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November 19, 2024
Where Chefs Eat: Supperland’s Savannah Foltz
2024 UPPY Finalist keeps it casual when dining out
by TM Petaccia
Folks in the restaurant industry know good food, so we want to know where they eat when they’re not cooking. In this series, we ask a local chef, bartender, restaurateur, or food artisan to share their favorite restaurants in town and what they order there.
This week, we interviewed 2024 UPPY Pastry Chef of the Year Finalist Savannah Foltz of Supperland. Leading the dessert program at a nationally recognized large-volume restaurant is no easy task, but Foltz meets the challenge and more. Her days are often packed as she preps and plates the final tastes of the evening for Supperland’s patrons. Working in a fine dining world, for the most part, Foltz prefers a much more casual setting when she’s not on the clock. Here are her favorite go-to Charlotte spots.
Pinky’s Westside Grill, Ashley Park
Combination dive bar/restaurant with a focus on hot dogs and burgers
Foltz’s order: Ruben dog, Nature Boy burger – ding dong style (crunchy peanut butter, cilantro-honey slaw, and sriracha), crab hushpuppies, sweet potato fries
Foltz’s take: “Always a stop when my family comes to town. My best friend says that one of her favorite moments of me was watching me make a U-turn with one hand while eating a Pinky’s Ruben Dog with the other.”
Thai Taste, Dilworth (dine-in)
Charlotte’s first Thai restaurant (1988), serving a host of authentic dishes
Foltz’s order: Gaeng Kua (red curry with pineapple), Gaeng Dang (red curry with coconut milk), fried spring rolls
Thai House, Cotswold, Pineville, Lake Norman (delivery)
Serving authentic Thai dishes for over 30 years
Foltz’s order: Vegetable panang curry (level 3 spicy), extra tofu, tofu knock-out rolls
Foltz’s take on both: “I find Thai curry to be so healing to my soul, which has coined the phrase in our household of “sad girl Thai” because I will absolutely cancel all plans in favor of Thai curry if I am having a bad day.”
Zämbies, NoDa
Eclectic pizza shop offering 28-inch pies and slices
Foltz’s order: Sleeping Beauty pizza (roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, balsamic glaze), garlic knots
Foltz’s take: “A newer addition to my list of favorites, and easily the best pizza I have ever had. I love how crispy yet fluffy the crust is.”
Two Scoops Creamery, multiple locations
Local ice cream chain known for innovative flavors
Foltz’s order: Double scoop — Cookie Monster and Cookies by the Sea — in a waffle cone
Foltz’s take: “I started grabbing ice cream there when I was in college and haven’t stopped yet. I usually walk in and look at the case for several minutes pretending like I will order something else, but I never fail to leave with the same order.”
SipCo, Concord
Juice bar, offering “dirty sodas” and custom juice blends
Foltz’s order: Mango Mamba
Foltz’s take: “I’m more of a “beverage girly” – I always have two beverages (or more) on hand at any time I’m often grabbing one of these and then walking the greenway across the street on my days off.”
