SHRIMP SCAMPI RECIPE

Last Wednesday I promised to cook my boyfriend dinner, despite getting out from hosting trivia at 10:30. I bought some shrimp from the Farmer's Market on King's st. hoping to find a quick and easy recipe. Lucky for me I found a shrimp scampi recipe on epicurious.com that was fast and incredibly tasty with a light, yet rich flavor.

What you'll need:

- 1/4 cup olive oil

- 1lb peeled and deveined large shrimp (raw)

- 4 large garlic cloves

- 1 teaspoon dried hot pepper flakes

- 1/2 cup dry white wine

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon black pepper

- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

- capellini pasta

- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

What I added:

2 more cloves of garlic (because I love garlic)

2 large tomatoes chopped

I also tossed the shrimp with some extra hot pepper flakes before cooking them

a little lemon juice at the end

How to Make:

boil 6-8 quarts of water with a pinch of salt (or olive oil)

While the water is boiling, heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until it's hot, but not smoking. Saute the shrimp, turning over once until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add garlic to remaining oil with pepper flakes (you can adjust the amount to make it spicier or less spicy), wine, salt, and black pepper (I also added my chopped tomatoes here). Cook over med/high heat for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Add butter, stirring until melted, and stir the shrimp back in. You can remove from heat if your shrimp are cooked through, I let mine simmer for a minute or two first.

Cook pasta until tender, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining. Toss pasta with shrimp mixture and parsley in a large bowl, adding reserved cooking water if necessary to keep moist.

I chose not to toss the pasta, but made it a "serve yourself" kind of thing with grated parmesan, parsley and lemon juice. It took about 30 minutes (after the shrimp were peeled and deveined), and was so good that my boyfriend and I ate everything! My only regret was not having a baguette or bread of some sort to dip in the awesome sauce that was left over in the skillet.. I can't wait to make this again!

Original recipe can be found here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Shrimp-Scampi-Pasta-234258

Aria Tuscan Grill CHARLOTTE 94

8pm on a Thursday, I found myself Uptown; the light rain coming down was no match for my growling stomach as my boyfriend David and I tried to decide where would dine that evening. Our first thought was Sonoma so we headed over to Tryon St where we were happy to take advantage of the valet. Unfortunately Sonoma was having a private party, so we found ourselves back to square one. That’s when it dawned on us that Aria is owned by the same restaurant group and literally around the corner from Sonoma.

We walked into Aria and were told there would be about a 30minute wait. Despite being busy, we were able to snag a couple seats at the bar. The bar itself is not to be missed, featuring a huge glass encased wine rack which shows off over 100 bottles from Aria’s impressive wine list. The restaurant had a modern décor, but managed to be cozy and comfortable at the same time. We had to start with their limoncello, which is house made, and definitely my new favorite drink for the summer: a lemon liqueur, sweet and refreshing.

We were excited when we were seated earlier then expected, within 10 minutes of being at the bar. It was time to get down to business. Aria’s menu is described as old world comfort food featuring simple, classic, Italian, and served in a contemporary atmosphere. All of their appetizers sounded amazing, and it was hard to choose just one to start with. I decided on the steamed mussels (bottom left), and when they came out I was glad I had only ordered one. There was a large portion of mussels served in a huge bowl with a plum tomato sauce, sambuca, fennel and herbs. The mussels themselves were really nicely done, not chewy in the slightest, and the sauce they were served in had a hint of sweetness to it. The tomato sauce was great for dipping bread in as well. Even with Dave’s help we didn’t finish all of the mussels for fear of being to full for our entrees.

It didn’t take long for our main courses to come out. I had gone with the Veal Scallopini, while Dave went with their Wild Boar Pappardelle (top left) special. My scallopini was awesome, two thin and tender pieces of veal served in a lemon butter sauce with capers, parsley, and broccoli rabe. The lemon butter sauce covered the bottom of the plate, which I was thankful for because it was delicious even on the broccoli. The real showstopper, however, was the special Dave ordered. Pappardelle is an egg noodle comparable to a broader fettuccini. It was served in an amazing tomato sauce with shredded wild boar meat throughout. It was an adventurous dish, executed perfectly, and my favorite thing that we had.

At the end of the meal I was beyond stuffed, but I felt great. My only regret? Not having enough room to try one of their desserts. I gave Aria a 94; the service, food, and atmosphere made for a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait to go back in and try more.

Dolce Vita Wine Bar CHARLOTTE 94

My girlfriend had been hounding me about trying Dolce Vita (in Noda) after trying it for the first time last weekend... Now it's me that will be hounding YOU to go and check this place out! I decided to go in with said girlfriend for a late lunch yesterday afternoon a little after 2pm. We had the whole place to ourselves which was awesome, but at the same time unfortunate that everyone else in CLT was missing out! The restaurant itself is small, comfortable and inviting... perfect for a casual hangout with friends or a romantic date. I absolutely fell in love with the warm colors and cozy tables. I browsed the lunch menu despite the fact that I knew what I wanted: a personal pepperoni pizza with fresh mozzarella (top left). The lunch menu also offers tasty sounding sandwiches and a personal pizza sans meat. After I ordered I realized that I also had to have the baked brie appetizer(top right). If you like brie you MUST try this appetizer.. even if you don't like brie I still think you should try it. It was simply phenomenal!! The brie was perfect and warm inside a bread shell (croissant like, flakey and delicious) drizzled with a little honey and balsamic and served with pita chips and crackers. I will probably order this appetizer every time I go back. Even still, the main star was the pizza which is the best I've had since I moved to Charlotte in August. It wasn't soaked through with grease like most pizza, and everything about it screamed fresh. The mozzarella really makes the pizza, and the thin but tasty crust makes it very easy to polish off the whole thing. It was so good that I had to force myself to save a piece to bring home to the bf (which he scarfed down as soon as I returned). I didn't look through wine racks, but I could tell they had a great selection including my favorite champagne. Dolce Vita also offers a nice selection of wine by the glass. I really appreciated how each glass of wine had a small description under it because I'm always looking to expand my basic wine knowledge. The owner took care of us, and she was nothing short of sweet, friendly, and genuine which completed a wonderful meal. I gave Dolce Vita a 94 because I simply can not wait to go back for more!!

Cabo Fish Taco CHARLOTTE 87

Cabo Fish Taco has quickly become one of my favorite places to grab lunch or dinner. Decorated with interesting artwork and bright colors, this little restaurant on N Davidson fits in perfectly with Noda. I've eaten at Cabo Fish Taco a handful of times since I moved to Charlotte and it never disappoints. The bf and I almost always get seated right away, and are promptly greeted with their fresh corn salsa made daily. On our most recent trip I decided to order something other then their amazing tacos. I settled on trying the "Epic Tuna Burrito" (pictured above) made with grilled tuna, avocado, rice, cheese and a cilantro white sauce (I opted for no beans). The bf decided to stick with tacos but mixed it up by ordering the "Serrano Chicken", something neither of us had yet to try. Our food came out fairly quickly, and while everything was good, we both agreed that we had ordered better in the past. The tuna in my burrito was grilled perfectly and the flavors were nice, but their fish tacos are definitely better. The chicken tacos were good, but the chicken was a little bit over cooked. Even though it was our least favorite trip, we still enjoyed ourselves and felt satisfied. Whenever I think of Cabo Fish Taco a few things come to mind: 1. Everything I've ever eaten there has always tasted super fresh. 2. They have a great range of different specialty margaritas and beer. 3. They have great prices, $15 and less for entrees (though most range around $10) and $4 and up for margaritas. Overall I gave them an 87.. definitely a place I'll be going back to.

Copper CHARLOTTE 91

If you're a fan of Indian food you must must MUST try copper off of East Blvd. I must admit that I had my reservations when I first found out that it was a "modern" themed Indian restaurant. Ultimately I decided it was either going to be great or disappointing, but my expectations were blown away by the awesomeness that is copper. Located in a charming house, the decor was softly lit and inviting... maybe a little on the dim side. They had a great wine selection and an interesting, yet tasty cocktail menu. I liked the Agni (bicardi 151, absolut peppar, and guava) because it was a little fruity, but still had that warm liquor taste going down. More importantly, the food was kick ass from start to finish. The bf and I started with the Tava Scallops and lobster with a ginger kick. The scallops were decent, but could have been seared better; they paired nicely with the avocado lychee emulsion found rimming the plate. The lobster tail was the big hit of the appetizers, and was cooked faultlessly. The flavor combination was refreshing and well thought out with a nice spice. When it comes to entrees the menu is split into a small list of traditional and modern main courses. I decided to go with a traditional dish, jumbo shrimp in a Goan Curry sauce, while the bf decided to go modern with a Masala duck leg confit. They were both perfect, but I must admit that the bf out ordered me. The shrimp and curry were wonderful and I couldn't stop myself from licking the sauce even as I was stuffed, but the duck had it going on.. not in the least bit gamey, and perfect with a pomegranate-syrah jus. Against my protests the bf went on to order dessert- something I wasn't even thinking about touching at this point because I was beyond full. The bf ordered the Sorbets & Gelatos which came with four cute little samples of different flavors. There was a raspberry and mango sorbet (the raspberry was awesome and was reminiscent of a flinstones push up) and a caramel and pistachio gelato. We left copper full, happy, and ready to go out for the night. Overall a 91- crave worthy!!

Tilapia Mediterranean style

Just finished eating dinner and it was f***ing great with out too much work!! The dish is a mediterranean style tilapia with spinach in a light, spicy, tomato garlic sauce.. over pasta of course! It took about 30 minutes and was hit with the bf too! (original recipe can be found on prevention.com)

What you'll need: (dinner for 2)

2 boneless skinless tilapia filets

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 14oz. can of diced tomatoes with juice

3-4 basil leaves (minced)

1 tablespoon oregano (minced)

1 cup of chicken stock

1 teaspoon of red-paper flakes (this is a pretty mild to medium heat.. to make spicier add more)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

8 oz of baby spinach

parmesan to grate (optional)

pasta (your choice but I used capellini)

Heat olive oil and minced garlic over medium heat for 3 minutes in a medium to large skillet with sides. Add tomatoes with juice, basil, oregano, chicken stock, red pepper, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a medium simmer and cook for about 8-10 minutes to thicken. Add the tilapia and submerge in sauce. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes (flipping the tilapia over halfway through and covering again). Once the tilapia is fully cooked (it will get flaky), remove and set aside. Add the spinach and turn the heat up high, cooking and stirring for two minutes. Put the tilapia over pasta, add the sauce, and enjoy!! (parmesan can be grated on top).

The pasta I used only took two minutes to cook, so I put a big pot on to boil as a started cooking, and the pasta was done 5 minutes before the dish was ready... Also, I put in about 2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes and it was still a medium spice... My bf didn't care for parmesan (as he's not a big cheese fan to begin with) but I loved it!

Big Daddy's Burgers CHARLOTTE 84

Just got done eating at Big Daddy's off East Blvd. and it was quite a success. Me and the bf started with the atomic nachos (pictured left) which were ideal for anyone who enjoys spicy food. I opted to create my own burger using swiss, avocados, and jalapeno bacon.. A little on the greasy side, but cooked perfectly.. The onion strings were lacking though. My bf got the steakhouse burger which was an interesting and tasty combination of jumbo Guinness battered onion rings, monterey jack cheese, and a chopped wedge salad.. He scraped off the salad, but the burger seemed fitted for his manly needs. The service was good, but not great. Spiked milkshakes and a good selection of draught beers made for the perfect late lunch. Overall a score of 84 which makes it worth going back to.