The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: River Hawkins

10/01/2020

Introducing The Milkman’s Bar: Ten Course Hospitality Cocktail Bar Coming to The Dairy Market

The Dairy Market continues to announce additions to its market hall opening this fall in the historic Monticello Dairy Building. The latest is The Milkman’s Bar, a cocktail bar from Will Richey and Ten Course Hospitality that pays homage to Americana drugstore soda fountains. The physical centerpiece of the market hall, The Milkman’s Bar will be flanked by the hall’s food artisans, allowing guests to sidle up to the bar with food from market vendors, or just drop by for drinks and people-watching.

Running the bar are two veterans of Ten Course Hospitality projects. River Hawkins has led the bar of The Bebedero since it opened. And, Mike Stewart launched the bar at Kama. At The Milkman’s Bar, the duo plan recreations of lost American classic cocktails, using modern techniques and presentations. Also featured will be adult non-alcoholic drinks, a cocktail program addition growing in demand.

For both Stewart and Hawkins, the foundation of the bar experience is engagement with guests. As the center of a community-gathering place, The Milkman’s Bar will allow them to take that engagement to a new level. “Something that is really important to me is fostering a sense of community and doing my part to be inclusive,” said Stewart. The new bar will also allow the duo to get “really creative,” said Hawkins, without taking themselves too seriously. Riffing on the soda fountain theme, for example, The Big Tickle is Hawkins’ grown-up version of an egg cream, using a base of bourbon and amaro.

The Milkman’s Bar will open upon The Dairy Market’s opening this fall.

03/25/2016

Five Finds on Friday: River Hawkins

River

Today’s Five Finds on Fridays come from River Hawkins, bar manager and co-owner of the hot new restaurant, The Bebedero, which had its grand opening this week.  Hawkins’ picks:

1)  Papaya Salad (Som Tum) at Monsoon Siam.  “I lived in Thailand for a couple of years managing a large dance club, and everyday before work I would get a bowl of Sum Tum from a little old vendor lady who carried around the ingredients on her shoulders and made it for you right there on the sidewalk with a little mortar and pestle. Monsoon’s Som Tum takes me back to Thailand and those strange beautiful days.”

2) Roasted Beet Salad with Blackened Catfish at The Whiskey Jar.  “I have this almost every time I get lunch at the Whiskey Jar. It’s just so perfect and light and savory. I never feel heavy or sleepy after eating a huge bowl of it.”

3)  Cemitas at Al Carbon.  “I was blessed to have traveled throughout Peru for a while, and the way they prepare their meats at Al Carbon is just as delicious as the vendor food I had in Cusco. I just wish I could get guinea pig there.”

4)  Kung Pao Chicken at Peter Chang’s.  “Spicy deliciousness. Every Chinese I place I go, I have the Kung Pao Chicken. If that’s good I know everything is good.”

5) Nachos at The Bebedero.  “This may seem like shameless self promotion, but I’ve eaten nachos all over the world and I honestly think Chef Cesar makes the best and most creative nachos I’ve ever tasted. I don’t have any control over the food, so this really is my objective opinion.”