The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Lone Light Coffee

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.”

07/10/2020

Five Finds on Friday: Kate Lynn Nemett

kate lynn

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Kate Lynn Nemett of Potter’s Craft Cider, which has relaunched events like live music, food trucks, and more. With patio seating and plenty of space to spread out, Potter’s is ideal for pandemic-friendly relaxation. This evening, it’s Blue Ridge Pizza Co. plus live jazz by Adam Larrabee, Brian Caputo, and Randall Pharr. Follow along on Facebook for updates, or check the cidery’s events page. Potter’s is now also booking weddings and private events for the fall. Nemett’s picks: 

1) Kale Salad at Feast!. “I know kale salads were all the rage about five years ago, but I just can’t stop (won’t stop) eating them. The kale salad at Feast! is my idea of perfection: massaged kale, shaved parmesan, huge crusty croutons, and lemon tahini dressing. Adding a scoop of chicken salad makes it even more delightful.”

2) Dry-Fried Mushrooms at Peter Chang China Grill. “Eating at Peter Chang’s is always a complete revelation. It’s one of my favorite places to take out-of-towners because a) it blows your expectations for Chinese food out the window, and b) can you believe there’s mind-blowingly authentic Sichuan cooking in central Virginia? I have to order the dry-fried mushrooms every time I go. They’re so light and crispy – never greasy – but pack a huge flavor wallop from scallions, chili flakes, and numbing powder sprinkled on top.”

3) Dealer’s Choice at The Alley Light. “I’m an up-for-anything kind of drinker—when I’m in good hands. I’ve never had a cocktail at The Alley Light that hasn’t been delightful. Micah and his crew are at the top of their game. While I could pore over every drink description on the menu, I usually just go with the Dealer’s Choice and let the bartenders flex their mixology muscles. I’ll inevitably like it.”

4) Funghi Pizza at Lampo. “I imagine Lampo must top 90% of these lists. Everything that comes out of their kitchen is just so good. But this mushroom pizza is really impossible to pass up. The combination of wood-fired mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and sharp white cheeses is savory, creamy, and earthy all at once. It’s a really struggle to not eat the entire pie in one sitting, by myself.”

5) Chai Latte at Lone Light Coffee. “Some might think a chai latte is a chai latte—but not at Lone Light. Their in-house chai spice blend is aromatic, slightly spicy, and a million times fresher than the stuff that comes out of a box. Sitting down with a giant, steaming mug of this warming drink is one of my favorite indulgences, especially on a chilly or rainy morning. Or afternoon. Or really anytime. I’ve shared many a good conversation over this magical elixir.”

 

11/22/2019

Five Finds on Friday: Nathan Hatfield

Nathan

Would you like to do Five Finds on Friday? As part of a Thanksgiving tradition, next week’s picks will come from a reader chosen at random. Enter here.

Meanwhile, today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Nathan Hatfield, Executive Chef of the Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve. From Cookies with Santa to a Wreath Workshop to a Fireside Wine Dinner, Mount Ida’s holiday events calendar is stuffed. On December 8, Mount Ida will host more than twenty local artisans for a Holiday Artisan Market, where visitors can shop while sipping wine, drinking beer, and enjoying the stunning views. Details here. Hatfield’s picks:

1) Cortado at Lone Light Coffee. “Wonderful locally roasted espresso, milk steamed just right. Not to mention the staff is great too (at both locations). We used to live right around the corner from the High Street location and were there several mornings a week.”

2) Vongole Pizza at Lampo. “It’s hard for me not to order this every time we go to Lampo, and we go too often. Lampo is awesome, everyone knows, but if you haven’t gotten this pie, go on, now’s the time.”

3) Kale Caesar at Greenwood Gourmet Grocery. “One of our favorite go-to spots on days off. Some of the best sandwiches in town and an awesome wine and beer selection. Their super lemony kale salad hits all the right notes and will keep me going out of my way to come here.”

4) Sazerac at The Alley Light. “Most Sundays after work you can find me and my wife at the bar. It might be my first drink, it might be my last; either way, there’s a good chance I’ll have a Sazerac. The version Andrea makes in one of the best I’ve had.”

5) Beef Back Ribs at Little Star. “We’ve been going to Little Star since they opened and this dish we find ourselves ordering again and again. The rib meat is cooked just right, the sauce is bright and spicy, and there’s a fresh herb salad to balance it all out. It’s good. Get it.”

Vongole