The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Five Finds on Friday

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.” 

12/20/2024

Five Finds on Friday: Annie Keller

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Annie Keller, the Orzo Director of Hospitality who has just released her debut album: Merry & Bright. Why a Christmas album for her debut? “Christmas is my favorite time of year,” said Keller, “encapsulating a spirit of giving and hope, eating sweets without guilt, watching movies with happy endings, and making memories with people we love.” With ten classic songs and a title derived from the 1954 film White Christmas, Merry & Bright eschews modern production to recall a simpler time of gathering around the piano singing, says Keller. Available on all streaming platforms, like Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube. Keller’s picks:

1) Orzo’s Hummus at Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar. “I can no longer buy grocery store hummus because this hummus is leaps and bounds better than any in stores. Orzo’s hummus pairs a healthy kick of garlic and zest of lemon with a smooth, creamy consistency. It pairs beautifully with bread or veggies. Orzo’s rotating menu always has an abundance of delicious dishes, but thank goodness that the hummus is a permanent menu item.”

2) Roasted Cauliflower at Marigold. “This is one of the best plant-based dishes I have had in my life. The cauliflower is roasted and glazed in turmeric tahini and red zhug sauce, topped with crushed pistachios to give a nice crunch. I find myself going back again and again for this dish, and I even picked it to be my birthday dinner meal last year.”

3) Cranberry Gelato from Splendora’s Gelato. “Growing up in Charlottesville, the orange Splendora’s Gelato shop on the downtown mall was always a welcome sight, and I was devastated to see it close a few years back. But imagine my surprise when walking around the Stonefield shopping center, only to see a Splendora’s sign across from the Regal cinema. I had to wander inside, and I was elated to find out that this was indeed the same Splendora’s I grew up knowing. This gelato is the best in town by far, and they post weekly flavors on their social media, including traditional gelato and a wide variety of dairy-free options.”

4) Roots Bowl from Roots Natural Kitchen. “I’ve never had a bad Roots bowl, and I eat lunch there at least twice a week. The ingredients are always fresh and flavorful. I usually build my own bowl including kale, shaved Brussels sprouts, brown rice, garlic/lime tofu, avocado, cabbage, chickpeas, cilantro-lime vinaigrette, basil-balsamic vinaigrette, sriracha, and a squeeze of lime. I always use the Roots mobile app, making it super easy to place my order and pick up my lunch fifteen minutes later.”

5) Espresso at Tavola. “Usually people head to Tavola for housemade pasta, but it’s actually my favorite after-dinner spot for an espresso. They use the highest quality beans, and the espresso shot is always bitter, smooth, and piping hot. In my opinion, the Belmont neighborhood is also a quieter, more quaint spot for a night out. With lights strung outside and along the street and charming architecture, some of which dates back 100 years, find me unwinding after dinner with some friends – or with my English Cocker Spaniel, Wallace – and an espresso.”

11/29/2024

Five Finds on Friday: Lindsay Comstock

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for Five Finds on Friday to come from a reader drawn at random. This year’s winner is Lindsay Comstock, a native Virginian and DC transplant who has lived in Belmont with her husband and two Jack Russell terriers for nearly a decade. Comstock says she loves galavanting in Charlottesville and “feels so grateful for this fun opportunity.” Comstock’s picks:

1) Chicken 65 at Kanak. “The spicy appetizer of my dreams. Everything I’ve had at Kanak has been excellent, but the Chicken 65 is out of bounds. Heavy on the chile pepper with notes of ginger providing relief from the heat, this dish delivers every time. I usually linger at Kanak just jealously observing what comes out of the kitchen, and planning my order for next time.”

2) Cafe Au Lait with Housemade Almond Milk at Lone Light Coffee. “So darn good. The spin on this classic comes from the slightly tart almond milk with perfect foam every time. Word on the street: they sweeten the almond milk with figs? Let me know if you figure it out. Love the vibe of this cozy, friendly spot.”

3) Fried Green Tomatoes at Mockingbird. “Crunchy, salty, and perfect. And yes- there is pimiento cheese involved. Bonus: they are gluten-free. Go for the food and stay for the inviting, dog-friendly patio- our favorite in Belmont.”

4) Panang Curry with a cold glass of Gruner Veltliner at Maple Pine. “A perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy. This dish thrives on texture with a crunchy yellow bell pepper as the star of the show. Girls’ lunch, Friday night dinner, any occasion- color me happy. Yes, I had my birthday lunch there.

5) Fried Chicken and Biscuits at Vision BBQ. “They nail it every time, but I’m especially impressed with their gluten-free fried chicken and biscuits. It brings a happy tear to my gluten-free eye to be able to eat truly delicious comfort food at this funky joint.”