive, cilantro aioli and black salt.

Poole’s, Raleigh, NC – This place gets all the accolades for very good reasons, it’s fantastic. From the service, adorable space and delectable food, Poole’s is a win. I sampled many dishes during my visit and the Chicken Liver Pâté with two mustards and pickles was a standout.

Ratafia Bar à Vin, Montreal, QC, Canada – At the fun Montreal hot spot, the menu is divided in ‘salty’ and ‘sweet’ and each dish we tried was delicious and could have made this list, but, our favorite was the Agnolotti made of sweet potato, Mascarpone and brown butter with spicy bread crumble in a Parmesan and butter broth and gilded by fried sage chips. Dear God.

Rose Mary, Chicago, IL – Sexy space, great service and stellar food is how I’d succinctly describe this West Loop hot spot by Chef/Owner Joe Flamm. We tried several pasta dishes and our favorite was the Radiatore Cacio E Pepe, nicely al dente pasta with tons of freshly cracked pepper and Pecorino. Don’t skip the Stracciatella starter with smoked pear butter, marinated pears and lepinja.

Saddle, Madrid, Spain – Although we had limited time while in Madrid, we knew we wanted do eat at one fine-dining restaurant and Saddle fit the bill perfectly. While each dish was more incredible than the next, included the memorable bread service, our favorite dish was the Pâté en Croute served with pickled vegetables. Don’t skip the cheese course for dessert.

Vivian, Asheville, NC – This James Beard-nominated restaurant in Asheville served up one of the best meals I had in 2023. The favorite with our party was the Beef Tartare prepared in a traditional way with Dijon, ketchup, shallot and capers and served with potato chips. Also, don’t pass on the Nordic Deviled Eggs.

What were some of your favorite dishes in 2023?

Cheers, Veronique

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17 November 2023 A Delicieux Brunch at Coquette in Charlotte

A Delicieux Brunch at Coquette in Charlotte

November 17, 2023 By

I had the pleasure of brunching with friends at Coquette last weekend. The newly-opened French bistro is one of the buzziest spot in Charlotte City Center with darling design elements, a creative menu, sexy cocktails and warm, professional service.

The Space

Located on bustling South Tryon Street, Coquette features French country vibes in design with some luxe touches. There are gorgeous fixtures, fun artwork and a mix of modern and antique flatware and service ware. The ensemble is welcoming and comfortable.

The Mixology

The drinks list is a blend of old and new with classics like the Classic 75, a French 75 made with Botanical Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne ($14) and contemporary libations like the Potiron made with pumpkin purée, brown sugar simple syrup, pumpkin seeds, aromatic bitters and Dewars 12 ($16). Our table ordered the Classic 75, absolutely perfect, and the festive Kir Royal ($14). All the cocktails were worthy of a revisit very soon.

The Food

The brunch menu, by Executive Chef Cristian Medrano, is clever with French favorites like the Croque Madame and Salade Niçoise au Thon and some twists on the classics like the Crème Brulée French Toast. Our party opted to start brunch with a cheese and charcuterie board, we were in a French bistro after all, with some above par options like Rosette de Lyon and house terrine. The platter of four meats/cheeses was $25.

For our entrées we opted for the fan favorite Croque Madame ($18) with a hefty portion of Paris ham, gooey Mornay sauce topped with a well-made fried egg. Other winners were the Oeufs Cocotte, baked eggs with rich Mornay sauce, piperade, Bayonne ham and espelette, a mild spice from the Basque region of France, ($15) and the impressive Crêpe Souffl­é served with lemon honey, candy sesame and whipped cream ($19).

While we didn’t fall to the temptation of the desserts, some we’ll want to try in the future are the Apple Tarte Tatin ($14) and the Cherry Clafoutis $10).

Overall, Coquette offers a great brunch and certainly one of the very best in the Queen City. We highly recommend it.

Coquette:

https://www.coquetteclt.com

400 South Tryon St., Charlotte, NC, 28285

Phone: 704-705-2224

Cheers,

Veronique

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28 December 2022 2022 Best Dishes

2022 Best Dishes

December 28, 2022 By

My travel schedule in 2022 allowed me to dine at so many outstanding restaurants, Internationally and domestically, and made for great content for my annual Best Dishes recap.

Again, this year’s list encompasses a blend of fine dining and casual dishes, which were truly the ‘best’ dishes of 2022.

The Views from La Maison in Santorini Mentioned Below

I’ve narrowed down all the incredible dishes I enjoyed to the following 15 Best Dishes 2022. The list is in restaurant name, alphabetical order.

Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland – While not an official dish, the high tea my mother and I experienced during our stay at this amazing property when we were in Ireland in March was beyond words. From the remarkable service, the gorgeous room and the delectable bites, we were simply wowed.

Just Some of the Treats
My Mom Enjoying High Tea

Blue Morel, Morristown, NJ – We attended a celebration dinner in Blue Morel’s private dining room where Chef Bryan Gregg crafted a tasting menu that was just out of this world. Of particular deliciousness was the Dry Aged Beef served with butterball potatoes, beef cracklings and Bearnaise sauce. PS: Chef Gregg has dry aged beef on the current menu.

Blue Morel Dry Aged Beef

Cookoovaya, Athens, Greece – We dined at this top-rated Athens restaurant on our first night in Greece and it set the tone for the rest of our meals. The warm and friendly service was only matched by the outstanding food. A winner when we visited was the seafood saffron risotto.

Cookoovaya Seafood Risotto

Dax, Dublin, Ireland – At this restaurant with an array of awards, a beautiful, luxurious décor and stellar service, the food is stunning. While it doesn’t seem fair to list the amuse-bouche of a perfect oyster with an indulgent helping of caviar as my best dish, it truly heightened our expectations for the rest of our meal. Don’t miss the filet of Hereford beef.

Oyster Amuse at Dax

El Molino Central, Sonoma, CA – This popular taqueria in the heart of Sonoma is a must-stop place on any wine country trip. The adorable little building welcomes diners for counter ordering and the intimate courtyard with its picnic tables is the perfect place for al fresco dining. The best dish I had on a recent visit were these rich and comforting beef tacos, but one can’t go wrong with anything this dynamic team serves up.

Beef Tacos at El Molino Central

Foiegwa, Montreal, Canada – Cozy, fantastic, fun is how I’d describe this Montreal favorite. There’s a sexy little wine list and the cocktails are some of the best I’ve had in this city. While each dish we had was memorable (don’t skip the tartare and the chicken liver mousse), the star of the evening was the house made spaghetti with black truffle butter sauce and a 64 degree egg….don’t pass on the black truffles shaved tableside.

Truffle Pasta at Foiegwa

Forsythia, Philadelphia, PA – This was likely my favorite meal of 2022. Had several starters and a couple entrées and, while I thought his Will BYO was a gem, Chef Christopher Kearse, takes the dining experience to the next level at Forsythia. It’s difficult to pick a favorite, but the Wagyu Beef Tartare with black truffle was a standout.

Tartare at Forsythia

Glai Baan, Phoenix, AZ – This authentic Thai street food restaurant has made my best dishes lists in the past and it’s worth including again. The food offers bold flavors, the space is vibrant and busy, the service is helpful and friendly, and the cocktails are must-order. From the sharing menu, the Kanom Jeeb, steamed local pork dumplings with scallion and ginger soy, was our favorite.

Dumplings at Glai Baan

Herb & Wood, San Diego, CA – A visit to San Diego isn’t complete without a meal at Herb & Wood. The welcoming staff, sexy space and fantastic food is a winning combination. My favorite dish on a recent visit was the pasta and truffle, but any of the pastas are outstanding.

Truffle Pasta at Herb & Wood

Homewood Dallas, Dallas, TX – On a return visit to this top restaurant by Chef Matt McCallister, I opted for a crudo of the day which was simply incredible and served ultra-cool with great textures. Anything one orders from the seasonally changing menu is top notch.

Crudo at Homewood

Kounter, Rock Hill, SC – First, understanding the history of Kounter is a reason enough to visit this restaurant in the Charlotte suburbs. Another reason is the food, especially the Fried Ribs, with black ginger and burnt Bourbon BBQ sauce. The ribs are melt-in-your-mouth from being coated and deep fried and the sauce should be bottled.

Ribs at Kounter

La Maison, Imerovigli Santorini, Greece – It’s difficult to top the breathtaking views of the sea at this award-winning restaurant, but the food comes very close. In a place where fresh fish and seafood abounds, the red snapper with corn, corn sauce and tarragon oil was sublime.

Snapper at La Maison

Omakase by Prime Fish, Charlotte, NC – We’ve been to some of the best omakase restaurants in Japan, New York and more and this is the real deal. Chef Robin crafts the most creative, eyes-closed-head-tilted-back-in-ecstasy dishes at this six-seat chef’s counter in the Queen City. Omakase means the chef selects a menu encompassing tasting portions for you and while each of the 16 courses were mind-blowingly incredible, the bowl of briny Japanese sea urchin folded in warm sushi rice then gilded by caviar, was the star.

Sea Urchin Rice at Omakase by Prime Fish

Para, Charlotte, NC – The lobster shooter at this Charlotte hot spot was a perfect teaser for the wonderful meal to come. $1 of the $6 price of the shooter is donated to @Its4TheKids Foundation, so you’re helping a great cause while satisfying your tastebuds.

Lobster Shooter at Para

Spitalfields Pub and Restaurant, Dublin, Ireland – At this cozy pub with elevated classics, the beef cheek and oxtail Parker House roll with bone marrow gravy is a must-order. A plus, the staff is wonderful and one departs like he/she just left a family member’s home.

Oxtail Parker House Roll at Spitalfields

What have been some of your favorite bites of 2022?

Happy eating!

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
22 December 2021 Best Dishes 2021

Best Dishes 2021

December 22, 2021 By

Fortunately for my annual Best Dishes recap, I was back on the road for work and leisure quite a bit in 2021. This allowed me to experience many outstanding meals along my journey.

This year’s list includes a combination of fine dining and casual dishes, which were truly the ‘best’ dishes of the last 12 months, regardless of price point.

I’ve narrowed down all the fab dishes I had to the following 13 Best Dishes 2021, plus a bonus dessert. The list is in restaurant name, alphabetical order.

Aquila Pizza Al Forno, Little Falls, NJ – The only thing as lovely as the soppressata and Meyer lemon pizza with its perfect, slightly-tart and salty crust charred in all the right places is the team behind the cozy pizzeria. By the way, I copied/pasted this recap from my 2019 Best Dishes list and I’ll do the same in 2022 if I’m fortunate enough to visit pizzamaker extraordinaire Jerry…perfect pizza, period.

Meyer Lemon Pizza

Café Chameleon, Bloomingdale, NJ – At his former place of business, Chef Bryan Gregg continued serving some of the best scallops I’ve had. The preparation of the scallops during this visit was outstanding with morels, quinoa and pea butter. I look forward to my next plate of scallops at Chef Gregg’s new home, Blue Morel in Morristown, NJ.  

Chef Gregg’s Scallops

Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix, AZ – This hot spot within The Wrigley Mansion is the brainchild of Chef Christopher Gross. Among the lineup of winning dishes was the duck two ways, a seared breast and a confit leg. Did I mention the foie gras terrine? A very sexy space with gorgeous views, masterly-prepared food and impeccable service.

Duck Two Ways

Ever, Chicago, IL – During a business trip to the Windy City, I was able to secure an early table for one at the amazing Ever. This was by far my most luxurious, fine dining experience of 2021. While each dish was masterly crafted and original, one dish I consider the best, is a signature dish from Chef Duffy’s former restaurant, the Alaskan king crab dish (here’s a video of it being made).

King Crab

Futo Buta Ramen House, Charlotte, NC – The craving for ramen is real and we were thrilled to find cozy place when we moved to Charlotte. Highly recommend the Buta Bowl with its chicken and dashi broth, double noodle, pecan smoked pork belly, onsen egg, duck confit, spicy ground pork, ono chili sauce, sweet white corn, roasted and julienne leeks, scallions and cayenne pepper threads. Yes, it’s a mouthful to say and eat.

Buta Bowl

Heirloom Kitchen, Old Bridge, NJ – I believe this is the only restaurant that’s always been on my annual lists. Chef David Viana creates incredible experiences at his chef’s counter and the meal I had there in 2021 was a special one as I was with my mom who I’d not seen in 18 months due to Covid. I can’t pass up the opportunity to say that whatever preparation is applied to his signature duck, is always, and I’ve had many variations over the years, always the best duck you’ll ever have.

Heirloom Duck

Jon G’s BBQ, Peachland, NC – Truly some of the very best barbecue I’ve had and the brisket, not a typical North Carolina BBQ winner, is the gem among all the memorable dishes. The brisket is juicy, perfectly fatty with a nice coating of pepper. Plus, the wait, complete with free beer, is an experience. Highly recommend.

BBQ Platter at Jon’s

La Barbecue, Austin, TX – I know Austin is all about brisket, and this was some of the best I’ve had, but the smoked turkey was by far the greatest turkey I’ve had. The exterior was generously coated in spiced, heavy on the pepper, and the meat was mind-blowingly juicy.

Turkey at La Barbecue

La Belle Helene, Charlotte, NC – The prettiest space we’ve found in our journey through the Queen City, our new hometown, is undoubtedly this place. French bistro food is served here, but the space itself is the opposite of what one would consider ‘bistro’ like. The rich French onion soup topped with Compté is worth ordering and so is the well-made steak tartare.

French Onion Soup

O-Ku, Charlotte, NC – A hot restaurant doesn’t always translate to hot food, but at this hip Charlotte restaurant, the food isn’t a passing thought. One of our favorite dishes was the Lobster Temaki, a trio of handrolls filled with butter-poached lobster, asparagus, chives, cilantro aioli and black volcanic salt.

Lobster Handrolls

Standard Oyster Company, Hickory, NC – This local gem serves up some of the freshest oysters in the Charlotte metro area. We enjoyed a variety of bivalves, but a fun, old school treat my mom and I opted in to is the oyster shooter, which can be served with beer, Tequila or Vodka (we selected the latter). Tip: 12PM – 2PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Standard Oyster Company serves $1 raw NC oysters.

Oyster Shooter

The Everyday Market, Belmont, NC – I wrote about the special café and market earlier in 2021. Pastry, dish and dessert are prepared with the care of a veteran, classically trained Chef Majid Amoorpour. Particularly great is the cheesy scrambled eggs on croissant. My out-of-town visitors rave about this breakfast item months after their visits.

Cheesy Eggs Croissant

Vecina, Phoenix, AZ – At this intimate Latin-inspired hot spot, the drinks are creative and flavor-packed to match the delectable food. One of the winning appetizers we sampled was the white bean puree with crispy short rib, herb salad and served with ultra-thin flour tortillas. The must-order entrée is the Carnitas Empanada, Duroc pork confit, onion marmalade, Manchego, salsa verde and Manzana chile.

Empanada

Best Dessert

La Boucherie Restaurant, Orlando, FL – I don’t usually include desserts on this list, but the perfectly executed Floating Island at this popular Orlando restaurant were light, melt-in-your-mouth and served with a decadent crème Anglaise and a drizzle of caramel.

Floating Island

What have been some of your favorite bites of 2021?

Happy eating!

Veronique

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25 November 2021 Speakeasy at The Jailhouse Spirits and Lounge Belmont North Carolina

Speakeasy at The Jailhouse Spirits and Lounge Belmont North Carolina

November 25, 2021 By

When we moved to the quaint town of Belmont, North Carolina from New Jersey, one of the first things I researched were places to visit for happy hour. While we were looking for a place with craft cocktails at the level we were used to in the NYC metro area, we were doubtful a small town could deliver. Boy were we wrong! We found The Jailhouse Spirits and Lounge and it quickly became our favorite cocktail bar in all of Charlotte.

Cozy Foyer

About The Jailhouse

The Jailhouse is the brainchild of Linda Matinata and Matthew Matinata, a mother-son duo. The Matinatas have owned Old Stone Steakhouse, situated in the building that used to house the Belmont Police Department, since 2007. In 2016, they began work to reinvent the town’s former jail as a whiskey and cigar bar, and The Jailhouse Spirits and Lounge launched in April 2017.

In addition to offering a variety of rare beers and high-end wines, The Jailhouse features an extensive collection of 150+ whiskeys as well as a creative craft cocktails list.

Notice the Jail Cell Bars in the Background

The Jailhouse is a three-story building housing a full-service bar on the top level, a cigar lounge on the second floor and offices on the ground floor. There are also a few tables on a small outdoor patio.

Cute Banquette Seating Area

The Jailhouse is run as a private club, so a membership is required to enter the premises. A one-day membership is a mere $2 and a yearly membership is a nominal $12, and well-worth it. In North Carolina, bars and lounges that don’t prepare food on the premises must operate as a private club. The membership fee addresses this rule.

The Cigar Lounge

Cigar aficionados will rejoice is the selection of cigars for purchase in the walk-in humidor upstairs. A speak-easy inspired cigar lounge is located on the second level for those who wish to enjoy their sticks alongside The Jailhouse’s craft cocktails.

Walk In Humidor
Cigar Lounge

The Libations and Food

The list of cocktails is creative and showcases some of the extensive spirits on hand, masterly-prepared by friendly bartenders, Erin and Chris. There’s a section of Signature Whiskey Cocktails featuring the Angel’s on a Board, a drink smoked by burning bourbon barrel shavings and served with a glass of Angel’s Envy bourbon mixed with a berry syrup made in house. From the “standard” Signature Cocktails list, some favorites are the Pisco Sour, a classic sour made with Barsol Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg whites and angostura bitters and the gin Campari Sour, a classic with a touch of tan, made with Uncle Val’s botanical gin, Campari, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites and Regan’s orange bitters. Whiskey and Scotch flights are also available and a great way to compare between brands of spirits at various stages of ageing. A refreshing drink that’s not always on the menu but is our ultimate favorite, especially on a hot Charlotte day, is the Bee’s Knees, made with rare bitters and a touch of honey.

Campari Sour
Pisco Sour
Bee’s Knees

For those who want food to go along with their libations, the full menu from the Old Stone Steakhouse is available at The Jailhouse. We’ve enjoyed having a couple appetizers and also a full steak supper in the lounge that we could pair with the fantastic drinks.

Everyone in the Charlotte metro area, or folks passing through, should stop and enjoy a cocktail at The Jailhouse. It’s truly a special place.

WED: Half off wines by the glass

THURS: Bartender’s Choice Cocktail

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 5pm – 10pm and Friday and Saturday 3pm – 11pm. The Cigar Lounge closes one hour prior to closing time.

23 S Main St, Belmont, NC 28012.

Cheers,

Veronique

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28 May 2021 The Everyday Market a Gem in Belmont North Carolina

The Everyday Market a Gem in Belmont North Carolina

May 28, 2021 By

When we first moved to the quaint town of Belmont, in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, the first place we visited the morning after our move was The Everyday Market.

About The Everyday Market

The Everyday Market is a cozy café with a strong sense of community that features house made, simple-yet-masterly-crafted food served alongside excellent coffee and other beverages.

The café/market is situated in Main Street and features indoor and outdoor seating. The storefront adjacent to the current location is being renovated and will be used as additional market space to expand on the selection of pantry and to-go items and to display more lovely wines.

The popular European-inspired place, which opened in January of 2020, is the brainchild of pastry chef / owner Majid Amoorpour.

About Majid Amoorpour

Until age 12, Amoorpour and his family, including seven siblings, lived in Iran during a time of intense crisis. Next stop for the young man was Sweden to live with an older sister. Europe is where he developed his passion for art and food. In 1999, Amoorpour moved to the USA, first in Oklahoma City then settling in Charlotte.

While he has a reputation for downplaying his impressive culinary background, Chef Amoorpour boasts a star-studded resumé.

After working under Michelin-recommended restaurants in England and for Charlie Trotter and Gail Gand in Chicago, Amoorpour brought his culinary talent to Charlotte’s now-shuttered Noble’s Restaurant and Café Monte. The serial entrepreneur built a loyal following when he opened Bistro La Bon, a tapas restaurant, in 2010 in bustling Plaza Midwood. Next on his list of accomplishments is The Everyday Market.

About the Food

While The Everyday Market is a casual café, Amoorpour uses premium ingredients and elevated techniques to create his delicacies.

For breakfast, the Belmont café offers pastries, breakfast sandwiches and a variety of coffees and teas. Our favorite is the scrambled egg and cheese croissant sandwich. The eggs are light and fluffy with just the proper amount of cheese on a perfect, buttery croissant. I’d say breakfast sandwiches don’t get any better than this, but then there’s the brie and apricot version of the croissant sandwich. I have out of town friends who’ve enjoyed them and still talk about them. Some other standouts are the lemon pound cake, with a thick coating of icing, the nicely flaky blueberry/blackberry strudel, a delectable cronut and the rugelach.

Coffee comes in many forms with a preparation sure to please every client. I’m straight Americano and my guy is a macchiato fan. I’ve also enjoyed an above par hot chocolate on occasion. There are also a variety of frappés and smoothies to sample.

The Everyday Market also serves non-breakfast foods ranging from quiches with perfect buttery crust, empanadas, salads, soups, sandwiches and more.

The market also features a sexy little wine list that keeps expanding and showcases wines by small producers and mostly non-commercial brands, which is amazing. There are also pantry essential items like dry pastas, oils, high quality jarred sauces and more. All that’s needed for a great low-key dinner.

If you find yourself in Charlotte or its suburbs, don’t miss a visit to The Everyday Market, and do pick up some delectable macarons on the way out.

Hours: Mon to Thu:  8:00am–8:00pm, Fri and Sat:    8:00am–9:00pm and Sunday:     9:00am–5:00pm

The Everyday Market – 7 S Main St, Belmont, NC 28012. (980) 283-7170. www.everydaymarketbelmont.com

Cheers,

Veronique

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29 December 2020 Best Dishes 2020

Best Dishes 2020

December 29, 2020 By

As I thought about 2020, I was tempted to simply skip my annual Best Dishes recap but then I looked at my photo library and was pleasantly surprised to see how many delicious meals I enjoyed this year.

While my job didn’t have me the road in 2020 like it usually does, we traveled a few times to explore the south where we relocated in October, so we had quite a few nice meals along the way.

I’ve narrowed down all the fab dishes I had to the following 16 Best Dishes 2020. The list is in restaurant name, alphabetical order.

Aquila Pizza Al Forno, Little Falls, NJ – The only thing as lovely as the soppressata and Meyer lemon pizza with its perfect, slightly-tart and salty crust charred in all the right places is the team behind the cozy pizzeria. By the way, I copied/pasted this recap from my 2019 Best Dishes list and I’ll do the same in 2021 if I’m fortunate enough to visit pizzamaker extraordinaire Jerry…perfect pizza, period.

Ariane Kitchen and Bar, Verona, NJ – AKB features the best fried oysters of all times. While this place is so much more than these ultra-popular bivalves, they’re perfect with their cornmeal crust and should be recognized appropriately. The horseradish cream the oysters are served with is insanely good too.

Barnegat Oyster Collective, Barnegat, NJ – While homebound during the pandemic, we ordered the freshest, most pristine oysters from this fantastic place several times. They were expertly packed with dry ice and a shucking knife and made for the most fun and tasty treat.

Brasserie Mémère, Closter, NJ – Could there be a more perfect concept than the French brasserie concept? I think not and Brasserie Mémère does absolutely everything right. When German-trained Chef Thomas Ciszak puts a schnitzel on the menu, it must be ordered. It’s perfectly-crunchy on its exterior and moist and melt-in-your-mouth on the inside – a must. During one of my 2020 visits, they offered a bouillabaisse special, served in a Dutch oven that was one incredible.

Café Chameleon, Bloomingdale, NJ – Chef Bryan Gregg never disappoints, and I could have picked several dishes for this compilation but opted to feature the rich, fantastic tagliatelle with white truffle butter with shaved truffles to gild the lily.  

Crown Shy, New York, NY – Every single dish, cocktail and glass of wine was on point during our pre-Covid visit in January. Our favorite dish of the night was the cavatelli in chicken liver sauce. This meal set the bar for all 2020 meals.

Estadio, Washington, DC – This was a top 5 best meals of 2020. Every morsel of food we consumed at this popular Spanish tapas place was stellar. Our favorite was the seared foie gras.

Glai Baan, Phoenix, AZ – This is the best, most authentic Thai street food I’ve had outside Thailand. Food with bold flavors, a kitschy space, friendly service and some of the best cocktails we had in 2020. The larb moo, minced pork with lime dressing, was amazing.

Heirloom Kitchen, Old Bridge, NJ – I believe this is the only restaurant that’s always been on my annual lists. Chef David Viana creates incredible experiences at his chef’s counter and both meals I had there in 2020 were outstanding. I can’t pass up the opportunity to say that whatever preparation is applied to his signature duck, is always, and I’ve had many variations over the years, always the best duck you’ll ever have. Don’t skip dessert, they’re always stellar.

Hush Public House, Scottsdale, AZ – Top five meals of 2020. Laidback atmosphere, great service and delectable, fabulous food. We started with the chicken liver mouse served in a glass jar that was topped with drunken cherries and served with top notch grilled country bread – way to set the tone for a memorable dinner.

Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, Morristown, NJ – During a tasting dinner, Chef AJ Capella served perfectly-pillowy gnocchi with peas bursting with flavor. Very well done, as is the case with the other dishes we devoured there in 2020.

Leah & Louise, Charlotte, NC – Thrilled to have landed a table at the hottest spot in town, we enjoyed everything we ordered but the River Chips, fried chicken skins served piled high with “granch” dressing (ranch and green onion) were unlike anything we’ve had. This southern-inspired juke joint is a must when in Charlotte.

Rhubarb, Asheville, NC – After patio dining at this popular Asheville restaurant, I understood why it’s difficult to get a reservation – it’s a wonderful meal! We started the evening with bubbly and a beautiful and well-put together charcuterie board that is still on my mind.

Scales, Portland, ME – We sat outdoors at this Portland gem over the summer and enjoyed a fabulous seafood meal. My entrée stands out in particular, seared scallops, crispy pancetta with corn.

Summit House, Summit, NJ – Took clients out to dinner at this Jersey favorite and boy were they wowed. If I see squid ink pasta on a menu, I must order it and this version with perfectly-cooked seafood didn’t disappoint.

VENTANAS Restaurant and Lounge at The Modern, Fort Lee, NJ – Chef David Burke’s over-the-top food concepts are masterly executed by Executive Chef Brian Morales. The space and vibe are hip and fun to match the food. Our favorite, on one of two 2020 visits, was the signature lobster dumplings in a tomato miso sauce.

What have been some of your favorite bites of 2020?

Happy eating!

Veronique

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Outdoor Dining at Café Chameleon

June 20, 2020 By

Last night, we went out to eat for the first time since March 13. New Jersey’s open to outdoor dining as part of phase 2 reopening and we opted to visit Bloomingdale’s Café Chameleon.

At Café Chameleon, Chef Bryan Gregg’s been working his magic in the kitchen since last summer. Since he joined the Civitano family at the New American restaurant, it’s enjoyed an array of accolades like New Jersey Monthly Top 30 Best New Restaurant and North Jersey’s Best New Restaurants 2019.

  • Violet Spritz
  • Chamomille Collins

Chef Gregg is known for his use of locally-sourced ingredients and for his mastery of seafood and last night’s dinner showcased the bounty of the season and NJ’s freshest.

We started with libations crafted by friendly bartender Al, a Violet Spritz and a Chamomile Collins. Both were refreshing and welcomed on a warm evening on the restaurant’s new awning-covered patio.

For appetizers, we ordered the Local Spring Greens and the Jersey Asparagus. The salad features goat cheese, hazelnut and strawberries and was fresh and delicious. The asparagus dish was outstanding with its mustard flowers, green strawberries and pepato cheese. Both winning starters that made us eager for what was coming next.

Jersey Asparagus

The entrées we selected were the Hanger Steak and the Barnegat Light Scallops. Chef Gregg was named best seafood chef in New Jersey a few years back for a scallop preparation, so I had to order the dish. The steak was nicely-cooked to a medium-rare temperature, as ordered, and was served with new potatoes and bitter greens. The scallops didn’t disappoint with a perfect sear, just-done interior and was smartly-paired with preserved morels and pea butter. We ordered a side of truffle fries and they were well cooked to a crisp exterior and creamy interior.

  • Scallops
  • Steak
  • Fries

From a safety and cleanliness perspective, the restaurant offers a menu scannable via a QR code that avoids touching shared menus. Water is served in single use cups and napkins are disposable. Masks must be worn indoors by staff accessing the kitchen and diners who enter to use the restrooms, as mandated by the state.

We’re pleased to have chosen Café Chameleon as we begin going to restaurants again. The staff was welcoming, the food was outstanding and the safety precautions made us feel comfortable dining out again.

Café Chameleon – 60 Main Street, Bloomingdale, NJ 07403.

Cheers, Veronique

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