The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Splendora’s

08/21/2015

Five Finds on Friday: PK Ross

On Fridays, we feature five food finds from area chefs and personalities.  This week’s picks come from PK Ross, owner and gelato magician at Splendora’s Gelato.  In recent weeks, Ross has been working on some serious cocktail and beer gelatos to prepare for a whole week of them during the second week of September.  Details to come on their Facebook page.  Meanwhile, Ross’s picks:

1) Knish from Balkan Bakery/Fig at City Market.  “I wish I knew what witchcraft she uses to make her dough; it has the perfect elasticity and bite.  And spiced potatoes in a pocket-sized round?  Donezo.”

2) Chirashi Bowl at Now & Zen. “Honestly, the head-on shrimp does it for me.  And the spicy tuna goo.  And the roe.  And sometimes there’s mackerel in it.  And you get the point.”

3) Head Cheese at Timbercreek Market.  “There is a distinct possibility I housed a quarter pound of it as lunch and dinner in one day.  Great spices, gorgeous aspic texture between meaty bits, without being overly unctuous.  I’ll be stalking their meat counter for it regularly.”

4) Thai Gyoza at Thai Fresh.  “I need fast and easy with the hours I keep, and I hit a trifecta with these because they’re also delicious.  I think the goo alongside them has fish sauce, and the world needs more fish sauce.”

5) Chickpea Salad at Greenwood Gourmet.  “I go to Greenwood when I run to Crozet/Nelson for peaches/plums/etc.  I started stopping there for the exceptionally curated beer selection but since I was browsing anyway why not get the brightest, crunchiest chickpea salad ever?”

 

 

03/22/2014

Five Finds on Friday: Stu Rifkin

Rifkin

On Fridays we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities.  This week’s picks come from Stu Rifkin, the restaurateur and real estate maven who has done it all when it comes to Charlottesville restaurants: owned them, ran them, and brokered their sale.  From April 7 thru 14, restaurants of the Charlottesville Restaurant Group, for whom Rifkin has consulted, are offering $50 gift certificates for just $25 each, with all proceeds going to the care of Wes Chang, TEN chef Pei Chang’s todller son who is undergoing treatement for stage IV neuroblastoma. Purchase yours at MAS, Mono Loco, Blue Light Grill, TEN Sushi, and Three Notch’d Grill. Or, you can contribute directly at the website www.weschang.myevent.com.

Rifkin’s relationship with so many restaurants made his picks particularly difficult, as he might have chosen Calamari Tempura from TEN or a BLT on Rye with Fried Pickle Chips and extra thick Ranch from The Nook.  Excluding restaurants where he “eats for free,” Rifkin’s picks:

1)  Cherry Star at Spudnuts.  “Or any donut frankly.  We are truly blessed to have such a simply perfect donut shop in town. CW Llad immortalized the Cherry Star in a poem on the back page of C-VILLE many years ago.  I’ve been consuming them regularly ever since.”

2)  Pepperoni Pizza at Whole Foods.  “Sad but true that some of the best pie in town comes from a grocery store. It’s not consistent, but when they get it right it’s unsurpassed deliciousness.”

3)  Bambino Cone at Splendora’s.  “Choose a flavor and get a small scoop on a tiny cone. It’s a perfect palate cleanser and a tasty treat. Salted Caramel Gelato or Grapefuit Sorbetto works for me.”

4)  Tacos Campechanos at Don Panchito Taco truck on 29N.  “I’ve tried them all and these guys knock it out of the park. The campechanos combine carne asada and chorizo.”

5)  Smoked Turkey Croissant, Potato Salad and Limeade at The Blue Ridge Pig. “Their Dill Sauce is transcendent.  I would eat anything they put it on.”

 

09/24/2013

Two for Tuesday: Splendora’s, Just Curry and Mouth Wide Open

Food 260

1)  Honey, Goat Cheese, and Fig Gelato from Splendora’s with Plantains from Just Curry.  Few things make us happier than discovering new combinations of the wonderful foods of Charlottesville.  We can’t take credit for the latest, which we found in a Facebook post by Splendora’s, and is apparently the brainchild of the Charlottesville Derby Dames:  a side of plantains from Just Curry topped with gelato made of honey, goat cheese, and fig.  Wow.  We also tried the plantains with Spendora’s Chinese Five Spice gelato.  Both combinations were superb.

Food 259

2)  Short Ribs Slider from Mouth Wide Open.  At the bottom of this popular food truck’s new fall menu, released this week, appear the words “Yes, I [Heart] Onions.”  So do we.  Onions abound on the fall menu, appearing on four of the sliders.  You could always ask for them left off, but why would you want to do something like that?  A standout is the slider of braised tender short ribs topped with caramelized onions and cheese.  Fall food at its best.