Port City Foodies Newsletter: How Wilmington restaurants are on trend in this week's food news
Welcome to the weekly Port City Foodies newsletter brought to you by me, StarNews reporter Allison Ballard. I can tell you that I was enjoying ‘girl dinner’ even before it went viral on social media -- and then became a headline for publications like Food & Wine and Bon Appetit. Of course, I just called it a snack plate. But anyhoo, it’s a full-fledged trend – the evidence of which can be seen on local menus. I even met a woman who said her ideal ‘girl dinner’ is the Meatball Sundae, which is an appetizer at Fat Tony’s in downtown Wilmington, with house-made meatballs, a scoop of ricotta and marina baked with mozzarella cheese. It’s still on my list to try.
In other food news, Leland could be getting a Chipotle and more info about a couple of restaurants to try now. Read it below.
On trends
Have you been thinking more about espresso martinis? You’re not alone. According to Yelp’s 2024 Food and Drink trend report. Searches for coffee cocktails, like the Spanish carajillo, are up 118%. And as for the aforementioned snacky meals, "noshing" searches are up 140%. Read more here about how these trends are influencing the Wilmington food scene. Also be on the lookout for the newest trendy cocktail, the Hugo Spritz, and the latest hot (and cold) ramen -- Tsukemen.
More: Food trends for 2024: 4 things to expect from Wilmington-area restaurants
Wine and dine
Curated, multi-course menus expertly paired with wine are a staple at many Wilmington restaurants. And many of them do them well. But at Blue Surf Cafe’s location in Arboretum West, they’ve become a way for chef Jon Webb to express his creativity and a monthly feature. Check out when the next one is here, and why their patio is a year-round favorite.
More: What to know about the patio and wine dinners at this Wilmington restaurant
New space and new menu
Last year was an interesting one for Platypus & Gnome. They closed their downtown location (which is currently under renovation) and opened in a new spot near Wrightsville Beach, in the Grand View apartments. It’s really a mix of what fans loved about the original Platypus (interesting specials, cool cocktails and wild game) with some new elements (Italian gelato and unique pizzas).
More: New space brings new menu to this Wilmington restaurant but wild-game favorites remain
Let’s get social
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This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Port City Foodies newsletter
