© 2024 WFAE
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WFAEats
Welcome to WFAEats — a fun adventure where we explore all things tasty and interesting in the Charlotte food scene. We want to share stories, recipes and culinary escapades and hear about yours!

Second Helping: "Fresh Food. Fresh Start"

The fried green tomato casserole alone would be reason enough to go.

Second Helping opened the doors to its carry-out shop on Central Avenue on Monday. I was going to explain how the program employs formerly incarcerated women who have difficulty finding jobs when they leave prison.

But then I sampled the coconut cake.

I was going to tell you how its parent organization, Changed Choices, helps those who are “Building new lives beyond prison walls.”

But then one of the ladies offered me a taste of the red velvet cake from Neet’s Sweets, whose founder survived human trafficking to become an advocate for other victims.

I was going to commend the partners, such the Community Culinary School of Charlotte, who provide “Training in the culinary arts for adults who have faced barriers to successful employment.”

But after one bite of the melt-in-your-mouth cornbread, I gave up. Yes, it’s that good. And it’s good food for a good cause. You can read more about the people and organizations behind this story by visiting their websites and Facebook pages.

I’m here to tell you about Granny Mo’s meatloaf, and the Slammin’ Pork & Slaw sandwich. The mac ‘n’ cheese and the collard greens. The catering business already underway, and the family meals, which you’ll be able to order online soon.

And those desserts. Did I mention the individual pineapple upside-down cakes? And the sweet potato meringue pie? Today would be a good day to go back – for a Second Helping.

Second Helping is located at 2903-C Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205. Open Mon-Sat 10:30-8:00; carry-out only. (980) 272-8427. 

Tags
Amy Rogers is the author of Hungry for Home: Stories of Food from Across the Carolinas and Red Pepper Fudge and Blue Ribbon Biscuits. Her writing has also been featured in Cornbread Nation 1: The Best of Southern Food Writing, the Oxford American, and the Charlotte Observer. She is founding publisher of the award-winning Novello Festival Press. She received a Creative Artist Fellowship from the Arts and Science Council, and was the first person to receive the award for non-fiction writing. Her reporting has also won multiple awards from the N.C. Working Press Association. She has been Writer in Residence at the Wildacres Center, and a program presenter at dozens of events, festivals, arts centers, schools, and other venues. Amy Rogers considers herself “Southern by choice,” and is a food and culture commentator for NPR station WFAE.