Recently in Charlotte Category

The James Beard Foundation, the country's premiere culinary organization, is hosting a "Taste of the New South" dinner in New York on Nov. 10, featuring chefs Kirk Gilbert and J. Kelly Morrow of the five-Mobil star Gallery Restaurant at The Ballantyne Resort in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The chefs are preparing a five-course menu that embodies their commitment to the "earth to table" concept, including house-made cheese and charcuteries, barbecue glazed squab breast with Grateful Growers ham hocks, lamb merguez and a poussin torchon. The menu will be accompanied by North Carolina wines from Childress Vineyards.

The Beard dinner is a tough ticket to get, but if you can make it to the Ballantyne Resort on Oct. 16, you can get a taste for yourself at a special preview dinner at Gallery. The $85-a-person event will feature a similar menu to the New York event (including the dishes listed above), as well as a pre-dinner reception. Make your reservation in advance at 704-248-4100.

Life in the South is much slower than rest of the country — and no meal epitomizes the slow life better than brunch, that easy meal that combines the best of breakfast and lunch and lets you wake up an hour or two later than usual. Even in the financial hub of Charlotte, brunch is a fine way to spend a weekend morning.

Eddie's Place is widely regarded as having the best brunch in town. It's heavy on classic Creole and Southern cooking, with fried chicken, oyster po'boys and a rare specialty, she-crab soup. Breakfast is served all day, including fluffy omelets and biscuits and gravy from scratch. For a more laid-back vibe, head to the nearby Village Tavern, where brunch is served on a huge patio overlooking the woods.

A bit closer to the Westin Charlotte, I recommend the Pewter Rose Bistro, about a mile southwest on South Boulevard. It's a spacious and friendly room, with an eclectic menu ranging from Bananas Foster French Toast to lobster chowder to a fried mortadella sandwich — ideal for satisfying a group of brunchers with divergent tastes.

As one of the great cities of the South, Charlotte has maintained a tradition of Southern cooking even as it has become a major financial and business center. And nothing says Southern cooking to me like soul food. Fortunately, Charlotte boasts some incredible soul food joints, including several within easy reach of the Westin Charlotte.

Head straight up College Street and you'll find yourself at Mert's Heart and Soul. You'll be charmed by the friendly, laid-back atmosphere and thoroughly satisfied by the succulent ribs, savory salmon patties and copious Southern sides. A little further north is Simmons Soul Food, a hole in the wall with some excellent smothered pork chops.

Should you find yourself up near the University, you owe it to yourself to check out Down to the Bone. The fried chicken is made fresh to order (so expect to wait about 15 minutes for it at dinnertime), the white board menu changes daily, and the crowd ranges from college students to local workers and even police. (You know the rule, if the cops are eating there, it must be good!)

Delicious food is reason enough to travel, isn't it? If so, USA Today has the makings of a nice transcontinental journey as it unearths four well-reviewed restaurants that are serving some of the most delicious food in the country today. In Charlotte, North Carolina, diners are feasting on simple but mouth-watering fare at Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen (pictured), which offers a variety of crowd pleasing dishes such as linguine with clams, a roasted chicken hand pizza, seared sea scallops, and grilled duck breast. Then head on over to Austin, Texas for an amazing steak dinner at III Forks. Prime rib, New York Strip, and rib-eye are grilled to perfection here, and the fish dishes are great as well. Continuing west to Las Vegas, Nevada, T.C.'s Rib Crib has spare ribs, beef ribs, and baby back ribs that are as good as barbecue gets, and it all goes well with fried okra and sweet potatoes. Finally, it's California here we come! Mehran restaurant in Sacramento serves up high-end Indian and Pakistani dishes that use a sophisticated blend of spices, creating flavors that you'll remember long after you've gone home. Starwood has hotels near all these restaurants, including the Westin Charlotte, the Sheraton Austin Hotel, Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa, and the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel.

[image via USA Today]