The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Ten Sushi

10/30/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Tami Resch

Do you know Charlottesville super-couple Tami Resch and Joel Cuellar? Resch is the former freelance baker of layer cakes and cupcakes at MarieBette. Cuellar is the former Spirits Sommelier of Manhattan’s legendary Brandy Library, who runs Speakeasy. (He’s also a judge in Malt Masters 2026, coming soon.) Now, with their daughters Islay and Skye, they are opening Charlottesville Cupcake.

Opening in November at 402 Commerce St., across from the Jefferson School park, Charlottesville Cupcake will serve the cupcakes that earned Resch a following at MarieBette, along with some new creations. Follow their Instagram page for updates. Resch’s picks:

1) Vanilla Bean Marmalade Danish at Cou Cou Rachou. “I am embarrassed to say how long it took me as a baker to visit Cou Cou Rachou, especially since my neighbor Sarah is a baker there, but I was so delighted when I did. I had an incredible Vanilla Bean Marmalade danish and the vibe is so friendly and cheerful.”

2) Rose Geranium Ice Cream from SugarBear. “I’ve only had it once after having the great fortune of tasting a rose geranium panna cotta at Emily’s home for dessert. I literally couldn’t speak. It was the best thing I had ever tasted. Thankfully she made it into an ice cream and it had this delicate floral, slightly herbal, precious flavor. Let’s talk her into making it again next spring.”

3) Tres Leches Cake from Florosa at JBird. “Chris does an absolutely outstanding version and her presentation is so beautiful. It feels so generous and deliberate in its loveliness. It feels like you’re eating a gift every time.”

4) Lobster Tempura at Ten Sushi. “Every time our family has a big event to celebrate, the kids (now 18!) want to go to Ten Sushi. We sit down and mainly order four plates of Lobster Tempura, and also multiples of Ten Hamachi, but it’s the crispy delicate crunch on the big chunks of lobster that get me.”

5) Salt Risen Potato Rolls at Aster. “My husband didn’t look happy when I ordered the potato rolls the first night we went to Aster. There was just so much more on the menu that looked interesting and exciting. But I was so right. They’re served warm with this giant smear of local butter which I did not leave a trace of.”

06/27/2019

TEN Auction

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Here is your chance to experience TEN like you never have before, while helping to feed the area’s hungry: The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions. Along with all of the other restaurants in The Charlottesville 29, TEN has created a once-in-a-lifetime experience for whoever pledges the highest donation to The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Thanks to the generosity of TEN, the entire winning bid goes directly to the food bank. And, thanks to the efficiency of the food bank, each dollar donated creates four meals for the area’s hungry.

The TEN signature experience for The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions:

Luxury Omakase

In Japanese, omakase translates roughly as “to entrust.” And indeed, it requires trust to order omakase and leave yourself in the hands of the sushi chef. The only constraint is what the chef happens to have available.

For the TEN auction winner and five guests, though, sushi chef Pei Chang will plan ahead to make sure he has the very best ingredients available in order to create an indulgent menu of course-after-course of luxury ingredients, like uni from Hokkaido, Spanish Bluefin tuna, caviar, lobster and more. Plus, guests will enjoy exotic sake and wine pairings throughout the meal. 

Note: The auction winner will schedule the meal at a mutually convenient time with TEN.

Bidding

Bidding has ended for the TEN experience. Winning bid: $2,600.

05/31/2019

Five Finds on Friday: Matt Beck

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Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Matt Beck of Oakhart Social, which this weekend hosts an event to help Tavola’s Rebecca Edwards prepare for the Diageo National Finals in the United States Bartenders’ Guild annual World Class bartending competition. (That’s Charlottesville for you. One restaurant celebrates the success of another.)  This Sunday June 2, at 4 pm, Oakhart Social is opening its private event space to the public for Sunday/Funday, offering a menu of cocktails that Edwards will bring to next week’s National Finals competition. Details here. Beck’s picks:

1) Uni, Ankimo and Otoro Nigiri at TEN. “The quality of the fish and the temperature of the rice are just a few of the small details that make sushi extraordinary, and the crew at Ten always nails it. If I had to pick three pieces that they do exceptionally well I would always choose Uni, Ankimo and Otoro, but you really can’t go wrong regardless of what you order.”

2) Dealer’s Choice at Tavola. “Rebecca and Steve and the rest of the wonderful staff do an excellent job of serving delicious seasonal cocktails without unnecessary pretense. It’s always a pleasure to pick their brains. I generally get a Dealer’s Choice and let them have some fun.”

3) Bamboo Pork at Cafe 88. “It’s not on the regular menu, but if it’s being run as a special it’s a must get. A delicious stir fry of pork, bamboo shoots, chilies and ginger. It’s probably one of my favorite lunches in town.”

4) Porky Things at Little Star. “I’ve tasted most of the menu, and everything is delicious and thoughtful and you should order it all. But, I always get charcuterie from Sylvanaqua. Chris from Sylvanaqua is raising and curing some excellent products. Try to save a little room for dessert though.”

5) Wednesday Night Bar Menu at Prime 109. “The price and ambiance on Wednesday night are pretty great. Eat a sandwich or another of the specials that they offer at the bar, listen to some live jazz, and order a cocktail, and you’re bound to have a good time.”

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Prime 109 bar Photo by Kailee Taun