5 Reasons to Visit Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina may look brand-new, but there’s a lot of history here. Its roots run deep in the Old South, way back before the American Revolution and during the Carolina Gold Rush, an intricate web of old gold mining tunnels could be found deep below the streets of Uptown.

Cooking with a Cast Iron Skillet

Charlotte's Most Romantic Restaurants

Charlotte, sometimes called Banktown for being the country's second largest banking center after New York City, has a huge variety of fine-dining establishments, but not all have romance on the agenda. This often leaves couples wondering where to go on a romantic date night in the city, whether it's a quiet anniversary dinner or a celebratory Valentine's Day meal.

Raise a glass, fork and knife to Carolina festivals
celebrating food and drink

Consider yourself a gourmet or a gourmand, or a person who just loves local food and drink? There are lots of reasons in Charlotte and across the Carolinas to celebrate food and beverages, and the chefs, farmers and artisan craft producers who make it possible for all of us to eat and drink local.

Where to eat this holiday season — from Reigning Doughnuts to Bonterra

I expect two things during the holidays: my wallet to shrink and my belly to grow. The result of both makes me vow never to return to such reckless decisions. Yet every year, the desire to spoil loved ones combines with the allure of decadent holiday menu offerings to produce both effects — my Sisyphean efforts not enough for such an unstoppable force.

Bonterra Named #1 Restaurant in Dilworth by CharlotteFive

Where To Eat In Charlotte: Bonterra

Southern cuisine is a sacred thing. Bonterra fully embraces this sentiment, right down to their location. Nestled in a historic Dilworth church, the restaurant pays homage to its spiritual history, pairing the classic architecture with a refined take on Southern fare. Owner John Duncan had a vision for this old church when he and his father purchased it over two decades ago, and the city staple has provided Charlotteans with divine dining ever since.

The oenophile’s map of the 20 best wine spots in Charlotte

While Charlotte is known for the boom of breweries, where’s the credit for the wine bars? From sipping with your pup at Max & Lola Bodega to a european style cheese and wine at MERE’s wine shop, there’s definitely been an upgrade in the city’s wine scene.

10 top places to host a rehearsal dinner in the Charlotte area

If you have recently attended a rehearsal dinner or are planning a wedding weekend of your own, you know that rehearsal dinners have become far more than a formality following a wedding rehearsal.

Historic Church Setting of Bonterra – Best Unique Spot for a Drink by CharlotteFive

Some of my favorite travel memories are finding a quirky little watering hole to waste away evenings in – like Weinorgal in Vienna. We came back home wishing Charlotte had something as unique as the wine bar located in the vault of a lodging house built in the 1200s.

5 of the best spots to visit for spirits and small plates in Charlotte

Planning a night out? Kick things up a notch with delectable drinks and bites at these extraordinary bars and restaurants.

Bonterra Featured in Charlotte Agenda’s Half Price Wine Guide

Charlotte loves its wine, but especially loves it when it’s discounted, as evident by the multiple options available seven days per week.

No Campfire? No Problem. Bonterra’s S’mores Brownie

Satisfy your summer s’mores craving, but skip the sticky fingers and campfire. Top chefs around town are drawing inspiration from the crunchy graham cracker, gooey marshmallow, and melted chocolate combination to create luxe desserts sure to have you going back for, well, s’more.

The ultimate list of wine bars in Charlotte, from south Charlotte to University City

On a warm spring day, it’s tempting to sit on a patio with a glass of wine and let the post-work-day peace wash over you. Whether you prefer a garden-vibe (cheers to you, Dilworth Tasting Room) or a casual nook (Bulldog Beer & Wine never fails), there’s a wine spot for you in Charlotte.

Chef Blake Participates

Blake Hartwick is the Executive Chef of Bonterra Dining & Wine Room. Blake finds his inspiration in his Southern roots and has embraced the farm to table movement using the best local ingredients in his dishes.

Bonterra Named One Of Charlotte’s Most Romantic Restaurants

Treat your sweetheart (and yourself) to a night at one of these five romantic restaurants in the Charlotte area:

Chef Blake Hartwick is part of the group of Charlotte Chefs to do “Taste of Charlotte at Beard House in NYC

Bonterra’s Blake Hartwick, Heritage’s Paul Verica, The Asbury’s Chris Coleman and Ashley Boyd, pastry chef at both 300 East and Heritage, will put together a five-course meal focusing on the South’s foodstuffs, including Springer Mountain Farms chicken.

Chef Blake Hartwick’s Winning Wing Recipe

Bonterra & Chef Blake are proud to represent the Carolina Panthers at the Taste of the NFL with their Springer Mountain Farms Winning Wings!

Bonterra Named One of the Best Wine Bars in Charlotte

Bonterra. Just say the name and locals who have ventured to this over-100-year-old former church become thirsty.

Bonterra Named One of Charlotte’s Prettiest Restaurants

With such calculated and carefully orchestrated details having little to do with your palate, overall aesthetics are not lost on Charlotte’s restauranteurs. We not only have a wide range of culinary gems, but also design and architectural gems serving up some of the best food and feasts for your eyes.

5 Charlotte Chef’s Cooking in Charleston

Bonterra’s Blake Hartwick will prepare pinot braised chicken thighs at Of Garden + Grape at Middleton Place on Mar. 4 and cornmeal fried chicken thighs at Fried Chicken for the Southern Soul at Cannon Green on Mar. 5.

Can’t lose Carolina: a Charlotte chef’s undefeated wing recipe

Chef Blake Hartwick, of Bonterra Dining and Wine Room in Charlotte, North Carolina, noticed something during the current NFL season. Every time he served his signature wings, the Carolina Panthers won. Luckily for Panthers fans everywhere, Chef Hartwick is taking his wings to California to take part in the twenty-fifth annual Taste of the NFL event during Super Bowl weekend.

Unmistakably Carolina: Game Day Recipes for the Original Bandwagon

As soon as the Panthers punched their tickets to Santa Clara for the Super Bowl, we asked two of their biggest fans—who also happen to be chefs—to share a few game day recipes with us. Unlike those all those other recipes out there, these are unmistakably Carolina. With ingredients like NC catfish, Cheerwine, chow chow, and Duke's mayo, they not only satisfy a hungry crowd, they make it abundantly clear that you're a part of the Panther Nation (or that you just like good grub).

James beard celebrity chef tour dinner: Charlotte

On a recent Wednesday night, the kitchen inside Bonterra Restaurant was abuzz with activity. Charlotte Chef Blake Hartwick of Bonterra Dining & Wine Room had gathered a few culinary comrades inside his kitchen to host the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner; the second dinner of its kind in the city.

Ten of NC best take, NYC by Storm

Welcome to HeidiBillottoFood.com! So glad to have you along for the food and fun-filled ride! Browse around for seasonal recipes, info on my cooking classes and take your time to read more about local food, chefs, restaurants and food-centric travel. Send me a message here, if you have any questions and as always be sure to

Bonterra Dining & Wine Room Chef Included in the Line up for Euphoria’s Lambs & Clams

Lambs + Clams is a collaboration between Craig Rogers, shepherd of Border Springs Farm Lamb and Travis Croxton, oysterman of Rappahannock River Oysters both based in Virginia. Craig and Travis are purveyors to farm conscious chefs throughout America who value and appreciate conservation and humanely raised farm products.

Homegating with the Taste of the NFL Chef Blake Hartwick

“I’m not saying it’s the wings,” Hartwick said in a news release, “but every time I made them, the team did seem to win.” (He did not make them the Sunday that Carolina lost in Atlanta, though he was there. So let’s not let that happen again.)

Charlotte Chef Bringing his Undefeated Wings to Super Bowl 50

The chef at Bonterra Dining & Wine Room in Charlotte replied with a typical answer, saying that the Panthers, who needed to stage a late comeback to topple the New York Giants a week earlier, were due, and didn’t approach the divisional game with the proper mindset.

Biscuit Chat: Barbara Kopald and Blake Hartwick

Rachel Stewart talks to Barbara Kopald of the Symphony Guild of Charlotte and Blake Hartwick, Executive Chef at Bonterra, about the Guild's upcoming Heart of the Home Kitchen tour.

Charlotte chef picked for ‘Taste of the NFL’

If you've lived in Charlotte any time at all, you've probably heard of Bonterra, a really well-known restaurant in SouthEnd.
Bonterra's Executive Chef, Blake Hartwick, is getting ready to ship out to California to the Taste of the NFL.