The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Ethos Wine and Tea

04/24/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Sarah and Hannah Glatt

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from The Cville Sisters: Sarah and Hannah Glatt.

For some Charlottesville residents, gratitude for the area’s bounty sparks a passion to savor all it offers. The Cville Sisters have felt that for years: from high school to college, and now as they build their lives here. In their new Instagram feed, the bon vivants share their pursuit of Charlottesville’s good life. “We really love this community and want to see it thrive, and this feels like a fun way to contribute,” said Sarah. The Cville Sisters’ picks:

1) Daiquiri at Bar Baleno and Saltati Scarola at Lampo. “Whether it is a Thursday evening after Lampo’s 6 pm Run Club or while waiting for a table at Lampo, starting off with a Dealer’s Choice daiquiri from Matthew is the move. Then we’ll head over to Lampo to start our meal off with the Saltati Scarola, pairing it with our favorite pizzas, or sometimes a sandwich, to follow.”

2) Hibiscus Spritzer and Spiced Meatballs at Ethos Wine & Tea. “Get the Hibiscus Spritzer, but make it a wine spritzer. And, we always end up with an order of the spiced meatballs. Read a book, people watch, or catch up with friends while enjoying the atmosphere.”

3) Tequila Pork Ribs with Plantains and Cebollitas at Al Carbon. “Whenever it gets busy in our house, and we want something great to eat, we automatically think of Al Carbon and their Tequila Ribs. The whole rack can go a long way, and they taste even better paired with the plantains for something sweeter and the cebollitas.”

4) Chocolate Orange Blossom Cheesecake Ice Cream at SugarBear. “While the chocolate orange blossom cheesecake ice cream is the top contender, there are so many amazing seasonal ice cream flavors constantly rotating through. From the Bodo’s Everything Bagel seasoning collab or the current Blueberry Sunshine, you can’t make a wrong choice. So little time to sample them all.”

5) Iced Almond Date Latte at JBird Supply Coffee Roaster. “We love hitting the IX Farmers Market, and our first stop is always the JBird coffee tent for an iced almond date latte. We’ll sip our way around and pick up anything else we need, or want: plants, pastries, stickers, and more. Although we haven’t made it out to their new location by FIREFLY yet, we’re so excited to check it out for our coffee fix—and grab a sweet treat from Florosa.”

07/18/2025

Fine Finds on Friday: Jannatul Pramanik

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Jannatul Pramanik, guest host at the next event for Oenoverse Club, Blenheim Vineyards’ wine club dedicated to expanding opportunity in and through the Virginia wine industry. Photographer, food Instagrammer, oenophile, artist, traveler, educator, recruiter, and UVa employee, she is truly a Jannatul of all trades. On July 27, she will be at Blenheim Vineyards sharing and discussing some of her favorite wines. Tickets and info here. Jannatul’s picks:

1) Goat Curry from Rum Punch. “This is one of those you-eat-so-quickly-that-it-doesn’t-even-make-it-home kind of meals. Anything from Raquel’s farmer’s market stall is absolutely fire but my favorite definitely has to be the goat curry over rice with a side of plantains. Tender pieces of goat drenched in a flavorful curry fully soaking into the rice is my idea of a perfect Saturday lunch.”

2) Neuk Gan Sal and YangNyum Galbi, Banchan, and SooJungGwa from Bulpan. “Bulpan is one of those places that leaves you speechless every time you go. From the quality of the meats to how beautifully and intentionally they’re cooked, this Korean BBQ experience will keep bringing you back for more. The owner has really taken the time to thoughtfully curate the menu and it shows from the moment you sit down to eat that they really care about providing you a wholeheartedly good meal. I usually go with friends so we can take advantage of their combos – any combo with the neuk gan sal or yangnyum galbi is a win for me. Add all the quality banchan. The kimchi is top notch – I’ve left with a whole container of it to enjoy at home. And, round out the meal in refreshing satisfaction with their SooJungGwa, a traditional Korean chilled cinnamon and ginger punch.”

3) Five Spice Lemongrass Tofu Banh Mi from Vu Noodles. “Vu Noodles has become one of my go-to lunch spots because of their banh mi. From the crunch of the toasted hoagie roll to the flavors of the tofu to the refreshing bite of the pickled daikon & carrots, this banh mi hits the spot every time. I’ll usually also get it with all the spicy toppings – jalapenos, chili oil and dried blend red peppers for that extra kick, even on a summer day. Add an iced Vietnamese coffee and you’re in for a real treat!

4) Snack Mix from Ethos Wine & Tea. “Whenever I go to Ethos, whether I’m grabbing a happy hour glass of wine or hanging out at their monthly craft nights, their snack mix is always a constant part of my experience. The perfect blend of crunch and savory goodness with furikake and roasted chickpeas to supplement all the delicious wine and tea they have to offer. The snack mix has become one of my favorite things to munch on while hanging out at Ethos for any and all occasions.”

5) Kimbap and Spicy Braised Beef Back Ribs from Sussex Farm. “If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Jen and eat her food during her days at the farmers markets, you know how much thought and care goes into her delicious meals. Although she is no longer at the markets, she does do once in a while drops where you can pick up goodies directly from her farm. Her kimbap and spicy braised beef ribs are my favorites. Super fresh ingredients grown on her farm with flavors that always have me coming back for more. On top of that, Jen is an absolute delight so getting a chance to eat her food again but this time at her farm is truly a treat.”

03/07/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Reggie Leonard

Photo by Eze Amos

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Reggie Leonard, whose accomplishments seem too many to list – co-founder of Oenoverse , non-profit board member, guest curator at wine shops, regular contributor to The Wine Guild, VinePair 50 list, Virginia Wine Hype Man, and co-founder of Charlottesville Data Science Meetup. You can follow along at @thats.so.reg for his latest escapades, including a chance to be in a wine documentary about east coast winemaking March 20 at Common Wealth Crush. And, March 22 you can meet him and the Oenoverse team at Ethos from 5 – 8 pm for a wine hang. He’d love for you to stop by. Leonard’s picks:

1)  Gigante Beans at Ethos Wine & Tea. “This feels like a modern wine-bar snack. Beans have always been a staple, but they haven’t always been a trend. Brands like Rancho Gordo and Simpli have put heirloom and less common bean varieties on the radar, and Ethos has one of my favorites – gigante beans. These are like huge but much better lima beans. Ethos serves them room temp, and I always get them with a side of bread and butter, which happens to be sourdough from Cou Cou Rachou. Simple, hearty, shareable, and always delicious.”

2) Beet Salad at Smyrna. “Whenever I go, I convince whoever I’m with that the beet salad is a must. Even so, usually, people miss the cacao nibs, distracted by conversation, or the dizzying amount of amazing choices to make for other dishes or the next beverage. I love making sure I search for them, and get one or two in every bite. I love the earthiness of the beets paired with the earthiness of the chocolate, as well as the textural contrast of the beets and the crunchy cacao. Each bite is like a sneaky little luxury, hidden in plain sight.”

3) Flounder Fish Sour Cabbage (Spicy) Soup at Peter Chang. “It’s embarrassing how much I order this soup. This was a pandemic-era find, thanks to Tracey Love, who generously and unsolicitedly delivered some to me during a time of sickness. It has nice-sized chunks of fish, slightly-tart and fermenty-tasting thin slices of cabbage, and a sneakily-building spicy broth. It quickly graduated from an, ‘I’m sick, I should order this’ situation, to an, ‘It’s a day that ends in ‘y’ and I want it’ situation.” 

4) Tuna Tartare at The Alley Light. “It’s like Steph Curry in a clutch situation, or the feeling you get when the DJ starts playing Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ or Fast Life Yungstaz’s ‘Swag Surfin,’ depending on the vibe. This tartare also belongs on that list of things that don’t miss. It’s perfect as a starter, as a snack, or as a late dinner that’s light enough to feel like you made good choices.”  

5) Jerk Chicken from wherever 434th St. Catering is. “I’ve seen him at farmers’ markets and formerly at the Dairy Market, and word on the street is that he’s opening in a new location soon. So, this is foreshadowing of jerk chicken I look forward to soon being reacquainted with.”