South Charlotte Brunch Spot Is Now Open

Brunch lovers in south Charlotte have a new alternative.  Ruby Sunshine has opened a location on Johnston Road near I-485.

The restaurant invites diners to "that brunch life" with  New Orleans flavors and an extensive cocktail menu.  For starters, try the Pig Candy Bacon Bites -- applewood smoked bacon pieces with a candy glaze. Specialties include Sweet Heat Chicken And French Toast Bites, Bananas Foster French Toast, and of course, Shrimp and Grits.   Check out the menu here.

Located at 12330 Johnston Road just north of I-485, Ruby Sunshine is in the former Ruby Tuesdays building in Toringdon.  It's a nice fit with Midwood Smokehouse and Hickory Tavern in the same development.

Southend brunch-goers may  already be familiar with Ruby Sunshine.  The company has had a location at 332 West Bland St. for several months.  Ruby Sunshine is a creation of the folks behind the famous Ruby Slipper Cafe in New Orleans.

There is just something about your favorite comfort food. While I won't binge on them constantly, I enjoy some good down-home southern home cooking from time to time. Personally for me when I think of comfort foods I think of things like mac and cheese, chicken pot pie, or a grilled cheese sandwich. But those are just a few of the endless examples. The Oxford Dictionary defines comfort foods as "food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking."

The researchers over at E-Conolight analyzed Google search data to determine the most popular comfort foods in each state. And by popular they mean the most searched for. And there were some fantastic foods that made the list including chicken and dumplings, cheese grits, pot roast, stuffing, and chili. In fact, reading this list has made me hungry for lunch. And not the salad I was planning on having either. But what did the data show as the most popular comfort food in North Carolina? It's a good one that combines both sweet and salty and honestly what more can you ask of a food?

Keep reading to see which foods the Carolinas and neighboring states love. Want to see more? You can read the full E-Conolight article here.

Chicken & Waffles. Maybe I just didn't get out much but I feel like in the last 10 years or so is when chicken & waffles became a thing. I love a good waffle and I love fried chicken. But for a while, I was very hesitant to try this combination. It just sounds so weird, mainly the syrup on fried chicken part. But as soon as I finally tried it, I get it. This combination is so good and an absolute staple on brunch menus for a reason!

Could there be a better comfort food representation of South Carolina than shrimp & grits? When this meal is good it's GOOD. Especially in Charleston and other coastal towns. In the south we know how to really cook grits and this meal is the perfect blend.

Any combination of carbs and cheese is the perfect comfort food. And a grilled cheese certainly fits that description. Want to take it up a notch? Add bacon or another meat, tomato, or tomato soup to dip it in. I'm comforted just by the thought of this delicious meal.

Is there a better southern delicacy than fried chicken? It's a classic for a good reason. When you find a restaurant or even better a family member who makes the best fried chicken, it's a blessing!

Full disclosure I had no idea what Chess Pie is and had to Google it. But thanks to Cooking Classy, I learned that it is "a custard-style pie with a crisp browned topping". This dessert typically consists of a traditional pie crust with filling consisting of eggs, milk or buttermilk, flour, sugar, and often vinegar or lemon.

See the rest here.