Charlotte’s top dining destinations: Reid’s Fine Foods
The Chef: Chef Lewis Donald
Reid’s Fine Foods Corporate Executive Chef Lewis Donald received his culinary arts training at Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta and The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Historically, Reid’s Fine Foods has been a neighborhood grocery and restaurant for the Myers Park community. With the SouthPark location, Chef Donald loves that they are creating a new identity.
“We introduced the wine bar concept in 2010 with the new location on Selwyn Avenue. With the SouthPark location, we’ve expanded upon that by more than tripling the number of people we can serve,” he says.
Decisions on the expanded menu came from teamwork. Chef Donald works very closely with Reid’s Fine Foods SouthPark executive chef Truong Le, as well as sous chef, Josh Bryant. They each contribute to the recipes through discussion and tasting, and modify each as needed.
Chef Donald says, “It’s an exciting time to be on the team at Reid’s Fine Foods!”
The Look: Southern Comfort
The new SouthPark location of Reid’s Fine Foods is the epitome of Southern style with modern flair. Reid’s Fine Foods collaborated with acclaimed interior designer Barrie Benson on the project. Benson was inspired by the southern tradition of Reid’s Fine Foods, mixed with the modern SouthPark address. This style is reflected with the menu and overall atmosphere of the restaurant.
Established in Charlotte in 1928, Reid’s Fine Foods wants their customers to feel the nostalgia of the original Reid’s Fine Foods, as well as the company’s expanding commitment to Charlotte. Bright colors and a light wood bar set against the dark green wall in the wine bar were chosen to help guests feel welcome. Natural light cascades into the dining area from a wall of windows along the banquette and on the other side of the bar. From the wine bar, you can also see out onto the expansive patio, the perfect setting for Spring and Summer nights with a glass of wine and a modern Southern meal.
The Dish: Pecan Encrusted Trout
The Pecan Crusted N.C. Rainbow Trout is one of the newer dishes in the SouthPark wine bar. Reid’s Fine Foods’ team of chefs collaborated on this dish, and the entire menu, making sure each and every item was up to Reid’s Fine Foods’ standard of quality Southern cuisine. The North Carolina trout is encrusted in pecans from Young Plantations (Florence, S.C.), atop a sweet potato cake and charred broccolini. The pecans from Young Plantations are what really set this dish apart from others.
Reid’s Fine Foods is the only market and restaurant in Charlotte where you can enjoy the southern tree nut from Young Plantations. The crispiness of the pecans, coupled with the soft sweetness of the sweet potato cake, make this dish a standout on the wine bar menu. Other standouts on the SouthPark Wine Bar menu include the FGT (Fried Green Tomato) Lobster Salad and the Seared Ahi Tuna.
Reid’s Fine Foods: 2823 Selwyn Ave. & 4331 Barclay Downs Drive, Charlotte.
This story was originally published April 24, 2016 at 10:10 PM.