April 30, 2025
Queued Up
Bad Reviews by Sabrina Carpenter
Sally, When The Wine Runs Out by Role Model
You Need Me Now? by girl in red with Sabrina Carpenter
Escaper by Sarah Kinsley
Superglue by Role Model
Silver Into Rain by Luna Li and beabadoobee
F2F by SZA
BOOM BAP by Doechii
Ms. Whitman by Bhad Bhabie
Let ‘Em In by Kendall Street Company
Can Can Brasserie
A very lovely and reasonably priced happy hour and brunch
Carytown is one of the most popular spots in town, so of course I had to check out Can Can Brasserie right in the heart of it. After seeing they had happy hour bar food deals and a brunch menu on the app HappyHopper, I knew I was going back more than once. Between $1 raw oyster Mondays, $12 mussels and fries on Thursdays, and a few others, I was most excited for their Wednesday deal: 2 hors d'oeuvres for $15.
I originally planned to get the beef tartare and crispy brussels sprouts, but it turned out the brussels sprouts weren’t part of the deal. I swapped them for the baked brie, which came topped with hot honey, pistachios, and a side of their white bread. The beef tartare ended up being the highlight, and it also came with more of their white bread. After splitting a bread service appetizer with my friend too, it ended up being a lot of bread. But still, everything was delicious. Their homemade grenadine made my Shirley Temples perfectly sweet. There are definitely a lot of ways to mix and match their hors d'oeuvres for a great meal.
On Sunday morning, I went back for brunch at the bar. I ordered cran-orange juice and the jambon beurre sandwich which had all my favorite things: butter, gruyere, and ham. It came with a side of pickles and fries (I swapped the salad for them). I have become a fan of their shoestring fries with garlic aioli. The sandwich was reasonably priced, and their bar is a great spot to read and relax in the morning. I’ll definitely be back to do it again and to try more of their brunch menu!
Honestly, every time I walked past Can Can, I assumed it would be way out of my budget. But thanks to HappyHopper, I was able to find these deals, and I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely worth checking out!
Budget Eats
in RVA
I have found a new favorite snack in Dumbarton, RVA, for just $3! Jamaica Jerk Pit’s beef patty is fantastic. Between the crispy pastry and insanely flavorful filling, I can’t seem to get enough. There are plenty of amazing things on the menu I would love to try!
Sometimes I just need a good sub sandwich. I love building my own at Publix because I can get a hefty sandwich, a bag of chips, and a drink for less than 10 bucks! To some, a PubSub is a classic sunny-day meal, but others aren’t aware of how great Publix makes their sandwiches. Don’t knock it till you try it!
If you’ve lived in Charlottesville, Blacksburg, RVA, or other towns around Virginia with a Benny’s, you know how serious this pizza is. With a slice almost the length of my arm, the crispy crust and light sauce are unbeatable. Whether you want an inexpensive lunch or a late-night snack, find a Benny’s near you. RVA’s, Benny Ventano’s is located in The Fan.
After wanting to try Cafe Rustika for a long time, I am delighted to report that their schnitzel lived up to my expectations. I ordered their pork schnitzel but also had to steal a bit of my boyfriend’s veal, obviously. They were beautifully crunchy and the sides went well with the meal. Make sure to get there early because this small space fills up fast!
Since my favorite cupcake shop in Charlottesville closed in 2019, I have been searching for a new place that I can rely on for these delicious desserts! After discovering Pearl's Bake Shoppe on Patterson Ave, I knew I found the place. Their signature cupcakes are permanent for a reason and their rotating flavors will have you checking their weekly menu waiting for your favorites again. This is a lovely cupcake shop.
Recent Recipes
I’ve been in a sweets mood lately if you couldn't tell!
Lemon Raspberry Loaf
I have craved this loaf for so long that I just had to give in and make it. This is a new staple in my eyes. I topped it with a lemon drizzle, which gave the perfect sweetness to the ‘sour’ bread. Fresh raspberries were the move because they separated beautifully as I mixed them in.
Apple Crossovers
These were honestly quite simple but delicious. First, the apples are baked with a sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon. Then, fold the apples into a sheet of puff pastry, top with the rest of the sugar/cinnamon mix with butter, and bake!
Homemade Frozen Yogurt
I recently got myself a little ice cream machine that I have been making great concoctions with. My favorite has been ‘classic tart’ which consists of plain Greek yogurt, sugar, milk, and whatever mix-ins I like! This one had cherries and chocolate chunks.
Gluten-Free Cherry Almond Loaf
I made this loaf for a nice family that hosted me not too long ago. After learning one of the family members was gluten-free, I decided to use almond flour. One of my favorite combinations is cherries and almonds so I knew what I had to do.
Buffalo Chicken Dip with Pretzels and Crostinis
After making buffalo chicken dip for a Halloween party last year for the first time, it became something I started to daydream about. I typically follow Frank’s Red Hot’s recipe but make it my own with cheddar, garlic powder, etc. I had some leftover greek yogurt and make some quick pretzels, plus a baguette to make crostinis!