Area brewers are incorporating the flavors of the holidays into their seasonal brews, with many available in growlers, bottles and cans to serve or give as gifts. Here’s a roundup of what’s on tap:   Broomtail Craft Brewery: Jolly Elf: 8.9% ABV, a malt forward brew with holiday spices and tart cherries. Available in 22 oz. bottles as well as on draft at ...

The town of Leland has announced that its first brewery, 7twenty6 Brewing Co., is planned for a 5-acre site on Old Fayetteville Road in what is known as the Gateway District. The district is an area of town surrounding stretch of Village Road, a little over a mile, that was rezoned in 2011 for the purpose of establishing an urban residential and business district.  ...

Shawn Blair, owner of Nutrition Revolution, has opened a second location named Downtown Nutrition ILM, inside the Wells Building at 240 Princess St.   Blair worked with MoMentum Companies Inc. to find the right location for the downtown extension of her health food business. “This is something that was definitely needed downtown - a quick, healthy grab-n-go ...

After 14 years in business, Southport caterer and restaurant owner Karen Taylor has closed the doors to the restaurant part of Taylor Cuisine Cafe & Catering.   Taylor’s business was known throughout the area for catering events of all sizes and serving breakfast and lunch at 731 N. Howe St.   Taylor said it was with a heavy heart that she made the ...

Sajid Maqsood, area manager for Panda Express, said the company plans to open its Wilmington location by the end of the week.   The restaurant is located at the corner of Market Street and Van Campen Boulevard. Founded in 1983, Panda Express is one of the largest fast-casual Asian dining concepts in the U.S. with over 2,200 locations nationwide. Panda Express&rsq ...

Encore Magazine will host the 12 Tastes (or more) of Christmas, a celebration of food and drink, Dec. 12 at the Brooklyn Arts Center and its adjoining annex.    This year’s 12 Tastes theme is “A Christmas Story,” in honor of the classic holiday film. Over 30 local eateries, bars and breweries will vie for awards, including best bite, sip, a ...

Broomtail Craft Brewery will host its 2nd Annual Broomtail Mac & Cheese Cook-Off on Sunday at the brewery.  The cook-off is open to the public and free to enter. Participants can submit as may entries as they like, provided they are all homemade. There are no restrictions on the types of cheese or pasta, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are welcome ...

After many years in the medical field, Melanie Smith dreamed of owning a bakery. She launched Sweets and Spirits in 2016, working out of the Burgaw Incubator Kitchen and steadily building her repertoire and clientele. While she was thrilled to be turning her passion for baking into a business, she and her husband, Robert, both soon began putting on weight and experienci ...

Brunches, the new concept for brothers Danny and Earl McPherson, opens Monday at Mayfaire Community Center, Danny McPherson said. The owners of King Neptune in Wrightsville Beach are also already planning for the growth of Brunches. A second, slightly larger Brunches location is in the works on Randall Parkway near Flying Machine Brewing Company in Wilmington, ...

A Dupont Circle restaurant is opening its second location in downtown Wilmington, according to an announcement Tuesday. The owner of Floriana Restaurant of Washington, D.C., and its chef plan to bring the eatery's Northern Italian fare to 2 Market St., formerly the home of Roy's Riverboat Landing and then Marsello's. The Floriana eatery is expected to open e ...