Q:  Which local restaurants offer game meat dishes?
Tom: Not as many as I would like. (Block & Grinder, we miss you!) While many area restaurants will occasionally have a game dish as a special feature, not too many offer game on their every day menus, although there are a few. The Fig Tree in Elizabeth typically has elk chops on its menu as does Barrel & Fork in Cornelius (sometimes substituting elk tenderloin). The Cellar at Duckworth’s in Uptown currently boasts a bison filet as an option. Mano Bella / SouthPark has tasty pasta dish with a wild boar ragu. Also, while it doesn’t techically count as game, but in the non-mainstream meat category, Barrington’s in SouthPark current lists a rabbit pot pie as an entrée.

Q:  Are there any updates about Neese’s resuming its production of livermush and liver pudding?
Tom: Absolutely none. It’s been eerily quiet. The USDA suspended operations on the portion of Neese’s Greensboro facility that produces livermush and liver pudding in early December due to listeria-related food safety concerns. There has been no public announcement about when or if production will resume. In fact, the company’s website has removed all mention of the products, focusing on its breakfast sausage business and has disabled its online shopping store. Honestly, it doesn’t look good for a return soon or ever, but I guess there’s always hope. Trust me, I’m keeping an eye on it.