Another Reason To Love Charlotte!

I know what I am doing for lunch tomorrow!

This year marks the 11th Year of the Annual Taste of Charlotte Festival! Taste of Charlotte allows you to go downtown and try all kinds of foods from over 40 different restaurants in the Charlotte area! Not only is there amazing food, but live music on two separate stages, comedy acts, dancing, and ice cold “beverages”!

Admission to the event is free and while inside, you may buy cups of coins to be used at the restaurant tents for food samples and drinks. There is a Market Place with vendor booths as well as Tavern at the Taste. Tavern at the Taste is presented by Blue Moon Brewing Co serving over 12 different brews.

The festival is open rain or shine on Friday, June 5th and will go through Sunday, June 7th! It’s located in uptown Charlotte on Tryon Street and spans 5 blocks from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to 6th Street.

All restaurants are entered into the Best of the Taste Competition. Judges spend a few hours on Friday afternoon sampling over 100 menu items to determine the winners. (I have to figure out how to become a judge!) The Winner of each category receives the Silver Platter Award. Look for the Silver Platter displayed in the Restaurant’s booth throughout the weekend and in their restaurants throughout the year.

Below are some of the restaurants and items that Taste of Charlotte 2009 will be serving up to its guests – these are the ones I will not miss this year!

BlakFinn American Saloon: Classic Beef Slider, Cookie Slider, Campfire Hog Wings
Boneheads: Skewered Shrimp & Rice, Lemon Herb Piri Chicken & Rice, Fish & Rice
Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza: Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chicken Penne Pasta, BBQ Chicken Pizza
Caffe Siena: Chilean Sea Bass Cake w/ Curry Aioli, Black Bean & Corn Quesadillas, Braised Lemon Chicken w/Couscous
Caribbean Hut: Beef Patty, Jerk Chicken w/ Rice & Peas, Curry Chicken w/ Rice and Peas
Chen’s Bistro: Sesame Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken Sticks, California Roll
Dilworth Neighborhood Grille: Crab Cakes w/ Aioli Dipping Sauce, Chicken Spiedie Sandwich, Pizza Frites
Dixie’s Tavern: Red Beans & Rice, Cajun Pulled Pork Sandwich, Death By Dixie Brownie w/ Ice Cream
FlatRock Grille: BBQ Shrimp, Hickory Glazed Salmon, Key Lime Pie
Matt’s Chicago Dog: Gourmet Vienna Beef Chicago Dog, ¼ Pound Italian Sausage, German Bratwurst
Outlaw BBQ: Beef Brisket Slider, BBQ Slider, Rib Sampler
RiRa The Irish Pub & Restaurant: Guinness BBQ Wings, Potato Cakes, Shepherd’s Pie
Sticky Fingers RibHouse: 3 Bone Rib, Smoked Wings, Pulled Pork Slider
Village Fudge & Candy Shoppe: Fudge, Bloomin’ Apple, Strawberry Chocolate Dipper
Village Tavern: Shrimp Bayou, Chinese Chicken Salad, Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce

I might just have to go everyday !