The Charlottesville 29

If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29?

Category: Events

L’Etoile is Back!

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L’Etoile fans take note!

The beloved and lamented French and Virginia-inspired restaurant, which closed its doors in 2014 after twenty years of service, is back. But, for two nights only. And, for just ten lucky guests each night.

Since closing, L’Etoile has continued as a catering business, operated out of Crozet. On November 18 and 19, the catering kitchen will host a pop-up reincarnation of L’Etoile Restaurant.  The seven-course set menu will be a surprise for guests each night, with no substitutions, so leave your dietary restrictions at home. It will be a rare opportunity to leave yourselves completely in the hands of longtime L’Etoile chef and co-owner Mark Gresge. Guests can expect a few old favorites from the restaurant, plus new creations from Gresge and his sous chef for the night, Kelsey Naylor. “I miss the restaurant,” says Gresge, “and this is a way to reconnect with the roots of L’Etoile.”

Water and coffee will be served, while guests are welcome to bring their own wines. Details below. For tickets, email letoilerest@embarqmail.com. Advance tickets required, and just ten tickets will be sold for each night!

  • What: Pop-up L’Etoile Restaurant
  • When:  November 18 and 19, 2016, 6 pm
  • Food: Seven Course Surprise Menu. No Substitutions.
  • Drinks: Water and Coffee. BYOB.
  • Where: L’Etoile Catering, 5857 Jarmans Gap Rd., Crozet, VA
  • How Much: $60 per person, plus gratuity

 

Timbercreek Market Farm-to-Table Dinners

Creek

One of Charlottesville’s rising culinary stars, Allie Redshaw is the woman behind the outstanding sandwiches and prepared items at Timbercreek Market. (You really need to try her octopus salad.) But, a chef at heart, she thrives most when she gets to let loose in the kitchen on a multi-course dinner. If you want to see for yourself, check out Timbercreek Market’s recently announced series of Farm-to-Table Dinners this summer — multi-course meals featuring Redshaw’s creations from farm-sourced ingredients. Each dinner also includes a cheese course from award-winning cheesemonger Nadjeeb Chouaf of Flora Artisanal Cheese. Seating is understandably limited for the dinners.  Details and reservations here.

 

Potter’s “The Haven” is Special

Haven

When it comes to new releases, nothing from Potter’s Craft Cider is rushed or ill-considered. You can tell from the quality of the product. The flavors are never haphazardly executed, the combinations never carelessly conceived. While owners Tim Edmond and Dan Potter do experiment by trial and error, none of the errors ever makes it through.

The latest release is no exception. The Haven is a Belgian style cider flavored with figs, coriander, and Belgian dark candi sugar. Bottle-fermented with Belgian abbey yeast, it is perhaps the one Potter’s offering that would most appeal to beer lovers. In fact, the rich aroma of stone fruit, ruby port cask, and spice is a dead ringer for Dogfish Head’s legendary World Wide Stout. And, while apple is present, the taste is less reminiscent of cider than it is of a Flanders Oud Bruin or a Belgian Quadrupel like St. Bernardus Abt 12.  Unlike many of Potter’s other offerings, this is not a refreshing drink to have on the porch on a warm summer day. Rather, at 12% alcohol, it is one to enjoy in a snifter by the fire with a book, or in a haven from the rain. It is special.

A limited release, Edmond and Potter created it to raise awareness about the shelter The Haven, which will receive a portion of proceeds from the cider’s sale. “The Haven is perhaps the most unusual cider that we’ve ever made,” says Edmond, “and we hope that it shines light on the outstanding work that The Haven does on a daily basis, treating our homeless population with dignity and providing the essential tools that they need.”

You can be one of the first to try it at The Haven’s release party, this Saturday, May 21, at the IX Art Park, from 11 am – 5 pm.  In addition to cider tastings, there will be music by Tequila Mockingbird, donuts by Carpe Donut, and, perhaps best of all, food by Cote-Rotie. (Wherever Cote-Rotie goes, you should go.)  And, you’ll have a chance to buy a cider that seems destined to sell out fast.

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