Did someone say duck bao buns? Find them on the menu at the newly opened Native Plate. (Photo by Mike Guyer)
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Raised in restaurants and a multicultural household, Lorna Bedford knows firsthand the powerful connections food can forge. Following in the footsteps of her mother, who owns Mom’s Siam and Mom’s Siam 2, today the 26-year-old restaurateur debuts Native Plate, a street food-inspired eatery downtown featuring global influences. (Richmond magazine)
A Magical Gathering
Originally inspired by an annual mushroom-themed dinner party, Mushroom Mania, Richmond’s multiday event exploring the wild world of fungi, kicks off April 19. Whether you’re a forager, a cook or simply looking to learn more about the many wonders of the toadstool, the virtual gathering and socially distanced market offers it all. (Richmond magazine)
Hail to the Spoon
In the debut of our new spotlight series — a monthly feature where we kick back and get to know folks from the local food and beverage industry — we chatted with Evan Campbell, executive chef of The Stables at Belmont, its forthcoming market at Libbie Mill-Midtown and The Franklin Inn. Turns out he has a serious adoration for one particular utensil. (Richmond magazine)
ICYMI
Blending old-school recipes with new-school flair, TBT El Gallo has gained quite a following in the last six months of pop-ups. Warning: There may or may not be a line spilling onto Cary Street at its new permanent home, which opened in late March. (Richmond magazine)
Oh, no big deal, just three women chefs from Richmond appearing on major culinary competition shows this spring and summer. Head this way to learn more about their nail-biting experiences. (Richmond magazine)
Pull out that RVADine wish list, because Richmond Restaurant Week, the two-week-long tour of area restaurants that benefits local hunger relief organization Feed More, has returned. Get your nosh on from now until April 25.
Aiming to address food insecurity, RVA Community Fridges recently debuted a new refrigerator at New Kingdom Christian Ministries at 3200 Dill Ave. in North Side, marking its third in the region.
Any excuse is a good excuse to treat yourself to ice cream, and Ruby Scoops on Brookland Park Boulevard is tempting us with the addition of spacious outdoor seating at neighboring business Richmond Art Garage.
Hot off its latest release, lavender-lemon, and just in time for patio-sipping season, local spirit maker Belle Isle Moonshine has rolled out another fresh product: Transfusion, a canned cocktail with Concord grapes, fresh ginger and a squeeze of lime, is now available for online purchase.
Like it a li’l funky? The Veil Brewing Co. is reopening its European-inspired taproom and wild barrel-aging facility, The Funkhaüst Cafe, today, April 15. Along with lambics, mixed-fermented brews and barleywine, some lighter, more usual suspects will also be available on draft. P.S.: The Scott’s Addition brewery is turning 5 next week and hosting a special star-studded lineup of pop-ups from Cobra Burger to High Roll Lobster Co. and ZZQ from April 20-25.
Featuring "classic, traditional and heirloom recipes," the East End’s Legacy Farm — which began as an urban farming project formed in 2012 through Church Hill Activities & Tutoring’s Workforce Development Program — recently released a cookbook of healthy meals with organic ingredients.
After 20 years of slinging New York-style ’za in the heart of downtown, Jo-Jo’s Famous NY Style Pizza & Subs is spreading the love. Owner Enrico “Jo-Jo” Armetta is set to open Jo Jo’s Pizza Southside at 133 Browns Way Road in Midlothian by May. (Richmond BizSense)
Scott’s Addition will soon add another restaurant to the mix. Breathing life into the shuttered Urban Farmhouse building, John Reynolds and Steve DeRaffele, both formerly of Lunch and Supper, plan to introduce the Mediterranean concept Pinky's by summer. (Richmond BizSense)
RVA Love
Repping Richmond, ZZQ recently received some smoky love, joining a list of the 50 best barbecue joints in the country. (Travioso)
Upcoming Events
We strongly encourage everyone to make safe and smart decisions and adhere to municipal and business guidelines related to the pandemic.
- Big Island Aquaculture Oysters Pop-up, Beaunuts (April 16): From 6 p.m. to sellout, throw back roasted and raw bivalves from the Virginia-based farm.
- High Tea Society South African Wine Tasting, Queen Bee & Co. (April 16): A ticketed event blending wine, art and discussion
- Safe Space Market, Lakeside Farmers Market (April 16): The market dedicated to highlighting the region’s marginalized makers and purveyors, with bites available from First Stop Donuts.
- Plant Sale, Legacy Farm (April 16-17): Grab some plants just in time for growing season from the East End youth farm.
- Fried Chicken and Bubbles, Secco Wine Bar (April 17): Chef Julie Heins sparks some Saturday fun with this classic pairing available for preorder.
- Fancy Hot Dog Pop-up, Hatch Cafe RVA (April 17): Fat Kid Sandwiches is switching up the bread and reaching for buns; preorder by 8 p.m. April 15.
- Growing and Using Culinary Herbs, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (April 17): Learn the ins and outs of fresh herbs and how to use them in the kitchen.
- Pop-up Market, The Diamond (April 17): A new weekly market showcasing local vendors and purveyors, with beer, wine and food trucks in the mix
- Heat at the Hop, The Hop Craft Pizza & Beer (April 17): The first annual fiery foods eating contest and patio party
- Family Brunch: Breakfast Burrito Bar, Mise en Place (April 18): When brunch and burritos join forces, it’s a beautiful thing.
- Oro Pop-up, Hatch Cafe RVA (April 18-19): The pasta pop-up channels its inner Tony Soprano with a menu dedicated to the HBO mega-hit series.
- People’s Pie Pop-up, The Jasper (April 19): An appearance from People’s Pie, with Detroit-style pizzas on the menu
- Food Truck Rally, The Diamond (April 22): A roundup of local food trucks, with Hook’s Lunch Box, The Pitts BBQ and 1115 Mobile Kitchen on the bill
In Other Food News ...
- More than a year into the pandemic, most restaurants have pulled out all the stops to keep their doors open. The owner of Washington, D.C., Burmese restaurant Thamee, Eric Wang, shares how he kept his restaurant — a recent semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant — afloat and finally gave into something he had never expected: delivery apps. (Slate)
