Unmistakably Carolina: Game Day Recipes for the Original Bandwagon - Charlotte Magazine (2024)

As soon as the Panthers punched theirtickets to Santa Clara for the Super Bowl, we asked two of their biggest fans—who also happen to be chefs—to sharea few game day recipes with us. Unlike those all thoseother recipes out there,theseare unmistakably Carolina. With ingredients like NC catfish, Cheerwine, chow chow, and Duke's mayo, theynot only satisfy ahungry crowd, theymake it abundantly clear thatyou're a part of the Panther Nation (or that you just like good grub).

All three of these recipes have steps that can be done the day before, leaving little work for game day and more time with guests.

Chef Blake Hartwickof Bonterra

Blake Hartwickhas lived in Charlotte for 23years and has rooted for the Cardiac Cats since day one. He started his career here at Bistro 100 in Uptown, for those who've lived here long enough to remember one ofCharlotte's first upscale dining spots. Fast-forward to the present, and you'll find Hartwick hosting the Celebrity Chef Tour forthe prestigious James Beard Foundationthis spring.

You'll also find him representingthe Panthers at theTaste of the NFL this weekend. Heplans to serve his special chicken wings for that event,but gave us a catfish sliderrecipe in honor of Carolina's#1 pescetarian:Cam Newton.

Chef Chris Coleman of The Asbury

Also a fan since the Panthers' inauguralgame in1995is Chef Chris Coleman of the Asbury, a self-declared member ofthe "original bandwagon." Coleman, who grew up in Charlotte,remembers where he was when the Catssurprised everyone byfinishing12–4 in their second year,meetingDallas in theirfirst playoff game. His church threw a big party for the occasion, rolling a big screen television into the gym. Everyone came, says Coleman, "towatch us shut down Deion Sanders and the Cowgirls."

Coleman thinks about the sense ofunity thatteam created,comparingthat moment to now, when another Panther team surprised everyone—except maybe themselves—and won a lot of hearts in the process.Maybe enough of us have lived here long enough to finally call Charlotte home. Maybe it's just the way they play ball, with a strange combination of grit and joy. Whatever it is, Coleman has enjoyed watching the fan base grow in size and loyaltyover time."Twenty years later, there really is this sense of community around the team,"he says.

SOUTHERN CATFISH SLIDERS WITH CHOW CHOW AND ALABAMA WHITE BBQ SAUCE

Recipe courtesy of Chef Blake Hartwick

Put aside your preconceived notions about catfish, if you have any. The catfish calledfor comes from Carolina Classics of Ayden, NC, a premium fishwithout that muddy flavor. You can purchase it from Lucky Fish at the Atherton and Charlotte Regional Farmers Market or, if you're feeding a crowd, order it fromInland Seafood.

For the chow chow:

6 whole Brussels sprouts

1 red onion

1 red bell pepper

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup water

1teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon mustard seed

Pinch red pepper flakes

For the Alabama white sauce:

1/2 cup Duke's mayo

2 tablespoonsapple cider vinegar

2 tablespoonscorn syrup or agave

1 teaspoonred pepper flakes

1 teaspoongranulated garlic

1 teaspoonsugar

For the catfish:

2filletsAyden,NC catfish

2 cups buttermilk

2 cups cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

6 King Hawaiianrolls

The Night Before

Prepare your Alabama white sauce and chow chow.For the Alabama white sauce, combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and chill over night.

For the chow chow, slice the Brussels sprouts in half then thinly slice.Julienne thered onion and red bell pepper.Combine these in a mixing bowl and set aside.Place the apple cider vinegar, water, salt, mustard seed, and red pepper flakes in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil, thenremove from heat.Pour mixture over the Brussels sprouts mixture and cover with plastic for 30 minutes, thenrefrigerate over night.

On Game Day

it is time to prepare your catfish!Cut the 2 catfish filets into thirds. Place the catfish in the buttermilk and allow to marinate for two hours.Mix the cornmeal,all-purpose flour, and saltinto a dish where you are able to lightly coat the fish prior to placing in the fryer.In your home fryer or pan, heat oil to 350°. Place fish in the oil once hot for 1 1/2–2 minutes, oruntil golden brown. Remove from the fryer and place on a towel to soak up any excess oil.Slice your rolls in half. Place the catfish on the roll then top with the Brussels sprouts chow chow and Alabama white sauce. Kick back and enjoy the Super Bowl!

KEEP POUNDING SLIDERS

Recipe courtesy ofChef Chris Coleman

These sliders aredifferent fromevery other "black and blue" burger you're likely to find in the Queen City, says Coleman. Asweet-and-sourred onion jam and sliced avocado sets it apart, as do thehigh-quality blue cheese pockets inside the burger itself. Don't skimp on the blue cheese; quality counts here.

1 poundground beef, preferably chuck-short rib mix

6 ounceshigh-quality sharp, tangy blue cheese (e.g., Roth'sButtermilk Blue, Shakerag), crumbled intolargechunks

1 tablespoonblack pepper, coarsely ground

1 teaspoonWorcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoonbrown mustard

1 tablespoonminced fresh herbs (chive, thyme, rosemary, and/orparsley)

Splash lemon juice

Vegetable oil

12potato dinner rolls

1avocado, thinly sliced

Red onion jam (recipe follows)

Ina medium mixing bowl, combine beef, blue cheese crumbles, coarse ground black pepper, Worcestershire, brown mustard, minced herbs, and lemon juice. Mix until just combined, taking care not to crumble blue cheese too small. Divide into 12slider patties(approx. 1.75-2 oz each).

Heat large cast iron pan over high heat until slightly smoking.Add a splash of oil, being careful of hot pan. Sear each patty until browned and crispy crust has formed. Flip over and continue to cook until desired doneness. Remove from heat and allow to rest.

Slice each potato roll in half. Place apatty on the bottom half, top it with avocado slices, thered onion jam, and the top half of the roll.

Red Onion Jam

1tablespoon vegetable oil

1 red onion, halved, sliced thinly sliced across

Pinch cayenne

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup pineapple vinegar*

Heat a medium sized pot over medium and add oil. Add onions, cayenne, and a pinch of salt. Cover pot, and sweat until completely softened. Add brown sugar and cook until starting to caramelize. Quickly deglazethe potwith the pineapple vinegar, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the mixture has athick jam-likeconsistency. Allow to cool then store, covered, until use. Jam will keep up to a week.

*Pineapple vinegar can be found at many Asian grocery markets. You can substituteapple cider vinegar.

CHEERWINE BBQ CHICKEN WINGS

Recipe courtesy of Chef Chris Coleman

Finished on the grill and glazed with a Cheerwine BBQ, these confit wingsget a crisp skin with tendermeat that falls off the bones. Allow plenty of time for the wings to cure and cook.

1–2 lbs chicken wings

Confit cure mix (recipe follows)

Oil, lard, orduck fat

Cheerwine BBQ sauce (recipe follows)

Thoroughly rinse wings, and toss with confit mix in a mixing bowl. Spread on a rack over a sheet tray and placed uncovered in fridge. Allow to sit at least 8 hours, or up to 16 hours. Rinse mixturefromwings, thenplace in an oven safe pot, making sure wings have enough room to fit in one layer. If you feel like a pro, grab some aromatics (quarteredonions,bay leaves,peppercorns, fresh thyme sprigs) and tuck thesearound the chicken.

Cover the wings with oil, melted lard, or duck fat. Place in a large pan and cover tightlywith foil.Cook in a 250° oven for45 minutes, until meat is cooked through and super tender. Takecare not to overcook,or the wings will get mushy. (Check after 30 minutes. If needed, add more time in 15 minute increments.)

While the chickenis cooking, make theCheerwine BBQ sauce. Once the wings arecooked, pour off thefat,reserving if you want to store the wings at all. Allow wings to drip dry in a colander;oil on wings will cause flare ups on the grill. Prepare a grill (charcoal preferably) and heat tomedium. Grill wings, turning and basting with Cheerwine BBQ sauce every minute or so, until a thick glaze has built up and the skin crispsup.

Confit Cure Mix

Coleman didn't givemeasurements for this, calling ita basic template. Make as much or as little as you want; for 1 pound of wings, you really only need a few tablespoons of the entire mixture.

Equal parts kosher salt and brown sugar

Back peppercorns, crushed

Orange zest

Rosemary, chopped

Garlic, chopped

Cheerwine BBQ Sauce

This recipe makes more saucethan is needed, but itkeeps for a week and is equally delicious on chicken and pork ribs.This is a sweeter barbecue sauce, notes Coleman.

1 shallot, minced

2 tablespoonsbrown sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cupbread and butter pickle brine

1 tablespoonketchup

1 tablespoonbrown mustard

1/2 teaspoonhot sauce

Pinch cayenne

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch smoked paprika

1 can Cheerwine soda

Sauté theshallot over medium heat with a little oil until translucent. Add brown sugar and cook until caramelized. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar and pickle brine to create agastrique.Allow to cook until thickened slightly.

Add ketchup and mustard and cook until it startsto get a little toasty. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, and reduce to a low simmer until thickened to barbecue sauce consistency. Adjust sweetness, acidity, spice level to your preference.

This article appears in the February 2016 issue of Charlotte magazine.