Matt’s fraternity brother, Nick (a.k.a. Newman) and his girlfriend Jen are in North Carolina for a wedding and are spending the night with us on their way to Asheville. Oh what fun it was to find out they are foodies too!! We’ve had conversations about pasilla chiles, Salpicon in Chicago and pumpkin seed butter 
And here’s us in college!!
“Where the wild thing are…”
Everyone who comes to visit us gets a full-out beer tasting. Matt has so much variety now that the tasting list was long!
I had a few sips as we chatted…love Matt’s dark beers! The Imperial Stout is incredible. So is the Moose Drool clone!
Around 6 we ventured out to try a new restaurant in town: The Liberty. It’s Charlotte’s one and only Gastropub!! You know the brewer was excited about this 
The decor was awesome – all kegs, crates and lights -
Beer anyone!?
With a huge beer list.
Sadly they were out of the only pumpkin ale 
So I got a Hobgoblin instead!! Yummy.
We were all impressed with the creative flavor pairing of the menu. Appetizers included:
Pork Belly “Sliders” Pickles, Vanilla Bean-Apple Butter for Newman + Jen [Is pork belly the food of the year Jenna!?]
Devils on Horseback…Grilled Dates, Bacon, Bleu, Almonds for Matt and me.
Both were INCREDIBLE and we shared bites of each. The flavor combos were awesome.
For my entree I ordered the warming roasted asparagus soup with smoked scallops. It was just what you’d expect.
And a simple salad with goat cheese + spiced pecans, which honestly could have been bigger.
Other entrees included…
Shrimp + Grits for Jen
All-American Trout, Melted Leeks, Shrimp & Duck Fat Potatoes for Newman
And Matt’s “Lucky Gastro-Pig”….Slow-Roasted Black Berkshire Pork Shoulder with Crepes, Pickled Pineapple, Spicy Peanuts, Jalapenos, Lettuce Cups & Much More – Assembly Required
I tasted an assembled crepe and a lettuce wrap. There was a brown sugar-buttery sauce that went sooooo well with pineapple and pork!!
Last but not least, Newman + Jen got a pear bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. They shared a bite with us and …it was awesome. ‘Nuff said.
For dessert I had a Lemonhead!! Remember those!?
I could eat another one of everything we ate!! It was all so good.
Goin’ ta bed now. Nite!
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
Anyone who you can “have conversations with” about pumpkin seed butter is perfect by me
Great looking restaurant! Haha that college photo made me laugh out loud.
Wow, everything looks great! Especially the pork belly sliders!
K, thanks for making me crave beer, i’m off to crack one open. .I’m a girl and stick with Stella. Tastes like apple cider, with cool side effects :-p
What a fun place to eat! I love a place with a good beer selection like that.
Wow, that pub looks so nice. Love the decor.
wow everything looks awesome! The decor is really creative too. Looks like a fun evening
lemon heads are classic! One of my favorites!
Yum yum! Looked like a fun night!
That place looks awesome!! Love the decor.
That looks delicious! Especially the shrimp and grits!
Gotta love a table full of foodies (eating awesome food, nonetheless)!
That restaurant looks so unique, such a great atmosphere.
roasted asparagus soup?? yes please!! everything looks so good there!
What a lovely night out! Your soup looked divine! Not sure if I’ve ever had asparagus soup… would love to try it, though!
Wow, everything looks delicious!
Lemonheads are among my favorite candies… did you know they’re made here in Chicago??
You always find the best restaurants to go to. The asparagus soup with scallops looks incredible! As does everyone else’s entree, especially Matts!
Lovely dinner. 
Jenn
That restaurant looks wonderful.
The photo of you with Nick cracked me up!
Love lemonheads!
Love the college photo! Too funny.
looks like a great night!
jenna
i’ve actually never eaten a lemonhead before. i bet i’d like them, though – i’m more of a candy fiend now than when i was a kid!
that appetizer burger looks sooo cute
love’em!
Moose Drool clone? Interesting. I had me a Moose Drool in Seattle back in October, good to see one (or a clone of one) on the other side of the country.
Oh, and Lemonheads are made about four hundred yards from my mom’s house.
Welcome back!!
Everything looks fabulous! I love simple salads like that.
Haha, oh lemon heads … I had forgot all about those! And, yes, I used to LOVE them
I love seeing foreign lollies on the food blogs. Granted, I see a lot more of them on the chocolate and candy blogs than on the healthy living blogs (inspiration for healthy daily meals and less healthy but equally satisfying regular treats; it’s a win-win), but still.
Are Lemonheads sour or sweet?
I’ve occasionally wondered when I’ve seen your photos of dinner guests or when you yourself are a guest at someone’s house – do you always take photographs? Has anyone ever expressed discomfort at the prospect of their food and faces appearing very publicly on the internet? I absolutely don’t mean to sound rude or critical in any way; I’m just genuinely interested — and nosy, clearly, so ignore if you’d rather!
They are both sour and sweet!
I do always take photographs, and most people know about the blog so they know that their photo will likely go up. But if someone were to ask me to withhold, I would totally respect that.
If I ever go to Charlotte I must go to that restaurant! Looks so good!
I love any food that “requires assembly.”
Looks like a great meal with great company.
pear bread pudding sounds incredible!! and i ADORE that college pic haha
What a fun and tasty looking dinner with old friends!
Ahhh lemonheads, yes we bought a huge bag in an after Halloween sale this year! So addictive. I loooove shrimp and grits, and I have only found it in one Boston restaurant. The best ever is at High Cotton in Charleson. So yum. Love the decor of that brew pub, looks like so much fun to have your friends visiting!
You’re so lucky to have foodie friends! :] I still need to try/make pumpkin seed butter. That asparagus soup + pear bread pudding looks amazing!
Newman!!!
Looks like such a fun night! And tell Jen that she looks absolutely lovely in RED – that is definitely her power color!
I will – thanks!!
I never knew about this place!! Dang!!
It’s brand new!
Love that beer wall!
I had pork belly at Gramercy Tavern in New York in 2006 (I had to look that up and couldn’t believe it was 3 years ago). It kinda grossed me out because it was so fatty. Maybe I should try it again?
It is super fatty. Try it in smaller bites
How great to get to catch up with old friends! And that dinner does sound fantastic. Such unique foods! I love the “assembly required” dish… so neat!
What a fantastic meal! The grilled date sounds to die for !! (minus the bacon that is)
I haven’t had a lemon head since I was kid. It sounds so good! I’m going to have to go out and find one this weekend.. Happy Holidays!!!
That resturant looks amazing, and the wall of beer, or whatever that is is so impressive!
What does pumpkin seed butter taste like? That sounds interesting
Pumpkin seeds!?
Seriously, it’s just ground PS, so it tastes pretty must just like them – with a great texture!
Wow, everything looks amazing. I wish more of my friends were adventurous eater — they like lots of cuisines but tend to stay pretty close to the “safe” bets within them.
Hoooray for hanging out with foodies! Everything looks like it was delicious!
Awww…what a fun night out! It’s so much fun dining with fellow foodies.
Looks like a great time with more great food!
Mmmm…I love it when we go out to eat with people who love food as much as we do
Looks awesome!
That place looks really cool. Btw, love lemonheads!
I see they had Delirium Tremens on the beer menu – and only for $6. In New York, if you are lucky enough to see that on the menu, its usually twice the price! My favorite beer…
Wow, those crepes look so so delicious. You deserved a night out!
We have a few great gastropubs here in Chicago… next time you’re in town, you should check out The Gage!
Salpicon is so great, isn’t it? Love their ceviches and guac and margaritas…
that looks amazing! how in the world you can eat things like “duck fat potatoes” and stay so slim is beyond me!!
that restaurant looks so cool! I love the lights and decor.
Looks like a fun night with old friends! Do you find that since dating/marrying Matt, your taste for beer has become more enhanced? I’m asking because I never really cared for beer – and since I started dating Bill, I actually like it now. And I only like the good stuff – or home-brewed stuff
I’ve always liked beer, but I think I like a larger variety now
Dinner looks fantastic!! I remember lemonheads-they are awesome!
Newman looks eerily smiliar to my husband…..
You take excellent food shots – I wish I had that gift.
Exciting to hear that Charlotte has this place! My mom lives in Concord so we may squeeze in a visit if we’re out and about.
That restaurant looks incredible!! Vanilla Bean-Apple Butter would actually make an excellent topping for oatmeal, no?? :O)
The restaurant looks fantastic! I love me some dark beer too! Your soup looked the best of all to me
That food looks delicious. Sigh….Asheville…LOVE Asheville
that picture of matt in the leather jacket reminded me of tom cruise in top gun, lol….totally random! The Liberty looks pretty awesome
c-ville just got a gastropub too, so I’ll have to check it out sometime.
Things I love:
places with long beer lists
salads with goat cheese and pecans
your argyle sweater
!!!
The decor in the place is awesome. Good food and good friends is perfect!
i’m off to charlottesville for a few days. I LOVED ZOCALO last month for bus trip and now we’re going back.
So jealous!
The candy factory that makes Lemon Heads is close to my Mom’s house. On any given day you could walk outside and smell Lemon heads, or Red Hots, or Boston Bakes beans!
It’s crazy!
I love the Keg Lights in that restaurant, I’ve never seen that before!
Those pork crepe/lettuce wraps look amazing! I love the self-assembly, like with fajitas, it lets you customize!
I’ve never seen any of this before!