Dessert

German Chocolate Ice Cream at Chaps

Jun 19

Posted by Erin in Food Finds | View Comments

It’s currently 92 degrees out with the usual June humidity adding an extra level of discomfort. And yet I’m choosing to sit outside on the downtown mall, withering more in the sun with every passing moment. Why subject myself to this Virginia heat? Because soon it will make a cone of Chaps ice cream even more delicious and appreciated.

Chaps isn’t about espresso chile sorbet or ginger passionfruit gelato or mini mochi toppings or anything else fancy. It’s about ice cream, pure and simple. The ice cream is handmade, the flavors are classic, and the setting looks like the Peach Pit grew up and went through some rough times. Chaps is… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Ice Cream, Dessert, Good for Families, Neighborhood: Downtown, Restaurant: Chaps Ice Cream

Coconut Macaroons at Penne Lane

Apr 20

Posted by Erin in Food Finds | View Comments

Slap some frosting on a cookie and some people get all crazy and start talking about imaginary horses and yee-haws. So let’s set the record straight: the Penne Lane sweet treat that deserves the real praise and Food Find honor is the Coconut Macaroon.

Maybe this is because I’m hip and know that cupcakes are out and macaroons are in for the latest dessert fad. All the cool people are eating macaroons these days, except for Jed, who is drooling over black and white cookies.

While macaroons are often the meringue-flavored variety in Easter pastel shades, I’m a fan of the classic coconut delivery. At their best, coconut… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Dessert, Neighborhood: Main Street, Restaurant: Penne Lane

Black & White Cookies at Penne Lane

Apr 19

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | View Comments

So, I was sitting there eating this black and white cookie, talking to my girl, when I stopped mid-sentence and was like, “Holy crap, dude. This cookie is outrageously delicious!” That’s when she looked up at me with those wild, sugar-crazed tiger eyes of hers and said, “No way your cookie is as good as my macaroon. This coconut is off the hook, yo! Moist and crispy all at once!” Then we jumped on our horses and chased each other around and around the block, yippeeing and yee-hawing all the way. In the end I caught up to her and… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Dessert, Neighborhood: Main Street, Restaurant: Penne Lane

Food Find: Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt at Arch’s

Nov 4

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | View Comments

Pumpkin flavored stuff rules. Especially in the harvest season, on a dramatic autumn night, with the moon shining bright and dry leaf carcasses clacking about.

I’ve already talked about the pumpkin pancakes to be had on Emmet Street. But did you know about the pumpkin frozen yogurt a few doors down?

Take cinnamony pumpkin sweetness, freeze it, pipe it into a 5 oz. cup, sprinkle with graham crackers, smear with Arch’s famous gooey brownies, repeat. Delicious!

Note: This was at the Emmet St. Arch’s. There are different flavors from day to day and from location to location, so be sure to call the flavor hotline before going to see what they… Read More

Tags: Cuisine: Ice Cream, Dessert, Neighborhood: 29/Emmet St, Restaurant: Arch's

Food Find: Chandler’s Ice Cream Grandy’s Delight

Aug 21

Posted by Erin in Food Finds | View Comments

Nothing says summer like gooey ice cream in a tractor store parking lot, and nothing says gooey ice cream like a loaded up soft serve sundae. If you agree with these statements, get yourself to Chandler’s Ice Cream for a Grandy’s Delight. Chandler’s, or more often simply known as “the dairy bar,” is a find in itself. Just past 250 on River Road, the ice cream stand is tucked amongst the trees and a few picnic benches in the Tractor Supply parking lot. They have all the classic favorites from your childhood days of ice cream, before things got all wacky with exotic flavors and marble tops, but Grandy’s is the shining star… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Ice Cream, Dessert, Neighborhood: Pantops, Restaurant: Chandler's Ice Cream

Arch’s Frozen Yogurt

Aug 13

Posted by Jed in Reviews | View Comments

I remember when frozen yogurt first arrived. For me this was at a deli in Dayton, Ohio called “The Upper Crust.” At the end of the counter there was a huge metal machine that looked like something out of a 50′s science-fiction movie. You pulled the handle and out came pale pink strawberry goodness similar to ice cream but fluffier, and good for you too!
Fast-forward a few years and several hundred miles to Charlottesville in the mid-90’s. I’m at UVA with a really bad haircut… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Ice Cream, Dessert, Good for Families, Neighborhood: 29/Emmet St, Neighborhood: Ivy, Neighborhood: The Corner, Rating: 4 stars, Restaurant: Arch's

Food Find: Splendora’s Cucumber Mint Gelato

Aug 4

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | View Comments

Splendora is hit-or-miss for me, but in the summertime this cucumber mint gelato hits the spot. It was lacking on the mint side of the equation but the cucumber flavor was strong and fresh, with almost too much real cucumber pulp throughout. Regardless, a refreshing and not unhealthy — if you order the bambino size — treat on a hot day. Read More