Taste of the World and other followups

Charlotte East's "Taste of the World" went off smoothly Oct. 6, I'm told, the ninth annual version of this tour of area restaurants showing the multiplicity and range of world cuisines they offer. Here, Mai Duong, co-owner of Ben Thanh serves guests. Photo by Nancy Pierce.

Vida raised just over $600 Oct. 4 (National Taco Day, of course) with a taco deal that benefitted Levine Children's Hospital.

Mac's Speed Shop won an invitation to the Kansas City Barbecue Society's American Royal World Championship at the "Autumn Treasures Grill'n and Chill'n" event in Waxhaw last weekend, winning the chicken category, placing second in brisket and pork and third in ribs.