Five Finds on Friday: Jon Bray
Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Jon Bray, who will run the brand new kitchen at Champion Brewing Company. Set to open June 19, Bray’s kitchen will serve beer-friendly foods like brats and sausage specials from JM Stock Provisions, paninis on Albemarle Baking Company bread, and spreads like pub cheese made with Missile IPA. Bray’s picks:
1) Karaage at TEN Sushi. “Japanese style fried chicken thigh nuggets. When Chef Pei first introduced this dish to me, it reminded me of an elevated version of the wings and nuoc cham sauce at the now defunct Saigon Cafe. It’s the kind of dish that’s so delicious, it’s stressful to be around if you’re the server who has to run it to tables all night. It’s only available as a special, though, so be on the look out.”
2) Grilled Shrimp with XO Sauce at Oakhart Social. “Chef Tristan Wraight is the most talented size medium chef in Charlottesville. There aren’t many places in town that are executing his level of flavor balance, and this dish nails it. Shrimp, salty Chinese sausage sauce, sweet Japanese mayo, fresh herbs and citrus zest. This, followed by a shot or six of Fernet Branca with Chef, which he describes as ‘Jaegermeister’s cooler, older, brother that rides motorcycles and respects women,’ makes for a classic night in Midtown.”
3) Bacon, Egg, and Cream Cheese on an Onion Bagel from Bodo’s. “It’s hard to single out my favorite combination, so I’m going with my childhood favorite. This, paired with Saturday morning cartoons was basically the ceiling of joy for me as a fourth grader. Well, that and boobies.”
4) Sausages from JM Stock Provisions. “These meat scientists just love to play by their own rules, and fortunately, the result is a bunch of slam dunks. Recently, I had the Fiipino style Adobo sausage, and being half-Filipino I was thrilled to see it in the case. The general rule of thumb as a Filipino is that nobody makes a better adobo than your mom, but my mom never made adobo sausage! Touche, dudes. Dunk=slammed.”
5) Panda Pineapple IPA from Champion Brewing Company. “This is the beer that Hunter and his team made for my wife and my wedding in 2014, and every year since for our anniversary. Some call it the greatest beer of all time, others call it the greatest beer of all time.”
