The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Cafe 88

Five Finds on Friday: Patrick Evans

Evans

On Fridays, we feature five food finds from local chefs and personalities.  Today’s picks come from Patrick Evans, baker and co-owner of MarieBette, and creator of the bakery’s many delicious pastries, like, our favorite, the canele, as well as the brioche feuilletée, which has become a bit of a sensation since being dubbed a bronut, leading some even to call for a “national movement of bronuts.” Evans’ picks:

1)  Pizza with Pepperoni and Red Onions from Mona Lisa.  “This is a custom order pie usually, but sometimes they have it by the slice.”

2)  A dinner of Rosé from Blenheim Vineyards, a Sesame Baguette from MarieBette, and an entire wedge of Delice de Bourgogne from Trader Joe’s.  “Sometimes I’ll share some of the cheese with my daughter Betty, who we lovingly call ‘the cheese monster!'”

3)  Weekend Sandwich Special from JM Stock Provisions.  “Whatever it is, it’s gonna be good, and it’s usually on MarieBette Virginia Sourdough!”

4)  Burger Cooked “Red” with Fries and a Pickle at Citizen Burger Bar.  “They don’t do the traditional rare, medium rare, medium, well done here . . . but I realized that RED is the closest to medium rare, and it hits the spot.”

5)  Crispy Tofu Bento Box from Cafe 88.  “I once called to order this on the phone and Lee, the owner, responded by saying ‘OK Patrick, it’ll be ready soon!’ I didn’t know she knew my name, but this kind of small town familiarity is one of the great things about Charlottesville.”

Two for Tuesday: October 2, 2012

1)  Pork Dumplings in Chili Oil at Gingko.  When it comes to “Chinese” food, Charlottesville has come a long way.  Years ago, there was nothing beyond the standard Chinese-American places where the menus are all the same.  Sure, every now and then we get a hankering for a cloying, glowing mess like General Tso’s Chicken at a shopping mall.  Usually, though, we prefer something more refined.  Thankfully, Charlottesville has seen a proliferation of restaurants that are daring not to dumb it down.  Taste of China, Peter Chang’s, and Cafe 88 come to mind.  Now another restaurant appears poised to join them.  Gingko, recently opened just off The Corner, supplements a menu of standard Chinese-American fare with authentic Sichuan options.  The Pork Dumplings in Chili Oil are a good place to start.  Handmade dumplings swim in a pool of oil seasoned with just enough Sichuan chilis to create the desired numbing effect.

2)  Quiche at Paradox Pastry.   Yes, the egg is custardy.  And, yes the ever-changing fillings always seem fresh and flavorful.  But, as you might expect at a bakery, the crust of these personal-sized pies steals the show.  Flaky, buttery, and rich, it has the unmistakable stamp of a professional baker.  The quiches are so rich in fact that we like to take them home to pair with something acidic.  We’ve had luck with Planet Earth Diversified greens tossed in a French vinaigrette from Feast!, or a crisp white like the Blenheim Vineyards Chardonnay.