In a recent conversation, a very dear friend (and a follower of my blog) told me that I really need to appreciate the things Charlotte, NC has to offer.  I took that advice to heart, and decided to share some very delectable eateries that I've grown to love during my eight years in the Queen City!

5. The Pita Pit
OMG.  Fresh veggies, warm pita bread, and options that appeal to carnivorous (chicken, turkey, etc.)         and vegetarian taste buds(like hummus, falafel, etc.) alike.  My favorite spot is downtown especially on the weekends when the crowd is lively and the Pita Pit stays open until 3am!

4. Mama Fu's
Ever since I tried the Ginger Sesame Salad with pan fried shrimp (they have Chicken too geez), I fell in eternal lust with this restaurant.  Mama Fu's Asian House is a delightful and reasonably priced spot that has a soothing ambience and excellent service.  Located in the Cotswold area, there are a host of Asian inspired options that you are sure to love (can we say food orgasm)!

3. Dolce Vita
Pop the cork on Charlotte's best wine bar and let the good times "Avant Garde" Roll! The words roll off my tongue with anticipation of my next opportunity to savor the irresistible sushi roll.  On Thursdays, Dolce Vita has their sushi special, and it is WELL worth the wait.  Put aside any of your other plans, and head to NoDa every Thursday for a sushi menu that is second to none.  An eclectic interior matched with an eclectic crowd make this wine bar an enjoyable experience.




                                                    
2. Cantina 15ll
A couple of friends introduced me to this restaurant two Sundays ago.  Being a guac snob, I was reluctant to tasting the guacamole (that by the way they prepare for you as you wait for your entree).  Can I say that after one bite of the guacamole, I was ready and willing to sell my soul to enjoy it every day of my life thereafter.  Wow! I made quick work of my entree, Taco Dorados, a crispy homemade taco shell filled with yummy ingredients like shrimp, crab meat, peppers, and cheese.  I contemplated licking the plate when I was done.  Located in the Stone Crest and Dilworth neighborhoods, this is the place you wanna be when your palate craves astounding Mexican fare.

1. Amelies
Vive la France! The French know food better than any other country on earth.  From open faced portobella and leek tartines to yummy "melt-in-your-mouth" raspberry tarts and country wine, Amelies is a place you will be sure to walk 1,000 miles for.  Located in NoDa, this 24 hour 7 day a week paradise of French cuisine has an engaging French interior, amazing patrons, and insurmountable customer service.  Careful to not drool on the display counters as you gaze over the large selection of desserts!

Got a favorite place you like to feed your face in Charlotte?  Let me know about it, and I'll post it next week!

You only get one face (unless you're Joan Rivers), so how important is it to you? On a table in my parent's foyer is a photo of me at 13.  I had more acne than I care to remember, and after my bout with acne during that hormonal period in my life, my face had dark spots from the aftermath.  I used everything from Noxzema to Clearasil, but after doing research I discovered there are simply better products than the ones you pick up on the shelf at Wal-Mart and Target.  A very dear friend of mine turned me on to Sephora, and my face hasn't been the same since.  The consultants sort through the myriad of products, and will select the best products based on your skin type and will construct a regiment that will improve damaged skin and maintain healthy skin.  I LOVE the fact that the products contain all natural "goodies" (i.e. citrus, rosemary, willow bark, etc) and have very few synthetic ingredients.  Today many people are taken aback when they discover my age, as they often assume I'm much younger.  I have to say a healthy diet and exercise help (and perhaps some genetics), but after my visit to Sephora, I've noticed dramatic improvements to my skin.  This is an investment that you should make if you care about your skin.  Below are the products I use, and you should too if you have oily/combination skin.  If you aren't certain of your skin type or unsure as to what products are right for you, visit your local Sephora TODAY! Your skin will thank you.

1. Boscia Clarifying Detox Mask (Use one time a week at night)
2. Korress Wild Rose 24 Hr Moisturizer SPH 6 (Use every morning after cleansing skin *Use an SPH that corresponds with the amount of sun exposure you face on a daily basis)
3. Boscia Smoothing Facial Polish (Use exfoliators once weekly)
4. Korress Brightening and Illuminating Vitamin C Mask (Use one time a week at night)
5. Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner (Use twice weekly)
6. Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam (Use every day)
7. Dr. Brandt r3p eye Triple Peptide Cream (Use day and night under eye after cleansing/toning regiment)

Remember you'll need a cleanser, moisturizer, toner, exfoliator, detox mask, brightening mask, and eye cream (if you have my same skin type).  Just formulate a routine that corresponds with your schedule.  Shaving your face exfoliates, and I factored that in with my skin regiment, which is why I only use my Boscia exfoliator once a week.  Sephora.com can help you determine your skin type, and it's a great idea to visit the site and jot down some products you're interested in before you visit the store.  A beauty consultant will tell you if your selected products will be most effective for your skin care needs.  Well, what are you waiting for? Visit Sephora.com today!  

SN: Finding the perfect product also involves trial and error.  So don't be afraid to try different products, and always consult a professional to help you make prudent decisions.

We all have them.  Yes, ALL of us.  Those friends that do it openly without shame.  They are even shameless enough to do it in public.  They eat MEAT! Well I've finally discovered the kryptonite to my carnivorous compadres.  It's my chicken parmesan.  In a very short while you will have a delectable dish that will have them asking for the Reynold's Wrap.  Here's what you'll need:

Hardware:

• 1 Saucepan
• 1 Medium Skillet
• 2 stockpots/dutch ovens
• 2 plates (1 plate lined with two or three paper towels)
• 1 medium bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of thawed boneless skinless chicken breasts (Wal-Mart has a really inexpensive bag)
• Ragu Pasta Sauce (Your choice, but I love the sun-dried tomato and basil)
• 1 bag of chicken breader
• 1 carton of buttermilk
• 1 box of spaghetti pasta
• 1 bag of shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 pack of sliced pepperoni 
• 1 bag of stir fry vegetables (Peppers, onions; can be found in frozen food section)
• Italian Seasoning
• 1 gallon of canola oil
• Parsley 

Directions:

1. Fill Dutch Oven/Stockpot halfway with canola oil, and warm oil over medium heat (Oil will be ready when a drop of water on the oil causes oil to sizzle).
2. Fill second dutch oven/stockpot halfway with water, and bring to a boil; add pasta
3. Fill saucepan with pasta sauce and pepperoni, and warm over low heat.
4. Warm skillet over low to medium heat, and coat skillet with canola oil.
5. Add chicken breader to plate and buttermilk to a bowl and place next to stockpot/dutch oven with oil.  
6. Dip chicken in buttermilk, making sure to bathe the entire chicken breast in the buttermilk.  Drain slightly, and then coat each side with breader.  Add breaded chicken breast to the hot oil.  Add no more than two pieces of chicken to stockpot/dutchoven at a time.  Allow chicken to cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown (Remove chicken from stockpot/dutch oven onto second plate with the papertowels to absorb excess oil.  With a knife, slightly cut the chicken breast at it's thickest part.  Meat should not be pink!)  
7. While chicken is cooking, cook the vegetables in skillet.  Season with Italian Seasoning.  Remove from skillet, and place vegetables in the pasta sauce along with pepperoni.  
8. Remove pasta from boiling water after 3-5 minutes; drain and run hot pasta under cold water for a few seconds.  
9. Remove the pasta sauce from heat, and that's it!

Layer your plate with pasta, then add a nice crispy chicken breast over the pasta, and then coat the chicken breast with that amazing pasta sauce/pepperoni/vegetable mixture.  Top it off with some shredded parmesan cheese, parsley, and VOILA, you're ready to eat!

SN: A great salad, garlic bread, and white or red wine will go well with this dish!

This week I was on a 90's kicks with the Cranberries and Mazzy Star.  I believe some of the best music came from the 90's, and these two songs are great representations of this.  Kelly Rowland has a great new song out called, "Commander".  If it wasn't apparent that I'm a gay male, then bopping to this song at the gym certainly solidified this fact.  I stumbled over Bryn Christopher while I was shopping iTunes one night for a similar artist, and boy am I glad I did.  This guy is nothing short of amazing as his "one-of-a-kind" voice hypnotizes you in "Taken Me Over".  You're certain to enjoy these songs, and the fantastic thought provoking lyrics that will make these your digital favs.   Buy these on iTunes and Amazon today!

1. Slash-Saint Is A Sinner Too
2. Kelly Rowland-Commander
3. Bruno Mars-Just The Way You Are
4. Beyonce-Smash Into You
5. Brandy-Come A Little Bit Closer
6. Cranberries-Linger
7. John Legend-This Time
8. Mazzy Star-Fade Into You
9. Olive-You're Not Alone
10. Bryn Christopher-Taken Me Over

I remember when I was just a young'n and I'd grab a large bath towel, and would dart about the house pretending to be Dracula.  That guy was so cool.  He had an eloquent style about him that I try to emulate today.  Well, like so many things I've fancied in the course of my life, they seem to grow in popularity down the road (once I've tired of them).  Creature features has been the stuff of Hollywood for quite some time, though lately it seems that our fascination with zombies, vampires, and werewolves has risen substantially.  Is it an indicator of the current zeitgeist? I'll have to ask my colleague, Cornelius (the Trend Specialist) if the Trend Forecasting firm he interned with has incorporated this admiration for the living dead in with future forecasts.  I'm afraid these days we are in creature over kill!  Every vampire story has a different list of vampire do's and don'ts and so forth.  In the midst of this supernatural craze, I've decided to list the top 5 Creature features of all time to help you sift through the garbage that's out here.

1. Bram Stokers Dracula
The biggest bad ass of all vampires, Dracula shows us he is "the" vampire to know.  Francis Ford Coppola produces the best rendition of Bram Stoker's book to date.  This is the true vampire story for those of us that love the blood, fangs, and gothic overtones.

2. Van Helsing
First of all, Hugh Jackman is a very hot man indeed.  You'll never see a sexier werewolf (sorry Taylor Lautner, but next to Hugh Jackman, you're more of a pup than a wolf).  The ongoing battle between werewolves and vampires is explained in this film, and is visually depicted well in my opinion. No sappy "Twilight" teeny bopper b.s. in this film (or bad acting).  No, this is a movie for those that have a true appreciation for vampire vs. werewolf films.

3. The Lost Boys
Before "Twilight" and "True Blood" there were the Lost Boys.  This 80's film is certainly the predecessor of the aforementioned.  You won't see any pretty boys here, or any nampy pampy sickeningly sweet romance.  No, this film ditches the melodramatic romance, and prefers to unsettle you instead.  Sweet!

4. Night of the Living Dead
This movie made brains a delicacy.  I've never laughed while looking over my shoulder at the same time as I did when I watched this film.  Zombies are not nice people, and this remake has proven the fact that a lesson in etiquette is in order.  Damn radiation!  When will people ever learn?  The remake is good, and the original is even better!  Don't watch this alone.

5. Interview With The Vampire
I love Anne Rice as an author.  Movies that are based on books sometimes fall short of the former.  Not in this case.  Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt are amazing in this film, as is Kirsten Dunst (you'll likely not hear me say that again).  This rather progressive tale about vampires dismisses some of the myths that we have learned about vampires (see "Warding off Vampires 101").  Well, forget everything you know, and run for it in this film that is set in Louisiana.








Burnthecloset wants you to share you favorite vampire, zombie, or werewolf films.  Leave them as a comment to this post, or email it to me, and I'll post it on the site.

I'm a single man, by choice lately.  However, I have tried to maintain a long term relationship, several times to no avail; so one could say that I have a little experience.  When you get my age, you really take a look back at the mistakes you've made in life, and try to figure out how to avoid making them again as you proceed into the future.  If you read my article, "Singled Out: Dating Tips From A Single Man", you will see that I've listed all of my imperfections.  The key is, I am aware of what they are.  Never the one to place total blame on myself, however, I think I've been looking for love in all the wrong places (sorry Marc Almond).  As one does when he/she gets older, I will pass down my knowledge, and it is up to you to listen.  

Below, I've listed the top five places to avoid when

you want to settle down, and why.  

Remember you've been warned.

5. The Grocery Store
Try to find "Mr. Right" in the produce section, and your bananas won't be the only thing getting bagged           dear.  It's true ladies and gents, men who stalk you in grocery stores are only trying to throw you in the cart with the rest of their groceries.  Once their done treating you like the perishable goods in their pantry, you're a goner.  Then, they're back at the grocery store to make another "purchase".

4. Your Straight Best Girlfriend
This is trivial, because the problem is most heterosexual women, try as they might, don't get it, even your "hag".  No matter how you try to explain it to them, they will forever be clueless.  You see, to them, you're a gay man, and they see another handsome gay man (so they think), and automatically think its a match made.  In their 2+2=4 world, it's that black and white.  But for us, I think we know what the real "tea" is.

3. So Called "Dating" Websites
Eve's other half has a website, except its sans Eve.  This website is under the guise of a great website where singles can meet and fall in love.  Don't fall for the hype.  Several failed relationships have finally opened my eyes to the real deal; A4A only serves a carnal purpose. For example, members post explicit images and claim to only be looking for friends, or wanting to find real love.  This should let you know that A4A and other similar websites are b.s., and you should GET OUT while you still can.  I mean really, I've never made lasting friendships by showing people my private area.  (Other's to avoid: Black Gay Chat, ManHunt, etc.)

2. Church
If you want a man to lie, cheat, and be deceitful, then church is the place for you.  The place of hypocrites and bigots, church will surely lead you on the path of romantic destruction.  News flash, if a man will lie to God, sweetie he will lie to you.

1. The Club
The number one NO-NO!!! Do I really need to go there?  I mean seriously, a hot sweaty room full of people that are drunk and high is the spot you choose to find a lasting love? Don't kid yourself my friend.  The music is pumping, and individuals are on the dancefloor grinding lustfully on each other.  This hedonic scene is saturated in sexual overtones.  I don't care how good he looks, and all of the wonderful things he whispers in your ear.  When the lights turn on at the end of the night, you will see him for who he truly is in more ways than one.  Let him buy you a few drinks, thank him for the favor, and leave.  Aliases and "phony" numbers work great in this setting.  Enjoy the night, leave any aspirations for romance at home, and like Gaga says, "just dance"!

Know of any other "No Cupid" zones?  Please comment and share your stories here at burnthecloset.blogspot.com!

Mom always said, "Marty eat your veggies, or you'll get no dessert".  I'm sure we've all heard that line.  Well, in order to get that big slab of chocolate cake, I'd manage to down the veggies on my plate.  As one gets older, the palette does change with maturity.  Today, I can't get enough of veggies.  I like them in my Italian dishes, to accompany an entree, or I enjoy raw veggies.  Well, why not make your veggies the headliner at your next meal.  I will show you how to make an easy vegetable stir fry that is healthy, economical, and delicious.

What you'll need:

• A wok (got mine from Ikea for $7.00)
• Wooden utensils

You can use any veggies you like, but here are the ones I use:

• Red & Yellow Bell Peppers (One Each)
• Red Onion (One)
• Snow Peas (One Pack In the Pod)
• Baby Corn (One Can)
• Broccoli (One Frozen Bag of Florets or Fresh Broccoli) 
• Water Chestnuts (One Can)
• Sprouts (One Pack)
• Basmati or Jasmine Rice
• Wok Oil
• Stir Fry Sauce (Low Sodium)
• Chili Powder
• One Head of Cabbage

Directions

1. Chop Bell Peppers, Red Onion, Cabbage (use 1/4 to 1/2 of cabbage), and Broccoli to prep them for wok.  Chop as fine as you would like.  Do not use a food processor.
2. Heat wok over medium heat and add wok oil.
3. Heat a sauce pan with water for rice.
4. Add veggies one at a time, and stir using wooden spoons.
5. When water in sauce pan is boiling, add rice, and follow cooking instructions.
6. You will add as many of the vegetables according to personal taste and according to the number of servings you will want.  Lightly season with Chili Powder.
7. Stir veggies in your wok for a good 10-12 minutes, and slowly stir in stir fry sauce.  Blend sauce with the vegetables according to taste for another 7-10 minutes.
8. Remove rice and wok from heat, and serve.  ENJOY!!!

The really great thing about this recipe is you can add poultry, beef, pork, or seafood to it very easily.