The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Kabuto

Five Finds on Friday: Matt Boisvert

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On Fridays, we feature five finds selected by local chefs and personalities.  Today’s picks come from Matt Boisvert, who is leaving his acting sous chef position at Tavola to re-unite with chef/owner Dean Maupin at C&O.  Years ago, Boisvert worked under Maupin for four years at Clifton Inn.  Boisvert’s picks:

1)  Falafel at Blue Ridge Country Store.  “They make it daily and it is shaped like a cookie, usually by the salad bar.  It’s the best in town, and usually my number one choice for lunch downtown.”

2)  Shrimp Tempura at Kabuto.  “It’s always very well prepared and different from regular tempura because they dredge the shrimp in tiny flakes so its extra crispy.  I always get a side of Japanese mayo.”

3)  Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup at C&O.  “I’ve been eating this tomato soup in one form or another for years, and nothing beats this and a Makers and ginger after a long day.”

4)  Pastry Basket for brunch at Hamiltons’.  “Curtis and his team are killing it lately and sometimes they fry Cronuts (croissant donuts) for the pastry basket.  Enough said.”

5)  Heaven Sandwich at BBQ Exchange.  “This sandwich is the real deal, and you can’t find better people than Craig, his wife, and his team to support.  Worth the drive!”

Two for Tuesday: October 9, 2012

1)  Salmon Nigiri at Kabuto Sushi & Teppanyaki.   Everyone has their own litmus test for trying a new sushi place.  Ours is salmon nigiri, one of our standard sushi orders.  Kabuto, the new Japanese restaurant opened by a former partner in Tokyo Rose, passes easily.   Silky salmon, skilfully sliced, rests atop rice seasoned with just the right amount of vinegar.   This is particularly welcome news to those who live east of town, an area that has long been a wasteland for sushi lovers.  Kabuto is in Rivanna Ridge shopping center on Pantops mountain, and even has plans for free delivery soon.

2)  The Fat and Sassy at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie.  What’s not to love about this so-called “garlic cheese bread,” which is essentially a pizza with the sauce on the side? The yeasty, blistered crust is smothered with melted cheddar and mozzarella, as well as whole cloves of roasted garlic that are so soft that they can be spread all over.   On the side for dipping are cups of house made ranch dressing and marinara sauce.  While we loved The Fat and Sassy from the start, our love morphed into a full blown obsession when we began adding toppings.  The one pictured here has spinach and house made Italian sausage.  But, with ingredients as good as those at Dr. Ho’s, it’s hard to think you could go wrong.