July 4, 2009
“Such a wonderful dinner definitely left a good impression of Charlottesville on me! It’s certainly a foodie town. …Overall, we love Charlottesville. I have no doubt it would be perfect for our personalities and lifestyle priorities (and for raising a family!) I’m excited and nervous to see where the next six months take us.”
Nearly two years ago we came to Charlottesville to test it out for size. That weekend, we ate dinner at Zocalo and had an amazing meal. Since moving here last summer, we had yet to go back!
Before our dinner out, we worked in the bakery. Signs were installed!
The bathroom mirror!
And little stool that does not look as cute here as it is in person
After a few hours working, I biked from the bakery to downtown to greet Karen and her friend Louise, who is visiting from Charlotte!
We met at Zocalo, who had a pre-fixe menu since it’s UVA gradation weekend. Karen treated us all to dinner – thanks Karen!
We had a bottle of red from Spain – the 2008 Este. Yum!!
Coupla rolls to start
For my first course I had an arugula, beet and bleu cheese salad. It was fantastic!
Matt had the same fritters he had back in 2009 – and again, I had half of one!
One bottle of wine was gone by the time our entrees came. Another was ordered! I had no vote in this 😉
Note the double glasses! It was a very festive night : )
My entrée was seared grouper with fennel and tomato sauce. It was delicious
But not as delicious as Matt’s KILLER dish: Black Bean & Corn Relleno Pepper with smoked tomato grits, smoked pico and cilantro-buttermilk honey. One of the best dishes I have ever had!!! I love SMOKED anything!
Poor Matt ended up finishing off the table’s entrees! We were all saving room for dessert.
Off the dessert menu, Karen + Louise got the Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding.
I went with the berries with grand Marnier and whipped cream, although I swear they left the Marnier off the dish! I didn’t taste a hint of alcohol.
After our early dinner we walked down the mall to Fridays After Five. The mall was PACKED!!! This made me realize how much we used to hang out downtown and how much we really need to spend more time here.
We ended up at the Pavilion and ran into Faith, Tate, Bob, Oliver and Laurel! <3 small towns!!
And <3 live music!!! We stayed until the band ended and at that point I could have gone for another dinner!!
Instead we biked on home and will pick up where we left off tomorrow : )
Katelyn says
The bakery looks wonderful! I have always wanted to open up my own bakery someday. It has been fantastic watching your journey. I look forward to your posts everyday! 🙂 Have a fabulous weekend!
Amanda says
your hair looks absolutely gorgeous!!
KathEats says
Well thank you!
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing says
WOW. The bakery is so….legit!!! Congratulations, Kath (and Matt!). It looks complete — bright, simple, and welcoming. 🙂 Can’t wait to see more pictures in the future. So happy you found the perfect place for your dream to come to fruition!
Krissy - Shiawase Life says
I love this post and I love Charlottesville! =D Can’t wait to go to the bakery, and I need to get down to Fridays after 5 one of these weeks!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
Oh my goodness, the bakery looks so awesome! Love the signs! I am so excited about GH, so I can only imagine how much more thrilled you must be!!!
Lynda says
Bakery looks great……love the painted signage, well done! I miss Cville….went there yrs ago for a wonderful weekend. Now live in Jersey…wahhhh!! Too far away!
Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) says
“smoked tomato grits, smoked pico and cilantro-buttermilk honey. “–omg that sounds glorious and i dont even ‘love’ smoked food.
I do make a MEAN pan-seared grouper though with local Aruban grouper! It’s my island cooking specialty. You are invited down anytime to sample it in person!
Love the Fridays After Five pics and things like that in general! As well as the writing/words/prose/and font selection you used on your windows 🙂
Leaving off the “grandma” as I call it, i.e. Gran Marnier…that’s awful! Demand a re-make! 🙂
kellyo says
The bakery looks great, dinner looks great and Karen looks great. Glad she’s feeling well enough for a night out!
Katherine says
You look gorgeous, and the bakery looks magnificent!
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
What a day!! and the bakery looks amazing!
Natalia - a side of simple says
So fun to see how far you’ve come in really such a short while! Congratulations 🙂
Do tell Karen she is in my prayers and that she looks wonderful!
Caley says
Love the mission/motto! So fitting!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
Tomato grits sounds so delicious! What a delicious meal, and 2 bottles of wine? I love a good celebratory dinner 🙂
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
So excited for you! The bakery looks awesome!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Looks like a phenomenal evening! Nothing beats good food and great company. Absolutely love the look of the outside of the bakery (and the bathroom). 🙂
Claire says
Those fritters are fantastic! My bf always gets them 🙂
Amy says
I can’t even imagine how busy you both must be by getting ready to open your own business, but Matt is looking very tired-make sure he isn’t getting too run down. Perhaps some goofy fun with the bears by sliding down the stairs on a peice of cardboard? Take Care!
🙂
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
whoa the bakery looks rockin’!!
And your dishes from dinner look super yummy 🙂 Free dinner always tastes better, I think! ha.
Tracy says
I was going to comment on your beautiful hair!!! I am so happy for you both, everything looks amazing!!! I do have a little concern, so sorry it’s the teacher in me!!! On your sign, flavorful shouldn’t be capitalized right?
KathEats says
Yeah, I agree. But we didn’t design it. It’s a standard GH decal, so I just used what they had. I think it’s OK though.
Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com says
Ahh the big day is so close! The bakery looks AWESOME – the contrast between modern and antique is really cool 😀
Kate says
The bakery looks incredible and so homey! You have definitely made me want to take a trip to Charlottesville 🙂
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
What a fun evening! The bakery looks fabulous, love the bathroom mirror. 🙂
Your dinner looks wonderful from start to finish. Matt’s might be just a little more appealing, though. Yum!
staceyhealthylife says
What a wonderful town. You guys fit perfectly there.
Baking 'n' Books says
Oh – I wish I would follow your parting words. To just stop while I’m ahead and pick up tomorrow. I would feel so much better if I did.
Love live music.
Lauren says
That dinner looks great! And the front of the bakery looks AWESOME, very inviting! 🙂
Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous says
Looks like an amazing dinner! And I love walking downtown on spring and summer evenings…tha’ts the best!
Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous says
Looks like an amazing dinner! And I love walking downtown on spring and summer evenings…that’s the best!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
The bakery is looking amazing!
Love those nights where you are so please with your choice of city. I was having a love-my-city night as well tonight. Cheers! 🙂
Khushboo says
I love the window sign and your mission! As a customer, it’s definetely something I would take back with me! Matt’s dish sounds amazing…well they all do but his def calls out to me!
Molly @ RDexposed says
I love your mission statement! Bland mission statements are such a turnoff.
Alaina says
That dinner looks so good! I love beet salads. 🙂
Your town definitely looks like a place I would love to check out!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
the bakery looks so real!!! you know what i mean…
Jumanah says
Love the mission sign! The bakery looks fabulous!
You are very lucky to live in Charlottesville. Looks like such a fun town!
Rachel says
I am a C’ville native…love me some Charlottesville 🙂 Are you going to have any gluten-free options at your bakery? Good luck with the opening of your store!
KathEats says
Unfortunately no. Since we grind our own wheat, there’s too much risk for contamination
Sarah says
The bakery looks great! What a great town, the pictures remind me of when I lived in Savannah. Oh how I miss the south!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I love your mission and the way you chose to display it. It looks great!
The more you post about C-ville, the more I fall in love with it. I’m hoping to make a stop there on my road trip this summer. I’ll pop in and say hello! 🙂
Jessica (Dalyauthenticity) says
Kath, I LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!!! I don’t remember you saying you got it done, but it looks amazing!
KathEats says
Thank you!! I think it’s funny that a few people comment on it from a self portrait in a bathroom mirror 🙂
Kaley [Y Mucho Más] says
Your hair really struck me in that photo (along with all the others), and I can’t say. It looks light, bouncy, really cute!
Also, I have to say I always love it when you drink Spanish wine. They have SUCH good ones here, and I think they’re underrated. I recommend wine from the Toro region if you can someday. It’s delicious.
Laura Ann says
I came dangerously close to googling ‘coupla rolls’ before I realized what you meant. Ha! I was like, “wow, coupla rolls look good!”
KathEats says
🙂
Emily G. says
LOL! Until I read this, I had no idea what a “coupla roll” was, either!! Glad I wasn’t the only one!
Katherine: Unemployed says
I love that you get to bike places
Lindsey @ Morningstar Project says
I think Charlottesville was meant for you and Matt, you maybe you 2 were meant for that city because you certainly leaving your mark! The bakery looks fabulous and those wall logos – I want them in my kitchen!
Laura @FoodSnobSTL says
The bakery looks fantastic! I can only imagine how excited you guys are to open.
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
Seeing the bakery sign made me SMILE! Everything looks great 🙂
Krissy @ Shiawase Life says
We just went to Zocalo on Friday and I had that entree that Matt ate…AMAZING.