Dinner at e2 Emeril's Eatery in Charlotte

Crawfish at the Crawfish Boil! Each Friday in May e2 offered a traditional crawfish boil for $5 per person. They served 400 pounds of crawfish the night we were there - let's hope they bring this back soon!

I was recently invited back to e2, this time for dinner with my husband and with fellow blogger Malika Bowling from Atlanta Restaurant Blog. Malika and her husband, Glen, came up from Atlanta to check out some restaurants while they stayed with us for the weekend in Charlotte. Friday night started off with a "Bam" - truly - as we dined in style at e2 with fabulous food and service. 

My favorites included the oyster shooter (not pictured but I blogged about the oyster shooter here previously when I had lunch at e2), the gumbo, the gulf coast drum stew, the special fish dish with stuffed kale and the blue corn brioche bread pudding. We also really enjoyed the cocktails, particularly the famous Grasshopper and the wonderful wine selection. e2 is a really good choice for lunch or dinner. Brunch is also offered with specials for Father's Day, coming up this Sunday.

 

Special of crispy Duck Wings - different and tasty.

Housemade Boudin + Andouille Sausage.

 

Special gumbo of the day - delicious!

  

Emeril's signature BBQ shrimp with rosemary biscuit.

  

We enjoyed some delicious cocktails and wine!

 

The famous Grasshopper - everyone really liked this special cocktail.

 

Special seafood dish with fish and mussel-stuffed kale and fried oysters. The stuffed kale was awesome!

 

Gulf Coast Drum Portuguese stew - this was really tasty, love the broth and all the seafood.

 

Trout "Meuniere" - trout is sometimes used in place of the usual founder.

 

Giant and delicious double cut pork chop - it was after this pork chop that I officially made up the Pork Chop Song / Dance for my son, who at age 7 months, ate some of the leftover pork chop! If you ask me I might sing it for you sometime :D

 

Desserts: from top left, clockwise, blue corn brioche bread pudding with coconut-pineapple ice cream, banana cream pie, apple crepes with bacon and ice cream, sweet potato cheesecake. The bread pudding was different from any other bread pudding I have ever tried - and SO good! 

 
 Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Brunch at the Mellow Mushroom in Charlotte

Brunch pizzas! I was invited to try both of the brunch pizzas that are offered on Sundays at the Mellow Mushroom. Both the Morning Glory (left), a vegetarian pizza with egg base, spinach, mushroom, onion, green peppers, mozzarella and diced tomatoes, and the Rising Sun (right), a meaty pie with egg base, sausage, bacon, ham, onion, green pepper, mozzarella and cheddar were very tasty. The superior crust really lends itself to combine with the egg base and other ingredients for a different, fun weekend breakfast choice. As always Mellow Mushroom was very accommodating to us as a family. They even brought out some avocado for my little one - one of his first foods! If you haven't tried fresh pizza for breakfast, it's time you took the plunge!

Stuffed Portobello Mushroom with artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and feta - delicious!

The awesome bus in the Mellow Mushroom - you can even sit inside!

Shrimp Hoag-boy - grilled jerk shrimp with pesto mayo, grilled mushrooms and carmelized onions - one of my favorite hoagies!

Half Thai Dye (left) and half Mellowterranean (right), served with a side of tzatziki sauce - yum! I really liked the spice and the addition of cucumbers to the Thai Dye. The sauce was great with the cheesy Mellowterranean.

Key Lime Pie - a sweet ending with lots of tasty whipped cream.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Cookies from Helen's Kitchen

I was lucky enough to receive a package of Helen's Kitchen chocolate chip cookies recently - just in time for a road trip to Atlanta! Helen's Kitchen is the brainchild of Charlotte resident Helen Burns, who started her own company in 2008 making delicious chocolate chip cookies. Three varieties are currently available: regular chocolate chip, chocolate chip peanut butter and chocolate chip toffee. I tried the regular chocolate chip and found the cookies wonderfully satisfying. Each cookie is topped with a dusting of sea salt, resulting in a pleasing salty flavor on the tongue which enhances the robust flavor of the chocolate. However, if you prefer your cookies without salt, you can get the cookies that way too! Helen's cookies are not completely chewy or crisp; rather with a combination of the two they are bound to please any cookie lover! Helen's cookies are available individually wrapped or in larger quantities in bags or boxes for purchase online. The cookies are also available from FABO and Reid's Fine Foods in Charlotte.

Breakfast - Desayuno - at Rosa Mexicano

My favorite dish: Shredded Beef with Eggs - so flavorful and juicy!

I had the opportunity to sample the new breakfast menu at Rosa Mexicano while we were in Atlanta in mid-March. The breakfast offerings are available every weekend starting at opening time (11:30 AM) and include some delicious choices. While you cannot go wrong with any of the breakfast offerings, my favorite dish by far is the Machacado con Huevo or Shredded Beef with Eggs. This is made from short rib and includes scrambled eggs with the succulent shredded beef, jalepenos, tomatoes and onions, served hot in a cast iron skillet with tortillas on the side. This is truly one of the best breakfast dishes I have ever tasted! My second favorite main dish is the Creamy Breakfast Tamale, which is grits infused with chorizo, topped with chile-poached eggs and fried cheese - yum! I also really liked the Fried Eggs and Carnitas Hash and the Stuffed French Toast (see photos with additional details).

Special drinks are also available. A sucker for good hot chocolate, I adore the Mexican Hot Chocolate - and get the churros on the side - these are awesome! The hot chocolate itself is infused with almonds and cinnamon and served with whipped cream - delicious. I also enjoyed trying to Coconut Horchata made from pressed rice milk and the variety of Aqua Frescas or "Fresh Waters". My favorites are the honeydew melon and the hibiscus blackberry but the cucumber-tomatillo is also tasty. Although we did not sample them this visit, special adult breakfast beverages such as Mezcal Bloody Maria and Horchata Especial (Anejo tequila, coffee liqueur and horchata with espresso!) are also available and sound awesome.

 

If you have the chance to try Rosa Mexicano on the weekend, definitely check out the brown paper menu on the table, which offers this special breakfast menu!

Horchata (left) and Fresh Water selections.

 

Fried Eggs and Carnitas Hash - love the pineapple-habenero mustard jam served on the side!

Tropical Fruit Bowl - a nice lighter selection.

Soft Scrambled Eggs and Cactus Paddle served with molletes (soft roll spread with refried black beans).

Mexican hot chocolate - yum!

Stuffed French Toast - Cinnamon-Cascabel chile-crusted brioche bread filled with Mascarpone cheese, topped with caramelized plantains - has a delicious kick. One of my favorite items!

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary. 

e2 Emeril's Eatery

Outside patio and entrance.

Corn muffins served with lunch - moist and a good way to whet your appetite but save room!

I was lucky enough to be invited to try e2 Emeril's Eatery in uptown Charlotte just a few weeks ago. Most folks know Emeril from television but now he owns more than a dozen restaurants across the country in places such as Orlando, Las Vegas and New Orleans. Charlotte's  e2 is located on the Levine Avenue of the Arts between the Mint Museum uptown and the Bechtler Museum. Inside is a full bar and plenty of table seating. There is also a nice patio for al fresco dining. We sat at the bar (there is also a "Food Bar" where you can sit and watch the food being prepared) and enjoyed tasting portions of several of the most popular dishes. My favorite dishes that we tried include the oyster shooter, the signature barbecued shrimp, the pasta with housemade sausage and the apple crepes (photos below). The burger was also good and I enjoyed the corn muffins (above). Other lunch options include chicken and waffle, fresh fish sandwich (this sounded really good!), shrimp and grits and NC Rainbow trout. Several salads and soups are also available including a "gumbo of the day" and there are gluten free items available. 

I did not indulge in any of the stellar looking drinks, although we did sample the house made limoncello - delicious! e2 has a nice drink list, which includes not only classic cocktails, beers and an impressive wine list but also special signature and New Orleans style drinks executed by mixologist Miki Nikolic. His soon to be famous Grass Hopper cocktail includes wheatgrass, hendrick's gin, jalepeno simple syrup, lime juice and cucumber water - yum! Other signature options include a Bacon + Maple, a Pumpkin Spice, and a Prickly Moon with prickly pear juice. New Orleans cocktails include a Sazerac, Bijou, Ramos Gin Fizz and more. I look forward to returning for dinner so that I can sample some of these! 

e2 takes reservations for lunch and dinner and is a great place for a business lunch, a special occasion or a "just because" let's go out! A special 3 course "lunch crunch" menu is offered for $24 with a guarantee of a 40 minute lunch. Adjoining the main restaurant is e2Go, a place where you can grab a sandwich, salad or soup for an even quicker lunch. 

During lunch I had the pleasure of chatting with General Manager Jeff Wakem who also made sure we had everything we needed and were able to taste lots of different dishes. Jeff has worked directly with Emeril in different locations and Emeril himself visits each of his restaurants from time to time. Check out e2 and you never know, you just might see him there yourself!

Oyster Shooter - with spicy New Orleans style Bloody Mary mix and a pickled haricot vert. This was unique and so good - for all you raw oyster fans!

Wood Oven Oyster on the Half Shell - with bacon, onions, spinach and parmesan reggiano. A great choice - love this simple preparation.

The bar, including several homemade liquors. 

Emeril's New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp served with rosemary biscuits. Delicious taste - one of my favorite options - after devouring the large shrimp, the sauce paired so well with the tasty biscuits.

Yellowfin tuna tartare with cucumber, jalepeno, avocado, cilantro and ponzu. Fresh and simple.

Pasta course: with housemade fennel sausage, broccoli rabe and parmesan reggiano. Loved the sausage in this delicious warm-you-up dish.

Chef de Cuisine, Brian Mottola.

Half of "The Burger" with fries.

Special side of the day - warm potato salad.

Honey crisp apple crepes with bacon-maple syrup and house made vanilla ice cream. Utterly scrumptious! I also snagged a piece of the famous banana cream pie to go. It has chocolate shavings and delicious caramel sauce - definitely a good one to share. My family ate it before I could take a photo! Other dessert options include blue corn brioche bread pudding, espresso pudding and (what I want to try next time) - sweet potato cheesecake!

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary. 

Pre-Valentine's Day Event at Friendship Trays - fun and for a great cause!

Join us Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m.

2401-A Distribution St.

Suggested donation: $30 per person

♥ Make a Valentine for your sweetheart.

♥ Watch a pots de crème and other sweets demonstration and leave with two keepsake cups.

♥ Taste wines, pleasant for the palate and the purse.

♥ Bake and Take and Decorate Red Velvet Cupcakes.

♥ Savor scrumptious hors d'oeuvres from the Community Culinary School of Charlotte and other Charlotte chefs.

NEW FEATURES THIS YEAR:

♥ ♥ A chocolate maker ♥ ♥

   

♥ ♥ A chef on hand to help you with cupcake decorating ♥ ♥

 

♥ ♥ Door prize! ♥ ♥

♥ ♥ New food vendors ♥ ♥

 

A few spaces remain.

Click HERE for more information and to register.

Ramen Bowls at Whole Foods - Special on 2/6

To celebrate the New Year and the launch of their new line of Miso Tonkotsu Ramen bowls Genji Sushi and Whole Foods Market Charlotte (6610 Fairview Rd) are thrilled to present Ramen Noodle Night on Wednesday, February 6 from 6-8PM. Guests are invited to bring a friend and enjoy two bowls for the price of one, or one bowl for $4.50.

A few facts about these delicious ramen bowls:

• The Miso Tonkotsu Ramen combines two of the most popular and beloved flavors of ramen: Tonkotsu pork broth and Miso broth
• The bowls comes with two delicious topping options: Shrimp Tempura and Roasted Pork (Chāshū).
• Unlike freeze-dried ramen options, these delicious bowls are made daily by Genji chefs
• These bowls are delicious prepared on-site, or finished at home with hot water 
• Amy on Food will be trying the ramen bowls soon - stay tuned!

Dining in the Dark - A Feast for the Senses - Jan. 30 at Osso

A neat food opportunity for Charlotte area diners:

Good Eats and Meets is partnering up with the new culinary hot spot Osso in the trendy NC Music Factory to bring you a meal, where nothing meets the eye and is unlike any other you have ever had before! Imagine that you are recognizing friends only by their voice, where sounds tell a story, aromas come alive and elegance is felt. In this era of information overload, visual stimulation has reached an all time pinnacle. But imagine, just for an hour or two that you cannot see, that you are abandoning vision in exchange for a new, more stimulating dining experience – this is “Dining in the Dark”...A Feast for the Senses!!!

The purpose of our dinner is to give guests a unique eating experience while fostering a greater understanding of what it's like to be visually impaired and to raise awareness for their cause.

During your Dining in the Dark meal, you will savor a multi course meal in a room where you can’t see a single solitary thing, from your plate of mystery food to the faces of your fellow diners. It will be more than a culinary experience, it will be a sensory and social experience to the tenth power. 

The evening will begin at 8:00 pm where all the guests will mix and mingle over cocktails (one is included in the cost of the meal-surprise!) before entering our inner sanctum of darkness. We will seat everyone and make sure that you are comfortable before the meal will begin. The rest is up to you. We will be offering a phone check and anything else that might interfere with your meal. 

Spread the word and come with a couple of your friends. Seating is limited and will go fast! Don't wait and miss out! Every previous Dining in the Dark event has SOLD OUT. 

The cost is $39 per person or $79 for a couple for the full meal with one cocktail/beer/wine, as well as tax and tip. The final price on Eventbrite includes the tax, tip and Eventbrite fees and is all inclusive. What a deal for this truly unique event!

Good Eats and Meets is the largest dining, drinking and socializing group in the US and you can find more information at...

http://www.meetup.com/geamclt

https://www.facebook.com/goodeatsmeets

https://twitter.com/goodeatsmeets

http://pinterest.com/goodeatsmeets

http://instagram.com/goodeatsmeets

Osso Restaurant and Lounge offers Italian cuisine, both classical and modern prepared by one of Charlotte's most followed and recognized Chefs, Gene Briggs of the famed Blue. http://ossocharlotte.com/

Amy on Food in Charlotte Observer

Things have been so busy lately I have not had a chance to post. Fear not. Amy on Food will return in full force in 2013. In the mean time enjoy this article about Amy on Food, which was in the Charlotte Observer on 12/16/2012.

Happy New Year!

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

 Tuna Nachos - love the Crab Rangoon dip served on top.

I was recently invited to check out The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, a Charlotte restaurant that pushes the limits on the definitions of "sushi" and "burger" and even invents its own words like "burgushi" to describe combinations that blend elements of burgers and sushi. The menu here is ENORMOUS! You could not get through it even after a dozen visits. There is plenty for everyone with the burgers and the sushi standing out as the main items to consider. There are some great appetizer options also including the above tuna nachos we enjoyed. 

Inside, there is a sushi bar and a full bar (including sake selections) and lots of trendy, modern sushi theme art lines the walls. The patio, heated for winter enjoyment, is a great option also, although if you want the vibe you should stay inside. Even with the obvious attraction for the young adult crowd, The Cowfish is welcoming to families and the wait staff didn't blink an eye when we brought in our infant for an early dinner. 

If you haven't yet tried The Cowfish, it is definitely an experience and a destination. I look forward to returning again to try the burgers (more than a dozen combinations plus an option to build your own) and the build your own sushi - what fun!

Martini.

Sweet and Spicy Thai Cucumbers - available as an appetizer or side.

The Motherload sushi platter - includes every piece of fish on the sushi menu! Unique presentation and very tasty. They even have different flavors of fish roe for the top of the roll which tops a California roll with all types of sashimi.

Close up of the fried shrimp head, also on the Motherload platter.

Filet and Lobster Roll. Very inventive!

Sushi bar.

Patio where we sat.

 

Cheesecake.

The Grasshopper milkshake - mint chocolate chip goodness.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.