The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Timbercreek Market

06/26/2016

Nadjeeb Chouaf: Champion Cheesemonger

Nadjeeb

In his spare time, cheesemonger Nadjeeb Chouaf works at Champion Brewing Company. And, now he is indeed a Champion.

After several runner-up finishes in prior years at The Cheesemonger Invitational, Flora Artisanal Cheese’s Chouaf was starting to earn a reputation as the Susan Lucci of cheesemongering. But, yesterday he won. “You are the best cheesemonger in America,” the event’s organizer told Chouaf late last night.

Chouaf defeated top cheesemongers from around the country in a series of tests like blind taste identification, written tests, cutting, speed-wrapping, and a mock sale. But, the test that has become a favorite of cheesemongers and spectators alike is the “perfect bite,” where mongers combine cheese with other ingredients to create an ideal morsel of food. To help plan his perfect bite, Chouaf called on the talent of Ian Redshaw of Lampo, creator of Charlottesville’s 2015 Dish of the Year. Together, Redshaw and Chouaf devised a bite inspired by the snack food Bugles. In this case, the bugles were made of Redshaw’s own dehydrated lamb mortadella, baked and stuffed with Kunik cheese, and topped with a pudding of garlic scapes and spruce tips, and pomegranate aril.

Bugles1

Charlottesville continued its streak of amazing showings at the Cheesemonger Invitational, as Sara Adduci was again a runner-up. With Adduci at Feast! and Chouaf at Timbercreek Market, two of the nation’s top three cheesemongers work less than a mile from one another right here in Charlottesville.

To excel at the competition’s rigorous tests requires a belief in oneself that can come only from years of practice and study. And, Chouaf has just that. Before he left for the Cheesemonger Invitational last week, Chouaf told me that he expected to win. Where were we? Champion, of course.

 

 

06/07/2016

Timbercreek Market Farm-to-Table Dinners

Creek

One of Charlottesville’s rising culinary stars, Allie Redshaw is the woman behind the outstanding sandwiches and prepared items at Timbercreek Market. (You really need to try her octopus salad.) But, a chef at heart, she thrives most when she gets to let loose in the kitchen on a multi-course dinner. If you want to see for yourself, check out Timbercreek Market’s recently announced series of Farm-to-Table Dinners this summer — multi-course meals featuring Redshaw’s creations from farm-sourced ingredients. Each dinner also includes a cheese course from award-winning cheesemonger Nadjeeb Chouaf of Flora Artisanal Cheese. Seating is understandably limited for the dinners.  Details and reservations here.

 

12/18/2015

Five Finds on Friday: Charlie Toder

Toder

On Fridays, we feature five food finds from local chefs and personalities. This week’s picks come from certified cicerone Charlie Toder, Beer Curator at Kardinal Hall.  Next month, Toder will preside over Kardinal Hall’s first beer dinner, where chef Thomas Leroy will prepare a multi-course feast showcasing Autumn Olive Farms pork and cheese by Nabdjeeb Chouaf of Flora Artisanal Cheese.  Restaurant clients of Autumn Olive Farms typically buy a whole pig at a time, and many restaurant menus, like Kardinal Hall’s, feature mainstream, crowd-pleasing cuts of pork.  For the beer dinner, though, Leroy will utilize the leftover “other bits” (the best parts!).  For more details and ticket info, check back here on Monday, December 21 at 4 pm.  Tickets will go fast.  Toder’s picks:

1) Saturday Morning Randall at Beer Run.  “Randall maestro Noel Scott and I have been friends for years, and it’s always fun to see what crazy concoction he’s whipped up. A glass of Randalled beer and a couple of Beer Run breakfast tacos will cure whatever ails you on Saturday morning (especially a hangover).”

2) Slow Roasted Pork from Pearl Island at the Charlottesville City Market.  “When I’m shopping at the Charlottesville City Market I almost always grab a plate of this delicious Caribbean pork. It’s juicy, tender, well seasoned, and comes with yummy greens and plantains.”

3)  Early Sunday Dinner at The Alley Light.  “Like everyone else in Charlottesville, I’m hooked on the fantastic food and drink at The Alley Light. To avoid the crowds and wrangle experimental cocktails out of the bar staff, I go on Sundays around 5 o’clock. The bar is either empty or filled with other bartenders, which brings the wackiness out of the best drink makers in town.”

4)  Kale Slaw at Timbercreek Market. “I’m incredibly lucky to work next door to such a stupendous market and lunch spot. Every time I go for lunch I have to pick up a container of this slaw to take home.”

5)  Funghi Pizza at Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria. “The pizza at Lampo is the best I’ve had outside of Italy. The funghi pizza is simple, with the cheese and mushrooms complementing the crust perfectly. The crust is the star of the show at Lampo, which is what defines truly world-class pizza.”