Feast Food Tour: Local Flavors of NoDa

While in Charlotte Labor Day weekend my sister and I went on a food tour. We toured the neighborhood known as North Davidson. It was a little different from the one I went on in Chicago. We covered a smaller area and had less food (I was still hungry after this tour), but more beverage and just as much history and culture. 

We met at Revolution Ale House where we had pizza and tried craft beers on tap. We were able to tour the kitchen and talk to chef. The pizza was thin crust and absolutely delicious. It is named for the neighborhood, NoDa, and has pulled pork and a balsamic sauce drizzled across the top that plays well with the pork and cheese flavors. They serve a wide selection of local and craft beers. 

Revolution Ale House

The second stop on our tour was The Bodega. This place is pretty secluded. If you don't know the neighborhood you'd probably never find it. Its a small convenient store with beer, wine, and other random goodies like yellow stone ground grits (yes I bought some). It has a deli counter and you can create your own sandwich. The owners are pretty cool people too! Look it up and stop in!

Heist Brewery

Heist Pizza

Heist Brewery seemed like a really cool place. Its a brewery turned restaurant. They make all the beer right there in the restaurant where you can also sit and enjoy artfully prepared foods. The pizza was an incredibly thin crust, crisped to perfection. We had one with duck, a veggie one with eggplant, and one with bacon, tomato, and green onion that tasted like a BLT. All were very good, even the duck which I usually don't eat because of the texture (too fatty). 

Heist is the brain child of a former scientist turned craft beer maker and his friend the chef and caterer. The owner (scientist) was very friendly and we were able to have a nice conversation. I wish we could have stayed longer. I can't wait to go back!

Salud

The next stop we met a man, his wife, and their toddler at Salud. They have a wide selection of local and craft beers. I tried a watermelon and jalapeno that they had on tap. Unfortunately, I tried the watermelon after the jalapeno so I couldn't really enjoy it, but the jalapeno was great. 

FuManChu Cupcakes

In the same space we met a tattooed older gentleman serving up cupcakes made with Guinness. All of his cupcakes are made with booze and definitely unique. You won't get a plain vanilla, chocolate, or red velvet cupcake with this guy. 

The second to last stop was Smelly Cat Cafe. I'm not a coffee drinker, but it's such a cute place. The decor is nice and there's actually plenty of small tables for lingering despite the small space. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the products and the beans are all roasted in house. While others in my food tour tried the Colombian coffee, I tried mango iced tea. They also had really delicious no bake treats! Stop in!

Smelly Cat Cafe

The last stop was Dolce Vita, a wine bar, where we tasted multiple wines. A few whites, a couple reds. I was also able to try a South African wine, which I can best describe as exotic. It tasted like safari. In a way that a spiced wassail tastes like the holidays. The flavor was so different from all the other wines I have tasted. I loved it!

Chicago Style Pizza

Giordano's

So worth the wait! They tell when you sit down that deep dish pizzas may take 45 minutes, but if you have the time go for it. I went with a couple colleagues from the conference I was attending. I had been drinking a bit and was starving, so in addition to the pizza we ordered, I ordered an Italian beef sandwich. The beef was great, tender and juicy. 

We had a medium, half sausage, and half cheese. It came with six slices which was plenty for the three of us. On most pizzas my favorite part is usually the crust; Giordano's was no exception. It may have been the alcohol talking, but I told one of my colleagues the crust was like hot buttered biscuits on Sunday. She agreed! The cheese was delicious and fresh. Out of the three Chicago-style stuffed pizzas I had this is hands down the best! Go!

Pizano's

I visited Pizano's as the first stop on my Tastebud Tour. The pie was delicious even at 11 in the morning. Our tour guide informed us that the owner's grandmother still comes in a few times a week to make the dough for the crust. The crust was great and I love the simplicity of just tomatoes instead of "sauce"! Yum!

Gino's East

My colleague and I went here after leaving Portillo's because it was down the street and we had time to kill. My least favorite deep dish. I didn't like the crust which you know is my favorite part. It was pretty much down hill from there. I don't really have anything good to say about it. Sad day!

Other Uses for Biscuits

Being single and usually cooking for one, leaves me with a lot of leftovers. Every now and again I like to have biscuits for breakfast. The can comes with 8 and I generally only eat 2; what to do with the rest? I decided to make donut holes and mini pizzas.

Breakfast

Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes

2-3 Grands flaky layers biscuits
1/2 cup oil for frying
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

In a small saucepan heat the oil. Cut the biscuits into quarters, drop into the oil, and fry until golden; it only takes a couple minutes. Meanwhile, mix the the cinnamon and sugar. Fresh from the fryer toss the donuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Eat!

Lunch

Mini Pizzas

2 Grands flaky layers biscuits
4 tbsp pizza or pasta sauce
1/4 mozzarella
Your favorite toppings

*Note: Pillsbury has tons of recipes to try using their products.

In Worcester

Woosta Pizzeria

I ordered a chicken bacon ranch white pizza from a take out place down the street from my sister's apartment. When I ordered the girl mentioned it was a good choice, so my expectations were high; it did not disappoint either. The thin crust was spread with a creamy ranch sauce and topped with tomato, onion, bacon, and chicken. Good stuff!

Club Maxine's - Sunday Brunch

Ended up here for brunch this past Sunday. I think I found them on Yelp or Urbanspoon. It was a great spread with the usual omelette station with all the fixin's and carving station with turkey, ham and roast beef. There was pasta and Caesar salads, salmon, tilapia and chilled shrimp, bacon, sausage, eggs Benedict, bbq chicken, potatoes, and beef with gravy. Not to mention muffins, french toast sticks, pancakes filled with spiced apples, and Belgian waffles. I was really looking forward to a Belgian waffle because they had fresh berries and whipped cream, but the batter was way too thick (too much flour I'm sure) making the waffle dry and dense; disappointing to both of us (my sister and I). At first glance the pancakes looked like pigs in a blanket, so I decided to pass. Then I realized it was apple inside. They were cooked perfectly fluffy and delicious; definitely a highlight of the meal. Overall good food and good value because the $21 buffet also includes a mimosa or bloody mary. The buffet runs from 10-2pm so I would recommend making a reservation and going early.

Wings Over Worcester

For a "wing" joint, this place had amazing ribs. I chose the golden bbq sauce (mustard base) which was perfectly painted on each bone of the St. Louis style dry rub ribs; they weren't slathered or over sauced. The platter also included boneless wings which were, lets face it, chicken tenders. They were huge and served by the pound. Most places boneless wings are a third of the size of one from Wings Over. With plenty of dry rubs and sauces to chose from, I got garlic parm. Hands down best I've had and I actually plan on replicating the dry rub/batter at home. Check the website they may have one in your city! Unfortunately there isn't one in Baltimore but the next time in Worcester I will be ordering. By the way, delivery is free!