RFC Field trip! Garnett's, Bombolini, Hardywood Park and Enoteca Sogno

Last Saturday the RFC decided we'd had enough of cabin fever, and got out for a foodie field trip around our town. Casey and I started off with lunch at Garnett's, the sweetest little lunch spot- and  neither of us had ever been. Now we know better!

We had also heard that the RVA patronage mob was going to be at the Bombolini Pasta shop on Main Street, which seemed like the perfect excuse to check it out. Rachel met us there, and we all got pasta to take home. We already knew that we loved their pasta as it has been available at farmers markets and stores for years. In their shop they are able to have frozen lasagnas and raviolis and sauces, along with takeout, wine and house made spice mixes. Yum.

Mushroom Ravioli!

Bombolini even has olive oil and local vinegar in bulk.

John Kreckman, owner of Bombolini, in front of their pasta making machine.

Lovely, no?

From there, we traveled up to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.  Located on Overbrook Road, this industrial area has gotten a fantastic new neighbor. Not only do they make the best beer, but they are supernice guys! We talked with the head brewer Brain Nelson and several volunteers as well as the president and co- founder, Eric McKay. We learned about their history and brewing practices and was impressed to learn about their greening efforts. Did you know 100% of the brewery's electricity comes from sustainable sources, most from wind power?

Annie D. talking with Eric

And the beer! The Singel is available in several restaurants in town, including Can Can and the Mill.  Well balanced, and easy to drink, this full flavored Belgian is Hardywood's take on the ale Trappist monks would brew for their own consumption. The Singel is grand on its own, and would be the perfect accompaniment to any southern meal.

Casey, Rachel and the boys at the bar

We also tried the Mocha Belgique, which is brewed with beans from Black Hand Coffee Co. A gorgeous and flavorful dark beer, Brian Nelson ran it through a Randall full of more dark coffee beans and cocoa nibs before he poured it for us. It smelled like coffee and tasted like chocolate.  Beer for dessert, anyone?

And then, we had to take some home...

One of the other ideas that makes me love Hardywood park even more is their RVA IPA.  Soon, the brewery will be giving away hops rhizomes to RVA gardeners. The gardeners will grow them on, to be harvested and added to the RVA IPA in the fall.  Got room for a 20 foot perennial vine in your garden?  Check the Hardywood website in the next month for details if you would like to participate.  Some of the RFC houses just might!

After a lovely dinner with Shannon and Rachel and Rob at Enoteca Sogno, I felt like I had been on vacation!  Sometimes, you just gotta play tourist in your own town.

Day Trippin' on Apples and Beer

Last week my husband and I just celebrated our third wedding anniversary. We decided to stay near home for this one, leaving town just a bit for some Fall adventures. We filled a Saturday with local apple picking and local beer tasting. This is a fun day trip accessible within an hour's drive.


Before last weekend I'd not been to Carter Mountain. But, I gotta say, Rob and I certainly didn't crack the case on this one. As we traveled up the mountain road full of cars, we realized we may be the last people in VA who have not been to Carter Mountain to pick apples. If you aren't familiar with Carter Mountain Orchard it is a self-pick apple farm located just outside of Charlottesville. The place was packed with families of all ages. I have to say, I was nervous about the volume of folks up there, but it couldn't have been organized better. The parking was well managed, as was the check-out line. The orchards are large enough that it could handle many visitors at once. And, hey, it's just darn purdy.

Ahh, nice view.

Nom, Nom!

Baby apples!

For the apples, I'm looking to make some tasty treats. Right now, I'm thinking on apple and caramel - date caramel, if you please! This could be fun for Halloween as well. Check out this beautiful blog by Vanessa Rees (a NY-based photographer and my sister) on the how-to on this treat.

After we picked our apples, we went down the mountain and over to neighboring Nelson County. We drove to Blue Mountain Brewery for a beer on their beautiful patio.

We enjoyed a yummy Full Nelson IPA made with local hops available on draft (ok, we had two). I love this beer - available on draft at some RVA restaurants. This beer is in high-demand, so go for it if you see it!

Pretty IPA on a pretty porch!

My husband is an environmental engineer and he was quick to catch their cool "cover cropping" program. These folks planted soy beans over their harvested hop patch to act as a nitrogen fixer. Nitrogen is one the nutrients necessary for plant growth - so it should make for some tasty hops (and beer) next year!

See the soybeans?!

Anyway, we did this day trip and were home by 5 pm - love it! A day trip to near-by mountains is great fun for the fall. It is fun, tasty, and local. Enjoy!