TASTE OF THE CAROLINAS CAROWINDS EVENT GUIDE CAROWINDS · 2016 General Information As you travel your way around the Carolinas, chronicle your tastes by checking them off on the following pages. Eat, Tweet and Repeat! Join the social conversation by sharing photos and more using #TasteCarolina. Carolinians know that home is all about food, Please reference this icon for Vegetarian offerings. and we invite you to eat, drink and experience our best of the best and get a taste of just why we Please reference this icon for Gluten-free offerings. love it here. Sample tastes from seven Carolina regions along with local craft beers and wine. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. You must be What’s more, we’ll treat you to Carolina-grown 21 years of age or older in order to purchase entertainment and special activities. A true taste or consume alcoholic beverages. of where the Carolinas come together. Food and beverage tastes are available for purchase Operating Times for an additional fee. Menu items, pricing and entertainment times are subject to change without Taste of the Carolinas food locations are open from notice. Each food location will have allergen information 11:00am until two hours before the park closes. available. Additional restrictions may apply. Taste Of The Carolinas Welcome Center & Sales Booth (2 Locations) RIPCORD HARMONY HALL MARKETPLACE NORTH MAIN GATE 1 Wine & Beer 7 Charleston Region 2 Lexington Barbecue 8 Upstate South Carolina Region 3 South Carolina BBQ 9 Asheville/Mountains Region 4 Outer Banks Region 10 Home Depot® Kitchen Stage 5 Wine & Beer 11 Harmony Hall Outdoor Stage 6 Lowcountry Asheville | Mountains | Lowcountry | It’s said that altitude affects attitude, and the good The Lowcountry is comprised of the counties in the vibes coming from our highlands region are a positive “lower”, or most southern, part of the state. It’s a testament to that. From the Blue Ridge Parkway to the bounty for the senses – pungent, salty smells from Great Smokey Mountains, you’ll find gracious folks, a pluff mud, the dark marsh soil left behind after the gentle ease and an undeniable charm. tide recedes; piercing chants from frogs and katydids; and welcome shade from live oak trees and their Neese Sausage, Fig and Goat Cheese Popover shawls of Spanish moss. Mushroom Ravioli with Wild Herb Butter Tomato Pie Pecan Cinnamon Bread pudding Seafood Gumbo with Cream Cheese Icing Chocolate Bourbon Pie Upstate South Carolina Region | South Carolina Barbecue Region | This region, comprising 10 counties in the northwest part of the state, is prominent in a host of historical Barbecue is a revered institution in both Carolinas, and genres. It’s a significant center of the Cherokee it showcases several types of sauces. However, only one heritage and the sight of numerous battles in the sauce – mustard – is South Carolina’s own. It’s popular Revolutionary War and Civil War. in the middle part of the state, where Germans settled in the 1700s. They brought with them their love of Jalapeño Pimento mustard, and the beloved, tangy mustard BBQ sauce Cranberry Cheese Ball was born. Brunswick Stew Pulled Pork Spring Roll with Carolina Mustard Sauce Windy Hill Apple Cobbler Barbecue Roasted Corn Sweet Potato Popover Outer Banks | Charleston | On the far eastern shores of North Carolina, you’ll Charleston is a storied port town that lives and breathes find a series of long, narrow barrier islands we call the history. From its start as an English colony in 1670, Outer Banks. Its pristine beaches are known for their it was a focal point of the American Revolution, heard larger-than-life windswept dunes and free-roaming the first shots of the Civil War, and became a bustling wild horses. The Outer Banks town of Kill Devil Hills trade center welcoming numerous cultures. This history is the site of the Wright brothers’ first heavier-than-air is alive in Charleston, as more than 1,400 buildings powered flight, and Buxton is the home of America’s of historical significance remain. tallest lighthouse, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Sweet Tea Glazed Chicken Poached Seafood Salad Shrimp and Grits Fried Catfish with Calabash Hushpuppies Lady Baltimore Cake Outer Banks Honey Gelato Lexington Barbecue | When North Carolinians hear “Lexington”, one savory thought comes to mind: BBQ. Known as the “Barbeque Capital of the World”, Lexington “Q” is distinguished by being smoked, shoulder-cut pork cooked slowly, oh- so-slowly, over hickory wood. Its vinegar-based sauce is a delicious concoction of ketchup, salt, pepper, sugar and other spices that vary by secret recipes. Beer Basted Pulled Pork Sliders Barbecue Chicken Slider Barbecue Ribs Wine & Craft Beer Tastings | Carolina culture is not just something you can see The Carolinas are rapidly becoming a hot spot for craft or hear, it’s something you experience. We want breweries and wineries, and they’re producing some y’all to get to know the Carolinas with all of award-winning beverages. We’ve traveled all over your senses and understand for yourself why we the Carolinas to find beers and wines that perfectly love it here. To that end, we’ve lined up a wide complement our food offerings, and we recommend you give them a try. array of fantastic demonstrations, entertainment and much, much more. Sampling Events Chef Appearances For those looking for a more intimate tasting experience, sampling events are available at the We are proud to be partnered with many nationally Rose Room (located in the Carowinds Grove next to the and regionally renowned chefs that are associated North Main Gate) with wine or craft beer experts. For with this year’s Taste of the Carolinas. Enjoy daily pricing and to purchase your tickets, visit the chef appearances and demonstrations at the ® Taste of the Carolinas Welcome Center & Home Depot Kitchen Stage, located inside Sales Booth on the day of your visit. Harmony Hall. See location on the day of your visit for guest chefs and times. Live Bands Located on the patio of Harmony Hall, enjoy daily performances from some of the best bands from around the Carolinas. See location on the day of your visit for performance times. Food Art & Ice Carving Demonstrations Requires an additional fee. You must be 21 years of age or Ordinary food becomes extraordinary art! Watch daily older to purchase or consume food art demonstrations including sugar art, carved alcoholic beverages. fruits and vegetables in addition to daily ice carving demonstrations. Chef Damaris Phillips Appearance Date: April 9 Impressing judges with her fresh take on Southern cuisine, and winning over the audience with her impeccable charm, Southern spitfire Damaris Phillips outlasted 11 rival competitors to win season 9 of FOOD NETWORK STAR. Now, Damaris celebrates the relationship between food and love on her show Chef Kris Siuta SOUTHERN AT HEART, currently in its fifth season on Food Network. Carowinds Executive Chef Chef Alyssa Gorelick Carowinds Executive Chef Kris Siuta knew his calling Appearance Dates: April 10, 16 and 30 was to be a chef when he took a culinary class in high school – and we’re so glad he answered that call. Growing up in Charlotte, NC Chef Chef Kris was educated at The Culinary Institute of Alyssa has been involved with America in New York and while at the CIA, he was cooking nearly her entire life. A fortunate to work in some of New York City’s most 2005 graduate of the Art Institute famous restaurants, including Daniele’s, Tavern on of Charlotte, Alyssa started and ran the Green and Tribeca Grill. After graduation he her own catering company while in worked for the famous Greenbrier Resort in West school. In 2011, she was named the opening Executive Virginia and afterward opened a tremendously Chef of Fern, which was named Best New Restaurant in successful bakery and café, Delightfully Yours, also Charlotte later that year. In 2013, Chef Alyssa opened in West Virginia. He then joined Raleigh General Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen inside of Atherton Market in Hospital in Beckley, West Virginia, as Executive Chef South End. In 2015, it was named Best Cooking Class and earned tremendous recognition for the institution, by Charlotte Magazine. Currently, Chef Alyssa can be winning the Best Single Course and Best Teamwork seen cooking weekly on local TV stations in Charlotte. winner of the 2014 Annual West Virginia Cast Iron In 2016, Chef Alyssa launched a product line of Cook-Off – extremely unusual for a hospital nutrition sandwich spreads and dips: Rosemary-Chili Mustard services department. We are continually amazed by the and Champagne Tomato Jam. For more information on absolutely stunning creations coming from his kitchen, Chef Alyssa please visit www.chefalyssaskitchen.com and we can’t wait to share them with you. Chef Jason “Jay Z” Taste Of The Carolinas Sponsors Ziobrowski, CEC Carowinds is proud to be partnered with the following Appearance Date: April 17, 23, May 1 companies and organizations for this year’s Taste of the Chef Jay Z works personally with Carolinas event: customers to help them capitalize on the singular qualities of InHarvest® products to increase sales and satisfaction. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University who is certified as an executive chef (CEC) by the American Culinary Federation, he focuses heavily on recipe development based on existing and forecasted menu trends, customer demand and seasonal and regional ingredients. What’s more, Chef Jay Z taps the power of InHarvest’s exotic and heirloom grains, grain blends, beans and legumes to stimulate all of the senses. Chef Jay Z has a deep commitment to fostering child nutrition. To that end, he regularly volunteers his time and knowledge to teach school-age kids the ABCs of eating healthfully so they’ll grow up to be healthy adults.