fun escapes family reunion Charlotte Style For the Grisdales, every family reunion is made better with food. But they don’t always agree on what to bring to the table. So this time they brought a bit of everyone’s favorites from the local hometown hot spots. Can someone pass us a piece of cornbread already? by Heather Martin Jeffcoat 84 July/August 2012 • Cooking with Paula Deen www.cookingwithpauladeen.com • July/August 2012 85 fun escapes menu J im and Doneata Grisdale have lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, all of their lives and have raised three beautiful daughters there, too. Over the years, they’ve seen the area flourish, growing into, as Jim says, “a friendly city that still has a small-town vibe.” Their daughters are married now and have families of their own. Two settled down in Charlotte, and the other made home in Winston-Salem, but they get together whenever possible for family reunions. And when they do, it involves lots of food and loads of fun—two things Charlotte can fully accommodate. The city has a huge selection of restaurants that can please any palate and entertainment that can immerse you in nature, virtually transport you to pit row to change a race car tire, or put you up close with science experiments and exhibits. A typical Grisdale family gathering revolves around plenty of feasting, rounds of golf, and visits to local attractions. But perhaps the biggest draw, as son-in-law Michael Applegate explains, is the spirit of the city itself. “Northern transplants like me can really appreciate how easy it is to connect with people here and very quickly and enthusiastically adopt similar attitudes,” he says. “The way people treat each other in Charlotte is the way God intended us to be.” Tomato–Goat Cheese Bruschetta Deviled Eggs Aunt Beaut’s Fried Chicken Carolina Beef Brisket Spinach Salad with Pimiento Cheese Fritters Macaroni and Cheese Margaux’s Succotash Cornbread Banana Pudding Fruit Tart You can enjoy a taste of Charlotte right WEB EXTRAS in your own home. For recipes to make some of the restaurant dishes featured in this story, visit cookingwithpauladeen.com and click on Web Extras. 86 July/August 2012 • Cooking with Paula Deen July/August 2012 87 fun escapes Charlotte Food Scene Around every corner in Charlotte, there are restaurants booming with their own flair and flavor. The Grisdales have their own favorites, some of which bring to mind distinct memories of first dates and celebrations. Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen and The King’s Kitchen roosterskitchen.com and kingskitchen.org Chef Jim Noble has been creating “New Local Southern Cuisine” for three decades. He brings fresh, local ingredients to his thoughtfully prepared dishes at both Rooster’s, a rustic upscale dining experience, and The King’s Kitchen, a nonprofit restaurant that gives back by donating its profits and by providing employment opportunities to those in need. Zink. American Kitchen harpersgroup.com/zink.asp Charlotte Family Fun There are six grandkids in the Grisdale family, and spending time with them is a priority for Mamama Grisdale. “I love being a part of their lives, sharing the things they enjoy, watching them grow and develop from babies into beautiful people,” she says. The Grisdales find family fun at the Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge, Discovery Place, Carowinds, Freedom Park, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Other must-see attractions include the U.S. Whitewater Center and the Levine Museum of the New South. “When the entire Grisdale family gathers, my favorite thing to do is to listen to their stories of past holidays or vacations or funny stories of when Jeana and her sisters were growing up,” says sonin-law Ed Sheehan. “I’m so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family here in Charlotte.” “A Taste of Charlotte” Sweepstakes Register for the chance to win a getaway to Charlotte, North Carolina, and experience firsthand the attractions featured in this story. The winner will fly on US Airways* to Charlotte, spend two nights at the Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge, and feast at great Charlotte eateries like Mac’s Speedshop, Amélie’s French Bakery, and Mert’s Heart and Soul. Enter “A Taste of Charlotte” Sweepstakes at charlottesgotalot.com/pauladeen. *Winner will receive $500 in US Airways vouchers toward the cost of the trip. 88 July/August 2012 • Cooking with Paula Deen Lobster Mac n’ Cheese, Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, and Streetside Tacos filled with braised beef short ribs are just a few of the mouthwatering twists on American comfort-food classics that Executive Chef Jon Fortes sends out of his kitchen at Zink. And the Southpark patrons are glad for it. Mert’s Heart and Soul mertscharlotte.com For 14 years, Mert’s Heart and Soul has been serving up traditional soul food as well as Low Country- and Gullahinspired dishes in Charlotte. Using recipes that James and Reneé Bazzelle cooked for their family over the years, Mert’s has become a staple for area residents and a must-try for visitors. Amélie’s French Bakery ameliesfrenchbakery.com The alluring smell of homemade tarts, macaroons, and croissants fills the air in this quaint, eclectic bakery. Add flavorful, aromatic coffees and drinks, and voilà— you have Amélie’s. Mac’s Speed Shop macspeedshop.com Drive on in to this “biker bar” for melt-inyour-mouth Carolina brisket that smokes for 12 hours a day. Locals know that Mac’s is the place to be for barbecue, beer, and friendly service. And locals know best! www.cookingwithpauladeen.com • July/August 2012 89