In the kitchen: UR's Chris Mooney vs. VCU's Shaka Smart Photo by Ash Daniel
Wine and Dine : April 12 Chesterfield County's Chamber of Commerce will join Martin's Food Markets for the eighth year in A Celebration of the Vine Wine Festival on April 12 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., located for the first time this year at The MillWorks at the Green in Midlothian. The festival will feature more than 15 local vineyards, plus food and craft vendors, and live music. Tickets are available at any Martin's location. Tasting tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and non-tasting tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Details at acelebrationofthevine.com . Coaches Cooking : April 17 The Second Annual Coaches' Cook-Off between basketball coaches Shaka Smart of VCU and UR's Chris Mooney will take place on April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Science Museum of Virginia. Each coach will have a supporting chef to help him cook — in Smart's case, it's Buz Grossberg of Buz and Ned's, while Glen Pruden of the University of Richmond will lend Mooney a hand. "The chefs will be onstage with the coaches, preparing one ‘center-of-the-plate item,' " says event coordinator Garth Larcen. The final product will be judged by a panel of local food and sports journalists. Tickets are $100 apiece, or $150 for two. For more details, call 560-9622. Spring Restaurant Week : April 21-27 Richmond Restaurant Week returns in 2014 for the week of April 21 to 27, with more than 25 participating restaurants. "[It's] a special event that celebrates and showcases the local talent of chefs and restaurateurs that we have in the Richmond area," says Acacia mid-town co-owner and organizer Aline Reitzer. Each restaurant will offer a three-course, prix fixe menu for $25.14 per person and will donate $2.14 from each order to FeedMore, the umbrella organization that includes the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. Last year, the fall and spring restaurant weeks combined to raise more than $57,000. "Each year, we learn and grow from the previous year," Reitzer says, "but Richmond Restaurant Week is the vision we started in 2001." More information can be found at richmondrestaurantweek.com .
