Did you know that Quickness RVA, the bicycle delivery service, actually likes to deliver in the rain? I always figured that those guys dreaded it and I felt too guilty to order on rainy days. However, people feel sorry for them, so the tips are fantastic, I was told by a restaurant owner who uses their service. Order up this weekend, folks, it’s going to be a wet one. And give that drenched cyclist an extra buck or two. They deserve it.
Biggest news of the week: Top Chef, Top Chef Masters and James Beard-award finalist — and as one person commented on my Facebook page, all-around hottie — Bryan Voltaggio is bringing his Frederick, Maryland, restaurant, Family Meal, to The Shops at Willow Lawn in early 2015. (Richmond magazine)
The Roosevelt’s Lee Gregory and Dutch & Co.’s Phil Perrow and Caleb Shriver traveled to Charlottesville this week to participate in Clifton Inn’s Cefs in the Garden series. (Richmond magazine)
Pasture’s Michele Jones had a slam-dunk of a charitable event last night. Jones is the founder and tireless organizer of A Case for Hope, a nonprofit that collects luggage for foster children moving from home to home. Last night, ABC News came to Richmond to film the party and talk to Jones and the folks from Richmond Social Services. Next week, A Case for Hope, along with social services, is going to try to get every child in Richmond foster care a new backpack to get them excited about going back to school. That's 288 kids. Help them out! (And kudos to Richmond.com editor Karri Peifer for getting the word out about the event.) Plus, here’s a great column by Michael Paul Williams about the event.Micheal Sparks’ traveling culinary event, The Underground Kitchen, is taking the show on the road and making the trip to D.C. on Sept. 30. Tickets go on sale this Monday, if you want to find out who the RVA mystery chef might be. (Richmond.com)
I’m ancient enough to remember Chetti's Cow and Clam Tavern and the fun that was had there. I also remember Ray Chetti’s Moister Oyster — a raw clam with hot sauce you chased with a shot of beer. If you’re feeling nostalgic or want to take my word for it how good that combo was, Ray Chetti is serving them again at Halligan Bar & Grill in Short Pump (Style Weekly)
Southern Season and its attached restaurant, Southerly, opened with a lavish party full of swanky guests (and me) on Wednesday night. There was a bourbon and Scotch bar (Glenlivet!), a vodka and gin bar, plenty of wine and a crazy ice-sculpture-bedazzled prawn display. Border Springs Farm’s Craig Rogers was on hand grilling lamb kebabs, Rappahannock River Oyster Co. was shucking oysters, and snacks, constantly passed, were everywhere. Richmond chefs have lined up to teach classes in their state-of-the-art cooking school, and on Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m., Domenica Marchetti, author of The Glorious Vegetables of Italy and The Glorious Pasta of Italy, among other cookbooks, will do a demonstration and sign books. The case brought by the U.Va. student erroneously arrested by ABC agents and held overnight in jail has been settled by the state for $212,500. Hey, RTD! Notice how you wrote that Elizabeth Daly’s record had been expunged and AGAIN you’re running her mug shot along with the story? Are there no photos of the ABC agents involved that you could have FOIA’ed prior to the settlement? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
James River Distillery, owned by Kristi Croxton, Jonathan Staples and Matt Brophy, is up and running. They packed 120 cases of their Commonwealth Gin this week (and hand-tied little tags around the necks of each of the 1,440 bottles) and gave them to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to put on shelves all over Virginia. It’s the only gin to contain hops in its secret recipe of herbs and spices, and they’re using non-GMO corn in their mash. Take it from me, I tried it and it’s gooooood.Carytown Burgers & Fries Catering and Cafe is opening a new place twice the size of its Carytown location on Lakeside. They also have a third location planned for the West End. (Richmond BizSense)
Reality TV isn’t all bad. Chester’s Carie Pullano-Keller, who appeared on Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, learned to cook on the show — and learned to cook well. (Chesterfield Observer)
In future news:Redskins fans, listen up! Mike Nelms will sign autographs and do a few selfies with you at the Pig & Pearl tonight from 4 to 8 p.m. to promote the CVTV Special Olympics Celebrity Golf Tournament.On Aug. 16, ChiknEgg, along with the folks who make Ball brand home canning supplies, Jarden Home Brands, will do a demonstration in Manakin-Sabot to celebrate International Can-It-Forward Day. For more information about ChiknEgg and the event, follow this link. Mosaic and Lickinghole Creek are getting together to throw a five-course dinner with beer-pairings at the brewery tomorrow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $80 and you can call 288-7482 for reservations.It's another five-course beer dinner, this time on Monday, Aug. 4, at The Blue Goat. Check out the mashup that will be created when Jamaica House and Carena’s Jamaican Grille’s Carena Ives, and Blue Goat’s executive chef, Will Mitchell, get together. Tickets are $50. Call 288-8875 for more details.In other news:Torture yourself by contemplating the 11 worst fast food restaurants in America. You won’t believe which one came in first (actually, you might). (The Week)
Best quote of the week: "As a shop manager, I do my best not to hire morons, but in this case I failed." —Voodoo Doughnut Too’s manager to an irate customer. (Eater)
Five chefs give advice on health and happiness. OK, I’ll bite. (Food Republic)
Color-changing ice cream! (HuffPo Food)
And chicken-free McNuggets in Japan. (Eatocracy)Stay dry, Richmonders!
