Here is your chance to experience MarieBette like you never have before, while helping to feed the area’s hungry: The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions. Along with all of the other restaurants in The Charlottesville 29, MarieBette has created a once-in-a-lifetime experience for whoever pledges the highest donation to The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Thanks to the generosity of MarieBette and Early Mountain Vineyards, the entire winning bid goes directly to the food bank. And, thanks to the efficiency of the food bank, each dollar donated creates four meals for the area’s hungry.
The MarieBette signature experience for The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions:
Le Goûter for 12
MarieBette Café and Bakery is a little slice of Paris on Rose Hill Drive, which makes it the ideal location for Le Goûter – the French version of afternoon tea. In the dining room of MarieBette’s café, the auction winner and eleven guests will spend the afternoon enjoying a wide array of hand-made tea sandwiches and desserts from MarieBette’s kitchen, along with plenty of tea, coffee, and, other beverages. When the party is over, the auction winner’s group will receive from Early Mountain Vineyards another treat: six bottles of Brut Sparkling Wine and six of Rosé. To celebrate a wedding shower, birthday, or similar occasion, it’s the ultimate MarieBette dining experience: Le Goûter for 12.
Note: The auction winner will schedule the event from 3:30 – 5:30 pm on a mutually convenient weekday afternoon with MarieBette.
Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Maya Hood White, Early Mountain Vineyards Associate Winemaker and Viticulturalist, who will be part of a special guided tasting this Monday, April 29 at Market Street Wine. She and Early Mountain Winemaker Ben Jordan will take guests through a series of rare, small batch wines from Early Mountain and Lightwell Survey, including Maya’s pet nats like Early Mountain White Pétillant Naturel 2018 Malvasia and Early Mountain Red Pétillant Naturel 2018 Blaufränkisch. You can even buy the rare wines on site. Details and full lineup for this unusual opportunity. Call (434) 202-0511 for your slot. White’s picks:
1) Patatas Rancheras at Little Star. “I know I will love just about any (vegetarian) dish that Ryan Collins at Little Star makes, but the Patatas Rancheras is one of my absolute favorites. It’s a tad spicy from the ranchera sauce, with the aioli cooling it down and the potatoes are always perfectly cooked and crispy. I don’t think I could ever eat at Little Star without ordering this.”
2) Marinara D.O.C. at Lampo. “I grew up vegetarian and my mother is a vegan, so I’m pretty familiar with scanning menus to see what I can eat. Aside from the many delicious reasons to love Lampo, it is one of the places that you can easily have an amazing vegan meal without even realizing it. Their Marinara D.O.C. pizza has notably few and straightforward ingredients, but they come together in the most perfect way.”
3) Fried and Raw Brussels Sprouts (made vegetarian) at Brasserie Saison. “The first time I ate at Brasserie Saison, I ordered this salad, and have ordered it nearly every time since. The texture of the raw and fried leaves is great, but what really makes the salad is the sun-dried tomato marmalade. It is slightly sweet to balance out the acid of the tomatoes and a great complement to the earthy Brussels sprouts.”
4) Tofu Red Curry with Broccoli at Thai 99 II. “Thai 99 II, luckily for me, is on my way home, so it is definitely my most frequented takeout spot, with the Tofu Red Curry being my favorite dish. I’m somewhat obnoxiously picky about bell peppers, and they are are always very accommodating about swapping out the peppers with broccoli. Their tofu is always light and fluffy, and the curry wonderfully rich and concentrated.”
5) Rinse and Re-Beet at The Juice Laundry. “I’ve always loved carrot juice, but the addition of beet and cucumber makes this my favorite at The Juice Laundry. Their juices are cold pressed, organic and very flavorful. If I feel a cold coming on, I’ll grab one of their fire shots and drink it with this juice and keep my fingers crossed.”
Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Yvonne Cunningham of Nona’s Italian Cucina, a new local artisan of small batch tomato sauce. Cunningham learned to make tomato sauce during her seven years in Naples, and the result is already winning raves at Charlottesville City Market. Now, her next batch will be available at retail stores as well. Starting November 21, in addition to Charlottesville City Market, you can find it at Market Street Wine, The Spice Diva, Nourish Louisa, and any other vendor wise enough to source from her. Also, December 1 she will offer free samples at The Spice Diva. Follow along her Facebook page for updates. Cunningham’s picks:
1) Fried Chicken at Michie Tavern. “For a lil taste of 18th Century cooking, Michie Tavern is a must. Every time we have guests in town, we either begin/end with Michie Tavern of course before/after we have toured Jefferson’s Monticello. The staff is outfitted in 18th Century clothing to make your experience complete. From the home style southern fried chicken (best I have EVER tasted and they sell the breading so you can make it at home) to the homemade peach cobbler (to die for), Michie’s definitely does not disappoint. I love the buffet style set up, but if you would like more the staff kindly bring it to you. So get on over to the Ordinary for a lovely afternoon.”
2) In Bloom at Oakhart Social. “Just discovered this gem! The food and staff are amazing and I love the location. I am a people watcher! What really sticks out for me is the In Bloom cocktail. WOW, just WOW! So flavorful and delicious. I mean with lavender infused vodka, crème de violet, elderflower and rose water, how can you go wrong? A match made in heaven.”
3) The Birdwood at Bellair Market. “Now, Bellair Market and I go back a ways. Remember the derecho of 2012? We had been living in Crozet since 2007 and must have driven past Bellair thousands of times and just never stopped. Fast forward to late June of 2012. The derecho blasts through Crozet and Charlottesville, and we are without power for days, but miraculously Bellair Market had power and was feeding the masses. The line was out the door! I said what the heck lets see what the hype is about (plus we were starving) and stepped inside. It smelled like a bakery, as the ovens had been running non-stop baking fresh bread. I stood in line and ordered one of many choices they have of sandwiches. They also make homemade soups and salads are made fresh daily. I was so impressed. What I thought was a gas station/mini mart was actually an extraordinary kitchen, making amazing quality, healthy products. My favorite sandwich is the Birdwood, yup named for the golf course right across the street. French bread with a delicious herb mayo, Havarti cheese, roasted turkey breast, red onions, peppers and romaine lettuce. I have a difficult time deciding on which sandwich, I haven’t tried them all, but all I have tried have been phenom!”
4) Donuts at Chiles Orchard. “Very close to my home and my heart. I spend a lot of time at the orchard from late spring, picking strawberries; early summer, picking cherries; mid summer, picking peaches and hopes of grabbing some of those delicious figs they get from another local farmer; fall for apples, cider and of course pumpkins. Going out to Chiles Orchard is like visiting family. Lisa, one of the employees at Chiles, and I really struck up a friendship. She is great and is always so helpful and answers all my questions about the fruit that is in season. Favorite thing at Chiles: apple cider and peach donuts, yum!”
5) Artichoke Pate at Early Mountain Vineyards. “Not only is the drive beautiful as is the view of the mountains once you arrive, but the wines and food are scrumptious! My personal favorite is the artichoke pate, I know right? Creamy, garlicky and loaded with artichoke hearts, served with cornichons, roasted red pepper and New York style crackers. Oh My! Another favorite is the charred carrot salad: charred carrots and parsnips, feta dill crema, and arugula. The feta dill crema totally brings the salad together. Also, the Early Mountain Vineyard Rose, is light crisp and very satisfying, one of my favorite wines!”
