I’m a superlative kind of person. I like using words like: the biggest, best, brightest! It’s all well and good (for me) but my friends find it a bit overwhelming because I insist on knowing their superlatives. For example, say we’re having a great meal, I want to know which was their favorite dish. If we’re traveling or out, I want to know what portion of their day was their absolute favorite part. I often get an eye roll or guttural response, which gets me to nudge just a little bit more.
In the spirit of superlatives, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things. (All things listed are Charlotte based unless otherwise noted.)
Best place to have a casual dinner: Dandelion Market
Best fried chicken: Price’s Chicken Coop
Best bartender ever: Paul at Capitol Grill
Best place to get a pint: Connolly’s on Fifth
Best Vietnamese spring rolls: Lang Van
Best Vietnamese sandwiches: Le’s Sandwich & Café
Favorite diner: Landmark Diner
Best Chinese food: 88 China Bistro
Best places for brunch: Pewter Rose (butterscotch scones), Boudreaux’s (beignets), Lulu (green eggs and ham), Custom Shop (pitcher of mimosa)
Best ice cream: Elizabeth Creamery
Favorite bagel shop: Owen’s Bagel and Deli
Best soup and dessert (I know, weird combo): Amelie’s Bakery
Favorite place for oysters: Capitol Grill (high end), Hickory Tavern (affordable)
Favorite casual places for lunch: PioPio, Kabob Grill
Favorite places to take out of town guests: Mac’s Speed Shop, Panthers game at Bank of America Stadium, US National Whitewater Center, Charlotte Motor Speedway Coca-Cola 600 Race, NoDa, Charlotte Cultural Campus (Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and ‘coming soon’ Mint Museum Uptown), Ice skating at The Green (winter only)
Best outdoor festival: Speed Street
Best gift store: Paper Skyscraper
Biggest selection of designer jeans in petite sizes: Belk’s SouthPark
Favorite person at make-up counter: Joseph @ Bobbi Brown, Nordstrom
Favorite mascara: Too Faced Lash Injection (department store), Rimmel Glam’Eyes Mascara (drug store)
Favorite lip gloss: Lancôme ‘La Laque Fever’ Lip Shine (department store), Rimmel Vinyl Gloss (drug store)
Best acne spot treatment: c. booth DERMA 17 Salicylic Acid Problem Spot Treatment
Favorite treatment skin care line: Obagi (high end), Olay (affordable)
Favorite hair guy: Donald, Carmen Carmen
Favorite nail salon: Polished
Favorite sitcom: Modern Family
Favorite reality show: American Idol
Favorite drama: Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite books I read this year: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave // Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
Favorite books I often recommend: American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld // The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis
Favorite books of all time: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee // Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan
Favorite books non-fiction: Game Change, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin // The Girls in the Balcony: Women, Men, and the New York Times, by Nan Robertson
Favorite dog park: Fraizer Park
Favorite online shoe store: www.Heels.com (local), www.Zappos.com (everywhere)
Favorite non-profit to donate money: www.DonorsChoose.org
Fundraiser that’s most fun: Mustaches for Kids
Favorite school: KIPP Charlotte