New Year's Eve:

At Sir Edmond Halley's Restaurant and Freehouse, 4151-A Park Road, are slow cooked roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; potato encrusted black cod with grilled asparagus and a lobster hollandaise; wild mushroom Wellington with pecan pâté, new potatoes, leeks and a porcini whole grain mustard sauce. The three course dinner is $25 per person. 704-525-2555.

The McNinch House Restaurant, 511 N. Church Street, is offering a seven-course dinner with champagne with music by Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist John Sharp. 704-332-6159 or mcninchhouserestaurant.com.

Openings:

Owner Mike Feldman has opened T1 Tapas: eat.drink.connect. T1 offers a patent-pending "T1 Connection Booth" in which diners can access music, videos, and photos using the built-in computers. Brad MacFiggen, a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, is the Executive Chef. On the tapas menu are a Cuban pork empanada ($8), jerk marinated chicken and sweet potato skewers ($9), and Scotch bonnet snapper with sweet potato and macadamia nuts ($11). In addition to a wine list are 16 micro and imported beers on tap and a full bar. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. 8625-C Lindholm Drive (in Birkdale), Huntersville. 704-895-4373. www.t1tapas.com.

Line Changes:

Noble's Restaurant at Morrocroft will be open for dinner on Sundays during the month of December until Christmas. 704-367-9463.

While some speculate about the choice for the White House Chef, other notable food activists, including chef/author Alice Waters and journalist/author Michael Pollan, are urging President-elect Obama to select a person supportive sustainable farming and the local foods movement, among other issues, as Secretary of Agriculture.