There are a three places in town that I generally don’t like as much as everyone else I know: Beer Run, Continental Divide, and Tip Top. I want to like them. I want to meet our friend Dave at Continental Divide and talk about kung fu over Red Hot Blues. I’d like to meet Whit at Beer Run and talk about religion over chicken wings. Maybe Paul and I could meet at Tip Top and talk about the city over shawarmas. Actually, this last one will definitely happen. Because I’m here to tell you, people: The shawarmas are where… Read More
Food Finds
Tip Top Shawarma
Sep 19
Thursday nights were the highlight of my middle school years: not only was it was the best hour of television with The Cosby Show followed by Family Ties, but for some unknown reason my parents would let me make a bowl of brownie dough that I would eat raw by the spoonful while in sitcom heaven.
I somehow managed to avoid both salmonella and childhood obesity, but it did result in appreciation for a unique flavor combination. Since my baking skills were rudimentary at best, I didn’t quite grasp the difference between various oils and I would often add olive oil to my brownie mix. I became strangely fond of the nuttiness of olive… Read More
Intense heat waves trigger two cravings: the taste of sizzling savory meat off the grill (you’re sweating already, so you might as well be eating something good) and creamy ice cream to cool down. Brookville just made it easier to enjoy both with an incredibly delicious Bacon Ice Cream Root Beer Float.
I know bacon desserts have become all the rage—even Denny’s had a bacon sundae which may officially signal that bacon has jumped the shark— but usually they seem to be more about kitsch value than good flavors. I’ve tried all the bacon chocolate, bacon jam, and bacon brownies I can get my hands on… Read More
I’m not sure who this Phil guy is, but I’d like to congratulate him on his excellent taste in pork platters. I’ve had his highly recommended “Phil’s Fave Porko Platter” at Mono Loco in heavy dinner rotation lately.
Even beyond the porko platter, Mono Loco has stepped it up in the past year to become one of my favorite dinner and drinks spots. Their food has been quite good (particularly any specials) during all our visits and their bar scene has become one of the most fun in town. But it’s Phil’s Platter that keeps drawing me back with its crispy pork and crispy plantains over rice and beans, topped off with pico… Read More
We just returned from an amazing trip to Ireland, a country that deserves a much better food reputation than it has. Who wouldn’t love a place where every restaurant has, on average, ten different potato dishes? I’m hoping we helped with the country’s economic recovery through our food and drink bill, but I think it will be awhile before I can order lamb, duck, or Guinness.
For my own Ireland recovery, I’m turning to a summer salad regimen for the foreseeable future. The timing is great as I just discovered my new favorite lunch order: Eppie’s Curry Chicken Salad. I’m averaging two a week and I can’t get enough. You can order the curry chicken as a sandwich as… Read More
While there were some definite kinks in the frenzied opening days of Peter Chang’s China Grill, upon return visits we’ve found that the restaurant is hitting its stride. And by return visits, I mean we’re addicted and may soon reach a point where we have honorary plaques on one of the tables for two. But we’ve also found that there are definite hits and misses off the menu. If you know what to order, you’ll have an incredible meal that will be some of the best Chinese food of your life. If you take a more haphazard approach to the menu, it can be a disappointing experience.
Things are made more challenging because the menu does not provide descriptions… Read More
If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’m going to write a haiku about this most excellent of fried rice offerings:
Spicy rice mountain,
Teeming with brown-green goodness,
Chicken, basil, yum.
Thank you all so much. If you’d like to contact me for private parties or political speeches you can currently reach me at Guy Still Sitting at Table #11 Day After Day Eating Plate After Plate of Kapao Fried Rice with Chicken, c/o Lime Leaf Restaurant.
For real though, this dish kicks Thai and Chinese fried rice butt all over town, including the Chang restaurants. The difference is in the freshness of the… Read More
The Batesville Store
Nov 30
When I was young, I was infatuated with a Spielberg-produced TV show called “Amazing Stories.” One episode was about an artistic ball turret gunner whose quaintly captivating drawings had a way of coming to life. I’m pretty sure he didn’t do any sketches of small-town restaurant-stores in rural Virginia, but if he had, they might have featured The Batesville Store.
If you’ve never heard of Batesville, it’s where you end up if you drive past the old Albemarle County Fair location on Plank Road, just off 29 South. You can’t miss it. It’s as if the tiny town of Batesville exists only to support the store… Read More
My recent Food Finds have not been a study in dietary restraint: biscuits and gravy, ice cream, chorizo burrito, cookies, you get the clogged artery picture. The only salad that’s earned Food Find status included fried food, cheese, and buttermilk. So I’m grateful that the Tea Bazaar has provided a find that’s good for overall health in addition to taste buds.
The Tea Bazaar’s signature salad is full of delicious and unexpected surprises. It starts with an overflowing plate of fresh produce with mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Golden raisins and candied walnuts add a touch of sweetness, and the entire thing is topped off with paper-thin pear slices and creamy feta cheese… Read More
We recently asked for Facebook opinions on the best biscuits in town and were shocked by the responses. Bluegrass Grill & Bakery was the leader, although there was a strong anti-whole wheat contingent that disputed this pick. And the runner-up? Hardee’s. Seriously. I took it as a sign that we need better biscuits in this town, but after a Sunday brunch at l’etoile I think we’re doing just fine.
There are two options to enjoy the delicious biscuits with sausage gravy at l’etoile: a stand-alone starter biscuit ($6) or a mini pair of biscuits that’s part of the Star Breakfast ($10), where you can enjoy them with eggs any… Read More
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