The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Cake Bloom

05/22/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Gerry Sweeney

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Gerry Sweeney, involved in two businesses that have been busy lately. For one, he is Brand Ambassador for Eastwood Farm and Winery, which has just revamped the Virginia Wine Collective, the incubator for nine small local winemakers, which is now open Wed-Fri, serving thin-crust pizzas, appetizers, wine flights, and draught beer. Meanwhile, with his wife Susan, he co-owns Cake Bloom which recently expanded and relocated to 120 10th St. NW. Sweeney’s picks:

1) Chicken Wings with Alabama Sauce or Dry Rub at Vision BBQ. “I’ve been following Mike Blevins — and his smoked chicken wings — for years, and they’re hands down the best in town. My go-to after-work pitstop these days is Vision for a plate of wings and Bitburger, and when my wife asks what’s for dinner, I order more smoked chicken and take it home for an easy taco dinner.”

2) El Capitan at Beer Run. “Morning, noon, or night, this place checks all the boxes. Unpretentious, quality food, good people, and, of course, the beer. On weekends, the breakfast tacos plus a National Bohemian win every time. Thank you, John Woodriff.”

3) Carnitas Tacos at La Michoacana. “Edgar Gaona’s carnitas tacos at La Michoacana are the real deal — raw white onion, the perfect bit of cilantro, and no slaw nonsense. A cold Pacifico in the free hand, and I could swear I was back at my favorite taqueria in Sonoma. Same story, too. Started in a truck, earned the brick and mortar. Every bite tastes like someone who’s been chasing this exact pork shoulder his whole life.”

4) Oysters at Public Fish & Oyster. “When my wife and I are missing our old haunts on Tomales Bay, we meet for a Tuesday happy hour date. A dozen or two oysters, a couple of Narragansett tallboys, frites, and some properly charred Brussels sprouts, and we’re the happiest East Coasters in the world.”

5) Double Cheeseburger at Riverside Lunch. “The lollipop place, as my daughter Lucy calls, is exactly what a hometown burger joint should be. Double cheeseburger, fries, onion rings, a sweating Miller High Life, and a staff that treats you — and your kid — like a regular from day one. Nothing here is reinventing the wheel, and that is precisely the point.”

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.”