Dinner, with a side of strangers

In this first-person Charlotte Ledger feature, writer Jay Ahuja sets out to turn an ordinary night out into a shared adventure and learns about Taste Carolina walking food tour through uptown Charlotte. He wanders from a bacon-and-brie Liege waffle to fresh-shucked oysters and a Top Chef alum's kitchen, while founder Lesley Stracks-Mullem explains how each stop connects guests to the city's history, its chefs, and local farms. Read the full article for his take on why these tours are best enjoyed hungry and ready to meet new people.