The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Paradox Pastry

10/24/2014

Five Finds on Friday: Anita Gupta

0057Anita

Photo by Jen Fariello.

On Fridays we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. It’s wedding season, so today’s picks come from Anita Gupta of Maliha Creations, one of the area’s most sought after creators of wedding cakes, among other desserts.  For her picks, Gupta focused on what she knows best: her favorite sweets and pastries around town.  Gupta’s picks:

1)  Macaron Ice cream Sandwiches from Got Dumplings food truck.  “These giant ice cream sandwiches are awesome and they have great flavors like green tea and red bean. If you get a hankering for these at one of the local festivals, make sure you order more than one. You will want another and if you wait in line again, they will be gone . . . and you will be sad.”

2)  Churros at Al Carbon.  “Everything on their menu rocks (get the yuca fries), but the best part is when you order your food at this counter service cafe, you will only get your main dish. They don’t start making your churros until you have finished your food. Fresh, piping hot churros dipped in cinnamon sugar.  Add a scoop of ice cream and you will experience nirvana.”

3)  Pastries at Paradox Pastry.  “My friends and I head to Paradox whenever we have a birthday to celebrate. We grab a table, and perhaps some champagne, and each get a different dessert to share. I head here when I want someone else to bake for me.”

4)  Flourless Chocolate Cake with Toasted Marshmallow at Rocksalt.  “Rappahannock Oysters followed by rich, dark chocolate . . . ‘nough said.

5)  Gulab Jamun from Milan.  “This is where I go for a little taste of home. A little pastry ball (almost like a doughnut) soaked in a cardamom-infused simple syrup.  Seriously rich and completely nostalgic.”

 

08/29/2014

Five Finds on Friday: Jenn Riesman

Jenn

On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities.  This week’s picks come from Jenn Riesman, pastry chef of Fossett’s at Keswick Hall.  A native Texan, before coming to Fossett’s, in Riesman was Bakery Manager of Austin’s Delish Bakery and Pastry Sous Chef of La Condesa.

1)  Monte Cristo at West Main. “You can’t go wrong with a well-made Monte Cristo. Also a great place for brunch.”

2)  Ham and Cheese Croissant at  Paradox Pastry.  “The perfect on-the-go breakfast.”

3)  Iced Coffee at La Taza. “The best iced coffee in town. It doesn’t even need sugar. Strong but super smooth.”

4)  Smoked Trout Sandwich at Blue Moon Diner.  “Nice to just sit at the bar, listening to music.”

5)  Papas Bravas at MAS Tapas.  “The only thing you really need on a late Friday night is a good drink and potatoes with aioli.”

04/16/2013

Two for Tuesday: Paradox Pastry and Kabab & Curry

Food 243

1)  Pignoli Cookies at Paradox Pastry.  Ever since a bad case of pine mouth several years ago, we have approached pine nuts with trepidation.   Yes, they are tasty little seeds, but do not seem worth risking another week of misery.  After years of avoiding anything with pine nuts (pesto!), we recently took the plunge with Paradox Pastry’s Pignoli cookies.  We are glad we did.  No pine mouth (phew!), and some mighty fine cookies.  Made of sweet almond paste and dotted with pine nuts, these soft and chewy Italian cookies are one of the better renditions we’ve ever had.  Unless you have a mouth full of sweet teeth,we highly recommend having them with a glass of milk or, better yet, a cup of coffee.  They are sweet.  Another success at Paradox Pastry.  Delicious.

Food 242

2)  “Pakistani Dip” at Kabab & Curry.  OK, it’s not on the menu.  But, this riff on a French Dip sandwich is easily assembled.  Here’s how.  First, order the goat curry, which comes with a side of rice, a vegetable curry of your choice, and tandoori bread.   Next, de-bone the goat.  This is easy.  It falls off.  Then, tear off a piece of bread and fold it around some of the goat meat.  Now, dip the whole thing into the goat’s heady sauce.  Enjoy.