Head below for a fresh helping of the latest Food News. (Photo by Eileen Mellon)
Candy Land
Prepare to enter a world with nearly 100 sweet, sour and chewy confections. Pick-and-mix shop Trolley Car Sweets and Treats is now open in the Fan, and it’s stocked with thousands of pounds of candies from around the globe including mango-cola chews, sour peach ovals, salty licorice and more. (Richmond magazine)
Brewing Relationships
For a cafe-less coffee operation that focuses on roasting, there can be a bit of mystique surrounding the buzzy business. We sat down with the husband-and-wife team at Recluse Roasting Project, responsible for the thoughtfully sourced beans at Sugar & Twine, Julio’s Bagels, and other local spots, to discuss the ethos behind their operation: a dedication to the people behind the beans. (Richmond magazine)
Mint Mojo
Herbaceous, bright and the perfect accent to a cool drink, mint is a cocktail’s best friend — especially during Richmond’s sweltering summers. Beverage writer Bird Cox has the lowdown on where to find refreshing sips, from an island-inspired mojito to a twist on the julep, a Tiki tipple and more. (Richmond magazine)
Tomato Tour
Last week was the launch of the annual tour de tomato, Summer Supper Somm. (If you’re new around here, check out our write-up from 2023.) The vine-ripe series spotlights Village Garden’s Hanover heirlooms as restaurants and chefs reimagine the juicy fruit’s vast potential and pair them with Virginia wines. The kickoff event at Grace presented everything from tomato salt and fermented tomato butter to vine vermouth, crudo, salads and even tomato ice cream. Whether you’re looking for a local dinner or an out-of-town trip, stops on the tomato tour include Richmond’s Shagbark, Penny’s Wine Shop, Acacia, Pinky’s and Lehja, along with The Shack in Staunton, Zoe’s in Virginia Beach, Barboursville and Crimson Lane vineyards, and many others.
Good Vibes
Saturday, July 11, is Richmond nonprofit the Positive Vibe Foundation’s biggest fundraiser. Craving a walk-around tasting? Beach-bash-themed Positively Delicious has a stacked lineup of food and beverage businesses and chefs including Jason Alley (formerly of Comfort and Pasture), Stanley’s, Lehja, Yellow Umbrella, Shyndigz and more dishing up small plates, along with bevs from bar pro Beth Dixon. Tickets are $125.
Cou Cou for RVA
A nonnegotiable stop for me when visiting Charlottesville: Cou Cou Rachou. The whimsical French bakery helmed by Rachel Du Jong (alum of The Inn at Little Washington) is heading to Richmond for a Sunday pastry pop-up at Spacebomb Studio on July 12. The fun kicks off at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. or sellout. There is also mention of “surprise cold treats” along with their classic offerings.
ICYMI
Fuel up the car and dust off that suitcase: Stephanie Ganz and I share destinations in Virginia and beyond that blend eating and adventure. (Richmond magazine)
A Goochland restaurant has been serving up family-style Southern food for decades. (Richmond magazine)
Best Bites is back with more dishes we can’t stop dreaming about. (Richmond magazine)
Little Bites
- The former Heritage space is being revived and is weeks away from making its debut. Helen and Trieu Tran, owners of Vietnamese eateries Pho Thien Phat and Rice Fields, plan to introduce Pho Heritage at 1627 W. Main St. in August.
- Morty’s Market & Deli is expanding its North Side space to include a whole lot of bubbles and bitters. Stay tuned for a forthcoming spritz garden, set to debut this fall. (Richmond BizSense)
- Antonelli’s Deli is inching closer to completion, and baker Giustino Ricco has been working tirelessly to perfect his signature bread. According to owner Taylor Antonelli, the restaurant is awaiting an ABC hearing July 15 and will have updates soon after.
- One of the city’s OG pizza purveyors is back at it. Billy Pie, previously a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Patterson Avenue (also a frozen pie brand), is preparing to heat up the ovens again this month at a 700-square-foot shop in the Ridge Road Shopping Center. (CBS 6)
- Oui, chef. Parisian energy is permeating Blue Atlas the day after Bastille Day, July 15. The Fulton Hill hideaway is boasting a brasserie-themed menu complete with France’s most striking blue cheese, chicken liver mousse and steak frites.
- Another friendly reminder to check your favorite restaurants’ Instagrams or other socials before heading in for a visit. July (particularly post-Fourth) is a popular time of year for the industry to take a much-needed break.
Upcoming Events
- Yummvees Vegan Dinner Party, The Workshop by T&D (July 10): A multicourse vegan feast
- Hanover Tomato Festival, Pole Green Park (July 10-11): The annual family-friendly celebration of tomatoes
- Pizza Pop-up, Pies & Cakes (July 11): Summer specialty pizzas from the Carver bakery
- Hem and Her Pop-up: Donuts and Coffee, Second Bottle (July 11): Savory and sweet doughnuts from honey mango with coconut custard to spicy egg salad with pork floss
- N&N Collective Pop-up, Odd Bird (July 11): A bevvie pop-up featuring cherry limeade matcha floats, Thai tea lemonade and more
- RVA Black Farmers Market, Shalom Farms (July 12): Shop produce and other goods from Black farmers and purveyors.
- Beach Wine Mega Tasting, Jardin (July 12): The Fan wine bar is pouring 20 wines for the beach, all under $25.
- Sexi Susie’s Summer Supper, Susie’s (July 14): Chef-owner Yael Cantor and freelance chef and baker Olivia Wilson pair up for seasonal summer snacks a la carte and plenty of refreshing sips.
- Big Back BBQ Pop-up, Pho Luca’s (July 14): Texas-style brisket and fixin’s are on the menu for the debut event.
- Profs and Pints: Encountering Cryptids, Triple Crossing Beer Fulton (July 15): A sudsy dive into mysterious beings
- Mead and Cookie Pairing, Black Heath Meadery (July 16): Cookie biz Sweetest Thing supplies the treats for this event with combos including a banana pudding cookie and the peanut butter mead BC’s Cup.
