Try a vegan chocolate truffle bar this month, or sip a Peanut Butter Jelly Time
Will March bring an early spring or an unexpected snowfall in Charlotte? While we may not know what the weather will bring, we do know that a lot is going on in the Queen City in March. Spring menus are rolling out, St. Patty’s Day celebrations are being planned, and events are being thrown in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8.
We’ve rounded up some of the updated menus, drink options and daily specials this month, as well as some events and culinary-focused news. (If prices are not listed, they are not yet available.)
(1) Amélie’s French Bakery & Café
Multiple locations
Amélie’s is debuting a Vegan Chocolate Truffle Bar this month at all locations. It’s made with a toasted coconut, almonds, dates and coconut oil base plus coconut milk, raw sugar, cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate and agar agar topped with fresh raspberries. It will be added to the menu as a year-round offering.
(2) Catawba Brewing Co.
933 Louise Ave.
Catawba Brewing Co.’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time (a light brown ale made with whole roasted North Carolina peanuts with a 5.7% ABV) will be making its annual return on March 6. This year, there will be four flavors to enjoy: raspberry and strawberry-rhubarb, along with new peach and red currant flavors. To celebrate the release of this beer, Catawba will also be hosting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich eating contest on March 7, with proceeds benefiting the Charlotte Lab School.
(3) Cicchetti
100 N. Tryon St.
In March, Cicchetti is adding new items to its small plates and shareable entrees menus, as well as a new cocktail offering.
New bruschetta toppings, served with olive oil crostini:
Acciughe made with white anchovies, red onion, Sweety Drop peppers and olive oil. ($4)
Fagiolo, made with borlotti bean purée and olive oil. ($4)
Additions to the small bites menu:
Baccala, which is salted cod served with grilled focaccia bruschetta and crispy shoestring potatoes. ($12)
Gorgonzola Dolce is a soft blue cow’s milk cheese served with Italian Amarena cherries. ($15)
Ubriaco is a trio of drunken cheeses: Nero d’Avola, Raboso and Recioto di Gambellara. ($15)
Crochette of crispy mashed potato, herb and Parmigiano croquette with pesto panna fresca. ($7)
Verdure is made of grilled artichoke hearts, seasonal squash, roasted carrot purée, feta, herbs and olive oil. ($7)
New to the cocktail list:
The Rialto: Made with Plantation Barbados 5-year rum, lychee, lime, pink peppercorn syrup and Samuel Smith’s organic pear cider. ($12)
(4) Honeysuckle Gelato
340 E. 16th St.
Located in Optimist Hall, Honeysuckle Gelato will be debuting its spring 2020 gelato flavors in March. Flavors include slim mint (vegan), lemon basil blackberry, creme brulee, Irish coffee, honey lavender and pistachio.
(5) Pins Mechanical Company and 16-Bit Bar+Arcade
307 W. Tremont Ave.
Pins Mechanical and 16-Bit in Charlotte are launching a new seasonal cocktail menu, including the Snoop Dogg, which is gin, pineapple juice, lime, ginger ale and mint ($10) on March 4.
(6) The Goodyear House
3032 N. Davidson St.
Now open in NoDa, the Goodyear House has added chef Chris Coleman’s favorite snack (served during lunch and dinner) to its bites menu: Marinated East Coast shrimp served with mignonette butter, chile oil and saltines. ($9)
(7) Sea Level
129 E. 5th St.
This month, Sea Level is debuting a new Tiki Cocktail called My Blue Heaven, which features Myers Jamaican Dark Rum, banana-infused coconut cream, mango gomme syrup, lime and blue Curaçao. ($13)
(8) Sukoshi
101 S. Tryon St., #120
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Menu updates at Sukoshi for March include:
Big Bites (served with white or brown rice)
Emperor chicken is chicken fried with a spicy chili glaze, topped with sesame seeds. ($10)
Stir-fry broccoli is served with carrots, onion, sesame garlic soy; choice of chicken or beef ($9) or shrimp ($12).
Lo mein noodles is served with carrots, cabbage, and garlic and onion soy sauce; choice of chicken or beef ($9) or shrimp ($12).
Teriyaki style garden vegetables, citrus teriyaki glaze; choice of chicken ($11), salmon or shrimp ($14).
Ramen noodle bowl served with pork belly, miso broth, bok choy and spicy garlic oil. ($11)
Munchie Bites
Eggrolls ($5 for two eggrolls)
Tokyo chicken wings ($8 for five wings)
Shishito peppers ($6)
Crab rangoon ($5 for four)
Sides
Stir-fry vegetables ($4)
Garlic green beans ($4)
(9) YAFO Kitchen
Multiple locations
This month, YAFO will debut the Harissa Salmon option on its menu.
Deals
(10) Bulla Gastrobar
4310 Sharon Road
Bulla Gastrobar launched a “pick two” lunch menu for $12.95. Pick from options including the salmon carpaccio, the ‘Bulla’ burger, the patatas bravas and the Andalusian gazpacho.
(11) Carpe Diem Restaurant
1535 Elizabeth Ave.
Monday-Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. it is “Appy Hour” at Carpe Diem. Appetizers (served in the lounge area) are half-off and include dishes like the Korean fried carrots served with gochujang, peanut and ginger. On Tuesday, in addition to half-off appetizers, house cocktails (like the Casamigos Delicioso) are 1/3 off.
(12) Dilworth Tasting Room
300 E. Tremont Ave.
Dilworth Tasting Room is rolling out a new special on Wednesdays. Enjoy $9 oysters and half-priced bottles of select champagne and sparkling wine.
(13) Hickory Tavern
Multiple locations
From March 14-17, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Hickory Tavern will be offering Irish car bombs ($6), corned beef and cabbage ($13.99) and 32 oz. Miller Lite pitchers ($7).
Events
Morning Lift: Mindful Meditation
March 2, 7:30 a.m.
Optimist Hall
1115 N. Brevard St.
Chilean Wine Dinner with Verónica Cousiño
March 4, 7 p.m.
Foxcroft Wine Co., SouthPark location
7824 Fairview Road
Wine Dinner with winemaker Laura Brennan
March 4, 6:30 p.m.
Salud Cerveceria
3306, N. Davidson St., C
March 4, 7-8:30 p.m.
Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar
4905 Ashley Park Lane, Ste. J
March 5, 7-10 p.m.
Angeline’s
303 S. Church St.
First Annual Neighborhood Oyster Roast
March 7, Noon-5 p.m.
The Waterman
2729 South Blvd., Suite D
Pig & Brew Dinner: featuring OMB Brewery
March 8, 6-8 p.m.
Haymaker Restaurant
225 S. Poplar St.
International Women’s Day Event
March 8, 9 a.m.
Optimist Hall
1115 N. Brevard St.
Whisk(e)y School with Gary Crunkleton
March 14, 3 p.m.
The Crunkleton Charlotte
1957 E. 7th St.
St Patty’s Day Party at The Hobbyist
March 14
The Hobbyist
2100 N. Davidson St.
March 14, 9 a.m.
Optimist Hall
1115 N. Brevard St.
Reid’s Fine Foods Presents True Italian Legends
March 17, from 5:30-8 p.m.
Reid’s Fine Foods, SouthPark location
4331 Barclay Downs Drive
South African Wine Dinner with Zingo Munger
March 17, 7 p.m.
Foxcroft Wine Co. Dilworth
1235 East Blvd., #I
Women in Wine Uncorked at Barcelona Wine Bar
March 17, 6-9 p.m.
Barcelona Wine Bar
101 W. Worthington Ave., Suite. 110
March 21, 3-4 p.m.
Dot Dot Dot
4237 Park Road, Unit B
March 24, 7 p.m.
Foxcroft Wine Co. Waverly location
7416 Waverly Walk Ave.
Stand-up Comedy Night
March 26, 7 p.m.
The Hobbyist
2100 N. Davidson St.
March 26, 5-11:40 p.m.
Dot Dot Dot
4237 Park Road, Unit B
OH Well: West Kept Secret
March 28, 9 a.m.
Optimist Hall
1115 N. Brevard St.
A Spirited Luncheon with Elijah Craig & Larceny Bourbons
March 28, 3-5 p.m.
The Crunkleton Charlotte
1957 E. 7th St.
Sound Bath Meditation
March 29, 7:15 p.m.
The Hobbyist
2100 N. Davidson St.
RSVP required (thehobbyistclt@gmail.com)
News
- Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend has rebranded as Charlotte Wine & Food. Tickets are now on sale.
- South End’s future whiskey and cigar bar, The Vintage, released renderings of what the masculine, smoky “Mad Men” environment will look like when completed.
- Imagine One Hospitality announced the appointment of Hickory restaurant Cafe Rule’s Executive Chefs Rick Doherr and Dave Robbins as directors of culinary design.
- Crepe Cellar Kitchen & Pub will be launching a new monthly dinner series this month. These dinners will be intimate with only about 12-15 seats, and each event will feature a theme.
- AC Hotel Charlotte SouthPark announced its rooftop concept, Cordial, will open in the spring. The 5,500-square-foot space will offer seating for up to 100 guests.
- Charlotte-based restaurateur The 5th Street Group plans to open Church and Union, the group’s first restaurant in Tennessee. It will open in Downtown Nashville in winter 2020. Church and Union will be the latest addition added to The 5th Street Group’s portfolio, which includes restaurants 5Church Charlotte, 5Church Charleston, Sophia’s Lounge and Tempest Restaurant. Meanwhile, 5Church partner Chef Jamie Lynch will be competing for another shot at culinary supremacy on Top Chef’s Season 17, set to premiere on March 19.
- Asheville’s Buxton Hall Barbecue and two-time James Beard Award-nominated pitmaster-owner Elliott Moss have joined forces and will host the inaugural Buxton Hall Smokeshow on May 17 at Highland Brewery.
- Tacos 4 Life has announced its second North Carolina location will open in mid-2020. The fast-casual taco restaurant is partnering with Franchisee Chip Ladigo to open his second of five locations in the Charlotte area. The restaurant will be located at the Arboretum next to PetSmart.
- Billy Sunday opened on Feb. 24 at Optimist Hall. This is the second location for the Chicago-based cocktail bar.
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
