Tag: Small Bites

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Culture Food & Drink

With a side of toffee sauce, please

Sip on bevvies like the Nor’Easter, Taugwalder, and Five Golden Rings at The Matterhorn Alpine Ski-Bar. Photo by Common House.

Our local eateries and bakeries are going all out for the holidays. Here are a few of our favorite cozy spots, jolly eats, and festive treats.

Try this

For cozy mountain vibes, head to The Matterhorn, a tented alpine ski-bar atop Common House. The festive decor, crackling fireplaces, and themed cocktails will have you feeling like you’re sitting slope side. Hunker down with the Matador, a warm concoction of hot chocolate, reposado, and ancho chile liqueur topped with whipped cream and cinnamon, or get wild and throw back a couple of shotskis. 

The halls are decked with tinsel and lights galore at the Jingle Bell Bar. Located inside Quirk Hotel’s Bobboo Bar, the holiday pop-up includes a special drink menu and decadent charcuterie boards. The Vixon, Comet & Cupid or John McClane is sure to wet the whistle of any whiskey lover. 

At The Forum Hotel, sit down for breakfast with Santa Claus at Birch & Bloom, or head over to The Case Study Chalet & Lounge for warm fondue and grown-up bevvies. Dip your choice of fresh fruits, sweets cakes, or crisp veggies in bubbling chocolate or cheese, and grab a specialty cocktail crafted by the bartender, Eric. 

Don your ugly sweaters or best Clark Griswold cosplay for a funky family Christmas at Flying Fox Winery and Vineyard. The tasting room is transformed with floor-to-ceiling wrapping paper, ornaments, and cheeky cocktails and mocktails. 

Sleigh sips

Get your nog fix at The Alley Light. Bartender Micah LeMon has been whipping up batches of the French eatery’s famous eggnog spiked with Jamaican rum, which you can score by the glass or in a limited run of 10 quarts.

We’re dreaming of Zocalo’s White Xmas Margarita, a frosty mixture of tequila, triple sec, coconut milk, lime simple, cranberries, and rosemary. The downtown joint’s wintery mixed-drink menu offers four cocktails and two mocktails, including the decadent Chocolate Strawberry Martini, with crème de cacao, rumchata, Baileys, vodka, and strawberry purée. 

Warm up your grinchy heart with some hot mulled cider. Potter’s Craft Cider’s packs a flavorful punch with fortified cider, fresh apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, clove, and ginger. 

Something sweet

Make a date with MarieBette’s sticky toffee date pudding—it’s seriously one of the best bites in town. Moist sponge cake envelopes layers of finely chopped dates, all smothered in a rich toffee sauce. The bakery’s freezers are also stocked with ice cream cakes as part of a new cold collab with SugarBear. Snag an eggnog, gingerbread, or peppermint stick cake, and keep on the lookout for new flavors later. 

Christmas-day dessert is easy with Albemarle Baking Company’s holiday menu. Stock up on the rich but airy panettone, a sugar-covered loaf of stollen, a box of traditional läckerli, or an assortment of gingerbread people. 

Iron Paffle’s crispy latke waffles are here for a limited time, and can be made vegan or gluten free.

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Culture Food & Drink

The dining landscape

Bad Luck Ramen Bar in the Ix Art Park is a lucky break for noodle lovers. Supplied photo.

Charlottesville is always buzzing with news of the latest restaurant concepts, developed by old pros and fresh faces alike. Last year brought many new options, while some longtime favorites closed up shop. Here’s a roundup of (most) of what we gained and lost.

When North American Sake Brewery owner Andrew Centofante received a terrible fortune at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, he decided he would make his own luck by transforming the bitter prediction into a different sort of future. Pairing well with his American-made sake, ramen had fast become the most popular dish on the NAS menu—so slurp hello to Bad Luck Ramen Bar, dedicated to the craft of slow-simmered noodles and sake-marinated ingredients. As luck would have it, Bad Luck Ramen Bar held its grand opening on Friday, January 13.

On the Downtown Mall, Botanical Plant-Based Fare gives vegans more choices. Rockfish Brewing Company serves brews right next to Mudhouse, and a permanent kitchen from Charlottesville’s food truck FARMacy Café is making Mexican fusion. Check out their Super Naan Taco, using garlic naan bread with al pastor pork. 

Surf’s up at Brightside, a beach-inspired pub in The Bebedero’s former location above The Whiskey Jar. The sunny joint offers classic bar bites alongside an extensive tropical drink menu. Just off the mall is more exciting fusion in the Japanese-Korean comfort food from Umma’s (formerly the Basan Food Truck). 

On West Main Street, Smyrna is making a name as one of the hottest new dining places in town. The Quirk Hotel added the Bobboo Lounge, modeled after an estate cigar room, and Cake Bloom spoils us with elegant cake and champagne pairings. Dairy Market rolled out Basta Pasta by the team at Dino’s Pizza, and Birdhouse serves organic, free-range chicken dishes and creative sides in the Rose Hill neighborhood.

The Barracks Road Shopping Center welcomed Ralph Sampson’s American Taproom, and it seems the shuffle at 5th Street Station is beginning to settle down, with Pei Wei Asian Kitchen being the only new restaurant to open in the center last year. 

Emmet Street welcomed Chang Thai’s fresh and sustainably sourced family recipes. Popito’s Pizza, another food truck origin story, popped up in the Rio Hill Shopping Center, and visitors to The Shops at Stonefield can now grab some Tex Mex at Torchy’s Tacos and leafy green bowls and juices at Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery.

In other knead-to-know news, DIY Pie is entering the scene as the newest pizza shop, at the former Lelo’s Pizza space on Pantops. Have it your way with an entirely customizable pizza, pasta, and salad menu. Also on Pantops, The Donut Kitchen parked its bakeshop in a permanent space. Pick your dozen from traditional flavors like strawberry glazed, or the indulgent Bavarian creme.

We can’t wait to order from

Brazos’ second location at Barracks Road Shopping Center, and Black Cow Chop House, a new woodfired, meaty-good concept from the team at Public Fish & Oyster.

Stick a fork in ’em, they’re done

Sadly, we lost some of our favorite go-to spots including Little Star, Peloton Station, Piedmont Bar and Kitchen, and, closing on Pi Day (March 14), The Pie Chest.

Pie partners Rachel and Tina announced that they will step away from the rolling pins to pursue education and career goals, and we are just crustfallen. There’s a crumb of hope, though, because they’ll continue to offer some Pie Chest favorites at pop ups, and the entire Fourth Street space will be taken over by Lone Light Coffee. 

After a few short months of serving gourmet, grown-up grilled cheese sandwiches Ooey Gooey Crispy closed its doors last October. The fast-casual restaurant also offered juicy smashburgers and crunchy salads.

Say goodbye to cheddar bay biscuits, because Red Lobster is sleeping with the fishes, but you can still snag the catch of the day at Red Crab Juicy Seafood, a family-friendly spot known for its signature Cajun seafood boil.

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Culture Food & Drink

Small bites

Devils Backbone Brewing Company will give a year’s supply of beer to anyone who’ll sport a Buck Tradition IPA tattoo designed by Jake Karamol. Publicity image.

Let’s all Thai together

We’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’s been as innovative as Chimm Thai Restaurant co-owner Jay Pun in finding ways to serve people during the ongoing pandemic. While Chimm St. at Dairy Market remains open, Chimm’s 5th Street Station location is still closed for indoor dining, relying on takeout, delivery, patio seating, and catering to keep customers happy.  

Now, Pun says, his team has added a food-drop program, as well as a stand at IX Art Park’s Thursday night farmers’ market. “It’s basically me and my dad doing neighborhood food drops and catering, since staffing is so hard for everyone these days,” says Pun.

The Chimm drop offers a variety of options from easy-to-reheat dishes to pre-portioned meal kits. Want to learn the basics of Thai street food? Chimm will deconstruct everything from drunken noodles to pho, and deliver it with instructions included. 

The owners of Chimm also support Asian communities through their business. Inspired by NYC’s Heart of Dinner organization, which seeks to fight food insecurity in Asian communities, and in remembrance of last year’s horrific Atlanta spa shootings, Chimm offers the chance to donate meals to local Asian families. Meal donations include free delivery, a complimentary dessert, and a personalized card. To participate in the food-drop or meal donation programs, visit chimmtaste.com to place an order, or email chimmtaste@gmail.com

Deer goggles

In March, Devils Backbone Brewing Company released Buck Tradition, its newest IPA lineup. As part of the celebration, DB partnered with tattoo artist and TikTok star Jake Karamol to create a series of designs, and threw out a challenge to customers that asks: Are you committed enough to permanently rep the buck? Any brave soul who gets a tattoo of one of the designs will receive a year’s supply of free beer, along with a sick tat. Find out more on Instagram at #bucktraditiontattoochallenge

Tabled for now

In March of 2020, the Local Food Hub saw that farmers were having trouble connecting with their customers due to pandemic supply chain disruptions. In addition, Charlottesville residents had reservations about going into grocery stores. So as part of its mission to increase equitable access to fresh food from independent farmers, LFH began hosting a contactless Drive-Through Market, and the temporary solution grew into a years-long project with over 150 successful events. Now that pandemic restrictions have waned and traditional farmers’ markets have reopened, Local Food Hub has suspended the drive-through market, and intends to reopen it in the fall, when many farmers’ markets close for the seaso

Up next

If you are reading this in Charlottesville, welcome to the next great food city! Food & Wine magazine included C’ville on a list of 11 American cities with up-and-coming food and drink scenes, along with Cincinnati, Ohio, and Boise, Idaho, among others. “Charlottesville has emerged as a vibrant dining destination,” writes Katie Chang, calling out Dairy Market (and Angelic’s Kitchen and South and Central), saying the food hall brings  “together some of the area’s brightest talent.” The article also gives a shout-out to The Wool Factory, In Vino Veritas, MarieBette, Conmole, and Luce. 

Keep ’em full

We’re not just about fancy dining either. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank reported that its March collections added up to the most donations in its 11-year history. The BRAFB School Food Drive brought in 11,000 pounds of food from 22 schools, over 18 days. “The opportunity for the schools, family, students, parents to come together has really been spectacular,” says Albemarle High School senior Kat Ravichandran, who helped lead the effort.

The extra food has been sorely needed: According to BRAFB CEO Michael McKee, the number of food insecure families in the Blue Ridge area has increased more than 50 percent since 2000, and the food bank is now serving about 110,000 people every month. Learn how you can help fight hunger at brafb.org 

Categories
Culture Food & Drink

Small bites

Ooey Gooey Crispy serves upscale grilled cheese sandwiches, hearty soups, and gourmet salads. Staff photo

Arrivederci, stay tuned

There’s little that disappoints us more than a well-loved, local restaurant that’s gone before its time. Mangione’s on Main, known for an inviting ambiance as well as the quality of its hearty Italian cuisine, closed its doors just shy of the restaurant’s third anniversary.

“Our lease was ending, and we knew that we did not have it in us to sign up for a long-term commitment,” says co-owner Elaina Mangione. “We are very proud and fortunate to say that we were able to stay open and serve the community in addition to keeping most of our staff fully employed during the challenges of the pandemic. We had an amazing team and we couldn’t be more proud of them.” 

While patrons are going to miss everything from the bold linguini with clam sauce to the more traditional spaghetti aglio e olio, Mangione says foodies should “stay tuned!” and teases at something new on the horizon. “Something really amazing is likely taking over the space and we cannot wait to welcome them to the community,” she says.

Brew’s through

The team at Wild Wolf Brewing Company sold its last pint at the end of January after more than 10 years in business. Wild Wolf Brewery was created when entrepreneur Mary Wolf and her son Danny came into ownership of a 100-year-old Nelson County schoolhouse. The pair converted the building into a brewery and event space, and went on to produce a variety of award-winning ales and lagers. After so much success, the Wolf family decided to sell its brewing headquarters and ceased operations on January 30.

It’s like a foodie court on the mall

On the flip side of beer news, Rockfish Brewing Co. is expanding its business to a new downtown location (on one side of the former Downtown Grille). This announcement comes shortly after it won second prize at the Crozet Winter Brews Festival for its Nice Marmot Imperial Stout. Rockfish will be the first brewery to have its own storefront on the mall, and aims to open in April. 

Adjacent to Rockfish’s new digs is a neighbor with a familiar menu. The Bebedero has moved its location downstairs to occupy the other part of the former Downtown Grille space, and will be serving its traditional Mexican recipes at the newly remodeled restaurant in February.

Tucked into the CODE Building plaza is the new permanent kitchen from FARMacy Food Truck. FARMacy will continue to serve organic Mexican food to go, with a menu of fan favorites from the mobile edition, while doubling down on its commitment to organic, locally sourced ingredients. Owners Jessica and Gabino Lino’s “food is medicine, so eat good food” philosophy, along with their initial success, proves that you can take the food out of the food truck, but you can’t take the farm out of the FARMacy. Right next door is Ooey Gooey Crispy, the next-level spot for grown-up grilled cheese, soups, salads, and breakfast sammies. Try the Neo-politan, with mozz, tomato conserva, and Parmesan butter, or a buffalo chicken and blue cheese ’wich named for Scott Norwood, the infamous Buffalo Bills’ kicker.

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Culture Food & Drink

Tasty moves

All your favorite tacos will be on the menu when Brazos opens a full-service restaurant in the Barracks Road Shopping Center this spring. Photo: Tom McGovern

Nacho mama’s taco joint

Can’t get enough of Brazos uniquely composed tacos? (We’re looking at you chimichurri steak and potatoes taco.) The hip Austin-style spot announced that a new location is coming to the Barracks Road Shopping Center this spring. The second shop will include all Brazos’ favorites alongside a full dinner and bar menu. The full-service restaurant will expand the friendly, fast-casual Brazos’ concept into a more traditional (but no less friendly) dining experience.

Sip away

Do the recent snowstorms have you dreaming of a beach vacation? The folks at DuCard Vineyards have taken those dreams a step further: They’re opening a satellite tasting room in Nassau, Bahamas, for the winter. “It’s only the first week of January, and frankly we’re already just sick and tired of the snow and cold,” says winery president Scott Elliff.

Customers can order home delivery of wines, and visit the tropical location from their living room by using the BeamMeUp app on their phones, or tough it out locally at the Madison County tasting room with firepits, blankets, patio tent heaters, and more.

Counting the Milli-seconds

Milli Coffee Roasters has a new spot on the Downtown Mall. Milli Second Cafe & Wine Bar, located in the recently opened CODE building, is serving both sides of the work day by offering coffee during the day and morphing into a wine bar at night. The chic spot is nestled in the CODE building’s furnished lounge area, and is a great way to check out the mall’s newest digs.

Champions of the craft

In December, Charlottesville-based Champion Brewing Company and Reason Beer merged into a juggernaut of specialty craft brews. And there’s no need to worry about your Shower Beer or Hoppy Blonde—both companies will still offer their individual lines, and all staff has been retained under the Champion brand. The new venture has Champion founder Hunter Smith at the helm with Jeff Raileanu, co- founder of Reason Beer, as chief financial officer. “It’s a great opportunity for Reason to leverage the reach of Champion’s distribution, and for both brands to streamline operations under a single roof,” says Raileanu. Until now, Reason Beer has been available only in Virginia, while Champion can be found all over the East Coast. Raileanu hopes the brand that he and his team have worked so hard to build will continue to see success and growth with this new partnership.

“Both brands are community-focused and philanthropic; it will be incredible to see our joint impact,” Smith says.

Can we place an order yet?

Next on our 2022 to-do list? Line up to get into Umma’s (start camping out now people), the new Korean/Japanese-inspired restaurant from the founders of Basan food truck in collab with Mama Bird/Sussex Farm. The super popular Basan food truck launched after Charlottesville’s Kelsey Naylor and Anna Gardner spent a year learning to cook at a small bar in rural Japan. “Basan in a lot of ways is shaped by the meals we cooked in our apartment in Miyakonojo, for ourselves and for our other friends,” says Naylor. The brick-and-mortar Umma’s is scheduled to open sometime this spring in the former Moe’s BBQ space on Water Street.

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Culture Food & Drink

Small bites: Provisions, pumpkins, and Peruvian

Inka Grill is bringing the flavors of Peru to the UVA Corner. Photo: Eze Amos

Proven Peruvian

After receiving rave reviews from patrons at two Inka Grill locations in Roanoke, chef Percy Rojas and his partners-in-lime are bringing their famous ceviche and traditional Peruvian dishes to a new location on the UVA Corner. We are especially excited to try the fried-rice chaufa, chef-selected seafood soups, and tuna tartare. Reservations are available on the Inka Grill website.

Bird search

Heads up (or down if you happen to be a turkey): Thanksgiving is approaching, and while there’s still plenty of time to flock to the supermarket, the best day for eating can sneak up on you. Save yourself the shopping hassle and reserve your Thanksgiving turkey ahead of time at JM Stock Provisions. The butcher shop is currently taking orders for locally sourced, whole turkeys. ShireFolk Farm, in the Palmyra foothills, is also accepting orders and offering pickup times in Charlottesville.

Stonefield piles on

New names are coming to the ever-growing list of dining spots at The Shops at Stonefield. Texas-based chain Torchy’s Tacos is opening its first Virginia location. Known for its “damn good” mantra and fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients, the restaurant also uses napkins, cups, and cutlery made from 100 percent renewable resources, and its cooking oil is recycled for auto fuel.

Also joining the Stonefield family in the near future is Organic Krush Lifestyle Eatery, a Long Island-based chain that cooks up healthy fast food. Owners Michelle Walrath and Fran Paniccia offer a menu of wraps, bowls, smoothies, baked goods, and cold-pressed juices as part of their commitment to conscientious eating that is free of pesticides, GMOs, hormones, and fake ingredients. 

Beer for bears

Beer is good for a variety of things—quenching your thirst, toasting your pals, eliminating garden slugs, making chili, and your hair (according to that shampoo from the ’80s called Body on Tap). Devils Backbone is using its beer in partnership with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to protect local plant species by sponsoring efforts to help eliminate an invasive species of plant called Autumn olive, so local flora and fauna will recover in the James River area. Beyond that, $1 of every keg sold for all of 2021 will be donated to the DWR or one of several other organizations that are working to keep Virginia diverse and beautiful.

HotCakes cooling it

After 35 years, HotCakes owner Lisa McEwan closed the doors of her beloved bakery/cafe and catering shop on October 30. McEwan says that COVID took a toll, but also “it’s been a long time” to be in business. One of HotCakes’ most popular items was its pumpkins muffins, which came as a head scratcher to McEwan. “It is a family recipe I was making, but I was never actually that fond of them,” she laughs. HotCakes was overwhelmed by a brisk goodbye business during its final days, as patrons lined up for last slices of Torta Rustica, Strawberries & Cream Cake, and quiche of the day. McEwan, who is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the Charlottesville community, says she’ll turn to something outside of the food world, but many will be pleased to learn that the concept might not be gone for good. “We are in conversation with people who have expressed interest in picking up the business and carrying it forward,” she says.

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Culture

Small bites: Harvest time

Share your harvest

As summer fades into fall, area food banks are looking for more ways to secure meals for Charlottesville’s neediest residents. Thankfully, local institutions are stepping up and finding creative ways to give back to the community.

Piedmont Master Gardeners, an organization dedicated to empowering people with the knowledge and skills required to grow their own produce, wants to share the wealth and reduce food waste at the same time. By connecting gardeners with food banks that accept homegrown fruits and veggies, the Master Gardeners ensure bumper crops and excess produce don’t end up as compost. 

Ralph Morini, president of the organization, encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row at the start of the season, knowing that it will be put to good use. “It’s always satisfying to give what you grow,” he says. If you’re interested in donating your crop—or picking up some gardening tips—check out PMG’s website at piedmontmastergardeners.org.

If you want to give back while having some fun, check out Meals on Wheels’ Restaurant BINGO. Purchase a bingo card for $10, then visit participating local restaurants throughout September to get a square filled in. The more restaurants you go to, the better your chance to win: Every line you complete counts as one entry into the raffle. Plus, you can double your chances by posting a selfie from each restaurant on social media. Prizes include a full week in a Chesapeake Bay cottage or four tickets to a show of your choice at the Jefferson, but the real prize is the satisfaction of giving.

Sports fans, too, can get in on the action. The C’ville Buffalo Bills Backers Club is hosting a raffle in partnership with the Chris Long Foundation’s Waterboys. The foundation was created to help bring potable water to struggling communities in Kenya and Tanzania. Visit cvillebillsbackers.com and enter to win one of the signed team helmets up for grabs this year. All proceeds from this event go directly to Waterboys.

München on pumpkin

Party-lovers the world over were gutted to hear that Oktoberfest would once again be canceled thanks to the pandemic. Fret no more, revelers: Devils Backbone Brewing Company is here to make sure we can still celebrate with friends and family this fall. In addition to its, award-winning Vienna Lager, DB’s lineup includes O’Fest, a malty, golden ale, and München Pumpkin, a modern reimagining of German brews with a kick of pumpkin spice flavor. Cheers! (Or, as they say in Bavaria: Prost!) 

Get schooled

Red Pump Kitchen has announced a series of limited-capacity cooking classes, offered once a month by Chef de Cuisine Brandon Ripberger. In September, students will learn how to knead tender ricotta gnocchi before sitting down to enjoy the meal they’ve prepared. “We have such a beautiful space here, and that makes it a great hands-on experience for everybody,” says Ripberger.

Book your reservation now for October’s Pizza 101, or learn how to make a chicken parm in November.

Feeling Mari-golden

World-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has touched down in Charlottesville, and his upscale eatery Marigold is now open at Keswick Hall. Marigold promises culinary excellence in an elegant and graceful setting. The restaurant, which has 130 indoor seats, 70 outdoor seats, and 20 barstools, features produce from its own farm, and locally sourced meat, fish, and dairy. Reservations are available via RESY.—Will Ham

Correction, 10/1: An earlier version of this story misstated Brandon Ripberger’s name.

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Culture

Chicken and lobster

Lobs to love

There’s still time to get your claws on some claws at Shadwell’s Lobstravaganza. Through the end of August, Shadwell’s is serving citrusy lobster ceviche, decadent lobbie sliders, and, for those ready to get crackin’, a whole steamed lobster. 

Ivy Provisions is also riding the crustacean current with limited-time lobster rolls—take your pick of the classic Maine cold salad style or the Connecticut version, warm and drizzled with butter. Catch them while you can!

New crush

Vincent Derquenne and Tim Burgess of Bizou and Bang! are teaming up again. Crush Pad Wines, a new wine store on the Downtown Mall, offers a curated selection of cult and hard-to-come-by wines that Derquenne and his team of sommeliers have a knack for finding. Derquenne oversees Crush Pad’s wine selection, and chef Burgess pairs the vino with snacks, small plates, cheeses, and charcuterie. Go for the rare vintages, and stay for the delicious eats and beautifully renovated space.

Chicken in the Road

“If you build it, they will come,” especially when there’s fried chicken involved. Emmet Street has five chicken-centered fast-food joints all within a mile of one another, yet everyone seems to be clucking about the new Chick-fil-A location that’s set to open at Barracks Road Shopping Center in September. The restaurant has a new twist on its traditional First 100 celebration, during which the first 100 patrons to an opening get a free meal every week for a year. At the Barracks Road, they’ll be giving away those free sandwiches to 100 people who are making an impact on the Charlottesville community. The awardees have yet to be announced.

Chicken in the Street

Yet another chicken eatery is expanding in Charlottesville: Al Carbón, the locally owned rotisserie and grill, has added a second location at 5th Street Station. Co-owners Myriam and Claudio Hernandez are excited to offer more of their traditional South American recipes, including coal-fired roasted chicken, plantains, fried yucca, and street corn, and C’villians are excited to eat more of it.

Siren’s call

The COVID economy claimed another dining spot when The Shebeen closed its doors August 20. Walter Slawski’s South African eatery has been dishing out peri peri wings, Durban spiced chicken, lamb potjie and sadza cakes since 2003. “COVID was tough for us with two hospitality businesses,” says Slawski. “I am super proud that we made it through and that I am able to relinquish Shebeen [restaurant space] on my terms to a new owner who has the drive and passion to bring something exciting and new to the Charlottesville culinary scene.”  Look for a new seafood concept, Siren, by chef Laura Fonner to fill the sports pub and braai location. And The Shebeen might not be gone for good—Slawski says it’s possible that a smaller version of the restaurant may eventually return to the local food scene.

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Culture

New twist at Baggby’s, monsoon of Monsoons

Baggby’s sweetens the deal with a new fro-yo station. Staff photo.

Leni through the lens

Local culinary historian Leni Sorensen got some screen time in Netflix’s recent limited series “High On The Hog,” hosted by food writer Stephen Satterfield. The show explores how African American culinary traditions shaped modern American cuisine. In the third episode, “Our Founding Chefs,” Satterfield journeys to Monticello to tell the story of James Hemings, chef de cuisine for Thomas Jefferson and older brother to Sally Hemings. As a young man, Hemings was brought to Paris to train in the art of French cooking, and he introduced a unique French-Virginian fusion cuisine when he returned to the plantation. Satterfield and Sorensen discuss Hemings’ role in bringing Afro-European food into the cultural zeitgeist of the 18th-century United States. “‘High on the Hog’ is the first time we’ve ever seen a show dedicated to Black food culture, on this scale, with this kind of investment and production and distribution.” says Satterfield.

Going coconuts

Can’t get enough Num Tok? Go west! Monsoon Siam has expanded (for the second time this year!) with a new Crozet location named Coconut Thai Kitchen. Owners Kitty Ashi and Pooh Dutdao now count four restaurants as part of the Monsoon family, including a location in Madison, Wisconsin. Their latest addition features Monsoon’s most popular dishes as well as some new fare at the 1015 Heathercroft Circle location.

Hey Yo

We thought Baggby’s Gourmet Sandwiches offered everything—dine in, carryout, delivery, and catering. Now, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the shop has installed a self-service frozen yogurt counter and expanded its hours (plus they’ll validate your parking). But do you really need two hours of free parking at the Market Street garage when Baggby’s sandwiches are so affordably priced and made with such high-quality, local ingredients that you’re likely to gobble them down in mere minutes?  That’s for you to decide.

Let it play

The word tequila elicits a reaction in most of us: The three-word song, that one time during college, or The Bebedero’s amazing list. Now you can explore the Mexican-inspired hot spot’s tequila list in depth during tastings every Wednesday this summer from 6 to 9pm. The most recent showcase featured an 1800 Cristalino añejo aged in both French and American oak barrels and finished in a port wine cask…DA da-da da da DA da—tequila!

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Culture

Dairy market, mac ‘n’ cheese

Sherry Bryant’s Elbows Kitchen is all about mac ‘n’ cheese. Photo: Eze Amos.

By Will Ham

Dinner winners

Congrats to the six recipients of Bread & Roses kitchen scholarships. The local nonprofit, an outreach ministry of Trinity Episcopal, has awarded each winner $2,000 to rent space in the church’s commercially licensed kitchen.

Eric Agee of Agee’s Catering & Concession has operated a food truck out of Fluvanna for the last several years with a menu that features American food-stand classics such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and the Walking Taco, a combination of Fritos, chili, cheese, and salsa. “It’s a great blessing,” he says of the scholarship. “Having a kitchen with the right equipment and fresh water access has really given me the opportunity to build my business because now I can make more food at one time.”

Afghanistan native Khadija Hemmati moved to Charlottesville with her children in 2016. Once here, she gained a reputation for her cooking, and began selling Middle Eastern favorites such as spicy chicken kabob, lamb kabob, dolma, and falafel at the farmers’ market under the name Khadija’s Kitchen. The funding will help her expand her catering options.

Sherry Bryant is the mastermind behind Elbows Kitchen—and some of the most enticing gourmet macaroni and cheese in the area. She’ll use her award to prepare more original combos, like Chorizo and Pesto Mac, then get them to your door through various food-delivery services. 

Another food truck looking to expand its catering options is Slice Versa, courtesy of Emma Luster and Aaron Hill. Their Neapolitan-style pizzas are gorgeous to look at and better to eat. If you want to shake up your pie game, check their Facebook page to find out where they’ll be parked next.

Terrence Smith’s Taste of Tee offers Southern-style seafood, T’s Famous Chitlins, and bottles of Awesome Sauce, a combination of garlicky Alfredo butter sauce, freshly squeezed lemon, and dill. All menu items can be ordered online at tasteoftee.bigcartel.com.

Fans of the Spanish-Caribbean soul food from Tiffany, “Miss Tiff” Davie, will be thrilled to know that her famous mac ‘n’ cheese and jerk chicken are making a return. Miss Tiff’s Catering enjoyed a trial run at The Ante Room in 2017 before the venue closed. But now, with the support of Bread & Roses, Davie is jumping back into the local food scene.

High five

As we mentioned a couple weeks ago, several new spots are (or are about to) open at Dairy Market, and they include brand-new names and some familiar favorites. 

Andy McClure, the founder of Citizen Burger Bar and sister location Citizen Bowl, has added Citizen Burger Stand, which features a pared-down version of Citizen Burger’s classic menu with an emphasis on speedy service.

For those who lean toward plant-based eating, GRN Burger offers all the staples of a good burger joint but with a completely vegetarian menu. Beef and chicken alternatives, plus dairy-free cheeses, provide plenty of delicious, tree-hugging self satisfaction.

The long-running, Filipino food truck Manila Street, owned and operated by Fernando Dizon, has found its brick-and-mortar home at the market. Dizon is excited to be able to share his authentic, made-from-scratch Filipino classics like the pancit and lumpia.

Another East Asian dining spot to look forward to is Mashu Festival, headed by Silk Thai chef TK Chin. Mashu will specialize in classic Japanese festival foods including various sushi and sashimi.

Finally, the Dairy Market’s retail section is launching with Quattro Tizi, literally “four dudes” in Italian. This high-end clothing boutique is expanding from its downtown location in an effort to bring its trendy, designer styles to a wider local audience.

One of Sherry Bryant’s mac ‘n’ cheese concoctions.

Folding its wings

Exam crammers and stoners lost another late-night hot wings option when College Inn announced its closing. Serving the UVA Corner crowd for over 60 years, the dining establishment offered reliable eats for students on a budget, with delivery past midnight on weekends. As Reddit user /UtsukushiShi wrote, “Long before GrubHub or Instacart, College Inn would deliver you a pizza, some fettuccini Alfredo, a burger and a side order of meatballs or whatever other insane shit you suddenly wanted while blazed at two in the morning.”

One stop shop

Aldi, a German-based supermarket chain known for its affordable quality and broad range of items opened recently in Albemarle Square. Now area shoppers can save money (and gas) by picking up milk, bread, an air conditioner, bike rack, undergarments, and a portable hammock at a single store.