The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville
01/20/2024

Introducing Desayuna Con Gomez: The New Brick and Mortar from Tacos Gomez (with menus!)

For many Charlottesville food-lovers, this counts as big news.

The food truck Tacos Gomez is opening a brick-and-mortar. Originally from Mexico, the Gomez family launched their truck in 2015, initially as a side gig to share their family’s food with the public. It was so well-received that they decided to make it their full-time job, and, from there, success only grew. In 2022, Tacos Gomez was named Best Food Truck in Charlottesville.

Now, the Gomez family is taking the next step and opening a brick and mortar. With a focus on breakfast and lunch, Desayuna con Gomez expands on the truck’s menu of tacos, tortas, and quesadillas, adding dishes like breakfast burritos, enchiladas, molletes and some epic-looking sandwiches on French baguettes. The pepito de arrachera, pictured above, is a skirt steak sandwich, with beans, guacamole, and panela cheese.

Desayuna Con Gomez opens Tuesday January 23, at 1305 Long St B.

01/19/2024

Five Finds on Friday: Chris Collins

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from ACAC trainer Chris Collins. As the New Year brings new fitness goals, few are better to help meet them than Collins. If you’ve ever been at ACAC and noticed a buzz of energy near the exercise class room, chances are Collins is the source. His training is so inspiring that he has earned a following of Collin-istas. If you could use a fitness boost, and would like to learn why so many swear by Collins and ACAC, you can reach him at Chrisco@acac.com.

Collins also has a passion for food. Collins’ picks:

“Might not be the healthiest picks, but I usually order steak when I go out, especially during colder months when I cannot grill it outside at home. I cook a lot at home, where I keep things basic and try to stick to single ingredient foods. I am spoiled too because I get a loaf of homemade sourdough each week from my mom.  My vices other than my mom’s bread are popcorn and avocado-oil lime tortilla chips.”

1) Carne Asada at MAS Tapas. “Racion portion, because there’s never enough to go around. I can eat this as an entree, but it is meant to be shared. In a group of four or more, if this dish comes too early while dining, you might order it again for dessert.”

2) Prime NY Strip with the Golden Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Broccolini at Black Cow Chop House. “Go with a small group and come hungry.”

3) Two orders of the Polpettine Panuozzo at Lampo. “Cut each in half – four halves. When I’m with another person, I eat three halves in house and share the remaining half or take it home. I am sensitive to lactose, but this sandwich is that good and worth it.”

4) Hanger Steak and a Orange Spice Hot Toddy at Oakhart Social. “On a cold winter evening, after dry January that is. Or, order the cocktail virgin.”

5) Coliflor at Conmole. “One of the tastiest small dishes in town. Pan seared cauliflower and farm eggs in mole verde.”

01/17/2024

Ode to a Nightingale: Hogwaller Brewing’s Beer Tribute to Wilson Richey Debuts January 18

People express themselves the best way they know how. Painters paint. Singers sing. Creators create. When brewer Mark Fulton lost his Hogwaller Brewing co-founder Wilson Richey to a car accident last month, he was devastated. But, words did not come easily. Quiet, stoic, and bearded, Fulton is like a walking stereotype of a brewer. And so, he turned to his malt, hops, and water.

Weeks later, Fulton’s tribute beer to Wilson Richey is here. A black lager, Ode to a Nightingale combines Richey’s two favorite styles: stout and lager. Blending four local malts from Murhpy & Rude with Halltertau hops, the result is a 5% alc/vol dark lager that on the one hand carries flavors of a good stout — baker’s chocolate, caramel, and plum — but on the other hand has a lager’s clean finish and body that makes it quaffable, a feature Richey would have appreciated. The name comes from Richey’s favorite poem, which ponders life and death, joy and sorrow, the real and the ideal.

Hogwaller will release the beer Thursday, January 18 at the brewery, while also debuting the playlist created in Richey’s memory: Make Every Song Your Favorite Tune: Music of Will Richey. “Come enjoy one with us, as we pay tribute to the spirit and inspiration of Wilson Richey,” said Fulton.