The Dish


Sweet addition: Pearl's comes to West Main Published on May 2nd, 2013 5 comments Cupcakes, cookies, macaroons, muffins, tarts, croissants…you can't swing a rolling pin these days without hitting a sweet shop somewhere in town. Come May 6, you'll be able to sink your sweet...
More kebabs: Spice makes the difference Published on Apr 18th, 2013 1 comments Dish has counted at least three new kebab shops that have opened in Charlottesville recently, and we got to wondering: how do they differ? According to Nasir Sahti, owner of Kabab and Curry, the new...
Postcard mystery: The woman who loves Smithwick's Published on Apr 18th, 2013 2 comments When the Shebeen restaurant discontinued Smithwick's beer on tap, owner Walter Slawski didn't expect there to be much of a fuss over the disappearance of the historic Irish ale, which dates to the...
Kabobs on West Main Published on Apr 12th, 2013 0 comments In Charlottesville, where a restaurant’s ambiance and décor can be judged almost as harshly as the food, it’s refreshing to walk into Grand Market International Foods and Grill on West Main Street...
Coffee capital: Shark Mountain Coffee to change C'Ville java landscape Published on Apr 10th, 2013 10 comments Many small businesses in competitive industries will throw down to keep even their most basic recipes a secret from their competitors. Not Shark Mountain Coffee Company. In fact, part of what sets...
Just Curry returns Published on Apr 4th, 2013 0 comments More than three years after closing down two locations of Just Curry– one on the Corner and one in the Downtown Transit Center– Chef Alex George is currying favor once more with a new...
Pie one on: New cart brings taste of Down Under Published on Apr 4th, 2013 9 comments In America, the word pie is usually preceded by the name of a fruit– apple, peach, blueberry. It's a different world Down Under where pies are stuffed with meats, vegetables, and just about...
Young and old: Vinegar Hill Café aims for health at all ages Published on Mar 27th, 2013 0 comments Two months after the grand opening of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, community music and educational events are happening on a near-daily basis in the extensively renovated...
Drink and be merry: Wine Made Simple celebrates Published on Mar 24th, 2013 0 comments Back in 2011, Wine Made Simple owner Joyce Watson told The Dish that it was her dream to open a wine shop, and to be a "community hub for people to socialize and enjoy good wine." In April, the wine...
Haute Chinese: Chang celebrates top ten honors Published on Mar 21st, 2013 3 comments When the editors of Travel & Leisure Magazine set out earlier this year to find the best Chinese restaurants in America, they had a daunting task. There are now over 41,000 Chinese restaurants in...
A taste of Hamiltons' new menu Published on Mar 16th, 2013 13 comments By Nicole Patterson It’s been only a month since Hamiltons’ new chef, Curtis Shaver, joined the team, as recently detailed in the Dish. So what is the food like? At a recent menu tasting, Hamiltons’...
Mexican for all: Two Guys tacos tempt Published on Mar 14th, 2013 8 comments Business men stroll in for lunch, families grab a quick bite for dinner, and students roll in at 2:30am to scarf down some late night post party food. It's a rare restaurant that can expect such a...
Dinner and a movie: Stonefield's date-night options bloom Published on Mar 7th, 2013 2 comments In its inexorable march toward local date-night dominance, The Shops at Stonefield now boasts two casually upscale restaurants with the March 4 opening of Travinia Italian Kitchen. Facing the...
Thinking on his feet: Hamiltons' welcomes new chef Published on Feb 28th, 2013 0 comments When long-time Hamilton's chef Jeanette Peabody announced she was leaving to pursue motherhood, owners Bill and Kate Hamilton took their time deciding on a replacement. "In its 17 years, Hamiltons'...
Turkish delight: Sultan Kebab serves up east and west Published on Feb 20th, 2013 6 comments Maybe the reason we never noticed Sultan Kebab, which has been open almost a year, is its not-so-great location, tucked in back of the Rio 29 Plaza. "We knew that," says Serhat Peker. "...
Video special: Chang's second Beard Foundation dinner Published on Feb 19th, 2013 0 comments About the highest compliment a chef can be paid is an invite to come cook at a James Beard Foundation dinner in New York City. Local chef Peter Chang went back for a second year in a row this past...
Worth the trip: Glass Haus raises the bar Published on Feb 12th, 2013 0 comments Back in November, MAS chef Tomas Rahal, not one to throw around praise, was emphatic about his visit to the Glass Haus Kitchen, which had just recently opened. "Might be the best in town," said Rahal...
Food trucks: Are more regs needed? Published on Feb 5th, 2013 0 comments For some time now, mobile food trucks have been a part of our culinary landscape, rolling up at various and varied private locations, offering everything from organic doughnuts, hot dogs, tacos and...
Groceryland: Albemarle Square gets fresh Published on Jan 30th, 2013 0 comments Yes, Charlottesville, you will soon have yet another grocery store option, as the North Carolina-based gourmet grocery store chain The Fresh Market is set to open on February 6 in the Albemarle...
Hot dog hideaway: Crozet stand serves all the way Published on Jan 24th, 2013 8 comments A tucked away space on Three Notch'd Road in Crozet used to house a Subway. Since October, it's serving up dogs instead of subs. Sam's Hot Dog Stand is a West Virginia franchise founded by former...
First course: Restaurant Week kicks off Published on Jan 22nd, 2013 0 comments Restaurant Week officially kicked off on Monday, January 21, and Dish popped into the Melting Pot to see how it was going. Manager Jonathan Shields said the combination of it being MLK Day and...
Hungry? Deliciousness is coming your way Published on Jan 9th, 2013 2 comments Okay, so I'm sitting around trying to think about what to write for this week's Dish and the food photos from the restaurants participating in the Hook's Restaurant Week from January 12-27 start...
Family feeling: The Farmhouse at Veritas Vineyards Published on Jan 3rd, 2013 0 comments Owners Andrew and Patricia Hodson opened Afton's Veritas Vineyards in 2002, and within a few years their daughter, winemaker Emily Pelton, was winning awards, including taking the top prize in the...
Cville yum! Charlottesville Restaurant Week coming January 21-27 Published on Dec 19th, 2012 0 comments Eat like a king for just $29 or $36  in Charlottesville, Virginia– and help local food producers! For any diner who has ever dreamed about fine dining without breaking the bank, Restaurant Week...
Food explosion: The 2012 restaurant round-up Published on Dec 18th, 2012 4 comments The year in food was marked by something surprising, considering the economy: the opening and/or re-purposing of a lot of new restaurants and eateries, over 40 at least. Of course, there were also...
The Livery gets ready Published on Dec 10th, 2012 0 comments For years, the street leading up to the Downtown Mall between Vinegar Hill Theater and the Omni Hotel has been lined on the left by a vast expanse of brick, but signs now point to the imminent...
Kitchen classic: Hernandez remembers his roots Published on Dec 10th, 2012 4 comments Too busy to make dinner every night? Don't want to give your kids fast food? If you live in the Keswick area, chef Juan Hernandez might have a solution for you. From a commercial kitchen tucked away...
Stonefield foodery: Burtons Grill serves up American contempo Published on Dec 5th, 2012 14 comments With the new Regal megaplex drawing crowds to the Shops at Stonefield, moviegoers need a place to debrief over a glass of wine or a bite to eat after seeing, say, Life of Pi. Now an option:...
Stonefield foodery: Burtons Grill serves up American contempo Published on Dec 5th, 2012 14 comments With the new Regal megaplex drawing crowds to the Shops at Stonefield, moviegoers need a place to debrief over a glass of wine or a bite to eat after seeing, say, Life of Pi. Now an option:...
Campus Kitchen: UVA students recycle the food Published on Dec 4th, 2012 1 comments Third-year Mike Rusie spent a recent Friday morning volunteering at the Local Food Hub. In exchange, he received sweet potatoes, carrots, and spaghetti squash– "donation-grade produce"–...