FEATURED COCKTAIL

Duckworth’s Grill and Taphouse is best known for its wide beer selection and solid pub fare, but the cocktail menu boasts a range of classics (Whiskey Sour, Manhattan) and seasonal concoctions, like this tropical-inspired drink. The Salted Mango Cooler (pictured above) combines Flor de Caña aged rum and Kraken Black Spiced Rum with a house-made salted mango syrup, Tiki bitters and pineapple. Enjoy it at one of Duckworth’s six locations around town, including its newest at Piedmont Town Center. 

RAISE A GLASS

North Carolina breweries snagged 13 medals in the 2023 World Beer Cup Awards competition, held May 10 in Nashville, Tenn. Charlotte’s Sugar Creek Brewing won Gold for its Quad Belgian-Style Abbey Ale, while Pilot Brewing earned silver for its Pub Ale Extra Special Bitter. Huntersville’s D9 Brewing took home a bronze award for its German Chocolate Cake beer, and Lenny Boy Brewing earned bronze for its Spaghetti Handshake Hoppy Lager. The World Beer Cup is organized by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association for small and independent American brewers. The 307 medals awarded were selected from more than 10,000 entries from 2,376 breweries in 51 countries. 

ON THE MOVE

Kaley Laird is the new executive chef at Mimosa Grill. The chef, pastry chef and culinary consultant trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and her resume includes stints at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery in Napa Valley and Rhubarb, The Rhu and Benne on Eagle in Asheville. Most recently, Laird was executive pastry chef at Copain Bakery. “We’re really amping up the theme of Southern farm-to-table with a return to more Southern-influenced dishes,” she says. “Look for smoked collard greens and house-smoked meats like our tea-brined smoked chicken and pastrami.” The upscale Southern-inspired restaurant opened uptown in 1996. 

NOW OPEN

Left: Goldie’s. Photograph by The Plaid Penguin. Right: Sycamore Brewing exterior. Photograph by Matt Ray Photography

Goldie’s, a live music venue and restaurant, opened in LoSo. The 6,400-square-foot space has three food menus (sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and New York-style pizza), two bars, two patios and a main stage with live music nightly. 3601 South Blvd.

Sycamore Brewing reopened in South End next to the site of its original taproom. The new two-story, 10,000 square-foot space has a second-floor patio with an Airstream food truck and skyline views. There’s also an 11,000-square-foot beer garden. An onsite café serves coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches. A new food menu features shareables, sandwiches, pizza and more. Sycamore is open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-midnight. 2151 Hawkins St.

Gourmand Market debuted at Apex SouthPark. The upscale food market and coffee bar also has a full bar serving craft cocktails, beer, wine and small bites. 4425 Sharon Rd., Ste. S120.

Left: 401 Social. Right: Horace’s Hot Fried Chicken. Photos courtesy 401 Social and Horace’s Hot Fried Chicken

401 Social opened on the ground floor of the Embassy Suites by Hilton, across from the Charlotte Convention Center in uptown. On the menu: Mediterranean salmon, Greek roasted chicken, flatbreads and other shareables. 401 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Horace’s Hot Fried Chicken is now available in SouthPark. The fried-chicken outlet started uptown as a ghost-kitchen concept from Burke Hospitality Group. Horace’s menu of fried chicken, wings, sandwiches and biscuits (Saturday breakfast only) is available for delivery or pickup at Harper’s SouthPark Tuesday-Saturday. 6815 Fairview Rd.

HBX Burger, a ghost kitchen from Chef Michael Bowling of Hot Box Next Level Kitchen in Concord, opened in South End. HBX’s burgers, wings and sides can be ordered through Door Dash, Grub Hub and Uber Eats. 500 Summit Ave.  SP