Richmond Food News: Week of Dec. 14-18

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It's been a wicked-big week for food news, and fortunately the appetite it's worked up means we've got enough room for boozy shakes, great baked goods, new late-night snacks and a few other surprises:

  • Let's start with the big, beautiful, candy-striped elephant in the room: Boulevard Burger and Brew, the latest dining spot from EAT Restaurant Partners, is set to open on Jan. 6 at 1300 N. Boulevard, just across the street from Bow Tie Cinemas. I've been staring at that restaurant space for months, and it's exciting to see it finally (and expertly) restored in all its late-'50s glory. Personally, I'm looking forward to all of the milkshakes (both alcoholic and non), the 10+ varieties of burgers, and the mini arcade. Check out photos of the space, details on the renovation and more, right over here. (Richmond magazine)
  • A few blocks down North Boulevard and just up West Broad Street, the historic Hofheimer Building just found its new rooftop tenant. MOSAIC Catering + Events will open an events space and gallery there sometime in March. It'll share the building with that highly anticipated fast-casual Peter Chang restaurant we've all been so excited about. BONUS: The new Peter Chang concept is also set to open around the same time as MOSAIC's. Curious about what the space will look like in a few months? Wonder no longer. (Richmond magazine)
  • Scott's Addition was (ahem) on a roll this week; over at 3103 W. Leigh St., Idle Hands Bread just opened up its first brick and mortar, offering a selection of pastries and naturally leavened bread, plus a new coffee blend by Black Hand Coffee Co. According to owner/baker Jay Metzler, there may even be a spent grain collaboration with Ardent Craft Ales in the future... (Richmond magazine)
  • More bakery news you can use: Early Bird Biscuit Co., Lakeside's cheery and ever-busy biscuit shop, will move to the Fan early next year. This means that the Lakeside location will most likely close in mid-March so that the team can open at 119-A N. Robinson St. by March 1, and while this is very sad news for North Side, it's exciting for Early Bird fans everywhere; the new space will nearly double the bakery's square footage and offer seating, a larger menu, Sunday hours and baking workshops. Get all the deets here. (Richmond magazine)
  • And because RVA's bakery wonders never cease, we're getting a kolache company! Kolache is now taking special orders, and looking for commercial kitchen space in Church Hill. If you're curious about the Czech-Texas specialty, or you'd like to see our writer's fun portmanteau, we've got your back. (Richmond magazine)
  • In closures, downtown's Olio location at 600 E. Main St. (now unaffiliated with the Olio located in the Fan) will close, and become a building maintained by the Virginia Lottery. Olio's catering operation is currently in negotiations with Butler's Unique Catering, which will continue the newly acquired catering company under the Olio name once the deal finalizes. (Richmond BizSense)
  • And one more: a closed sign was placed in the window at The Museum District's Zeus Gallery Cafe sometime last  week, though there are no public explanations as to why. According to the building's former owner, Ted Doll, the current owners are up to date in their payments, and he's already had other offers on the space within the last week. Perhaps a new Zeus, or some other concept, may not be too far off (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  • Not sure where to eat on Christmas Eve/Day (or maybe both)? Check out this handy roundup of restaurants open for service on each day, and be sure to be extra-nice to your servers who are working during the holiday. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  • Whether you're a scruffy-lookin' nerf-herder, a Sith Lord or a swamp-dwelling jedi master, you'll probably find the cocktails you've been looking for at Saison this weekend. Tonight through Sunday, order Star Wars-themed mixed drinks to coincide with the new movie, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to FeedMore. What's more, the restaurant is also accepting new, in-package toys during its Toys for Tots drive, so you can feel great about giving back to the community galaxy while you enjoy some Cantina-esque libations. Want more details and also a photo of a cocktail next to the Millennium Falcon? We thought so! (Richmond magazine)
  • Speaking of new drinks, Comfort just launched its new late-night menu, and it's available every night of the week. Stop by at 9:30 p.m. or later for a selection of seven new cocktails, plus a rotating specialty burger. (Act fast on those burgers though; there are only 10 available per night, only at the bar from 10 p.m. onward, and they're first come, first served.) (news release)
  • And a big congratulations to Lemaire, which was just named one of the top restaurants in the country! La Liste, the new French ranking system that determined this, calculated Lemaire as being the No. 101 restaurant in the United States. This is, obviously, cause for celebration. (Also, hey, you're No. 1 in our book.) (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Escape (or EMBRACE) holiday madness with these weekend events:

  • Tomorrow, Friday, starting at 5 p.m., head to Triple Crossing Brewing Co. for a Star Wars costume contest and, oh yeah, the limited-release Millennium Falcon Smash IPA on draft. Do or do not win that gift certificate prize. There is no try. (Triple Crossing)
  • If you're looking for some family friendly fun, Poe's Pub is hosting its Fifth Annual Children's Ball tomorrow night from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring the young'uns for a kid-friendly buffet, dancing, a photo booth and more, and donations benefit St. Patrick's social ministry. (Church Hill People's News)
  • Still stumped on which wine to bring to Christmas dinner? Head to Saison Market on Saturday any time between 3 and 6 p.m. for a $5 Jura-focused wine tasting that's full of full-bodied flavor that'll complement your holiday feast. "The wines from this region are ones that make me want more; more more knowledge, more wine, more Jura," says Virginia Samsel, Saison's resident oenophile.
  • If you haven't quite gotten all your holiday shopping done, check out the Last-Minute Holiday Market at Strangeways Brewing starting at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. Live music! Local crafts for sale! Beer candles! Don't feel guilty for grabbing a beer while you're there; shopping is basically quasi-scientifically proven to make one thirsty. (Strangeways)
  • On Monday, head to Perk! Coffee + Lunchbox for a cookie decorating party, where you can dress up gingerbread men from 2 to 4 p.m. A cool $5 gets you a cookie, decorations and a cup of hot chocolate! Sounds like a sweet deal to us. (Perk!)

And now for a few (inter)national links:

  • Do you make New Year's resolutions you can't keep? ME TOO. Here's a great list of some food-based life goals we can all aspire to keep in 2016. (What's that? Moderation? Never heard of it. Pass the cookies while we're still in 2015, please.) (Bon Appetit)
  • Speaking of cookies, here's a very comprehensive collection of baking tips for your holiday season. It's so comprehensive it's making my head spin, or maybe that's just the sugar rush. (Food 52)
  • Cue the Craft Beer Canning Crisis music: It appears that 16-ounce beer cans are in short supply, and order minimums have increased. Some of the country's smaller brewers are having trouble meeting that minimum, which is a literal truckload, and can't access the cans they've been able to purchase in smaller quantities. And it seems that access to 16-ounce cans can only get tougher as time wears on. (The New York Times)

'Til next time, buy all the beer, recycle all the aluminum, support all the local breweries.