Emeril's place sets opening date

Emeril Lagasse's new e2 will open Jan. 26, if all goes according to plan, serving dinner Monday-Saturday at 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts uptown (between Tryon and Church streets). Described as "casual American," it brings together several veterans of Lagasse restaurants, from chef de cuisine Justin Sells to sous and pastry chef Stephanie Nikolic. Look for chicken and waffles, shrimp pizza, sea scallops with crab fumet, "ham-cured" pork loin and more. The setup includes a counter bordering the open kitchen; a seafood/raw bar; a common table for up to 12; a cocktail bar; the main dining room (seating 125); and a street-level outdoor patio. Complimentary valet parking will be offered, and reservations will be taken starting Jan. 16, at 704-414-4787 or e2emerils.com.

City Tavern at SouthPark

Look for a new City Tavern at SouthPark, in the former San Antonio's Modern Mexican spot (formerly Morton's), by Dick’s Sporting Goods and McCormick & Schmick’s. Plans call for entrees to range from about $12-$24, and for construction to begin this month, with the place opening in March.

Lulu offers 4-course special

From Jan. 20-29, Lulu offers four courses for $30 at dinner: choice of olives, pâté or fried calamari; choice of soup or salad; choice of steak and frites, braised rabbit, cod Provençal or risotto of the day; and dessert. 1911 Central Ave.; 704-376-2242.

Soup on Sunday, Year 12

Save Jan. 29 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) for the 12th annual Soup on Sunday benefitting Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region. Soups come from a multitude of area restaurants, and you can buy pottery made for the event by local potters. It's held at the Philip L. Van Every Culinary Arts Center of Central Piedmont Community College, 425 N. Kings Drive (at the corner of Kings and 7th.)

General admission is $30 and gets you food and beverages ($10 for kids 7-12, free for 6 and younger), while the "soup lover's special" is $40 and you get a handmade pottery bowl as well. Details and tickets: hpccr.org. You can also buy them at the door or by phone at 704-335-4312.

Restaurants already on the list (with soups, if they've announced them):
Red Rocks Café (white bean chicken chili); 300 East (butternut squash with Gorgonzola); Zebra (truffled mushroom and lobster bisque); Sante (roasted butternut squash); Fenwick’s (tomato bisque and chicken with veggies and garden blend rice); Barrington’s; Harvest Moon Grille; Fran’s Filling Station; Crepe Cellar; Paco’s Tacos & Tequila; Midwood Smokehouse; Mama Ricotta’s; and Rodi.

Noted Kinston restaurant has fire

Chef & the Farmer, a well-regarded restaurant in Kinston, had a major fire this weekend, and a reopening date has not been set, reports the Kinston Free Press. Owners Ben Knight and Vivian Howard opened the place in a former mule stable in 2006, and it specializes in fare made with Eastern N.C. growers' products. A fire official said the fire "gutted" the restaurant's storage area, according to the story.

Coming up: wines, beers, more!

The Wine Vault's next dinner, with Barnett Vineyards and David Tate, is slated for Jan. 15 at Sullivan's Steakhouse. Among the lineup are crab cake with "Savoy" Chardonnay; Delmonico steak with Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon; and more. $75 (including tax and tip); 704-548-9463.

The annexed space for The King's Bakery, next to uptown's The King's Kitchen, is open, and will host a Trinchero Family wine dinner Jan. 18. The menu includes Hoppin' John cakes and cheese fonduta with Joel Gott Pinot Gris; braised beef short rib with Brussels sprouts, cornbread purée, wild mushrooms and veal demi-glace, with Napa Cellars Syrah; and more. $50; 704-375-1990; the space is on the Church Street side of the Kitchen, at 129 W. Trade St.

Arthur's Wine Shop at Belk SouthPark hosts a Zinfandel Festival 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 for $10 a person. 704-366-8610.

Blue hosts a beer and food pairing with Old Mecklenburg Brewery Jan. 19. Pairings will include rabbit and ricotta canelloni with OMB Copper; charmoula-lacquered duck confit with Dunkel Lager; oven-roasted Kobe top round beef, carved at the table, with OMB Unfiltered Copper; and more. $45.95; Hearst Tower (corner of College and 5th streets uptown); reservations: 704-927-2583.

New lunch

The Capital Grille now offers a customized "Plates Menu" for lunch, with a 45-minute time estimate and a lineup that includes choice of soup or salad, sandwich and side for $18. The current menu includes a Wagyu cheeseburger with fried egg and crisp onions, roasted pepper soup and roasted root vegetables; the choices will change seasonally. 201 N. Tryon St.; 704-348-1400.