The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Roots Natural Kitchen

12/20/2024

Five Finds on Friday: Annie Keller

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Annie Keller, the Orzo Director of Hospitality who has just released her debut album: Merry & Bright. Why a Christmas album for her debut? “Christmas is my favorite time of year,” said Keller, “encapsulating a spirit of giving and hope, eating sweets without guilt, watching movies with happy endings, and making memories with people we love.” With ten classic songs and a title derived from the 1954 film White Christmas, Merry & Bright eschews modern production to recall a simpler time of gathering around the piano singing, says Keller. Available on all streaming platforms, like Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube. Keller’s picks:

1) Orzo’s Hummus at Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar. “I can no longer buy grocery store hummus because this hummus is leaps and bounds better than any in stores. Orzo’s hummus pairs a healthy kick of garlic and zest of lemon with a smooth, creamy consistency. It pairs beautifully with bread or veggies. Orzo’s rotating menu always has an abundance of delicious dishes, but thank goodness that the hummus is a permanent menu item.”

2) Roasted Cauliflower at Marigold. “This is one of the best plant-based dishes I have had in my life. The cauliflower is roasted and glazed in turmeric tahini and red zhug sauce, topped with crushed pistachios to give a nice crunch. I find myself going back again and again for this dish, and I even picked it to be my birthday dinner meal last year.”

3) Cranberry Gelato from Splendora’s Gelato. “Growing up in Charlottesville, the orange Splendora’s Gelato shop on the downtown mall was always a welcome sight, and I was devastated to see it close a few years back. But imagine my surprise when walking around the Stonefield shopping center, only to see a Splendora’s sign across from the Regal cinema. I had to wander inside, and I was elated to find out that this was indeed the same Splendora’s I grew up knowing. This gelato is the best in town by far, and they post weekly flavors on their social media, including traditional gelato and a wide variety of dairy-free options.”

4) Roots Bowl from Roots Natural Kitchen. “I’ve never had a bad Roots bowl, and I eat lunch there at least twice a week. The ingredients are always fresh and flavorful. I usually build my own bowl including kale, shaved Brussels sprouts, brown rice, garlic/lime tofu, avocado, cabbage, chickpeas, cilantro-lime vinaigrette, basil-balsamic vinaigrette, sriracha, and a squeeze of lime. I always use the Roots mobile app, making it super easy to place my order and pick up my lunch fifteen minutes later.”

5) Espresso at Tavola. “Usually people head to Tavola for housemade pasta, but it’s actually my favorite after-dinner spot for an espresso. They use the highest quality beans, and the espresso shot is always bitter, smooth, and piping hot. In my opinion, the Belmont neighborhood is also a quieter, more quaint spot for a night out. With lights strung outside and along the street and charming architecture, some of which dates back 100 years, find me unwinding after dinner with some friends – or with my English Cocker Spaniel, Wallace – and an espresso.”

08/11/2017

Five Finds on Friday: Jin Bang

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Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Jin Bang, Chief Aloha Officer of Mochiko, the new eatery from longtime Albemarle Baking Company pastry chef Riki Tanabe. Mochiko will open a brick-and-mortar location soon, but meanwhile you can book them for catering and enjoy their “Good Hawaiian Eats” Saturday mornings at City Market. Bang’s picks:

1) Vegan Chili at The Juice Laundry. “This is one hearty soup! Great for lunch or dinner. I’ve even warmed up leftovers from the night before as breakfast. I love that this chili has a balanced texture and mouth feel. It may be vegan, but it’s not lacking in flavor.  Vegan food still gets a bad rap, but when it’s done well like this chili, there isn’t a lot of room for criticism. It comes topped with your choice of plain or jalapeno-accented cashew sour cream. Simply delicious.”

2) Beet Salad with Ginger Vinaigrette and Chevre at Bang!. “If you like roasted beets, this dish is sure to delight.  It features beets of different varieties and the resulting colors are unexpected. The beets come in a lightly ginger flavored broth topped with a little bit of crunch and goat cheese. I admire the finesse of this dish. I love when chefs find ways to elevate and highlight the simple beauty of high quality ingredients. This may not be the dish that jumps out at you amidst all of the other edibles on the Bang! menu, but it’s definitely one of my favorites.”

3) Panna Cotta Gelato at Splendora’s.  “I don’t think this needs any explanation.  Splendora’s kills with this one! Not too sweet, not too mild, just right. For anyone who enjoys light, rich, and creamy, the panna cotta gelato satisfies cravings for all of the above.”

4) Tom Kha Soup at Pad Thai. “When I get soup at a Thai place, I usually opt for the spicy version with lemongrass- Tom Yum. Everything at Pad Thai tastes magically of home.  I’m not Thai, but the flavors of the broths here remind me of the soup dishes my grandmother used to make for us at home. You can taste all of the time, labor, and love that goes into the food here. What I dig about the Tom Kha is the surprising acidity that cuts through the rich sweetness of the coconut. I was skeptical the first time I ordered it, in part because I expected the coconut would be cloying. Much to my delight, this soup was something I’d never expected to taste in a soup. It’s the right amount of rich, sweet, salty, tangy – it pretty much hits all of the flavors you might want in a soup. It’s not spicy, but you can always add your own spice. To this day, it is comfort in a bowl on a rainy day or when I’m feeling under the weather- and who am I kidding. Sometimes I just crave it for no reason at all because it’s that kind of good.”

5) The Mayweather Salad at Roots Natural Kitchen. “This salad combines all of the things I like in a salad. Not only does it have roasted beets and goat cheese, it also comes with sweet potatoes. Honestly, I customize my bowls so I don’t usually get the onions or bulgar- but both of those things come with this filling bowl too. I think what I love is that I can add avocado, or swap out my proteins. Depending on my mood, I can ask for tomatoes or a different kind of dressing. Every time I order this bowl, it looks a little different, but that’s what I love about Roots. Salad becomes an expression of self in the moment.  Who would have guessed ordering salad could be such a mindful practice?”

03/17/2017

Five Finds on Friday: J.R. Hadley

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Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from J.R. Hadley, the restaurateur who owns Boylan Heights and the brand new nachos restaurant Cho’s. For St. Patrick’s Day today, Cho’s is turning back into the former occupant of its space on Preston Avenue: McGrady’s. They will hoist the old McGrady’s sign, and staff will wear McGrady’s gear in homage to what Hadley says is the best St. Patrick’s Day party in town. Drink specials, giveaways, live music on the new deck, bagpipes, and even face painting for the kids. Details here and here. Hadley’s picks:

1) Cavolo Nero at Lampo. “This may be the best $7 you can spend in town. I’ve been to Lampo more times than I can count, dating back to when Loren, Drew, Ian and Mitch first opened this gem. I’ve tried everything on the menu, and always look forward to Drew’s educated wine recommendations at the bar. But this often overlooked salad in Charlottesville’s hottest pizza joint is a great example of how talented these guys are. Pickled mustard seed, Tuscan kale, apple cider vin, and candied almonds? Yes please.”

2) The Southern at Roots Natural Kitchen. “I love Roots. Co-owner Jung Kim worked for me at Boylan Heights when he was an undergrad here at UVa and I am so proud of what he has done. In just over a year, Roots has become a staple on The Corner and rightfully so. Not only is it healthy, but its fresh, and flavorful. Most people don’t know they had the guys over at ZoCaLo help design their menu and recipes. Try The Southern if you haven’t already. The house made BBQ tofu is incredible, along with the signature brown/black rice, kale, chickpeas, roasted broccoli and pickled onions.”

3) Greens of the Day at Integral Yoga Natural Foods. “I’m a juice freak. Mainly because it makes it easy for me to get all the fruits and veggies my Mom tells me I’m supposed to eat every day. At Integral Yoga they use fresh, organic fruits and veggies and they are always so friendly and anxious to help you find the perfect juice or smoothie. Plus, it’s right across the street from Cho’s which makes it even more dangerous for me. My go-to is the Greens of the Day. It’s packed with kale, cucumber, cabbage, celery, and I usually add echinacea and Vitamin-C powder. And when you stayed out a little too late? Get the Liver Flush. It works ;)”

4) Tagliatelle w/ Ragu Alla Bolognese at Vivace. “I grew up in Ivy, and went to WAHS with fellow restaurateur Landon Saul. Since taking over Vivace, Landon has taken the menu from good to great. Landon’s parents owned a family grocery store and butcher shop when we were kids, and its no coincidence that Landon brings that same passion for local ingredients to the Vivace menu. After training in Calabria, Italy he brought that simple, authentic Italian style back to Vivace. We’re lucky to have Vivace in little ole Cville and the tagliatelle embodies that best in my opinion. The pancetta is seasoned and cured in house, and the house sausage and grana padano is perfect.”

5) Fried Chicken Sandwich w/fries at The Fitzroy. “There’s another menu item at The Fitzroy named the Perfect Sandwich. I disagree. This is the perfect sandwich. I think about it almost daily. Buttermilk battered chicken, cayenne lemon aioli and pickles. Boom. Owners Kelley Tripp & Richard Ridge are the best in the biz. Kelley helped me open up Boylan, created our menu, and his unique tutelage is a big reason for my success in this business. I’ve known Rich since high school and we were lucky to have him bartend at Boylan for years when he moved back home from NYC. The two of them together are a restaurant dream team. Only a perfectly battered fried chicken sandwich and shoe string fries can compete with them.”