Alicia Walsh-Noel – C-VILLE Weekly

Alicia Walsh-Noel is no stranger to a career pivot. Seven years ago, she left her cubicle job to start as a busser at Zocalo. And in 2018, while working at Brasserie Saison, she approached Will Richey with an offer to run the marketing for his restaurant group.

“My background is a potpourri of photography, communications, and food and beverage,” she says. “But more importantly, I have a background in being scrappy AF.”

Richey said yes, and in June 2019, after the birth of her son and increasing requests to take more clients, Walsh-Noel launched Do Me A Flavor, a local food-focused marketing agency. We asked her to tell us more about her restaurant cred and what local menus she’s pouring over—in and out of the office.

C-VILLE: You’ve been on the local restaurant scene for a while, yeah?

Alicia Walsh-Noel: Seven years ago, I decided to quit my cubicle job and started as a busser at Zocalo. I mean, technically my first restaurant job was at my dad’s café where I worked the toast station as a 7-year-old. I have had the privilege of being a part of several notable projects including helping to open Kardinal Hall and serving as their marketing director, cooking with my husband, Jon Bray, for his Filipino pop-ups, and opening Brasserie Saison (from a construction site to a 14-services-per-week restaurant) as operations manager.

What types of services does Do Me A Flavor provide?

Web design, photography, videography, copy-writing, PR, graphic design, print production, social media marketing, email marketing, high-fives.

Who are some clients you’ve worked with so far?

Wilson Richey was my first client. When I pitched the idea of running marketing for his group, Ten Course Hospitality, he said yes before I could finish my first sentence. I also work with F&B Restaurant Management, whose family members are Ivy Provisions, Shadwell’s, and Fry’s Spring Station. This year, we collaborated with both Crozet Pizzas and the Dairy Market on several projects. We’ve been experimenting with retail lately as well, throwing around ideas for independently owned grocery stores or specialty food shops.

What do you like to eat in
Charlottesville?

Kimchi pancakes from Mamabird Farm, all of the food at Basan (especially whatever wild specials they are slinging for the weekend), plate lunch from Mochiko, C&O. I just told my husband that I wished there could be a gypsy jazz and late-night menu there, but earlier for parents who used to party. And Jon Bray’s mom’s house.

Five Finds on Friday with Alicia Walsh-Noel

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Alicia Walsh-Noel, manager of Brasserie Saison, which celebrates Sunday each week with an “Eggs Benefit” brunch from 11am-3pm with live jazz and specials from the bar. A portion of proceeds goes to a different charity each month, and this month it is The Charlottesville Free Clinic. Walsh-Noel’s picks:

1) Kao Soi at Monsoon Siam. “This dish is an ultra comforting curry noodle soup. It’s the perfect juxtaposition of flavor and texture: the sweet curry to the funky pickled cabbage and onions and then the slurpy egg noodles to the crunchy noodle garnish. There’s a reason it’s not available from their to-go-go location—you have to eat it in the restaurant for the full experience. I crave this whenever it’s cold outside or I have a cold or when Antarctica is cold.”

2) Peanut Butter Pie at The Pie Chest and an Almond Latte from Lone Light Coffee. “If you didn’t already know about this place, when you’re walking up Fourth Street, the aromas will lure you into their door. When you enter, it’s as if you’ve been transported into a quaint New England town—there aren’t many places in Charlottesville that can do that. Tucked within The Pie Chest is Lone Light Coffee, which makes incredible coffee drinks and their own almond milk in-house. The stuff is delicious! I seriously have a hard time getting coffee anywhere else. Rachel Pennington, the owner/baker of The Pie Chest, is incredibly talented. You can’t go wrong with any of her sweet or savory pies but I really dig the peanut butter because it’s a little of both. The real deal-sealer is that the crust is PERFECT every time.”

3) Commander Chicory Blue Cheese from Twenty Paces. “So apparently studies are saying that cheese addictions are a real thing. I always blamed it on my French heritage but now even my doctor is telling me to stop! Le sigh. I first had this cheese at Lampo. Then again at Lampo. Then again. And then…well, my husband runs the kitchen at Champion Taproom and he put it on…get this: CHICKEN WING TACOS. OMG. I die now. Anyway, it’s stinky and smoky and I would most likely have it as my last meal.”

4) Whatever Lumpia is on special at Champion Tap Room. “Speaking of my husband, Jon Bray has this move where he puts things into Filipino egg roll wrappers and then fries them. Need I say more? Okay, I’ll say more. His original has ground pork and dates that he serves with garlicky vinegar sauce. But lately he’s been getting a little wild, making cheeseburger lumpia for a kids event and a buffalo chicken version another time. This week, it sounds like he’s going with a more traditional pork and shrimp version that should be tasty. Maybe it’s cheating to put your own spouse on this list, but if this is about a memorable and emotional connection to food, Jon’s super-creative twists on Filipino classics are both seared into my memory and make me so happy!”

5) Oyster Mushrooms and Grits at Oakhart Social. “I couldn’t possibly write a Five Finds without mentioning Oakhart. This place is like home to me, and I’m stoked at the love they have received so quickly from the Charlottesville community. It’s rare to find a chef that can execute vegetable dishes with the skill that Tristan does and these mushrooms are one of my faves! They make a delicious star of the show with pickles, buttery grits and crispy, fried chickpeas. Follow that up with all the Fernets and hugs for a foolproof Oakhart evening.”

This article originally appeared on C-VILLE’s At the Table columnist C. Simon Davidson’s website, The Charlottesville 29, Read more Five Finds on Fridays here.