Chrysalis Vineyards
For: Pizza with your petit manseng
Best known for its dedication to Virginia’s native grape, Norton, Chrysalis Vineyards is much more than its tasting room. With 360-degree views over 400 acres of land, the patio at The Ag District Center is a sprawling lot for not only sipping zippy albarino verde or sweet, highly drinkable Snobby Bitch (from owner Jennifer McCloud’s secondary label, Middleburg Winery), or a sweet-ending petit manseng, but for eating, too.
On weekends, the outdoor glass-enclosed kitchen centered around a stone hearth oven spins out pizza with mozzarella made on the property, from cows raised on the land. Locksley Farmstead Cheese Company platters are also available with an array of styles (fromage blanc, cheddar, camembert, gouda) and spreads. Chef Chris Vincenzi plans to make charcuterie in-house, and there’s wheat growing to use for breads—and more pizza. // 39025 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg
The Garden
For: Brats, beers and board games
Opening this month from the team behind Del Ray’s Live Oak and Charlie’s on the Avenue comes an outdoor beer garden with oysters on the half shell, charcuterie, sausages, stuffed pretzels and panini. While the weather is warm (it will probably close for the season in November), find more than a dozen beers and four cocktails on draft and plenty of yard games: cornhole, four-in-a-row connect and checkers. // 1503 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
NOVA Central Farm Market
For: The smell of garlic in the morning
Formerly at Mosaic District, Central Farm moved operations to George C. Marshall High School with all but a handful of the same vendors. New this year is Old Smokey BBQ, Poke Dojo and Young Harvest with baby lettuces and alt-pestos (arugula and cilantro). The market is open year-round. // 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
Fantasticks
For: Gelato on the go
Fantasticks takes over the pop-up spot in One Loudoun this summer with gelato bars on a stick. Pick a base flavor (chocolate, vanilla, birthday cake) and decorate with a flavored shell (chocolate-strawberry, chocolate-coffee, chocolate-coconut) and decorate with everything from Oreos and unicorn sprinkles, to edible rose petals and dark chocolate-covered chia seeds. // One Loudoun: 44715 Thorndike St., Ashburn
This post was originally published in our June 2019 issue. Subscribe to our weekly Food newsletter for more articles here.
