Circling back: Pearl Island’s Caribbean cuisine gets a boost from C’ville Builds
If pigeon peas, plantains, and pikliz jumpstart a craving for you, you’re probably a fan of Pearl Island Foods. The Caribbean-centric food business launched with a booth at Charlottesville City Market in 2014, before moving into the Jefferson School City Center two years later. Sober Pierre, owner and operator of Pearl Island Foods, and Executive […]
Zest for life: PVCC culinary director leaves behind a legacy of passion
Patient and fair. Loved teaching. Passion for life. Joyful partner. These virtues are extolled again and again as the Charlottesville food community mourns the passing of chef and food educator Eric Breckoff, who died unexpectedly on August 16 at age 60. Breckoff was the much-beloved inaugural director of the culinary arts program at Piedmont Virginia […]
Brasserie is back: Four-star GM reopens the popular downtown restaurant
As the coronavirus continues to keep people inside, local restaurant devotees have been on edge, fearing the worst for many establishments’ ability to survive the slowdown in traffic that has befallen all businesses. One popular spot has some encouraging news: Rather than closing as planned, Brasserie Saison has cautiously reopened with a new general manager, […]
Veggie fest: Local markets manage an overstock of produce and more
There is an unexpected silver lining to the current pandemic for those seeking locally farmed produce and meats in the Charlottesville area: Due to the radical change in business practices of area growers and restaurants, customers can now access an abundance of farmers’ offerings on an almost daily basis. But this has also created a […]
Support system: Restaurants and agribusinesses share resources
The tradition of neighbors helping neighbors has taken on new meaning during the time of coronavirus, pushing many of us to become creative in figuring out ways to help each other. There’s no better example of this than in the Charlottesville-area food community, where business as usual came to a screeching halt two months ago. […]
Keep on truckin’: Food trucks retool their approach to stay running
April in Charlottesville is when the food truck business kicks into high gear. For Ignacio and Maria Becerra, the warm weather typically signals the return of long lines of customers snaking around the perimeter of the Charlottesville City Market, waiting for their Mexican Tacos. But there’s nothing typical for the local food industry this spring. […]
Ripple effect: Local restaurants connect creatively to survive the virus’ impact
As restaurants nationwide are forced to limit service in response to the coronavirus epidemic, workers and owners face economic as well as emotional uncertainty. Our gem of a food town is no exception. By the time Charlottesville announced its first case of COVID-19 on March 16, restaurants all over town were shutting down or moving […]
Deli-cious anniversary: Local organizations benefit from Modern Nosh’s success
Has it already been a year since we touted the arrival of an authentic Jewish deli to the local food scene? At the time, Modern Nosh owner Stephanie Levin said her goal was to launch her new eatery with a philanthropic twist, by sharing profits with local charities. “Our tagline is ‘you dine, we donate’,” […]
Small Bites
Finally, a real Jewish deli in town It’s about time, right? After a soft opening on January 26, Modern Nosh will be fully up and running at 111 Water St. on February 5. Owned by Stephanie Levin, a Norfolk native who graduated from UVA in 1990, the restaurant will serve corned beef and brisket cooked […]
Warm up with ramen: Whole Foods offers the noodle soup on Fridays
One of the worst-kept secrets in Charlottesville is Whole Foods Market’s excellent ramen soup bar, which is only open from 11am to 3pm Fridays during the winter months. Andre Susilo, district manager in Virginia for Genji, the contractor that also provides sushi to Whole Foods, says that the bar’s limited hours have not diminished its […]
Bargain hunter and gatherer: Living the Vie Lifestyle means eating affordable, easy-to-make meals
For mother of six Lynsie Steele, necessity was the mother invention as she tried to feed a large family on a shoestring. “I was trying to find ways to save money so I challenged myself to cut my grocery bill in half,” says the food entrepreneur. She decided to blog about the meal plans she […]
Mangia! Mangia! on Main: New Italian restaurant takes over Bella’s space
The restaurant formerly known as Bella’s is under new ownership, and will reopen this month as Mangione’s on Main, according to owner Bert Crinks. Crinks and his wife Elaina, who will run the restaurant, are recent transplants from Northern Virginia who’ve been searching for the perfect site in which to open a restaurant. Having spent […]
Sammy love in the new year: Guest sandwiches are back at Keevil & Keevil
After a consulting gig at Commonwealth Restaurant & Sky Bar, Harrison Keevil is back full-time at Keevil & Keevil, with some new ideas for the store he co-owns with his wife Jennifer. “We’re bringing back the guest sandwiches —where I ask friends what their dream sandwich is and try to make it come to life […]
Back to school: New owner, new focus for Charlottesville Cooking School
With chef Antwon Brinson’s recent takeover of Martha Stafford’s popular Charlottesville Cooking School, the institution is becoming a destination for aspiring restaurant cooks—a place to learn professional and life skills for long-term culinary careers. Brinson originally launched Culinary Concepts, his “culinary boot camp,” in partnership with the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, and operated […]
Curls for a cause: Brasserie Saison’s general manager is making waves
Will Curley, general manager of Brasserie Saison and wine director at Ten Course Hospitality, is ready to sacrifice his stylish “do” for a good cause. Call it Curls for Curley. Friend and winemaker AJ Greely says Curley’s wife Priscilla, who is the general manager at Tavola, “has been teasing him unrelentingly regarding his mullet.” So […]
Where the hearth is: Little Star will offer Spanish and Mexican-influenced fare in an inviting spot on West Main
Little Star, the sophomore dining venture by Oakhart Social’s Ben Clore and Tristan Wraight, is slated to open its doors December 30, when its warm hearth and welcoming vibe should be a respite from the chill. Joined by third partner and executive chef Ryan Collins, the team has put together a restaurant they hope will […]
Dinner is served: Chef brings women together to help the homeless
Duner’s executive chef Laura Fonner has spearheaded a drive to provide chef-driven, home-cooked suppers for PACEM—an organization that provides cold-weather shelter for the homeless—each Tuesday throughout the winter months. She was inspired to take action after helping to serve at a PACEM dinner late last winter. “I met a man who had worked in restaurants […]
But baby it’s cold outside: Wine and beer delivered to your door
In case you need one more excuse to avoid going out in the frigid weather, Wegmans is now offering beer and wine delivery through Instacart. “We know our customers are busy, and the holidays are no exception,” says Erica Tickle, Wegmans e-commerce group manager. “We wanted to help our customers spend less time prepping and […]
Spicing up the menu: A new chef brings new flavors to Zocalo
Zocalo has undergone a number of major changes recently, with owner Ivan Rekosh buying out his longtime partner and then bringing in a new executive chef, Zynodoa’s Josh Hutter, who’s been shaking up the menu with a variety of surprising new offerings. “I’ve been cooking the same food for 15 years, and it’s great to […]
Fried fish on the go: A new business takes off
Angelic’s Kitchen On Wheels food truck has taken to the streets, a mere four years since owner Angelic Jenkins began cooking professionally, after her husband urged her to find a hobby other than shopping. “I love cooking for people and always wanted to sell fried fish at a festival,” Jenkins says, “So I started off […]
Café and community: A taste of Little Havana comes to Cville
Proper Cuban food has been in short supply in the Charlottesville area, but that’s about to change when Guajiros Miami Eatery opens its doors in the next few weeks. The restaurant is the brainchild of Miami transplant Harvey Mayorga, who, with his brother, Danilo, plans to bring a bit of Little Havana to the city, […]
Family matters: A creative staff meal starts—or ends—the night right
The family meal is a restaurant tradition, where chefs take turns cooking a meal for the entire staff to dine together before service. At an Italian restaurant like Tavola, you might expect that meal to be a fat bowl of pasta and maybe some garlic bread. But, in fact, one of the more memorable family […]
Where everybody knows your name: Oakhart Social is a favorite after-hours hang
After a long night of waiting and bussing tables, cooking meals, serving drinks, and washing dishes, most restaurant staffs are usually ready to unwind. But in a town in which the sidewalks tend to roll up after 10 or 11pm, where’s a hard-working, thirsty server supposed to go? A regular haunt for those needing a […]
Don’t call it a comeback: UVA alum hopes to recapture Littlejohn’s former glory
Littlejohn’s New York Delicatessen, an institution on the Corner for 40-plus years, has undergone a renaissance under new owner Christian Trendel, who was brought in by the family of founder John Crafaik, Jr. “Littlejohn’s used to be a fixture on the Corner,” Trendel says. “And we’re trying to bring it back to that status.” A […]
A cheese for every season: Italy will provide the inspiration for Caromont Farm’s newest venture
For local cheesemaker Gail Hobbs-Page, the hills will be alive with the sound of cowbells and milking pails as she embarks on a dream excursion to the Italian Alps this month. She’ll be communing with Italian cheese makers who are making their product the old-fashioned way: by hand. Hobbs-Page, who owns Caromont Farm south of […]
Sake to me: Falling in love with rice wine
For North American Sake Brewery co-owner Jeremy Goldstein, it wasn’t a trip to Japan but a visit back home to California that inspired his new venture. “I’d never had ‘craft’ sake, but I went to this amazing restaurant with a sake sommelier and had a whole different experience than I’d had before with the heated […]
Egging ’em on: Junction’s now serving a bruncheon
Belmont’s Junction is delving into the weekend world of bracing bloodies and merciful mimosas with the launch of a brunch service. Executive chef Melissa Close-Hart says the demand was there for it, and the timing right. “We thought about doing brunch from the beginning,” she says. “We tried it out on holidays, like Easter and […]