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THE CHARLOTTE (Knox/Henderson, Dallas)

The Charlotte is the newest restaurant on Henderson Ave, and it’s the perfect spot for a brunch or lunch with your girls.

It’s an “an all-day neighborhood American bistro and bar” that moved into the former Enrique Tomas spot on Henderson and made some serious changes. It’s much brighter and lighter than the previous restaurant, and you can find their signature teddy bears seated around the restaurant. (I’m not kidding … life size teddy bears, y’all.)

The cocktails were a mix of classics made to spec and signatures made with creativity. I was delighted to introduce my boyfriend to the classic Pornstar Martini that I was so happy to see on the menu—a simple cocktail with vanilla vodka, passion fruit, and sparkling wine. (And the frozen espresso martini is not to be missed.) Overall, the cocktails are on the sweeter side, which I think fits the venue’s target market. I will be back for the Aztec Sour soon, which features repo Tequila, spicy liqueur, and mango.

Cajun Mafaldine Pasta
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For the non-drinkers, they offer a few mocktails featuring both Lyre’s and Ritual products. We opted to try one, the Virtuous Ritual (the red cocktail above), and it was lovely … nicely balanced, and the fresh strawberry really popped.

As for food, we enjoyed the Charred Elite on the Cob and Crab Fingers to start—both were tasty, if a little messy to eat. (Messy is fun, though, right?) We followed that with the Bibb Salad (because we’re trying to be all healthy), and it was simple but strangely delightful.

Cajun Mafaldine Pasta
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On our waitress’s recommendation, we ordered the Cajun Truffle Mafaldine (pasta) and the Spicy Lamb Chops. Both were fantastic and, honestly, not a scrap was left on the table.

Cajun Mafaldine Pasta
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Service was lovely and food came out quickly. I especially appreciated the hostess’ suits that coordinate with the space’s color.

THE CHARLOTTE
thecharlotterestaurant.com
IG: @thecharlottedallas
📍 2822 N Henderson Ave, Dallas

HAPPY HOUR
🗓️ Monday-Friday, 4-7pm
🍹 $7 margaritas & sparkling wine BTG, $8 espresso martinis & select wine BTG, $9 pornstar martinis
🍽 $7 elotes & caesar salads, $8 calamari & wagyu hot dogs, $9 spinach & artichoke dip & smash cheeseburgers

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with Chinese Whiskey

In recent years, China’s whisky landscape has experienced significant growth, marked by both an increase in domestic production and a rising appreciation for international brands. This evolution reflects China’s expanding palate for diverse whisky profiles and its burgeoning role in the global whisky market. With the arrival of the Year of the Snake, there is no better time to explore and celebrate the richness of Chinese whiskey, a spirit that embodies both tradition and innovation.

Emergence of Chinese Whisky

Traditionally, China’s spirits market has been dominated by baijiu, a potent grain-based liquor deeply embedded in Chinese culture. However, the past decade has witnessed a surge in whisky consumption, leading to the establishment of numerous distilleries across the country. As of recent reports, there are approximately 48 whisky distilleries either operational or under construction in China, indicating a robust commitment to developing a homegrown whisky industry.

The increased demand for whisky in China is driven by multiple factors, including changing consumer preferences, growing middle-class affluence, and exposure to global trends. Younger generations, in particular, are more willing to experiment with whisky, seeking out new and unique flavors beyond traditional spirits. Additionally, whisky is gaining traction in high-end social settings, where it is often associated with status and sophistication.

Notable Chinese Whisky Brands

Several Chinese whisky brands have begun to make their mark on the global stage, demonstrating the country’s capability to produce high-quality spirits:

  • Goalong Distillery: Located in Hunan Province, Goalong has gained attention for its single malt offerings. In 2023, it became the first Chinese distillery to have its products stocked by The Whisky Exchange in the UK, signaling international recognition and appreciation.
  • Pernod Ricard’s “The Chuan” Distillery: Situated in Emeishan, this distillery represents a significant investment in Chinese whisky production by the global spirits giant. The decision to establish operations in China underscores the vast potential seen in the country’s whisky market and aims to cater to local tastes while introducing Chinese whisky to the global audience.
  • The Qinghai Distillery: A relatively new entrant, this distillery focuses on high-altitude whisky production, taking advantage of the unique climatic conditions to craft distinctive flavor profiles. It aims to compete with established international brands by offering innovative cask finishes and aging techniques.

Popular Whisky Types in China

As the whisky culture expands in China, certain styles have emerged as favorites among Chinese consumers. The preferences reflect both international influences and a growing appreciation for locally produced spirits.

Sherried Whiskies

Whiskies matured in sherry casks have found particular favor among Chinese consumers. Brands like Glendronach and Glenallachie, known for their rich, sherried profiles, are among the top choices. This preference is especially prominent in regions like Hong Kong, where these brands are highly sought after during festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year. The sweetness and complexity of sherried whiskies make them an appealing option for those accustomed to the flavors of baijiu and other traditional Chinese spirits.

Single Malt Whiskies

There is an increasing demand for premium single malts, both from international producers and emerging Chinese distilleries. This trend reflects a broader global movement towards high-quality, artisanal spirits. Single malt whisky is often associated with craftsmanship, making it an attractive choice for collectors and enthusiasts looking for unique expressions.

Innovative Cask Finishes

Chinese distilleries are experimenting with unique cask finishes, incorporating local elements such as tea, lychee wood, and traditional Chinese herbs to create distinct flavor profiles. These innovations not only cater to domestic palates but also aim to captivate international whisky drinkers looking for new experiences. Some distilleries are even collaborating with foreign whisky producers to create hybrid styles that blend Eastern and Western influences.

Pairing Whisky with Chinese Cuisine

Pairing whisky with food is an art, and Chinese cuisine provides an excellent canvas for whisky pairing due to its diverse flavors and cooking techniques. Here are some recommended pairings:

  • Dim Sum & Sherried Whisky: The richness of pork buns, dumplings, and spring rolls pairs beautifully with the deep, dried-fruit notes of sherried whisky.
  • Peking Duck & Peated Whisky: The smoky character of Laphroaig or a peated Chinese whisky complements the crispy, fatty richness of Peking duck.
  • Sichuan Hot Pot & Bourbon-Finished Whisky: The bold, spicy flavors of Sichuan cuisine are balanced by the sweetness of a bourbon cask-finished whisky.
  • Seafood & Light Floral Whisky: Lighter whiskies with floral or citrus notes, such as Japanese-inspired Chinese whiskies, enhance the delicate flavors of seafood dishes like steamed fish and scallops.

The Future of Chinese Whisky

China’s whisky industry is still in its early stages, but its growth trajectory suggests a bright future. As more distilleries refine their techniques and gain recognition, Chinese whisky is likely to become a prominent player in the global whisky market. The combination of local craftsmanship, innovative aging techniques, and international collaborations will shape the future of whisky in China, making it a category to watch closely.

Moreover, events like the Year of the Snake celebrations offer the perfect opportunity to explore and enjoy Chinese whisky. Whether you’re a seasoned whisky lover or a curious newcomer, now is the time to experience the fascinating evolution of Chinese whisky and its unique flavors.

Conclusion

China’s whisky scene is rapidly evolving, characterized by a blend of traditional appreciation and innovative production. As domestic distilleries continue to emerge and international brands find enthusiastic audiences, China’s influence in the global whisky market is set to expand, offering diverse and rich experiences for whisky enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you’re looking to celebrate the Year of the Snake with a fine dram or simply explore new whisky styles, Chinese whisky is an exciting frontier worth discovering.

Raise a glass and toast to the future of Chinese whisky—Ganbei!

Fancy AF Cocktails

Do you ever wish you had the perfect cocktail to match your mood?
Do you sometimes feel classy but sometimes feel trashy?
Are you in search of some fancy AF cocktails?
… well buckle up, because Ariana Madix and Time Sandoval have a treat for you.

The “Vanderpump Rules” stars and couple have been creating cocktails for years at reality TV hit places such as SUR, TomTom, Villa Blanca, and PUMP, and they’ve finally collected their favorite ones to include in their new recipe book: Fancy AF Cocktails. The 80+ cocktails in the book run the gamut from “classy” to “trashy” and feature ingredients like caramel liqueur and wasabi-infused white rum on the class end, and BBQ sauce packets and Taco Bell FIRE sauce on the trashy end.

I took the liberty of selecting two that would be the absolute hit of any holiday party: the Naughty Holiday and the Nice Holiday. (I’ll leave it up to you to decide which category you fall under.) These cocktails are competing cocktails that Ariana and Tom made to help people enjoy the holidays whether throwing an extravagant Christmas party or just “boozing solo”.

NAUGHTY HOLIDAY
1.5oz chocolate liqueur
1.5oz Chili Chocolate Kahlúa
1.5oz vanilla vodka
Chili powder
Garnished with mini candy cane


NICE HOLIDAY
2oz white chocolate liqueur
.5oz crème de menthe
1oz vanilla vodka
Garnished with peppermint chocolate

Whether you’re feeling naughty or nice is really no concern of mine … I’m just here to make sure you get the drinks you need to survive this holiday season. Luckily, Ariana and Tom were kind enough to include some “Recovery Drinks” in their book to help keep you ready for the next night out.

… I would suggest trying the Leggo My Ego.

FANCY AF COCKTAILS: Drink Recipes from a Couple of Professional Drinkers
Written by Ariana Madix & Tom Sandoval with Danny Pellegrino
NOW ON SALE: FancyAFCocktails.com | Amazon.com
#fancyafcocktails

Restaurant Review: CraftWay Kitchen

CraftWay Kitchen is unique in many ways, but most due to the fact that the chef highlights the food by letting it speak for itself. I feel like we now often find long flavor profiles that are well-developed and unique, but sometimes simplicity is just as important, which is the case here.

We tried the crab stuffed mushrooms, flash fried asparagus, candied bacon, French onion soup, filet, ahi tuna, and grilled Verlasso salmon. Delightfully, it was all delicious.

I’m always impressed when a restaurant’s vegetables get the same attention as entrees. The crab stuffed mushrooms had the perfect amount of filling and umami and the asparagus was crisp and fresh even after its visit to the flash frier. Meat is difficult, yes, but when you can make a veggie sing, I’m here for it.

Unsurprisingly, the candied bacon was delicious—gooey, crunchy and packed a little bit of heat. The onion soup was classically prepared, and should be on your list if you want something comforting.

As for the proteins, the chef once again displayed his perfect preparation with exactly the right balance of salt, fat, acid and heat that was given to let the food speak for itself without having to add sauces and such. The filet, again, cooked perfectly, was accompanied by whipped garlic mashed potatoes. The ahi tuna was beautifully simple—and when you get an ingredient like, that you have to focus on quality and thoughtful preparation, which the chef executed amazingly. The grilled Verlasso salmon was my favorite thanks to its decadent flakiness, and the the sauce and broccolini it was served with were perfect compliments.

Their cocktail list was very inspired and creative. If more than one thing catches your eye (which it will), get your waiter’s opinion because they have something for everyone and the staff is very knowledgable. I heard great things about the Spring Gimlet and Cucumber Fizz, but I went with the Bonfire. It left me wanting a little more smoke and a little more sweetness as it has the potential to be fantastic.

One really unique feature of Craftway is that they offer Michael David’s Freakshow Cabernet and Chardonnay on tap! Yup, you heard right. I am a big wine (and environment) lover, so this hits both marks for my hippie wino self.

The atmosphere is a fun, date night feel, but you could also visit and enjoy a casual dinner. The bar area is quaint with a electric energy … of course, depending on the game that’s happening or what young professional company may be hosting a happy hour. I’d recommend going for happy hour, dinner, and maybe even brunch.

While we enjoyed sampling their dinner menu, I bet you their brunch is just as good! And again, a great location for the north Dallas crowd. If you’re in the neighborhood I would definitely give it a try!

CraftWay Kitchen
CraftWayKitchen.com
Facebook | Instagram
5809 Preston Rd., Suite 578, Plano, TX 75093
972-403-0555

Ebb & Flow: more than just a pretty patio …

What do you get when you combine an expert restaurateur and a sought after music director? An absolutely adorable, bad-ass restaurant that I can’t wait to visit again. Ebb & Flow is a new restaurant in Deep Ellum founded by two experienced restaurant and nightlife veteran who just happen to be brothers, Dallas Hale and Eric Bradford.

When I went to go check it out, I hadn’t done much research (bad, I know) and just walking up to the restaurant I was immediately impressed with how cute and impressive it was. I did know that their design director described it as “your tattooed girlfriend going home to meet your parents” in a press release … and that’s pretty accurate.

The patio is adorable and the inside is even more-so. It’s a somewhat small space, but they’ve really made it work. The attention to detail is ON-POINT. There’s trendy tile work, chandeliers above the bar and the outside patio is covered with gorgeous ivy and flowers. (Bonus: the patio will be heated for winter.)


We started out the evening tentatively with their Garden Margarita because I don’t do well with spice … and it was garnished with a jalapeño slice. But I was delighted to find that it was incredible. It was light, refreshing and flavorful without the strong flavor of jalapeño and it was cooled down by the cucumber. The second cocktail was super cool. The Velvet Butterfly features butterfly pea flower that makes the drink its beautiful shade of purple.

Honestly, everything on the cocktail menu was super unique and meticulously crafted. If you’re a big fan of Palomas, you must try the Cocoloma made with coconut tequila, cream of coconut, sparkling grapefruit and garnished with tajín. I kid you not; it tastes like the beach but without the sugary syrup.

Now, the grub! As far as starters go, they had stuffed jalapeños that stole my heart. (Yes, this is coming from a spice-hater.) Stuffed with brisket and pimento cheese and wrapped in bacon … you really can’t go wrong with that. The other two apps we tried were the toasted ravioli and Cubano egg rolls. Yet another show stopper? The tater kegs!! While they aren’t the most photogenic item you’d order, just imagine a twice baked potato, deep fried and made bite-size.

My favorite entree was the stuffed chicken breast but the salmon piccata was a close second, largely because of the light lemon vinaigrette that the pasta was tossed in. To round out your meal, be sure to close it out with their good ol’ fashioned homemade carrot cake, and pair it with the seasonal old fashioned. You won’t regret it!

Ebb & Flow is now serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch!

Ebb & Flow
ebbandflowtx.com
2651 Commerce St Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75226
(972) 913-2322  
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Fireside Pies

Fireside Pies is a Dallas native pizza joint with five locations in DFW … and it’s growing. (The newest location is opening very soon in Lake Highlands!) Their food is made fresh in-house daily with high quality ingredients to make some really fantastic pies that pizza fanatics crave.

As it should, my meal here started with a stiff, well-balanced cocktail. My go-to cocktail at Fireside Pies is their traditional old fashioned. They make it with Old Forrester Signature Bourbon, Maraska Maraschino Cherry Liqueur, and bitters.

After our cocktail arrived, we began to peruse the menu. We had a large meal coming, but we were advised that the perfect starter to prepare for the main event (aka … the pies) was the Caesar salad and their mouthwatering burrata mozzarella crostini. The crostini is a new must-have for me at Fireside Pies. Bread and cheese—name a better combo. Tomato, EVVO, balsamic drizzle and you have yourself a wonderful beginning to an Italian food adventure. This Caesar is next level! And the addition of chicken on the salad is optional but highly recommend as it was seasoned and cooked to perfection.

And then … it was time to enjoy what Fireside Pies does best … the pizza pies. We tried three pizzas—all different and de.lic.ious. When you have a vegetarian at the table, you kind of have to be a nice person and accommodate them. The Garlic and Sage White Pie was hands-down the winner for best pie of the night … and it won the title without a hint of meat! The flavors were deep and complex, the dough was light and crispy, and the toppings were nothing short of perfect. You can taste the pride that Fireside Pies takes in making its authentic food with each and every bite.

? Premium Meat Pie: house-made spicy Italian sausage, crumbled wagyu meatballs, crispy prosciutto, mozzarella, smoke provolone, truffle oil
? North Beach: salami, peperoncinis, smoked provolone, chopped tomatoes
? Garlic & Sage White Pie: ricotta, mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, shaved garlic

Find the Fireside Pies location closest to you to enjoy some of the best pizza in DFW made with the freshest ingredients. Make sure and check out their website for the latest news on the newest location opening very soon in Lake Highlands!


FIRESIDE PIES
firesidepies.com
Locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Plano, and Lake Highlands (coming soon)

Local Yocal (McKinney, TX)

The Local Yocal was the perfect addition to downtown McKinney. They originally started as a meat market, which still operates across the street, and recently opened as a full restaurant and bar. To be totally transparent, I’ve been to this establishment when it first opened and it was damn delicious so walking in again, it had a pretty big reputation to live up to, and man did it deliver. So now let’s get to the things we ate and drank on this visit!

Pro-tip: if you haven’t been to their class that the market hosts, Steak 101, I highly recommend it—for yourself OR as a gifts—to as many friends and family as possible … just speaking from experience.

We had the Local Yocal Cask Reserve, Kill Bees Knees, and Flypside off the regular cocktail menu and Hard Start off their secret menu. Be sure to ask for it if you want something a little more adventurous! All of the drinks were exquisite. If you’re dining or just drinking at the bar, get to know your bartender as they can help guide you to something unexpected. The flavors in the cocktails we had were sophisticated, strong, and balanced. Our bartender Matt has really honed his craft and was so knowledgeable about their liquor selection. 

For food we indulged in the BBQ sampler and mac & cheese! Every bite of the BBQ sampler kept me looking forward to the next. It’s hard to pick a favorite … but the brisket was astoundingly delicious with its smoky flavor and perfect crust. The cole slaw it came with was properly seasoned and well dressed with sauce. The mac & cheese was creamy, rich and not to be missed. The noodles were cooked just past al dente, and came smothered, but not overly so, with cheese. I did not mind one bit having these as leftovers the next day!

The dining room was filled with spirited conversation, and the space was given a chic, rustic charm thanks to a bit of mood lighting and comfortable, lush furniture. A very relaxing way to start or end an evening out!

There is always a good reason to come here—everything from special occasion to a random Tuesday night. Their menu is classic with an elevated flare. If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend it as we head into the holiday season. My next stop will be their brunch for sure!

LOCAL YOCAL
localyocalbbqandgrill.com
350 E Louisiana Street (McKinney)
(469) 225-0800
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