The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Petit Pois

09/28/2017

Jose de Brito Joins Fleurie

joseseafood

Jose de Brito is back.

The James Beard semifinalist whose two decades in Charlottesville included Ciboulette and a magical run at The Alley Light skipped town last Spring for the Inn at Little Washington, leaving his Charlottesville fans wondering if they would ever enjoy his food again. Now he is returning to Charlottesville as Chef de Cuisine of Fleurie and consultant at Petit Pois.

Both restaurants are owned by Brian Helleberg, who employed de Brito from 2008 to 2011 as a cook and Pastry Chef at Fleurie, a time Helleberg remembers fondly. “Jose’s knowledge, palate, work ethic, and enthusiasm brought lasting improvements,” says Helleberg, who sounds like he can’t wait to get started. “I am excited and honored to collaborate with such a talented chef,” Helleberg says. “His passion for great food is contagious, and I’m looking forward to learning from him and bringing our food to the next level.”

A fixture in The Charlottesville 29, Fleurie’s food has long been beloved by regulars. So, what might de Brito have planned? “I have always considered Fleurie to be among the great restaurants of Charlottesville, and they happen to do French cooking which is what I do best, so there is no better match,” says de Brito. “French food is very diverse and when done well it can be really tasty, so I will push and build all our flavor profiles to make each dish as tasty as I can.”

While de Brito enjoyed his time away, part of what brought him back was the lure of Charlottesvulle. “My wife and I like this place very much, so there is no better place to cook great food,” says de Brito. “I have a lot of regulars, and many seem to like what I do.”

Yes, yes we do.

 

06/23/2017

Five Finds on Friday: Will Curley

Curley

Porron skills.

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Will Curley, Wine Buyer for Ten Course Hospitality and Manager at Brasserie Saison, which has just launched its onsite brewery and will soon open a basement bar called Coat Room. The reservation-only, wood-paneled dining space below Brasserie Saison will offer an exclusive list of special beer, wine and cocktails. Curley’s picks:

1) Maiale Milanese at Tavola. “Call it comfort food, fat kid food, or just happy food, this is the dish that I think about days in advance of any meal at Tavola.  The grilled lemon sauce with peppery arugula and a perfectly fried pork cutlet hit all the high notes and are best paired with whatever Wine Director Priscilla Martin wants to pour that day.”

2) Al Pastor Tacos at La Michoacana. “Moving from Chicago to Charlottesville has brought some amazing things; a role at a great new restaurant, the chance to meet people inside and outside the wine & restaurant world, and a gorgeous, historical town with an amazing food & drink scene.  What I miss most, however, is the breadth of Mexican food options that were available to me in Chicago. From Nayarit-style seafood to Oaxacan moles, the varieties of delicious, affordable food there are seemingly endless.  Overall, The Bebedero is top-to-bottom my favorite Mexican in town, but sometimes you want filling, cheap and quick, and La Michoacana is all three.”

3) Double Bacon Cheeseburger at Riverside Lunch. “Chef Tyler Teass introduced me to this Charlottesville staple recently, and I’m still upset at him for not showing me sooner.  Smash burgers > pub burgers.  Cheap beer and the friendliest wait staff.”

4) Frisee Salad at Petit Pois. “My favorite and most-visited restaurant in Chicago was a tiny neighborhood bistro, and I was happy to discover that same soul at Petit Pois.  Classics are classics for a reason, and the combination of egg yolk, lardons, frisee and a perfectly balanced mustard vin make a great light lunch.  Pro tip: combine with chicken liver mousse, escargot and a bottle of rose, and kiss your afternoon goodbye.”

5) Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit from Timbercreek Market. “Chef Tucker’s light, fluffy, gigantic biscuit sandwich is the perfect way to start your day, even more so when your day starts at 11 am after a long Saturday night service. Plus, Tucker is always happy to talk shop and give advice on the restaurant scene here in town.”

01/27/2017

Five Finds on Friday: Nick Moon

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Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Nick Moon, sous chef of Brasserie Saison, opening next week on the downtown mall. Read all about it here. Moon’s picks:

1) Carne Asada at MAS Tapas. “The best steak in Charlottesville. Period. Perfectly balanced with smoked tomato alioli and a duck fat tortilla, it really doesn’t get any better than that. Throw in an amazing staff and it creates an atmosphere that will keep you coming back again and again.”

2) Polpettine al Forno at Lampo. “Succulent pork and beef meatballs showered with pecorino. Pair that with their house bread and it sets the entire tone of your visit. Great date spot, but come early because Lampo is popular for a reason!”

3) Pimm’s Cup at The Alley Light. “Pimm’s cups are not just light and refreshing in the summertime, but a drink for year round. Watching master mixologist Micah whip up a drink is a true sight to behold. Make sure to check out the amazing nightly specials that Chef Robin has as well, because what is a great drink when not paired with an amazing meal?”

4) Sausage Béchamel at Petit Pois. “Creamy rich béchamel with local sausage over potatoes with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise. Couple that with a cozy space and great service and you’ll be ready for an evening of leisure.”

5) Cheese Steak Hoagie at Revolutionary Soup. “This is the real deal, sirloin topped with onion, peppers and provolone. Being constantly on the go, I live off of the quick service and the locally sourced goodies that they have. My guilty pleasure after lunch? Chocolate chip cookies by Rachael Pennington.”