Good Morning,

Taco Day Comes Early! We will not be able to be downtown this Wednesday and Thursday because of Speed Street, so we are giving you taco day 1 day early!  If you enjoy Roots for lunch we do apologize for the short week uptown so that’s why we’re making the most of it today. Come join us!!

Tomorrow we will be located at 5601 Seventy Seven Center Drive from 11:30am-2:00pm for lunch service. If you try and steer clear of Uptown this during Speed Street, then stop by and grab some lunch on the go or stay and hang out with us for a bit. There is plenty of parking and it’s going to be a beautiful day for a drive.

Tuesday’s Menu

Taco Day!

Coconut Curried Chicken Taco

With Thai Cucumber Slaw and Lemon Basil

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Spicy Chorizo Taco

With Cool Watermelon Pico and Citrus Crème Fraiche

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Herb Marinated and Grilled Veggie Taco

With Early Summer Slaw

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Sides

House Made Refried Beans with Chipotle Sour Cream

Basmati Rice with Fresh Cilantro and Pickled Purple Cabbage

1 for $1 or 2 for $2

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Hello,

This Saturday is the Charlotte Clean & Green Festival at Elizabeth Park. It is being held in the new section of Little Sugar Creek Greenway between 4^th Street and Elizabeth on Kings Drive.  The Festival offers free admission, great food, and most importantly awareness and education from a variety of vendors ranging from local food providers, clean cars, energy and packaging and so much more.  This was the first festival Roots participated in last year when we began our adventure and it’s one of my favorite events. The weather is going to be really nice so come hang out with us and have some Roots on the weekend.

We would also like to take a tally of where you would like us to park next Wednesday and Thursday for lunch. Due to the annual Speed Street coming into town we have been pushed out of our spot on May 23^RD and 24^th only. We would still like to come for lunch but want to see where most of you will be.  Southend…? Southpark…? Different Uptown Location…? Etc. Let us know and we will find a spot for those 2 days!!

Thursday’s Menu

Roots Cuban

Duo of Ground Pork and Braised Pork Belly with House Made Pickles, Spicy Mustard and Swiss Cheese

$8

 Chicken Philly

Roasted and Pulled Free Range Chicken, topped with Spicy Cheese Sauce and Fresh Greens

$8

 Veggie Burger

Roasted Local Veggies with Crispy Kale Chips and Roasted Garlic Aioli

$7

 Side Salad

 With Grilled Asparagus, Roasted Carrots and Sesame Ginger Pilsner Dressing

$2

 Vanilla Bean Marble Cake

Moist and Tender Cake with Vanilla Bean and Swirls of Varlhona Chocolate

$2

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Good Morning,

The sun is shining for Taco Day and we have 4 choices to choose from!! If you want to make sure you get exactly what you want, then don’t forget we accept online orders until 10:30am. All you have to do is go to our website and click on the top tab labeled ‘Order Online”.  This way there is no waiting in line and your guaranteed to have all the choices available. Pickup times can be set anytime between 11:30 and 2:00pm. It’s a pretty good deal!!

We are almost sold out of tickets to the 2nd Annual farm Dinner on June 2nd. If you haven’t finished registering or want to sign up I encourage you to do so soon. We literally have 5 tickets left. This year’s response to the dinner has been amazing and we can’t wait to have everyone together at Windy Hill Farm. It’s a brief look at farm life and a little piece of paradise Charles and Dana of Windy Hill farm live in. You can sign up at the cart or by sending me an email. See you soon for lunch!!

Wednesday’s Menu

Taco Day!

BBQ’d Pork Belly Taco

Beer Braised and Seared BBQ’d pork belly with Pickled Purple Cabbage and Julienned Kale, Chili Dusted Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Free Range Chicken Taco

Roasted Free Range Poultry Junction Chicken Topped with Chipotle Cheddar Fondue and Fresh Cilantro

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Chimichurri Grilled Beef Taco

Marinated and Grilled Beef Sliced Thin and Topped with Chimichurri Sauce and A Salad of Fennel, Orange, and Ginger

 2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Raw Veggie Taco

Lots of Raw Local Veggies in  a warm Flour Tortilla  With a Ginger Pilsner Dressing

 2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Sides

Jasmine Rice topped with Avocado Tomato Pico

Beer Braised Black Beans with Kaffir Lime and Smoked Chillies

1 for $1 or 2 for $2

Italian Ricotta Cookie

Soft, Melt in your Mouth Texture with Ricotta Impastata, Hint of Anise and Lemon Zest. A Favorite Cookie of Mine Growing Up!

$1.25

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Good Morning,

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We’re gearing up for a busy week here at Roots.  We have our Cooking with Beer & Grilling Class this Wednesday and we will be at the Charlotte Clean & Green Festival this Saturday.  There will be some great food at the Clean & Green Festival so if you don’t have plans stop by and check out this informative and fun event.

The weather today looks slightly cloudy but we will be out at 3^rd and Tryon to serve lunch.  We have something for everyone today whether it is the ridiculously tasty Pit Beef Sandwich or the favorite Chicken Salad. A little cloudiness never hurt anyone and it’s well worth the walk today!!

  Menu for Tuesday

 MD Style Pit Beef

This is how we do our pit beef, we put a heavy dry rub on the beef,  let it hot smoke for 6 hours, then take it out of the smoker and put it in the oven at an extremely high heat for about 30 minutes to let all the sugars on the outside of the meat caramelize.  Then we drop the temperature down and let the beef cook to a perfect 120 degree internal temperature. Let it rest for a good long while then slice it thin, top it with slow caramelized onions and horseradish.  I’ve eaten two just this morning.

$8

 Smoked Chicken Salad

House Smoked Whole Chicken Pulled and Dressed with Orange Coriander Aioli and diced local veggies

$7

 Thai Curry Veggie Pita

With Roasted White sweet potatoes, turnips, grilled spring onions, wild greens and coconut curry sauce.

$7

Creasy Green Salad

With Strawberries and Balsamic Pepper Vinaigrette

$2

 Pecan Pie Bar II

If you liked the original pecan pie bar then you’ll surely like this variation. Shortbread Crust, Toasted Pecans, Grated Coconut and the same soft, chewiness in each bite!!

$2

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Hello,

The weekend is here and we would like to give you the lowdown on where Roots will be. Tomorrow afternoon we will be setting up at Symphony Park in Southpark for The Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival.  If you already have tickets make sure you stop by and check out our menu. If not, and you’re looking for something to do, it’s gaurenteed to be a good time!

Below is some more information on the 2^nd Annual Farm Dinner held on June 2^nd. The menu, location and lodging suggestions are listed along with some pictures from last year.  If this looks like something you would be interested in, you can send me an email or stop by the food cart to purchase tickets or answer any additional questions you may have. Tickets are on sale until May 25^th.

 

  Come and join us for a lovely evening on the farm for the 2nd Annual ‘Soil to Soul’ Farm Dinner!    

The dinner will consist of 6 courses and each course will highlight protein from Windy Hill Farm or Produce from Coldwater Creek Farm.  All of the produce and ingredients for the dinner will be sourced from local farmers and producers.  Dinner will be prepared for you by Chef Craig Barbour owner of Roots Farm Food an Chef Susanne Dillingham owner of The Tiny Chef.  Beer and wine will be served with the meal and will be from local North Carolina wineries and breweries.

Menu

Passed Appetizers from 6PM to 7PM:  

 Country Fried Chicken Liver on a Grilled French Baguette With Smoked Sabayon, Garlic Chives, and Fried Sage

Summer Stack of Fresh Cucumber, Grilled Summer Squash, Vine Ripened Tomato, Field Peas,and Nasturtiums with a Chardonnay Vinaigrette

The Courses will be served Family Style from 7PM to 9PM:

Amuse  

 ‘Bechamella Blossom’ Oven roasted Squash Blossoms with Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Garlic, Caramelized Onions and Béchamel Gratin

Greens

A field green salad composed of foraged and cultivated greens within 10 miles of where you are eating, dressed with the freshest, just picked vegetables and a delightful vinaigrette.

 Entrée  

‘Poule Roulade’

Roasted Free Range Chicken Roulade – Roasted, Smoked and Stuffed with Grilled Summer Vegetables, Fresh Herbs and Mushrooms with a Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce

 ‘Fazzoletti Ripieni’

Hand-made fresh egg pasta in the shape of ‘little handkerchiefs’ stuffed with Sausage and Farmstead cheese, served on top of thinly sliced Zucchini and Summer Squash and finished with a delicate Garlic Scape Pesto

Finale  

‘Blackberries en Mousse’

Blackberry mousse served with Toasted Pecan Biscotti, Lemon Balm, and Shaved White Chocolate

~~~~~~~~~

Tickets are $75 per person.

 You may purchase a ticket by contacting one of the Farmers or Chefs listed below

Windy Hill Farm- Charlie and Dana Burrage- windyhillfarm@ctc.net

Coldwater Creek Farm- Brad Hinckley  Eric Williamson coldwatercreekfarms@gmail.com

 Chef Craig Barbour of Roots Farm- Foodrootsfarmfood@gmail.com

Chef Susanne Dillingham, The Tiny-Chefsusanne@thetinychef.biz

*If you wish to stay at a Bed & Breakfast  close to the farm, here are our suggestions.

                #1 http://www.sacredgroveretreat.com/

                  #2 http://www.franklinstreetbandb.com/

                  #3  “The Inn at Mount Pleasant” Please call for details: 704-436-9386  682 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, NC 28124

Good Morning!

It’s bright and sunny and a perfect day for TACOS!! We have some great choices today with a twist. In remembrance of Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys we have decided to name each taco appropriately.  I hope many of you share in the same excitement as I do.

There are 2 weeks left to purchase tickets to the 2^nd Annual Farm Dinner on June 2^nd from 6pm-9pm at Windy Hill Farm. If you haven’t attended this event you are missing out.  The food will be prepared by The Tiny Chef and I and the atmosphere can’t be beat. This truly is a picturesque farm and the event only comes around once a year.  You can purchase tickets during the week at the food cart or by sending me an email at rootsfarmfood@gmail.com. Check out our website under the ‘Events’ tab for more details.

Thursday’s Menu

Taco Day!

 Licensed to Ill Pork Belly Taco

Cider Braised Windy Hill Pork Belly, Seared and topped with Collard Apple Slaw

 2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Triple Trouble Free Range Spicy Chicken Taco

With Cucumber Avocado Pico, Fresh Orange Zest and Cilantro

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

 Root Down Chorizo Taco

With Chipotle Blueberry BBQ and Early Summer Slaw

2 for $7 or 3 for $10

Paul’s Boutique  Roasted Veggie Taco

With Truffled Goat Cheese and Creasy Greens

 2 for $7 or 3 for $10

  Sides

Jasmine Rice with Pickled Tomato Relish

Pinto Beans simmered in Smoked Chilies and Local Brew

 1 for $1 or 2 for $2

Roasted Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Roasted Organic Bananas, Vietnamese Cinnamon and Chunks of Valrhona Tainori Chocolate

$1.25

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Hello,

We will not be serving lunch today. The radar map below has been our decision maker for today.  We will however be setting up for Taco Day tomorrow since it’s going to be sunny and 75 degrees. A perfect day for lunch outside at Roots!! If I’m not mistaken our good ol’ friend, PORK BELLY, will be in attendance as well!! See you tomorrow.

Craig

Good Morning,

I was strolling through the market this Saturday, planning the weekly menu and there they were, just sitting in the display case, calling out my name. SC Soft Shell Crab! I knew I had to buy them all. There is a very limited supply so stop by early for this rare delight!

We are one week away from the Cooking with Beer and Grilling Class. We have 2 spots left if you are interested in joining us. The class is on Wednesday, May 16^th from 6:30-8:30pm. We will go over techniques on proper grilling, cooking with beer and different types of meat cuts and how to use each one the most effectively. At the end of the class we will all be able to feast on the dishes we created along with the most important part, beer from OMB! Check out the website for more details. To sign up send us an email at rootsfarmfood@gmail.com.

 Tuesday’s Menu

 SC Soft Shell Crab Sandwich

With Lobster Salad and Orange Remoulade

 $13 (Sorry Ladies and Gentleman, I know it is expensive, but they just looked so good at the market on Saturday I couldn’t pass them up, and there are in very, very limited supply hence why they will not be available for online ordering)

Beer Braised Pork Sammy

With House Made Kim Chi and Sesame Cilantro Gremolata

$8

 Thai Curry Veggie Pita

With Crisp Cucumbers, Lemon Zest and Organic Greek Yogurt

$7

 Indian Curry Meatball Roti

With Pickled Tomato Coulis, Fresh Tender Creasy Greens, and Fresh Cheese

 $7

 Kale Salad

With Fresh Greens, Shaved Cucumbers and Strawberry Vinaigrette

 $2

Blueberry Streusel Cake

Fresh Local Blueberries, Organic Yogurt and Cinnamon and Oat Streusel

 $2

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Hello,

Today we will be setting up at 5601 Seventy Seven Center Drive in Southpark from 11:15am-2:00pm.  If you are out of the office today and in the area stop by and grab some roots.  The chicken salad was such a big hit yesterday that we decided to bring it back today! It’s worth the drive!!

Don’t forget we will be at Atherton Mill Market tomorrow from 8:00am-11:30am serving breakfast. If you haven’t had a chance to taste our early morning creations I must say you’re missing out. We’ll be drawing names today from the raffle this week so keep your fingers crossed.  Hopefully we’ll see many of you soon. Have a great weekend!!

Friday’s Menu

 Moroccan Burger

Burger made from Local Pork, and Beef, with Roots own Blend of Herbs and Spices, topped with Bacon Tomato Marmalade and Organic Greens. Gluten Free? Get it on a bed of Organic Greens

 $7

 Free Range 5 Spice Chicken Salad

Don’t Worry this is not the Mayonnaise based Chicken Salad that you see in the Grocery Store. We Start by Roasting Free Range Chickens, pulling the Meat, adding lots of Fresh Local Veggies, Spicing it up and Dressing it with our Homemade Dijon Aioli.  Great for a Hot Day!

$7

 Gluten Free Veggie Burrito

Fresh Local Veggies Wrapped in a Collard Leaf with a Ginger Lychee Dressing, and Fresh Mint

$6

 Organic Greens Side Salad

Organic Greens, Shaved Cucumber, and Tomatoes with Simple Vinaigrette

 $2

See you at the Cart!

Craig

Good Morning,

Were in store for another beautiful day today! I have packed the menu with lots of choices so there is something for everyone.  Just a reminder if you are gluten free there are always plenty of options to make each menu item fit your needs.

Don’t forget that there is a new breakfast place in Southend!! Roots has opened up at the Atherton Mill Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. We will be there at 8:00am this Saturday for a whole menu of delicious breakfast items. Hint: Eggs Benedict, Sweet Potato Latke….and that’s just a sample of what we will be serving!!!

 Thursday’s Menu

 Moroccan Burger

Burger made from Local Pork, and Beef, with Roots own Blend of Herbs and Spices, topped with Bacon Tomato Marmalade and Organic Greens. Gluten Free? Get it on a bed of Organic Greens

 $7

 Free Range 5 Spice Chicken Salad

Don’t Worry this is not the Mayonnaise based Chicken Salad that you see in the Grocery Store. We Start by Roasting Free Range Chickens, pulling the Meat, adding lots of Fresh Local Veggies, Spicing it up and Dressing it with our Homemade Dijon Aioli.  Great for a Hot Day!

 $7

Black Bean Burger

Black Beans and Roasted Root Vegetables Roasted Chilies and Smoked Paprika topped with Garlic Lime Aioli, Organic Greens, and Fried Sweet Potato Straws.  Gluten Free?  Get it on a bed of Organic Greens

 $6

 Gluten Free Veggie Burrito

Fresh Local Veggies Wrapped in a Collard Leaf with a Ginger Lychee Dressing, and Fresh Mint

$6

 Cucumber Tomato Salad

Green Tomatoes, Grilled Late Spring Onion, Basil, Cucumber and Tomatoes in a light Red Wine Vinaigrette

 $2

 Mocha Chocolate Brownie

Guittard Dark Chocolate Chunks mixed with Bittersweet Chocolate and Baked to a Soft, Fudgy Center

 $2

See you at the Cart!

Craig