The Charlottesville 29

Photo by Milo Farineau.

On Fridays, we feature five food finds from local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from Thomas Leroy, chef of the new Kardinal Hall, now open. Leroy’s picks:

1) Gambas al’ Parilla at MAS Tapas. “Huge jumbo grilled shrimp in their shells with alioli. The cooking in the shell process makes the shrimp retain their juicy texture, sprinkled with coarse sea salt.  I personally enjoy the crunch of the shell and the blend with the rich garlicky alioli.”

2) The Superman at The Juice Laundry. “Always a great start of my day to get a smoothie from those guys.  The lineup of drinks uses organic fruits and it’s vegan. Nor only are we neighbors, but those folks are awesome people.”

3)  Prosciutto Pizza at Lampo. “I love the Neapolitan-style crust and burnt edge that gives a smoky flavor to each bite.  I’ve known a few of the owners for a long time and you can tell they put their soul into their food. Everyone can make a pizza, but they are the best for this particular style.”

4)  Cheese from Flora Artisanal Cheese.  “Pretty much anything Nadjeeb passes me over his counter to taste at Timebrcreek Market is gold. I remember our days at Whole Foods and I could always count on him to understand the value and depth of what the people here call a ‘stinky cheese.'”

5)  Jack’s Java Stout from Three Notch’d Brewery.  “I’m not a huge dark beer fan but once Dave Warwick gave me a sample at a beer dinner we did together I was hooked. It’s basically drinking a strong iced coffee espresso with the added bonus of alcohol in it.  It’s hard to pick one beer from Three Notch’d, because the entire lineup is solid and the brewmaster’s passion is felt in every sip.”