The Charlottesville 29

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for Five Finds on Friday to come from a reader drawn at random. This year’s winner is Jason Inofuentes, Albemarle County’s Program Manager for Broadband Accessibility and Affordability. Inofuentes’ picks:

1) Santa Fe Enchilada and a House with Salt at Continental Divide. “This is the best kind of comfort food. The chicken is slow-cooked to perfection, the sauce is rich, and you cap the whole thing off with a pumpkin muffin. I sometimes wonder what other goodness Continental Divide serves, but I’ll likely never know.”

2) Meyer Lemon Granita at Smyrna. “I can’t recall anything else I ate the first time we went to Smyrna, I know it was good, but thinking back on it, this dessert is all I can remember. Delicately sweet, and balanced by mint and lemon, it is a perfect way to end a great meal.”

3) Jefferson at Bellair Market. “When I first visited Charlottesville, my friends insisted we get the best sandwiches in town. I was skeptical when we pulled up to a gas station, but 25 years later, this remains one of the best sandwiches I’ve had. And it’s perfect for Thanksgiving.”

4) Huarache at Guadalajara Pantops. “A thick corn tortilla, a thin layer of refried beans, thinly sliced tender steak, cotija cheese, onions, cilantro, and a special set of hot sauces. It isn’t fancy, but it’s perfect.”

5) Princess Cake at Albemarle Baking Company. “When people meet me, they probably aren’t expecting me to ask about their dessert preferences in the first five minutes. But that is the depth of my evangelism for this cake. I want everyone to get to experience the perfect slice of cake, and this is it.”