The Charlottesville 29

If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29?
10/19/2018

Five Finds on Friday: Lisa Reeder

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Lisa Reeder, January 13, 1974 – October 14, 2018

The Charlottesville food community lost a pillar this week. The Local Food Hub’s Lisa Reeder was a tireless advocate for our local food community, overseeing programs like Fresh Farmacy, Farm to Workplace, Harvest of the Month and more. In celebration of Reeder’s life and passion for Charlottesville food, today’s Five Finds on Friday are Reeder favorites remembered by her friends, husband, and son.

1) Rosso from Gabriele Rausse Winery. “Lisa loved and championed many things, but supporting local producers, celebrating outstanding craftsmanship, and enjoying a good red wine with a meal were all very high on her list. A perfect synthesis of these loves can be found in the wines of her friend, Gabriele Rausse. At a table with Lisa, a bottle of Cab Franc or Red blend was often accompanied by anecdotes of the friendship and meals shared with the Rausse family over the years.” – Chelsea Hoyt

2) Red Hot Blues at Continental Divide. “Lisa and I started working at the Divide in college but our love affair with the ‘careful top plate is hot’ delicacy and a side of ‘wait a minute’ continues. Lisa always ordered fresh tomatoes on top and you can’t go to the Divide without a margarita on the rocks with salt. It feels like home in those booths, ordering from the tequila list that will forever be Lisa’s chalkboard to me.” – Marlena Simon

3) Pierogie and Mettwurst and Jägerschnitzel Dinner at Augustiner Hall and Garden. “Lisa loved all things German, with food being near the top of that list. She and I had these pierogies twice in the past month. The first was to-go while dancing to her favorite local band, We Are Star Children, at the Pavilion. But two weeks ago, we had a proper meal at the restaurant. She split the pierogies and the jägerschnitzel dinner with my husband, and raved about them both. Plans were quickly made to try her own hand at schnitzel with my daughter Francesca, her often sous-chef. We’re going to keep that promise and continue Lisa’s legacy of food exploration and experimentation.” – Jen Oppenheimer

4) Heritage Apples from Vintage Virginia Apple. “Lisa loved all things apple. She taught classes about apples. She coordinated apple festivals. She looked forward to the fall harvest every year. Her favorite apple event was helping to hand out apples at schools for Farm to School Week through the Local Food Hub. She truly believed: An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away.” – Geoff Shaw, Lisa’s husband

5) Nachos at Beer Run. “I am Lincoln, Lisa’s nine-year-old son. My mom and I would always walk to Beer Run and have date nights sharing nachos that my Dad couldn’t eat because he can’t have dairy. We did this a lot and always enjoyed it.” – Lincoln Shaw

While Reeder’s passing leaves a gaping hole in our food community, no one will miss her more than her son and husband. Geoff:

Lisa had battled melanoma since 2012, and it was only after she died that we found out she had a tumor in her brain that had grown really fast. Not only was it unexpected (we had no idea), but it was very quick as well. We feel blessed that she didn’t suffer.

We had an amazing day Saturday with friends in West Virginia. Lisa did everything she wanted. We went hiking and wine tasting, and she was surrounded by some of her close friends. She made dinner for nine people with spaghetti squash from Whisper Hill, beef from Free Union Grass Farm, and lettuce from Radical Roots. It’s exactly those moments that make her the happiest. She went to bed feeling fine, but left us in the night.

To carry forward Reeder’s legacy, you can help her husband and son as they embark upon this next chapter of their lives. Help Here.

10/12/2018

Five Finds on Friday: Melissa Boardman

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Photo by Amy Jackson

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Melissa Boardman, Wine Director of Fleurie, which is celebrating Virginia Wine Month with a very special meal. On October 21, Fleurie welcomes Lovingston Winery for a multi-course feast by Chef Jose de Brito, paired with Lovingston wines. Details here. Braised beef cheeks, celery root, rigatoni stuffed with oxtail, red wine & cacao reduction with a pine nut & raisin condiment? Reserve at (434) 9710-1800 or fleuriecville@gmail.com. Boardman’s picks:

1) Nachos and Margaritas at The Bebedero. “These nachos are a meal and a half. The chorizo meat topping is the way to go. The mornay cheese sauce is so flavorful. You can’t beat River’s selection of mezcal. I have him pick one for my margarita, which I also add jalapenos and cilantro to. The best part about all of this is that they serve a limited menu until 1 am. Perfect for an after-service snack.”

2) Foie Gras and Sauternes at Fleurie. “Chef Jose de Brito prepares this healthy portion of seared foie to perfection. It’s a great way to start a dining experience. You can also belly up to the bar for a quick decadent snack. However, it’s not foie gras without Sauternes. I’m loving the Sauternes from Rousset Peyraguey called Atropos. This unique, natural sticky spends six years in barrel before it is bottle. It’s a sweet treat that borders on savory.”

3) Sucuk Platter and a Glass of Emir at Sultan Kebab. “Sucuk is a Turkish sausage that reminds me of a spicy kielbasa, without the grease. In fact this sausage has a bit of a crunch. If you are really hungry or are there with a couple friends, add a plate of the Manti.  Turkish marinated ground beef dumplings served with homemade garlicky yogurt, drizzle of crushed red pepper butter sauce and dry mint. My meal here is not complete unless I have a glass or two of Doluca’s Emir. It’s a super dry, mineral driven white wine from Turkey.”

4) Weisswurst and Hefeweizen at Court Square Tavern. “I like the platter with their potato salad. This veal sausage is light, airy and heavenly. They have a great selection of German beers. Ask Jeff to pick you out a good one. Hefeweizen and weisswurst use similar spices in their recipes, so it’s a natural pairing.”

5) Cheese Plate and a Bottle of Vouvray at Tilman’s.  “I am a cheese freak! I could live on it (and wine) alone. I love Tilman’s because Courtney only picks the best of the best. I give the cheese monger on duty carte blanche to customize a plate for me. They know I like the powerful stuff. The other thing I love about Tilman’s is the retail pricing on bottles and minimal corkage fee.”

10/05/2018

Five Finds on Friday: Kate Ellwood

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Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Kate Ellwood, GM of Citizen Burger Bar, who juggles a full-time restaurant job with being a mother to her daughter Avery. “Family is a big part of my life and what keeps me grounded in this industry,” says Ellwood. “My husband and my daughter are what keep me going. Avery is growing up in the restaurant world, and it’s so fun sharing this special lifestyle with her. She lights up my life.” Ellwood’s picks:

1) A.M. Biscuit at Beer Run. “My go-to day off spot. A place that feels like home. My daughter loves the basket of toys they keep on hand, and the kids’ menu is pretty awesome. The A.M Biscuit has been my breakfast staple for years. It’s a house baked cheddar scallion biscuit with scrambled eggs and your choice of cheese (the Gouda is amazing), and I always top it with bacon. They have a great selection of dark beers and, with the new addition of the back bar, there’s always a large selection of brews to choose from.”

2) Iced Mocha at Splendora’s. “I know it’s going to be a great day when it starts with a cup of coffee from Splendora’s. Most days I’m here twice a day. Coffee in the morning and an iced coffee in the afternoon. I had the iced mocha recently and it was out of this world. Of course the gelato is something special. I love when PK does the beerlato. From the bright yellow building on the way in and the friendly staff, I would challenge someone to leave there without a smile on their face.”

3) White Pizza at Vita Nova. “Favorite pizza spot on the mall. There’s never a long line and the staff is super-friendly and efficient. We order their pizza for our employee meetings, and our staff is hooked. They have this delicious white sauce, cheese pizza that is, hands down, the best slice of pizza I’ve experienced. It tastes like you’re eating pasta on a pizza.”

4) Hand Pie w/ Scrambled Egg, Yukon Potato, Cheddar, and Gravy at The Pie Chest. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the sweet pies, the dark chocolate cream pie especially. I would eat it for breakfast at least once a week. Then I discovered the breakfast hand pies and that was a game changer. The Yukon potato, cheddar, gravy, & egg is my fave! Super delicious. It always brightens my day to see Tina and Rachel in the shop. Great people, great pies.”

5) Double Bass Chocolate Stout from Starr Hill Brewery. “My favorite brewery in town, since the beginning. I love visiting the tap room in Crozet on my days off. It’s a short drive, and a nice escape. Their Double Bass Double Chocolate Stout is my favorite seasonal beer. They do this fun seasonal Box of Chocolates 12 pack. It’s released in November, and I’ll be drinking those for the next few months.”