March 12, 2026
Q&A: Bradford watermelons, corned beef & cabbage
Each week, we answer reader questions about food and drink in Charlotte
Q: Will there be Bradford watermelons this year?
Tom: Funny you should ask! I spoke with Nat Bradford just last week. The once nearly extinct heirloom family watermelon was almost in danger of disappearing again as a season of bad weather four years ago was followed by a disastrous cross-contamination (watermelons are highly susceptible to mutation) that wiped out all the field crops and usuable seeds. Nat had to go back to a few seeds his grandfather stored in 1990. It’s taken all this time to build back up new clean stock of seeds in enough numbers to produce a commericial crop. Fingers crossed, Nat says we can look forward to purchasing the prized fruit later this summer. We’ll keep you posted as the season progresses.
Q: With St. Patrick’s Day coming, where can I get a good corned beef and cabbage?
Tom: Sure as the sun shines of the green, you can get your fill of the the big red at Sir Edmond Halley’s Pub at Park Road Shopping Center, Clutch Kitchen & Pour House in Uptown, and Mary O’Neill’s in Waxhaw. You can also scarf down some corned beef egg rolls at McHale’s Pub in Noda.
