Richmond Food News: Week of June 13-17

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Happy Friday, food fans! We've made it to the end of the week once more, and our reward, along with a weekend packed with great events, is a new bakery, a new restaurant or two, and MORE BEER:

  • You deserve a pastry. Or perhaps a loaf (or four) of naturally risen bread from a local baker. Fortunately for you and your appetite, but maybe not your waistline, Idle Hands Bread Co. is now open in Jackson Ward at 312 Brook Road! Owner and head baker Jay Metzler opened the shop this morning after a move from his previous location in Scott's Addition. To learn a bit more about Metzler, who formerly baked for Bon Air's Perk! Coffee + Lunchbox, head right this way. (Richmond magazine)
  • Also in Now Open News: Downtown's Wong Gonzalez, the new Latin-Asian fusion spot from EAT Restaurant Partners. The team behind Foo Dog, Wild Ginger, Boulevard Burger and Brew and more launched its gleaming restaurant (complete with enormous bar) at 412 E. Grace St. last night, and you can learn more right over here. (Richmond magazine)
  • Coming soon to both Woodlake and Midlothian's Stonehenge Village Shopping Center is fast-casual concept Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, which will bring its Lebanese and Greek fare to Chesterfield County as soon as 90 days from now. To get a taste of what's to come in the next few months, visit the chain's Innsbrook location at 4024-C Cox Road. (Richmond Bizsense)
  • And it looks as though the former Dixie Donuts space has found a new tenant. Sen Organic, set to open in August or September, plans on bringing organic, French-inspired Vietnamese small plates to the Carytown space by way of Hang Pham, owner of Perception Organic Spa. (Style Weekly)
  • It's hot and muggy out there, but never fear; Richmond's got a sweet way to cool down this summer. The magazine's June dining column is now online, and it takes a long, cool sip of locally made soda. Learn how Union Hill's Roaring Pines is bringing unique syrups to life in our city's own modern-day general store; how Stroops and Dutch & Co. infuse, rack, re-rack and bottle their way to some of the finest pops in the city; and how one local brewery is bringing more than beer to the masses.
  • Seasonal Closure news: Altria Theater's lobby coffee shop and cafe, 1927 Café & Bakery, will be open during performance hours only throughout the next month, but will relaunch its daily breakfast, lunch and dinner hours in mid-August. (RVANews)
  • In Full Closure news, Martin's just announced the closing dates for three of its local grocery stores: Petersburg's location at 3330 South Crater Road will close July 16;  Mechanicsville's location at 7324 Bell Creek Road will close July 23; Stony Point's location at 3000 Stony Point Road will close July 30. (NBC 12)
  • If you're in the Fan and looking for a new weekend spot that happens to serve flights of mimosas, The Fancy Biscuit is now open for brunch on weekends! Stop by between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from here on out. (The Fancy Biscuit)
  • In Brew News, Petersburg's Trapezium Brewing Co. opens tomorrow at 423 Third St. in Olde Towne. Its 18,000-square-foot space will be home to a brewery, a tasting room and even a pizza parlor. Stop by tomorrow beginning at noon and you'll find at least eight beers on tap, according to according to RVAMag. Within the next few months, the fledgling brewery hopes to release 30 to 35 beers via its 30-barrel system.

Rain or shine, good events are comin' at ya:

  • First off, it's probably a good idea to fortify yourself with carbs because you never know when you're going to have to be active or something, right? So head over to JM Stock Provisions in the Fan for a pop-up by Nate's Bagels today, Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m. for some kettle-boiled, hand-rolled goodness. (Nate's Bagels)
  • Tomorrow beginning at 12:30 p.m. head to the Cultural Center of India for the Taste of India Festival, where you'll find authentic Indian cuisine, dancing, vendors, music and more on both Saturday and Sunday. Get yourself to 6641 Ironbridge Parkway. BONUS: The event is free to attend! Nothing not to love. (Cultural Center of India)
  • Also tomorrow, take a journey that's more fun than a penance walk and join the 3rd annual Game of Thrones bar crawl, which starts at noon. Choose your house by showing up at Social 52 (House Stark), Star-Lite (House Greyjoy), 3 Monkeys (House Arryn), Metro Grill (House Targaryen), F.W. Sullivan's (House Baratheon), Lady N'awlins (House Lannister) or Sticky Rice (House Tyrell) between noon and 1 p.m. and register, then fork over $10 for a ticket that gets you you a map, a mug, a shirt and drink specials. (GOT Bar Crawl)
  • On Sunday, Hardywood's got Father's Day covered with Rappahannock River Oysters both raw and fried; King of Pops; live music; and, of course, beer. Stop by from noon to 6 p.m. for the free-to-attend Keg 'n' Oyster Fest, with food and drink available for purchase. (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery)
  • What's that? MORE SEAFOOD AND BEER? Strangeways is celebrating all things dad with all things SEAFOOD BOIL, all starting at 11 a.m. There's an all-you-can-eat shrimp boil (hat tip to Yellow Umbrella Provisions for that), plus live music, children's activities, live music and more. Git yr tickets here. (Strangeways Brewing)

And now for an (inter)national link:

  • The thing about food trends is that they're everywhere but often sprout up without attribution to the cultures, individuals and zeitgeists that first created whatever that so-hot and Instagrammable plate of food you have in front of you is. It's important to pay homage to the chefs and cultures who made it possible for all of us to enjoy it today, which is just one reason why First We Feast's recent feature on the marginalization of barbecue's African-American roots and pitmasters is such a strong piece. Give it a read.

'Til next time, go eat some barbecue, go think about East Texas.