The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • K7

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER www.charlotte.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005 7KCABARRUS Regular readers will recall that I wrote about La Pasta in China Grove a few months ago. In that column, I mentioned that La owners planned to open a second restaurant in Concord. I been to the new one before several friends told me how great it was, while one friend told about a bad experi- ence there. I had been planning to wait awhile before writing about the new La Pasta, but curi- osity overwhelmed me, and I fig- ured it was time to give it a try. The new La Pasta is at 700 N.

Church Concord, in the loca- tion that formerly housed Gi- Hot Dogs. I was sad that successful, but I guess hot dogs just a big enough moneymaker around here. Before that, a Blimpie res- taurant failed in the same space. On the other hand, Italian res- taurants seem to be doing quite well witness the success of Johnny Ro- and others. La Pasta owners Cynthia Fry and Ariltom Miranda, who have wowed China Grove customers for the past eight years, seem deterred by all the compe- tition in the Concord market, which includes the venerable Pizza Hut right across the street.

First of all, if you ever ate at Gi- be amazed at the transformation of the building. The owners have successfully turned the simple eatery into a pleasant, welcoming bistro. While the space is still quite small, still room enough for patrons to have a comfortable dining experience without feel- ing crowded. Fry told me they hope to expand into the empty space next door in the near fu- ture. Some friends and I went for lunch, and all three of us had ter- rific meals.

First of all, co-owner Fry was our server, so we had excep- tional service (and good con- versation). Second, the bread is unbeliev- able. I could make a meal of bread and salad alone. But I had the chicken tetrazzi- ni which was unlike any had before. La version features strips of boneless chicken breast in a Marsala wine and garlic sauce with vegetables and served over thin pasta.

It was very good and filling. My was served with a house salad, but Fry said starting this month, a lunch salad will cost $1.99 ex- tra. One friend ordered the shrimp Alfredo with fettuccini ($7.95) that was creamy but not overpowering, with large, succu- lent shrimp. My other friend enjoyed the milazane alla Parmigiana which is eggplant baked with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. I normally care for eggplant, but this was terrific, primarily because the sauce is so good.

Other lunch items include a grilled chicken breast sandwich spaghetti fettuc- cini Alfredo lasagna manicotti several chicken dishes ($5.95 to $6.95) and several veal dishes (in the same price range). We shared cheesecake topped with cherries for dessert, but while the cheesecake was great, I particularly care for mara- schino cherries for the topping. I would prefer regular cherries, strawberries or raspberries. Fry said the restaurant also offers a variety of house-baked desserts. Ask for the selections.

The dinner menu is similar to that at the China Grove restau- rant. Try black bean soup, onion soup or Pasta Fagioli ($3.95 each) for a starter, or perhaps fried calamari ($5.95) or Funghi Imbotti Italian-style baked mushrooms with crab meat. The dinner menu features more pasta, chicken, veal and seafood entrees, ranging in price from $8.95 to $14.95. Beef lovers can order a New York strip but what sets this La Pasta apart is the addition of Mi- Brazilian specialties. These include Chicken Trop- ical which is chicken, onion, tomato, green pepper and olives served in a white cream sauce; Chicken Copacabana chicken, onion, tomato, green peppers and ham served with house-made string fries; Also, Steak Avenue steak, onion, tomato, green pep- pers, green peas and olives served with vegetables; Brazilian Salmon pan-seared salmon with tomato, green pep- pers and onion in a white wine sauce; Also, Mokeka Mista salmon, shrimp and mussels served with a Brazilian sauce; Brazilian Seafood Combination shrimp and mussels served in a white cream sauce; and Brazilian 2001 beef, pork loin and chicken served in a Brazilian sauce and served with vegetables.

All Brazilian special- ties are served with rice. The food at La Pasta is good, because it tastes so fresh. Even though other restaurants have failed in that location, I hope this a charm. Give it a try. La Pasta is open 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m. weekdays and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays. closed Sundays. Telephone is (704) 786-6444.

Freelance writer Pam Bilger lives in Concord. GOT A FAVORITE OUTING? If you have a family outing to suggest for review, in Cabar- rus Neighbors, send it to us at 371 Concord Parkway Concord, NC 28027; fax it to us at (704) 786-7813; call us at (704) 786-2185 weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; or send e-mail to ver.com. Another La Pasta, but same great food Pam Bilger GOING OUT WITH THE FAMILY entry into Concord is welcome one Movies Times are for shows Friday through next Thursday (except where noted). Times subject to change. For show times at other theaters, visit www.charlotte.com, move your mouse to and click on then in the left column.

Or call the numbers listed below. ALONE IN THE DARK (R) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:50 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 12:20, 4:50 p.m. ARE WE THERE YET? (PG) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:30, 7:05, 9:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 1, 4:30, 7:05, 9:30 p.m.; The Gem weekdays 7 p.m., Saturday 5, 7 p.m., Sunday 3, 5, 7 p.m. THE AVIATOR (PG-13) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:40, 8:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 12:45, 4:40, 8:30 p.m. THE BOOGEYMAN (PG-13) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:10, 7:15, 9:40 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 12:10, 4:10, 7:15, 9:40 p.m.

COACH CARTER (NR) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:05, 7, 10:05 p.m., Saturday-Sunday noon, 4:05, 7, 10:05 p.m. FINDING NEVERLAND (PG) Carolina Mall daily 7:25, 9:50 p.m. HIDE AND SEEK (R) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:15, 7:40, 10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 12:50, 4:15, 7:40, 10 p.m. MEET THE FOCKERS (PG-13) Carolina Mall weekdays 4:20, 7:20, 10:10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 12:30, 4:20, 7:20, 10:10 p.m.; The Gem Friday-Sunday only 8:45 p.m. SIDEWAYS (R) Carolina Mall weekdays 4, 7:10, 9:55 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 1:10, 4, 7:10, 9:55 p.m.

Theater addresses and phone numbers: Carolina Mall Cinemas, U.S. 29 North, Concord (704) 788-1111; Concord Mills AMC 24, Concord Mills mall, Concord, (704) 643-4262; The Gem, West First Street, Kannapolis (704) 932-5111; Movies at the Lake, 20310 Chartwell Center Drive, Cornelius (704) 892-3841; Starlight Stadium 14, 11240 U.S. 29 Charlotte (704) 503-0070. get up in the wee hours to crank buses, Trexler said. a phone tree we have to use to try to get notification to bus she said.

very difficult to get the word out in time to bus drivers with the phone After drivers and other em- ployees are notified, parents are called. In the pilot program, the Web-based system will be able to reach every family in less than one hour. The automated calling system is being provided by Notification Technologies Inc. of Sherman Oaks, Calif. The N.C.

Association of School Administrators had en- dorsed the system, and it has been adopted by some other area school districts. Piloting the local program are Cox Mill, Irvin, Mount Pleasant, Odell, Rocky River and Royal Oaks elementary schools; C.C. Griffin, Concord and Mount Pleasant middle schools; and Northwest Cabarrus High. Those schools were interested in trying the system right away and were willing to share the cost for the remainder of this school year, Trexler said. But by August, all 28 Cabarrus schools could be using Connect- Ed.

The school system will in- clude the $80,000 cost for that in the proposed 2005-06 budget, be- cause all principals said it would be a top priority for their schools. The calling program is partic- ularly useful in emergencies and could target only specific tele- phone numbers, Trexler said. For instance, in the case of a bus accident, the principal could punch in the bus number and only those families would be called. They would be told of the delay or whether stu- dents would be traveling on a dif- ferent bus to or from school. That takes far less time, Trexler said, than person trying to get on the phone to tell parents we have a bus Principals can access the sys- tem from cell phones a neces- sary feature if students have to be whisked off campus during an emergency.

Finally, a warning to students about this new technology: It also will be used for atten- dance purposes. Through auto- mated calling, parents will be called if their student skips school. Gail Smith-Arrants: (704) 786-2185; Parents can now be reached in minutes Schools from 1K.