It’s Willamette, dammit! Making the case for Oregon wines

If rain is Oregon’s best-known cliché, then Pinot Noir is the runner-up. With May celebrating Oregon Wine Month, and the Willamette Valley being one of my favorite wine regions in the world, what better time than now to delve into this sustainable wine mecca? Viticulturally, Oregon is a big state, with five AVAs (American Viticultural […]

Five Finds on Friday: Treat Huey

Today is the 50th edition of Five Finds on Friday, where chefs and local personalities pick five favorite food items in the area.  To mark the occasion, The Charlottesville 29 has the picks of a Charlottesville resident who is among the top 29 in the world in his field.  In fact, tennis player Treat Huey […]

Follow that food truck! Where to find mobile lunch in C’ville

Seems like more food trucks are rolling into Charlottesville every month—and the city is playing catch-up with its regulations as a result. C-VILLE writer Darren Sweeney has a rundown of some of the newest purveyors of meals on wheels, along with details on where to find them on the street and online. Got a favorite […]

Crust in the spotlight: Quiche master Lynette Meynig shares her secrets

To the untrained eye, the quiche is a seemingly simple dish that requires very little skill and few ingredients. It consists, after all, of only two elements: crust and filling. But think again. This French-inspired staple of American cuisine is subtle and sophisticated, varied and complex. If you ask Lynette Meynig, she’ll tell you that […]

Beyond the bitter: Brewers explore new flavors in ‘feature hops’

Humulus lupus, the species best known to us as hops, produces effects in beer that we traditionally associate with bitterness. Hops also produce aromas and flavors that are usually associated with earthiness, grassiness, floral characteristics, and a bit of weedy dankness. In the past couple of years, a progressive sect of hop growers has been […]

Seeing reds: White wine isn’t the only option for warmer weather

Seasonal associations are unavoidable with any food or drink: Warmer weather seemingly demands lighter fare, brighter wines, and, overall, a refreshing gastric experience. And, not coincidentally, just as our seasons change, the new, fresh white and rosé wines seem to pour into shops and restaurants. Cold, crisp wine just works when it’s nice outside. Now, […]