Lake Norman Foodie (Twin Mills Club)

barbeque and Mayfair dressing. The ribs were cut into eight large pieces, perfect for the whole table. The creamy dressing paired excellent with the light smoke and barbeque sauce of the ribs. We loved the Brussel sprouts and can easily see why they are a popular starter. The balsamic reduction added a sweet touch to this veggie appetizer sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese. Next time we stop in, the sauteed mussels are already on our must try list. We were told these are served in a heaping portion that many order as their meal.

For the main event, we choose from each of their entrée sections: handhelds, pizza, and chef’s table. Within the handheld section we opted for the housesmoked pastrami Reuben sandwich. Served on golden grains bakery bread, the corn beef is cooked overnight then smoked quickly, rubbed in coffee glaze and pastrami seasoning. Each handheld also comes with either crispy fries, house slaw, or garlic parmesan fries as a side. We went with the parm fries which were delicious! For pizza we chose the margherita with overnight tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese. The overnight tomatoes are tossed in spices and laid out to oven dry overnight. All pizzas are made in-house from small batch dough daily and can also be substituted for gluten free crust. From the chef’s table section, we had one of the newest items available to the menu which was the green Chile Peruvian chicken. This dish is a play on dirty rice with a fusion Southern twist. The chicken is locally sourced from Joyce Farms, served with crispy rice, black eyed peas and hatch Chile sauce. This meal was just as delicious as it looked! The chicken was tasty and plentiful, while the crispy rice added a nice crunch for texture. Some other popular entrées we did not try were the Foundry salad, rocket bird sandwich, steak 310 and wood-grilled salmon.

We are so thankful that we remembered to save room for dessert, because it was a highlight of our dinner. The famous butter cake is a signature item, which once again was presented beautifully. The warm brown sugar crusted cake was topped with vanilla ice cream and surrounded by berries, flowers and whiskey sauce. Sharing this melt-in-your-mouth sweet treat was a flawless way to end our meal.

At The Foundry you can tell a lot of love, time and detail goes into every dish. One of our favorite things about this spot is how they use products from various local farms and bakeries that are highlighted in blue on the easy-toread menu. Chef Brett Faldstein is doing a wonderful job turning healthy and fresh local ingredients into scrumptious meals with a Southern flare. Other honorable mentions about this restaurant are their weekly specials, including a lunch combo, Sunday brunch, wine flights and more! This space also hosts events like holiday buffets and can be booked for showers and weddings.

This hidden gem is definitely worth checking out for your next dinner outing. You can find it located at 310 Exploration Blvd. in Denver, NC. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sunday’s they offer a brunch menu from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. With its diverse menu and skillfully prepared dishes, The Foundry is a top-notch culinary destination in the area. Whether you’re a vegetarian, seafood lover or meat aficionado, there’s something here for everyone. The ambiance is stylish and inviting, the staff is friendly and attentive, and everything we tasted was fantastic! Check out the menu at lakenorman. bluestarmenus.com/the-foundry/ and be sure to make a reservation by calling their team at 704-585-8786 before visiting. Reservations are also available through OpenTable at www.opentable.com/r/the-foundry-attrilogy-norman-lake-denver .