The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: The Local

10/09/2015

Five Finds on Friday: Benoit Pineau

Benoit Pineau1

On Fridays, we feature five finds from area chefs and personalities.  It’s Virginia Wine Month, and today’s picks come from Benoit Pineau, winemaker at the award-winning Pollak Vineyards.  On the evening of October 30, Pollak will host its last Final Friday of 2015, with live music by Hot Twang, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, and more. Pineau’s picks:

1)  Quiche Lorraine at MarieBette Café and Bakery. “It is delicious and the bakery’s style takes me back to France.”

2)  Taco Loco at La Michoacana Taqueria.  “Great value for a fresh, authentic taco with great seasoning choices.”

3) The Local Burger at The Local.  “Because sometimes I need my burger. It is a simple, very well prepared burger. Local organic beef topped with Swiss cheese, smoked bacon, and caramelized onions.”

4)  Melrose at Greenwood Gourmet.  “This is my favorite vegetarian sandwich. It’s a panini with portobello mushrooms and red onions with homemade pimento cheese and arugula.”

5)  Canard a la Peche at Restaurant Pomme.  “The mango salsa and peach sauce are a very good choice to pair with the duck breast. You can pair it with the wine of your choice, they have a great wine list!”

11/13/2014

Benefit Dinner to Preview New Belmont Eatery

The Local 2

Hear about the upcoming Belmont restaurant with the owner of The Local and the area’s most decorated chef, Melissa Close-Hart?  Here’s your chance for a very early preview, all while contributing to a great cause.  On December 8, The Local is hosting a dinner to raise money for the medical expenses of Jerry Colgate, a catering chef of The Local who remains in critical condition after an apparent hit-and-run.  A Taste of What’s to Come – A Benefit for Jerry Colgate, with guest chef Close-Hart, will feature some of the food and drink you can expect at the new restaurant when it opens next year.  Details below.  If you can’t make the dinner but would still like to donate, you may do so at www.gofundme.com/h1uwsg.

When: December 8, 6:00 pm for canapés, 6:30 pm for dinner.

Where: The Local, 824 Hinton Ave.

What:  A Five Course Tequila & Beer Paired Dinner featuring some of the dishes and cocktails that will be seen at the new restaurant in Belmont.  Each course will feature two small plates paired with a tequila cocktail or beer.

Cost: $60 (tax and gratuity not included), with proceeds going towards Jerry’s medical expenses.

Reservations:  Seats are limited and sure to go fast.  You can get yours here.

 

10/17/2014

Five Finds on Friday: Emily Holter

emily

On Fridays, we feature five foods finds selected by local chefs and personalities.  Today’s picks come from Emily Holter, of Sweethaus, the Charlottesville cupcake cafe that is poised to open a second location in Brooklyn.  Holter’s picks:

1)  Wings and Nachos on football Sundays at Wild Wing Cafe.  “Doesn’t get much better than throwing on a jersey and hunkering down for a game at WWC. I’m such a sucker for nachos. Different types of cheeses, fresh salsa, sour cream, seasoned beef, texture explosion! Always solid and delicious. And there’s a reason the wings are so revered; the sauces are creative and complex all the while really tasty.”

2)  Fleur de Sel Caramels from La Vache Microcreamery.  “You have never tried a fleur de sel caramel proper until you’ve tried these small-batch artisan classics from La Vache. A crazy-good concoction of my favorite ingredients: butter, salt, sugar. Stephanie has nailed it!”

3)  The Local Burger at The Local.  “I’m a burger girl. Nothing more satisfying than that first juicy bite of a beautifully executed burger. Caramelized onion, always crispy apple-smoked bacon, swiss cheese. Medium-rare all the way. The best.”

4)  Farmhouse Dry Cider on draught from Potter’s Craft Cider.  “I met these guys years ago while working at Whole Foods buying wine and beer just as they were starting out. They’ve got me hooked! Farmhouse dry, especially on draft, smells like fruit and almost tastes like champagne upon first sip. Tart, dry, and insanely crisp. Excellent any time of year, and effervescent to the max!”

5)  Longaniza anything at El Tepeyac.  “This house-made Mexican sausage is the real deal. The rich notes of smoke and a slight sweetness give way to a beautifully balanced kick at the end. Sometimes its great in a burrito with chunky jalepenos and fresh avocado, other times it’s delicious enveloped in a cheese quesadilla. Yum!”