Tonight I did one of my favorite things in the fall: sat outside on a perfectly crisp evening, with willow oak leaves spinning down toward tables on Charlottesville’s brick walking mall, and ordered a flight of appetizers.
They came out immediately. None were novel ideas, but all were beautifully made, where the ingredients tasted like themselves and joined together in little duets and quartets on the tongue.
The butternut squash soup might have thought about cayenne on its way to my mouth, but it was just a passing thought. It was mildly sweet, just like squash is, not like, say, marshmallows or maple syrup or brown sugar. Geez. The roasted seeds were crunchy even after floating in the soup and they didn’t do that awkward woody thing that makes you furtively reach for your napkin.
The tuna tartare came out round with a crown of avocado and three light crisps. Simple and clean, with a delightful pop of capers and a couple dots of aioli. Surprisingly filling!
The autumn burrata was on a bed of greens, prosciutto, and thin grilled squash with a drizzle of balsamic, served with toasted brioche. It ate like a softboiled egg: again delicious.
I drank a Sancerre Rosé that was listed as a staff favorite: crisp and refreshing, like the cooling twilight air.
I was so satisfied I turned down the blackberry crème brûlée. Total bill: $65. Ninety peaceful minutes on Cville’s downtown mall: a memory to warm me this winter.
