The Davidson Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization is raising money this winter with the help of local restaurants with a weekly fundraiser called “Dine Out for Davidson Elementary. Every Monday or Tuesday, a different area restaurant will make donation to the PTO if you mention the school when you order. Read the full story

Red Mango serves natural yogurt with toppings as well as smoothies. Paul Cotter created this one for himself Friday. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Red Mango in Davidson Commons attracted a batch fo students and teachers from nearby Community School of Davidson on opening day Friday. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

By MADELEINE DICK-GODFREY
CorneliusNews.net

Red Mango, an international frozen yogurt and smoothie chain, has made its way to Davidson. The Red Mango store opened Friday at 536 Jetton St., in the Davidson Commons shopping center near Harris Teeter.

The self-serve shop, which originated in South Korea, features flavors such as Mango, Dark Chocolate, White Peach, and Madagascar Vanilla. It’s among more than 130 Red Mango stores now open for business across the country. The company was just named the No. 1 Zagat Rated Frozen Yogurt and Smoothie Chain in America.

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One of the area’s most exotic new restaurants, Marrakesh, has closed its doors just one week after it opened them and the owners cited financial problems as the reason. In other dining news, the Town of Cornelius is accepting bids from mobile food and beverage concessionaires through Aug. 3, and McAlister’s Deli will give away free tea Thursday.
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Several local dining and drinking establishments will host fundraising events this month to benefit Autism Speaks. They include a wine dinner at Toast Cafe in Davidson and a wine-tasting night at Lake Norman Cottage,, both this Saturday, and an “LKN Summer Soiree” at The Palace in Cornelius. Those plus other restaurant notes below: Read the full story

Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson has started Sunday afternoon beer or wine classes, with samples from vintners and brewers. Meanwhile, Toast Cafe is planning an autism benefit dinner on July 9. The Wine Cellar in Cornelius now has nightly specials – plus lunch. And local celebrities will be behind the bar at Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails in Jetton Village Thursday in a fundraiser for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Read the full story

Love local food? Like working with farmers? Have a logistics expert locked inside you? Davidson Farmer’s Market is seeking a new market manager to replace founding manager Mary Jane Leach, who is stepping down this spring. Details of that, plus a reminder about this Saturday’s farmer’s market and news from local restaurants, including word of Sunday changes at Il Bosco Ristorante and Irish dance for St. Patrick’s Day at Restaurant X. Read the full story

Missy Wallace (center) of Just Baked Cupcakes explains how she paired different wines and cupcakes during an event at the Cornelius shop Wednesday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Wine and cupcakes, together? That was the menu Wednesday afternoon at a tasting at Just Baked Cupcakes, a three-month-old bakery and coffee shop at the Oak Street Mill in Cornelius.

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Millie Harper

River Run has hired a new food and beverage chief, Millie Harper, who comes from a Chicago area country club. Also, area eateries have a variety of specials in store for New Year’s eve. And we have news of holiday hours at a few Davidson restaurants. Read the full story

Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in Davidson has begun serving Sunday brunch, and like the rest of chef Tim Groody‘s menus at the new eatery, it’s being promoted as a “play” on the traditional. Also in this column, Maddi’s Southern Bistro in Birkdale is closing, and a listing of upcoming food-related fund-raisers.

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Updated Thursday, Sept. 2, 9:45 a.m.
Char Grill, a late-night fast-food chain that operates in the Triangle, plans to make Davidson Commons shopping center off I-77 Exit 30 the site of its first Charlotte-area restaurant early next year. Also below, news about a sign design workshop for Rushco Market, at Exit 30.
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Flatiron Kitchen partners (from left) Michael LaVecchia, Tim Groody and Chad Hollingsworth posed for a picture during a fund-raising event Saturday, July 24, at their new restaurant. (Bill Giduz/DavidsonNews.net)

Comings and goings on the local restaurant scene: This week we have news of a restaurant opening and a closing. Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse in downtown Davidson is now in a “soft opening.” Expect a full opening next week. Meanwhile, Soiree, a popular chef-owned restaurant in downtown Mooresville, is closing its doors.

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The Creole House on North Main Street in Cornelius is climbing back from a recent series of inspection issues and expects to reopen for dinner on Thursday, June 17. Meanwhile, Our Town Cinemas in Davidson is trying to get the word out about their cheap eats. Details below.

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Davidson Chocolate Co. is giving back to the community this summer with a series of monthly sale days on behalf of local nonprofit organizations, beginning next Wednesday, June 16, with Davidson Housing Coalition. Also today, we introduce you to Heather and John Lin, who recently bought Bonsai Grill in Davidson. And we have news of a new lunch menu at Prosciutto’s Pizzeria, Pub & Restaurant in Cornelius, and a new pizza place on South Main Street, Cornelius.

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