Liberty to open this week

The Liberty, American gastropub brainchild of longtime Harper's chef Tom Condron and Matthew Pera, is slated to open Oct. 9 at the former McIntosh's location in South End: 1812 South Blvd. Look for a pub setting with "upscale, yet moderately priced cuisine." Entrees will run $10-$21; look for dishes such as farm chicken with olive-crushed potatoes and chorizo; grilled Scottish salmon with Anson Mills farro (it's a grain); Angus pub burger with Niman Ranch bacon, teleme cheese and duck-fat fries; duck and dumplings with duck leg confit, duck meatballs and ricotta dumplings; grilled hanger steak with preserved tomatoes and parmesan-truffle fries; and more. Desserts will range from Meyer lemon donuts to warm Valrhona chocolate cake.

The space is divided into dining room and bar; the first is done in an "urban retro" style, with the bar sporting a more traditional pub look. Drinks range from 20 hand-crafted beers on tap and 50 by the bottle to 60 wines and a cocktail list. It seats more than 200, with a patio and 50-seat bar. Hours will be 11 a.m.-1 a.m. daily. 704-332-8830.

New spot for South End

Look for Icehouse in early 2010 at the former Southend Brewery at Atherton Mill in South End. John Duncan of Bonterra and Las Ramblas plans a lineup of 200 beers, signature burgers, barbecue, ribs and pizzas. Edens & Avant, the group that owns Atherton Mill, plans design changes in the property "focused on features that will engage and connect people from the neighborhood": think more restaurants, stores and a glossing up of the outdoor space. Dan Boone, a chef who's been with Duncan a long time and was formerly chef at Mac's Speed Shop (both are no longer affiliated with Mac's), will do the Icehouse menu. 2100 South Blvd.

Taste the World

Where can you spend a few hours and a few dollars and get a real glimpse of global cuisine? East Charlotte's Taste of the World on Oct. 8.

This regularly slated event loads diners onto buses and takes them to culinary adventures ranging from Caribbean to Middle Eastern, Latino to Italian. For $30, you get an opening reception, samplings at three restaurants, plus a dessert-and-coffee reception at the VanLandingham Estate.

Participating restaurants are Ben Thanh (Vietnamese), Brazas (Brazilian), Congas (Cuban), Dim Sum (Chinese), Jerusalem (Middle Eastern), Landmark Diner, Fu Lin (Asian fusion), Linares (Mexican), Mama's (Caribbean), Middle East Deli, Namaste (Indian), Pizza and More (New York-style Italian), Pollos Mario (Colombian), Portofino (Italian) and Woodlands (vegetarian Indian).

Get more information at the web site here.

Dine out, help out

• Morton's in Uptown does Philanthropy Week: Buy a three-course fixed-price dinner Oct. 6-10 for $75 and $25 of the dinner price and 10 percent of bottled wine purchases will go to the charity of the evening. Here's the lineup: Oct. 6: Classroom Central; Oct. 7: RAIN; Oct. 8: Second Harvest Food Bank; Oct. 9: USO of North Carolina; Oct. 10: Levine Children's Hospital. Reservations: 704-333-2602; 227 W. Trade St.
  

• Wolfgang Puck Carolina Bistro begins school support Oct. 1 and runs through November: 20 percent of all sales to diners who mention "School Promo" go to the restaurant's three neighborhood schools: Providence Spring Elementary, Jay M. Robinson Middle School and Providence High. 5349 Ballantyne Commons Parkway; 704-708-5802.
  

• Sole and Zen team with Levine Children's Hospital for "5 Days of Hope" Oct. 5-9. Five percent of the Dilworth restaurants' sales during those days will go to the hospital, in conjunction with the Hopebuilders 5K Run/Walk Oct. 10. Sole: 1608 East Blvd.; 704-343-9890. Zen: 1716 Kenilworth Ave.; 704-358-9688.

Slow down; sign up

Climb on the farm-to-fork train Oct. 3 at the Bed and Bike Inn in Gold Hill (about an hour east of Charlotte). Chefs Kyle Krieger (Noble's), Jamie Lynch (Barrington's), Sean Dowling (131 Main), Sam Jett (Blue), Zack Renner (Harvest Moon Grill) and pastry chef Ashley Boyd (300 East) will offer courses celebrating community -- and benefitting Friendship Trays and Slow Food Charlotte.

Organizers want to stress the importance of sustainable farming, local businesses and charitable giving, and ingredients (so far, according to Fisher Farms) will include rabbit from Full Circle Farm, pork from Grateful Growers, eggs from Laughing Owl and Yesterways farms, tomatoes from Fisher Farms, eggplant from Fisher or Carlea or Laughing Owl, mushrooms from Landis Gourmet Mushrooms and/or Clover Organic Mushroom Farm, apples from Nise's, goat cheese from Bosky Acres, assorted greens from Nise's and Poplin Farms and more.

Rain delayed this dinner from Sept. 26, so the hope is for clear weather, and there should be a full moon that night. Other fun details include a contest for best wine glass (the dinner is bring-your-own-glass), live music from Pfeiffer University, a silent auction of local services, art and gift certificates. Cost is $75 and you must reserve through e-mail to fisherfarms1933@gmail.com.

Friendship Trays delivers meals to elderly, handicapped and convalescing people. Slow Food is a nonprofit group founded to "counteract fast food and fast life."

Elizabeth Avenue casualty

NoFo on Liz closed yesterday, a Raleigh manager confirmed; the cafe/store's siblings in Raleigh and Wilmington remain open. Ironic, since the city today celebrated the reopening of Elizabeth Avenue after the lengthy construction process (with blocked access) that NoFo folks indicate they "just couldn't get through."

Deals, deals

• French country breakfast for about $5 sound good? During October, from 7-9 a.m. weekdays, Cafe Monte offers two eggs any style, sausage and bacon (yes, "and"), potatoes and toast for half-off the regular price of $9.95, plus a free cup of coffee. 6700 Fairview Road; 704-552-1116.

• McCormick & Schmick’s is offering “10 under $10” at lunch. Both Charlotte locations (200 S. Tryon St. and at SouthPark) will offer sandwiches, wraps, pastas, entree salads and some combos, and those in a rush can request a 45-minute-or-less service time. The offer is good daily, except for holidays.

• Revolution Pizza & Ale House now offers a lunch buffet noon-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday: all you can eat pizza and salad for $7.50 (plus tax) and kids 10 and younger eat for free. Both the usual (pepperoni, sausage, cheese) and the chef-inspired (pulled pork, peppadew peppers, caramelized onions) ingredients will be on the buffet. 3228 N. Davidson St.; 704-333-4440.

• Las Ramblas does its second Fiesta Las Ramblas 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 22, with half-price menu items, $4 wines, $3 sangria and $2 beers. Details at www.lasramblascafe.com. 2400 Park Road; 704-335-8444.