On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. This week’s picks come from Loren Mendosa, sous chef of Tavola. Mendosa’s picks:
1) Veal Sweetbreads and Fried Brussels Sprouts at L’etoile with capers, parsley, lemon, fleur gris and aioli. “Perfectly cooked sweetbreads are hard to find and Ian Redshaw does just that.”
2) Fried Chicken & Waffles at Ace Biscuit & Barbecue. “I love the fact that Brian uses fried chicken thighs instead of breast meat for this dish. I’ve always been a thigh guy.”
3) Spicy Tuna Tartar at Zocalo. “This and a Parliament Gimlet is a must for me anytime I’m at Zocalo.” Note: This was also a “chef’s pick” at Zocalo.
4) Sake Roll at TEN Sushi. “I’m a sucker for a spicy roll and the fresh jalapeno in this one is perfect.”
5) “Coffee and Doughnuts” at TEN Sushi. “TEN gets two picks because they have two great chefs, Yoshihiro Tauchi and Pei Chang. This dessert is my perfect way to finish a meal, tender beignets and sweet creamy coffee.”
The Charlottesville 29 is a publication that asks: if there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29? Follow along with regular updates on Facebook and Twitter.
