The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Cake Bloom

09/26/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Darcey Lacy

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Darcey Lacy of Watermark Design. A fixture of the Charlottesville community, Lacy has done work for clients like Hark Vineyards, Ankida Ridge, King Family Vineyards, Thistlerock Mead, and Jake Busching. A generous supporter of Charlottesville, she has also donated her services to projects like The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions, Five Pillars Ale, and Living the Dream, and even created the logo for The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches. As much as she loves local beverages, she said she couldn’t pick just one. “I would be remiss not to mention Virginia wine, mead, and spirits, but since I cannot pick, I would just say support our local, nationally recognized industry with a beautiful bottle of deliciousness.” Follow her work here. Lacy’s picks:

1) Popover with Honey Butter at Cake Bloom. “Growing up in the Northeast, I was raised on popovers, so when I found out that Cake Bloom has the largest popovers ever — seriously huge and so hard to do —  I was over the moon. And not just regular butter to melt inside, but honey butter, so it adds just a touch of sweetness. And if you want a bit more sustenance, they have sandwiches on popovers as well. Pair with the Lavender lemonade.”

2) Tuna Carpaccio at The Alley Light. “The Alley Light is a place I love to experiment with food and cocktails, as you can not go wrong. But, before experimentation must come the tuna carpaccio. I don’t know if it’s the shallots or the sheep’s milk cheese, but it has a slight tartness that just melts in your mouth when layered on the crostini.”

3) The Roma at Foods of All Nations or The Giaconda at Mona Lisa Pasta. “The Market once had a shirt that said ‘life is a good sandwich.’ I regret not having bought it, as I believe this to be true. The Montpelier at the Market is the co-winner here, but I love a ball of fresh mozzarella, and at Foods or Mona Lisa, you can get a huge amount of mozz, fresh tomato, fresh basil, and some olive oil on ciabatta or focaccia. I prefer it not grilled so you can enjoy the mozzarella cold and fresh.”

4) Joel’s Choice at Speakeasy + Whiskey Bar. “The cocktail that kickstarted my Mezcal obsession. Joel created a masterpiece with this one: Mezcal, green Chartreuse, Campari and egg whites.”

5) Crab Potstickers at Bang!.  “A long favorite place from when I first moved to Charlottesville over twenty years ago. I love to sit outside with friends, a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc and cover your table with little plates of yum. The crab potstickers are a go-to but there is a long list of faves at Bang.”

 

 

05/30/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Nadirah Muhammad

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Nadirah Muhammad, the Batten School Marketing / Communications Project Manager who is so committed to community engagement that she is a finalist for Best Local Influencer in Best of C-VILLE 2025. You can vote for her here. Muhammad was also named one of Charlottesville’s Finest by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is raising money for its mission of curing cystic fibrosis. You can learn more and support the cause here. Finally, through her philanthropy and engagement, Nadirah earned a nomination for C-VILLE’s Best Activist/Humanitarian, and you can vote for her here. Muhammad’s picks:

1) Lomo Saltado at Inka Grill. “Book your reservation at Inka Grill immediately. This meal is so good that I was practically licking the bowl by the end. The rich umami flavor from the steak pairs perfectly with the acid and brightness of the tomato and cilantro, and it’s all rounded out by the crunch of the French fries and the balance of the white rice. Perfection. Everything is also plated so beautifully, which, for a person who is constantly posting on social media, is just icing on the cake.”

2) Montpelier Chicken Salad from Simeon Market. “Let me start by saying that I consider myself a chicken salad connoisseur. I grew up in Virginia Beach, and my absolute favorite local spot was Taste Unlimited—they make the best chicken salad sandwiches. However, when a former coworker suggested I try Simeon Market’s chicken salad, it felt like all was right in the world. I love all the elements of this chicken salad—the walnuts for some crunch, grapes for a sweet bite with a little burst. This chicken salad is the best of the best, and I always start craving it right around when summer is about to start—so, now!”

3) Sous Poulet Chicken with Pikliz Slaw from Pearl Island Café & Catering. “The only word I have for this meal is ‘wow.’ Every part of this platter is so well-balanced and full of flavor. It is perfectly savory, creamy from the gravy, and packs the best flavor punch you can get in town. I’m also just personally a huge fan of everything Pearl Island does for the community, and walking in there feels like being embraced in a warm hug. Literally thinking about placing an order now.”

4) Seaside Lime Cake from Cake Bloom. “I make it a priority to order my birthday cake from Cake Bloom every year because the Seaside Lime flavor comes out in June. I like to think of it as: I blew out the candles and instantly my wish came true because my dream cake is sitting in front of me. As someone who worked in bakeries for almost a decade, I tend to have high standards when it comes to pastries and desserts, and the lime curd mixed with the salted vanilla buttercream is the absolute perfect bite.”

5) Caramel Macchiato from Oakhurst Café (Bonus: Espresso Martini). “Walking into Oakhurst feels like stepping into a quaint and cozy neighborhood café that you just happened to stumble upon, and then you’re casually greeted with the best coffee you’ve ever had. The caramel macchiato is one of my favorite sips in Charlottesville, and I love that it’s brewed from locally roasted coffee beans and adorned with a stunning caramel drizzle pattern. If it’s late enough in the day and I’m feeling spicy, the espresso martini is also a personal favorite and always my drink of choice.”

04/11/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Lauren Guerra

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Lauren Guerra, Events Coordinator at Potter’s Craft Cider, which this weekend hosts one of the events of the year, and you can attend. Saturday April 12 from 12pm – 10pm, the Harambee for Makindu pulls together food by The Catering Outfit, cider by Potter’s Craft Cider, activities, games, and music by The Near Passerines, Jay Pun and Friends, Betty Jo’s Boogie Band, The Pollocks, Dropping Julia, and Mighty Joshua. The celebration is all to benefit The Makindu Children’s Program, which provides critical resources to orphaned and vulnerable children in Kenya. Info here. Guerra’s picks:

1) Breakfast Tacos and Farmhouse Dry at Beer Run. “These tacos are what dreams are made of. I’m a sucker for a really good handmade corn tortilla. Plus, I love that they support Innisfree Village by sourcing their eggs from the farm there. My go-to is always The Gardener with a tall glass of Potter’s Farmhouse Dry. Pro tip: ask them to add a splash of OJ or their delicious Bloody Mary mix to your Farmhouse for an extra brunchy treat. And don’t forget the tomatillo salsa.”

2) Saltati Scarola at Lampo. “It’s honestly impossible to pick just one thing from Lampo. Everything they make is incredibly good, and this restaurant holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. Whenever we go, my wife and I always get the escarole. It’s sautéed in all that garlicky goodness and doubles as the perfect dipping oil for your pizza crust. Who doesn’t love a two-for-one dish? Better yet: grab some of their house-made bread, soak it up, and top it off with the Mozzarella di Bufala. You’ll thank me later. P.S. Need an after-dinner drink? Go next door to Bar Baleno and ask for a Sweet Oil. P.P.S Like to run? Lampo has a pretty awesome all-levels run club that meets on Thursdays at 6 pm. There are raffles for Lampo swag, drink specials, and good ol’ fashioned fun. See you there.”

3) 5-Slice Sampler at Cake Bloom. “Because why stop at one slice? These cakes are seriously good. Hands down, their Rainbow Carrot is the best carrot cake I’ve ever had. It’s sometimes two slices on my sampler. The house-made salted caramel brings out all the warm spices in all the right ways. Best part? No nuts or raisins (thank you, Susan!). Definitely pair it with some prosecco—this cake is worth celebrating.”

4) Nachos at Continental Divide. “Continental is always worth the wait. The nachos and a special margarita (or two) hit the spot every time. They’re layered to perfection, so you get a fully loaded bite with every chip. Man, I wish I had some right now.”

5) House-Smoked Jerk Wings at Potter’s Craft Cider. “If you know me, you know how much I like chicken—and how much I really love chicken wings. These jerk wings are insanely good. You can definitely taste the love that goes into the whole four-day process to make them. They’ve got just enough heat to put a pep in your step and have you heading back to the bar for more. Highly recommend enjoying them out on the patio with a glass of Hopped Session.”