Ready your forks, RVA — Mike Isabella's Richmond Graffiato kicks off brunch this Saturday (Oct. 11), and Sunday (Oct. 12) followed by Industry Takeover Night on Monday (Oct. 13).
Groggily roll out of bed this weekend and make your way downtown for mimosas and Isabella's weekend items like Steak & Eggs and Zeppoli, though both dishes are prepared differently than their D.C. counterparts; in fact, nearly all other brunch offerings are entirely unique to Richmond.
Graffiato Richmond's weekend lineup includes (but is by no means limited to) The Hangover pizza with pancetta, soft egg, provolone, matchstick potato and cherry pepper aioli; the Shrimp & Polenta with tasso ham, sweet peppers and soft egg; the French toast with bananas foster and walnuts; and the Smoked Brisket Hash with seawater potato, roasted pepper ketchup, and a soft farm egg.
Oh, you're one of those fundamentally-against-brunch, non-believer types? Next Monday night, you can sample dinner-like dishes from some of D.C.'s finest chefs at Graffiato Richmond's first Industry Takeover Night. A monthly party-for-a-cause at Isabella's D.C. location, Industry Takeover is a showcase for guest chefs who cook up some of their favorite plates, with 50 percent of the proceeds benefiting a different cause at each event. On Monday, Oct. 13, your money helps FeedMore, a hunger-relief organization aiding the Central Virginia region.
Be warned that there's also a $10 cover, though it seems a small price to pay to taste the labors of Executive Chef Scott Drewno of Wolfgang Puck's The Source; Executive Chef Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley; Danny Lee, chef and owner of Mandu; and Tiffany MacIsaac, chef and owner of Buttercream Bakeshop. On the cocktail front, you'll find Derek Brown of The Passenger/The Columbia Room, Mockingbird Hill, Eat the Rich and Southern Hospitality, as well as Jon Arroyo of Farmers Restaurant Group and Todd Thrasher of PX.
Stephanie Breijo
