The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Lampo

09/02/2016

Five Finds on Friday: Landon Saul

Landon

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Landon Saul, chef and co-owner of Vivace Italian Restaurant, which this week participated in a fundraiser involving the signature dish of one of the town’s most devastated by last week’s earthquake in Italy. Vivace raised $500 for relief efforts. On September 20, Vivace is also joining the Meals on Wheels fundraiser Taste This, featuring an array of tastes from restaurants and drink purveyors. Saul’s picks:

1) Tacos Al Pastor at Al Carbon. “As many of my friends and family know, I am obsessed with tacos (after four trips to Mexico). Slow roasted pork shoulder rubbed with dried chiles, pina, salsa verde, cilantro and onions on light-as-air tortillas. Also, the cemitas with coal roasted local chicken, avocado, jalapeno, oaxaca cheese and salsa roja on fluffy torta bread is everything a sammie should be. Pro tip: order it spicy with a negro modelo. The elote con mayonesa (street corn) and the frijoles charros (brown beans) are also not to be missed.”

2) Polpettine al Forno and Peroni at Lampo.  “Andrew Cole is cultivating a fantastic cocktail, beer, and wine list from the Aperol Spritz with prosecco, draft Peroni, and Brunello. Loren Mendosa and crew crank out wood fired local beef and pork meatballs with mozzarella and pecorino that are simply delicious. Ian’s cavolo nero (kale salad) and cavolfiore al forno (roasted cauliflower) are perfect to round out the meal. Did I mention you can also have the meatballs as a pizza or panuozzi? That’s what I call winning and these guys do it every day.”

3) Bocadillo Jamon at MAS Tapas. “Mas is my wife’s and I’s go-to when we want to celebrate life and indulge. Boquerones (white anchovies from Spain), the bocadillo with jamon, manchego and alioli on hearth baked organic bread, artichokes on the plancha, carne asada, and a fantastic bottle of Rioja makes my life complete. Chefs Tomas and Mike use the best imported and local ingredients simply and perfectly.”

4) Cocktails and Housemade Gnocchi at Parallel 38. “Ask the bartender what he recommends. You won’t be disappointed. I had a barrel-aged Manhattan that was simply magical.  Also, the ability to sample wines by the ounce is a nice feature. Housemade flat bread with labneh is my go-to along with the gnocchi, chorizo potatoes, local chicken skewers, and the wonderful array of artisanal meats and cheeses.”

5) Bottle of Coke and a Double Bacon Cheeseburger at Riverside Lunch. “This is my birthday lunch every year. Perfectly seared and seasoned beef smashed on a flat top in all its glory with all the fixins. Shoestring fries and a bottle of coke fly me to the moon. I’m in heaven. (When I want a more gourmet burger I head to Boylan Heights with organic beef and of course tots! Also the best beer specials in town.)”

08/25/2016

Charlottesville Restaurants Salute Amatrice

pasta

An Italian stamp honoring pasta all’Amatriciana

Amatrice is a small town with a big reputation. The signature dish of the ancient Italian town – pasta all’amatriciana – is world-renowned. While variations of the dish appear from time to time, the town itself insists that its sauce must always have just six ingredients: guanciale, pecorino cheese, chili, pepper, white wine and San Marzano tomatoes.

Sadly, Amatrice is “no more,” says Mayor Sergio Pirozzi. It was at the epicenter of an earthquake yesterday that destroyed more than 75% of the town. Amidst the devastation and rubble, one of the town’s only buildings still standing is a clock tower whose clock is frozen at the moment the earthquake hit. This comes just days before this weekend’s 50th annual spaghetti amatriciana festival was to be held in Amatrice.

clocktower

Here in Charlottesville, restaurants are helping the cause by donating proceeds from pasta all’amatriciana to earthquake relief efforts.  Below is a list of participating restaurants. If any other restaurants wish to be added to the list, please let me know.

  • Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria is running it as a special tonight through next Saturday (Aug. 25 – Sep. 3) for $12, with 100% of proceeds going to earthquake relief efforts.
  • Parallel 38 will offer the dish Friday through Sunday (Aug. 26-28), with 100% of proceeds going to earthquake relief efforts.
  • The Ivy Inn will serve “amatriciana americana” Friday through Thursday (Aug. 26 – Sep. 1) for $10, with 100% of proceeds going to earthquake relief efforts.
  • At Tavola, bucatini all’amatriciana has long been a menu staple, and tonight through September 10, a portion of proceeds from the dish will go to earthquake relief efforts.
  • Vivace will run the dish as a special side tonight through Thursday (Aug. 26 – Sep. 1) for $10, with 100% of proceeds going to earthquake relief efforts.
  • Orzo is running the dish as a special through September 4 for $20, with 50% of proceeds going to earthquake relief efforts.

 

07/29/2016

Five Finds on Friday: Kelsey Naylor

Kelsey

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Kelsey Naylor, sous chef of Timbercreek Market, which this week launched full-service dinner three nights a week. Naylor’s picks:

1) Radish Kimchi from Sussex Farm. “By far the best and most authentic kimchi in Virginia. You can find them at the city market every Saturday and they introduce a new type of kimchi every week.”

2) Blueberry Donuts from Spudnuts. “There is nothing better than one of their blueberry cake donuts with a cup of coffee in the morning.”

3) Oh Toro at TEN. “Fatty Tuna is one of my favorite things in the world and Ten definitely does it right.”

4) Crispy Beef at Taste of China. “Crispy Beef and Scallion Bubble Pancakes are by far my favorite, but I’ve never had anything there that I didn’t love.”

5)  Hellboy Pizza at Lampo. “The perfect pizza to go along with a Narragansett Tall Boy. It really doesn’t get any better than that.”