Restaurateurs: Apply

The National Restaurant Association seeks restaurants to apply for its 2011 Restaurant Neighbor Award. The group recognizes community service by four restaurants across the country, donating $5,000 to the charitable project of each winner. Interested, restaurateurs? Apply online at www.restaurant.org/rna before Jan. 11, 2011. NRA president Dawn Sweeney says restaurants nationwide contribute nearly $3 billion annually to charitable causes.

Restaurants may apply on their own behalf, and employees, patrons and other community members may work with a restaurant to apply. The four national winners will be presented the awards March in Washington. Both national and state winners will be recognized on the National Restaurant Association website.

The Restaurant Neighbor Award honors charitable contributions in four categories: small business, mid-size business, large business/national chain, and Cornerstone Humanitarian. Each participating state restaurant association will select winners in their respective states that will be in the running for the national award.

Phat Burrito to franchise

Phat Burrito will franchise, says Patty Dowdy on behalf of National Restaurant Properties. Founder Stephen Justice opened the California-style burrito place a dozen years ago in South End (before it was South End!). National Restaurant Properties will be the sole franchise broker and efforts will "begin regionally and eventually take over the world," says the press release -- which hastens to add that the South End store will remain the only location within 100 miles of Charlotte.

None are in the works yet, says Dowdy.

Bits and crumbs

ilios noche is now open Sundays, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 11508 Providence Road; 704-814-9882.

Chipotle plans to roll out its new kid’s menu in Charlotte starting Nov. 15 and to highlight it, will kids a free kid’s meal every Sunday from Nov. 21 through Dec. 12 when parents purchase a burrito, salad, burrito bowl (a burrito without the tortilla) or order of tacos. Among the kids' items: small cheese quesadilla for $2.95 with side of rice, choice of beans, small bag of chips and milk, apple juice or soda; or single taco with three items from the line (one meat or guacamole and two others such as salsa), with chips and choice of drink.

Beer and wine dinners

Micky's Bistro hosts a "Best of the West" wine dinner Oct. 24 for $50 per person, $90 per couple. Among the offerings: pan-seared crab cake with 2007 Robert Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay; Norwegian salmon poached in citrus-infused olive oil, with 2008 Rex Hill Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley; and filet mignon with 2006 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain. 15906 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville; 704-992-1781.

Blue hosts a beer and food tasting Oct. 27, with five dishes inspired by and paired with N.C. regional brews. Among the offerings: crisp fried oyster po' boy with Sisters of the Moon IPA; duck confit over pumpkin risotto with Highland Gaelic; and braised veal breast stuffed with prosciutto and raisins with a flight of three: Highland Clawhammer, Duck Rabbit Marzen and OMB "Mecktoberfest" Marzen. $34.95; Hearst Plaza at the corner of College and 5th streets; reservations: 704-927-2583.

D'Vine Wine Cafe in Ballanyne Village hosts a six-course Domaine Serene wine dinner Oct. 28. Among those featured: 2008 Coeur Blanc White Pinot Noir paired with grilled scallop sashimi, and 2007 Jerusalem Hill Pinot Noir paired with pumpkin and mushroom rabbit saddle. $79.99; reservations: 704-369-5050.

The Wine Vault and Upstream host a Tensley wine dinner Oct. 28 for $69. Among the courses are Carolina peach and vine-ripe tomato salad with Camp 4 Vineyard Grenache Blanc/Roussanne Blend; a taste of the Coulson Canyon Syrah; and smoked Berkshire pork tenderloin with Tensley/Montvac Detente Syrah. 6902 Phillips Place Court; reservations: 704-548-9463.

Foskoskies hosts an Australian dinner Nov. 1 featuring Penfolds Winery. On the menu: scallops rumaki with 2008 Thomas Hyland "Adelaide" Riesling; herb-roasted lamb chops with grain mustard spaetzle and 2006 "Bin 2" Shiraz-Mourvedre; and more. $40; 2121 Shamrock Drive; 704-535-2220; www.foskoskies.com.

Wine dinners, new menu, new hours

Aria and the Wine Vault host a five-course, seven-wine Pio Cesare wine dinner Oct. 11, with Cesare Benvenuto of the winery. Among the courses: pan-seared scampi with 2007 Pio Cesare L'Altro Chardonnay; and braised short rib with 1993 Il Bricco Barbaresco. $75; reservations: The Wine Vault, 704-548-9463; dinner at Aria, in Founders Hall uptown.

Foskoskies hosts an Australian dinner Nov. 1 featuring Penfolds Winery. On the menu: scallops rumaki with 2008 Thomas Hyland "Adelaide" Riesling; herb-roasted lamb chops with grain mustard spaetzle and 2006 "Bin 2" Shiraz-Mourvedre; and more. $40; 2121 Shamrock Drive; 704-535-2220; www.foskoskies.com.

On the new fall menus at Gallery Restaurant: at lunch, fried green tomato grilled cheese sandwich and buckwheat noodle and charred vegetable stir-fry; at dinner, roasted local squash soup and braised rabbit cannelloni, and entrees such as horseradish-crusted cod, Block Island swordfish, smoked duck breast and seared veal tenderloin. 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway; 704-248-4100.

Artisan, the teaching restaurant of the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Charlotte, will open for dinners only during the fall quarter. Hours will be 6-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday from Oct. 11-Dec. 8, except for Thanksgiving week, during which it will be open only Monday. Three-course dinners will cost $15.95 plus tax and tip; tips go into a scholarship fund for culinary students. Reservations: 704-357-5900.

Bagel, pancake possibilities

Bruegger's is holding a sweepstakes to win a "bottomless coffee mug" on Facebook until Oct. 12. Go to its Facebook page and click on Sweepstakes and you may be one of 10 winners: Mugs are worth an estimated $139 because they entitle the winner to free refills of coffee, tea or soft drinks.

IHOP (multiple locations) will offer special pancake deals through October, and will serve one "Scary Face Pancake" -- that's an oversized buttermilk pancake with whipped topping mouth, strawberry nose and mini Oreos and candy corn to make-your-own face -- free to kids 12 and younger Oct. 29.

Dine out, do good

Dilworth Coffee locations will give away lattes in all their shops through Oct. 8 to anyone who donates $5 to help fund local mammograms. The cost of a large flavored latte is about $4 and though Starbucks has announced plans to increase some of its prices, a Dilworth Coffee spokesperson says the company has no plans to do so.

Jason's Deli locations in (Pineville, Woodlawn, University area, and Birkdale will donate 10 percent of all proceeds (including those from pickup and delivery) from 4-10 p.m. Oct. 21 (that's a Thursday) to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.