The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Continental Divide

11/28/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Jason Inofuentes

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for Five Finds on Friday to come from a reader drawn at random. This year’s winner is Jason Inofuentes, Albemarle County’s Program Manager for Broadband Accessibility and Affordability. Inofuentes’ picks:

1) Santa Fe Enchilada and a House with Salt at Continental Divide. “This is the best kind of comfort food. The chicken is slow-cooked to perfection, the sauce is rich, and you cap the whole thing off with a pumpkin muffin. I sometimes wonder what other goodness Continental Divide serves, but I’ll likely never know.”

2) Meyer Lemon Granita at Smyrna. “I can’t recall anything else I ate the first time we went to Smyrna, I know it was good, but thinking back on it, this dessert is all I can remember. Delicately sweet, and balanced by mint and lemon, it is a perfect way to end a great meal.”

3) Jefferson at Bellair Market. “When I first visited Charlottesville, my friends insisted we get the best sandwiches in town. I was skeptical when we pulled up to a gas station, but 25 years later, this remains one of the best sandwiches I’ve had. And it’s perfect for Thanksgiving.”

4) Huarache at Guadalajara Pantops. “A thick corn tortilla, a thin layer of refried beans, thinly sliced tender steak, cotija cheese, onions, cilantro, and a special set of hot sauces. It isn’t fancy, but it’s perfect.”

5) Princess Cake at Albemarle Baking Company. “When people meet me, they probably aren’t expecting me to ask about their dessert preferences in the first five minutes. But that is the depth of my evangelism for this cake. I want everyone to get to experience the perfect slice of cake, and this is it.”

10/24/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Amanda Wood

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Amanda Wood, Bar Manager of Tavola, and an entrant in Malt Masters, where top bartenders are vying to create the best cocktail from Virginia Distillery Company’s whisky tribute to Charlottesville. There are 29 herbs, flowers, fruits, and roots in Vecchio Amaro del Capo, which is why it came to mind for Wood as a pairing for The Charlottesville 29 Single Barrel whisky. The pairing worked beautifully and made the base of a fall cocktail available at Tavola throughout the Malt Masters competition: Golden Hour, VDC 29, Vecchio Amaro del Capo, Orchard pear liqueur, butter pecan brown sugar syrup, lemon, Angostura bitters. Wood’s picks:

1) Ham, Egg, and Cheddar on Everything at Bodo’s. “Including my Bodo’s order on Five Finds makes me feel like a true Charlottesville native. No, it wasn’t my great-grandparents on both sides of my family settling down in Belmont and helping to shape the community. It is this breakfast sandwich, posted here, which has sealed my fate. This bagel is a delicious, filling classic and will set your day up for success.”

2)  Bulgogi Stew at Maru. “This dish is the epitome of comfort food. It is a rich beef stew with veggies, rice cakes, and glass noodles served boiling hot. The rice cakes are dense and chewy. and possibly my favorite part. Pair this, or any of their food, with a small jug of makgeolli, which is a sweet, milky, lightly sparkling rice wine. And don’t sleep on the little side dishes served with every entree.”

3) Pupusas at Nuestra Cocina. “Tucked away inside the Marathon on Gasoline Alley – IYKYK – three ladies are cooking up traditional Latin dishes to go. The Salvadoran pupusas are my fave. It’s a thick masa dough stuffed with beans, cheese, and pork, then fried on a griddle. Each one is handmade to order, served with curtido and a thin tomato salsa. Get there early, as they are busy for lunch and close at 2:00.”

4) Margaritas at Continental Divide. “My husband and I had our first date here almost twenty years ago. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, or it could be the vibe, or the amazing staff. I’m looking at you, Jenny!. But, this is my go-to spot for a pre-dinner marg. And yes, that is a thing. I get mine with Vida mezcal and salt.”

5) Shaved Salad at Oakhart Social. “I could not possibly leave this restaurant off my list. I worked here for almost five years, and it is still one of my all-time favorites. But the shaved salad. She is fresh, she is crunchy, she is bright, creamy, and flavorful. This salad is so good that there were riots in the streets when it temporarily came off the menu. Go to Oakhart. Try all of the things. Get the shaved salad. The End.”

09/12/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Amanda Beckwith, Brian Hersey

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Amanda Beckwith and Brian Hersey, of Virginia Distillery Co., which has just released a rare single malt whisky tribute to Charlottesville. Single malts are defined by their sense of place, and so the distillery’s new whisky celebrates the Charlottesville community on which the its success stands. “Crafted from this place for this place,” The Charlottesville 29 Single Barrel is the distillery’s first and only 100% American single malt finished in a single port cask. Read all about it and how Charlottesville is putting American single malt on the map in this week’s C-VILLE.

A habitual collaborator, Director of Liquid Development Amanda Beckwith asked colleague Brian Hersey to join her for Five Finds on Friday. Their picks:

1) Veggieletta and a Chai Latte at Belle. “I always savor my rare lunches in Charlottesville, and love meeting a friend or two at Belle. The abundance of olives falling out from the veggie and mozzarella-laden sourdough sandwich makes me so happy, and the chai latte rounds things off with the perfect, balancing, sweetly spiced sip.”

2) Champignon at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “One of our favorite ways to celebrate the wrap of a long work week is heading to Dr. Ho’s. The perfection of the Champignon’s roasted mushrooms and garlic never fails to hit the spot for me. For Brian, it’s the perfect balance in the Bellissima between the salty country ham, acidic and bitter note from the arugula, sweetness from the roasted tomatoes, and creamy richness of the cheese that wins the day.”

3) Irish Dexter Beef at The Apple Shed. “The Apple Shed is a year-round fruit stand on Route 29 S in Lovingston. Russ sells his own locally grazed cattle, and the Irish Dexter beef is one of Brian’s favorite proteins to cook with. A light oak smoke and then smashed into a cast iron with grilled onion, American cheese, pickles and Duke’s is the perfect rich and beefy bite.”

4) Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas at Continental Divide. “The vibrant energy and fun atmosphere here always make Continental Divide a good time. Brian’s typical order is the Red Hot Blues and a margarita. The Red Hot Blues are simple and delicious, with a great tang from the goat cheese accompanied by plenty of Wait a Minute and a little bit of Danger sauce that make for the perfect high-energy bar snack. My go-to is their phenomenal spinach and mushroom enchiladas, and yes, a marg.”

5) Chocolate Almond Croissant at MarieBette. “While there’s nothing better than a luxurious weekend brunch here, Brian and I mostly use MarieBette to go. Torn between the sweet and the savory options, Brian is all about prezzant, a hybrid pretzel croissant with everything bagel seasoning. I usually select a pain au chocolat or chocolate almond croissant.”