It’s a short work & school week, which means you are even closer to the weekend. Noice. Here’s where you should be eating and drinking this week:

Reid’s Fine Foods Adds Brunch Bloody Mary Bar

Reid’s is adding a Bloody Mary Bar to its popular Sunday Brunch. Make your own Bloody Mary using a housemade Bloody Mary mix, Bruce Julian, Charleston or Zing Zang. Plus, add all the olives and pickled vegetables you could imagine, such as Bruce Julian’s Sassy Okra and Sassy Sprouts, along with bacon! It is just $5, plus the cost of liquor.

Reid’s Fine Foods has also debuted a new menu at Reid’s SouthPark, with new items including Fried Calamari, Prince Edward Island Mussels, Harker’s Island Oysters, Reid’s Poutine and Chicken Cordon Bleu. This menu is available every weekday after 5pm, and all day on Saturday.

WP Kitchen + Bar presents Sunday Suppers

‘Round up family and friends for Sunday Supper at WP Kitchen + Bar. Every Sunday, WP Kitchen + Bar presents a three course supper with multiple items for each course. All dishes are served family style (for the table to share). Courses include Caesar Salad, Margherita Pizza, Turkey Bolognese, Wolfgang’s Half Chicken, Peach Tart and Salted Caramel Pudding. The cost is $25 per person, for parties of four or more. Sunday Supper is served from 4pm – 9pm on Sundays.

View the menu here.

Corkbuzz’s Wine Dinner & Tasting this week

9/7 at 7:00pm
Wine Dinner with Vintage ’59 Imports
Vintage ’59 Imports is one of those wine companies that we’d all love to work for. Focused attention to representing the finest producers and an uncompromising level of service make it one of the best to work with. Every wine they represent is a grower, first and foremost, meaning they live among and constantly tend to their grapevines. The wines are authentic, honest and above all really delicious. Corkbuzz SouthPark will welcome Debra Lewis, National Sales manager for the Southeast US as their host for a fabulous wine dinner.
$100/per person plus tax and 18% gratuity
Reserve your seats here

THE VINTAGE 59 WINE DINNER MENU:
Canapé
Chorizo Croquettes, potato, lemon | baked U.A.V. Smoked Mozzarella, heirloom tomato ketchup
Champagne Pierre Moncuit Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs “Moncuit-Delos” NV – Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Course 1
Chilled Shrimp, roasted eggplant, summer squash salad, crab fondue
Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet 2014 | Bachelet-Monnot Puligny-Montrachet 2014

Course 2
Grilled Short Ribs, charred corn, jalapeño, spaghetti squash, onion marmalade
St. Innocent Pinot Noir 2013 Momtazi Vineyard | Temperance Hill Vineyard | Zenith Vineyard

Course 3
Garroxta Goat Cheese, pickled beets, scallions, corn meal pancakes, ginger glaze
Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs NV | Barnaut Rosé Authèntique NV | Jacquesson Cuvée 738 NV

And at Corkbuzz on Saturday, 9/10 at Noon
Tasting Red Bordeaux
In this casual Saturday Afternoon tasting, discover why Bordeaux is one of the most distinguished wine regions in the world. This classic, maritime region in France produces red wines from blends dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. $25 per person plus tax
Sign Up Here

The Ballantyne celebrates 15 years with a 15 days of 15 flights for $15 and a fab  Whiskey Tasting Party.

The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte celebrates its 15-year anniversary this month. The hotel is celebrating with 15 days of fun & libations (see below), and with an amazing grand finale Whiskey Tasting.  Bill Samuels Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Maker’s Mark, will lead a special Whiskey Club tasting on September 15 at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature samples of Maker’s Mark, Makers 46, Makers Cask Strength, and the recently unveiled Ballantyne Private Select. The tastings will be paired with flavorful creations from The Ballantyne’s culinary team. The cost is $50 per person (plus tax & gratuity), and advance reservations are required. Make yours at 704-248-4100 or cshatto@theballantynehotel.com, as space is limited.

The Ballantyne will also be offering 15 flights for $15 ranging from whiskey and wine to bubbles and beer in Gallery Bar from Thursday, September 1 through Thursday, September 15.  As a bonus, each day during the 15 days, one hotel guest will receive a surprise room upgrade.

The Ballantyne’s 15 flights for $15 (plus tax & gratuity) include:

• Maker’s Mark Flight – Maker’s Mark, Maker’s 46, Maker’s Mark Ballantyne Selection
• Woodford Reserve Flight – Woodford Reserve, Woodford Reserve Personal Selection, Woodford Reserve Double Oak
• Bulliet Bourbon Flight – Bulliet Bourbon, Bulliet Bourbon 10-year, Bulliet Rye
• Jefferson’s Flight – Jefferson’s Very Small Batch, Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea, Jefferson’s Reserve
• Knob Creek Flight – Knob Creek 9-yeaFr, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, Knob Creek Smoked Maple
• Old Forester Flight – Old Forester, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch, Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond
• Balvenie Flight – Balvenie 14-year Caribbean Cask, Balvenie 12-year Doublewood, Balvenie 15-year Single Barrel
• Glenfiddich Flight – Glenfiddich 12-year, Glenfiddich 14-year, Glenfiddich 15-year
• Bubbles Flight – Charles de Fere Blanc de Blancs Brut, Tenuta Santome Prosecco, Moet & Chandon Imperial
• Willamette Valley Flight – Brooks Amycas White Blend, Alexana Chardonnay, Van Duzer Pinot Noir
• Big Reds – Honoro Vera Monstrell, Felino Malbec, Bruce Patch Zinfandel
• Rosé Flight – Michelle Brut Rosé, Sacha Lichine Le Poussin Rosé, Sokol Blosser Rosé
• California Pinot Noir Flight – Etude Lyric, La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Talbott Kali Hart Pinot Noir
• Local Beer Flight – Olde Mecklenburg Copper, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, NoDa Jam Session, Unknown Over the Edge IPA
• Dessert Wine Flight – iPola Moscato d’ Asti, J Lohr White Riesling Late Harvest, La Fleur d’Or Sauternes

Vivace Welcomes a New Executive Chef

The new executive chef at Vivace, Rodrigo Velazco is a seasoned culinarian with experience in some of Miami’s most celebrated restaurants, he has worked for some nationally known chefs, recently as chef de cuisine at the celebrated The Local Craft Food and Drink in Miami. Chef Velazco brings a deep knowledge of restaurant operations, culinary creativity and a love of seasonal ingredients to Vivace.

He officially took over the kitchen Aug. 15 and is currently reviewing the menu to understand Charlotte’s high-caliber culinary scene. He plans to include more of North Carolina’s regional bounty in his revamped menu. While Velazco will have complete control over the menu, he will retain some guest favorites but with an updated touch of his own.

RuRu’s Tacos & Tequila’s patio is a fall must-do

Margarita Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Wine (and live music) Wednesdays, Tequila Thursdays and Freak Flag Fridays … there is no day that can’t be made better with a visit to the Ru.

MO = $5 House Margaritas and House Skinny Margaritas
TU =  $2 Select Tacos and $3 Drafts
WE = 1/2 Price Bottles of Wine and $5 Sangria with Live Music on the Patio
TH = 1/2 Price on all Tequilas. Add $3 to Make it a Margarita
FR =  Ask about their Freaky Margarita Flavor each Friday

Mark Your Calendar Now for these upcoming local foodie events:

Coho Wines dinner
Go ahead and make reservations now for September 14th when Reid’s Fine Foods presents a Coho Wines dinner, presented by Coho Wines owner, Gary Lipp at the SouthPark location. Call 704-377-7686 to reserve your table.

Champagne Tea with Jane Austen
From Wednesday, September 14 through Saturday, September 17, 1 – 5 p.m., Champagne Tea with Jane Austen will be presented in Regency era elegance at The Ballantyne. Enjoy watching films of Jane Austen’s most beloved romantic fiction works while dining on authentic dishes. Period costumes are encouraged. The cost is $40 for adults and $20 for children ages 5-12 (excluding tax & gratuity). Reservations are required at (704) 248-4100.

Brunch with Benefits
Join RuRu’s on Sunday, September 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. for a Brunch with Benefits to support The Sandbox, a non-profit organization that works to bring smiles and support to families whose lives have been altered by a child suffering from cancer or other illnesses. RuRu’s Tacos & Tequila, hosts Brunches with Benefits to support local organizations as a way of giving back to the community.