Tickets for the second annual Richmond Folk Feast sold out one month before the event itself, and with good reason: Chefs from 14 of the River City's best restaurants served up unlimited delectable, local small plates to benefit the Richmond Folk Festival.
Under white tents and globe string lighting, set to a live performance by The Green Boys, roughly 360 attendees ate their way through bisques, soft eggs and gourmet sausage — an increased attendance of over 30 percent from last year's event.
"I think the Folk Festival has all of these great elements to it, but the Richmond dining scene wasn't part of it in a high-profile way," says Kira Siddall, one of the Folk Feast's chief organizers. "And food and music go really well together, so it seemed like a really good fit."
Participating restaurants Pasture, Comfort, The Magpie, Heritage, Julep's, Rappahannock, Secco Wine Bar, Mama J's, Metzger's Bar & Butchery, Belmont Butchery, The Rogue Gentlemen, Estilo, Carena's Jamaican Grille and Lemaire pleased the crowd so much that forks were in high demand. If you missed the event or any of the 14 small plates, we've got you covered with a gallery, below.
Stephanie Breijo
Lemaire’s Powhatan cinderella pumpkin bisque with smoked country sausage and curried Virginia apples
Stephanie Breijo
Pasture’s house-cured ham steak sliders with bourbon mustard and spicy mustard pickles
Stephanie Breijo
Rappahannock’s smoked white fish
Stephanie Breijo
The Magpie’s crispy beef tongue with braised pecans, Asian pear and pumpkin mostarda
Stephanie Breijo
Comfort’s rye buttermilk pies with hickory syrup and warm pickled Albemarle peaches
Stephanie Breijo
Julep’s venison tartare with soft egg
Stephanie Breijo
Saison’s potato-fried chicken with pickled egg and sauce gribiche
Stephanie Breijo
Mama J’s catfish nuggets with candied yams, mac ‘n’ cheese and greens
Stephanie Breijo
Metzger Bar & Butchery’s sausage-and-rye berry risotto served over delicate squash with roasted grapes
Stephanie Breijo
Secco Wine Bar’s spiced lamb with couscous, tomato and lemon
Stephanie Breijo
Carena’s coconut curry butternut squash soup with crispy Virginia ham, served alongside jerk prime rib
Goatchetta
