Q:  Why didn’t L’Ostrica get a Michelin star or even a shout-out? I need this answer.
Tom: I’m sure there are a few chefs and restaurant owners throughout the city asking that same question about their laudable establishments. The answer is who knows exactly how the Michelin investigators approach their task? I can only offer a couple of personal theories, pure conjecture. One is that, in the investigators’ opinion, L’Ostrica hasn’t been open long enough and doesn’t have a full track record to merit consideration. That would also explain why the 2025 UPPY Restaurant of the Year, Albertine, also did not get Michelin consideration, although Joe and Katy Kindred’s other restaurants, Kindred and Hello, Sailor, did. The other is time. There was a very short window between Michelin’s first announcement of the new American South edition and the announcements last week — and you know that list had to be locked way before then. It could be something as simple as there really wasn’t enough time to do a full evaluation of Charlotte restaurants as well as the other cities in the new region. I think we’ll get a better picture of the Michelin mindset over the next couple of years once the investigators can fully explore the Queen City.

Q:  I’m looking for some Szechuan food that’ll make my eyelashes burn off. Got any suggestions?
Tom: A few. A number of the noodle dishes at The Dumpling Lady (Optimist Hall and South End) certainly can set off a few internal alarms. Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles in Matthews has some real fiery ones, especially the mapu tofu. Sun’s Kitchen in South End offers a number of numbingly spicy Ma-La/Szechuan dishes. Finally, Riceblossom, formerly Taste of SHU, in South Charlotte, has just what you’re looking for to bring on those peppery sweats.