Richmond Food News: Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4

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Food News & Trends

Seasonal cocktails! Roasted meat by a fire! Ugly sweater parties! Deck the halls with delicious fare because the holiday stretch has brought us new restaurants, festive events and more:

  • Grab your cowboy hats, your best line dancin' boots and ... your bras? Chesterfield County is getting its very own Coyote Ugly-inspired dance bar early next year, complete with bartenders who'll perform on the bar and stage area. It's also bringing an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, a gift shop, bottle service, a bra line, hourly interactive events and line dancing to 11045 Hull Street Road in March, the owner hopes. Intrigued? Confused? Excited beyond all reason? We've got the full story on Daisy Dukes & Boots Saloon right over here. (Richmond magazine)
  • Opening as early as January, new restaurant Shockoe Steakhouse is set to open at 14 N. 18th St. The concept, brought to us by Minter and Epps of Shockoe Whiskey and Wine and Loft 17, will focus on steak, seafood and lamb, and share a patio with Loft 17 in the Bottom. (Richmond BizSense)
  • MORE STEAK: Further down the road, we can expect a new sushi and steakhouse spot from EAT Restaurant Partners of Osaka Sushi & Steak, Foo Dog, Fat Dragon, The Blue Goat and Wild Ginger fame. The as-of-yet-unnamed restaurant is set to open in the GreenGate development, west of Short Pump, in early 2017. BONUS EAT NEWS: Throughout December, for every specialty cocktail made with Belle Isle Craft Spirits that you order at any EAT restaurant, EAT and Belle Isle will each donate $1 to FeedMore. "So join us this holiday season and enjoy a wonderful meal and Belle Isle cocktail with your loved ones and help feed Virginia's hungry at the same time," EAT Restaurant Partners say in a news release. (Richmond Times-Dispatch / news release)
  • And even further (if ever) on down the road, it's possible Richmond may get its own TASTE (formerly TASTE UNLIMITED). The Virginia Beach gourmet deli and food shop is looking into RVA locations, though nothing is concrete just yet. (Style Weekly)
  • Sadly, the Fan's Strawberry Thai and More is now closed after only a few short months of business. A sign on the door states that the restaurant is closed for moving and renovations, and a post on the company's Facebook page credits the closure to a restaurant partner's sudden trip to Egypt. Jojo Best, Strawberry Thai's owner, hopes to reopen elsewhere. (Richmond magazine)
  • BIG NEWS IN VEGAN RVADINE: Mean Bird food truck launches next month at Ardent Craft Ales, where you'll find its husband-and-wife duo slinging vegan and traditional fried chicken. Yes, vegan fried chicken. You'll also find a number of dipping sauces, biscuits and other sides, all homemade (and we mean that quite literally — the Moore family has had its home kitchen certified). For more on the new venture and info on where and when to find it, click this. (Richmond magazine)
  • In Now Open news, Pizza Tonight Restaurant & Bar ushered in a packed house today for its inaugural lunch of pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches. "I couldn't be happier," says owner Victoria DeRoche. The new Shockoe restaurant will delay dinner service until its ABC license is granted, which should be sometime within the next two weeks. For the full story on Pizza Tonight's new brick and mortar, click here. (Richmond magazine)
  • Also in New Things, Virginia ABC just opened an upscale store in Short Pump, at 3450 Pump Road. The new location includes a tasting bar, nods to the state's liquor history, offers an expanded selection of products and a chandelier featuring myriad liquor bottles. Take a peek inside, right over here. (RVANews)
  • More on that booze note: Now that we're walking in a winter wonderland (despite the warmer weather), get in the holiday spirit with our roundup of Virginia-made liquors to fill your bar cart and mugs this season. BONUS: We've also included a cocktail recipe from new restaurant Belle & James. Get sippin'. (Richmond magazine)
  • Speaking of holiday spirit, we've got your guide for throwing the best Hanukkah feast, regardless of your creed. ANOTHER BONUS: a recipe for the author's own latkes, found therein. (Richmond magazine)
  • A Hot-Ticket PSA: Longoven recently announced its new Sunday Dinners series, held at Sub Rosa, and you can get your tickets to the first installment right here. Five hyper-seasonal courses for $55 (plus some great company, hi, hello), available on Dec. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. If you're looking for what to expect, we've got a recap and slideshow of the Longoven and Steven Satterfield Fire, Flour & Fork dinner here. (Longoven)
  • A few weeks ago I mentioned that the FDA just approved a genetically modified salmon, making it the first FDA-approved GMO animal grown for consumption. Ellwood's says "aw hell no" to this fish. (Actually, owner Rick Hood more eloquently says, "Ellwood Thompson's Local Market will NOT sell genetically modified salmon.") In a news release, Hood stresses the value of research, and that the market will continue to work with local and small vendors, and when possible, will choose GMO-free products. (news release)
  • Where's the nearest ski lodge? Starting tonight, the answer is "The Rogue Gentlemen." The restaurant and bar's new winter cocktail menu launches tonight, with a very funny skiing-themed menu/brochure arriving tomorrow. Then next week, TRG is takin' it to the streets with a pop-up at Norfolk's Saint Germain (255 Granby St.) on Monday. If any of you are reading this in Norfolk (I don't know your lives), stop on by for dinner starting at 7 p.m. (The Rogue Gentlemen)

How do you feel about beer? What about wine? Maybe some coffee? You're for 'em? Good! Then check out this weekend's events:

  • It's Thursday evening, which basically means it's Friday, which basically means it's the weekend. Celebrate with Barrel Thief's BIGGEST TASTING EVER event from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight. Taste through 25 wines at a ticket cost of $25. *clink* (Barrel Thief Wine Shop & Cafe)
  • Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PASTURE! Stop by 416 E. Grace St. tonight and celebrate four years of business with $4 food and drink specials all night long. (Pasture)
  • Perk! Coffee + Lunchbox has a number of events this weekend, so let's start from the top: On Friday, stop by to taste and celebrate the coffee shop's new holiday blend, a mix of Ethiopian and Nicaraguan beans blended by Blanchard's Coffee Co. ($15 per 1-pound bag). On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, catch an 804ork cookbook signing by designer Carrie Walters and participating chefs Joe Sparatta and Lee Gregory. (Also, there will be samples! And with any holiday purchase, there will be custom-lettered gift tags by Joseph Akers of PaperFreckles!) Then on Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m., head to Perk! for a holiday photo booth, where $25 gets you a 10-minute photo session, plus a hi-res download of your favorite shot. (news release)
  • Don your finest ugly holiday sweater and head to Center of the Universe for a Fugly Sweater party, where sweater contests, a silent auction, live music, food and beer can help benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. 4 to 8 p.m. (Center of the Universe Brewing Co.)
  • Also on Saturday, beginning at noon, head to Strangeways for not one but TWO beer releases. The Ape Armageddon Imperial Stout will be pouring in two forms, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Aged and Mexican Tequila Barrel Aged, for all your post-apocalyptic-themed beer needs. (Strangeways Brewing)
  • Then cap off your weekend with a feast by the fire at Dover Hall's Fireside Dinner Series with Metzger Bar & Butchery's Brittanny Anderson. A $125 ticket includes five courses and wine pairings, and tax and gratuity. Grab a ticket, and do it fast. (news release)
  • ... Or close out the weekend at Feast RVA's upcoming dinner at Black Iris Gallery at 6 p.m. $27.37 gets you a lovely meal from En Su Boca, and the ability to help get a local start-up or nonprofit off the ground. Get your ticket here. (Feast RVA)

And now for a few (inter)national links:

  • Sure, you've heard of sommeliers when it comes to wine, but have you heard of mustard somms? Here's a Q&A with Pierette Huttner, award-winning French mustard company Maille's sommelier in New York City; topics include mustard on tap, mustard-somm training and a few unique uses. (Food Republic)
  • Something I found fascinating but maybe you won't, but maybe you will, so here it is anyway: the science behind miso. (Lucky Peach)
  • Fun fact: There are now more breweries in the United States than ever before. (Take that, 1873.) America is now home to 4,144 breweries, topping our country's previous historical record of 4,131. Also of note: we've reached an average of two brewery opening per day, which is actually pretty astounding. (First We Feast)

'Til next time, we'll take another pint.