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Foodstuff we like right now.
Recycled Glasses We love that these glasses may have once been a bottle of merlot from a local winery or a hoppy ale from a local brewery, but now hold our morning OJ. Gordonsville designer Jose Rodriguez Bosch “reforms” old wine, beer, and soda bottles, giving them a second life as drinking glasses. $5 or $6 each (with discounts on bulk orders); available at Feast! and The Happy Cook (both in Charlottesville). (703) 447-2568; jose@boschdesigns.com
Snowman Cupcake Topper Looks like ol’ Frosty got caught in the sweetest of snowstorms. This fondant cupcake topper from Cappellino’s Crazy Cakes in Charlottesville provides instant holiday party decor—and smiles. $3.50 each (including cupcake). (434) 293-2964; www.cappellinoscrazycakes.com
Moose Mix We’re thankful that the perfectly spiced Bloody Marys from the defunct T.C. Trotter’s Restaurant and Bar in Lynchburg can still be had. Rich in horseradish and clam base, Moose Mix stays robust even if your drink sits through an entire brunch. You just add a couple of spiced beans or a celery rib—oh, and vodka. Available at Magnolia Foods and Mangia restaurant. info@tctrotters.com; www.tctrotters.com
Holiday Place Cards Charlottesville calligrapher Jennifer Maton of If So INKlined knows it’s the little touches that make guests feel special. You could also use these cards to label the green bean gratin or sweet potato soufflé out on the buffet. $30 for 10 (plus $1 per card for personalization); larger quantities available at a discount. (401) 207-4644; www.IfSoINKlined.com
Virginia Littleneck Clams Harvested by a second-generation family of UVA alumni, these clams have a sweet saltwater flavor and a firm texture. “They’re raised in the lower Chesapeake Bay,” says Seafood@ West Main owner Chris Arseneault, “where the water is saltier and of better quality than the upper bay.” They’re also available at restaurants including Blue Light Grill, Fellini’s #9, and Clifton Inn. $4.95 per dozen at Seafood @ West Main in Charlottesville. (434) 296-8484; www.sfdatwestmain.com
Apple Butter How fitting that the Farm Basket in Lynchburg was started as a roadside fruit stand in 1964 by Perkins Flippin. And now this apple butter is made at his old home, known as Pharsalia, in Nelson County. You can practically taste the history—especially when slathered on warm biscuits. Mmmm, history. $17.95 for a quart at the Farm Basket. (434) 528-1107; www.thefarmbasket.com
Pumpkin Spice Honey Brittle After friends raved about the homemade brittles he gave as gifts, David Shalloway found his new calling in C-ville Candy Company. This all-natural pumpkin spice brittle is loaded with pumpkin seeds, real butter, and a secret blend of sweet spices. “It tastes like very good pumpkin pie,” he says. “Some tell me it’s even better.” $7 for a bag; $10 for a box at the Charlottesville City Market. (434) 962-4284; www.cvillecandy.com
Front-Loader Spoon Kid meals in our house got a lot easier when we introduced the dinner plate as construction site. Constructive Eating’s front-loader spoon—dishwasher safe and made of PVC-, BPA-, and phthalate-free plastic—is great at scooping up local sweet potatoes or, dare we say, Brussels sprouts. $7 at The Happy Cook in Charlottesville, (434) 977-2665, www.thehappycook.com; and Pufferbellies in Staunton, (540) 886-3516, www.pufferbelliestoys.com
Local Flour Wade’s Mill, circa 1750, in Raphine is so authentic, it still churns out this beautiful all-natural all-purpose white flour—as well as whole-wheat flour, cornmeal, grits, and more—on mill stones. About $4 at Foods of All Nations (Charlottesville), Greenwood Gourmet Grocery (Crozet), Cranberry’s (Staunton), Feast! (Charlottesville), C’Ville Market (Charlottesville), and Retail Relay (mjh.retailrelay.com)
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