For many of us, fall is the best time of year. We love the cooler temperatures, beloved holidays, and of course, the bounty of fall ingredients — pumpkins, apples, squash, and more. NoVA chefs, baristas, and bartenders love to showcase these ingredients, too. They have already started to put dishes on their fall menus to highlight the best of the season’s produce. Here are five to try.
Caboose Commons and Caboose Tavern’s Pumpkin Pie Chai Latte
It wouldn’t be fall with a pumpkin pie latte. Here, the chai latte is made with sweetened chai concentrate, a sweet and fragrant house made pumpkin-pie sauce, and your choice of milk. Insider tip: These two venues are also featuring a pumpkin ale this autumn. 2918 Eskridge Rd, Fairfax; 520 Mill St. NE, Vienna
Clarity’s Beet Carpaccio
This lovely starter showcases some of the season’s favorite produce: beets, blood orange, and pomegranate. The dish features thinly sliced beets topped with blood orange crescents, burrata and ricotta cheeses, and a smattering of hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds. It’s then drizzled with beet gastric and basil oil. It is a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. 442 Maple Ave. E, Vienna
Founding Farmer’s Brie Apple Farm Bread
Nothing says fall in Virginia like apples. Founding Farmers keeps it simple but divine by taking thick slabs of their country-style bread and topping it with hunks of brie and apple crescents as well as dollops of their house made onion jam. 461 Swann Ave., Alexandria; 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons; 1904 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston
North Italia’s Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant is in season in our region from late summer to early fall, and tastes best from August through the end of October. In other words, now is the time to enjoy this nightshade. Although eggplant parmesan may be a dish you often see at Italian restaurants, few are as good as the one at North Italia. The eggplant is breaded and fried to a golden crisp, then smothered in melted mozzarella, vodka sauce, and adorned with torn basil leaves. 11898 Market St., Reston; 1651 Boro Pl., Tysons
The Wine Room’s Champagne Risotto
Risotto is a quintessential cool-weather dish, but this risotto is especially seasonal with spinach, mushrooms, and butternut squash. Infused with plenty of parmesan cheese, it’s creamy and rich, and the hunks of butternut squash add just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the salty savory notes.
Feature image courtesy Caboose Tavern
