The Charlottesville 29

If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29?

Tag: Revolutionary Soup

05/17/2022

#22: The Angry Bird – Kitchen(ette)

Photo by Do Me A Flavor.

The Chicken Sandwich
(Roasted or Grilled)

Charlottesville has not always been a great place for sandwiches. Over the last decade, though, the quality and quantity of sandwiches in Charlottesville have exploded, thanks to a cadre of chefs who have turned their passion for sandwiches into businesses.

Leading the way is a pair who love sandwiches almost as much as they love each other. After catering together for years, in 2017 Morgan Hurt and her husband Gabe Garcia Gomez decided to pursue their dream of running a sandwich shop. At Kitchen(ette), they make refined versions of classic sandwiches as well their own creations. You can’t go wrong, but one standout is their riff on a chicken sandwich. For the Angry Bird, they roast dry-rubbed chicken thighs and stack them on ciabatta with cheddar cheese, herb aioli, red onion, sliced tomato and greens. What makes it “angry” is the addition of fresh jalapeños, a nod to Gomez’s Mexico City roots, and indeed this is his favorite sandwich on the menu. A worthy choice.

#22: The Angry Bird – Kitchen(ette)
(GFA)
The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches 

Others of Note: 90’s Club at Revolutionary Soup (GFA), Winner Winner at Ivy Provisions (GFA), Chicken Philly in a wrap at Beer Run, The Scott Norwood at ooey, gooey, crispy, The Grilled Clucker at Multiverse Kitchens, The Wilson at The Whiskey Jar, Fluvanna at MarieBette, El Paso at Foods of All Nations. Vegetarian Alternative: The Penny at Kitchen(ette)

05/14/2022

#25: Chicken Cheddar Fig Panini – Feast!

Photo by Do Me A Flavor.

The Sweet Sandwich

There are no dessert sandwiches in The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches. The rules forbid it. But sometimes a craving hits for a little sweetness in a savory sandwich. Not too much. It must be balanced.

The Chicken Cheddar Fig Panini at Feast! is just that. A smear of fig jam on Albemarle Baking Co. focaccia lends just enough sweetness to complement the rest of the ingredients on one of the most popular sandwiches at Charlottesville’s beloved gourmet shop: sliced chicken, Vermont cheddar, mayo, and mustard. A few minutes on the panini press yields a cracker-like crust and tender interior that make the sandwich even more addictive.

#25: Chicken Cheddar Fig Panini – Feast!
(GFA)
The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches

Others of Note: Jefferson at The Market (GFA), Turkey Trot on Whole Wheat, Pressed at Beer Run, Adam’s Apple at Revolutionary Soup (GFA), Jive Turkey at Kitchen(ette) (GFA), Berry Turkey at C’Ville Coffee & Wine, Prosciutto & Fig Panini at Tilman’s, New Italian Sandwich #5 at Foods of All Nations; Vegetarian Alternative: Wild Vine at Beer Run, Local Grilled Tofu at Revolutionary Soup (GFA)

05/11/2022

#28: BLT – Blue Moon Diner

Photo by Do Me A Flavor.

The BLT

What some call the king of sandwiches, the BLT can be two different things depending on the time of year. In August, it is largely a vehicle for enjoying thick slices of ripe, local tomatoes. The rest of the year, when tomatoes are out of season, they recede into the ensemble – and the sandwich becomes one whose sum is often greater than its parts.

At Blue Moon Diner, the BLT is delicious all year round. With a classic sandwich, the food-lovers who run the diner have the good sense to leave well enough alone, and don’t mess with tweaks or adornments. As a result, it’s the type of BLT that can transport you to childhood moments of first discovering the sandwich’s magic. No ingredient steals center stage. Instead, the toast, Duke’s mayo, lettuce, tomato, and bacon seem to meld into the very harmony that BLT cravings covet.

#28: BLT – Blue Moon Diner
(GFA)
The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches

Others of Note: Texas BLT at Taste Shack (GFA), BLT at Revolutionary Soup (GFA), BLT at Timberlake’s Soda Fountain. Vegan Alternatives: Shroom B.L.T. at Botanical Fare (GFA)