New restaurants! New chefs! New beer! New locations! We've got a lot of news ahead, Richmond. Let's do this thing.
- Kicking off the week with some feel-good news, Hardywood has been selected as one of the lucky breweries to participate in this year's Ales for ALS program, which brews and sells beer specifically to aid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease) research. Look for their new, yet-to-be-named beer this summer and drink for a great cause. (Richmond magazine)
- In more beverage talk, Blue Bee Cider will make the move from Manchester to Scott's Addition after its recent win over the coveted city stables lot at 3101 W. Clay St. Congratulations, Blue Bee! The cidery beat out notable bids from local establishments like Tap 26, Legend Brewing Co. and Anderson's Neck Oyster Co. (Richmond.com/Richmond Times Dispatch)
- How's this to sweeten your spring and summer: according to a news release, King of Pops will open its Scott's Addition factory for retail next Friday, May 22, making it the Richmond company's first brick-and-mortar shop. The "Pop Factory" at 3001 W. Clay St. (a neighbor to Blue Bee's new location) will feature a new patio with outdoor seating and sell the treats through a retail window. The facility may also host pop-making demonstrations in the not-too-distant future. "We're excited to be part of the growing neighborhood in Scott's Addition and to serve our frozen treats to the public during regular business hours," owner Paul Cassimus says in the release. Starting next Friday, swing by from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
- In a dose of meaty goodness, a new butcher shop opens tomorrow (Friday, May 15); The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop, located at 12406 Southshore Pointe Road, bills itself in a news release as "an old-style butcher shop, reminiscent of an era before shoppers bought all of their groceries at mega-supermarkets." You'll find fresh cuts of meat and seafood, including lobster, plus ready-made items. They'll even steam your seafood, upon request. Now that sounds like something we can get behind.
- Quirk Hotel just named its chef; let's all welcome David Dunlap, formerly of Ashby Inn, to Richmond and our dining scene! (The Washington Post)
- Landing soon in that small strip mall on West Grace Street — the one with the Chipotle and Panera, you know the one — is personal-pizza outpost Pie Five Pizza Co. Look for rooftop seating when it opens in August. (Richmond BizSense)
- North Side is getting a new coffee shop, complete with Lamplighter coffee and possible poetry readings and live music. StreetCar Café opens next month on Brookland Park Boulevard, hoping to involve the community when it does. (Style Weekly)
- In other new restaurant news, Lapple is now open in the old Panda Garden space. Founded by two Peter Chang alums, one a former sous chef and one a former manager, the restaurant is bringing authentic southwestern Chinese cuisine to the Fan with hot pots, spicy chicken salad, fresh dumplings and more. (Richmond magazine)
- And if you've ever imagined a party where Pizza Tonight serves up wood-fired pizza while Nettie's Naturally passes out sweet treats, your dreams can become delicious, delicious reality thanks to The Apple Cart Co.'s new catering collective, The Good Apples. The organization includes a handful of local food and beverage spots that can cater your event, big or small, and you can even mix and match them at a competitive price. (Richmond magazine)
- Don't let your gluten intolerance stop you from stuffing your face with cake! Our latest Pizza Tried to Kill Me column offers up some of the best bakeries and restaurants serving gluten-free baked goods in Richmond, so you can chow down, gluten-guilt-free. (Richmond magazine)
- But if you can digest gluten, Heritage is hosting a Craft Beer Week Lickinghole Creek tap takeover, offering specials on beer and small plates. (news release)
- And last but certainly not least, the polls for our Best & Worst: Family and Neighborhoods categories are now open! Vote for your favorite kid-friendly coffee shop, the best family-friendly menu, etc., and get entered to win $200 in restaurant certificates to spots like Q Barbeque and The Boathouse. (Richmond magazine)
Ready for the weekend?
- ...We certainly hope you are because all weekend long, you can gorge yourself on homemade Lebanese fare at the Lebanese Food Festival. For more on what to expect at St. Anthony Maronite Church (like the 34 dishes to choose from), check out this preview. (RVANews)
- Tomorrow afternoon, head to The Answer Brewpub for New Belgium Brewing's Sour Symposium. Drink sour, learn sour, love sour. (The Answer Brewpub)
- Sunday marks the return of SlowFood RVA's GRAZE series, celebrating "slow" meat that's been raised naturally, outside of confined spaces. Twenty-five bucks gets you bites from Comfort's Jason Alley and Travis Milton, Shoryuken Ramen's Will Richardson, Metzger Bar & Butchery's Brittany Anderson, Longoven's Patrick Phelan and Andrew Manning, and Sophisticated Soireés' Andrea Huntjens, plus information on local, sustainable food done right. (Slow Food RVA)
- And in more drink-centric events on Sunday, head to Hardywood for Music, Movies & Magic, an event held by (and benefiting) the Bijou Film Center. Watch a few short films, hear some live music, and get your 8 mm films transferred to digital while snacking on pretzels, pizza and Thai food. (And drinking beer, of course.) Read up with our full preview, here. (Richmond magazine)
And in (inter)national news...
- File under: Useful and Inspirational, Always. This letter from Jackson Cannon, bar director and mixologist extraordinaire, to his younger self is full of great advice. Read up and go forth. (Yahoo! Food)
- Speaking of cocktails, bitters aren't just for drinking anymore; you can cook with them, too. (The Wall Street Journal)
- Honey, be(e) mine, even if you taste like seasoned, savory food. One London man's urban honey farm is now producing popular herbed honey after planting a garden nearby. (Munchies)
- Did you take your mom out for brunch last weekend? If you did (and if there were no men in your party), you were taking part in a feminist tradition that dates back to the women's rights movement, when women were sticking it to the proverbial man by not dining with literal-man chaperones. (NPR)
'Til next time, take your mom out for brunch all the time.
