When planning a recent trip, my aunt sent me a picture of a fabulous dessert and asked if I’d like to get one while I was in Charlotte (NC) visiting her. We were just going for the dessert, but plans changed, and we ended up there for a full meal. Let me tell you, Charlotte’s Trio Restaurant was certainly more than just desserts!
I mean I love a good dessert (thought I don’t always indulge), but I’m often even more jazzed by a super entrée. And Trio’s delivered on that for sure. I think I changed my mind several times before I actually ordered. The final choice was exactly what I was craving!
Starters
Well, as often is the case, I must apologize that we simply dug in and devoured the wonderful table bread before I even thought about photos. They served mini-sized lemon poppyseed muffins (one of my favorites) and small slices of banana bread with whipped butter…not your standard yeast rolls or biscuits. Such a treat!
The entrées
Chicken Piccata has long been a favorite dish (I love the lemony garlic flavor), but I haven’t made it in a while and don’t remember ever ordering it in a restaurant. This version with capers, peppers, grape tomatoes, and citrus beurre blanc (a white wine sauce with citrus flavors) added to the standard lemon-garlic butter made my tastebuds sing!
My aunt opted for the Meatloaf Trio made with three meats: veal, beef, and pork. I was most excited about the charred tomato-tasso gravy. I had to look up tasso before we went and found out it’s a spiced, smoked pork common to Louisiana dishes. It did give this gravy a unique flavor.
Extra sauces for tasting!
I asked for a couple of other sauces that were listed…just to give them a taste. And there was a “killer” sauce on some of their sandwiches and chicken tenders…had a nice zip to it but very much like honey mustard with some added lemon maybe. The plain tasso gravy was pretty much like sawmill gravy with the tasso added.
The Almond Basket dessert
Here’s what the menu says about this beauty…Almond Sesame Basket filled with Mocha Pecan Ice Cream & Fresh Strawberries over Crème Anglaise. A thin, crispy “brittle,” the basket was formed while still warm so it hardened into a cup for the ice cream.
Honestly the ice cream flavor was so light, I registered a bit of nuttiness but couldn’t place it as almond or pecan. The strawberries and decorative Crème Anglaise were the perfect final touch. All in all a very light and yummy dessert…not a heavy ending like some.
I’ll be back at Trio again!
Because of the yummy things I had this time, and because there are so many more options to try, I’ll be back at Trio Restaurant when I go to Charlotte again. Do you have favorite restaurants you frequent when traveling? Share them in the comments below for fellow travelers…don’t forget to include the city where they are located!
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This truly was a great meal and a wonderful restaurant for many years. Aunt Janet
Next time Mochica!!!