about chrissie

A woman in a white blouse and blue jeans smiles as she bites into a colorful donut, holding a smartphone in her other hand against a textured light gray wall.

Hi, I’m Chrissie!

I’m the creator behind Off the Eaten Path.

I’ve called the Queen City home since 2012, when I arrived with a job offer, my cat Pheebs, and a stomach full of nerves. I settled in Charlotte after growing up in the Washington, DC area, and then spending seven very cold winters in Wisconsin at Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin before heading south—ready for something new, even if I wasn’t totally sure what that looked like yet.

Outside of my full-time job as a public defender (usually after bedtime, during early mornings, or in the margins of a busy week), I lean into the things that bring me joy. I love to eat, read, work out, spend time with my family and friends, and explore—whether that’s trying a new restaurant, planning a weekend getaway, or pulling together an easy, last-minute gathering at home.

I live in Charlotte with my husband AJ (we got married during Hurricane Matthew — nothing says romance like sideways rain!), and two tiny roommates (ages 4 and 2) who call me “Mom, Mama, Mommy” or “hey you,” and an assortment of rescue pets (one dog and three cats) who run the household. We also have honeybee hives on our property and plenty of backyard “pet” deer.

I love the beach, craft beer, Mexican food, and trashy reality TV. Catch me chasing my kids, laughing too loudly, sipping margaritas on a nearby patio, and telling my husband “just one more quick picture.”

So grab a snack, a cocktail (you deserve it), and get comfy. I’m thrilled you’re here, and I hope this blog gives you a little laugh, a lot of good food tips, and maybe even an idea for your next North Carolina adventure.

Why I started this site

I started Off the Eaten Path shortly after moving to Charlotte as a creative outlet and a way to connect—with the city, with other people, and honestly, with myself. I didn’t have a grand strategy; instead, I had an idea on a Sunday afternoon after a couple of pool margaritas to write about my experience of moving to and living in a new city. I basically opened a WordPress account, clicked around a little and started writing. When I published my first post, Off the Eaten Path launched with a mix of creativity, enthusiasm and what can only be described as delusion and a prayer. 

What started as a way to fill quiet evenings slowly turned into something much bigger. Somewhere between weeknight dinners and “let’s try this place just because,” Charlotte stopped feeling temporary and started feeling like mine. Friendships formed, favorite spots emerged, and traditions took root—many of them centered around food, which felt like the easiest and most joyful way to experience a new place.

Almost thirteen years later, both my life and this city look very different. The place where I once wandered around trying to figure out who I was is now the place where I’m raising my family—proudly growing the next generation of Charlotteans. And this little blog? It grew right alongside me, evolving from a personal project into a way to share, connect, and invite others to explore Charlotte the same way I did: one meal at a time.

A person with blonde hair, wearing a white top, stands against a teal brick wall while holding a Canon camera up to their face.
A woman in a floral dress sits on a cushioned bench by a window, smiling and holding a glass of red wine surrounded by colorful pillows.

Accolades + Expertise

  • I’ve been exploring Charlotte and the Carolinas since I moved here in 2012; looking for the the best spots to eat, drink, and play around the Tarheel State. I love to share on my blog these things through the lens of real life: busy schedules, young kids, and making the most of the time we have.
  • My family has been vacationing in North Carolina for decades! Our annual summer vacations to the Outer Banks mean I have 30+ years of North Carolina coast adventures under my belt.
  • In June 2020, I wrote a cookbook! Stunning Spreads is full of recipes that will make your next party look way fancier than the amount of effort you actually put in.
  • Off the Eaten Path has been featured locally and nationally in all sorts of cool places like: Zagat, Oprah, Huffington Post, Charlotte magazine, Charlotte Agenda, Charlotte Five/The Charlotte Observer, and Queen City Nerve. You can find Off the Eaten Path in the news here.
  • Off the Eaten Path was named Best Blog in the 2019 Queen City Nerve’s Best in the Nest Awards and Best Website/Blog in the 2018 Charlotte Magazine’s Best of the Best Awards.
  • A woman holding a small child looks out over a volcanic landscape with smoke rising and a hint of red lava in the distance under a dramatic, cloudy sky. Yellowish-green plants are in the foreground.
  • A smiling adult with curly hair and a red t-shirt hugs a grinning toddler in red overalls by a waterfront with wooden buildings in the background.
  • Five children in swimsuits sit on a sandy beach, smiling at the camera. Next to them, an adult man wearing sunglasses is buried in sand up to his neck, with empty chairs and umbrellas in the background.
  • A woman sits on a couch bottle-feeding a baby while sipping a martini. A tray of sushi with chopsticks is on the table in front of her. A large window shows trees and a darkening sky outside.
  • A man in a cap and sunglasses holds a smiling toddler’s hands as they stand together in the shallow water at the beach under a partly cloudy sky. The child wears a turquoise shirt and looks happy.
  • A smiling family of four stands on a rocky beach in front of a large bridge over blue water. The adults hold two young children, all dressed in summer clothes and sunglasses, with a bright sky overhead.
  • A woman in a pink swimsuit stands at the edge of the ocean, smiling and holding a laughing toddler and a baby in a pink sun hat, enjoying one of the beautiful beaches near Charlotte NC. The sky is clear and people are swimming in the background.

my favorite posts

fun facts

1

I’m an Aquarius, which means I thrive in what I lovingly call organized chaos; it may look a little unhinged from the outside, but I promise there’s a system. Despite what my husband says, I am not being difficult — I just like doing things my way, on my timeline, with my own spin. Life is less about perfection and more about expression.

2

My favorite movie is When Harry Met Sally. While I don’t discriminate when it comes to rom-coms (I love them), When Harry Met Sally is the rom-com gold standard; give me witty banter, a cozy New York fall, and a slow-burn love story (plus Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal’s chemistry is elite).

3

I’ve been swimming competitively since I was six and swam for four years on my college team. I’m no stranger to early mornings, hard work, and a little healthy competition.

4

I played Gretl in a production of The Sound of Music. 

5

I know every word to “Love Shack,” and it is my go-to karaoke song. Not because I have a good voice — but because I have commitment and enthusiasm.

6

Every year on my birthday, my grandma — and now my mom — makes me a lemon cake. It’s a small tradition that somehow means everything, and it just wouldn’t be my birthday without it.

7

I’m an owner of the Green Bay Packers, which is both a fun fact and a personality trait. It basically means I can say “we” during football season with full legal confidence.

8

My favorite compliment I have received is probably that I have one of the best reputations at the Mecklenburg County jail — which is a very specific kind of compliment but one I’m incredibly proud of.