The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie

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.”

08/22/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Holly Hammond

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Holly Hammond of Whisper Hill Farm, whose August tomatoes are worth waiting all year long. The tomatoes will be among the offerings at Tomato Tomato Fest, Tuesday August 26 at The Little Market at Lampo. Tomato farmers, artisans, and vendors will celebrate the Charlottesville area’s tomato harvest, while Lampo makes a special tomato-centric menu for the occasion. Details here. Dress in tomato gear, enter gardening and art competitions, and celebrate this year’s harvest. Hammond’s picks:

1) Basil Tofu at Cafe 88. “Jenny is always at the front counter, ready for my favorite order when I go to Cafe 88. When I asked her for her favorite tofu dish, she did not hesitate -Basil Tofu. Wowee! She sends this bento box out of the park, with crispy tofu fried to perfection, saucy eggplant, and green beans. Everything cooked to perfection. Being a veggie farmer, I am particular about these things, and Jenny nails it with this dish. To be honest, everything she sends out is excellent.”

2) Avocado Toast at Petite MarieBette. “There’s something special about going into PMB on a Sunday morning after a long week farming and a vibrant Saturday sale at IX Farmers Market. The vibe is chill, and the staff is always warm and friendly. Pair that with an iced London Fog and their Avocado Toast with an egg, and life is good. Avocado toast might not be something I would typically order, but theirs is done so deliciously. Perfectly mashed avocado on a slice of their multigrain sourdough topped with corn, cotija, and pickled onion. What’s not to love?”

3) Banh Mi at Vu Noodles. “Julie soars in the kitchen, and her banh mi is no exception. That toasty baguette with tofu, vegan mayo, cilantro, cucumbers, and jalapenos hits the mark every time. She is also just a bright human whose spirit shows up in her food. Truly, a Charlottesville treasure.”

4) Veggie Pizza at Mona Lisa Pasta. “After eight hours of setting up and selling to our wonderful customers at market, the perfect place to pick up lunch to bring back for the crew is Mona Lisa’s. If you haven’t ordered pizza from them, you are missing out. A little Italian gem in the heart of Cville, you can find all kinds of things to love at this shop and take home a delicious meal. The veggies on their pizza are cut and cooked perfectly, with not too much sauce or cheese on the pizza. The best after-market meal.”

5) Caesar Salad at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “I can’t forget to mention another favorite place to go out on a weekday evening. It’s always hopping, and the staff at Dr. Ho’s gets it done. The best way to start your meal is with their Caesar salad. The dressing is cheesy, and the salad always comes very well dressed, with that classic crunchy romaine and flaky parmesan, and croutons. Don’t sleep on that Fat and Sassy either.”

 

09/23/2022

Five Finds on Friday: Jahnavi Wraight

Not every chef has a muse, but Oakhart Social chef-owner Tristan Wraight’s sure seems to. Tristan’s wife Jahnavi is a vegetarian, and his vegetable dishes always seem especially inspired. Jahnavi herself has just opened La Vie en Rose, a salon she lured her friend Shana from Chicago to launch. Jahnavi and Shana share their salon’s Allied Street space with their friends’ boutique LOUISE, which offers ethically made and mostly women-owned fashion and home accessories. “We are all very excited to have this collaborative space to hopefully bring people together so we can create and support our community, especially about causes we find important,” said Jahnavi. “If you have any ideas for events, please get in touch with us.” Jahnavi’s picks:

1) Vietnamese Bún at Chimm. “I  could eat this every day, and actually do eat it every week. I wouldn’t be surprised if they recognized my name. It is delicious, can be made vegan, and is a wonderful fresh component to every takeout order.”

2) “Eriste” Pasta and Rom & Kola at Smyrna. “This new restaurant is amazing, so it was hard to choose, but this pasta dish is beautifully simple and satisfying, with asparagus and a poached egg to finish. The rom & kola is something I wouldn’t usually order but the housemade cola syrup is so good and gives a cherry cola taste without being too sweet.”

3) Summer Squash Pizza from Oakhart Social. “Duh, gotta shout out my husband and fave restaurant in town. But this pizza for real is truly something special, and will only be on the menu for another week or so. The combination of Appalachian cheeses, thinly sliced zucchini and squash with sunflower gremolata creates this beautifully dynamic flavor combination. Chef’s kiss.”

4) Ranch from Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “No need to explain. If you haven’t had it just go try it. They even sell it in massive jars, for nasty people like me who want to put ranch, especially this ranch, on everything. I’ll add a nod to the blue cheese as well from Dr. Ho’s as well because #buffalobills.”

5) Tres Leche Popsicle from La Flor Michoacana. “This little shop is amazing. I can’t speak to the food because I’m always so focused on the popsicles. It is a hidden treasure and I love trying a different one every time.”