The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Kanak

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.”

#13: Adana Kebab Sandwich on Pita, with Yogurt Sauce – Sultan Kebab

The Kebab Sandwich

It speaks volumes about the excellence and growth of our food scene that this was once my favorite sandwich in Charlottesville. It’s not that the sandwich has dropped in quality. Not at all. Since opening in 2012, Sultan Kebab has been a model of consistency, never offering something that does not meet the high standards of the restaurant’s two owners.

Those owners hail from two different regions of Turkey – Izmir and Adana – and Sultan Kebab’s food draws on both. The Adana kebab is ground beef marinated with fresh red peppers, red pepper paste and paprika, and then shaped along an iron skewer, and grilled over an open flame. For the sandwich, they wrap the long kebab in lavash bread, along with lettuce, tomato, and onion. While excellent, even better is substituting the lavash with Sultan Kebab’s house baked pita bread – soft, fresh, and delicious – and adding yogurt sauce. No matter how much Charlottesville’s food community grows, this sandwich would always be worthy of the area’s best.

#13: Adana Kebab Sandwich on Pita – Sultan Kebab
The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches

Others of Note: Kafta Manousheh at Thyme & Co., Iraqi Kabob at Al Basha, Chicken Khati Roll at Kanak, Kibbeh Flatbread Wrap at Sticks, Souvlaki Pita at Tip Top. Vegetarian Alternatives: Vegetable Manousheh at Thyme & Co., Paneer Khati Roll at Kanak, Vegetarian Sandwich at Sultan Kebab