So I mentioned in my Smarty Mom profile this week that I would shed some light on my little secret, The Harvest Moon Grille Orange Cart. (BTW, I’m still walking with an extra skip in my step after officially being asked to be Smarty Mom!) This little cart has been my favorite go-to breakfast run Saturday after Saturday for over a year now. I know. Why have I waited so long to tell you guys?
The Harvest Moon Grill Orange Cart is run by the Grateful Growers, LLC, I like to refer to them as local culinary gods. They serve delicious, fresh food all made from scratch with locally-grown ingredients. Their menus change weekly and you just need to defer to them and eat whatever they are serving. You’ll know it’s made with the best ingredients available that week, trust me, it will be heavenly. My hubby’s (and my) personal fave is the pork carnita – this is cooked with their locally raised, slow-roasted pork shank, carmelized onions and combined with local fresh herbs from only the best NC farmers. Umm, triple Y-U-M!! So what’s on the menu this week? How about some Bahn Moon – Asian-marinated pork shank and belly in a soft roll with carrot-cilantro slaw and sriracha aioli. Or perhaps a Sweet Potato Cake – coated in panko bread crumbs, seared on the flat top griddle and served on a bed of lettuce, topped with asparagus puree.
I remember the first time I stumbled upon the cart at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market and I couldn’t believe my taste buds. This little shack just served me WHAT?! I wanted to kiss the chef through the window! We found ourselves craving the “orange cart” and got really bummed out when our 4-kids-in-soccer-every-Saturday-morning gig took over our Saturdays! I’m elated b/c soccer season is winding down just as Farmer’s Market season is kicking in. We are seriously orange cart groupies!!
The Harvest Moon Grille orange cart sets up shop all around Charlotte each week. On Tuesdays & Thursdays, you’ll find them uptown at 4th & Tryon Streets next to the Bank of America building from 11a-2p (this is when you WORKING SMARTIES need to pay attention:-). On Wednesdays you’ll find them in SouthEnd at the corner of Camden Rd. and W. Park Ave from 11a-2p (near Phat Burrito & Price’s Chicken Coop – two other Charlotte must-eats!). On most Saturdays, you’ll find them at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market from 7:30a-noon. Please note: if you are heading out specifically for the cart, you better sign up for their email or at least check their website. This orange beauty is in high demand with all of the local festivals kicking into high gear. Word is out that this food is the bomb, so they get invited to other venues and their schedule sometimes changes.
You know you’re onto something good when they get a wink from Southern Living. That’s right, the HMG Cart got listed as one of the South’s Best Food Trucks in their January 2011 issue. Oh, and one more thing. The Grateful Growers chefs have taken over the Dunhill Restaurant in uptown Charlotte. It’s now called The Harvest Moon Grille. I can’t wait to try that on my next date night!
Try something new, Smarties, I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Make sure you mention CSP – you know we heart all things local!
For more info:
The Harvest Moon Grille Orange Cart
The Harvest Moon Grille/Dunhill
Follow them on Twitter and facebook.
4 comments
We went to their restaurant in the Dunhill on a date night and it was delicious! Love a menu that has farro on it!
That sounds amazing! I will track that cart down soon.
Love the orange cart – and thank you to Jen for introducing it to me last year! Their bacon is to die for (but they do usually have vegetarian items too). I have had the sad experience of driving out to the farmers’ market on a Saturday to find that they weren’t there that day, so I echo the advice to check the website first. You can also sign up for their emails which tell you where the cart will be each day.
I have seen the cart next to Bank of America uptown many days while out looking for lunch. I’ll have to try it now!! 🙂 Thanks!!