This lavender and honey cheesecake was heaven-sent by way of Sweet Fix and its new dessert series. Want more sweet news? Read on, below. (Photo by: Jessica Maida Photography)
Greetings! We've got some sweet news including, but not limited to: bakery expansion, over-the-top ice cream, and a new multi-course dessert event. We hope you saved room:
- Show of hands if you love baked goods! I'm expecting nearly all of you do, so here's a bit of news many of us can get into: Idle Hands Bread Co., the Scott's Addition bakery focused on naturally leavened bread and laminated pastries, is moving to a larger space, extending its hours and baking an even wider array of delicious foodstuffs. It's not necessarily great news for those in Scott's Addition, however — the new Idle Hands setup is slated for 312 Brook Road in Jackson Ward, and it's due this summer, likely in June. For those west of Boulevard, there's a silver lining: The bakery will remain open until the move occurs, and owner/baker Jay Metzler says he's hoping to still stock his products in the neighborhood in the future. Want more on this story? We've got it.
- Looking ahead to July, Richmond International Airport is getting a restaurant with a hefty beer list. Cross Grain Brewhouse, located near Concourse A, is a small national chain, though it will stock mostly Richmond-made beer in its RIC location. (Richmond BizSense)
- There's a new delivery service in town: OrderUp, owned by Groupon, just launched in RVA last week, and is currently offering a special or two! (Three-dollar maki from Sticky ToGoGo, anyone?) And Quickness RVA, the city's local bike-based delivery operation, launches online ordering in a little over a week! To help keep all your options straight, we put together this handy guide to Richmond food delivery services. Go forth and dine in your sweatpants and from the comfort of your own couch. You've earned it, champ.
- And if you're looking to enter into food business yourself, Carytown's Dixie Donuts, with all of its equipment, can be yours for $65,000. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- Hey! It's National Beer Day! Celebrate with something sudsy while you read The Wall Street Journal's recent "Beer Geek's Guide to Richmond, Virginia," complete with brewers to know and essential spots for grabbing a beer.
- Sucker for sugar? Local bakery and customized-cake company Sweet Fix just launched its seasonal dessert series, and we got to tag along for the first event. Here's our recap of the four-course, architecturally inspired dessert menu from last week's stunning evening at the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, plus details on how to attend the next installment.
- And another reminder: our 2016 Best & Worst polls are now open! Tell us your favorite restaurants, best meals and more, then look for the winners this August!
Will it rain? Will it snow? Maybe! Here are some great food + beverage events to help you stay warm and padded over the next few days:
- This Saturday kicks off Henrico Restaurant Week! Stop by Deep Run Roadhouse, Mama Cucina, Plaza del Rey, India K' Raja and more participating restaurants that are offering two-course lunches for $10 or $15 or three-course dinners for $20, $25 or $30 until April 17. The best news? The Virginia Home for Boys and Girls will receive $1 from every lunch and $2 from every dinner. (Henrico Citizen)
- Sunday, head to Historic Tredegar for the Support Virginia Green Tourism Oyster Roast & Festival, where you'll find a live bluegrass band; oysters in many forms; local beer; a silent auction and more, all from 2:30 to 6 p.m. (Virginia Green Travel Alliance)
- Head to a place both wonderful and strange, or, really, just delicious. Monday night from 7 to 10 p.m., Vagabond will host a fundraiser for The Great Southern, Richmond's very own Twin Peaks festival. There will be food, drinks, a raffle, general merriment, maybe BOB, etc. (The Great Southern)
- And on Tuesday, Belle & James holds another of its "Fundistry" nights, where your drink sales help a great cause. This month, each Tuesday night from 5 to 7 p.m., a portion of beverage proceeds benefit The ALS Association, which helps to research and combat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Full disclosure: I'll be guest bartending on Tuesday, April 19; come on out for that one, too. (Belle & James)
And now for a few (inter)national links:
- Want to see a magic trick? Here's how to turn one drink into eight: The sour is one of the building blocks of the bar, and with this guide you can tweak the basic recipe to create a number of other cocktails including daiquiris and margaritas. (Food 52)
- Live the sweet life with this roundup of the most over-the-top ice creams launched this year thus far. (First We Feast)
'Til next time, we'll take our ice cream in doughnut cones, thank you.
