12 Dishes, Drinks, and Activities to Warm Up Your Winter in Charlotte

This winter, some of us will cozy into the comforts of home with Netflix, a good book and hearty, warm dishes with family and friends; others will be feeling the itch of cabin fever, ready to get out, take a drive and explore some new experiences, restaurants and cocktail bars in our ever-evolving Charlotte area. 

If the latter sounds like you, we have some ideas for you to seek out and challenge yourself to try something new and different. 

Here’s our list of the top 12 dishes, drinks and activities to enjoy with family and friends in Charlotte this winter. 

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DISHES - AND A DESSERT (Because we love a good sweet!) 

French Onion Soup from Crepe Cellar 

With its melted gruyère and crostini, Crepe Cellar takes a luxe spin on a winter favorite. 

‍Cast Iron Mac & 5 Cheeses from Kid Cashew 

Two words for you: comfort food. Kid Cashew makes this special dish with homemade mornay sauce, creamy leeks, shallots and five cheeses served gratin style. 

‍Pimento Cheese Scones from Peppervine 

Is there a better shareable small plate on a crisp winter night than a freshly baked scone? Peppervine serves these Pimento Cheese Scones with sorghum butter and pepper jelly, and, if that wasn’t enough, here’s what we love: they’re baked to order. 

‍Tonkotsu Ramen from Sheng Ramen  

Here’s a fun fact for trivia night: The Japanese word ‘ramen’ means "pulled noodles." And almost every region of Japan has its own variation of ramen. Here’s a good example: Tonkotsu Ramen - pork bone broth ramen - hails from Kyushu. This winter, warm up with Tonkotsu Ramen - braised pork belly, seasoned egg, cabbage, bean sprout, onion, fish cake, pickled ginger, sesame seed, scallion with garlic oil in pork broth - at Sheng Ramen in Ballantyne. Need some extra heat this winter? They recommend it with a special spicy chili paste. 

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DESSERT

Bubble Waffles at Open Rice Asian Kitchen 

What’s a Bubble Waffle? Good question. Though they’re a newer phenomenon in the QC, Bubble Waffles are one of the more popular street snacks in Hong Kong. They’re made from a sweet, egg-rich batter and cooked in a hot, egg-shaped mold griddle. Add toppings and ice cream and you’ve got a dessert to kick of 2020. Yelp ranked Open Rice Asian Kitchen in Blakeney one of the best new places to eat in Charlotte, and we’d love to think its for a lot of reasons, including the Bubble Waffle. 

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DRINKS  

#WineWednesday at Napa at Kingsley 

There’s nothing warmer and cozier than a full-bodied red wine with dinner. As one of the newest Charlotte area restaurants in 2019, Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill is both restaurant and wine bar which means this team brings you the perfect wine and food pairings for a mid-week winter pick-me-up. 

‍Cinnamon Chérie Café Crème at Amelie’s

If this drink isn’t winter, we just don’t know what is. Amelie’s French Bakery makes this drink with cinnamon butter, Pure Intentions Coffee espresso, and milk topped with chocolate whipped cream and cinnamon sugar.

‍Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni Slushie at Hello, Sailor 

Call us crazy, but sometimes in the dead of winter, we need a reminder of sun and warmth to come. Enter Hello, Sailor’s Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni Slushie. Hang tight, summer is coming. 

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ACTIVITIES 

Ice Skating at The U.S. National Whitewater Center

For $20 for a single activity or $58 for full day, you and the family can skate on an ice trail or free skate on 17,000 square feet of ice. Instagram moment? Grab a hot or cold beverage at the on-ice Airstream. 

For more information, please visit USNWC. 

Queen's Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week®, January 17-26, 2020

Here’s a refresher to a classic Charlotte event: taste three different courses at the 130+ participating restaurants in and around Charlotte. 

For more information, please visit Queen’s Feast’s Facebook page. 

Innovative Works Ballet

This is a new show inspired by The Mint Museum’s exhibition “Immersed in Light: Studio Drift at the Mint.” For more information, please visit the event’s page.  

Science on the Rocks: Wizarding World

Create potions, participate in a costume contest, sit down with the sorting hat - need we say more? For more information, please visit the event’s Facebook page. 

How are you staying warm this winter? We’d love to hear from you! Please re-share this post with your favorite Charlotte winter dish, drink, or activity. This is us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.