Best of the Best

THIS YEAR’S BOB AWARDS arrive at a tumultuous time for Charlotte businesses and nonprofits. So let’s celebrate them. Throughout these pages, you’ll find 400 reasons to raise a locally sourced drink to our city. These people, places, and bearded dragons are reminders that we live in a dynamic community, and even in the time of social distancing, we’re here together.

- Michelle Boudin / Taylor Bowler / Greg Lacour / Jared Misner Margaret Rawlings / Andy Smith

EDITOR'S CHOICE

EAT The Best of Food and Dining

2020 BOB AWARDS

TREND

ITALIAN FOOD

The openings of CICCHETTI, FORCHETTA, CAPISHE’S SOUTHPARK LOCATION, SENSI, OSTERIA LUCA, VOLO, NORTH ITALIA, and INDACO in the last year indicate Charlotte’s robust appetite for Italian. Enjoy carbonara like you’d eat it in Rome or order meatballs and breadsticks at a counter. Sip a glass of Chianti at a Venetianstyle wine bar or take a gelato to go. Any diner can find an experience at any price, and there’s even more to come: Look for ORTO, a new Italian concept from Paul Verica, this spring, and LITTLE MAMA’S, the kid-sister concept to Frank Scibelli’s Mama Ricotta’s, later this year.

DESSERTS

The Batch House

Cristina Rojas-Agurcia, a.k.a. The Batchmaker, switched from a home-based operation to a brick-and-mortar shop connected to LaCa Projects last fall. Now, The Batch House regularly sells out her toothsome treats. The Snickers Cheesecake and Dirty Oreo Truffles are both notables, but we recommend starting with her take on an Oatmeal Creme Pie. Little Debbie who? 1429 Bryant St., thebatchmaker.com