The Newbie Foodie
-
A Tale of Two Charlotte Takeouts: 300 East and Mama Ricotta’s
Typically, pizza and Chinese food are staples of the takeout trade, but a year into a pandemic that’s kept most folks out of restaurants well after they’ve reopened with restrictions, takeout has become a do-or-die for almost anyone in the Charlotte food industry. Of course, not all foods lend themselves…
Read More » -
Little Mama’s Italian Serves Up Big Plates in SouthPark
Since moving to Charlotte from Chicago, it seemed like I forgot how to speak Italian, as in food. While it was my regular go-to in Chi-town, I have ignored one of my favorite cuisines since moving to the Queen City. Shortly after landing here, an acquaintance recommended Mama Ricotta’s as a…
Read More » -
My Favorite Food in Charlotte After One Year of Exploring
My first trip to Charleston and the recent one-year anniversary of my move to Charlotte — followed closely by my debut Queen City Nerve column — got me thinking about what exceptional food experiences I’ve had in Charlotte over the last year. What is great food? It’s not an easy…
Read More » -
Venturing Back Into the Restaurant Scene at Stir in South End
Watching the crowds flow into Stir, a recent entrant into a burgeoning food scene developing on South Tryon Street in South End, one would think there’s nothing going on in the world — certainly not a pandemic. Charlotteans are fleeing their abodes for the great outdoors, meaning patios, and this…
Read More » -
Lincoln’s Haberdashery, a Strong Contender Hidden in Plain Sight
After I wrote my Charlotte Sandwich Shootout story earlier this year, I discovered a contender that would have totally shaken up my standings had I noticed it sooner. What surprised me was that I had been driving past it ever since I moved to Charlotte. Tucked away in the Factory…
Read More » -
REVIEW: Three Charlotte Pizza Parlors Square Off
Coming from Chicago, I have high expectations when it comes to pizza. And I really didn’t know what to expect of the Charlotte pizza scene. When you hear Chicago-style pizza, most people immediately think of deep-dish, which many describe as more of a casserole than a pizza. If you look…
Read More » -
Sea Level Steps Up After Worrisome Start
Darrell Horwitz is The Newbie Foodie. He has recently moved to Charlotte from Chicago and is on an unbiased search for what’s good and what’s not, unaffected by the hype surrounding renowned restaurants and unaware of the top local chefs whose names are repeated endlessly in outlets across the city.…
Read More » -
The Charlotte Bargain Burger Showdown
While living in Chicago, I had the fortune to feast on the burgers of Au Cheval, named the best burger in America by Bon Appetit magazine in 2012 and a regular on other national best burger lists. Let me tell you, it’s not hyperbole. So I’m confident that I know…
Read More » -
Rai Lay Lives up to High Expectations
In my introductory Queen City Nerve column, I mentioned my love for spice. For those who didn’t read said column, I’m new here (hence the overly corny column name), and before leaving Chicago for the Queen City, I had one of the best Thai restaurants in the Windy right across…
Read More » -
The Newbie Foodie: Sandwich Shootout
Discovering a good sandwich shop is a lot like finding a good friend. They are not easy to come upon, but once you do, you don’t want to give them up. Being a recent transplant from Chicago, and without a lot of coin to commit to eating, a sandwich can…
Read More » -
A Birthday in The Cellar Leaves a Bad Taste
Birthday dinners are very important to me, and mine came up shortly after moving to Charlotte from Chicago. After doing a little research, I chose The Cellar at Duckworth’s. The question was: Would The Cellar at Duckworth’s be up to the challenge? Located in Uptown, the restaurant resides below Duckworth’s…
Read More » -
Flower Child Is Health Food With a Hippie Vibe
When I hear the term flower child, I picture a young hippie girl with torn jeans, sandals on her feet, and her thumb out hitching a ride. Her destination would probably be the restaurant of the same name. An offshoot of a healthy food concept that started in Phoenix in…
Read More » -
The Newbie Foodie: A Seat at the Dogwood Southern Table
Special occasions demand a special place to celebrate. My one-year wedding anniversary happened to land on the day after my wife and I moved to Charlotte. Searching in my phone for places to eat, I made an astonishing discovery: A lot of restaurants in Charlotte are closed on Sunday. Welcome…
Read More » -
New Column Will Feature First Look at Queen City’s Food Scene
Change is never easy, especially when you’ve lived in one city your entire life. You know where everything is, you know what you like, and in my case, you know your favorite spots to eat. Since I live to eat, that’s very important to me. Moving to Charlotte from Chicago…
Read More »
