Charlie (left) and Samantha Marshall are reopening the former Roxy’s in the Oakhurst neighborhood as a coffee and food shop called The Coffee House.

Mexican taqueria Carrburritos has begun recruiting for managers, cooks, bartenders and other help as it targets a January opening on South Main Street in Davidson. Chef Nikki Sawyer Moore will offer holiday cooking classes at The Kitch in Cornelius. Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse will join in Christmas in Davidson this week with several nights of fun, including a party in the parking lot Friday night with Charlotte band Aqualads. And it looks like the former Roxy’s Coffee and Wine on Bailey Road is getting a new lease on life, re-opening this Friday as The Coffee House. Read the full story

Chris Coleman of the Market Kitchen worked on his chicken and sweet potato hash. More photos below. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

DAVIDSON – It was the Davidson Farmer’s Market’s version of Iron Chef: Competitors at Saturday’s 2nd annual Winter Market Chef Challenge were handed a box of ingredients from market farmers and given an hour to create something that would tickle market-goers’ palates.

Zack Renner (left) and Joe Kindred of Roosters were the crowd favorites. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

When the judging was over, Joe Kindred from Roosters Wood Fired Kitchen in Charlotte came out on top. He delivered a tasty Potato Gnocchi with Chef Charles’ chicken apple sausage, kale and goat cheese; and an Autumn Harvest Salad of beets, kohlrabi, and sweet potatoes. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

The ownership group has shifted at Davidson’s Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, with a founding partner leaving, and new partner joining the business. The restaurant in downtown Davidson also is introducing four new menus this fall. Also below, news about a food truck rally coming up at Community School of Davidson, a new olive oil shop at Birkdale Village, and another hands-on cooking class at Wooden Stone in Davidson. Read the full story

It’s a weekend for dining-related fund-raisers, from the North Meck Rotary’s Food Truck, Beer & Wine Festival at Kenton Place to Flatiron Kitchen’s Fall Festival in downtown Davidson. Coming up Wednesday, the Community Arts Project will have a fundraising night at Birkdale Fox and Hound. Also below: news about the closing of Roxy’s Coffee & Wine in Cornelius, an anniversary at Restaurant X in Davidson, and guest chef Neela Paniz at Davidson College.

Read the full story

Just Baked Cupcakes and Coffee House on South Main Street in Cornelius has changed hands, and its previous owners are off on a new venture in Charleston. Meanwhile, The Black Eye’d Pea in Mooresville cut a ribbon this week, a little over a year after its opening. Davidson Parks & Rec’s fall classes have several food events, including “Sushi 101.” And the calendar at other local eateries includes an anniversary at Galway Hooker and live music at Flatiron Kitchen. Read the full story

Got skill on the grill? Enter the Ada Jenkins Center’s 2012 “Fire” barbecue cook off and fundraiser on Sept. 29 in Davidson. Meanwhile, dog lovers take note: The Lucky Dog, a new dog-bar on Statesville Road in Cornelius opened its doors Tuesday night. And Wooden Stone gallery in Davidson is hosting a series of cooking classes with chef Vera Samuels. Details below. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails in Cornelius is adding weekend brunch to its menu beginning July 1. In a roundup of local restaurant news, we take note of a celebrity diner spotted at Campania Cafe in Davidson, and a summer schedule change at Paddy’s Pour House in Cornelius. Meanwhile, food-related fundraisers are many this month: The Davidson Farmer’s Market‘s annual Pea Pod campaign continues all month. And Davidson basketball coach Bob McKillop will be the celebrity bartender Thursday, in a fundraiser at Flatiron Kitchen in Davidson. Read on for the details Read the full story

A test run for Lisa Schnurr's Tour De Food stopped Tuesday at Davidson Beverage Co., in South Main Square.

Here’s a new kind of tour for you: Restaurant hopping. Winston-Salem-based Tour De Food will offer tours of Davidson restaurants every other Saturday beginning this weekend. Meanwhile, there’s some fun and fundraising ahead involving dining and imbibing. The Mooresville Soup Kitchen’s 2nd annual LobsterFest is scheduled Friday, June 1, in downtown Mooresville. Davidson basketball coach Bob McKillopwill be the celebrity bartender next Thursday, June 7, in the next fundraising night at Flatiron Kitchen in Davidson. Read the full story

The 2012 Davidson Farmer's Market season begins Saturday, with six new vendors joining returning favorites. (Davidson Farmers Market and CorneliusNews.net file photos)

By KATIE LOVETT
CorneliusNews.net

DAVIDSON - Davidson Farmer’s Market will come out of winter mode and return for its fifth year of full weekly markets this Saturday, April 7, in downtown Davidson. As the new spring/summer season begins, the market will feature favorite veteran vendors and welcome new ones selling everything from gourmet chocolate to cheese to breakfast sandwiches.

The market is open every Saturday 8 a.m. to noon through October on the market ground, off South Main Street next to Davidson Town Hall. This Saturday’s events include chef Vera Samuels, who will be demonstrating how to cook Easter Brunch French Toast and Moroccan Kale Salad. Read the full story

By CAMILA DOMONOSKE
CorneliusNews.net

Do you like your food and wine with a strong pinch of charity? If so, you’re in luck; the Taste of Art fundraiser in Cornelius tomorrow will be full of wine, food, and cooking, and all for a good cause: supporting the local arts. Then on Monday you can grab a tasty burger at Char-Grill for childhood cancer research, and next Thursday, enjoy an Italian meal and pop open a bottle of wine at Campania for the Jimmy V Foundation. Meanwhile, fans of craft beer, gardening, and live music, we’ve got updates for you as well. Bon appetit! Read the full story

By CAMILA DOMONOSKE
CorneliusNews.net

Ever wished you could recreate a restaurant meal at home? Ever tried, and been disappointed to discover you couldn’t capture the perfect flavor, or that the secret ingredient evaded you? Wooden Stone Gallery and the Town of Davidson will offer a series of cooking classes starting in April to help you learn to make stellar meals at home. See the details below – along with news about Bonefish Grill coming to Birkdale, a restaurant “promenade” in Davidson, the date of Ben & Jerry’s spring Free Cone Day, a variety of wine and beer events, and a bevy of local musical performances. Read the full story

Baja Soul Taqueria has brightened up the interior in the form iPub/T1 Tapas space. It opened Jan. 25.

Baja Soul Taqueria has taken over the former iPub/T1 Tapas space in Birkdale Village. Meanwhile, a couple of doors away, signs have gone up on the former Positano’s restaurant, where Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is renovating. In Davidson, Restaurant X is now taking Valentine’s Day reservations. And several local restaurants are holding fund-raising nights this week for the Access to Success Foundation and Kicks From Cats, which sends shoes and supplies to needy children in Nigeria. Read the full story

Thomas Marlow at Flatiron Kitchen (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
CorneliusNews.net

DAVIDSON – Thomas Marlow has cooked at big restaurants, worked as a personal chef, and studied cooking in Asia. Now, at 25, the Johnson & Wales trained chef is taking over the kitchen at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson.

He’s making his debut just as Flatiron gets ready for the Queen’s Feast, working on new lunch and dinner menus and cooking up new ways to reach diners in north Mecklenburg and south Iredell. He comes to Flatiron from Mimosa Grill in Charlotte, where he worked as sous chef under Jon Fortes. Read the full story

Plus, New Year’s food and drink events at area eateries

Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson is changing chefs with the new year. Also, area restaurants are planning events for New Year’s Eve, ranging from an “all you can drink” night at Galway Hooker Irish Pub to Jeffrey’s Restaurant‘s annual New Year’s party with drinks and dancing. We have some ideas as you plan the big night. Read the full story

Don’t feel like cooking this Thanksgiving? Flatiron Kitchen in Davidson is offering a traditional turkey dinner by reservation only on Thursday. Meanwhile, Davidson Parks & Rec and Armin’s Catering are offering a Mother-Daughter Tea at Beaver Dam in December. And several area restaurants are helping out Hospice this month with “Dining Out for Hospice” events. Read the full story