The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: The Ivy Inn

06/20/2016

The Ivy Inn Auction

Ivy Inn

Here is your chance to experience The Ivy Inn like you never have experienced it before, while helping to feed the area’s hungry. It’s The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions, presented by McGuireWoods. Along with all of the other restaurants in The Charlottesville 29, The Ivy Inn has created a signature experience available to whoever pledges the highest donation to The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Thanks to the generosity of The Ivy Inn, the winning bid goes directly to the food bank, and each dollar donated is enough to provide four meals to the area’s hungry. So, a winning bid of, say, $10,000 would mean not just a wonderful meal for the winner and their guests, but also 40,000 more meals for the area’s hungry.

The Ivy Inn signature experience for The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auction:

The Ivy Inn’s “Taverna” Experience for 20

Charlottesville’s favorite special occasion restaurant has created perhaps its most special occasion of all. The auction winner and nineteen of their guests will have the entire patio to themselves, which The Ivy Inn will transform into a one-time-only, pop-up Greek taverna. Chef Angelo Vangelopoulos, a two-time James Beard award semi-finalist, and his father, a talented Greek chef in his own right, will serve an enormous feast of traditional and modern Greek dishes, wines, and ouzo, with a wide variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. “It will be a blast!” says Angelo.

Note: The auction winner will schedule the event at a mutually convenient time with the restaurant.

Bidding

Bidding for The Ivy Inn auction ended on July 21, 2016.

Winning Bid: $8,150

05/13/2016

Five Finds on Friday: Caleb Warr

Caleb

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Caleb Warr, chef of Tavola, which announced this week a sister relationship with acclaimed Tuscany restaurant Ristorante Il Falcone, as part of Charlottesville’s Sister Cities Program.  Among the highlights of the relationship is a June 11 street fair in front of Tavola with dishes inspired by Il Falcone chef Roberta Vivetta Cintelli, who will visit Tavola from June 6-11. Get your tasting tickets for the fair here. Warr’s picks:

1) Hellboy Pizza at Lampo.  “There are many great and interesting things coming out of this kitchen. I am always open to trying whatever the boys have going on down the street, but every time I go, the Hellboy is a must. A beautifully flavored crust with the spicy chili honey glaze . . . oh yea!”

2) Queso con Mermalada at MAS Tapas.  “The award winning Monte Enebro Goat Cheese from Spain, on top of their house made brioche and house apricot marmalade might be my favorite dish in Charlottesville. Pair this with one of the amazing Priorat wines on Tomas’ list, and I am in heaven!”

3)  Tea Smoked Duck with Fried Onions at Peter Chang’s.  “This has become my new favorite lunch spot, and since my first visit this dish has captured my attention. Super tasty, and highlighted with the spicy crispy onions, it is definitely one to try.”

4)  Chocolate Almond Croissant at MarieBette.  “As someone who loves to create delicious pastry, I always judge bakeries by their ability to succeed at this product. I have eaten countless takes on this item, and this is one of the best I have ever had. I make visits to MarieBette frequently just for it, and my staff knows to always buy me one when they are there. Working with laminated dough is difficult and to get the perfect texture is even harder. Then toss in chocolate, and the perfect amount of almond paste; these guys have got it down. This one product can turn a bad day completely around for me!”

5)  Pumpkin Ravioli at The Ivy Inn. ” There are too many things to list as great at The Ivy Inn. This one dish, which usually runs in the fall, has a special place in my journey at learning this craft. When I first began cooking, I was so blown away at how great pasta could be that I volunteered to work in Angelo’s kitchen, for free, several times to learn how to create this. I still try every now and then to spend some time with this awesome chef to get better at my craft, a true leader!”

01/29/2016

Five Finds on Friday: Mark Otis

Otis

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Mark Otis, personal chef and self-described “enthusiast of eating and drinking,” who is part of a stellar line-up of chefs at the upcoming dinner to raise money for the National MS Society, which now has a venue.  Next Saturday, February 6, at Early Mountain Vineyards, Otis will join Tucker Yoder of Eljogaha, Christian Kelly of Maya, and Bryan Kelly of Harvest Moon Catering to prepare six courses paired with wines. Among the excellent local purveyors to be featured are Harvest Thyme Herbs, The Rock Barn, The Local Food Hub, Seafood @ West Main, a.m. Fog Mushroom Farm, Gabriele Rausse, Blenheim Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, and more.  $100 per person, with proceeds to fight multiple sclerosis.  Details here. Email msbenefitdinner2016@gmail.com for tickets.

1) Fried Oysters at Duners.  “Located in Ivy, it is an institution and nobody does that many covers that well. I’m a sucker for a perfectly fried oyster and a cold beer.”

2) Pupusa at Cactus. “Behind the Sunoco station on 5th street, Cactus makes a pupusa that will solve anything life has to offer. Of course, Brazos crushes tacos with force–as we all know!”

3) 2015 Pinot Grigio from Gabriele Rausse.  “First off,  if you can find it you win.  And, the 2015 Pinot Grigio is my favorite Virginia wine right now.  It is due out Valentine’s Day and will make you very proud of Virginia wine.”

4) Ravioli at The Ivy Inn.  “Kills it. It gets better every time I go, and Angelo pretends like he doesn’t know it. Everything. Leave room for dessert.”

5) Ham and Brie Sandwich at Bashir’s Taverna.  “Bashir and Kathy do everything well, but the ham and brie is burned into my mind forever. Bashir is just my hero. I think he has secret powers.”