T.G.I.Finally time to enjoy some of these restaurants we've all been waiting for! #RVAdine saw some big projects open this week, with news of more great restaurants and concepts to come. Join us on this culinary journey and let's eat all the things:
- Shoryuken Ramen just opened its permanent restaurant home in the Fan! Stop by for ramen, daily specials and a cocktail program created by Sean Rapoza of Balliceaux. (Fruit-infused sake? We're there.) (Richmond magazine)
- What else opened this week? Rancho T, the new Latin American restaurant from Ed Vasaio, Tuffy Stone and Leslie Stone, is now a Fan mecca. (Richmond BizSense)
- And in COMING SOON news, Sabai, a new Thai street food late-night restaurant/bar/lounge/street art space, will open within the first two weeks of May. We stopped by to check it out for you, and took a slew of food and cocktail photos to prove it. (Richmond magazine)
- In COMING SOON, POSSIBLY IN SUMMER news, South Side is getting a new tap house. The Cask Cafe's co-owner is opening up White Horse Tavern as early as July. Cheers. (Richmond.com/Richmond Times Dispatch)
- In COMING IN THE SOMEWHAT-NEAR FUTURE, BUT DEFINITELY THIS YEAR news, Goatocado is opening its very first brick-and-mortar restaurant. We caught up with co-founder Ian Newell to learn a bit more about the space and what's ahead. (Richmond magazine)
- News-news: Julep's New Southern Cuisine is putting everything it owns in a box to the left, and then taking those boxes to its new location in the Shields Shoes building, right by Pasture and Rappahannock. Julep's will close its Shockoe doors on May 13 and reopen in the new space by the end of the month. (Style Weekly)
- Improved-quality-of-life/parking news: Sugar Shack's Lombardy location just expanded its parking lot, which is going to make that early-morning sugar fix all the more accessible. (This is a good thing, but not a good thing for my waistline. Just kidding. Everyone knows the calories in doughnuts don't really count.) (RVANews)
- #RECIPEWATCH: If you're looking to try something new (but also classic), Garden & Gun just published Travis Milton's recipe for pea salad. (Garden & Gun)
- Also news this week: Chef Lee Gregory chatted with website The Manual about Richmond's growing food scene, loving local produce and how Southbound came to be. (The Manual)
- And as we already reported, Aaron Hoskins, executive chef of The Rogue Gentlemen, is leaving Richmond. What we now know is that his last day is April 24. To send off Hoskins in style, Betty Clicker Photography shot eight of his dishes and is posting one photo per day until his move. (And those photos are making us hungry.) (Betty Clicker Photography)
If you're looking for some great food- and beverage-centric events, we've got 'em:
- The four-day-long, damn fine Twin Peaks extravaganza that is the Great Southern is now underway. We've got a fun preview of the festival up online, but I'm here to tell you that the food and beverage events are not to be missed. Kick things off with a happy hour at Portrait House from now until 9:00 p.m. tonight (Friday), and be sure to catch the art show at Chop Suey, where you'll also catch Dixie Donuts and some Lamplighter coffee. Saturday will be packed with (pizza) pie and strong coffee at Dinamo and, over at GWARbar, you can get yourself a piled-high Smorgasbord Plate for $25 at the Twin Peaks Smorgasbord. On Sunday, grab a Twin Peaks-themed brunch at The Magpie (with a menu full of nods to the show and a handful of themed cocktails, too) before heading to An Afternoon Both Wonderful and Strange at Hardywood. TAKE NOTE: Hardywood has brewed three Twin Peaks-inspired beers just for this event. After that, give yourself a present and head to Bev's Homemade Ice Cream for a cherry pie sundae special. (Richmond magazine)
- On Sunday, head to Chesterfield Towne Center for the 2nd Annual Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo, where you'll find lots of live entertainment and food from River City Wood Fired Pizza, Zzaam Fresh Korean Grill, Boka Taco, Carytown Burgers & Fries and so much more. (Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo)
- Also on Sunday: The BARK & Beer Fest at Strangeways Brewing Co. Beer and dogs. Dogs and beer. Come on, can anyone even hate on that combo? (Strangeways Brewing Co.)
- Next Thursday, April 23, join us for the 3rd Annual Coaches' Cook-Off, where chefs will coach basketball coaches who'll be trying to cook. (Get it?) The bonus? It's all for a great cause. You can find our full event preview here, but you'll find me at the judging table. Come say hi? (Richmond magazine)
And now for a few (inter)national links:
- The New York Times wrote "A Field Guide to the North American Sandwich" and we are smitten in every way possible. (The New York Times)
- Are you a chef? Do you hate it? According to a new study, you might have more than a few reasons to. Career Cast, a job website, found that being a cook is the third worst job to have in America. (Eater)
- It might be possible to solve Mexico's obesity problem, and it all might be thanks to the fruit peel. Specifically, egg substitutes made of fruit peel. (Munchies)
- THE FUTURE IS NOW! The creator of a new tea bag full of hops claims his invention can be submerged in your light beer to make your drink taste like craft beer. (FoodBeast)
'Til next time, go and buy some of that gum you like. It's back in style.
