The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Cake Bloom

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.”

01/20/2023

Five Finds on Friday: Monique Moshier

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Monique Moshier of The Happy Cook. Charlottesville’s favorite kitchen supply store for decades, The Happy Cook also offers private events and hands-on cooking classes, which are now back in full swing and in-person, after a pause during the pandemic. Moshier’s picks:

1) English Muffins from Cou Cou Rachou. “I love just about everything from Cou Cou Rachou (particularly the Parisian vibe), but my regular indulgence is the English Muffins.  Their English Muffins elevate everything you pair them with. I love pairing them with homemade jam or my favorite use is making an egg sandwich from my backyard chicken eggs and aged white cheddar.”

2) Bison Hanger Steak from Mockingbird. “Melissa Close-Hart is such an amazing chef, and I love so much about her new restaurant in Belmont. The Bison Steak is delicious. I love that option on the menu as I feel like I don’t see Bison on the menu often around Charlottesville. You get the satisfaction from steak but with more complex flavor, and Mockingbird does a great job on this dish complementing the Bison with accompanying sides.”

3) Corner Bowl on Greens from Poke Sushi Bowl. “I feel so spoiled by having Poke Sushi Bowl across the street from The Happy Cook. They have so many good options but my regular indulgence for lunch is the Corner Bowl on Greens. This bowl features salmon, mango, eel and avocado over mixed greens so it hits my sushi favorites but feels healthier over greens with all the same satisfaction.”

4) Floral Funfetti Cake from Cake Bloom. “Cake Bloom is such a fun spot. Normally you can’t have that fancy wedding cake without the big event, but with Cake Bloom you can pop in anytime for a slice. This is a favorite spot of mine to get together with friends and enjoy a glass of champagne. The Floral Funfetti is both beautiful to look at and fun for the taste buds. The flower petals that run through the cake add to both the aesthetic of the cake as well as being well balanced in the flavor.”

5) Old Fashioned from The Mill Room. “I was never much into whiskey until the last few years but now it is my go-to liquor for cocktails. There is nothing more quintessential in the realm of whiskey than a well done Old Fashioned, and Mill Room does it right. I love that they use a large ice cube, a good quality cherry, nice slice of orange peel, and even the glass and ambiance add to the experience.”