About Basics
Phone: 434-361-1766
Basic Necessities has sourced its offerings close to home, close to the earth, for over 20 years. Meals focus on seasonal, local, and organic foodstuffs. The local vendors they depend on for high-quality products include:
Caromont Farms (cheese)
Gearhart's Chocolates (chocolates)
Little Hat Creek Farm (organic produce, breads and pastries)
Albemarle Baking Company (artisan breads, pastries, desserts)
Hudson Henry Baking (granola)
Edible Landscaping (fruit and more)
Fairweather Farms (tea)
Jam According to Daniel (organic jams)
Peak Mountain Vanilla (organic, fair trade, double strength)
River Oak Farm (chicken, pigs)
Trager Brothers Coffee Roasters (local organic coffee)
And, not as local, but oh so good...
Since 1997
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Basic Necessities is an off-beat café, wine and cheese shop nestled in the Rockfish Valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Nellysford, Virginia. Since 1997 we've been offering what many call “a taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
We offer great wines at affordable prices, mostly from small, organic producers we visit and know personally, imported cheeses, fresh local baked breads, and memorable meals in a colorful and creative atmosphere. Our staff welcomes locals, skiers at Wintergreen Resort, traveling foodies, and those simply exploring beautiful Nelson County.
At lunch we have long featured Sue Pfaltz’s delicious and innovative soups, big house salads, and seasonal specialties. Reservations are advised for Friday and Saturday night dinners where guests find creatively-prepared dishes and musical entertainment. Our popular Sunday brunch is from 10-2 and frequently features a harpist during the middle of the day.
We, at Basics, adhere very much to the Slow Food Movement. We believe in meals made from scratch. Our dinners take a bit longer, but sit back, relax, and breath deeply a few times. You’ll feel yourself slowing down and be grateful. Have some wine and bread, and we’ll present you with beautifully prepared food. We don’t turn tables so we won’t kick you out. Unless it’s past our bedtimes, and in that case, we might hand you the keys.
Our retail shop has an extensive selection of wines and cheeses on a wide range of price-points, along with an ever-changing display of products such as fresh flowers, candy, local books as well as Kay's books, breads and "gifts."
The name? We're often asked about the cumbersome name. When Kay returned to Virginia after over ten years in Paris, she first settled in the tiny town of Nellysford, which then (as now) had no traffic light. A far cry from Paris. Finding no good bread, wine, cheese or chocolate (the basic necessities of life) and used to the abundance of Paris, she decided to do something about it. A little magic was created and the rest is history. We're proud to say, more than two decades later, we're still going strong.
Pictured above, left to right: Rosie Gantt, Sallie Justice and Kay Pfaltz
The People of Basics
Kay Pfaltz
Owner and Founder
Sallie Justice
Owner and Manager
Rosie Gantt
Owner
Mae Collins Tyree
Manager and Chef
Angela Faris
Manager and Chef
Will Yoder
Chef
Vera Miller
Sous Chef and Baker
Rose Rozsa
Virginia Schweninger
Harpist