In addition to grabbing a great burger and a cold beer, on Tuesday, April 8 at around 8pm you’ll also be able to watch a female arm wrestling tournament. Apparently, there’s a female arm wrestling league in town called C.L.A.W. (Charlottesville Ladies Arm Wrestlers), and they’re holding the event at the Blue Moon to raise money for someone called Peace Scooter Girl, who plans to travel around the country talking to people about– well, peace. Anyway, we can’t imagine there’s anything more interesting that that going on on a Tuesday night.
Blue Moon Diner Classic old diner on West Main with an artsy twist. Burgers, breakfast, brunch, dinner. 512 W. Main St. 980-6666.
We went by El Cocina del Sol just a weekend or two ago for dinner, and look what we found: a swirling tower o’ chocolate. The folks at this downtown Crozet establishment have propped this baby behind the viewing bar— the one where you can also watch a lady patting cornmeal into tiny tortillas— for visions of melted chocolate. And then when you order chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert, this is how they get coated.
PadThai on Carlton Road, right next to Beer Run, will be closed today.
…and will be open every Saturday through October. Fresh produce, flowers, crafts, etc. from around the area. 7am-noon. Website. 970-3371.
Enjoy tasting wine at James Madison’s home. Featuring 20 Virginia wineries. Advance tix: $14. Gate: $20. Director order tickets by calling 1-800-594-8499.
$25 plus tax and tip. Includes cheese platter. Reservations required.
Siips
212 East Main (Downtown Mall)
434-872-0056
Hotcakes owner Keith Rosenfeld tells us that the infamous Jos� De Brito (left), former chef-owner of the French-inspired bistro and food, cheese, and wine emporium, Ciboulette (now home to Orzo in the West Main Market), is back. The colorful Frenchman had a loyal following who braved his sometimes inelegant manner (that is, normal behavior in France) because they loved his food so much. In fact, Rosenfeld reminded us that De Brito devotees formed a group called Friends of Ciboulette in the last two years of the bistro’s existence, with each member chipping in several hundred dollars to keep his business going. When we reported on Ciboulette closing, distraught foodies called the Hook to ask where De Brito had gone.
Well, now he’s back and serving up dinner on Friday and Saturday nights at Hotcakes in the Barracks Road Shopping Center. Rosenfeld says that De Brito’s reputation is such that folks from as far away as Washington, D.C. have already come by, including the general manager of the Inn at Little Washington.
“It’s really high-end stuff,” says Rosenfeld of De Brito’s menu, which changes every week.
Here’s this week’s menu. Dinner is served from 5:45 to 8pm on Friday and Saturday.
Kluge Vineyards in the spotlight. 5 to 7 PM.
Beer Run
156 Carlton Rd. Suite 203
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(434) 984-BEER
Open Monday-Friday at 7 a.m.
Saturday at 8 a.m.
John Brown with Merchant du Vin hosts Beer Run’s Wednesday beer tasting. 5 �€“ 7 PM.
Beer Run
156 Carlton Rd. Suite 203
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(434) 984-BEER
Open Monday-Friday at 7 a.m.
Saturday at 8 a.m.
In a front page story in the Washington Post today, gourmet burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has 700 stores nationwide, announced plans to begin using locally raised pork. And to the delight of local buy local fans, the company chose its Charlottesville restaurant in the Barracks Road Shopping Center as the place to begin (Of course, local Chipotle fans like real estate blogger Jim Duncan had already noticed). Working with Polyface Farms in Swoope, Virginia, which has been supplying produce to local restaurants for several years, Chipotle executives say they hope to serve 100 percent Polyface pork in the Charlottesville restaurant beginning this month.
“That’s great news,” says Melissa Wiley, who heads up the Piedmont Environmental Council’s Buy Fresh, Buy Local initiative. “We hope it will inspire other local restaurants and chains, to show them what’s possible.”
Apparently, that’s a tall order, as the Post reports that 350 pounds of pork get gobbled up at the Charlottesville restaurant everyday. According to the Post, Chipotle has been working with Polyface for 17 months on the arrangement, and dealing with the considerable hurdles of buying local. (more)
Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar in the Main Street Ma...
Chef Angelo Vangelopoulos munches on his ̶...
Big Jim's reborn. Same building, good BBQ, big burgers, soups, salads, subs, and happy hour specials.
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