When one ramen-shop door closes, another opens. We may have recently lost Shoryuken Ramen in the Fan, but downtown's Tenka Ramen is set to open soon and should provide Richmond an especially lovely place to slurp. More, below. (Photo by: Stephanie Breijo)
Welcome to this week's Food News! We've got so many restaurants opening soon, it'll make your head spin. Between bakeries, ramen shops, full-service spots and what sounds like a magical market, this summer is already shaping up to be one for the eating ages. Let's dive right into 'em:
- Jackson Ward's got a bright new restaurant and bar in the former Belvidere at Broad space. Antler & Fin, the fish-and-game-centric restaurant from the owner of the Boka Tako empire, soft-opened last night at 506 W. Broad St. with Virginia-inspired dishes that feature playful preparation and local ingredients. Stop by tonight, order a cheeky cocktail and if you're looking to find out more, we've got your info and photos right over here.
- In adjacent neighborhood Carver, Halcyon Bar & Grill is looking to open in the former Magpie space on Monday, May 23. (No, no relation to Halcyon Vintage clothing store.) Targeting VCU students, the casual new concept will offer eight beers on draft as well as menu items such as burgers and cheesesteaks, plus events like video game nights. (Richmond BizSense)
- Downtown's about to get a whole lot saucier, or at least broth-ier. Tenka Ramen is set to open this month, as early as next Wednesday, with a variety of broths — tonkatsu, shio, spicy miso, shoyu — plus pork buns, fried oysters, curried rice, sake and more. Perhaps you caught chef and owner Yutaka “Ted” Nogami's popular ramen pop-ups at Kabuto and you can't wait to get your slurp on once again, or maybe you're missing the recently closed Shoryuken Ramen in the Fan. Maybe it's both! Whatever the case, we recommend you check it out soon. Take a look around while you wait, right this way. (Richmond magazine)
- Our neighbors just to the south in Petersburg have some exciting new-restaurant news: This summer, chef Frits Huntjens, formerly of 1 North Belmont, will open Farmers Market Restaurant & Bar: a restaurant and market concept within the historic City Market building. Expect nearly 300 seats, a full bar, deli counters and more. (Hello, future Petersburg road trips!) We have more details online, and we'll have some great additional information in an upcoming print issue of the magazine. Stay tuned for more and don't touch that dial.
- Also coming this summer: Spoonbread Bistro, a restaurant by Michael Hall, formerly of the 2300 Club and M Wine Bistro. This spot won't fill the former Jorge's Cantina space with spoonbread, nor will it focus on Southern cuisine; Hall will also bring a coffee shop and bakery, Coffee Alley, next door at 105 N. Robinson St. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- Best-selling author and beloved farmer Joel Salatin stopped through Richmond for a private function last week, so we made sure to catch up with the man behind "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Food, Inc." on the current state of the industrial farm complex, what's on the horizon (SPOILER ALERT: HIS OWN RESTAURANT) and more. Read our full Q&A here.
It's the most! Won-der-ful tiiiime of the weeeeeek... Here are your weekend events:
- Ready to dive into the season's bounty? Saturday brings us the 2016 Hanover Strawberry & Wine Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with tastings, food, vendors, and maybe the greatest invention of all time, bounce houses. (Hanover Vegetable Farm)
- Head to Belle & James on Saturday morning for a tubular '90s-themed brunch and gnarly day party from 10 a.m., on. DJ set, special menu, etc. (Belle & James)
- Then on Saturday evening, expand your palates and grace your ears with live music at a Castanea happy hour on Saturday that will feature Portuguese-style music from Richmond band Fado Nosso, along with food and drink specials! 6 to 9 p.m. (Castanea)
And now for a few (inter)national links:
- If you must drink "Two-Buck Chuck" (OK, more like "Three-") here's a handy guide to choosing the most palatable bottle of Trader Joe's nefariously inexpensive bottles of wine. (Paste Magazine)
- In Cool News Across the Country items, Los Angeles City Council just approved legislation that would require all L.A. farmers market vendors to accept the state's food stamps program. Long have L.A. County EBT recipients used the program to purchase fast food, but now they can use it to pick up fresh, organic and locally grown produce, too. For it. (LA Weekly)
'Til next time, fresh produce for everyone! (Seriously, not to be a nag, but don't forget to eat your vegetables.)
