Photo by Adam Ewing
Travis Croxton
Travis Croxton
Hi and hello there, Richmond! We've had quite a week of food news, haven't we? Let's talk accolades, new restaurants, rooftops bars, closings and the best upcoming wining-and-dining events, with a few national food links for good measure.
Let's all wish Rappahannock a hearty congratulations, because it was just named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America. As if that weren't exciting enough, the magazine also named Virginia its Region of the Year. Confetti! Party hats! Everyone celebrate! (Esquire) Side note: You can read our recent profile on Travis Croxton and Rappahannock ("Going Deep") right here.
And vegan baked goods for all! Near the start of 2015, Nettie’s Naturally Bakery and Café is opening shop in Jackson Ward, serving organic, vegan and gluten-free items. (Richmond BizSense)
Speaking of new spots, downtown is getting a new rooftop American-food restaurant and a cocktail lounge complete with 50-foot onyx bar. (Style Weekly)
And in #SouthboundWatch2014 news, we sat down with chefs Joe Sparatta and Lee Gregory to get the scoop on their new collaboration, which may or may not include a giant pasta machine. (Richmond magazine)
In some sadder news, pour some out for Jorge's Cantina, which is now closed indefinitely and facing eviction. (RVA News)
Let's turn that frown upside down with news of a reopening: Commercial Taphouse is back in business and we took a peek inside at the new space and menu. (Richmond magazine)
And Chicken Fiesta is now open on Broad Street! A takeout order on deadline night Tuesday gave us the flavorful boost we needed to get the November issue out. (Chicken Fiesta)
Looking for some fun this weekend? What about liters of beer? What about fun and liters of beer? Head to the Old Dominion Building at the Richmond International Raceway for traditional German fare, polka, and more beer than you can shake some schnitzel at. Prost! (Richmond Oktoberfest)
More beer? On Saturday, Hardywood celebrates the release of its Hardywood Rye Whiskey Barrel Pumpkin ale with a haunted hoedown, pumpkin decorating, live entertainment and a costume contest. Yeeeeehaw. (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery)
We told you once (last week) and we'll tell you again: Seinfeld's Soup Nazi is coming to town for this weekend's Souper Bowl at Max’s Positive Vibe Café. (Richmond.com)
On Sunday, head to the 17th Street Farmers' Market for the First Annual Kickin' Chicken WingFest, where yours truly is judging the wing competition. Come on out; I promise to root for you if you enter the eating contest. When you see me, just tell me I sent you. (17th Street Farmers' Market)
If you're itchin' for a road trip, Bowling Green in Caroline County celebrates its 25th Harvest Festival this weekend with car-and-truck shows, antique shows, a petting zoo, food trucks, music and a beer garden. (Town of Bowling Green)
Looking ahead, Richmond Restaurant Week's fall iteration starts Monday with 40 (yes, 40) menus. (Richmond.com)
Let's not forget the knowledge-packed Virginia Wine Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 21 ... (Virginia Wine Summit)
... And Fire, Flour & Fork, which kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 30, and is full of seminars and great eats. (Fire, Flour & Fork)
And now the links that aren't necessarily RVA-centric but fun nonetheless:
Traditional whiskey aging could be a thing of the past, if Whiskey Elements has anything to do with it. The new start-up promises an all-natural system that accelerates the aging process and customizes your whiskey by allowing you to control flavor profiles, all within a 24-hour period. (Kickstarter)
Have you ever wondered what Michelle Obama looks like getting #turnt with a turnip? FLOTUS posted a #TurnipForWhat Vine on Twitter and it's absolutely worth a watch. (The White House)
If you picked up the latest issue of Saveur, you might have noticed a highly respected editor-in-chief's name missing from the masthead. That's because James Oseland is off to rebrand and revamp Organic Gardening into Organic Life, and Grubstreet's got an interview peppered with details. (Grubstreet)
Going apple picking this fall? Chances are, you're doing it wrong. Here's a handy guide to common mistakes and how to avoid them. (Bon Appetit)
And one final note on fall: There are some phenomenal cookbooks out this season. We're going to need a bigger bookshelf. (Food52)
That's all for now, folks! I'll see you next week for more food news, events and drool-worthy links.
