Five Finds on Friday: Hillary Lewis

On Fridays, we feature five foods finds selected by locals chefs and personalities.  Today’s picks come from Hillary Lewis, founder of Lumi Juice, the Charlottesville-based cold-pressed juice company that in just eleven months has already established a national footprint.  Yet, Lewis stays true to her local roots, with juice names like Wahoo Orange and Belmont Beet, which the bottle says will surprise and charm you “just like the Charlottesville neighborhood that shares its name.”  Lewis’ picks:

1)  Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies at Brookville.  “This is hands down THE BEST dessert I’ve found in the city. Actually, everything Brookville does is amazing, from bacon popcorn to bacon waffles (you can tell they dominate when it comes to bacon). You can’t go wrong eating at this establishment on the downtown mall.”

2)  Sushi at Now & Zen. “When I walk into this sushi restaurant, I instantly get a smile on my face. The staff is personable and the specials are always dynamic and flavorful. Whenever pomegranates are in season they use them, and combined with fish its a wonderful way to get not only your omega-3s, but also, antioxidants!”

3)  Blanchard’s Coffee at La Taza.  “Living in Belmont makes grabbing any meal at La Taza a seamless endeavor, and now they have Blanchard’s coffee from Richmond. Many of their blends are organic and all are full of flavor. Making your way to La Taza is definitely worth the drive!”

4)  Late Night Menu at C&O.  “I typically don’t get out of work at a reasonable ‘dinner time’ hour, and I’m always hungry! From cocktails to food, there is something for everyone on this menu. I love the charcuterie plate with their in-house brown mustard. It is happiness in a bite.”

5)  Beer and Ambiance at Champion Brewing Company.  “Every week I feel like Champion has a new beer that pushes the envelope with ingredients like cayenne or lavender. The atmosphere rocks – you can watch a sports game or the news, or hang outside for a game of corn hole with a cold beer. Not to mention, there’s always a delicious food truck.”