Farewell, January, we barely knew ye. Can you believe it's already come and gone? We've seen a lot of changes and events in the last month, from restaurants opening and closing to food festivals and beer yoga. But before we can even catch our breath, we're already plowing into February with even more in #RVAdine news:
- On Sunday, we celebrated the Richmond dining scene at the fourth annual Elby Awards and we couldn't be more thrilled with your support of our city's culinary talent, your best Studio 54-themed outfits (so much sparkle, so much chest hair) and your attendance/applause/dance moves. Thank you to all who came out to support the #RVAdine community and looked F-L-Y doing so. You can find the full list of winners here, the ultra-fun pictures from throughout the evening here, the ever-entertaining photo booth shots here and the ridiculous and incredible medley lyrics, written and performed by my effervescent co-host Jason Tesauro, right over here. It was a whirlwind, and we can't wait 'til the next one. We'll just be catching up on sleep for the next 11-or-so months. (Richmond magazine)
- In a bit of bummer news, Sugar Shack Coffee has indefinitely closed its downtown location. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! That saccharine-sweet cloud's got a silver lining because the chain's Lombardy location reopened today and you can expect more Sugar Shacks to open in Midlothian and Fredericksburg soon. (RVAnews)
- Also new this week: Owen Lane of The Magpie just launched his new menu at Estilo, and it's just as meaty and original as we'd hoped it would be, all while staying true to Estilo's gluten-free-friendly ethos. (Richmond magazine)
- And speaking of Estilo, two of its co-owners, husband-and-wife team Josh and Jessica Bufford, are already working on their next venture. Hutch, also located in the West End, is set to open sometime in February with a similar menu to Estilo's neighbor/resto-sibling, Toast. (Richmond BizSense)
- The Jefferson turns 120 this year (but doesn't look a day over 40) and is celebrating with a new cocktail, the "I am Richmond, first and last," and a Jefferson Package with a few nom-worthy dinner and brunch options. (news release)
- This Valentine's Day, you can spend the holiday with your one true love: pancakes. (No? Just me?) Head to The Broadberry from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 for a delicious breakfast and pancake art by a dozen local artists including Richmond magazine's own creative director, Steve Hedberg, with a great bonus: Ticket proceeds benefit FeedMore. (news release)
- On the beverage front, you'll soon find Center of the Universe brews in Hampton Roads within the next few weeks, now that the brewery is expanding its reach. (Richmond.com/Richmond Times Dispatch)
- And you'd best head to Saison Market this weekend if you're hoping to taste Chorus Effect, the iced coffee collaboration from Saison, Hardywood, Lamplighter and Reservoir; supplies are expected to last only until Sunday. (Richmond magazine)
Ready for those events?
- Quench your thirst with the release of GWAR Blood today, now that the hoppy new beer made for GWARbar is at the Strangeways taproom, too. (Strangeways Brewing)
- What's that, you say? More beer? Hardywood's releasing its new Bourbon Barleywine with live music, food and beverages galore on Saturday afternoon. (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery)
- And you might as well resign yourself to many drinks at Saison Market this weekend, because in addition to that Chorus Effect steez, they're also launching weekly $5 wine tastings from 3 to 5 p.m. From this Saturday forth, a fiver gets you a taste of three wines at Saison Market that will then make their way to the market's by-the-glass menu for the following week. "Our kitchen will be closed, but bottles will be open! This Saturday we will be pouring three reds from Montsant, Marche, and Minervois .... MMMmmm!" read the news release from Virginia Samsel, Saison's new resident wino (official title). (news release)
And now for a few (inter)national links:
- Technology is changing the way we read, write and use recipes, whether they're written on Twitter in 140 characters or drawn as an infographic. Welcome to the future. (First We Feast)
- One man spent five days with celebrated chef Daniel Boulud and lived to tell the tale; he also lived to write this fantastic profile. (Bon Appetit)
- For the fast-food curious, here's a compilation of the secrets behind those "secret" recipes including the McDonald's Big Mac sauce and KFC's "secret blend of 11 herbs and spices." (Mental Floss)
- More on the fast food front: Here's a graph and analysis of instant ramen power rankings. (Lucky Peach)
- Great news for Bob's Burgers fans: the show is now getting its own cookbook based off the fictional restaurant's daily specials. (Comes with recipes.) (A.V. Club)
- In a move that's bizarre but not all that surprising, Hershey's is blocking British Cadbury chocolate from entering the country on the grounds of trademark infringement. Hershey's is why we can't have nice(r) things. (The New York Times)
Until next time, eat all the doughnuts and drink all the wine.
