By Nikki Panos

May 7, 2016

May 11, 2016 at The Mint Museum – $35-$50

An evening filled with art and culinary delights. Experience pairings of small plates and beverages at two of Charlotte’s favorite restaurants: Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth, and Mimosa Grill. Menus are custom-tailored for the event and will be shared in advance with participants in a “Know Before You Go” email. Following the epicurean adventure, participants will also enjoy a guided tour of the special exhibition Pumped: The Art and Craft of Shoemaking.

May 15, 2016 at Morgan Ridge Vineyard Brewhouse, Gold Hill, 3:00 pm-7:00 pm – $30

A mere hour north of Charlotte, Gold Hill is home to a gorgeous historic town as well as Morgan Ridge Vineyards and bursting with fresh air and views for days. Make the drive up to the vineyard for a farm-to-fork picnic hosted by PCG Member, Eric Bowen. This food heavy event will feature a dueling whole hog BBQ and loaded down with an all local buffet Cajun style. Look forward to sides such as kale and mixed green salads, chicken and sausage jambalaya, and black eyed peas with squash chow chow and relax with a nice glass of local fermented grapes.

May 16, 2016 at Project 658, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm – $65

Forget savory. Let your inner child reign for a night and indulge in dessert for dinner! Project 658 will be hosting a small segment of Charlotte’s ever growing pastry chef population to craft a six-course meal of desserts, sweets, and treats. You will also have the chance to imbibe in some adult beverages which will be paired specifically with your meal and featuring Topo Vodka, Pure Intentions Coffee, wine, and Old North Sodas. Proceeds for the event will be contributing to Project 658 Culinary School as well as the Community Feeding Project. Guests are also encouraged to bring along a seasonal clothing donation for the Project’s free clothing store for underprivileged members of the community.

May 20th, 2016 at Red Clay Ciderworks, 7 pm – $20

Every month Orrman’s Cheese Shop and Red Clay Ciderworks team up for a special pairing event. Orrman’s cheesemongers hand select 4 cheeses from their carefully curated case to taste alongside 4 distinct specialty ciders. Spend the evening with Red Clay’s founder and expert cider maker as well as a cheese expert who will both educate and entertain you through a night of tasty food and facts.

Saturday, May 21, 2106 at Grady Cole Center 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – Free

Celebrate health, sustainability, and compassionate consumerism with VegFest! Let us revel in all things veggie together with rich, tasty, and health forward food alongside local live music, speakers, and food trucks! The Humane League and The Greener Apple are putting on the festivities as they have in the past. This even does not disappoint and everyone will go home sporting a full belly and a perhaps a better understanding of our food system and how we can contribute to keeping it as sustainable as possible!

May 22, 2016 at Atherton Mill Market, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – $50-$75

This is a 100% vegan three course pop-up dinner by Chef Shawn Harrison. All menu items are as locally sourced and organic as possible. V.I.P tickets include one complimentary chef’s choice wine bottle.

Monday, May 23 at 6:30 PM at The Asbury

The Collaborative Series continues at The Asbury! The Asbury’s Chef Matthew Krenz and Pastry Chef Jossie Perlmutter welcome Chef Jay Pierce of Greensboro, NC’s of The Marshall Freehouse to celebrate the Carolina shrimp season. Expect New Orleans flare as the chefs riff on their personal experiences and Jay’s cookbook favorites to create a don’t-miss evening of food and flavor. Chef Pierce wrote the “Savor the South” cookbook, and served as launch chef at ROCKSALT in Charlotte. In September, 2015, he returned to Greensboro to open The Marshall Free House, the new British-inspired gastropub in Greensboro. The five-course prix fixe menu will be $65; that price includes a special signed cookbook for each guest (a great value–it regularly sells for $20!).

Whiskey and Cheese Pairing Class

May 26, 2016 at The Broken Spoke, 7 PM – $30

If you haven’t checked out the Great Wagon Distillery, you are truly missing out. And if you have never tried Charlotte’s newest spirits with artisanal cheese, you haven’t really lived. Cheese is the perfect accompaniment for a biting liquor such as their white whiskey as it sooths the tongue. This novel collaboration between Orrman’s Cheese Shop and The Broken Spoke will be a recurring monthly event, and space is limited, so get be sure to nab some tickets soon!

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