The Charlottesville 29

Hear about the upcoming Belmont restaurant with the owner of The Local and the area’s most decorated chef, Melissa Close-Hart? Here’s your chance for a very early preview, all while contributing to a great cause. On December 8, The Local is hosting a dinner to raise money for the medical expenses of Jerry Colgate, a catering chef of The Local who remains in critical condition after an apparent hit-and-run. A Taste of What’s to Come – A Benefit for Jerry Colgate, with guest chef Close-Hart, will feature some of the food and drink you can expect at the new restaurant when it opens next year.

Each of the five courses will feature two small plates – one prepared by Close-Hart and another prepared by her husband Matthew Hart, chef of The Local.  Guests will vote on who has the best dishes.  On hand to emcee it all will be legendary Charlottesville area chef Craig Hartman. Details below. If you can’t make the dinner but would still like to donate, you may do so at www.gofundme.com/h1uwsg.

When: December 8, 6:00 pm for canapés, 6:30 pm for dinner.

Where: The Local, 824 Hinton Ave.

What: A Five Course Tequila & Beer Paired Dinner featuring some of the dishes and cocktails that will be seen at the new restaurant in Belmont. Each course will feature two small plates paired with a tequila cocktail or beer.

Reservations: The dinner sold out in less than an hour. But, you can still get tickets by bidding in a special auction here, with all proceeds to help with Colgate’s medical care.