Italians are serious about their pizza. So serious, in fact, that they even have an organization to certify whether something really is pizza. The Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) gives a special designation to restaurants meeting strict requirements that respect the tradition of Neapolitan pizza. According to the VPN, true Neapolitan pizza comes only from […]
In Charlottesville, a meal at Petit Pois is as close as it gets to eating in France. My dinner companion told me so. And, he should know. Jose de Brito, acclaimed chef at The Alley Light, was raised in France and his passion for French cuisine can produce strong views on the subject. What is […]
If a Major League Baseball pundit were to assess Charlottesville’s roster of chefs, he might compare it to one of those baseball franchises built on players acquired from other teams. Most of Charlottesville’s top restaurants, it seems, are run by chefs who came here from somewhere else. Then there is Dean Maupin. A native of […]
In these parts, fall is wedding season. And, if it’s wedding season, that means it’s anniversary season, too. Those of us who once had the good fortune of being married in Charlottesville’s most pleasant season now have the good fortune of celebrating in it. In our 13th year of marriage, my wife and I typically […]
For a man who some consider the best Szechuan chef in the country, Peter Chang sure keeps a low profile. Even right here in Charlottesville, home to his flagship restaurant, many are unaware of the presence of the former Chinese embassy chef who has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The New […]
I have a confession of sorts. I am not wild about steakhouses. As a food writer, it helps to have a versatile palate, and I am fortunate that I have yet to encounter an ingredient I do not like. But, I must admit that I may not fully appreciate the appeal of steakhouses. Steakhouses, […]
How meaningful is an invitation to cook at the James Beard House? The question has come up more than once since news broke that Parallel 38 had been invited to do so just months after opening. Given the prestige of the James Beard Foundation, the New York-based nonprofit that hands out the culinary equivalent of […]
Charlottesville food is hot. In the last year alone, our area’s food has won praise from national media outlets dozens of times, culminating with a recent nod in Wine Enthusiast as one of “America’s five new foodie cities.” For one of our restaurants, though, national attention is nothing new. Since opening in 2000 at Barboursville […]
Jose de Brito, chef of The Alley Light, has quite a reputation. His food, of course, is the biggest reason, dating back to his much-missed gourmet shop and eatery Ciboulette. But de Brito, a fervent Frenchman, has also become known for his strong opinions. Like many adherents to French culinary tradition, de Brito firmly believes […]
If you haven’t heard of Hill & Holler dinners, you’re not alone. As popular as the roving outdoor dinners have become in the local food community, they continue to elude the attention of much of the general public. For the uninitiated, every few months Hill & Holler arranges a dinner out in a field at […]