Jan/Feb 2016

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the culinary hot spot of the nc high country

discover delicious snack tips for diabetics is tallahassee the new savannah?

january • february 2016

contents

BARRINGTO N’S ~

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14 delicious snack tips for diabetics

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18 Total Wine & More.® The selection is incredible.

Total Wine & More is like no other wine store you have ever visited. Each of our stores carries over 8,000 different wines and 2,500 beers. With over 125 superstores, we have the buying power to bring you the best wines at the lowest prices. Our wine team is the best trained in the industry.

They are committed and dedicated to bringing you the Total Wine Experience.™

North Carolina’s Largest Selection of Wine, Beer and More Under One Roof – at the Lowest Prices!

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is tallahassee the new savannah?

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banner elk is the culinary hot spot of the nc high country

in each issue 06 ripe for the picking

33 places to go, people to see

08 juicy morsels

34 scene around town

beer, wine and product picks for the winter months

already broke your resolutions? make new, fun, edible ones.

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seats & eats

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volume 8 • issue 1

carolina prime steakhouse: a family restaurant raising the stakes

profiles of passion

the tasting room extraordinaire at herrera vineyards

a calendar of local events

check out who’s been out and about

36 local flavor

fresh flavors to start the new year

38 the juice

must-have products, hot topics and more

39 words to live by w w w.epi cu rea n ch a r l otte.com

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RUNNING OUT OF ROOM FOR YOUR VINO?

Let Kate find your perfect villa, complete with wine cellar!

Make a first-class impression with clients or indulge in an unforgettable evening out with the exquisite setting of a chic, new-age steakhouse. Plan your next extraordinary experience at Evoke.

dry-aged steaks • house-made pastas • fresh crudo

publisher/editor Linda Seligman

Your Escape from the Everyday

associate editor Ashley Blake Summerlin

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER 555 South McDowell Street | 980 237 5354 | EvokeRestaurant.com

contributing editor Kate Bruce kate@epicureancharlotte.com

Affordable, high quality French fare, exquisitely prepared to order. Classic French country favorites served all day include pastries, full breakfast menu, salads, sandwiches, quiches and crepes. Full service dinner in a casual and comfortable European setting. We offer daily Chef Specials as well as regional specialties. We strive to make quality French food accessible to all!

Open Brunch, Lunch and Dinner

Monday - Thursday 9am - 9pm Friday 9:00 am - 10pm Saturday 9am - 10pm Sunday 9am - 3pm

Allen Tate Building at Phillips Place in SouthPark • 6700 Fairview Road, Suite 180 • Charlotte, NC

704-552-1116 | www.cafemonte.net

BA

REALTOR | BROKER kterrigno@dmahomes.com c: 631.903.3021

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design & production Ashley Blake Summerlin ashley@epicureancharlotte.com

ER

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advertising sales Linda Seligman linda@epicureancharlotte.com 704.904.8249

ER NN E

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media editor Courtney Matinata

KATE BRUCE TERRIGNO

LA

VOTED 2015 BEST STEAKHOUSE, PLACE TO SPLURGE, NEW RESTAURANT + WAITSTAFF

Epicurean Charlotte is published locally by Charlotte food and wine lovers for fellow food and wine lovers.

We hope you enjoy our publication and find it helpful when choosing wine, a place to dine or events around town. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

IL

Taste the Unexpected

Y & V

contributing writers Zenda Douglas, Kathy Hoskins, Kim Kohatsu, Courtney Matinata, Bambie Navarro contributing photographers Bayou Smokehouse, Todd Bush, Carolina Prime Steakhouse, Kathy Hoskins, Brian Johnson, Courtney Matinata, Bill Russ, Linda Seligman, VISIT FLORIDA cover image Todd Bush

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ripe for the picking

ripe for the picking Brad McClain of Good Food on Montford suggests the 2011 Muratori Tenuta Rubbia al Colle Rabuccolo this winter.

Patrick Garrivier of Lumiere French Kitchen recommends the 2011 Château Tour Saint-Vincent Médoc.

Glass $13.00, Bottle $52.00

Bottle $55.00

Rabuccolo is born from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah maintaining persistence and structure. This ruby red wine gives balsamic and vegetable aromas and red and ripe fruit fragrances. Characterized by a charming personality that is ideal with barley, spelt, legumes and lentil and bean soups.

This wine shows its wood aging and proves to be a complex and ripe wine. It has weight, ripe berry fruits and juicy acidity, all supported by a firm, dry tannic structure. It’s a wine for medium-term aging, so drink from 2016.

Dylan George of Pasta & Provisions is enjoying the 2009 La Calle Poggio d’Oro Reserva Sangiovese.

Bottle $33.99

Ruby red in color tending toward a rich garnet, with aging, this wine᾽s bouquet is intense, wide and fruity in taste. Harmonic, dry and structured, it᾽s properly tannic and ready to enjoy now.

Kira Sol of Total Wine & More will be enjoying the Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne "Perle d'Aurore" Brut Rosé for Valentines.

Bottle $18.99

A sophisticated Rosé made using the Champagne method from Pinot Noir grapes. Pale rose in color with a medium-body and fine bubbles, the bouquet and palate feature cherry and strawberry notes with a dry creamy finish. Superb with salmon, shrimp and lobster.

Helen White of Sir Edmond Halley's Restaurant & Freehouse recommends the Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2013 to stay warm for the winter months.

Matthew Matinata of Old Stone Steakhouse is enjoying the 2011 Saved California Red Blend.

Boasting an intense violet color, aromas of black fruits, violets and spices present in the nose with mineral and graphite notes. Great balance and freshness in the mouth blend well with good concentration and medium structure, soft tannins and a persistent finish.

An eclectic blend of grapes deliver rich color and full-bodied flavors including red currant, black cherry and black olive. Soft tannins balance well with distinct oak flavors—French oak for vanilla and coconut and American oak for caramel, créme brûlée and coffee.

Glass $12.00, Bottle $48.00

Fresh aromas of lemon cream, Bartlett pear, vanilla and light tropical notes introduce the nose of this Chardonnay. A medium-bodied entry fills the mouth with notes of melon, lemon oil and cardamom spice. Bright acidity and lingering notes of roasted almonds and vanilla cream on the finish make this an excellent food wine.

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drinks with kate

by kate bruce

Fifteen floors up, tucked away inside the RitzCarlton, you’ll stumble upon The Punch Room. If you᾽re looking for the ultimate romantic experience this Valentine’s Day, look no further than the ‘Apple of My Eye,’ created by creative cocktail genius Bob Peters. This cocktail features cardinal gin, apple infused tea, Riesling and simple syrup. Served up in the most stunning, hand blown glass featuring two glass straws for you and your sweetheart to share. Can you think of anything more perfect than a glass for two? Topped off with dried hibiscus flowers, the beauty of this drink in undeniable. With each and every sip, the hibiscus flowers melt, continuously changing the color of the cocktail. Each sip is full of flavor, decadent in taste and accompanied by a bit of sweetness. You can taste the freshness of the gin, which is made just 35 minutes away in Kings Mountain. Looking around, you can’t help but be immersed in the feeling of exclusivity. The dim lights, deep velvet cushions and floor-to-ceiling windows boast a true feeling of intimacy. With only 37 seats available, this is one experience that you won’t forget.

Until next time … cheers and enjoy!

Bottle $8.00

Glass $9.00, Bottle $36.00

Patrick Denetre of Café Monte French Bakery & Bistro suggests the Château St. Jean Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay 2013 for your drinking pleasure.

Brisk temperatures, whispering winds and dark nights had me on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind cocktail. With Valentine᾿s Day just around the corner, I was craving something outside the box, something eccentric, something memorable.

Well, I found it!

Brian Perkins of Healthy Home Market recommends the La Marca Prosecco from Veneto, Italy for Valentine’s Day. Bottle $12.99

This sparkling wine is a pale, golden straw in color.

Bubbles are full textured and persistent. On the nose the wine brings fresh citrus with hints of honey and white flowers. The flavor is fresh and clean, with ripe citrus, lemon, green apple and touches of grapefruit, minerality and some toast.

The finish is light, refreshing and crisp.

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juicy morsels

already broke your resolutions? make new, fun, edible ones.

by kim kohatsu

l

osing weight? Yawn. What a boring resolution, and one you’ve probably already faltered on (if you haven’t … um … you go, girlfriend/boyfriend!)

I’ve long believed in making tangible resolutions that are small but can make a big difference. One year, my resolution was to be better about flossing, which, I’m proud to say, I’m great about now. My dear friend made a New Year’s resolution to make sure she watches her Netflix movies in a more timely manner so her subscription money isn’t wasted. These are not only good, achievable goals, but also won’t leave us feeling like failures by February. And shouldn’t that really be the point?

If you want to lose weight, fantastic, but focus on something smaller, like drinking more water or making one meal a day a vegetarian meal. And, if you’re like me, who has thrown in the towel on the whole losing-weight thing, try some of these more enjoyable, food-related resolutions:

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Drink better beer.

We all have our old standbys, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But with the wider availability of microbrews and craft beers, why not widen your horizons! You might find something you never knew you liked. One of my favorite recent discoveries is bourbon barrel-aged Allagash Curieux.

David Jensen has written some great articles on the subject, including Awesome Craft Beers in a Can, A Craft Beer Glossary and Craft Beers to Try Before You Die.

Eat a fruit or vegetable you’ve never heard of.

Chances are there’s a farmers’ market near you, and chances are, they’ve got some funny-looking, unfamiliar natural stuff that grew out of the ground or on a tree.

Get it! What else is the internet for than looking up how to cut fruit X or prepare vegetable Y? We’re dawning on cherimoya season, so perhaps seek that out. Or visit a

volume 8 • issue 1

nito/shutterstock.com; Lilyana Vynogradova/shutterstock.com; Sea Wave/shutterstock.com

reprinted with permission from menuism.com

cutting-edge restaurant serving kohlrabi or sunchokes. Or than cream cheese (which I like), but it’s also lower in fat! take things a step further and join a community-supported agriculture program. You might hate fruit X, you might love Make some food friends.

No one’s going to blame you for enjoying the convenience vegetable Y, but you’ll never know unless you try. of the 24-hour grocery store. But this year, make a point to Be more thoughtful about where your food talk to and learn from food experts around you. Start with comes from. your local butcher. Ask him/her for recommendations, and You’ve surely heard lots about local sourcing, sustainable watch the craft that goes into selecting and cutting meat seafood, and the farm to table movement. But have you for you. You’ll be amazed at what a better product you can ever considered the politics of chocolate? What about fair get if you occasionally visit a specialty store. What about a trade coffee? You don’t have to completely transform your cheese shop? A wine store or wine bar? And definitely meet eating habits, but you’d be surprised how awareness will a fishmonger if you’re lucky enough to live by the water. change the product choices you make.

These people not only have many interesting stories to tell, but they appreciate your business more than the faceless Graduate from cream cheese. grocery chain might.

In October, Kirstin Jackson wrote an article about spreadable cheeses. I’d never heard of any of them, but one she Now get going, and happy new year! E called out was labneh, a Mediterranean kefir cheese that I Kim Kohatsu judges the quality of her relationships on the ability to share food. If she can't split an appetizer found at my grocery store. Since Kirstin has impeccable with you, in her eyes, you are pretty much worthless. Kim's current food adventures revolve around ramen, taste, I decided to get it. Holy moly! Not only is it more tart sushi, Indian curries, Sichuan food and fried chicken. Oh, and cheeseburgers. Kim loves a good cheeseburger.

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seats & eats

carolina prime steakhouse a family restaurant raising the stakes by courtney matinata

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pass you by during your menu contemplation. Though perhaps a bit harder to set your sights on at a steakhouse establishment such as this, rest assured the numerous non-steak offerings are just as satisfying. Carolina Prime’s head chef, Italo Sabilia, brings with him an Italian background made for delicious concoctions, and he can’t resist the urge to bring hearty pasta dishes to the already extensive menu. My recommendation: Chef Sabilia’s Chicken Parmesan, a heavenly combination of perfectly breaded, tender white meat chicken and melted mozzarella shielded by a crispy garlic bread perimeter.

Leaning toward the meat of the sea for your entrée of choice? Seafood is one of the most popular picks at Carolina Prime, such as the Grouper Piccata, which I was fortunate enough to sink my teeth into next. The restaurant’s seafood is always fresh, delivered two to seven times a week, and it was certainly evident. A generous serving of fish was delivered to my table, coated in a refreshing citrus sauce abed a helping of rice pilaf—a flavorful and satisfying dish that still tastes light enough to enjoy at lunch. Other mid-day options include an assortment of burgers and sandwiches and over 10 different sides to complement them.

Last but not least, don’t forget to indulge in a slice of dessert to close out your visit. Ranging from carrot cake to red velvet cheesecake, all options are equally enticing.

Carolina Prime does it all and it does it right, with a consistency and quality on which the Liapis family and Restaurant Manager Thomas Camps pride themselves.

Furthermore, Chef Sabilia has been involved since day one, helping to ensure that this anticipated quality doesn’t suffer in exchange for speed and efficiency. Though that, too, can be expected here at Carolina Prime.

With the airport just a few minutes away and a surplus of hotels in the surrounding area, it’s important that the business remains accessible to its patrons. Perhaps you’re a commuter on a long layover or the host of a large business lunch. Want a catered order for the office? That’s okay too. Whatever your style or circumstance, Carolina Prime has you covered morning, noon and night, Monday through Saturday, with fulfilling meals enriched by reliable service.

Breakfast starts at 6 a.m. and dinner is served late, so you can be in and out; or if you prefer, sit back and stay awhile.

The possibilities are as abundant as the menu.E epicurean charlotte food & wine

chicken parmesan

grouper piccata

carolina prime steakhouse 225 e. woodlawn road charlotte 704.522.8170 new york strip steak

www.carolinaprimecharlotte.com

bacon-wrapped stuffed shrimp

courtney matinata; carolina prime steakhouse

hough Charlotte may hold claim on a variety of celebrated steakhouses, one in particular can be found calling your name when it comes to a cozy, casual setting for your meal out. Along East Woodlawn Road, just west of South Boulevard, sits Carolina Prime Steakhouse, a locally- and family-owned restaurant offering up plentiful portions of your favorite comfort cuisines.

Mary and George Liapis opened the steakhouse in 2005, with 40 years in the restaurant industry paving their way to success. (They are the former owners of Midwood Junction and Tryon House restaurants.) With a decade in the books for Carolina Prime, the sense of community that has since been established is impressively apparent. Upon crossing through a lush path of banana trees and fig blooms, you’re instantly met by a feeling of ease and familiarity. The Midwest décor stands guard over rows of booth seating, and the dim glow of tableside lighting bounces off the wood accents of this spacious and pleasingly laidback venue.

Due to the restaurant’s approachable demeanor, you’ll feel like family among the regulars that come on a weekly basis for the dishes they’ve come to depend on. And if you happen to have your family in tow, Carolina Prime is ready to serve up a feast fit for the whole group. Sporting a wideranging menu consisting of steak, chicken, pasta and fish, all at affordable prices, there’s surely something for everyone.

Sit down to a Steak House Chili or the Carolina Prime Spinach Salad to start, depending on your preference. Both will set the tone for the meal ahead, but make sure you leave plenty of room! There’s much more to devour.

With steaks being the obvious go-to choice here, you’ll be faced with the difficult debate of which cut to choose—Sirloin or Prime Rib? T-Bone or London Broil? I was fortunately relieved from impending indecision and served samples of a tender NY Strip (served alongside a shrimp skewer and a meltin-your-mouth baked sweet potato with cinnamon butter) as well as a juicy Ribeye, both cuts cooked and seasoned to perfection. The best part? The Shrimp Gambino accompanying the latter: shrimp stuffed with pepper jack cheese and wrapped in bacon, an irresistible mix of savory and spice to round out the plate. This clever creation also comes as an appetizer and is a definite must-try.

Amid the endless steak selections, don’t let the other options

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profiles of passion with the Pesto Prawn Alfredo or the Angry Orchard Pork Chop. For lunch, try the Prosciutto Fig Pizza or the Reuben Bison Burger. Crêpes, fritattas and cheddar biscuits and gravy await for Sunday Brunch.

Herrera Vineyards takes pride in its tradition of cultivating, harvesting and producing premium wines from fruit grown on Herrera properties. Presenting a wide variety of dry, semi sweet and sweet wines, Herrera Vineyards caters to every wine connoisseur’s tastes. All wine currently bottled is from the Herrera Vineyards, but there’s also wine in tank from grapes purchased from Shelton Vineyards and Olde Mill Vineyards, both in Dobson. This wine is in response to requests by customers, particularly for Chardonnay, and will be available next year.

Wanting to try something a little different from what you’d typically find in Yadkin Valley? Herrera Vineyards grows Tannat and Malbec grapes. These are not native to the area and are usually found in South America. Special care must be taken around weather concerns as growing seasons are longer in South America.

Herrera also grows Muscadine grapes, native to North Carolina, for sweeter wines that are popular with the region’s demographic.

Take a look at a few of Herrera’s award-winning wines. Herrera Vineyards introduced the first bottled Red Sangria from the Yadkin Valley in 2012 with much acclaim. With a bright lemon and lime aroma, it’s as inviting as its blackberry and citrus flavors. Enjoy this festive wine over crushed ice with an array of fruits. It pairs extremely well with Spanish Paella. Monica’s Red has a traditional grape flavor that’s rounded off with concentrated notes of red plum.

Supporting a fruity mid palate, it pairs well with a grilled burger or spring mix salad with blue cheese crumbles. Carolina’s White is a fragrant and light wine with abundant grape flavor. It has appealing tropical fruit and subtle pear notes. It pairs well with roast beef tenderloin or desserts such as lemon sorbet or key lime pie. Herrera’s Malbec is a medium-bodied dry red wine with hints of black cherry and raspberry as well as rich vanilla notes. Light oak and spice aromas make this a perfect pairing with pork loin or rack of lamb.

Winemaker Kevin Childers is committed to making the best wines possible with grapes grown in Yadkin Valley and putting Yadkin Valley on the map of fine wine-making country. Formerly in the fine dining and retail wine industries, Childers has accumulated an impressive knowledge of wines, pairings and tastings. He pursued his interests academically and graduated from the Surry Viticulture and Enology Program at Surry Community College, and his creativity and desire to expand his ideas have led Herrera Vineyards to seek out new varietals.

Herrera wines are currently available at the tasting room and can be shipped within North Carolina. Plans are underway for online ordering.

The property makes for an inspired setting for weddings. The large grassy expanse can be used for receptions, special events and festivals. There’s a two-bedroom luxury cabin equipped with a hot tub for rent on the property that sleeps four people and allows dogs.

Travelers as well as members of wedding parties can use the cabin.E

the tasting room extraordinaire at herrera vineyards by zenda douglas

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brian johnson

ne step onto the Herrera Vineyards property, visitors know that beauty and ambiance are important to the family that owns and operates this exquisite vineyard and winery. One taste of their wines, and they’ll know that quality is paramount.

Everything from the elegant and ornate landscape to the large and lovely water fountain serves to create a relaxed atmosphere in which visitors can enjoy the views and a special wine or dining experience with friends or family.

Herrera Vineyards is located off Highway 601 in Dobson, North Carolina, in the midst of the Yadkin Valley. In the beginning, the endeavor was the vision of Javier Herrera, a successful entrepreneur that, together with his wife, Adela, grew a Dobson business called Carolina Carports to locations in 38 states.

Herrera grew up in Mexico around vineyards and wanted to become involved with the wine movement in the Yadkin Valley.

Herrera started by planting vines on Joe Layne Mill Road in Elkin in 2007. There are still 32 acres planted there. In 2010, he purchased the Black Wolf Vineyards property, which had gone out of business in 2008. In 2012, Javier completely remodeled the former Wolf Lair’s Restaurant to be the Herrera tasting room, which opened in May of 2015.

Javier and Adela operate behind the scenes now, giving advice as needed. The Herrera Vineyards operation is owned and managed by the Herrera daughters, Monica HerreraRangel and Carolina Herrera-Ochoa.

The term ‘tasting room’ is an understatement here, as it refers to the entire building, which is modeled after a southwestern villa. Its terra cotta roof shelters a warm and comfortable interior that extols handcrafted design, including hand-welded bronze features. On one end, there is a tasting and beer bar. On the other, there’s a standup tasting area. Between the two is a full service, upscale casual restaurant that comes as a delightful surprise to many visitors. There is outdoor dining on the upper patio and lounging on the lower patio.

Chef Vincent Reece, who grew up in Elkin, North Carolina, is self-taught. Having worked previously in Washington, he brings northwest influences to Southern culinary art. He is also the former sous chef at Harvest Grill at Shelton Vineyards. With fresh ingredients being delivered every day and the incorporation of Herrera wines, Reece creates innovative dishes that satisfy demanding palates. At dinner, get started with the Sweet Chili Duck Wings or the Crispy Mac-n-Cheese Balls. Move forward volume 8 • issue 1

herrera vineyards 231 vineyard lane • dobson, nc 27017 herreravineyards.com • 866.313.8008 epicurean charlotte food & wine

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delicious snack tips for diabetics by bambie navarro

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nlike normal, healthy people, diabetics don’t have the freedom to eat whatever they want. If you’re a diabetic, you can’t eat foods that can make your blood sugar levels shoot up. Instead, you need to follow a strict diet plan, which your doctor or nutritionist will prepare.

Daxiao Productions/shutterstock.com; Eugenia Lucasenco/shutterstock.com

Following this diet plan is important if you want to keep you blood sugar levels at a safe and manageable range. However, most of the foods included in a diabetic’s diet don’t taste right. That’s the reason why most diabetics cheat on their diet.

That shouldn’t be the case with you, because the last thing you want is to make your condition worse. So, here are some snack tips you can enjoy but are safe enough to keep your blood sugar steady. Just remember, though, to consult with your nutritionist for more information on these snack tips.

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epicurean charlotte food & wine

other greens and start munching on those instead. They’re delicious when eaten fresh and even more delicious when dipped in a light salad dressing or non-fat yogurt.

Frozen Peeled Bananas And Grapes

Are you looking for a healthy snack that can keep you away from Type 2 diabetes? Here’s an awesome snack idea you can try—a frozen grape and banana combo.

Put some fresh grapes (20 pieces of red seedless grapes only have 100 calories) and a peeled banana in a sandwich bag and seal properly. Let it sit in the freezer for a while.

Enjoy a Handful of Nuts Once the fruits are frozen, take the sandwich bag out Nuts are known to have healthy mono-unsaturated of the freezer and indulge yourself with a refreshing and fats, and that’s why they can reduce cholesterol and healthy snack. minimize the threat of heart diseases. However, more than what nuts can do for the heart, nuts—like pecans, Enjoy a Few Decadent Bites Even as a diabetic, you can indulge in a square or two walnuts, peanuts, cashews and almonds—are packed of dark chocolate. with protein and “good” fat.

Research shows that dark chocolate can significantly Nuts will practically give you the same effects that crackers and pretzels would if you eat them. Therefore, improve markers of insulin sensitivity. Moreover, it eating the nuts mentioned above will not increase your can decrease fasting insulin and glucose levels, as well as insulin and glucose responses to the glucose tolerblood sugar.

You still need to be mindful of the amount of nuts ance test. You can enjoy your dark chocolate with dried you’ll consume, however, as they’re packed with calories apricots and walnuts or almonds. So go ahead and spoil as well. Learn how to limit yourself. Have enough nuts yourself! to fit the palm of your hands and limit yourself to eating Try Black Bean Salsa and Eggplant Slices those.

Over the centuries, eggplants have been consumed to keep blood sugar levels under control. Eggplants are Slice Up Raw Veggies as Snacks If you’re used to eating junk foods and have been low-carb vegetables and eating these will not increase diagnosed with diabetes, then it’s time to overhaul your your blood sugar.

You can incorporate salsa in your eggplant dish to eating habits. There is a much healthier snack alternative, infuse flavor in it. This yummy eggplant dish only has but it would require some getting used to.

Gather up fresh carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and 80 calories, a gram of fat and 15 grams of carbohydrates. volume 8 • issue 1

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Eat an Apple a Day

Make Fruit Smoothies

You don’t say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” just for the heck of it. Those words literally mean that a daily dose of apple provides immense health benefits.

For instance, an apple with the skin on has three grams of healthy soluble fiber. This can reduce cholesterol, thereby helping you avoid certain heart diseases.

Apples also contain a significant amount of antioxidants that fight off free radicals, so it curtails problems related to diabetes.

Besides, the sweetness of an apple is not enough to cause your blood sugar levels to rise.

Do you want something cold and refreshing to beat the heat of summer but are worried about your blood sugar levels? Worry no more because fruit smoothies are here.

Choose fruits that aren’t too sweet or fruits that are known to be “diabetic-friendly.”

Bananas are a great option. Chop a banana and combine half of it with 3/4 cup non-fat plain yogurt and a non-nutritive sweetener.

Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. You now have a cold, refreshing and healthy fruit smoothie.

Be Cautious on Snacks Labeled as "Low-Fat"

Sip a Small Cup of Veggies Soup

Seeing your favorite pre-diabetes snack now labeled as being “low-fat” could cause you to lose sight of your limitations.

You’d think that snacking on it would be okay since it’s low fat anyway.

In fact, and this is according to research, people who eat low-fat snacks actually eat 28 percent more of the snack than others do.

Perhaps the “low-fat” label isn’t so clear to them.

The truth is that low-fat snacks have fewer calories, but typically it’s only 11 percent fewer than the calories in regular snacks. You don’t need to do the math to realize that you’re still getting most of the calories you don’t need or want. So rather than opt for low-fat snacks, just remember to eat in moderation.

More often than not, you whip up a vegetable soup because you want to get rid of vegetables you have in your kitchen. However, this hearty dish can actually help diabetics.

Diabetics are constantly looking for healthy snacks they can eat that won’t trigger a rise in their blood sugar levels. A vegetable soup cooked in chicken stock with non-starchy vegetables like green beans, spinach, onion and squash can be a healthy, low-carb snack substitute for diabetics. A cup of vegetable soup is sure to make you feel full and satisfied.

Try Low-Fat String Cheese

A variety of low-fat cheeses is always a welcome addition to a diabetic’s diet plan. However, the ideal cheese to eat, which offers a lot more health benefits for diabetics, is string cheese.

String cheese can be made from one type of cheese or from a combination of two or more cheeses and are typically sold in individual, pre-packaged forms for easier portion control.

There are only 80 calories in a pack of string cheese, which makes it one of the few handy snack treats a diabetic can enjoy, especially since it is also a rich source of sugar-steadying protein.

Put Your Snacks on a Plate

Do you have a habit of eating food right from its pack?

Perhaps you’re fond of reaching into that jar of cookie or scooping up some chips straight from the bag. Well, if you do, then you should know that you are eating more than what is right and required. Do you know what that means?

The more junk food you eat, the more calories you gain. That’s the last thing you want to happen, especially if you’re a diabetic.

Low calorie intake is crucial to diabetics, so rather than reach into a bag for a handful (or more) of chips, place the snacks in small portions on a plate and immediately put away the bag of chips.

Make sure to eat only what is appropriate or required.

Bag Your Servings

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It’s a good idea to bag each serving of snack, filling it with just the right amount of goodies for that hungry stomach. Better yet, use single-serve containers where you can pack the snacks you’ll eat throughout the day.

Keep in mind that portion control is important when you’re a diabetic. So keeping your snacks in individual bags or containers is a good way to make sure you’re not going over your limit.

Besides, pre-packed snacks are handy, so you can bring them when you go to work, school or out to run some errands.

Add a Few Whole-Grain Crackers

Make sure to include a pack or two of whole-grain crackers— which are usually made from whole-wheat flour or rye—on your list the next time you shop for groceries. If those aren’t available, you can choose multi-grain crackers too.

Whole-grain and multi-grain crackers contain fiber, are low in calories and fat and practically have no sugar, so you can be sure they’re perfect for diabetics.

Nevertheless, if you want to add some taste to it, you can spread a small amount of peanut butter. Just make sure it’s a tiny amount so your blood sugar won’t shoot up.

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Keep an Eye on Snacks with More Than 150 Calories

Binge eating is a no-no for those who desire to lose weight, but even more so for diabetics. Eating too much at a time could make you lose track of how many calories you should be packing in. To avoid binge eating, eat snacks only when you feel hungry.

It doesn’t matter if you eat five times a day, as long as you exercise control. Eating small portions of food and snacks at correct intervals is the best way to address hunger pangs, and it’s an even better way to make sure you’re not bingeing.

For diabetics, the suggested amount of calories per snack pack is 150. If you think the snack you have in mind exceeds the caloric limit, measure the calorie content of the snacks you’re packing. Learn to track your calories so you’ll never go overboard. E Bambie Navarro is a freelance writer who graduated with a degree in Investigative Journalism, but her love for writing has prompted her to devote her time to writing lifestyle topics that most readers can relate to, especially on topics covering health and wellness.

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is tallahassee the new savannah? by kathy hoskins

w ©VISTFLORIDA

e know you love Savannah, Hilton Head Island, St. Simons Island and Sea Island.

They’re all quite lovely places. But before you book the same condo at the same beach this summer to see the same people you see at home in Charlotte every week, consider visiting a new destination.

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Explore the fascinating sights, sounds and authentic flavors along a U.S. Hwy 319, a scenic byway that rambles through South Georgia to Florida’s historic Capital City and on to the unspoiled beaches of St. George Island. Real road warriors can reach Tallahassee in less than eight hours, or use your frequent flyer miles to hop on a direct flight and arrive at Tallahassee’s regional airport in an hour and a half. Pick up a rental car at the airport, throw your bags in the trunk and be on your way. The giant arms of moss-draped live oaks reach out to welcome you to sunny Florida. Drive along one of nine official canopy roads that create over 78 miles of naturally shaded tunnels, enhancing the local beauty of gentle rolling hills, lakes and rivers.

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pick your plantation

You don’t have to live in Wisconsin to be a cheese head. Start your culinary pilgrimage to Georgia’s farm country by traveling east on I-10 for just a few miles until you reach U.S. Hwy 319, a not-so-long lost highway that winds through the countryside and leads you into the charming town of Thomasville. Get lost somewhere in the early 1800s as you drive north along the historic Plantation Belt, one of the largest collections of antebellum plantations in America. That’s when construction originally began on the 71 Southern impressive sites that still cover almost 300,000 acres in the 28-mile shady stretch between Thomasville and Tallahassee. Many of the historic homes are still utilized as sporting plantations, family homes and special event venues.

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the brass tap

cypress

the sweet life in thomasville

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handle the pan

Since the Capital City is located just 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in The Panhandle of Florida, it seems logical that Tallahassee’s thriving culinary community of farmers, chefs, cheese mongers and brew masters naturally know how to expertly handle an iron skillet and how to entertain. Tallahassee’s foodie scene offers authentic Southern regional cuisine, international fare, fine dining and farm-to-table specialties.

Start the day with a bountiful brunch at Backwoods Bistro or try breakfast delicacies at Paisley Café, where every menu item uses only three carefully-sourced ingredients. The grits actually taste like creamy clouds, handstirred for over an hour in a bubbling bath of water and fresh cream before they are perfectly seasoned and topped with a dollop of locally-sourced apple butter. The handmade scones are an equally heavenly treat.

Feast on local favorites, briny Apalachicola oysters and fresh seafood at the shady front porch seated outdoors beneath the live oaks or experience the elegant ambiance and inventive menu at Cypress. Locally-grown products like hand-crafted, naturally-aged cheeses from Sweet Grass Dairy, Tupelo honey from Full Moon Farm and smoked sausage and course-ground grits from Bradley’s Country Store are key ingredients in many of Tallahassee’s top restaurants.

sweet grass dairy the front porch

backwoods bistro paisley café

©VISTFLORIDA; ©Kathy Hoskins • kathy@brightideasgroup.com

Stop for lunch at Sweet Grass Dairy’s downtown cheese boutique and wine bar. Delicious pairings combine fresh, soft-ripened and naturally aged cow cheeses with signature jams, local honey, crunchy nuts and wine. Sweet Grass Dairy cows are barn-free, living the sweet life on a 140-acre Thomasville family farm and grazing on grass 365 days a year in the sunshine. Maybe that explains why the handcrafted, world-class cheeses are so mellow and why they can be found in some of America’s finest restaurants and markets.

Walk through quaint galleries, shops and cafés that line the well-worn sidewalks of the authentic small town. Grab a cup of organic java from Grassroots Coffee Company to get your blood pumping on your ride back to Tallahassee.

Stop just outside of town for a tour of one of the famous working plantations.

A place of quiet beauty and architectural grandeur, Pebble Hill Plantation is a living museum on U.S. Hwy 319 near Thomasville that offers a glimpse into the genteel life of the Southern sporting plantation of yesteryear. Stroll leisurely through extensive grounds to view the plantation’s scenic landscape and explore the many service buildings that surround the Main House. Visit the garage filled with antique automobiles and tour stables that house Pebble Hill’s beloved horses and vintage carriages. Guided tours of the Main House include access to view an extensive art collection by renowned sporting and nature artists and rooms filled with original antique furnishings.

get a room

Book a room at a downtown inn, stay at a budget-friendly neighborhood chain or find a hip boutique hotel. The

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Governor’s Inn is centrally located in the heart of downtown. Once a horse stable, the historic property has been transformed into an elegant private club-style hotel featuring rooms named after Florida’s past governors, located in the shadow of the capitol building near restaurants, shops and attractions. A complimentary continental breakfast and wine social hour give guests a reason to mingle in the wellappointed vintage bar. The canopied downtown streets are also lined with shops, open air markets, coffee shops and bars.

absorb the local culture

Tallahassee’s cultural community is actively engaged in creating new events and experiences for locals and visitors. The inaugural Word of South Festival recently paired songwriters and authors together in public parks and local venues for a hybrid series that was part concert, part storytelling, part interactive interview. The nationallyacclaimed Avett Brothers (my personal favorites) kicked off the weekend with a crowd-pleasing concert at the Capital City Amphitheater at Cascades Park, a new surprisingly intimate downtown venue with an excellent acoustic design that seats 3,000 of your closest friends. An eclectic mix of Tally nightlife hotspots include chic bars, soulful jazz clubs and college hangouts.

strap on the feed bag

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see what the brew-ha-ha is all about

Taste dozens of craft beers and learn to discern an amber from and IPA at The Brass Tap, a favorite neighborhood brewpub. Try the giant pretzels with mustard to cleanse your palate. If you prefer cocktails, raise your glass on the rooftop at Level 8 for a magnificent view of sunset in the Capital City from your al fresco perch while enjoying a charcuterie platter and a signature drink prepared by a mixologist. Relive your college days at a popular campus hangout like Madison Social (where bacon is a serious food group) or grab a bold bite from trendy food trucks that are conveniently parked near hopping hot spots.

choose the blues

Take a special trip down memory lane (which, in this case, is an old dirt road) and follow the tiki torches to the infamous Bradfordville Blues Club. The BBC is a one room cinder block juke joint that is hidden by fields of tall corn stalks and majestic oaks. The humble club has hosted an impressive list of nationally-renowned Blues acts long before the bar was built in 1964. African American artists who toured on the Chitlin Circuit in the 1930s often played at the Red Bird Café in Tallahassee. When the Red Bird closed for the evening, musicians headed out to the backwoods, where a big bonfire was burning, moonshine was flowing and the law was a little looser. The Henry family farm was the site of this musical magic, partly due to their homemade recipe called “buck” that helped keep the party going.

The BBC is still going strong today, and over 50 original portraits autographed by the “Kings and Queens” of the Blues serve as table tops and wall art. Look for Bobby Blue Bland, Clarence Carter, Guitar Shorty, Percy Sledge and Eddie Kirkland among the collection. Acclaimed blues artists play each weekend, but the BBC’s secret is out. Buy your tickets in advance online at bradfordvillebluesclub.com, because all seating is reserved, and look for your name on a barstool scratched on a piece of masking tape with a black magic marker. When the joint stops jumping during a band break, grab a cold beer and head out back to the infamous bonfire beneath the stars where Miss Ernestine’s crispy catfish is practically jumping out of the fryer. Chat with the headliners and hear stories about the legendary musicians who rocked the BBC stage, still located at 7152 Moses Lane in Tallahassee with a spot on the National Historic Registry.

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©VISTFLORIDA; ©Kathy Hoskins • kathy@brightideasgroup.com

Strap on the feed bag and continue your farm tour the following morning with a visit to Bradley’s Country Store, where the family has prepared and sold Grandma Mary’s fresh and smoked sausage recipes since 1927 at the quaint general store located on a pristine stretch on one of the famous canopied roads just 12 miles outside of Tallahassee.

The legendary sausage is put out on the counter only after much care and handling. Locally-sourced pork and special seasonings with undisclosed amounts of red pepper, black pepper, sage and salt are combined without preservatives or additives to create the signature sausages. A portion of the seasoned meat is stuffed into natural casings and hung in the onsite smokehouse to cure using the fragrant smoke from oak and green hickory to develop the distinctive flavor. Bradley’s old fashioned course-ground grits and sausage are highlighted on many local menus and packaged onsite straight from the historic gristmill and butcher shop.

This authentic country store seems more like a gourmet purveyor with local jams, jellies, preserves and honey stocked on vintage shelves. Locals and visitors flock to this scenic spot to order smoked sausage dogs and Cokes in real glass bottles. The lucky ones find an empty rocking chair on the front porch to enjoy their hand-held feast.

Others walk over to a shady spot by the pond to picnic.

For a sneak preview, order Bradley’s sausage and courseground grits at bradleyscountrystore.com for local home delivery.

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Only in Tally Traveler Tips!

burn baby burn

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Jingle your bells and sing carols where the first Christmas Mass was held in the U.S.

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Take a dirt road down to the Bradfordville Blues Club and order fried catfish from Miss Ernestine.

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©VISTFLORIDA; ©Kathy Hoskins • kathy@brightideasgroup.com

St. George Island State Park has 60 full-facility, pet-friendly Along with all of the food and beverage options, campground sites, including a playground. Another primiTallahassee has plenty of opportunities to burn a few tive campsite, accommodating 12 people, is also available. calories. One of the most innovative is Trailahassee.

Once just a nickname among active enthusiasts to for the birds Make sure you bring your binoculars and a camera! describe biking, hiking, running, paddling and equestrian Inside the state park, a 2.5-mile marked nature trail along trails in the Tallahassee area, Trailahassee is a single the bayside is especially popular among birder watchers, source of information for outdoor activities. Trailahassee. and a series of trails and boardwalks throughout the park com is an innovative website that incorporates 600 miles provides many wildlife sighting opportunities. Raccoons, of featured trails including basic information, videos, ghost crabs and loggerhead turtles share the St. George blog entries, photographs and interactive maps. Multiple stage with their feathered friends during different seasons search formats offer map views, list views, trail types, of the year.

St. George Island forms a barrier between the skill levels and activity-based content. Guests can even Gulf and the mainland, providing the first landfall for contribute to site content by tagging photos and posts migratory birds as they head north across the Gulf from with #Trailahassee. Live feeds from Twitter, Facebook Mexico to America during spring migration and as their and Instagram apps make sharing experiences easy for last takeoff location before returning to Mexico and South outdoor enthusiasts.

America in the fall.

Day trippers can find everything they need to actively retreat to the beach Get back on Hwy 319 and continue due south on the explore. St. George Island is also home to an eclectic collecfinal stretch of your adventure (about 75 miles) to St. tion of beach supply and sundries shops, bicycle, kayak and George Island, recently named one of the World’s Top beach gear rental shops, beach boutiques, souvenir and gift 10 Beaches by Dr. Beach—Dr. Leatherman measures 50 shops, galleries, ice cream parlors and specialty food stores. specific criteria to determine his annual beach rankings.

Look for the historic lighthouses along the way. catch of the day Authentic river-front dive bars and casual beachfront The area’s first lighthouse was built on Dog Island in 1873, but was destroyed by a hurricane just a few years restaurants dot the coast and serve fresh Apalachicola oysters, later. Reconstructed in nearby Carrabelle, it now serves harvested daily just a few miles away. Over 90 percent of as a welcome center and museum, where guests may Florida’s oysters originate in Apalachicola Bay and equal climb the lighthouse stairs and view historic artifacts. 10 percent of America’s annual harvest. Local fare is served Another noteworthy lighthouse was built in 1852 on in more than 30 area restaurants that offer fresh seafood Little St. George Island and stood for more than 150 specials prepared with oysters, clams, shrimp and blue crabs. years before collapsing into the surf in October of 2005. More than 186 species of fish are also found in the ApalaPreserved bricks and original pieces of the iron lantern chicola Bay estuarine system. Flounder, redfish, red snapper, room were salvaged, and a new lighthouse was recon- mahi-mahi, grouper, cobia, amberjack, Spanish mackerel structed in the center of St. George Island using the same and wahoo are just a sampling of the daily catches found patterns. Today, it’s considered a local landmark along the on local menu boards. Many chefs also patronize local and regional dairies, beekeepers, produce and livestock farmers forgotten coast.

Located on the eastern tip of the scenic barrier island, to provide the freshest in cheeses, honey, coffee, organic St. George Island State Park boasts nine miles of unde- produce and meats for their loyal patrons. veloped beaches and high dunes well-known for abundant Enjoy life’s simple pleasures, like scenic drives, oyster shelling and sea turtle nesting. The park is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the south and Apalachicola Bay, one harvests and homemade sausages. Picked fresh from the of the world’s last pristine estuarine systems, to the north. farm or caught fresh from the gulf, locavores love it. Get Occupying nearly 2,000 acres, park terrain is a fascinat- out there and experience new flavors. You can learn some ing combination of sandy coves, salt marshes, shady pines important life lessons from happy cows. Just smile and say and oak forest. Sleep beneath the stars or pitch a tent as cheese, please. E

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Stand on sacred ground at Lake Jackson Mounds, a center for Native Americans from A.D. 1200-1500.

Spot manatees year round while paddling down pristine rivers.

See the only archaeological evidence of De Soto’s expedition in North America.

Pick your own path to hike and bike through 600 miles of nature trails. (Trailahassee.com) Chew the fat and taste Grandma Mary’s famous sausage at Bradley’s Country Store, open since 1927.

Stand guard at a reconstructed 1600s Spanish fort at Mission San Luis.

Join a giant pep rally and cheer on the Seminoles at a 'Downtown Get Down' before FSU home games.

Attend a classical concert under the live oaks on the pristine lawn at Goodwood Plantation. www.VisitTallahassee.com

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banner elk culinary hot spot of the north carolina high country by zenda douglas

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©Todd Bush

hat could possibly enhance a winter getaway more than finding a culinary hot spot right in the middle of cold outdoor activities such as skiing and snowboarding?

The small mountain town of Banner Elk is just that spot—a place where big appetites are shared between exciting cuisine and exhilarating winter fun.

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Whether you’re seeking five-star white linen dining, upscale casual cuisine, down-home cooking or delicatessen favorites, Banner Elk has something special to offer. Let’s take a peek inside some of Banner Elk’s favorite dining rooms.

Banner Elk Café & Espresso Lodge is a gathering place throughout the day and evening. With two restaurants and an ice cream shop all connected by four outdoor or covered patios, it’s the quintessential “everything” dining establishment. Banner Elk Café has an extensive menu with delightfully surprising choices and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a coffeehouse environment. Warm up on the Lodge side, where baristas prepare your perfect cup of joe and bake homemade pastries fresh daily. When you’re hungry, be sure to check out the menu, which includes American, Mexican, Italian, deli and seafood dishes. And don’t forget the daily specials! From Eggs Benedict, big juicy burgers and fresh mountain trout to raspberry goat cheese salmon, the selection is varied, huge and delicious.

Enjoy delicious Creole or Cajun cuisine in a lovely, fine dining environment at Louisiana Purchase Food & Spirits, a tradition in Banner Elk for 28 years. The atmosphere of this 3-diamond AAA-rated restaurant is, at once, sophisticated and comfortable. With an awardwinning wine list including 14 wines by the glass from its Cruvinet system, the restaurant has been the recipient of Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Best of Award of Excellence” more than a dozen times. The innovative menu evolves with the changing seasons but will always include favorites like barbecue North Carolina shrimp, Cajun seafood étouffée and Creole jambalaya. The finest seafood and fresh local organic produce are the standard bearers here. Whatever magnificent dish you savor, save room for the restaurant’s famous Bananas Foster.

Lift your winter spirits and prepare to feast with a visit to Sorrento’s Italian Bistro, an upscale restaurant featuring Southern Italian cuisine. This restaurant features thirdgeneration family recipes from Sicily that date back more than 100 years. The warm décor is enhanced by perfectly dimmed lights that shimmer off of a copper clad bar and tabletops, setting the stage for romance or celebration.

Masterpieces by local artists adorn the walls. Don’t leave without trying the Tortellini Sorrento, specialty cheese pasta

with prosciutto, fresh basil and light tomato and cream sauce. Other favorites include Mrs. A’s Crab Cakes sautéed in secret lobster cream sauce and Chicken Scaperelli sautéed with sausage, garlic, peppers, onions and house spices over pasta.

The Dunn’s Deli slogan reads, “Sandwiches this good can’t be luck.” This writer agrees. It takes the highest quality ingredients, creativity and commitment, too. Stop in for an artful made-to-order sandwich served on breads and rolls baked fresh daily in house. Try Carter's Carolina Classic Burger with Dunn’s own High Country chili, Dixie cole slaw, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, yellow mustard and mayo—messy to eat but well worth it. For a corned beef and cabbage dinner in a sandwich, go for the St. Patrick— grilled corned beef and warmed potato salad are covered with melted muenster cheese and served on grilled rye bread with lettuce, sliced onion, deli mustard and a hint of horseradish sauce.

Laissez les bon temps rouler at the Bayou Smokehouse and Grill. Simply put, this laidback bar and restaurant has great food—Cajun, cowboy and seafood! Choose from the ‘Heart of Texas’ portion of the menu, perhaps the Bayou Smokehouse ribs or the Texas-style chicken fried chicken. Or, make a selection from the ‘Soul of the Acadiana’ menu with offerings like chicken and sausage jambalaya or the shrimp étouffée. For a satisfying lunch, try Bob’s King Ranch Salad; slices of Texas-style smoked beef brisket are served over mixed field greens with all the salad fixings. You can’t go wrong. The whole menu represents authentic Texas and Louisiana family recipes.

The Painted Fish Café and Beer Bar brings family and friends together to enjoy inspired cuisine and a creativelydesigned beer and wine program. The restaurant specializes in recognizable dishes—think comfort food—with a twist. Gather every last bit of the eggplant lasagna, with mini eggplant fried crisp and tossed with lasagna noodles, house-made marinara, fresh mozzarella, spinach, red onions, mushrooms and grated Parmesan. Allow your taste buds to run wild with “shrimp and mac” prepared with shrimp, crimini mushrooms and spinach blended with an herbed cheese sauce and cavatappi pasta topped with grated provolone and Parmesan baked golden. All the while, let your eyes feast on the colorful fish art that covers the walls.

sorrento's italian bistro

the painted fish café and beer bar

Whether you’re seeking five-star white linen dining, upscale casual cuisine, down-home cooking or delicatessen favorites, Banner Elk has something special to offer.

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banner elk café

dunn's deli

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bayou smokehouse and grill

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The list continues with numerous other noteworthy establishments. When nothing but a big, juicy steak will do, Stonewalls Restaurant is the fine restaurant of choice for miles around. The lovely Zuzda, with its intimate bar, is a casual American bistro focusing on eclectic small plates, and Puerto Nuevo is known for its freshly-prepared Mexican cuisine.

Meanwhile, a one-of-a-kind dining experience awaits at Artisanal. This seasonal fine dining restaurant, located in the upscale rustic elegance of a converted barn, was named among the 100 Best Restaurants in America in 2015

by OpenTable.com. The ranking is based on an analysis of five million reviews of more than 20,000 restaurants nationwide—all submitted by verified diners.

For complete dining options in Banner Elk, be sure to visit www.bannerelk.com.

the town and surround

Sitting at 3,740 feet above sea level, Banner Elk reigns over the North Carolina High Country with majestic views.

Year-round, visitors enjoy the magnificent mountain landscape by driving, hiking, boating or cycling through Banner Elk and the surrounding area.

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best western mountain lodge

banner elk winery perry house

©Todd Bush

Sitting at 3,740 feet above sea level, Banner Elk reigns over the North Carolina High Country with majestic views. In the winter, skiers bask in a winter wonderland from the slopes at nearby Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain, the two largest winter sports venues in the South. Year-round, visitors enjoy the magnificent mountain landscape by driving, hiking, boating or cycling through Banner Elk and the surrounding area. Each of the four seasons has its turn in the High Country, and each welcomes visitors with an abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Banner Elk’s annual Wooly Worm Festival in October has the deciding vote on how soon winter will appear.

Banner Elk is a college town, home to Lees McRae College. The college, with the highest elevation of any college campus east of the Mississippi, is known for its stellar programs. Among them is Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, which is the only one of its kind in the country. And its Daniel and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center welcomes visitors.

Get your bearings at the Banner House Museum by learning about the many people who came before you to Banner Elk and how they developed the town and the area.

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The home has been lovingly restored to reflect life in the mid-to-late 1800s and contains a fascinating collection of furnishings, tools, farm and kitchen gadgets, quilts, clothing and original documents and photographs.

Relax and taste the award-winning wines at Banner Elk Winery & Villa, the High Country’s original winery. Wine aficionados sample an excellent selection of dry wines, ranging from Seyval Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery also has a luxury bed and breakfast.

Make sure your Banner Elk itinerary includes stops at Wildcat Lake, a popular and beautiful place to gather with friends or to enjoy a solitary kayak tour, and Apple Hill Farm mountaintop farm and store, which is a must for families. Set atop Valle Mountain on the site of a 47-year-old apple orchard, the property is now home to alpacas, llamas, miniature donkeys, goats, horses and other animals.

When night is upon you, rest assured there are numerous places to lay your head in comfort.

The lovely Azalea Inn features rooms, suites and cottages and allows guests to wake up to a hearty and delicious breakfast, elegantly served. The one-acre property features award-winning gardens and is within walking distance of town.

Or, settle in at the Turnpike House Bed & Breakfast Inn, a fully restored mountain estate that was built in 1902. Meet people from near and far around the large and comfortable breakfast table loaded with scrumptious morning specialties.

Settle in at the very comfortable Best Western Mountain Lodge, which offers a rejuvenating respite from the day’s activities. Amenities include a delicious hot breakfast each morning accompanied by stellar mountain views, plus, it’s the only pet-friendly hotel in the area.

The historic Perry House, circa 1903, has been restored into a lovely country inn with furnishings designed by master craftsmen.

The Banner Elk Inn and Cottages offers traditional bed-and-breakfast accommodations and luxurious cottages and cabins all in a beautiful mountain setting across the street from Banner Elk Town Park.E

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places to go, people to see

through the grapevine

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The Wine Shop Dilworth has closed its Park Road location after 15 years and moved to a new location. The specialty wine retailer has relocated to 911 E. Morehead Street, Suite 400.

Be sure to stop by and say hello! www.thewineshops.net

Queen City Q is coming to Ballantyne.

The popular eatery will be opening their fourth location in the former Elwoods Barbecue and Burgers location at 16139 Lancaster Highway. The menu includes pork, brisket, ribs and sausage, and the eatery will have seating for approximately 100. www.queencityq.com

Midwood Smokehouse, Mama Ricotta’s and Paco’s Tacos & Tequila owner Frank Scibelli is bringing a new fast-casual Middle Eastern street food concept to SouthPark named Yafo. Located in the former Arooji's Wine Room space in the Morrison shopping plaza, Yafo will serve Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on Israeli and Middle Eastern foods.

Chef/restaurateur Bruce Moffett of Good Food on Montford, Stagioni and Barrington’s has been recognized for his leadership in the restaurant community.

Moffett was awarded winner of this year’s Pegasus Award from the Charlotte chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for his contributions to the betterment of the community. Way to go Bruce!

Doc Porter’s Distillery, the area’s newest grain to glass vodka distillery, has opened at 232 Petersen Street near South Boulevard. Owned by Andrew and Liz Porter, the distillery is open for tours on Fridays and Saturdays and has been approved for sale in state-run ABC stores. www.docporters.com

Lenny Boy Brewing Co., the organic kombucha and beer company is on the move. They’ve signed a 10-year lease for a 31,000-square-foot building on S. Tryon Street, and plans include a roughly 1,800-square-foot taproom. The new facility will also have private event space and is expected to open in early spring. www.discoverlennyboy.com

The Yellow Rose at Touchstone Shopping Center has closed after 15 years as development revs up around it.

The staff of will be moving over to Lure Oyster Bar on Rea Road, which is also in the Sprowles family, along with Bradshaw Social House. www.lurecharlotte.com

A popular new pizza concept is headed to South End this March. Located at 1750 Camden Road, Blaze Pizza is a California-based pizza franchise—inspired

by Chipotle—founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel, co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels.

The chef-driven pizza concept is known for its made-from-scratch dough and use of artisanal ingredients on the assembly line. Pizzas are “fast-fire’d” in 180 seconds for a crisp crust. There’s also a signature pizza and salad section available on the menu. www.blazepizza.com

Check out our new website! Get up-to-date information on events and news around town, view past issues and more. While you’re there, become our friend on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. www.epicureancharlotte.com

Dennis Thompson is at it again! Viva Chicken is headed to the Park Road area where the fast-casual eatery plans to open its fourth location in Charlotte.

The 3,330-square-foot location at Park Road and Montford Drive is planning for a late summer opening. www.vivachicken.com

One Life Raw Juice Bar is opening on Selwyn Avenue, taking the place of the former Selwyn Cleaner’s. With a focus on helping customers maintain and enjoy the ‘One Life’ that has been given to them, they’ll offer raw vegan tapas, veggie based smoothies, cold press juices, nut mylks, holistic juice cleanses and more. www.oneliferawjuicebar.com

Clothier Bruce Julian is now selling his famous Bloody Mary mix and other goodies at BlackLion and at his clothing store on Selwyn Avenue. The perfect gift for any occasion, it starts out sweet and finishes savory, with just enough heat, and tastes like homemade every time. brucejulianbloodymary.com epicurean charlotte food & wine

All the merriment of the season is over and it’s back to the same old routine. Blah. It’s hard not to get the blues, so why fight it? Instead, come out to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and hear the Ziad Jazz Quartet perform post-holiday blues. bechtler.org/programs/jazz-at-the-bechtler

february Queen City Brewers Festival 06 QCBF

showcases Charlotte-area breweries and brewpubs,

craft beer-focused restaurants, cafés and bottle shops.

Each brewery and exhibitor will serve a variety of its beer and/or food for guests to sample, and works by local artists and live music will be on hand as well. qcbrewfest.com

26 Southern Spring Home and 22 Queen’s Feast Restaurant Week -28 Garden Show

like royalty at dozens of Charlotte’s finest restaurants -31 Dine

for one delicious price. Over 100 upscale restaurants will See the latest kitchen and bath trends and shop for offer three courses (or more) for only $30 per person. www.charlotterestaurantweek.com

home and garden accessories and products with convenient, one-stop shopping for all your home and garden needs. www.southernshows.com/sss

Wine 101: In Vino Veritas 23 Release Krispy Kreme Run 4 Reading 27 The

your inner sommelier! The knowledgeable staff season’s most exciting challenge consists of a 4-mile 31 at Total Wine & More will teach you how to identify

symbiot/shutterstock.com

Terra Restaurant, located beside Starbucks on Providence Road in Eastover, has closed. Be on the lookout for something new to take the French restaurant’s space. Good luck to our dear friend Thierry—Epicurean Charlotte will surely miss you.

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08 Jazz at the Bechtler

Chop’t Creative Salad Company has announced plans for their second Charlotte location in the Blakeney development in Ballantyne. Charlotte has the first Chop’t locations outside of New York and Washington DC, and the Chop’t in Blakeney will be one of their larger stores at over 3,700 square feet. choptsalad.com

Charlotte’s newest craft brewery, Thirsty Nomad Brewing, has started construction on its 3,900-square-foot space at 4402 Stuart Andrew Boulevard off of Clanton Road.

Thirsty Nomad will offer a variety of beers from pale ales to chocolate stout with a steampunk aesthetic and a healthy dose of geekiness. Plans are to rotate different seasonal offerings such as pumpkin beer in the fall and explore other offerings such as sours and barrel-aged brews during other parts of the year. They plan to open early in 2016. thirstynomadbrewing.com Elwood’s Barbecue & Burger Bar, located in Ballantyne, has closed its doors. The restaurant opened in 2009 and has operated under owner Jeremy Johnson since 2013. Known for their locally-sourced ingredients and fresh-prepared food, both the retail location and the catering business have ceased operations.

january

the key components of wine, how to score it and how to serve it. You’ll also explore how to pair wine with the right foods to make your next dinner party a success. www.totalwine.com

28 Blowing Rock Winterfest

Join the Village of Blowing Rock as they celebrate the fun side of winter. From the Chili Cook-Off to Winter Paws and the icy Polar Plunge to WinterFeast, there’s something for everyone!

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loop through downtown Rock Hill with a brief stop on the campus of Winthrop University, where partic ipants will down a dozen donuts as fast as they can before racing back to the finish line. Proceeds benefit The Early Learning Partnership of York County. run4reading.racesonline.com

27 Stanly County Winter Wine Festival

Taste some of N.C.’s finest vineyards up close and share good times with friends in downtown Albemarle. They’ll be tasty treats and live music as well.

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taking inventory at pasta & provisions l to r: Zack Mason, Tommy George, Dylan George

epicurean charlotte food & wine

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class reunion at north myrtle beach l to r: Don Hudgins, Linda Dewberry, Patti Sledge, Linda Seligman, Jack Rosenblatt, Mike Stevenson (photo by Charmaine Adamo)

toys for tots & the fantastic shakers at lynn’s dance club l to r: Sandy Kelly, Sgt. Adam Hollis, Sgt. Esmeralda Ramirez, Tom Bare, Barbara Lovejoy, John Lindsay

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king crabs at sullivan's steakhouse l to r: Reuben Carter, Brandy Maddox, Hencey Fenton, General Manager Mike Palo

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toys for tots benefit at del frisco's steakhouse l to r: Larry Freeman, Sgt. Raven Petterson, Cpl. Isaac Romos, Cpl. Zacchary Lane, Chris Doty

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scene around town

grabbing a glass of wine at portofino's l to r: JoBrent Austin Diehl, Zoe Politis, Bill Diehl, John Corcoran

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local flavor

fresh flavors to start the new year bloody mary meatballs

bonnie julian • brucejuilianbloodymary.com

sauce: meatballs: • 1½ lb ground beef • 32 oz bloody mary mix • 1¼ c italian breadcrumbs • 6 oz tomato paste • 1 onion, minced • 14.5 oz crushed tomatoes • 1 egg, beaten • ¼ c brown sugar • ¼ c parmesan cheese, grated (light or dark) • 1 tbsp picante pepper sauce • 1 tsp bloody mary rimmer Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix the beef, rimmer, breadcrumbs, onion and egg. Roll into balls, place in the freezer for 30 minutes, then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the meatballs in the preheated oven for 16 minutes if appetizer sized or 25 minutes if entrée sized, turning once.

In a large pan over low heat, combine the bloody mary mix, tomato paste, crusted tomatoes, picante pepper sauce and brown sugar. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes. Add baked meatballs and simmer for 45 minutes. If using a slow cooker, combine the last two steps and simmer for an hour. Serve as an appetizer, in a bowl over pasta or in a hoagie for tailgating.

decadent crab dip chef vincent reece • herrera vineyards

ingredients: • 1 c sour cream • 10.5 oz cream cheese, softened • ¼ c mayonnaise • ⅛ c lemon juice • ¼ c worcestershire sauce • 1½ tbsp whole grain mustard

• • • • • •

1 garlic clove, minced 1½ lb crab meat 1½ tbsp texas pete ½ tbsp old bay seasoning 2 c cheddar cheese, shredded 2 c fresh parmesan for garnish

Mix the cream cheese, mayo and sour cream until very smooth. Pour in the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Texas Pete. Mix well.

Fold in the garlic, Old Bay seasoning, whole grain mustard, cheddar cheese and crab meat. Place the mixture into a large cast iron skillet, top with the Parmesan cheese and cook at 350°F until mixture is hot and cheese is golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

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words to live by

the juice

Peel, Core and Slice Apples in a Flash

Wash Up with Soap That Looks Good Enough to Eat

"Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant, unless of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.”

$29.95 • www.surlatable.com

$14.00 www.outlawtradingco.com •

Great for apple desserts, dried snacks and more, this handy gadget quickly turns apples into spiral rings that are great for cooking and snacking.

Constructed from durable cast iron with an attractive and durable enameled finish, it features a suction-cup base to prevent sliding during use. The adjustable peeler helps eliminate waste, and the ergonomic handle provides a secure, comfortable grip. Also great for potatoes.

This bacon soap, from homemade soap company Outlaws, looks and smells like a big slab of breakfast meat. Any bacon lover in your life (we’re sure there are many) will enjoy not only the novelty of this gift, but also the practicality of it. It suds up and gets you as clean as any other bar of soap, and even better, it’s vegan and not tested on animals.

$39.95 • www.cuisinart.com

Pop healthier popcorn with hot air!

The Cuisinart EasyPop™ Hot Air Popcorn Maker is exceptionally easy to use. Kernels go into a popping chamber—no oil is required—and hot air sends up to 10 cups of popcorn up and out the chute right into a waiting bowl.

And it all happens in less than 3 minutes! Available in black, red or white.

Sear It All with Searzall

$75.00 • www.bookeranddax.com/searzall

The Searzall is an attachment secured to the top of a blowtorch to create the perfect searing temperature without the off-putting aromas that typically result when cooking with blowtorches. By forcing the thin flame of the blowtorch through two layers of fine, high-temperature-resistant wire mesh, it produces a consistent, evenly spread flame that provides a professional quality finish to meats and other food items. Searzall is compatible with the Bernzomatic TS8000 torch head and 16.4 ounce propane tank.

Open a Modern Baking Guide with Timeless Roots from $75.00 • mantry.com

Hot Bread Kitchen is a bakery that employs and empowers immigrant women, providing them with the skills to succeed in the culinary industry. The tasty corollary of this social enterprise is a line of authentic breads you won’t find anywhere else. Featured in some of New York City’s best restaurants and carried in dozens of retail outlets across the country, these ethnic gems can now be made at home with The Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook, recently voted the cookbook of the year by Yahoo! Food.

Add Bubbles to Every Beverage in Your Fridge $110.00 • idrinkproducts.com

DrinkMate takes soda streams to the next level. With the ability to carbonate more than just water, you can easily transform your favorite white wine into a sparkling wine, rejuvenate a growler of craft beer that’s gone flat or turn any of your favorite drinks and cocktails into a bubbly beverage. With DrinkMate, you’ll stay hydrated all day long, save calories and eliminate harmful chemicals found in other sparkling beverages.

MJTH/shutterstock.com

Make Movie Night Extra Fun (and Healthy)!

joan collins

Live Free.

Dine Hard.

BAYOU

he in t

The Heart of Texas The Soul of Louisiana

High Country of North Carolina

FEATURING FRENCH, CREOLE AND CAJUN CUISINE IN THE HEART OF BANNER ELK SERVING DINNER:

Tuesday-Saturday Opening at 5:30pm RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED:

828/898-5656

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Wine Spectator’s Award Of Excellence 1990-1995 Wine Spectator’s Best Of Award Of Excellence 1996-2013

www.e p icu re an c h ar l o t te .co m

volume 8 • issue 1

WI N T E R I S BETTER HERE

Great restaurants, cozy lodging and family fun.

BannerElk.com • 844-824-6777