Four years ago this Sunday, Italophiles Mark and Victoria Cave open the espresso and gelato bar Milano in the West Main Market to accompany their Italian-inspired home and garden store, Verity Blue. According to Mark Cave, the idea was to create “an authentic Italian experience” for folks by contrasting Verity Blue’s “rustic, Tuscan aesthetic” with Milano’s “more modern, industrial style.” In addition, former Dish author and Italian profesori Christina Ball teamed up with the Caves to open her Ecco Italy language and culture center in the West Main space, creating Charlottesville’s own Little Italy.

On July 3, however, Milano, Verity Blue, and Ecco Italy all moved into the famed Pink Warehouse on South Street, and– more important to foodies– began offering more than espresso and gelato. Unfortunately, despite a big party to celebrate the move, it seems that many people don’t know that Milano has an expanded menu.

In fact, the Caves brought in well-known cooking instructor and former enoteca chef Marisa Catalano (photo left) to create that menu, and hired manager Clinton Jones to turn Milano into a full-fledged restaurant.

According to Jones, Milano is now serving both breakfast and lunch (don’t worry, they’re still serving espresso, gelato, and sweets) with an Italian flair– i.e. panino, tramezzino, etc. In addition, Jones says their luscious desserts will be available all day and they’re open seven days a week, 7am to 9pm.

“The place really looks beautiful,” Jones says.

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Yesterday Starbucks released the full list of the 600 shops it will close, and none are in Charlottesville. The five Virginia stores shutting down are all in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
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Hotcake’s is offering Friday & Saturday dinner specials, served up by chef José De Brito and his staff, July 18 and 19, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Check out the menu! (more)

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There’s been yet another accolade for the tiny-but-tasty barbecuery on East Market Street. This time— just a coupla months after a nod from the Wall Street Journal— it’s the 2008 Maxim Food Awards, found in the August edition, the one with Amber Heard on the cover. Here, the popular lad mag offers its “definitive guide to the world’s tastiest things.” And the world’s best pulled-pork sandwich is found at… Jinx’s Pit’s-Top Barbecue. “For a mere $4.50,” says Maxim, “this juicy ’sammich’ on Texas toast will transport your mouth to the Mississippi Delta.”

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Forget football or soccer camp…why not send your precious little ones to cooking camp this summer? For all your aspiring foodies, the Charlottesville Cooking School’s Martha Stafford has announced plans for a “Farm to Table” summer camp for kids age 9 and up. The goal of the camp, says Stafford, is to “learn about cooking and eating well by understanding what is grown and available locally at this time of year.” There will be two farm visits, cooking skills, table setting and menu planning. A healthy snack, lunch, recipe book and an apron are included. The week will be capped with a final feast and campers will be able to invite one guest. Here’s the breakdown: (more)

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About a month ago a sign appeared outside a small office building on High Street (right before Brown Cleaners), an unlikely spot for a restaurant it would seem, but La Michoacana Deli has quickly captured the attention of local foodies. Owned by Jose Gaono (pictured left with his wife, Elpidia, and daughter, Myra), La Michoacana is a small Mexican restaurant on par with nearby Aqui es Mexico in terms of authentic Mexican food. Gaono says he cooked for many years in Mexico, and has run a catering business out of his home in North Garden for the last three years. According to Gaono, his tacos and tamales are his signature offerings…oh, and did we mention the prices? Check out the menu on the right.

La Michoacana
1138 High Street
434-409-9941
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10am to 9pm. Friday and Saturday, 11am to 11pm. Sunday, 11am to 9pm

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Dish has confirmed that Richmond restaurateur Mo Roman, who owns Si, the trendy tapas restaurant and bar in the Fan District, has purchased the former Starr Hill Restaurant & Music Hall building on West Main and plans to bring his Spanish-style tapas and hipster late-night scene to Charlottesville sometime in August (which often times means more like September or October). Roman did not immediately return our calls, but we’ll keep trying. In the meantime, you can check some reviews of Si here. Looks like Mas and Bang will have a little competition. Has anyone been to the Richmond location?

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We recommend you check out (if you haven’t already) Just Curry’s new location on the Corner at 104 14th Street, in Mesob’s old space next to the parking garage on Wertland Street. According to owner Alex George (photo left), since opening in the new space on June 17 (and going from 700 square feet in his old location behind the now defunct Satellite Ballroom to 2,000 square feet), things have been rockin.’ Have ya been?

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Savour, the mystery restaurant on Emmet Street that has been undergoing renovations for nearly two years, finally made its debut last week. The verdict? Well, we haven’t sent The Eater yet, but local writer Faith Andrews Bedford says the food was “terrific, reasonably priced, and beautifully presented.

“After watching construction for two years we were fascinated to see what it was like,” says Bedford. ” We were not disappointed.”

Have you gone? What did you think?

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