From Charlotte NC Real Estate - Carolina Community Info

International Flavor Spices Up Charlotte NC Homes
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Greek festival dilworth NC Real Estate

Posted in: Pineville, Myers Park, Mt. Isle Lake, Indian Trail, Fort Mill
By Charlotte Observer
Feb 5, 2009 - 2:06:59 PM

Ethnic festivals highlight some of the rich cultural experiences that you can find when considering Charlotte NC Real Estate, if you take the time to look. Oktoberfest starts September 26 and continues weekends through October 12. There is a Greek festival early in the month as well. October Taste of The World begins October 9. There are 20 participating restaurants in East Charlotte International District. In the Eastland area, One of Charlotte’s best kept secrets is its rapidly growing international community. Perhaps not immediately apparent like in other large cities, but those willing to branch out a little will be rewarded with rich cultures and tastes from almost every corner of the world. Discover hand-made Turkish pottery, for example, or catch an African Kalimba performance, otherwise known as African thumb piano, at Pura Vida World Art, a folks art store, café and art gallery in Plaza-Midwood. Talk Paris, Berlin, and Rome at a free conversation hour in French, German, or Italian at the international House of Elizabeth. More than 10,000 Charlotte Mecklenburg school students come from 102 countries and speak 83 languages. Your neighbors could as easily hail from Chile or Vietnam as Boston or Buffalo. The thing that is so unique to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County NC Real Estate is that you continue to have the traditional Southern charm genre said Andrea Lee, a board member of the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, but you've added all these elements of intrigue all these cultures from all over the world make it so much more. Ever dream of being a champion Dragon Boat racer? Then don't miss the Spring Asian festival which teams of 21, and a drummer, compete against each other in 40-foot dragon boats on Lake Norman. The city hosts as many as 70 ethnic festivals a year, including the widely popular Yiassou Greek Festival where attendees can watch additional dances on three stages while eating a succulent souvlaki sandwich. Try the drive-thru if you're pressed for time.  Get a taste of the exotic or a taste of home.  A specialty dish at the French style bistro Lulu is moules and frites fresh mussels with fries.  Need a taste of the traditional South? Or are you more interested in contemporary regional cooking? Part of the farm-to-table movement? Or just desperate for a good burger and fries? You'll find all this, plus an ever-increasing array of global cuisines, in the Charlotte area restaurants. If you're new to the south, you need to get familiar with three things right away grits, fried chicken and sweet tea. Grits are corn, and ought to taste that way. The best have some body (never runny), look good in a cloak of butter or redeye gravy and never--repeat never--are sugared. Fried chicken might be deep fried or done in a skillet, but is always juicy and well-seasoned. And sweet tea comes to the table sweet and blessedly free of granules at the bottom of the glass. If you can find only uptown at this point, try all three at Mert’s Heart and Soul. If you know something about the South but are new to the Carolinas, you’ll have only one major hurdle: barbecue. It’s pork here, y'all, whether it’s shoulder or whole pig, or served with vinegar or tomato or mustard-based sauces. Those are all variables, beef and chicken or not. Though aficionados often stare newcomers to Lexington, you can try ‘Cue at Bill Spoons Barbecue or Mac’s Speed Shop conveniently located on the main drag South Boulevard area for starters. You can get both upscale dining and the flavor of the South at several spots around town: To start try Sonoma Modern American, Ratcliffe On The Green and Barrington’s. At these you’ll find chefs well-versed in local farm offerings and just what to do with them. Charlotte's ethnic fare encompasses tiny gems such as the French-inspired bistro Lulu, where you can get mussels and frites and larger venues with more complex menus such as Dragon Court, where you’ll find Chinese dim sum rolled around the dining room in carts. Classic Greek fare shines at Greek Isles while Coppe boasts both traditional and modern Indian dishes. Zebra serves fine-dining French-influenced food, while Luce does the same for Italian. Mediterranean food. Appears dressed up at M5 and Blue and more down-home at ilios noche. And of course sooner or later you’ll want a taste of home. For some, this will be easy, those from N’Awlins’ have a handful of choices, all trumpeting their affiliation in their names for example and for others, it will be tough: I'm talking you, New Yorkers longing for the original Rays or delis with corned beef you grew up with . Those are looking for a flat kosher deli is in luck:  You need to look no further than Gleiberman’s off Providence Road it's our only one.


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