Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Zack Worrell of Monolith Knives, Charlottesville’s own award-winning artisan of custom cutlery, beloved by chefs around the country. Monolith is teaming up with Nobel Peace Prize nominee José Andrés to help hurricane victims in the Bahamas. While Andres’ World Central Kitchen has already served more than one million meals in the hurricane aftermath, thousands remain in need. You can help the cause by entering Monolith’s raffle for an extraordinary one-of-a-kind José Andrés Signature Chef Knife, with a handle representing the Bahamian flag, and a blade etched with José Andrés’ signature, the WCK logo, and the Bahamian national slogan: “Forward Upward Onward Together.” Win the raffle and own the only knife of its kind, all while helping an urgent cause. Enter here.
Worrell’s picks:
1) Rice Pudding from Foods of All Nations. “A local favorite, using a recipe that’s hasn’t changed in over 45 years. Foods has been offering their signature rice pudding on their deli shelves since I was four years old. It has the right amounts of everything: butter, sugar, rice, raisins, nutmeg and sweet southern style indicative of older Charlottesville. Pretty much the whole damn deli counter is a museum of tried and true recipes that make Foods of All Nations such a great place to shop.”
2) Steak Chinois at C&O. “This steak is C&O’s signature dish and most likely the longest lasting item to ever grace their menu. The steak is rare and delicious, served with Swiss gruyere and delicious potatoes and scallions with a tamari ginger sauce. This entrée is even better with their Boston Bib salad and bread. The C&O has a fantastic environment and wide selection of fabulous wines making it probably one of my top three places to eat out in Charlottesville.”
3) Bacon Wrapped Dates at Quality Pie. “Chef Tomas Rahal is a local favorite of Spanish infused culinary mastery. His bacon wrapped dates are to die for. They are so delicious and utterly addictive. Tomas has so many other delicious goodies at Quality Pie that there is more than enough to choose from to suit any taste. A wonderful staff and awesome family atmosphere make Quality Pie a big favorite of mine.”
4) The Hellboy at Lampo. “Sitting in the coolest little building in Belmont, Lampo is a must for pizza aficionados and lovers of Mediterranean and Italian inspired dishes with flare. The crew at Lampo have one special bad ass pizza there called The Hellboy. A traditional Neapolitan dough recipe with spicy honey drippings over pepperonis, red sauce and mozzarella create the most awesome fusion of hot and oh so tasty. Make sure to get the shaved Brussels sprout salad and you will be vanquished. A great selection of wines and knowledgeable staff will make your meal a real experience. Do make sure to give an extra 45 minutes of wait time, but it’s worth every minute.”
5) Bacon, Egg, and Cheddar on an Everything at Bodo’s. “Bodo’s is a staple of Charlottesville. Established over 30 years ago, Bodo’s has grown to three locations serving up amazing bagel sandwich creations of any kind. I have been asked to ship Bodo’s bagels to people who have left Charlottesville because the addiction was that good. My favorite, the morning ritual I call it: bacon, egg, and cheddar, on an everything. Even people who don’t like bagels like Bodo’s I sometimes have been known to eat Bodo’s 3-4 days a week. It’s an institution of Charlottesville.”
