Along with the burrito-loving masses, which are apparently, well, massive, we lined up for our free burrito on Chipotle’s recent opening day, and ordered the Barbacoa, with shredded, marinated beef. It was super-flavorful, a little spicy but not too dense. We like their medium-hot corn salsa—the corn adds a good, fresh crunch to the burrito, and they’re very generous with toppings like shredded jack cheese, sour cream and guacamole. The guac was really green, chunky and fresh-tasting, too. The burrito’s almost enough for two meals, so it’s still a good deal for lunch and a post-lunch snack for later.
Chipotle Barracks Road Shopping Center 872-0212
Five Finds on Friday: Melissa Close Hart of Palladio
On Fridays, we and The Charlottesville 29 feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from four-time James Beard award semi-finalist Melissa Close Hart, chef of Palladio Restaurant at Barboursville Vineyard. On June 9, Palladio will be celebrating the
Bistro chic: A Downtown Colonial gets a modern kitchen for the ages
If you own a house in a historic district, it turns out that implementing any kind of renovation project is tricky business. Mark and Caroline Shaffrey knew this when, in 1997, they decided to buy their 1902 Colonial in Downtown Charlottesville. And it meant waiting to make any changes to the
Up to the plate: With its noteworthy farm table and wine bar, Pippin Hill Farm edges out the competition
In a blind taste test by a panel of experts last fall, Virginia wines squared off against those from leading regions of the world. The results stunned many. Virginia won. In case it had not been clear already, there was now no doubt: Virginia wine is on the rise. With the popularity of Virginia
Full bloom: A Madison tulip farm extends its reach
The story of how Keriann Koeman came to have upwards of 50,000 tulips planted on her property starts with love, but not necessarily a love of tulips. Koeman, a self described “green girl,” met Jeroen Koeman, who hailed from a Dutch family of tulip growers. They fell in love, got married, and
Free to be: Charlottesville street style
The freedom one feels when he gets dressed in the morning translates into his life every day. The medium is the message, be it architecture, nail art, or graffiti. How free can you be? SEAN was studying at Mudhouse when I approached him to talk about what he was wearing. Born in North Korea and [...]
Sowing trouble: When pets and plants collide
With an overdue spring finally coming into its own, it’s time for many of us to start spending some time in the garden. Whether you’re planting vegetables for the table or decorative plants to brighten up the yard, you can be pretty sure that your pets are going to be keen on inspecting the
Five Finds on Friday: Pei Chang of TEN Sushi
On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from Pei Chang, chef of TEN Sushi. And, on Mother’s Day weekend, the mother of his three young children made the list! Chang’s picks: 1) Meatloaf Sandwich at Stonefire Kitchen. “Artisanal
Hanu Truck bets on SoCal recipe for C’ville success
“I’m trying to bring two things that people don’t see a lot of in Charlottesville or the East Coast,” said Patrick Kim, who has been making waves in the city’s food scene ever since he arrived in Charlottesville in February to open his Korean taco truck, Hanu. Kim, who grew up in Southern
It’s Willamette, dammit! Making the case for Oregon wines
If rain is Oregon’s best-known cliché, then Pinot Noir is the runner-up. With May celebrating Oregon Wine Month, and the Willamette Valley being one of my favorite wine regions in the world, what better time than now to delve into this sustainable wine mecca? Viticulturally, Oregon is a big
Overheard on the Charlottesville restaurant scene: This week’s food news
Chef Harrison Keevil of Brookville Restaurant will create a farm-fresh meal at Bellair Farm Sunday, May 26. Blenheim Vineyards will handle the wine. Tickets are $65 ($10 for children under 9). Call The Happy Cook at 977-2665 to secure yours. You’ll get a second chance to try that meal (though
Best of C-VILLE 2013: Make your nominations!
It’s primary season! Get your local favorites on the upcoming 2013 Best of C-VILLE ballot by nominating the best people, places, and things in Charlottesville prior to the release of the final ballot. The best of the best will end up on a multiple-choice ticket for the official Best of C-VILLE
Passive aggressive: In Ruckersville, Katrina survivors start over with nature in mind
After decades spent living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Don and Minna Doyle found themselves facing catastrophe when Hurricane Katrina flooded their house with 12′ of water in 2005. “It was structurally sound, but everything had to be replaced,” Minna remembered. While many of their
Five Finds on Friday: Treat Huey
Today is the 50th edition of Five Finds on Friday, where chefs and local personalities pick five favorite food items in the area. To mark the occasion, The Charlottesville 29 has the picks of a Charlottesville resident who is among the top 29 in the world in his field. In fact, tennis player
Crust in the spotlight: Quiche master Lynette Meynig shares her secrets
To the untrained eye, the quiche is a seemingly simple dish that requires very little skill and few ingredients. It consists, after all, of only two elements: crust and filling. But think again. This French-inspired staple of American cuisine is subtle and sophisticated, varied and complex. If
Beyond the bitter: Brewers explore new flavors in ‘feature hops’
Humulus lupus, the species best known to us as hops, produces effects in beer that we traditionally associate with bitterness. Hops also produce aromas and flavors that are usually associated with earthiness, grassiness, floral characteristics, and a bit of weedy dankness. In the past couple of
More Salt, new eats, and a canning lesson: This week’s restaurant news
How interesting! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mellow Mushroom’s “Most Interesting Man in the World” sweepstakes and win the Ultimate Mellow Mushroom Mexican vacation. Through May 5, stop in to the University Avenue location and take the “most interesting” photo with the Dos Equis Most
Five Finds on Friday: Jonathan Wheeler of Trump Winery
On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. This week’s picks come from Jonathan Wheeler, Sparkling Winemaker at Trump Winery. Next weekend, May 4 and 5, Trump Winery will be celebrating its 2012 Vintage Release with samples of the new 2012 Sauvignon
Seeing reds: White wine isn’t the only option for warmer weather
Seasonal associations are unavoidable with any food or drink: Warmer weather seemingly demands lighter fare, brighter wines, and, overall, a refreshing gastric experience. And, not coincidentally, just as our seasons change, the new, fresh white and rosé wines seem to pour into shops and
Two chefs, one dinner, and more local restaurant news
Two for one Mark your calendar for Friday, May 3, as two acclaimed Virginia chefs, both nominated for the James Beard Award of Excellence, come together to create a dinner to remember. Lee Gregory is the chef and owner of The Roosevelt restaurant in Richmond’s historic Church Hill neighborhood
Five Finds on Friday: Mike Ketola of Mas
On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from Mike Ketola, who cooks at not one but two restaurants that have been inducted into The Charlottesville 29. Ketola is the longtime sous chef of Mas, and also cooks at Barbecue Exchange.