RFC visits Peter Chang's

This weekend, the RFC traveled out to Peter Chang's Cafe in Short Pump. The restaurant has a great story, and I am a sucker for a good story.   If you have never had the pleasure of real szechuan cooking, (or even if you have) get there.  Each dish was so phenomenal, I went Friday and Saturday nights this weekend (true story), and both times made sure I had enough for leftovers.  

*Bok choy with tofu skin

*chicken with peppers

*numbing beef in clay pot

*Thanks to Sal for the fantastic photos!!

Richmond's first Elby Awards

All right, y'all!  The first ever Elby awards were held Sunday night at the Virginia Historical Society.  These restaurant awards, sponsored by Richmond Magazine (among others) honored up- and- coming chefs and restauranteurs with an award named after Chef Paul Elbing, formerly of La Petite France- one of the most formative restaurants for Richmond.  There was quite a turnout for these restaurant awards, and the subsequent party was fun, if not just to see hardworking restaurant folks you never get in the same room together!  I loved talking with Todd Johnson from Mezzanine, Gary York from Enoteca Sogno (go northside!) and of course, Chef Paul who was so sweet and gracious (I got big kisses on each cheek!)  I know you probably want to see photos of them, but I only felt comfortable taking photos of my friends.  Here you go:

My crowd- folks from Slow Food, Tricycle Gardens and Shalom Farms. 

Me and my buddy Dominic from Shalom Farms (P.S. love the dress Casey lent me!)

Me and Amanda from Slow FoodRVA 

The awards went to the following:

Fine Dining Restaurant: Lemaire

Neighborhood Restaurant: The Black Sheep

New Restaurant: The Roosevelt

Wine Program: Secco Wine Bar

Beverage Program: Balliceaux

Restaurant Visionaries: Ren Mefford and Christ Tsui of EAT Restaurant partners (The Blue Goat, Wild Ginger, Osaka and Sushi-O)

Pastry Chef: Josh Gaulin of Acacia Midtown

Rising Culinary Star: Caleb Shriver of Aziza's

Chef of the Year: Dale Reitzer of Acacia Midtown

Congrats to all of the fine restaurants who were nominated this year, and thank you for making our lives so much tastier!

A nod to Tastebuds in Northside

Last night I ended my work week with a spontaneous trek with Erin from her northside home to Tastebuds American Bistro on Macarthur Ave. After a day of digging, lopping and mulching in the garden, I was ready for a little respite. We arrived at Tastebuds right at five o'clock just as they were opening.  The wait staff was sitting at the bar rolling napkins, and the owner dimmed the lights to proper dinner atmosphere levels just as we approached the bar.  Still, they didn't miss a beat.  They welcomed us, and made room for us at the bar.  We were after one of their lovely cocktails and were well rewarded.  The owner took his time with us, tailoring cocktails for us, a couple of gals who wanted all the flavors and fun of the cocktail without the sweet. Mine was an amazing combination of gin, with house made grapefruit "marmalade"and cardamom essence. The owner explained in detail how he created each of his ingredients and even altered what I already thought was a perfect concoction with a touch more cardamom just for fun.  Of course, it got even better. He explained to us that since he wasn't working in the kitchen as a cook anymore, he liked playing around with flavors and ingredients in the specialty drinks.  We sat and ordered a Margherita pizza, (one of the best around I think), and watched the place fill up.  We even were so very lucky as to receive a small complementary, and absolutely delicious plate of olive tapenade and goat cheese crostini just as the first dinner guests began to arrive. The perfect start to a winter's weekend.  Thanks Tastebuds!

Super foodie paradise: Abingdon, VA

Until this weekend, I had no idea that Abingdon, Virginia was such a foodie paradise- my version of a foodie paradise anyway. I am so inspired by the work going on there, that I have to recount to you the most perfect (and unbelievably packed) day, a.k.a. last Saturday.

Brother Al and his lady Miranda were on the east coast for Thanksgiving. They traditionally come to Abingdon to visit Miranda's parents and I could not pass up the chance to see them! So I hightailed it down for Thanksgiving, arriving just in time for the cooking festivities.

Now, Thanksgiving was great- such wonderful food and company. (I even got to fulfill one of my nerdiest foodie dreams- to try Susan Stamburg's cranberry relish!) But, lest this winds up being a tale a la Alice's Restaurant, I need to jump ahead and tell you about what happened on Saturday.

The day began with a trip to the Abingdon Farmer's Market, which was surprisingly busy for the weekend after the eating marathon (or was that just us?) I walked away with a couple of bottles of viognier from Abingdon Vineyard and Winery, a local food guide, and a market cookbook.

The folks at Moyer Family Farm showed off the largest radishes I'd ever seen- a hardy black variety and one that looks like a heart!

We also ran into ladies from Healthy Families ~Healthy Farms who generously talked with me about their project getting fresh food to food pantries- something I hope to work on in RVA next year.

When we left the market, we headed over to the Abingdon Olive Oil Company, where we were free to taste as many oils from all over the world as we wanted- plus flavored vinegars! The staff answered all of our novice questions with such grace. After much internal wrestling, I wound up with a hojiblanca olive oil from Spain and an 18 year old balsamic vinegar. I haven't bought balsamic vinegar in years, but this was sweet and thick, much more interesting than I remembered. We felt like it would be fantastic on ice cream- that is how thick and sweet it is!

Alex and Miranda's mom, Judith, outside of the Abingdon Olive Oil Company.

Then, of course, it was time to eat again. And you know what restaurant is right outside of Abingdon? Barbara Kingsolver's family restaurant, the Harvest Table. That's right...

Alex and Miranda outside of the Harvest Table.

What a warm place! The Harvest Table calls itself 'the most dedicated farm to table restaurant in Southwestern Virginia'. With most ingredients sourced locally, they keep to a very simple menu, sandwiches and pizza for lunch, and seasonal specials for supper.

When faced with the option of pizza or no pizza, I always go with pizza...

Yes, that is a glass of Barboursville Rosé beside this gorgeous salad/ pizza combo. So perfect!

We had heard that Tony Flaccavento was planting garlic, and after we finished eating, we headed over to his farm to see if we could help. Yes, I was wearing a dress and had already had my fair share of rosé, but I have probably gardened in fancier shape than that, so I was in. Turns out, Tony was done planting, which we really didn't mind because he was then able to talk with us about his good work.

Tony founded Appalachian Sustainable Development, (an amazing organization- how does RVA not have something like this?) and is now consulting on food system development all over Virginia. He and his wife Laurel also run Abingdon Organics, a 7 acre certified organic farm, which is where we found him on Saturday. Abingdon Organics is one of the most popular stands at the farmer's market, with individual customers and local chefs alike standing in line for the beauty of his well grown produce. I can see why- Tony's clear vision of what the food system could be is one of the most inspiring I have ever heard. (They take interns btw...)

Alas, we headed home- probably to eat again. Thank goodness for Thanksgiving, and for leftovers, and for kind and adventurous souls. Many, many thanks to Craig and Judith, Alex and Miranda for such an amazing visit. Abingdon, I hope to see you again soon!

10 Reasons to Love Ejay Rin Noodle Bar

Ejay Rin is a RVA restaurant brimming with local food brought to you by much loved Richmond chefs Bill Foster and Andy Howell. The concept is simple and delicious: an Asian noodle bar with bit of a Southern twist (this is Richmond, ya'll). The menu serves up great starters (kimchi!), noodles (hot and cold), rice bowls, and delicious steamed buns. The chefs make several of the menu highlights in-house (you don't get any more local than that). The location is Manchester, one block down from Legend Brewery. I live on the Northside and I can get there 15 minutes. Here are 10 reasons you'll love Ejay Rin:

1. House-made kimchi

2. House-made noodles

3. House-made steamed buns

4. House-made broth

5. Local meat options

6. Gluten-free options

7. Yummy options for the omnivore and vegan

8. Great beer and wine (try local Glen Manor)

9. Delightful service

10. You'll have a full belly at a nice price

Go there and get your local-on. You won't be sorry you did.

Restaurants we love

This is by no means a complete list of Richmond restaurants. We don't get out all that much, y'all. This is simply a sampling of our favorite places- place we where we go for their fresh food, great atmosphere and innovative style. By all means, let us know your faves and we'll try (to try) 'em out!

8 1/2

401 Strawberry Street

You can't beat it for carry out. The food is amazing. I love their eggplant parmesan so much, and their pizza and their arugula salad...

Amuse

200 N. Boulevard, inside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

I love eating in a museum. Plus, their plates are pure artwork. And, Michael Shaps made a wine just for them. I love that too.

Aziza's

2110 E. Main St.

Favorite pizza place, 'cause they are wood fired. My other favorite dish is the 'perfect egg' on greens. They are also famous for their cream puffs, as they well should be.

Balliceaux

203 North Lombardy St., Richmond

There is always something fun happening at Balliceaux- plus the drinks are well crafted, and the food is fantastic- comfort food with a twist. The building itself is gorgeous- you'll feel like you are in another town with the enormous windows open wide on temperate nights.

BellyTimber Tavern

1501 Main Street

Good pizza (sensing a trend?), fun apps, some local ingredients, a great bar, and a totally relaxed atmosphere

Bistro Bobette

1209 E. Cary Street

My mom and I had a lovely Christmas supper here last year, which, I will admit, is the only time I have been. Christmas dinner is a big one though, and they did a great job. I hope to go back- maybe for Christmas this year? Delicious, occasion- worthy food.

Cafe Rustica

414 East Main Street

Small and cozy, Cafe Rustica is a lovely date place after downtown events. The menu changes seasonally, so the preparation is always fresh.

Can Can

3120 W. Cary Street

I remember when this space was a bridal shop, and so am doubly impressed with their classy renovation (over a decade ago now, I realize). We have been known to play hooky to have a fancy 'ladies lunch' there, and love the classic french cuisine found right in the heart of Carytown. Their pastries and bread are so good, (so good) and are available for purchase- take some home the next time you are in.

Edo's Squid

411 N. Harrison

So busy, very lively and loud, I cannot stop ordering the penne with broccoli rabe. I cannot recreate this dish at home- not even close. So, everytime I get a hankering for it, I gotta go. Kinda want some now...

Enoteca Sogno

1223 Bellevue Avenue

Fantastic wine at great prices. Lovely fresh pasta- and it is in our neighborhood! The owner (Gary York, also of Coast) has been seen procuring fresh food for his restaurants at local farmers markets.

Harrison Street Cafe
402 N. Harrison Street
Amazing vegan and vegetarian food . . . not to mention fabulous coffee. And it's easy on the wallet as well. A winner!

Ipanema

917 West Grace Street

The go- to spot for innovative and classic vegetarian comfort food. The menu is constantly changing, and the basement location and high booths make for an intimate, yet fun atmosphere. I was there when I found out Michael Jackson died, and the staff played an all night tribute to the King of Pop. But I digress...

Lamplighter Coffee

116 S Addison St

The coffee here is fresh and superstrong- just the way I like it! They also bring in amazing doughnuts from Country Time. Vegan friendly and super chill.

LeMaire

101 West Franklin st. inside the Jefferson Hotel

I have never eaten a full meal at LeMaire, but I'd love the occasion to! Of course, they have great bar food as well, easy and a little fancy. With drink specials every weeknight, including $5 Manhattans on Friday nights, why not go an sit on their orange couches and enjoy this historic hotel bar?

The Cellar Door
1600 Monument Ave
A cozy spot with Portuguese inspired food, this spot is the perfect date evening, rowdy night with friends and the perfect brunch spot with your parents.  Loads of vegetarian options, there's a feast for any budget.


The Roosevelt:

623 N.25th Street
This spot has that perfect atmosphere that is at once laid back and elegant, a great selection of affordable small plates in addition to entrees, and an impressive selection of Virginia Wines. Check out their brunch menu for delicious sounding bits like Local ricotta pancakes with brown sugar apples and maple butter.

Secco

2933 West Cary Street

I adore this place, and only don't go more often because so many other people love it too. Despite the potential crowds, Secco has the most fun with their ingredients, but is quite serious about their food offerings as well. Even your cheese plate will be well thought out, and will come complete with homemade jams and chutneys. I discovered my favorite (I said it!) champagne right there- at their bar. Everything is exciting here- the last time I went I sat next to the owner of Caramount cheese and had the best time hearing about her business. I think they appreciate when folks nerd out about food- one of their cooks is blogging about his adventures cooking in kitchens around the world! Love it.

Strange Matter
929 W. Grace Street
They're a venue, a restaurant, an arcade . . . oh my! We may love fresh food, but we need comfort food just like the rest of the world! Strange Matter has amazing guilty pleasures (vegan revenge, anyone?) and video games to boot. Color us intrigued!

The Belvidere at Broad

506 W. Broad St

With dark woods, great bar, and seasonal fare, this place feels like a secret. All part of the charm.

The Black Sheep

901 W. Marshall Street

We love checking out what is new at this fun spot- brunch and dinner menus are always interesting and seasonal. I promise, it is worth the wait. Battleship, anyone?

The Magpie
1301 W. Leigh St
Cozy spot with inventive menu.  Self described as a 'gastropub', the execution is indeed delicious!

Tastebuds

4019 MacArthur Avenue
Dinner only, this Northside spot is a favorite for the comfortable quasi European cafe atmosphere, the fantastic cocktails are created by the owner himself. We love the delicious and diverse menu, and have been known to walk blocks just to carry home their fabulous pizza!

Aziza's

I finally ate at Aziza's on Main. It seems everyone I know has eaten there, and for one reason or another I've never made it there until this week. After months of listening to people go on about how good it is I couldn't take it anymore! Matt and I went early on Thursday night, but even though it was just after 6pm there were multiple tables seated in this cozy spot. I didn't really want to be writing a review, so I'll skip my petty complaints. The service was fabulous, being relaxed, pleasant and timely. I went with the white speciality pizza topped with Hedgehog mushrooms, Chanterelle mushrooms, truffle oil, and garlic, and it was delicious. For my appetizer I ordered the one vegetarian option that was not bread based. A Manakintowne Farm Greens Salad with pickled turnips and black olives was set before me and the amount of green towering upon my plate actually made me gasp a bit. It lasted through the entire meal as Matt and I ate bites of greens between pizza. My husband really like his pizza as well, and he loved his salad a.k.a. 'The Perfect Egg." This is also one's of Erin's favorite dishes just about anywhere I think. During the course of my meal I tried four things new to me, which is always fun, including pickled turnips. Surprisingly these were also good despite being well, turnips. Apparently pickling really can work magic.
Perhaps best of all for me was the cream puff. I know their famous for this house made extravagance so I ordered one even though I have never in my life liked a cream puff. The few times I've tried one the strait cold sugariness of it had me taking one small bit and discreetly disposing of the rest. I have therefore been avoiding them for a good while now, until Thursday. The Azizas cream puff is so rich and creamy without being too sugary. It's also so big that my husband and I had to split one. This was monumental for me. Obviously I had been damaged by poor cream puffs in the past, but clearly there are good ones out there to be sought out.
Amazingly we have heard from a couple of friends that Azizas has a lemon butter cake they felt was even better than the cream puff. Of course I tried to order that as well, but alas they were sold out. Our waitress talked me into a slice of chocolate cake that she said was made by the former White House pastry chef now in Fairfax. Okay, impressive and that was good too. We will definitely be returning, to sample from their deli case for takeout, or perhaps for small plates on a Tuesday.

Real Richmond Food Tours

This sounds really fun! From the Grace Manor Inn website:

The two-and-a-half-hour walking tours take you through a certain part of the city, and along the way you stop at restaurants, meet owners and taste culinary goodness. In between munching, you’ll get a taste of Richmond’s architecture, history and current happenings. Sounds like a pretty good deal!

There are two upcoming tour dates. Thursday, December 30, is Shockoe Slip: Capital of Cuisine, and Saturday, January 15 is Shockoe Bottom: Shock and Awe. Tickets cost about $40 and can be purchased online.

The Travel Channel's Man Vs. Food Takes on Richmond!

You know the show... one man eats insane amounts of food.... often the sloppy artery clogging kind, sometimes it's the blazin' hot kind. In between you learn about some interesting food spots and some of their signature dishes.
Well, Wednesday night's episode will feature all Richmond restaurants including one of our favorites... The Black Sheep. Here is an excerpt from the e-mail sent to us by The Travel Channel. ....
"Richmond Episode - Wednesday June 30th at 9:00 E/P In the colonial capital of Richmond, Virgina, Adam explores the city’s love of revolutionary cuisine. For his first stop, Adam hits up Richmond’s famous Buz and Ned's Real BBQ for the best BBQ in Richmond. Buz and Ned’s Real BBQ is famous for their hickory and oak smoked spareribs slathered in sweet and sour BBQ sauce -- a real Richmond legend. Next, Adam visits Black Sheep where the sandwiches are not subs, but a fleet of battleships! Adam chooses to eat the incredible USS Brooklyn in honor of his hometown in New York. Weighing in at two and a half pounds, this two-foot long sandwich is loaded with peach chutney, an entire pound of jerk chicken, homemade slaw, and a roasted banana ketchup.
Finally, Adam stops by Caliente to take on the Stupid Wings Challenge: eight jumbo wings drenched in a sauce so spicy, that it is just stupid to eat! The sauce is a concoction of cayenne habanero, pure chili extract, and a secret inferno marinade from the “container of pure judgement”. Can Adam conquer the unbelievable Stupid Wings Challenge?
Want to know more about Adam's ultimate hunger quest? Be sure to watch the all-new episode on Wednesday, June 30, at 9:00 E/P."

Eating at Amuse

A new addition to our areas selection of local food featuring spots is Amuse restaurant on the third floor of the VMFA wing. My husband and I checked out the museum including the Tiffany exhibit, and then popped up to the third floor (via the glass elevator) to see if we could get a table. We were arriving just at 5:30 as the first seating for dinner was starting. They were booked, and the bar was full, but the staff was very apologetic and offered to seat us in the auxiliary space. We were famished so we automatically agreed to check it out.
It was an auxiliary room. The space has the same basic decor, and same large windows with terrace.
The service was great. The staff was friendly and easygoing, but professional. The wine list is two pages of by the bottle options, and a short list of wines by the glass. However, I really liked the list of wines by the glass, which actually come in 8 ounce carafes suitable for sharing. Two of the wines on this list are the Michael Shaps Merlot for $15, and the White Hall Viognier for $11. As soon as we had our drinks and placed our order a complementary treat of one cucumber slice with a smoked trout mousse(?) was placed before each of us. One waitress described it as a sort of "hello" from the chef.
To start I tried the roasted beets with Marcona almond cream and a Maytag blue cheese bomboloni. It was served warm and quite delicious. The blue cheese filled bomboloni, a filled, fried Italian doughnut was fun. Matt had the Manakintowne greens with pecans, sun dried cherries and goat cheese in a champagne vinaigrette. His salad was large, and even my beets were quite a lot for me. Either could have been shared as small starter. For our entree I got the chicken from Ayrshire Farms served over wild rice with brussel sprouts in a saffron broth. The meal was okay. The rice had a pleasant flavor, and the chicken was tender and juicy, but with a nice crispy skin. Matt got the pork belly special. It was a good sized piece of meat served over rice with bok choy, baby carrots, and southeast Asian seasons. He was somewhat disappointed in the overall flavor, but felt everything was generally prepared well.
In the end we felt the food was decent. We had a really nice time. If I go there again I probably would do more sharing. I would have been happy with half of the petite carafe of wine, as well as half of an appetizer. I was only able to eat about half of my entree before feeling overly full. Keep in mind that you may not be able to take any leftovers with you since you have to walk through the museum to leave.
Amuse serves up their dinner menu on Thursday's from 5:30-9pm. (They will start extended Friday hours in early July.)Lunch: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, Tea: 2:30 – 4:00 pm, You can also have cocktails and small plates in their lounge daily, 11:30 am – 5 pm & Thursdays, 11:30 am – 9 pm.

Dinner For Byrd House Market Tonight, June 24 at Six Burner!

This Week is a fun one for Byrd House Market. Tuesday Night they hosted Barboursville Winery and Grayhaven Winery for free wine tastings. It seemed like plenty of people braved the terrible heat to come out, shop the market, and taste some delicious wines.
Tonight, however Six Burner is hosting their third annual dinner to benefit Byrd House Market. The three course prix fixe meal is $35, and 10% of all the evenings sales go to the Byrd House. Reservations are required, but as of 9pm last night there were still openings. Call 353-4060 for Reservations. Visit the Byrd House site for more information and to view the menu.

Food Bloggers storm Olio

Just kidding. It was not nearly that aggressive, (and also we were invited) but it was pretty exuberant. The food bloggers on Eating Richmond did take over Olio for an evening last week, however, and swooned over the food, met the proprietors of this sweet, neighborhood spot and totally nerded out about our takes on food.

Olio is a really fun market and bistro, on Main near Meadow, where you can pick up gorgeous olive oils, vinegars, truffles and wines as well as salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas- all made to order. The RFC was very glad to see the focus on local producers- Olio is a drop of site for the Avery's Branch milk share program, and many of their veggies are from Victory Farms in Hanover.

The food was great- I loved their use of (home made?) dried tomatoes and white beans on their bruchetta, as well as the flat bread on their pizzas. The drinks are inexpensive and the menu at Olio is fresh and varied, which makes it a great spot for a quiet dinner (if you don't go when the raucous food bloggers are there.) If you want to order in, Olio offers free delivery for orders over $40.

It was fantastic putting faces to the voices of the local food blogs. I loved hearing the stories of food activism from RVA Foodie , aka Jason Guard, who writes Caramelized OpinIONS and is the co- creator of Eating Richmond- the food blog aggregate that brought us all to this bistro for drinks and antipasto. I got to talk with Brittany of Eating Bird Food about her trip to San Francisco at the Food Buzz Convention- I was seriously jealous! And, I always enjoy sharing drinks with John Haddad, food writer for Style Magazine and his blog, Epicuriosity. John is helping to start the Slow Food RVA chapter, and it has been really fun to see how that is shaping up. I was a bit surprised to find myself talking with Bacon Grease (not his real name) of Eating Video Games about preparing and eating pig heads. I would not lie- check out the posts. Part 1 is here, part 2 is here.

So thanks, Jason for getting us all together- I look forward to many more crazy conversations with y'all about our adventures in food and elsewhere.

Have you been to Black Hand Coffee Co.?

I have been getting Black Hand Coffee through Fall Line Farms, and have loved it, so when I found out they have a shop at 606 North Sheppard Street, I had to check it out. The laid back shop in the Museum District roasts its own beans, and makes one of the best lattes (my coffee drink of choice, always) ever. I talked with Chris, the shop's roaster, who has been at Black Hand for nearly a year. The roasts range from light to very dark and oily, and are sold whole bean or ground in a reusable tin. Go there for the coffee and for Flour Garden breads and pastries. (Photo courtesy of Black Hand Coffee Company)

Vegan Beer Dinner at Ipanema on Sunday

From Kendra Feather of Ipanema Cafe:

Just wanted to let you all know that we are hosting a Vegan beer dinner on January 17th at 6pm. The tickets are $45 which is tax and tip included. There are five courses and five beers. Should be alot of fun. Last years was amazing!

Tickets are on sale at rvanews.com

Thanks!

Kendra

Ipanema Cafe

917 W. Grace St.

213-0190

New Restaurant in Richmond...

Check out the news on the Urban Farmhouse Market and Cafe, a new restaurant coming to Richmond that promises to deliver menu items made from seasonal and locally sourced produce. They're even accepting applications, for those of you looking for a more 'sustainable food' oriented job in the restaurant industry. Check out the restaurant's website. I must note that the RVANews article makes much of the Cafe's 'organic' menu, while the restaurant's own website makes no specific mention of a plan to use organic produce. New restaurants with sustainable food goals are all the rage these days...let's see how this one turns out.

Edible Garden to close

I was very sad to hear that after 5 years as a pioneer in local food support, the Edible Garden restaurant will close on November 7. Molly Harris, who ran the restaurant since its beginning, has been an inspiration to us because of her commitment to local producers. A year ago, when she realized that many farmers struggle to make money after the market season ends, she created Fall Line Farms, and with it a way for producers and consumers to connect over the long winter. We owe a lot to her work, and hope that in the expansion of Fall Line, the support in local food will grow.

Below are the menus for the next couple of days. I encourage you to stop by before the doors close- it is a great excuse for a drive in the country, and an amazing meal to boot.

DINNER MENU

October 29 - 31, 2009

APPETIZERS

Hearty Pasta Fagioli with Smoked Ham, Heirloom Beans & Pumpkin on Grilled Parmesan Crostini

$12.00

MOUNT VERNON FARM / INDIAN HARVEST / COLLEGE RUN FARM / THE FLOUR GARDEN

Seasonal Mixed Greens with Roasted Seasonal Squash, Farm Fresh picked Apples, Toasted Walnuts & Cinnamon Honey Vinaigrette

$12.00

MANAKINTOWNE SPECIALTY GROWERS / COLLEGE RUN FARM / THE BLANTON GARDEN / CREEK SIDE FARM / GOLDEN ANGEL’S APIARY

Roasted autumn pumpkin and herb bisque

$8.00

COLLEGE RUN FARM / EDIBLE GARDEN

ENTREES

Teriyaki Glazed Grilled Bison Short Ribs with Braised Baby Bok Choy

$29.00

WILD T BISON FARM / CASSELMOUNT FARM

Chili Pepper rubbed Pan Seared French Cut Breast of Chicken with a Spicy Tomatillo Salsa

$27.00

TUCKAHOE PLANTATION / DODD’S FARM, EDIBLE GARDEN

Spanish Style Braised Pork Roast with Roasted Jalapeno Peppers, Tomato, Onion & Saffron Rice

$25.00

CCL FARM / DODD’S FARM / THE BLANTON GARDEN,

Pan seared Maryland Style Lump Crab Cake & Sautéed Jumbo Shrimp combo with a Lemon & Herb White Wine Butter Sauce

$29.00

YELLOW UMBRELLA / EDIBLE GARDEN

Tuscan Style Butternut Squash, Grape Tomato, Eggplant & Faro Stew with Fresh Baked Garlic Bread

$24.00

THE BLANTON GARDEN / DODD’S FARM / CASSELMOUNT FARM / THE FLOUR GARDEN

Grilled ½ lb Fresh Ground Pork Burger with Sliced Fennel, Roasted Marconi Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella Cheese & Roasted Garlic Aioli

$17.00

AULT’S FAMILY FARM / THE BLANTON GARDEN / MARCH GARDEN / THE FLOUR GARDEN

Be sure not to miss Chef Ed’s Fresh Home Baked Desserts

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OCTOBER LUNCH MENU

SALAD

Seasonal Mixed Greens with Roasted Butternut Squash, Candied Pecans, Sliced Fresh Ham & a Maple Thyme Vinaigrette

$10.95

MANAKINTOWNE SPECIALTY GROWERS / THE BLANTON GARDEN / BROOKVIEW FARM / EDIBLE GARDEN

BAKED FRITTATA of the Day with Dressed Greens

SOUP of the Day

SANDWICHES & ENTREES

Pan Seared Pork Bratwurst Burger with Lettuce Guinness Beer Braised Onions & Brie Cheese on a Seeded Soft Roll

$10.95

AULT’S FAMILY FARM / MANAKINTOWNE SPECIALTY GROWERS / THE FLOUR GARDEN

Open Faced Sliced Bison Pot Roast with Roasted Carrots, Turnips, Potato & Cabernet infused Brown Gravy on Peasant Bread

$11.95

WILD’T’ BISON FARM / MARCH GARDEN / THE BLANTON GARDEN / THE FLOUR GARDEN / EDIBLE GARDEN

Lemon Rosemary Grilled Chicken with Roasted Apples, White Cheddar Cheese, Spinach & Herb Aioli on Fresh Baked Foccicia

$9.95

TUCKAHOE PLANTATION / CREEKSIDE FARM / EDIBLE GARDEN / THE FLOUR GARDEN

Southwestern Wrap with Black Beans, Saffron Rice, Roasted Onions, Sautéed Peppers, Lettuce, Monterey Jack Cheese & Chipotle Aioli

$ 9.95

THE BLANTON GARDEN / EDIBLE GARDEN / MANAKINTOWNE SPECIALTY GROWERS

Roasted Portobello Mushroom, Thyme infused Sautéed Onions, Swiss Cheese, Spinach & Roasted Shallot Aioli on a Soft Roll

$9.95

THE FLOUR GARDEN / EDIBLE GARDEN

CHILDREN’S SPECIAL

Chunky Natural Peanut Butter Surprise with Apples, Raisins & Chocolate Chips on Soft White Bread

$4.50

CREEK SIDE FARM / THE FLOUR GARDEN

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Brunch at Edible Garden

11:00 am to 2:00 pm

TO START

Complimentary Selection of Homemade Mini Muffins, Crumb Cake Squares & Biscotti

ENTREES ($12 - $18)

Cinnamon Spiced Brioche French Toast stuffed with Mascarpone Cheese & Virginia Bacon with Maple Butter & Brown Sugar Drizzle

2 Toasted French Baguette Crostini topped with a Fried Egg, Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Hydroponic Tomato, Basil & Reduced Sweetened Balsamic Vinegar

2 Large Fresh Eggs Any Style served with Sage infused Breakfast Sausage & a Sweet Potato & Onion Hash

Grilled 1/3 lb Burger of the Day topped with Bacon, Sautéed Onion, Cheddar Cheese & a Fried Egg on a Fresh Baked Bun & a side of Roasted Potato

Chocolate Chip Silver Dollar Buttermilk Pancakes with a Vanilla Bean English Cream & a side of Sage infused Breakfast Sausage

Quiche of the Day served with Seasonal Mixed Greens tossed with Maple Walnut Vinaigrette & Grilled Multigrain Toast

DESSERT

Chef’s Choice Dessert of the Day with Rostov’s Fresh Brewed Coffee or Tea

INGREDIENTS SOURCED LOCALLY FROM:

AULT’S FAMILY FARM / BROOKVIEW FARM / SHIRE FARM / WILD‘T’ BISON FARM / SHENANDOAH FARMS / MOUNT VERNON FARM / DEB-LYN FARM / FLOUR GARDEN / MANIKINTOWN GROWERS

Want more?

I hope you have loved your farmer's market season well- I know I have. I am sad that market season is coming to a close- I will miss my Saturday morning market ritual. So, I am here to share some great news. Want to extend the season and have fresh food available through the winter? We've got options. St. Stephen's Wednesday market will be open from 4- 7 pm, November 4- December 23. Boost your holiday dinners with local food from farmers and artisans. They've got it all from the best chocolate and pasta to pastured meats and goat cheese. Come and get it!

Are you looking for more of a commitment to local food? Join Fall Line Farms. This co-op, (which gives you access to the suppliers of the Edible Garden restaurant,) charges a one time administrative fee for access to local farms and producers. Check out their website for the specialty producers included in the program. The winter season at Fall Line begins on November 1 and runs through April 30, neatly sandwiched in between market seasons. Order specialty veggies, mushrooms, meats, and coffee and pick them up on Thursdays at several convenient locations, including new sites at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in the near west end and at The Fat Goat in Northside. Who says eating with the seasons is difficult? With these options, choosing to eat locally produced food is as easy (and delicious) as pie.

I love Northside.

Lakeside has gotten lucky. We have the best Indian food in town (yes, I said it) and the best in locally sourced fare. New India is a family owned, cheerful place on the northern end of Lakeside Avenue, with the most amazing Indian food I have ever had. I even took my father there, who is,( I don't think he'll mind me saying,) a total snob when it comes to Indian food. Even he could not stop gushing about it. It is that good. Get there.

I have been to the Fat Goat now three times. I had been to Zed often, and was quite enamoured of its commitment to sourcing their food locally. But the Fat Goat surpasses the ideas of Zed, gracefully and finally.

My first visit, I had the date, apple and arugula salad and the four cheese flat bread. The individual components of each dish were gorgeous on their own, and they fit together so well. I loved the food so much that I went back the very next morning for brunch. We were greeted by flat bread dough which had been deep fried and sugared and called something delightful like Zappoli. These were followed by the best omelet I have ever had, with fluffy eggs, chives and local goat cheese. Plus, there were sweet potato fries- so very right.

Tonight, we closed the place down. After swooning over the possibilities on the menu, I had the beet salad with blue cheese dressing and the oyster mushroom flatbread. We were so inspired, we stayed for dessert- white peach cheesecake with local goat cheese. Very, very, delicious.

Support your local restaurants- they are so worth having around!

ZED Is Now The Fat Goat

Just a couple of weeks ago I returned to Zed Cafe' on Lakeside ave. for lunch. The menu was loaded with locally grown seasonal items priced affordably. My friend and I ordered different sandwiches so we could each have half. We enjoyed our lunch... we both had left overs to bring home and we each paid about ten dollars. Also the service was perfect. While there I was admiring the small chalk board by the bar that listed the local farms the cafe purchases from.
Well, Zed has once again given itself an overhaul right down to it's name.
Now called The Fat Goat the restaurant is still serving up local ingredients and a selection of wines from 'boutique' wineries, but now they also offer a new menu highlighting Virginia produce, hand-pulled mozzarella, and house-made sourdough pizzas! They have also added what the owner describes as "creative cocktails" to their drink menu.

The Fat Goat opened for business on Friday, July 10th.
Check it out for dinner, or for brunch either Saturday or Sunday.
* * *The Fat Goat5109 Lakeside Avenue
Contact: Lisa Granger 804-261-5656
eventplanningbodyzensoul@gmail.com

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Tomato Festivals and Food Inc.

Today is a big day for fans of local food in Richmond. One of the Ultimate local foods, the vine ripened tomato, has two big parties being thrown in it's honor. Today you can visit either the Hanover Tomato festival, or the Shockoe Tomato Festival and get your fill of fabulous tomato concoctions or just go for the strait stuff with plenty of tomatoes to sample.
Afterwards you can rest in air conditioned comfort while taking in the newest Film to take on industrial agriculture. Food Inc. is playing at the Movieland Theater on the Boulevard with the 4:00 and 7:00 viewings to be followed by a panel discussion.
Finally, if you really want to cap of your weekend in style Lamaire restaurant is now describing it's menu as 'Farm to Table', according to local news stations. With fresh seasonal produce highlighted Sunday brunch is sounding even better....Enjoy!