Nestled on Elliewood Avenue, Take It Away has been serving up made-to-order sammies for more than three decades, thanks to the resilience and passion of owner Tom Bowe. A true survivor, Bowe was diagnosed with cancer five years ago, faced down the odds, and after two hip replacements and a battle that almost took him, he’s still here and looking forward to spending more time with his grandkids. “I’m extremely lucky,” says Bowe.
Bowe opened Take It Away gourmet sandwiches in the summer of 1992. For 33 years, he’s proudly run the shop, “I don’t know, there might be another food business in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area that’s been continuously owned and operated by the same person for 33 years,” he says. “I just don’t know who that is. That’s a distinction that I’m kind of proud of.”
Take It Away is known for unique sandwich creations (hello, roasted tomatoes instead of raw ones), and Bowe’s Elliewood Club—turkey, ham, cheddar, bacon, and his secret house dressing—has been a fan favorite. And while he’s had his share of high-profile customers (Tina Fey, Dave Matthews, and James Carville among them), it’s the UVA students he holds dear. “What would this town be without the students? The saddest day is graduation for me, when they all turn around and go home,” says Bowe.
The deli is being passed to Yuri Blazar and Ben Blackburn, with Blazar, who’s married to a former employee, already familiar with Bowe’s business style. Bowe has full confidence in them to carry on his legacy while adding their own unique flair. But don’t worry, the shop’s iconic “S&WCH 4U” license plate graces their new delivery van, so you’ll know when Take It Away’s zero-waste catering is on the way.
Bigger bites
Charlottesville’s very own C-ville Bites, the local food tour and event business, has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program. Founded in December 2023, C-ville Bites offers weekly food tours on the Downtown Mall, cooking and mixology classes, private events, and curated culinary experiences.
Krispy creations
Krispy Kreme at 5th Street Station is putting area donut lovers to the test. As part of a rollout in select U.S. markets, they’ve brought back some fan-favorite, limited-time offerings and introduced new flavors inspired by customer requests such as the Biscoff® Cookie Butter Kreme, drizzled with icing, and topped with cookie pieces.
Get your kicks
Armchair quarterbacks rejoice! Grit Coffee has teamed up with the Chris Long Foundation to launch a limited edition Kickoff Blend. Proceeds from the medium roast beans with chocolaty, sweet-tasting notes support the foundation’s mission to expand clean water access, provide for youth and families in need, and inspire impactful service both locally and globally.
Raise a glass to Emily Hodson
Cheers to Emily Hodson, head winemaker at Veritas Vineyards and Flying Fox Vineyards, for snagging the 2025 Rich Smith Award of Excellence. This well-deserved honor is a nod to her trailblazing work behind major initiatives like the Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange and her mission to develop grape varieties resistant to downy mildew (a real game-changer for the state). With awards piling up, including being named Virginia Wine Person of the Year in 2017, Hodson’s vision continues to shape the future of wine in the commonwealth.
Burger in, burger out
Citizen Burger Bar is stepping up to help Cultivate Charlottesville, which is facing a major funding shortage. As Cultivate continues to serve the city’s most vulnerable residents with community gardens, volunteer coordination, and food distribution, Citizen will make a matching donation for each locally sourced, grass-fed People’s Burger it sells.
Ready for your next burger fix? Sizzle Shack has arrived at Dairy Market. The new burger joint serves classic American burgers, fries, hot dogs, and hand-spun shakes. To add sizzle, the Shack offers Dutch-inspired dips, such as curry ketchup and satay peanut sauce.
Dairy Market stall changes continue as Argentinian Cumbre Coffee & Bakery announced plans to add a new location in the former Citizen Burger Stand this spring. Cumbre has already won over Charlottesville at its East Jefferson Avenue location, serving up coffee drinks, flaky pastries, and savory empanadas.
Closing
After just eight months in its brick-and-mortar space, Althea Bread quietly closed its doors. Known for its locally grown grains and fresh-milled flour, Althea built a loyal following with its naturally leavened sourdough and pastries. The team announced on social media that the shop would not be reopening in January, and its website and accounts have since gone dark.
More to chew on
Thursday 2/20
Beer Lover’s Event: Mad Elf Vertical Tasting. A guided tasting with the Troegs representative to explore the difference between the 2023 and 2024 vintages. $35–50, 6:30pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Friday 2/21–Sunday 2/23
Wine & S’mores. Make your own s’mores sandwich or bowl. $5 plus $1 toppings, noon–5pm, weather permitting. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com
Sunday 2/23
Agave Secrets: Tequila & Mezcal Mixology Class. Led by mezcal and tequila connoisseur River Hawkins, owner of The Bebedero and Mejicali, this immersive class promises an afternoon filled with fascinating history, hands-on mixology, and delightful spirits. $130, 4–6pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Wednesday 2/26
Chef Tasting Series. Begin with a glass of gold medal-winning blanc de blancs, followed by a tasting of wines paired with small plates curated by Chef Andrew Partridge and the culinary team. $60, 6–7:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
Saturday 3/1
Art of Charcuterie: A Cheeseboard Workshop. Master the art of crafting stunning cheeseboards, learn pro techniques, create culinary magic, and impress your friends. $95, 5:30pm. The Opal Lounge at Mockingbird, 421 Monticello Rd. mockingbird-cville.com
Saturday 3/8
Virginia Vine & Dine: Wine Dinner with Blenheim Vineyards. Join us for an evening of exquisite wine and delicious food. Indulge in a curated four-course menu paired with the finest wines from Blenheim Vineyards. $89–99, 5pm. The Opal Lounge at Mockingbird, 421 Monticello Rd. mockingbird-cville.com
Sunday 3/9
Pinot Gris Wine Education and Exploration. Join wine educator Ann Czaja (DipWSET) to explore the sights, aromas, and flavors of wine beyond casual sipping and create a wine vocabulary of your own. Advance reservation required. $75, noon and 3pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Wednesday 3/19
Wine Tasting with Ethos Wine & Tea featuring Cassie Guy. A unique wine tasting led by special guest Kylie Witt of Ethos Wine & Tea, and featuring wines from the Iberian Peninsula. The event is held in tandem with “Liminal,” a solo exhibition of new work by Charlottesville-based artist Cassie Guy, with works inspired by her travels to Portugal. RSVP required. $20–25, 6pm. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org
Saturday 3/22
Spring Cookie Decorating. Jaclyn Shaffer of Jaclyn’s Cookies teaches her techniques for picture-perfect cookie art in a relaxed, wine-sipping setting. $60, 11am. Chiswell Farm & Winery, 430 Greenwood Rd., Greenwood.
chilesfamilyorchards.com
Sunday 3/30
Chocolate & Wine Pairing. Master chocolatier Ann Czaja (DipWSET) and DuCard owner Scott Elliff select each pairing and share the reasons why they work. Czaja will discuss the history of chocolate, her role at Lindt, and offer samples of chocolate for everyone to try. Elliff will share the story of the vineyard and how wine is made. Limited seating, advance reservations required. $75, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Ongoing Events
Downtown C-ville Food Tour + Wine Tasting. A culinary tasting adventure through the heart of Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall. Ongoing, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. $30–115, 3:50pm. c-villebites.com
Barrel Tasting with the Winemaker. A behind-the-scenes tasting with winemaker Julien Durantie, who will open up his barrels and offer samplings of the 2024 harvest, followed by a wine discussion. $69, 1pm and 3pm. Each session is limited to 10 guests. Through March 22. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com.
Shrimp Boil and Live Music. Bringing the best of Southern tradition to your plate in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music. Fridays through February. À la carte pricing, 4pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Submit food and drink events to events. c-ville.com.
