Q: I miss the escargot I used to get at Les Halles when my husband and I visited in NYC. It’s the classic, not in a shell, sitting in garlic butter kind. No pastry, shells, etc. Is there anywhere nearby where I can find that?
Kristen: Great question! There are only a handful of places I know of in Charlotte that serve escargot, and most do them with puff pastry. La Belle Helene, Santé, and Cafe Monte all serve theirs with puff pastry. Surprisingly enough, the closest you will likely find is at Beef ’n Bottle — no puff pastry, mushrooms, and a classic sauce, though they do come with the shell. The Fig Tree does a delicious escargot, but not so much the classic — they’re bathed in a gorgonzola cream sauce.

Q: What is that dessert from?
Tom: The ice cream sandwich we used in our Instagram story callout is one of the innovative ice cream sandwiches 300 East is known for (see our review). This one is a gluten-free sorghum ginger cookie with butterscotch ice cream. After a bit of a hiatus, pastry chef Laney Parish has brought back her “ice cream sammies”. Currently, it’s a gluten-free chocolate cookie with a coffee ice cream, served with chocolate sauce and a cocoa nib crumble.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for a restaurant that’s friendly for both vegans and omnivores now that Alchemy has closed?
Kristen: There is very little that has the same level of accommodation as Alchemy, which recently closed. If you’re looking for higher end, try Copper Indian Cuisine. I’d suggest checking out Kid Cashew, too. If you’re up for casual, head to Optimist Hall. Even more casual, Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor does a great job with their vegan cheesesteaks — the vegan cheese is excellent.

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