Have your forks and knives ready. Savor Charlotte returns for a two-week culinary showcase from March 12 to 25. And it's coming to a restaurant near you.

The third annual food celebration brings Charlotteans and visitors alike together to see, taste, and experience culinary professionals showcasing their signature dishes and flair with interactive classes, special menus, and exclusive offers.

On Saturdays, March 15 and 22, take a tour of Muddy River Distillery then sample a few spirits. | Photo via Savor Charlotte

How does it work?

Ready to savor? Browse participating restaurants and bars to choose your desired experience. Book your reservation through the venue's website or app and use the code SAVOR.

Savoring the experience

"Chefs and mixologists are really taking you into their territory," said Laura White of Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. "Sweet Lew's BBQ is doing a great pit master experience where you really get some of those barbecue secrets firsthand from a master."

A Savor Charlotte experience offers guests the chance to prepare their own Calle Sol-style ceviche. | Photo via Calle Sol

"You can go to the Calle Sol 100 times a year and enjoy the ceviche, but only once a year you get to learn how to make it," said Chef Shai Fargian who spoke to CLTtoday on how Savor Charlotte provides chefs the opportunity to have creative freedom.

"As a chef, you want to provide consistent food to people that come to a restaurant, enjoy the food consistently, love it and want to come back," said Fargian. "As an artist, you're trying to push that envelope."

A Savor Charlotte experience is a Restaurant Constance x Customshop dinner featuring a collaboration between Chef Sam Diminich (left) and Chef Andres Kaifer (right). | Photos via Peter Taylor Photography

Another highly-anticipated dinner experience offered during Savor Charlotte is a collaboration between Chef Andres Kaifer of Customshop and Chef Sam Diminich of Restaurant Constance. The initial 5:30 p.m. dinner event scheduled for Friday, March 20 at Restaurant Constance is sold out, but due to high demand, a second seating has now been scheduled for 8 p.m.

A culinary destination

There's no shortage of food spots in Charlotte. But restaurants taking part in Savor Charlotte hope to acquire a more personal laurel in the Queen City's growing culinary culture.

"Culinary is really the number two driver of visitation for Charlotte," shared White, "If you think of any destination you've ever been to, you gotta eat and you want that experience to be representative of the city you're visiting."