Patrick, SC Food & Drink and More

A young chef in Charlotte, praised by Michelin, weaves a story worth tasting

The moment a cut of heritage pork belly or the jumbo shrimp hits the pan isn’t the moment the meal begins at The Story of Mi Cariño , the South End restaurant that opened in January. Turn the page back 20-some years, and you’ll see how deep the roots go. After all, the story of chef Hector Gonzalez-Mora and The Story of Mi Cariño are inextricably intertwined. It starts with his childhood memories in Los Angeles. Then his teenage years in Huntersville. And now, the latest chapter — as the 34-year-old winner of the 2026 Michelin Guide American South Young Chef Award , an honor that recognizes chefs with exceptional potential who are already “ making waves .” Gonzalez-Mora is following in the footsteps of culinary royalty. Last year, which was the first time the award was given in the South, the honor went to 22-year-old E.J. Lagasse, who is the youngest chef ever to lead a two Michelin star restaurant, Emeril’s in New Orleans. He’s also the son of superchef Emeril Lagasse. For Gonzalez-Mora, claiming the Young Chef Award in the guide’s second year in North Carolina is no small feat. Neither is landing a new restaurant that’s rooted

thecharlotteweekly.com

South Charlotte Restaurant Inspections (Oct. 29-Nov. 4)

The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected these food establishments from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4:. • La Sa Son by Winter, 4200 South Blvd. – 92.5. • 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen / Bar One Lounge, 6815 Phillips Place Court – 88.5. • Cook Out, 10645 Park Road –...

Charlotte, NC · 3d

fastfoodclub.com

Seven North Carolina Country Cookin’ Restaurants Where Thanksgiving-Style Plates Are Served Year-Round

Why wait until November for turkey, dressing, and a pile of sweet potato casserole? Across North Carolina, from the mountains around Asheville and Cherokee to Raleigh, Charlotte, and small Piedmont towns, a handful of country cooking spots keep the holiday plate on the menu all year. Some serve it every...

North Carolina · 2d

Charlotte Observer

Café serving sweet and savory crêpes heads to South End. When does it open?

Hazelnuts Crêperie’s internationally-inspired treats can soon be found in South End Charlotte. The restaurant is poised to open a new location at 1750 Camden Road, just off West Boulevard, at the Camden Gallery Apartments. Owner Asi Agajan told CharlotteFive he’s aiming for an early 2027 debut. It will mark the crêperie’s second location; the other is on Rea Road in South Charlotte. “We originally started in uptown Charlotte in 2012, where we operated two locations, so we’re especially excited to be returning so close to where it all began,” Agajan said. Hazelnuts Crêperie offers both sweet and savory crêpes alongside espresso drinks from local roaster Enderly Coffee Co . Breakfast options include the “Americana” — made with eggs, cheddar, smoked turkey, avocado, spinach, tomato, red onion and a chipotle aioli. The delicate, French-style pancakes are typically enjoyed as a dessert — and there are plenty of indulgent options on the menu. “The Maple Dream” is topped with butter, powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup. Other treats include the Banana Nutella, Berry Delight and S’mores à la mode. What’s worth trying at Charlotte’s new Wegmans? Go for the sweets and sourdough “We’re not just a dessert or breakfast restaurant,”

thecharlotteweekly.com

partner publisher · 368.0K followers

Matthews-Mint Hill Restaurant Inspections (Oct. 29-Nov. 4)

The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected these food establishments from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4:. • Konark Meat Market, 11328 E. Independence Blvd. – 92.5. • McAlister's Deli, 2217 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 99 • Poke Honolulu, 10416 E. Independence Blvd. – 98.5. • Rack'em Pub &...

Mecklenburg County, NC · 3d

Mens Journal

Restaurant Workers Say Their SSNs Were Used to Pay Undocumented Migrants

Two former Firebirds Wood Fired Grill employees in Huntersville, North Carolina, allege their Social Security numbers were used to employ other workers after they left the restaurant—one reportedly finding $20,000 in wages he never earned on his W-2. Police are investigating, and Firebirds says it is cooperating.

Huntersville, NC · 4d

familyvacationsus.com

Hungry For More Without Overspending? Try These 10 North Carolina Buffets

A whole pig foot shows up on the menu at one of the buffets on this list. Yes, the entire thing. That was the moment I knew this roundup needed to happen. Another spot tops its salad bar with boiled shrimp. A third, up in the mountains, opens at 7 in the morning and keeps Southern classics rotating into the evening.

North Carolina · 18h

Charlotte Observer

partner publisher · 11.9K followers

Charlotte restaurant inches closer to Davidson debut. When will doors open?

Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen is bringing its seasonal, Southern fare to another Charlotte-area community. The restaurant from Noble Food & Pursuits is headed to Davidson, with plans to set up shop in the revamped Sadler Square Shopping Center, according to a social media post. Chef Kevin Darr, chief culinary officer for the restaurant group, said the restaurant is aiming for an early 2027 opening.

Charlotte, NC · 3d

Tega Cay Sun

York County Restaurant Inspections Turn Up One C And Seven B Grades In October

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture conducted 291 restaurant and food service inspections in York County in October. Seven of those inspections resulted in a B grade and one resulted in a C. The remaining 283 inspections earned an A. The month’s only C went to Subway #29005 on East Liberty Street in York, which...

York County, SC · 2d

familydestinationsguide.com

The Enormous Flea Market In North Carolina Where $40 Fills Your Whole Car

Somewhere between Gastonia and the South Carolina border, tucked into the honest, hardworking community of Bessemer City, North Carolina, there’s a flea market that will make you question every financial decision you’ve ever made at a regular retail store. The 161 Flea Market is where forty dollars stops...

Bessemer City, NC · 9d

familyvacationsus.com

These 10 North Carolina Bakeries Might Have The Apple Pie You’ll Crave All Autumn

A Wilmington pie shop stays open until 11 PM on Fridays, and yes, apple pie is part of the deal. I love the idea of a late-night slice when most bakeries have long since turned off the ovens. That was only the start of my apple pie rabbit hole. One...

North Carolina · 18h

familydestinationsguide.com

partner publisher · 8.9K followers

This Tiny South Carolina Bakery Has Handmade Donuts That People Are Obsessed With

Nobody plans to become obsessed with a donut shop, and yet here are the people of Rock Hill, South Carolina, completely devoted to MoMo Donuts and not even a little bit sorry about it. This small bakery has developed the kind of following that most restaurants spend years trying to...

Rock Hill, SC · 2d

Axios Charlotte

Pertinacious Coffee is opening a cafe near Park Road Shopping Center

Pertinacious, a local speciality coffee brand that started with a mobile cart, is opening its first standalone shop in Montford. Why it matters: The expansion marks a major milestone for 23-year-old founder Emma Layman, who has built a loyal following by sharing the behind-the-scenes reality of running her small business on social media. Driving the news: Pertinacious is aiming to open in mid-January 2027 inside Centro Montford, a new apartment development near Park Road Shopping Center. A rendering of what the Montford Cafe will look like (it's currently under construction). Rendering: Courtesy of Emma Layman Catch up quick: Layman started Pertinacious with a coffee cart in 2024 and later expanded to The Club , a fitness and coworking space in South End. She told Axios in September that monthly sales had grown from $8,363 to $29,156 in one year. Pertinacious will continue operating its cafe inside The Club after the Montford storefront opens. What to expect: The roughly 700-square-foot shop will have a handful of indoor tables and an outdoor patio. The menu will feature all the specialty coffees customers already love, including the blueberry vanilla latte, which Layman says has sold more than 6,000. The new cafe will also

fastfoodclub.com

Even In Leaf Season, These Seven North Carolina Ice Cream Dairies Keep The Cones Coming

Fall in North Carolina usually means apple stands, pumpkin patches, and long drives to see the leaves change. But plenty of farm dairies across the state keep scooping right through the cool months, and honestly, a cone tastes just as good in a light jacket. The seven stops on this...

North Carolina · 1d

mindfullyamerican.com

Buc-ee’s Is Coming to Louisiana, North Carolina and Georgia in 2027

A new Buc-ee’s can mean a new place to fill up and, for some people, a new place to clock in. Construction has already started at each site, though opening dates are still targets. Here are the new Buc-ee’s stores coming to Louisiana, North Carolina and Georgia in 2027....

North Carolina · 1d

mindfullyamerican.com

North Carolinians, Virginians and South Carolinians Who Shop at Food Lion Can Earn a $20 Coupon Before Thanksgiving

Your Food Lion receipt probably ends up wadded in a pocket before you reach your car. But this fall, the line printed at the bottom is worth reading. It shows how your in-store trips are adding up, and it’s easy to miss while you’re juggling grocery bags. Here’s...

South Carolina · 4d

fb101.com

FARE Opens in Charlotte, Bringing Seasonal, Clean Eating Beyond Chicago

For eight years, FARE has been making the same bold argument on Chicago blocks: fast food can actually be real food. Now that argument is traveling. On Friday, November 6, 2026, the female-founded, better-for-you fast-casual brand opens FARE Queensbridge Collective — its first location outside its home market and the first real test of whether a clean-label concept built in the Midwest can resonate in a new metro.

partner publisher · 226.1K followers

WSOC Charlotte

Club West Brewing undergoes major overhaul under new owner

Club West Brewing, the South End brewery formerly known as Sycamore Brewing, has changed ownership as it prepares for a major overhaul of its operations.

Charlotte, NC · 3d

familyvacationsus.com

We Found 10 North Carolina Restaurants Where Hearty Meals Don’t Cost A Fortune

A diner in one small mountain-state town still builds its lunch fame around a pork chop sandwich. Not a steak. Not a fancy burger. A pork chop, tucked between bread, and people plan whole trips around it. That detail made me curious about the rest of North Carolina. I wanted...

North Carolina · 4d

Charlotte Observer