Tristan Williams
Have they got a meal for you! Meals on Wheels of Charlottesville/Albemarle’s annual Music for Meals returns on September 30 at Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery in support of homebound neighbors facing food insecurity and isolation.
The fundraiser offers the biggest dining prize in town—more than $2,500 in gift cards to area eateries including C&O, Duner’s, Fleurie, Feast, and Tavola—going to one giant raffle winner. Buy auction and event tickets in advance at cvillemeals.org.
Tea time, naturally
With Ethos Wine & Teaclosing (see below), we’ll take our tea-party consolation where we can get it. Florosa is now hosting a seated tea service at JBird Supply on the last Saturday of every month, with vintage china, garden-grown teas, seasonal pastries, and pan dulce. The $25 menu includes five treats like dulce de leche tart, tomato tea sandwiches, and fig tres leches. Reservations at byflorosa.com.
Gold, silver, and suds
Beer may be laid-back, but judging it is serious business. The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild’s 2026 Virginia Craft Beer Cup drew 347 entries and 36 judges, 94.4 percent of whom hold official BJCP certification. That’s the Beer Judge Certification Program, basically the sommelier exam for people who prefer pints. This year, Selvedge Brewing’s Batiste took Best of Show Gold, followed by The Answer Brewpub’s Rauchpause with Silver and Port City Brewing Company’s Optimal Wit with Bronze. Fine Creek Brewing Company was named 2026 Virginia Brewery of the Year.
Bold Rock throwback
Just in time for apple season, Bold Rock announced that it’s bringing back the fan-favorite Honeycrisp cider, made to taste like fall in a glass: bright apple flavor, a juicy finish, and a very approachable 4.7 percent ABV.
Goodwill and gift certificates
The Chef William-Allen Peterson Culinary Arts Foundation is teaming up with Pippin Hill for an online raffle benefiting under-resourced public school culinary programs. Prizes include private chef’s table seats, vineyard experiences, and wine packages, with the grand prize being a five-course, wine-paired farm-to-fork dinner for two on November 6. Tickets at chefwill.org/fundraising/pippin-hill.
Game day’s got twang
UVA football is going to Duke’s mayo country ahead of the September 19 matchup against West Virginia. The Spot and Jack Brown’s are taking on the promo with signage, foam fingers, Tubby plushies, and mayo-fied menus, plus serving up specials with Duke’s-slathered sandwiches and burgers.
Openings
The Hideaway
Daniel Kaufman is adding a third restaurant to his Charlottesville lineup. The Public Fish & Oyster and Black Cow Chophouse owner is taking over the former Tonic space on Market Street with The Hideaway, featuring a raw bar, small plates, a serious wine list, and cocktails. Public Fish & Oyster executive chef Johnny Garver will captain the new kitchen. More details at hideawaycville.com.
Sanga Omakase
Chef Yoshihiro Tauchi is back, but good luck trying to dine with him. Sanga Omakase, his new six-seat sushi counter tucked inside North American Sake Brewery, opened August 19 and is already booked through the end of the year. After Omakase Obscura closed with Vitae Spirits in February, Tauchi returns with two seatings Thursday through Saturday and a menu that puts the brewery’s koji and kasu to work. Join the waitlist at sangaomakase.com.
Speeds Public
Brazos Tacos co-owner Peter Griesar is expanding his restaurant footprint in a new venture at 111 E. Main St., the former home of Bonny & Read and Brasserie Saison. The name? Speeds Public. The vibe? The food? The opening date? Griesar is keeping it very hush-hush, but we’re listening.
Bonchon
Bonchon has landed on West Main Street, making Charlottesville officially home to the Korean fried chicken chain’s 500th location worldwide. The South Korean franchise is known for double-fried chicken brushed to order with sauces like soy garlic, spicy, and yangnyeom, plus bibimbap, japchae, and tteokbokki. Don’t skip the Korean donuts, served with sweet cream for dipping.
Closings
Ethos Wine & Tea
Tiffany Nguyen’s community-minded Ethos Wine & Tea closed on September 7, but this isn’t a goodbye so much as a regroup: Nguyen says she’s exploring new ways to bring wine, tea, and community together around town. In the meantime, private event inquiries will be accepted for a limited time through ethoswineandtea.com.
Chandler’s Bakery
After more than three decades, Chandler’s is closing. The family-owned bakery, a Charlottesville fixture since 1992, will cool its last cakes on September 29, citing rising costs. The Facebook comment section is already a greatest-hits reel: radio bars, mocha drip cake, cannoli cake, pecan sticky buns. If you have a favorite, now’s the time for one last bite.
Meals on Wheels’ annual fundraiser features the massive Restaurants Rock prize package of over
25 local dining experiences.
MORE TO CHEW ON
Friday 9/25
Veritas Supper Series: Harvest & Truffle Dinner. The annual Supper Series concludes with a Burgundy truffle supper rooted in Italian cuisine. Enjoy an elegant dinner celebrating one of the world’s most prized ingredients, thoughtfully paired with Veritas wines. $150, 6:30pm. Veritas Vineyards and Winery, 151 Veritas Ln., Afton. veritaswines.com
Saturday 9/26
In Fine Company: A Garden Party at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. Present Company Wine and Fine Creek Brewing offer a laid-back summer evening with local wine and craft beer, and elevated Mexican street food provided by Richmond’s TBT El Gallo. Family- and kid-friendly. Free entry, 4pm. Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, 950 Melbourne Rd. drinkpresentcompany.com
Seafood Saturday at DuCard Vineyards. Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch provides fresh oysters from the Northern Neck: raw, steamed, grilled, and with toppings. Steamed shrimp and non-seafood items are also available. Music by South Canal Street. $12–20, noon. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Sunday 9/27
Bubbles & Waffles. Enjoy a delicious sparkling brunch that’s perfect for a date or a group of friends looking to catch up. $33, noon. Revalation Vineyards, 2710 Hebron Valley Rd., Madison. revalationvineyards.com
Thursday 10/1
Tavola Dinner Series: Alla Sicilia! The first in a new dinner series celebrates the food and wine of Sicily. The five-course menu includes lobster, tuna, and wild boar dishes paired with a range of Sicilian wine producers, from the quintessential to the experimental. $165, 6pm. 826 Hinton Ave. tavolavino.com
Saturday 10/3
13th Annual Fried Chicken Festival. Known as the “Chicken Leg Center of the Universe,” Gordonsville celebrates its history every year with a full day of fried fun, including live music and market booths. Free entry, 10am. 112 S. Main St., Gordonsville. townofgordonsville.org
Sunday 10/4
Perfect Pasta: Pasta-making Class & Gourmet Wine Lunch. A delicious journey into the world of fresh pasta guided by chef Kelvino Barrera. Learn how to make tortellini, then enjoy a full three-course meal of your pasta creations, along with wine pairings. $135, 11am. Mockingbird, 421 Monticello Rd. c-villebites.com
