Mini Vanilla Sponge Cakes with Lavender and Whipped Ganache

Happy Labor Day, foodie friends!  Ain't it nice to have a day off to breathe, think, rest and cook?  

I often find my baking efforts evolving as components get made.  Originally, I'd planned to make a 9-inch round cake, but my love of mini pastries prevailed.  The vanilla sponge cake was baked, so I cut it into layers and punched circles out with my ring cutters. 

Next step, lavender syrup.  Give each cake round a good soak.

Whip up some some set ganache and away you go.

Charlotte, NC: I'll Return to You

My first visit to Charlotte, North Carolina was a success as expected.  Nothing compares to a road trip.  Nothing compares to a road trip in North Carolina.  Nothing compares to a road trip in North Carolina with lots of good food and people who love you and you love back.

Not only is there much more to see and eat, there are more memories to be made.  I anticipate my return with excitement.  I've already got a few more restaurants and pastry shops to visit when I make my way down to the Land of the Pines again.  Getting to know a city through its food is like playing a game of telephone, along the way you hear about or see even more irresistible places than you bargained for and definitely more than you can handle in one visit.


I'm looking forward to trying out Bang Bang Burgers, which I found by way of Sunflour Baking Company.  Isn't their design awesome?  I have high hopes that they are the Elevation Burger of Charlotte.  My local loyalties may be put to the test.

At 20 Degrees Chocolates, the chocolatier recommended Renaissance Patisserie as the most authentic French bakery in town.  You best believe I'll be stopping by next time I'm near.

Next door to Petit Philippe we found littleSpoon, a breakfast and lunch place that uses locally sourced ingredients and was cute as can be.     

Returning to Charlotte will be just as exciting as my first experience, no doubt about it.

Parmesan Risotto

It's no great secret that risotto is a staple in my recipe repertoire.  I enjoy the process and the product.  High time I shared the recipe, huh?  Over the years I've tweaked my method and ingredients and hopefully perfected it.  But let's be real, you can't go wrong with Parmesan.

Parmesan Risotto
serves 4

-1 medium white/yellow onion, diced
-3 cloves garlic, minced
-1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-3/4 cup white wine
-1 cup Arborio rice
-3-4 cups chicken stock, hot
-3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
-3 T unsalted butter
-pinch of sea salt
-1/4 tsp ground black pepper
-chopped parsley (optional)

1. In a medium-sized saucepan heat olive oil, onions and garlic until onion is soft and slightly translucent.  Add the rice and stir for 1 minute over medium heat.  Add wine and stir until the mixture is mostly dry 1-2 minutes.

2. Using a ladle, transfer about 1/2 cup of chicken stock from a hot pot into the rice mixture.  Stir until bubbling and a spoon dragged across the rice leaves a trail on the bottom of the pot.

3. Repeat step 2, stirring consistently and adding stock until the rice is al dente about 20 minutes.

4. Turn off heat and add Parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley and butter.  Stir until fully incorporated and melted.

Day 2: Charlotte Food Tour 2k15

It's probably obvious that 2 full days are insufficient to fully explore the food a city offers, let a lone the rest of the city itself.  However, I certainly did my best with the time I had to vacation in Charlotte and found several great food stops along the way.

As I hinted in Day 1 my friends in Charlotte are the most wonderful people one could ask for as hosts.  So naturally, my day began with bacon and eggs at home.  Mr. Host is a true fan of America's Test Kitchen and my. oh. my. best scrambled eggs of my life as a result.  This tasty breakfast was enjoyed while watching the beautiful birds and butterflies who inhabit the loveliest garden in North Carolina.

After a leisurely breakfast we headed out to try more of the chocolate that Charlotte has to offer.  We stopped at The Secret Chocolatier first.  This purveyor of sweetness has two locations.  The one we visited is where the chocolate is made while the other focuses on baked products and coffee.  Chocolate is available at both locations and some of the chocolate coated baked goods are as well.  My hosts liked the atmosphere of this place as well as its offerings.  The staff was very friendly, working hard and did not rush our decisions or conversation.  The chocolates and bonbons were varied and tasty.  The chocolatier intern told me about their line of southern favorites like Key Lime Pie, so I added a few of those to my box.  What I've tasted so far, their bonbons are a little sweet for me and the chocolate shell is fairly thick and not particularly intense in flavor.  They mentioned that they use a couverture from Berlin.  Overall, an impressive line of products.

The next stop was my absolute favorite when it comes to the chocolate.  20 Degrees Chocolates is situated inside Petit Philippe, a wine bar in the Myers Park area.  The chocolate case had me feeling like a sophisticated adult in a candy shop.  Clusters of three accompanied by a tiny sign describing each flavor acted as a guide while the fresh chocolates to purchase were stowed away in little drawers behind the counter.  The husband and wife owned establishment is elegant and the staff incredibly passionate about their work.  Casey, the chocolatier spoke with me at length about her business with an electric enthusiasm that was certainly contagious.  She uses Cocoa Barry - which I truly enjoy, having learned to temper with it - as well as a few other chocolates like Valrhona.  We selected 4 chocolates to try and enjoyed every one.  I adored the 85% Dark Chocolate Truffle as well as the Steel Magnolia.  This little gem is an absolute must.

L to R: Peanut Butter Gianduja, Steel Magnolia Caramel, African Queen 85% Dark, Fleur de Sel Caramel

The cute corner where we enjoyed our morsels

We headed to Sunflour Bakery for a bite to eat and a look around.  The atmosphere reminded me of DC bakeries.  People were stopping in for lunch, coffee and a pastry and to use the free wifi.  A great community feel with an open kitchen and yummy eats.  I enjoyed a "Black Friday" sandwich, turkey, cranberry-apple chutney and Brie on house-made multi-grain bread.  Definitely a great nook.

After our final food stop we took a stroll around some gorgeous English gardens and admired their offerings in the sunshine.

Dinner was another homemade wonder.  We had leftover risotto from Day 1 - recipe to come - as well as pork tenderloin and salad.  A delicious finish to a day of good eats and exceptional company.

Charlotte, I'll return to you soon.

Day 1: Charlotte Food Tour 2k15

Two days are insufficient to explore the blossoming food scene in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Alas, a working girl may not have unlimited vacation days and I wouldn't want to trespass too long on the unmatched hospitality of my friends here.

I've spent time among the flowers and birds of a well-planned garden, being graciously chauffeured through the baffling streets of Charlotte and enjoyed every moment of my time.  Perhaps most wonderful of all I have been able to see a bit of Charlotte through its food.

Monday was a full day of food exploration and enjoyment.  We started the day with homemade pancakes similar to these and then hit the roads - which as I mentioned are utterly confusing - for a full day of food.

First stop was Amelie's French Bakery at Carmel Commons.  Amelie's is a well-regarded local chain celebrating French pastry and unique design with their community oriented space.  Each location has its own kitchen for maximum freshness.  The baked goods were varied, beautiful and the atmosphere was modern, whimsical and welcoming.

Next up, Davidson Chocolate Co. in the Dilworth neighborhood.  They are a teeny chocolatier with elegant creations.  Most of their chocolates were available in both dark and milk chocolate which was a nice option.  Among their offerings are truffles, hand-dipped cut ganache pieces as well as molded bonbons.  The store was very quiet and I couldn't find out what brand of chocolate they used or other details regarding ingredients.  Cute shop, but certainly not top on my list. Worth a try if you need a gift.  The Hot Chili and Hazelnut Truffles were both light on flavor and a bit firm for my taste.

 

Oops! Ate all of these before I got to my camera.

                            

A stroll around Pasta & Provisions was necessary and the aroma of garlic made me incredibly hungry.  The grocery portion of the store reminded me of Arlington, VA's own Italian Store.  Obviously, that is meant as a great compliment.

On the way home we stopped for lunch at Cajun Yard Dog where my constant craving for deep fried catfish and potato salad was temporarily sated.  Thumbs up for taste, service and value.

In the afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting with local chef, Bill Bigham.  Chef Bigham works as a personal chef and teacher in the Charlotte area having completed a culinary course at Johnson and Wales.  His enthusiasm and insight regarding the Charlotte food culture was both refreshing and encouraging.    

We met Chef Bigham at Dean & Deluca, always a lovely experience.  I was glad to see their locally sourced pastries front and center.

                             
Finally, day one ended with dinner which I had the privilege of making for my hosts and some of their family members.  Roasted asparagus, salmon, risotto, salad and chocolate coated peanut butter cookies were on the menu.

Come back tomorrow for Day 2 which will include my favorite chocolatier in Charlotte and a few more highlights.