Q: When your flight out of CLT is cancelled

Charlotte – What to do when you’ve driven two hours to Charlotte International Airport for a morning flight, it’s cancelled due to bad weather at your destination, you’ve spent hours in various lines, and are re-assigned to an early morning flight the next day? You book a room and spend the rest of the day tooling around Charlotte. We landed at Amélie’s French Bakery, named one of North Carolina’s 10 Best Bakeries, for a couple hours R&R; reading and researching on the Internet. Love the space. Love the pastries. Love the espresso drinks. The baked goods are amazing. Three full cases of them. Below is a “side” room with lots of additional seating. Don’t be surprised if crowds come in, forming a line that winds throughout. Sit back with your treat and espresso drink, taking in the show. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are also available. See all menus here. Epicurean Note: We were at the “mother ship” location, but there are also two more Charlotte locations, a Rock Hill, SC location and an Atlanta, GA location. Amélie’s French Bakery 2424 N Davidson St. Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 376-1781

Question 1

Hog Farmer, Chef and ‘Barbecue Man’ - PICNIC now open

Accepted Answer

Durham – ‘Barbecue Man’ Wyatt Dickson and chef/partner Ben Adams have teamed up with Green Button Farm’s Ryan Butler to open PICNIC, a modern roadside barbecue joint where authentic whole hog barbecue – smoked slowly over oak – will share the plate with Adams’ seasonal Southern sides and desserts (1647 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC. www.picnicdurham.com; @picnicdurham).

Wyatt Dickson, who developed a cult-like following catering ‘Pig Whistle’ barbecue to friends, family, chefs and Crooks Corner’s Carolina ‘Cue Wednesdays, will use Green Button Farm’s heritage breed pigs exclusively at PICNIC.
“Once I discovered pastured pigs, there was no looking back,” explained Dickson, who prefers these pigs for their flavor and well-marbled fat. “These hogs are bred well, and raised well – on squash, pumpkins and acorns – and they develop naturally, so it really lends to cooking and honoring the whole animal,” says Dickson. “This is what it’s all about for us, to see these healthy hogs our family has raised used for such a delicious tradition,” explained Green Button’s Ryan Butler.
The smokers – like the pastured pigs – are all part of PICNIC’s plan to deliver authentic North Carolina barbecue, sustainably. Dickson custom-designed his smokers with fuel efficiency in mind. Innovative, eco-friendly and smart, they burn less fuel, and give him precise control over smoke and temperature.
Dickson’s whole hog barbecue is always pulled to-order – never chopped – and finished with his Pig Whistle sauce, dubbed the “Great Carolina Compromise” for its combination of vinegar and tomato. Lexington or Eastern style? Piedmont-style barbecue, according to Dickson.
Picnic will serve as an inspired meat-and-three destination thanks to Chef Ben Adams, who earned 4-stars and a loyal following as Executive Chef of Durham’s Piedmont in 2014. To serve alongside Dickson’s Whole Hog Sandwiches with Green Goddess Dressed-Slaw, Adams will tap into local farms to produce the Southern dishes expected at a community barbecue.
Southern classics – “old school” Brunswick Stew, Blackened Catfish, Pig Whistle-brined Deviled Eggs, and Bacon-Braised Collards – will share the table with progressive Southern restaurant fare – Smoked Buttermilk Fried Chicken, NC Crab Beignets, Braised Short Ribs, craft cocktails, Fullsteam and Ponysaurus on draft.
Pastry Chef Maddy DeBoer’s “from scratch” Southern classics – cakes, hand pies, and cobblers – are updated, but recall the unfussy sweets that were once standard fare at pig pickins’ across the South. Don’t leave without trying her Moscow Mule layer cake – an adaptation of a Coca-Cola Cake – the layers made with gingerbeer, lime curd filling and ginger-lime cream cheese frosting.
The wait is over. Get your hands on what has already been called, “next generation ‘cue” at PICNIC, serving Monday through Saturday 11am to 11pm. Sunday brunch coming soon…
PICNIC
1647 Cole Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(310) 779-1865

Question 2

When your flight out of CLT is cancelled

Accepted Answer

Charlotte &#8211; What to do when you&#8217;ve driven two hours to Charlotte International Airport for a morning flight, it&#8217;s cancelled due to bad weather at your destination, you&#8217;ve spent hours in various lines, and are re-assigned to an early morning flight the next day?
You book a room and spend the rest of the day tooling around Charlotte.
We landed at Amélie&#8217;s French Bakery, named one of North Carolina&#8217;s 10 Best Bakeries, for a couple hours R&R; reading and researching on the Internet.
Love the space. Love the pastries. Love the espresso drinks.

The baked goods are amazing.

Three full cases of them.

Below is a &#8220;side&#8221; room with lots of additional seating.

Don&#8217;t be surprised if crowds come in, forming a line that winds throughout. Sit back with your treat and espresso drink, taking in the show.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are also available. See all menus here.
Epicurean Note: We were at the &#8220;mother ship&#8221; location, but there are also two more Charlotte locations, a Rock Hill, SC location and an Atlanta, GA location.
Amélie&#8217;s French Bakery
2424 N Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 376-1781

Question 3

The 10 Best Bakeries in North Carolina

Accepted Answer

Have a sweet tooth like me? These 10 Best Bakeries in NC are listed from West to East across the state, but not ranked within the list.
Many of these bakeries sell at their local farmers&#8217; markets. Check their websites for details.
Karen Donatelli Cake Designs (by Appointment Only) (Asheville)
1000 Hendersonville Road Suite 1
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 225-5751
Owner/Chef Karen Donatelli creates gorgeous confections, including the most sublime cakes and pastries. Donatellis has converted from a retail space to an appointment only format outside of downtown. Kept her bakery on this list just in case you want to order a custom cake or pastries. She&#8217;s that good.
Image: facebook.com/KarenDonatelliBakeryCafe/
Image: facebook.com/KarenDonatelliBakeryCafe/
Underground Baking Co. (Hendersonville)
352 7th Ave E
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 674-7494
Co-owners Lisa and Matthew specialize in breads, but they bake plenty of pastries, too. Two of my favorites are their Almond Horns and Christmas Bread. They&#8217;ve been at their Historic 7th Ave. location for 5 years now, enticing locals and visitors alike to visit a part of town they&#8217;re helping revitalize.
Image: Underground Baking Co Facebook Page
Image: Underground Baking Co Facebook Page
Flat Rock Village Bakery (Flat Rock)
2710 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 693-1313
Flat Rock Village Bakery is housed in a cute building warmed by a wood-fired oven used for baking breads, pastries, and pizzas. If there are any left by the time I get to the bakery, I usually get a Turnover &#8211; any flavor. In warmer weather, find a seat on the spacious deck in the shade under one of the large Magnolias.
Image: Flat Rock Village Bakery Facebook Page
Image: Flat Rock Village Bakery Facebook Page
Amélie&#8217;s French Bakery & Café (Charlotte)
2424 N Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 376-1781
Amélie&#8217;s team of owners describe their shop as a &#8220;Parisian shabby chic bakery and cafe serving French inspired fare.&#8221; All I can say is Vive la France!
Image: Amelie&#8217;s Facebook Page
Camino Bakery, Coffeehouse, and Winebar (Winston Salem)
310 W 4th St
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 721-9990
Camino is one of those sweet spots that anchors a neighborhood. This one happens to be downtown Winston Salem. They have a nice loose leaf tea selection, in addition to espresso drinks, that can be ordered by the cup. If you prefer your cuppa with tea in a bag, they&#8217;ll hand tie one for you.
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant (Durham)
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 401-2600
A terrific German bakery/cafe. Love this place for a meal, fresh-baked bread, and pastries. Be sure to check out their yearly Oktoberfest celebration and seasonal Christmas Stollen.
Guglhupf
Guglhupf
Loaf (Durham)
111 W Parrish St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 797-1254
Owner Ron Graff bakes in a 30,000 pound custom wood-fired oven and has set up Loaf in the European tradition; a neighborhood shop where you pick up your fresh-baked goods, rather than a bakery/cafe. Accordingly, Loaf’s interior might be considered minimalist with a bread rack, pastry case and coffee hot pots.
Stop in for items you want to take home, to a friend&#8217;s place, or on a picnic.
Loaf Durham
La Farm Bakery (Cary)
4248 NW Cary Pkwy
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 657-0657
With his wife and partner, Missy, Lionel Vatinet opened La Farm Bakery in 1999 and hasn&#8217;t looked back since. The star here is definitely bread. Vatinet is an acknowledged expert bread baker. He authored the well received book, A Passion for Bread.
I&#8217;ve run into Lionel at the Asheville Bread Festival, Beaufort Wine & Food Festival, and many other events over the years. He&#8217;s an exceptionally nice guy.
Nichole and I stopped in at the Cary &#8220;mother ship&#8221; for lunch and dessert in September. There are plenty of delicious sweet treats made at the bakery, too.
The Peppered Cupcake (Wilmington)
105 S Front St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 399-1088
More than 80 unique flavors from sweet to savory &#8211; served warm. What more could you ask for in a cupcake? Next time I&#8217;m in Wilmington, it&#8217;s a Ginger & Pear cupcake for me! Wait &#8211; maybe the Bourbon Black Cherry & Vanilla Cobbler? No, the Strawberry Basil Cobbler sounds really good. Anyone up for sharing?
Image: The Peppered Cupcake Facebook Page
Image: The Peppered Cupcake Facebook Page

Category: NC Piedmont

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