On New Years Day, I went to the restaurant Heirloom, owned by 27 year old chef Clark Barlowe. It’s located in north west Charlotte, and housed in a building that looks like it might have been a Cracker Barrel in a previous life. Well, in a way that is fitting, since what we had at the New Year’s Day fixed price dinner was something like what Cracker Barrel might serve if it was taken hostage by Alice Waters…or Chef Barlowe, as the case may be. We had a family style dinner of roast chicken, black-eyed peas (they are said to bring good luck when eaten on New Years in the South), collard greens, cornbread, and crispy pork slices. They were not fancy, foamy takes on these dishes, mind you, but the dishes themselves, in their old-timey, homestyle glory. This was pure nostalgia- and when the chef came out to greet us, he confirmed that in fact this meal came straight from his grandma’s kitchen. There were traces of high-end cuisine, however, such as when fragrant woodland herbs were finely chopped table-side and worked into homemade butter for our cornbread. Another highlight was the mixed drinks, all made with house-macerated spirits and fresh fruits and herbs.
I know that this menu is not necessarily typical of the dishes on the regular menu, so I look forward to going back and seeing what else they have to offer. I’m happy to see this kind of restaurant thriving in Charlotte, all while supporting North Carolina producers. For an affordably priced, delicious farm-to-table meal in a very casual setting, check it out.
Heirloom, 8470 Bellhaven Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28216, (704) 595-7710
The Children's Table 
Well put! I enjoyed being there with you to ring in the new year in southern style. Thanks for taking us.