Charlottesville has no shortage of renowned restaurants and bars, nor does it lack praise for its food scene, garnering recognition over the years in everything from Food & Wine magazine to The Washington Post. But when you’re short on time and funds, the convenience and cost of fast food is alluring, even in a town […]
Cou Cou Rachou may be known for buttery croissants and beautiful baguettes, but the summer months find the bakery chilling in style with vanilla-bean soft serve, available daily. Craving something even cooler? Try the seasonal sour-cherry Coke float, a fizzy-sweet stunner made with Coke (from the glass bottle, of course) and the vanilla-bean soft serve, […]
On a sunny, breezy Sunday morning in late April, Mary Ames is paying for her membership in the Loving Cup Wine Club, but not by credit card or cash. Instead, she is dusting the roots of about-to-be-planted vines with an organic fungicide. “Without this, the roots would not thrive,” Ames says, as she sprinkles a […]
C’ville on the map (again) Charlottesville’s food scene is stacking up the accolades—again. This month, Condé Nast Traveler dropped a love letter to the Monticello Wine Trail, with stops at King Family Vineyards (Free polo matches May–October? Yes please!) and Pippin Hill, plus shoutouts to local gems like Bodo’s, Cou Cou Rachou, MarieBette, Oakhart Social, […]
Roll with it Yoshihiro Tauchi, often called the best sushi chef in town, is now slinging sashimi at Vitae Spirits on the Downtown Mall. After building his legacy at TEN, Lemongrass, and his own spot, Mican (formerly Kokoro), Tauchi went private—until his pop-up partnership with Vitae went permanent in August 2024. His Omakase Obscura menu […]
Owner (Citizen Burger Bar, The Virginian Restaurant) and co-owner (Ellie’s Country Club, Belle, Ciaccia, Lucky’s Cheesesteaks, Brightside Beach Pub, Grisette, Jardin, Beaucoup) I have small children, so waking up with them is how I like to start every day. We get going around 7am and drive to school around 8am. After that I take a look […]
When Micah LeMon titled his 2017 mixology manual, The Imbible: A Cocktail Guide for Beginning and Home Bartenders, he wasn’t expecting a lawsuit. After nearly two decades behind the bar, a master’s in linguistics, an abandoned Ph.D., a Hollywood stint, and being part of the opening team at the James Beard-nominated Alley Light restaurant, LeMon […]
Virginia wine lovers, raise a glass—preferably filled with Barboursville Vineyards’ 2023 vermentino. Luca Paschina has done it again, snagging a sixth Virginia Governor’s Cup for the winery. New this year, the competition introduced Best in Show awards for the most competitive categories. Both Pollak Vineyards’ 2022 merlot reserve and Jefferson Vineyards’ 2023 viognier were honored. […]
After a fire closed Silk Thai in the summer of 2022, the beloved Charlottesville restaurant is finally welcoming diners back. The road to reopening was long, but owner Mongkhol Chinsetthagit, known as TK Chin, never lost sight of his vision. The fire, caused by a gas leak in the basement of the old building on […]
Soul food is more than just a meal. It’s kinship and history piled high on a plate. It’s about the people who make it and the community it brings to the table. That’s the philosophy behind Signature Soul, Shaun Jenkins’ new restaurant in the former Umma’s location. As the eclectic sister to Jenkins’ Soul Food […]