So damn local: Your guide to going native

What does it take to be a true local? We think a commenter on Facebook said it best: “The truly quintessential Charlottesville experience isn’t actually available to tourists. It’s having lived here long enough that you can’t go anywhere without running into someone you know, yet still feeling like you live in a decently sized […]

Party on: South Fork food truck reinvents dining at home

I grew up in the dinner party era. Among my favorite childhood memories is falling asleep to the mysterious sounds of my parents’ parties—roars of laughter, clanging glasses and high heels across wooden floors. My parents loved them, too. When preparing for their guests’ arrival, they always floated around the house with a gleam of anticipation. […]

Eat like a pig: Babes in the Wood brings forest-fed pork to new restaurant

“Happy pig, good bacon.” That’s one of Bill Jones’ mantras when it comes to Babes in the Wood, his decade-old pig farm in Buckingham County, also the name of his recently opened farm-to-table restaurant in Charlottesville. You may recognize the names and faces from the City Market—Jones and his wife, Kimberly, figured they’d had so […]

Lunch break: Foodify CEO discusses evolving technology-and- food trends

The world of online food ordering is constantly evolving. OrderUp was just acquired by Groupon; companies like Blue Apron deliver pre-measured ingredients straight to your door to save you the trouble of using things like spoons when you’re prepping dinner; hell, there’s even Stadium Concierge, an app that lets you order your game day pizza […]

The scoop on Splendora’s limited-time, booze-inspired flavors and more local restaurant news

The scoop on Splendora’s limited-time, booze-inspired flavors I scream, you scream, we all scream for…pumpkin beer-flavored gelato? Splendora’s Gelato Cafe owner PK Ross never gets tired of experimenting with flavors (anybody remember the ghost pepper-honey-raspberry concoction?) and after weeks of doing diligent research around town she’ll be serving up scoops of beer- and cocktail-inspired gelato. With […]

Taking back time: New catering service delivers dinner to your door

Of the many gloom-and-doom observations concerning our modern existence, the sense that life is speeding up is a well-worn drum. While piloting our vehicles home from work we field a final call, dictate e-mails, remind our kids (via voice text) to do their homework, Google the weather, purchase tickets for the concert we accidentally forgot […]

What’s the point?: The rhyme and reason of routine visits

“What are you looking for?” asks a client as my hands press deep into the sides of his dog’s belly. I’m surprised for a moment. It’s such a simple and reasonable question, but it hardly ever gets asked amidst the routine of a physical examination. I’m not even sure what to make of it at […]