Diners often skip starters, but practicing foodies know the appetizer course is where chefs shine, combining textures and flavors to create, quite possibly, the highlight of your meal. Lightly-fried wontons rolled and stuffed with fish and cilantro are a crunchy, scrumptious start at Taste of China (1) (and the newly opened Peter Chang China […]
What are you working on right now? I’m working on new material for a piece that I’m going to do to the Persian drumming of Djamshid Chemirani. Over the past 10 years or so I’ve been exploring my roots in Iran. I did a solo called “Under the Veil” and then developed that into a […]
Ask a local foodie, “Where’s the best pizza?” and you’ll discover a fountain of passionate opinions. Whether you crave uber-thin New York or a sultry deep-dish Sicilian, Charlottesville has pies to suit every taste. In no particular order: It’s all about the single slice at Christian’s (1), a perennial favorite for its crispy crust […]
Semolina closed? Following its shuttering in early December, we were hopeful Raif Antar’s pizza spot, Semolina, was simply closed for Christmas break. But, after it was closed for Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Day break, too, we contacted the restaurant’s former manager, Rebecca Deeds, who confirmed that she split in early December. Calls to Antar have […]
What were you doing when we called? I’ve been making a children’s book about Charlottesville with a friend of mine. One of the things I’m drawing is the Downtown Mall. But we want to make a big storybook portrait of Charlottesville, one that would be supposedly for kids, but hopefully the visuals and the writing […]
Trader up soon? Your wildest dreams are coming true. No, not an Olive Garden. But, real estate company Edens & Avant confirmed last week the impending arrival of a 12,500 square foot Trader Joe’s at upcoming Hydraulic Road shopping center The Shops at Stonefield. That project used to be known as Albemarle Place. The groundbreaking […]
When we suggest cooking with beer, we don’t mean stand by the stove with a Bud Light in your paw. Like wine, beer lends itself well to cuisine. Techniques like braising, deglazing or even just adding a slog to a pot of soup can enhance flavor the same way a fine Cabernet can. It adds […]
Festival basics Wondering how the festival comes together? Festival Director Susan Coleman spilled the beans. I won’t ask you to pick a favorite, but what is one event that you are particularly excited about this year? Among my favorites are the programs that don’t get a lot of attention. “Voices of Adult Learners,” held March […]
What were you doing when we called? I was just unpacking frames. I came from my day job, which is why you caught me unpacking frames instead of painting. I work part-time for a property management company. In her new show “Grasses and Insects,” local painter Robin Braun paints the bugs and other little things […]