4/28/13-
I have decided that I'm going to try to keep you, oh faithful readers, abreast of upcoming events as often as I can. My goal is every Sunday, but don't hold me to it. Things come up and such. Anyway, lets take a look at the weekend ahead starting with the return of good solid live music on Brown's Island.
For all my music lovers out there, it's the return of Friday Cheers out on Brown's Island. I have never been to a Friday Cheers, but if it's anything like Alive at Five from back up in Albany, NY then it's a blast. Live music, friends, fresh air combining together to close out the week is the way to go. I have heard that it's best to get there early and bring in a picnic dinner. I'm pretty sure that "adult beverages" are not allowed though. The performers this week are co-headliners: Shovels and Rope and Hayes Carll. Two bands for $5? Sounds good to me. This is one event I'm itching to get out to so lets hope for good weather. For more information, look here: Friday Cheers
For all my savvy art fans out there in need of a new piece for their walls you will need to check out the Richmond Arts in the Park art show this weekend. This art show (supposedly one of the best in the country) brings over 450 artisans from all sorts of generas to Byrd Park to show and sell their masterpieces. This is a free event with free parking and a free shuttle. I can't tell you I'll be attending as I will never claim to have any real style or taste. But I know some of you do and you should get out to support the arts. You can find more information here: Arts in the Park
For those looking to find a cure for cancer (as we all should be), there is a Relay for Life event this weekend in Chesterfield. It's never too late to sign up to help or donate to the cause. It will be held at James River High School on Saturday. I know I have participated in many of these events in the past and they really do work towards a good cause. More information can be found here: Relay For Life
For those of you really looking to explore downtown Richmond AND want to walk 6 miles then you need to sign-up for the Times-Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond. This walk will take you all around Richmond including jaunts into downtown, Jacksons Ward and the Capital. The $25 registration for this event goes to support Fit4Kids, a group that improves the health and wellness of kids in the area through physical activity and promoting healthy eating. It looks to be an good family-friendly event that supports a good cause. More information can be found here: Times-Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond
For those of you who appreciate everything from that rare $50 bottle of wine down to the everyday $4 bottle from Walmart I suggest you hustle on out to the Montpelier Wine Festival in Montpelier Station, VA. This event is held at the home of president James Madison, which is probably a lovely setting. It will feature 24 wineries this year from all over Virginia. Tickets are $15 in advance. If I knew I wasn't working, I would be there in a heartbeat. Here's a bit more info: Montpelier Wine Festival
For those of you curious about Asian American culture there is even an event for you this weekend. The Asian American Society of Central Virginia will be hosting the 16th annual Asian American Celebration at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Admission is free and there will be all sorts of food, culture and educational exhibits. This will probably be a very interesting event that I recommend you check out and report back on. The flyer can be found here: Asian American Celebration
Well my faithful readers, that is my rundown for this week. I hope you find it a bit helpful. I also hope it encourages you to get out and check out some fun events this weekend.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Kitchen 64 Revisited
4/11/13:
Oh Kitchen 64, how I had missed thee. As you might recall the last time I was here was for a free meal with a pop star (Kitchen 64 Round 1). An excellent first introduction to a very good restaurant. With people in town it was an excellent time to go back. Especially since one of them, AK, specifically requested I take them to a good place I had reviewed. Well if that doesn't cause me to fluff my feathers nothing will. To Kitchen 64!
Kitchen 64 (Kitchen 64) is located at the very top of North Boulevard right where it turns into Hermitage. It is located on a fair sized lot that it shares with an ice cream shop (that keeps catching my eye). It's a fairly large building that I find in no way pretentious. Instead I would say it seems quite old, yet natural in it's placement. It just seems like one of those buildings that has been there forever and wants you to stop on in.
There was a pretty decent crowd when we got to Kitchen 64, but it wasn't packed. It is always nice to see a restaurant with a good amount of customers. It's means they are doing something right. The friendly hostess sat us promptly in a nice little booth. Our waitress gave us a minute to get settled and then brought us menus. She took our drink orders and left us to ponder the menu. I took a few minutes to ponder my surroundings as well. Kitchen 64 is bright and welcoming. The walls are a nice warm color and the decor is lively & fun. The noise volume isn't overly loud and oppressing like you find in some places. You can have a nice table conversation without feeling like you need to shout. I also want to say I like the lighting. Some places it's too dark and you can't see what's on your plate. Kitchen 64 has excellent lighting. It's one of those little things I have come to appreciate about a good dining experience.
The menu is wonderful. A lot of selections for any ones preference. We all came in with different requirements. AK is a little girl and never eats a giant meal. She looked towards the appetizers and went with the Buffalo Chicken Mini's. These are just breaded chicken breasts tossed in hot sauce served on buns with a plateful of fries. Perfect for her little appetite. Our other table mate, Espo, Was looking for something big and filling. He decided on the Westwood Club, a classic club sandwich served with fries. He went sans mayo, which is a personal choice I must learn to respect. I was looking for something new and exciting to thrill my tongue. That's when the Raspberry Chicken & Brie sandwich caught my eye. A grilled chicken breast with caramelized apples, sliced brie cheese and a raspberry sauce on a kaiser roll. Sounds perfect. As we waited for our meal I got a chance to catch up with my table mates, which was very nice.
We were all very excited to see our waitress when she arrived with the food. She put down the plates and left us to take care of business. AK realized right away that she did not get what she had ordered. Instead of buffalo chicken she had regular cheeseburger sliders. They looked , and apparently tasted, very good, but that is a huge difference. Epso and I suggested that she send them back, but AK said it was fine and started her meal. I'm torn on how I feel about this. Obviously somewhere between AK's order, the waitress and the kitchen something didn't get communicated correctly. And the waitress never caught the mistake. But AK also chose not to speak up and ask for a correction so I'm torn about where to place the disappointment that I certainly felt. Moving on though. I was super excited to try my sandwich. It looked and smelled good. You could see the big hunks of brie and the dripping raspberry sauce. I took my first bite making sure to get all of the elements of the sandwich in that one bite to ensure maximum flavor. As it ran over my tongue the first word I could use to describe it was... nothing. It didn't really have a taste. The apples were boring, the sauce didn't pop with that fresh taste I hoped for and the brie added nothing. It was a bummer, to say the least. I think that had the apples been super fresh and the brie sliced a little thinner the results would have been better. But, you can't win every time. That just left Epso's club. First off, that mamma-jamma was HUGE. It was essentially 3 separate sandwiches on one plate. And, as I got to have some, it was good. The sliced meats were fresh tasting and enjoyable. The lettuce was crispy and crunchy. The vinaigrette added a nice bite. It was an excellent sandwich. The last thing I'll talk about is the french fries. I'm normally not a fan, but Kitchen 64 puts out a banging french fry. Kudos on making a non-fry eater very happy.
Last time I was at Kitchen 64 I left super pleased. This time, not so much. I think what really had me crestfallen was that I had brought out of town friends here who weren't blown away. But, I know you can't be top notch every time. So, I will be back Kitchen 64. I am going to chalk this up to a slightly off day so don't let this review get ya down champ. I still love you and still recommend you to everyone I know. That being said, if you want a nice neighborhood joint, hit up Kitchen 64 my faithful readers. I think you'll be very pleased.
Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: Atmosphere, Menu Selection
Cons: Food
Oh Kitchen 64, how I had missed thee. As you might recall the last time I was here was for a free meal with a pop star (Kitchen 64 Round 1). An excellent first introduction to a very good restaurant. With people in town it was an excellent time to go back. Especially since one of them, AK, specifically requested I take them to a good place I had reviewed. Well if that doesn't cause me to fluff my feathers nothing will. To Kitchen 64!
Kitchen 64 (Kitchen 64) is located at the very top of North Boulevard right where it turns into Hermitage. It is located on a fair sized lot that it shares with an ice cream shop (that keeps catching my eye). It's a fairly large building that I find in no way pretentious. Instead I would say it seems quite old, yet natural in it's placement. It just seems like one of those buildings that has been there forever and wants you to stop on in.
There was a pretty decent crowd when we got to Kitchen 64, but it wasn't packed. It is always nice to see a restaurant with a good amount of customers. It's means they are doing something right. The friendly hostess sat us promptly in a nice little booth. Our waitress gave us a minute to get settled and then brought us menus. She took our drink orders and left us to ponder the menu. I took a few minutes to ponder my surroundings as well. Kitchen 64 is bright and welcoming. The walls are a nice warm color and the decor is lively & fun. The noise volume isn't overly loud and oppressing like you find in some places. You can have a nice table conversation without feeling like you need to shout. I also want to say I like the lighting. Some places it's too dark and you can't see what's on your plate. Kitchen 64 has excellent lighting. It's one of those little things I have come to appreciate about a good dining experience.
The menu is wonderful. A lot of selections for any ones preference. We all came in with different requirements. AK is a little girl and never eats a giant meal. She looked towards the appetizers and went with the Buffalo Chicken Mini's. These are just breaded chicken breasts tossed in hot sauce served on buns with a plateful of fries. Perfect for her little appetite. Our other table mate, Espo, Was looking for something big and filling. He decided on the Westwood Club, a classic club sandwich served with fries. He went sans mayo, which is a personal choice I must learn to respect. I was looking for something new and exciting to thrill my tongue. That's when the Raspberry Chicken & Brie sandwich caught my eye. A grilled chicken breast with caramelized apples, sliced brie cheese and a raspberry sauce on a kaiser roll. Sounds perfect. As we waited for our meal I got a chance to catch up with my table mates, which was very nice.
We were all very excited to see our waitress when she arrived with the food. She put down the plates and left us to take care of business. AK realized right away that she did not get what she had ordered. Instead of buffalo chicken she had regular cheeseburger sliders. They looked , and apparently tasted, very good, but that is a huge difference. Epso and I suggested that she send them back, but AK said it was fine and started her meal. I'm torn on how I feel about this. Obviously somewhere between AK's order, the waitress and the kitchen something didn't get communicated correctly. And the waitress never caught the mistake. But AK also chose not to speak up and ask for a correction so I'm torn about where to place the disappointment that I certainly felt. Moving on though. I was super excited to try my sandwich. It looked and smelled good. You could see the big hunks of brie and the dripping raspberry sauce. I took my first bite making sure to get all of the elements of the sandwich in that one bite to ensure maximum flavor. As it ran over my tongue the first word I could use to describe it was... nothing. It didn't really have a taste. The apples were boring, the sauce didn't pop with that fresh taste I hoped for and the brie added nothing. It was a bummer, to say the least. I think that had the apples been super fresh and the brie sliced a little thinner the results would have been better. But, you can't win every time. That just left Epso's club. First off, that mamma-jamma was HUGE. It was essentially 3 separate sandwiches on one plate. And, as I got to have some, it was good. The sliced meats were fresh tasting and enjoyable. The lettuce was crispy and crunchy. The vinaigrette added a nice bite. It was an excellent sandwich. The last thing I'll talk about is the french fries. I'm normally not a fan, but Kitchen 64 puts out a banging french fry. Kudos on making a non-fry eater very happy.
Last time I was at Kitchen 64 I left super pleased. This time, not so much. I think what really had me crestfallen was that I had brought out of town friends here who weren't blown away. But, I know you can't be top notch every time. So, I will be back Kitchen 64. I am going to chalk this up to a slightly off day so don't let this review get ya down champ. I still love you and still recommend you to everyone I know. That being said, if you want a nice neighborhood joint, hit up Kitchen 64 my faithful readers. I think you'll be very pleased.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Water Grill
4/23/13:
IT'S RESTAURANT WEEK!! IT'S RESTAURANT WEEK!! IGNORE THE FOOD IN YOUR FRIDGE CAUSE IT'S RESTAURANT WEEK!! Sorry, I got a little excited there. It's understandable of course because, as I, ahem, said, it's restaurant week here in Richmond. That means that a bunch of restaurants across the city that I normally couldn't afford are offering a 3 course meal for $25.13 a person. Part of every meal sold of the restaurant week menu goes to support the local food bank, so you can feel good about it too. Now, I can't celebrate this wonderful week alone. So, I recruited my go to eat out partner, MC. She took lots of time to review the available menus and settled on Water Grill (Water Grill). I'm not one to argue with a woman when it comes to food so we made a 7pm reservation and we let our anticipation build.
Water Grill is located on Cary St. at the beginning of Carytown near Penzey Spices. It's a very nice looking building with a big open patio. Sadly, the patio was closed as it was pretty chilly for the end of April. As I walked up to the entrance I noticed the signboard out front was advertising Restaurant Week and it's worthy cause. What it didn't say was make reservations quick or you will miss out. The inside of Water Grill is very very nice. Muted wall colors mix perfectly with water features, nice table settings and perfect lighting to make a warm and welcoming environment. There is a long thin bar behind the hostess station that was full. The hostess was pleasant and sat us right away. We were sat downstairs but I noticed there was also an upstairs that I did not get to investigate.
The menu for restaurant week is much smaller then the regular menu, but it doesn't make choosing a meal any easier. As MC and I looked over the choices I advised her I would like to break on of my sacred dining rules... I wanted to know if she and I could order different items and try each others stuff. Normally I am anti-sharing and it turns out so is she. But, we both were able to establish the rules and regulations of said sharing before the meal was ordered so all was well. MC decided to go with She Crab Soup to start, Pan Seared Crab Cakes for her main course and Vanilla Creme Brulee for her dessert. I went with Lobseter and Shrimp Potstickers to start, the Miso Glazed Salmon for dinner and the Key Lime Pie for dessert. A perfect blend of all the choices. Our very fun and friendly waitress took our order and then brought us a tasty basket of bread and a glass of house white wine (we paid for it) while she put in our order.
Our first course arrived fairly quickly. The waitress cracked some fresh black pepper over the She Crab Soup and then gracefully left the table. The soup was a thick bisque-like soup with lump crab meat. It was very rich and indulgent. Thankfully it was only a cup as a giant bowl would have been too much. My pot-stickers came beautifully fried on a plate with glass noodles, a citrus soy dipping sauce and a drizzle of Siracha. The stickers were plump and crispy. The filling was flavorful, but not over powering. The dipping sauce wasn't bad, but I preferred the Siracha. MC seemed to enjoy the sauce and used it with every bite of her sticker. The glass noodles had a delicate flavor that really balanced out the heavier flavors of the pot-stickers. It was an excellent first course.
Once we had cleaned our plates we were ready for our main course. The people next to us got theirs first and it looked good. The sight of the grilled pork chop resting on the pile of mashed potatoes caused me a brief flush of preemptive buyers remorse. As MC and I longingly looked at all the food, probably making the people uncomfortable, the waitress appeared like a sustenance-bearing savior. She set our plates down with the flourish of a magician. The food looked wonderful and smelled even better. MC's crab cakes were served on a stack of mashed potatoes with grilled asparagus. The potatoes were very dense, but not bad. I'm not a mashed potato man myself so I won't really judge them. The asparagus was perfectly grilled with just the right crunch. The crab cakes themselves were what you hope a crab cake should be. They were moist and crabby without a huge amount of bready filler. In short, delicious. My salmon came with sticky rice and braised bok choy. The rice was garnished with slices of green pepper, carrot and red onion. It had a slight orangy flavor which was a pleasing touch. The bok choy could have drained a moment more, but it had good flavor. I feel like if it had been grilled it would have been perfect. That being said, I still ate it with relish. The salmon was the star of the plate. As MC said, "I hardly order salmon out anymore because it tends to not be fresh with an over-powering salmon/fishy smell. This is far from that. This is good fabulous fish." I couldn't put it any better myself.
Stars: 4.75 out of 5
Pros: Atmosphere, Service, Food
Cons:
IT'S RESTAURANT WEEK!! IT'S RESTAURANT WEEK!! IGNORE THE FOOD IN YOUR FRIDGE CAUSE IT'S RESTAURANT WEEK!! Sorry, I got a little excited there. It's understandable of course because, as I, ahem, said, it's restaurant week here in Richmond. That means that a bunch of restaurants across the city that I normally couldn't afford are offering a 3 course meal for $25.13 a person. Part of every meal sold of the restaurant week menu goes to support the local food bank, so you can feel good about it too. Now, I can't celebrate this wonderful week alone. So, I recruited my go to eat out partner, MC. She took lots of time to review the available menus and settled on Water Grill (Water Grill). I'm not one to argue with a woman when it comes to food so we made a 7pm reservation and we let our anticipation build.
Water Grill is located on Cary St. at the beginning of Carytown near Penzey Spices. It's a very nice looking building with a big open patio. Sadly, the patio was closed as it was pretty chilly for the end of April. As I walked up to the entrance I noticed the signboard out front was advertising Restaurant Week and it's worthy cause. What it didn't say was make reservations quick or you will miss out. The inside of Water Grill is very very nice. Muted wall colors mix perfectly with water features, nice table settings and perfect lighting to make a warm and welcoming environment. There is a long thin bar behind the hostess station that was full. The hostess was pleasant and sat us right away. We were sat downstairs but I noticed there was also an upstairs that I did not get to investigate.
The menu for restaurant week is much smaller then the regular menu, but it doesn't make choosing a meal any easier. As MC and I looked over the choices I advised her I would like to break on of my sacred dining rules... I wanted to know if she and I could order different items and try each others stuff. Normally I am anti-sharing and it turns out so is she. But, we both were able to establish the rules and regulations of said sharing before the meal was ordered so all was well. MC decided to go with She Crab Soup to start, Pan Seared Crab Cakes for her main course and Vanilla Creme Brulee for her dessert. I went with Lobseter and Shrimp Potstickers to start, the Miso Glazed Salmon for dinner and the Key Lime Pie for dessert. A perfect blend of all the choices. Our very fun and friendly waitress took our order and then brought us a tasty basket of bread and a glass of house white wine (we paid for it) while she put in our order.
Our first course arrived fairly quickly. The waitress cracked some fresh black pepper over the She Crab Soup and then gracefully left the table. The soup was a thick bisque-like soup with lump crab meat. It was very rich and indulgent. Thankfully it was only a cup as a giant bowl would have been too much. My pot-stickers came beautifully fried on a plate with glass noodles, a citrus soy dipping sauce and a drizzle of Siracha. The stickers were plump and crispy. The filling was flavorful, but not over powering. The dipping sauce wasn't bad, but I preferred the Siracha. MC seemed to enjoy the sauce and used it with every bite of her sticker. The glass noodles had a delicate flavor that really balanced out the heavier flavors of the pot-stickers. It was an excellent first course.
Once we had cleaned our plates we were ready for our main course. The people next to us got theirs first and it looked good. The sight of the grilled pork chop resting on the pile of mashed potatoes caused me a brief flush of preemptive buyers remorse. As MC and I longingly looked at all the food, probably making the people uncomfortable, the waitress appeared like a sustenance-bearing savior. She set our plates down with the flourish of a magician. The food looked wonderful and smelled even better. MC's crab cakes were served on a stack of mashed potatoes with grilled asparagus. The potatoes were very dense, but not bad. I'm not a mashed potato man myself so I won't really judge them. The asparagus was perfectly grilled with just the right crunch. The crab cakes themselves were what you hope a crab cake should be. They were moist and crabby without a huge amount of bready filler. In short, delicious. My salmon came with sticky rice and braised bok choy. The rice was garnished with slices of green pepper, carrot and red onion. It had a slight orangy flavor which was a pleasing touch. The bok choy could have drained a moment more, but it had good flavor. I feel like if it had been grilled it would have been perfect. That being said, I still ate it with relish. The salmon was the star of the plate. As MC said, "I hardly order salmon out anymore because it tends to not be fresh with an over-powering salmon/fishy smell. This is far from that. This is good fabulous fish." I couldn't put it any better myself.
Whew... feeling full with one course left. And that is the best of all courses always, dessert. Dessert is usually the one course I never get when I go out as I usually can't afford it. But tonight, it's all included so I was really looking forward to my Key Lime Pie as MC was to her Vanilla Creme Brulee. I will admit, I've never had creme brulee. How I have managed to miss it for 28 years, I'll never know. So, MC gave me the first bite. I broke through the crispy topping of flame melted sugar and got myself a spoonful. It was so very good. The brulee was creamy and popped with vanilla flavor that was finished with the sharp intense flavor of the hard sugar topping. MC said that she truly appreciates any dessert that requires a blowtorch to finish and I now agree with her. MC got the first bite of my pie as it was only fair. It was an excellent pie. The lime flavor was fresh and tart. It was sharp on the tongue in such a good way. The sweetness of the crust was the perfect tamer to the lion of lime and together they put on a show which surely would please everyone. It did of course lead into a heated debate about the best kind of pie, but we won't get into that here (it's pumpkin).
For my first ever Richmond Restaurant Week meal I have to say I was super pleased. It was filling and flavorful. The service made the meal that much more enjoyable and is truly a compliment to Water Grill. If you are searching for someplace delicious and fun to try this week I throw my full recommendation behind Water Grill. You won't be disappointed.
Monday, April 22, 2013
A Glance at Upcoming Events
4/21/13:
The past couple of weekends here in Richmond have been HOPPING! The weather has been simply fantastic as the temperatures dance from the mid 70's to the high 80's. The sun has made an almost non-stop apperance. The breeze has been fresh and the flowers in bloom.
Richmonders have certainly been taking advantage of it. The Ukrops Monument 10K had a huge turn out. A big congratulations to all who finished and especially my friends that did better then they thought they would. Way to go! The first Carytown Beerfest was held this past weekend. I heard it was sold out and packed to the gills. That's good for the first year. I do hope they continue to improve it, of course (spread it out along the street). There was Spring Bada-Bing at Hardywood to usher in the new season. Earth Day festival at the 17th Street Farmers Market was held this past weekend. There was also a Chili Cookoff and a French Food Festival. Just so many activities. All of which I didn't get to experience because I was working. So, I have no posts on these events. If anyone ever wants to guest post about an event, please let me know.
But let us get into the point of this post, the upcoming events. Lets start with the big thing: it's Richmond Spring Restaurant Week! This is where restaurants all around Richmond create a 3 course menu for $25.13 per person, which is much cheaper then the usual prices. For example, just sauteed flounder on Acacia Midtown's normal menu is $20. Here you get it with a starter and a dessert for $25.13. Big difference. I am certainly going to try really hard to get out and give something a try. Guys, good date at a nice restaurant possible for a decent price this week... You can find all of the menu's here: Restaurant Week Menus
For you NASCAR fans, the Sprint Cup Series will be at the Richmond International Raceway on Saturday at 7:30. Richmond has a 3/4 mile long D-shaped track, which is considered a short track. There is RV and tent camping on-site. Never having been to race myself, it doesn't particularly excite me. But I've heard they are fun and I have also heard the Richmond track gets a good turnout. Great for people watching and beer drinking. Oh, plus the race. Tickets range from $30 to $105. You can find out more information about camping, seats and tickets here: Richmond International Raceway
For those of you looking to do something for the community, there are plenty of charity events. One coming up this weekend is the ASK Fun Walk & 5K. ASK is a local organization that provides support directly to over 1000 children who have cancer and their families each year. They do a lot of local events to raise money from our community to go back to our community. This weekends event will be at the Short Pump Town Center. It's a good cause and more information can be found here: ASK 5K
For all the green thumbs it being Spring means it's time to get those gardens in order. I know I have started getting mine ready. This weekend Maymont will be hosting their 29th Annual Herbs Galore & More event. For a $3 admission you will have access to over 40 Mid-Atlantic plant vendors selling everything from flowers to trees to veggies to herbs. There will also be experts covering different topics throughout the day. I will certainly try to attend this event so I can get my veggies started. More information can be found here: Herbs Galore
For all my beer aficionados out there do I have an event for you. Local Suds (Local Suds), a company based out of Glen Allen, has undertaken the amazing task of bringing local craft beer to the forefront of your mind and your refrigerators. They will be hosting their inaugural Virginia Craft Brewers Guild Tour. This tour looks to be an amazing day for $60. It starts promptly at 1pm at Mekong where the bus will take you to such stops as Blue Mountain Barrel House, Devils Backbone Brewing Company (where you get fed) and Starr Hill (where you get a glass). It looks to be a well planned and very filling adventure. Local Suds has lots of tours all the time, so keep an eye on them. Information for this one can be found here: Craft Brewers Guild Tour
For my embracers of culture there will also be the India Spring Fest this weekend. It will be held at the Hindu Center in Glen Allen on Saturday and Sunday. There will be classic Indian food and entertainment available for all to enjoy. Something certainly worth checking out if you want to try something different this weekend. More information can be found here: India Spring Fest.
There is a lot more to do this week/weekend. I just listed a few different things that caught my eye. Try to get out there Richmond and enjoy what you can. Remember that no one ever wished they spent less time with friends & family and more time working.
The past couple of weekends here in Richmond have been HOPPING! The weather has been simply fantastic as the temperatures dance from the mid 70's to the high 80's. The sun has made an almost non-stop apperance. The breeze has been fresh and the flowers in bloom.
Richmonders have certainly been taking advantage of it. The Ukrops Monument 10K had a huge turn out. A big congratulations to all who finished and especially my friends that did better then they thought they would. Way to go! The first Carytown Beerfest was held this past weekend. I heard it was sold out and packed to the gills. That's good for the first year. I do hope they continue to improve it, of course (spread it out along the street). There was Spring Bada-Bing at Hardywood to usher in the new season. Earth Day festival at the 17th Street Farmers Market was held this past weekend. There was also a Chili Cookoff and a French Food Festival. Just so many activities. All of which I didn't get to experience because I was working. So, I have no posts on these events. If anyone ever wants to guest post about an event, please let me know.
But let us get into the point of this post, the upcoming events. Lets start with the big thing: it's Richmond Spring Restaurant Week! This is where restaurants all around Richmond create a 3 course menu for $25.13 per person, which is much cheaper then the usual prices. For example, just sauteed flounder on Acacia Midtown's normal menu is $20. Here you get it with a starter and a dessert for $25.13. Big difference. I am certainly going to try really hard to get out and give something a try. Guys, good date at a nice restaurant possible for a decent price this week... You can find all of the menu's here: Restaurant Week Menus
For you NASCAR fans, the Sprint Cup Series will be at the Richmond International Raceway on Saturday at 7:30. Richmond has a 3/4 mile long D-shaped track, which is considered a short track. There is RV and tent camping on-site. Never having been to race myself, it doesn't particularly excite me. But I've heard they are fun and I have also heard the Richmond track gets a good turnout. Great for people watching and beer drinking. Oh, plus the race. Tickets range from $30 to $105. You can find out more information about camping, seats and tickets here: Richmond International Raceway
For those of you looking to do something for the community, there are plenty of charity events. One coming up this weekend is the ASK Fun Walk & 5K. ASK is a local organization that provides support directly to over 1000 children who have cancer and their families each year. They do a lot of local events to raise money from our community to go back to our community. This weekends event will be at the Short Pump Town Center. It's a good cause and more information can be found here: ASK 5K
For all the green thumbs it being Spring means it's time to get those gardens in order. I know I have started getting mine ready. This weekend Maymont will be hosting their 29th Annual Herbs Galore & More event. For a $3 admission you will have access to over 40 Mid-Atlantic plant vendors selling everything from flowers to trees to veggies to herbs. There will also be experts covering different topics throughout the day. I will certainly try to attend this event so I can get my veggies started. More information can be found here: Herbs Galore
For all my beer aficionados out there do I have an event for you. Local Suds (Local Suds), a company based out of Glen Allen, has undertaken the amazing task of bringing local craft beer to the forefront of your mind and your refrigerators. They will be hosting their inaugural Virginia Craft Brewers Guild Tour. This tour looks to be an amazing day for $60. It starts promptly at 1pm at Mekong where the bus will take you to such stops as Blue Mountain Barrel House, Devils Backbone Brewing Company (where you get fed) and Starr Hill (where you get a glass). It looks to be a well planned and very filling adventure. Local Suds has lots of tours all the time, so keep an eye on them. Information for this one can be found here: Craft Brewers Guild Tour
For my embracers of culture there will also be the India Spring Fest this weekend. It will be held at the Hindu Center in Glen Allen on Saturday and Sunday. There will be classic Indian food and entertainment available for all to enjoy. Something certainly worth checking out if you want to try something different this weekend. More information can be found here: India Spring Fest.
There is a lot more to do this week/weekend. I just listed a few different things that caught my eye. Try to get out there Richmond and enjoy what you can. Remember that no one ever wished they spent less time with friends & family and more time working.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Chiocca's Deli
4/6/13:
Dinner, one of the three most important meals of the day. Sandwiches, one of the most customizable, unique and delicious of all foods. Combining the two makes for a wonderful experience. An experience which I embrace any day of the week. It just so happens that my one of favorite eclectic couples, MF and SC, invited me to join them in such an experience. They were going to Chiocca's (Chiocca's Deli) for a beer and a sandwich before going to the Byrd to see a movie. I had heard about this place from several people so I jumped at the chance to try it.
Part of Chiocca's charm is it's location and ambiance. Chiocca's is located in the basement of a brick building with, what I think, is a house on the floors above it. Literally a basement joint. When I pushed open the door the first words that came to mind were dive bar. I mean that in the best way possible. The whole place just has that feeling of comfort and locality to it. A place that isn't over-run by the mainstream public. It's almost a novelty in that respect. The inside has a giant bar and lots of seating. The decor is all over the place, but it fits in perfectly. I was a big fan of the place and I hadn't even looked at the menu yet.
MF and SC had already ordered a pitcher of beer. As soon as I sat down the waitress appeared at my elbow. She wanted to know if I would like a glass or a different beer. I got a glass and some water. Got to hydrate or you might get a cramp... Words to live by. Our waitress dropped these off and gave us a few minutes to look over the menu. The menu isn't huge, but how big can a sandwich menu realistically be? There is an interesting variety of sandwich fillers on the menu, so make sure you read all of the selections. And among the three of us we chose 3 different sandwiches... MF went very classic with a pastrami & swiss on marble rye. Basic, but delicious. SC chose to go with The Downstairs, This sandwich has salami, prosciutto, provolone, swiss, onions, hot peppers, italian dressing and... wait for it... anchovies. That's right, little salty fish. I decided on The Lucca, which is a slight twist on the classic Italian sandwich. It's salami, prosciutto, provolone, sweet roasted red peppers and I added mayo. All of these sandwiches come grilled/warm, which means they take a little time as there is only one oven. That means that you may not want to try Chiocca's if you need to be in and out in 20 minutes...
While we waited for our food we ordered another pitcher of beer. Our waitress came back shortly with a half pitcher of beer and informed us we had kicked the keg. She want to know what we would like instead. She left us the half pitcher and went to get us our full one. I appreciate the fact that she gave us what was left of the pitcher and didn't just waste it as wasting beer is damn near a sin. She also didn't charge us for the half pitcher so kudos on that as well.
Our GIANT sandwiches finally arrived and they instantly made my mouth water. The sight, the smell, the heat... all combining together for a glorious first impression. I was hoping the taste wouldn't disappoint. My first bite vanquished my fears and soothed my worried brow. The salami and prosciutto were salty and flavorful. The red peppers had just enough sweetness and juiciness to add perfect balance. The provolone had melted nicely gluing everything wonderfully together. The bread was thinly sliced yet surprisingly strong enough to hold the sandwich together. It was beautifully toasted and an excellent temperature, neither boiling hot or freezing cold. A happy medium, if you please. I had a bite of SC's sandwich. You remember, the one with the anchovies. Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised by how good it actually was. There was certainly an upfront saltiness to it, as one would expect. But overall the sandwich flavors are wonderful together. It is a sandwich I would most certainly get in the future. MF's sandwich was all the good things one expects from a classic like the pastrami & swiss. I am truly glad they were able to nail that because if you can't craft the classics in all of their glory then you have no right to move on to new and exciting things.
Chiocca's Deli is one of those well hidden unsecret secrets of Richmond passed on from person to person by word of mouth. It is a hole-in-the-basement gem that will appeal to the sandwich lover in all of us. Their menu has classics and it has some unusual fare, but it all is good. If you are in the mood for something different this week, I suggest you grab a table, order a brew and feast upon a Chiocca's Deli sandwich.
Stars: 4.75 out of 5
Pros: Location/Ambiance, Service, Food
Cons:
Dinner, one of the three most important meals of the day. Sandwiches, one of the most customizable, unique and delicious of all foods. Combining the two makes for a wonderful experience. An experience which I embrace any day of the week. It just so happens that my one of favorite eclectic couples, MF and SC, invited me to join them in such an experience. They were going to Chiocca's (Chiocca's Deli) for a beer and a sandwich before going to the Byrd to see a movie. I had heard about this place from several people so I jumped at the chance to try it.
Part of Chiocca's charm is it's location and ambiance. Chiocca's is located in the basement of a brick building with, what I think, is a house on the floors above it. Literally a basement joint. When I pushed open the door the first words that came to mind were dive bar. I mean that in the best way possible. The whole place just has that feeling of comfort and locality to it. A place that isn't over-run by the mainstream public. It's almost a novelty in that respect. The inside has a giant bar and lots of seating. The decor is all over the place, but it fits in perfectly. I was a big fan of the place and I hadn't even looked at the menu yet.
MF and SC had already ordered a pitcher of beer. As soon as I sat down the waitress appeared at my elbow. She wanted to know if I would like a glass or a different beer. I got a glass and some water. Got to hydrate or you might get a cramp... Words to live by. Our waitress dropped these off and gave us a few minutes to look over the menu. The menu isn't huge, but how big can a sandwich menu realistically be? There is an interesting variety of sandwich fillers on the menu, so make sure you read all of the selections. And among the three of us we chose 3 different sandwiches... MF went very classic with a pastrami & swiss on marble rye. Basic, but delicious. SC chose to go with The Downstairs, This sandwich has salami, prosciutto, provolone, swiss, onions, hot peppers, italian dressing and... wait for it... anchovies. That's right, little salty fish. I decided on The Lucca, which is a slight twist on the classic Italian sandwich. It's salami, prosciutto, provolone, sweet roasted red peppers and I added mayo. All of these sandwiches come grilled/warm, which means they take a little time as there is only one oven. That means that you may not want to try Chiocca's if you need to be in and out in 20 minutes...
While we waited for our food we ordered another pitcher of beer. Our waitress came back shortly with a half pitcher of beer and informed us we had kicked the keg. She want to know what we would like instead. She left us the half pitcher and went to get us our full one. I appreciate the fact that she gave us what was left of the pitcher and didn't just waste it as wasting beer is damn near a sin. She also didn't charge us for the half pitcher so kudos on that as well.
Our GIANT sandwiches finally arrived and they instantly made my mouth water. The sight, the smell, the heat... all combining together for a glorious first impression. I was hoping the taste wouldn't disappoint. My first bite vanquished my fears and soothed my worried brow. The salami and prosciutto were salty and flavorful. The red peppers had just enough sweetness and juiciness to add perfect balance. The provolone had melted nicely gluing everything wonderfully together. The bread was thinly sliced yet surprisingly strong enough to hold the sandwich together. It was beautifully toasted and an excellent temperature, neither boiling hot or freezing cold. A happy medium, if you please. I had a bite of SC's sandwich. You remember, the one with the anchovies. Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised by how good it actually was. There was certainly an upfront saltiness to it, as one would expect. But overall the sandwich flavors are wonderful together. It is a sandwich I would most certainly get in the future. MF's sandwich was all the good things one expects from a classic like the pastrami & swiss. I am truly glad they were able to nail that because if you can't craft the classics in all of their glory then you have no right to move on to new and exciting things.
 |
| The Downstairs |
 |
| Pastrami & Swiss |
 |
| The Lucca |
Chiocca's Deli is one of those well hidden unsecret secrets of Richmond passed on from person to person by word of mouth. It is a hole-in-the-basement gem that will appeal to the sandwich lover in all of us. Their menu has classics and it has some unusual fare, but it all is good. If you are in the mood for something different this week, I suggest you grab a table, order a brew and feast upon a Chiocca's Deli sandwich.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Bev's Homemade Ice Cream
4/6/13:
Like I said before, NK has moved into town. So, since she was new and the weather was nice, I wanted to show her around Carytown. I'm a big Carytown fan, as I have expressed before and I think it's a nice diverse area to introduce someone to on a Saturday morning. As we walked and browsed the stores NK mentioned that she was getting unfocused because her blood sugar was dropping. As we were almost upon it, I suggested we stop in at Bev's Homemade Ice Cream (Bev's Facebook Page)
for a quick rejuvenator. NK gave me the thumbs up so we stopped in.
Bev's is located down across from the Bryd Theater on Cary St. in a building it shares with a salon. The Bev's side is painted a bright pink color, but it isn't offensive to the eye. There are several chairs to relax in out front and benchs not far away for those days where an ice cream can only be truly enjoyed in the sunshine and fresh air. Inside is very open with significant seating (for an ice cream joint). There are plenty of seats that look out the big front window, perfect for people watching. The counter is situated at the opposite wall from the front window which allows for the line of customers to be slightly seperated from the diners providing for nice table conversation. The walls are modestly painted so as not to seem loud and obnoxious. It's a nice setting for a quick frozen treat.
Bev's has a wide selection of treats for all types of people. They were rocking about 10 different flavors of ice cream and probably an equal number in gelato, frozen yogurt and sherbert flavors as well. Granted, I could be super low on that count, but I'm getting older and I can't remember everything. There are sundays, shakes, splits and baked goods. You can try any flavor they have and the girl who served us was very pleasent and knowledgeable. She was able to articulately answer all of our questions with good humor. The diversity of options certainly takes a moment for you to process so make sure you glance at everything before committing. The only thing worse then ice cream buyers remorse is dropping it on the ground.
Bev's Homemade Ice Cream was the perfect treat for our long walk on Saturday. It pumped up our blood sugar and got us ready to finish browsing the other side of the street. I would recommend Bev's next time you find ourself in a day of shopping in Carytown.
Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Layout/Decor, Flavors, Quality
Cons: Price
Like I said before, NK has moved into town. So, since she was new and the weather was nice, I wanted to show her around Carytown. I'm a big Carytown fan, as I have expressed before and I think it's a nice diverse area to introduce someone to on a Saturday morning. As we walked and browsed the stores NK mentioned that she was getting unfocused because her blood sugar was dropping. As we were almost upon it, I suggested we stop in at Bev's Homemade Ice Cream (Bev's Facebook Page)
for a quick rejuvenator. NK gave me the thumbs up so we stopped in.
Bev's is located down across from the Bryd Theater on Cary St. in a building it shares with a salon. The Bev's side is painted a bright pink color, but it isn't offensive to the eye. There are several chairs to relax in out front and benchs not far away for those days where an ice cream can only be truly enjoyed in the sunshine and fresh air. Inside is very open with significant seating (for an ice cream joint). There are plenty of seats that look out the big front window, perfect for people watching. The counter is situated at the opposite wall from the front window which allows for the line of customers to be slightly seperated from the diners providing for nice table conversation. The walls are modestly painted so as not to seem loud and obnoxious. It's a nice setting for a quick frozen treat.
Bev's has a wide selection of treats for all types of people. They were rocking about 10 different flavors of ice cream and probably an equal number in gelato, frozen yogurt and sherbert flavors as well. Granted, I could be super low on that count, but I'm getting older and I can't remember everything. There are sundays, shakes, splits and baked goods. You can try any flavor they have and the girl who served us was very pleasent and knowledgeable. She was able to articulately answer all of our questions with good humor. The diversity of options certainly takes a moment for you to process so make sure you glance at everything before committing. The only thing worse then ice cream buyers remorse is dropping it on the ground.
NK had never really had gelato before so she tried a small scoop of pistachio to see if she would like it. She did indeed like it and got herself a sugar cone of it. She appreciated that it was a little creamier then ice cream and didn't have an overwhelming flavor. I, myself, went with cookies & cream which has ALWAYS been a favorite of mine. Bev's homemakes all of their ice cream and it is evident. It has a great flavor with no hint of freezer burn or poor ingredients. The cookie chunks were big and chocolaty. But, unlike some versions of cookies & cream, the vanilla was distinct with little cross contamination. What I mean is that you get some varietys where the vanilla is grey because so much of the cookie has gotten mushed up and mixed in with it. That is not the case here. Pure all around. I got mine on a plain cake cake cone. Of course, the 2 different cones sparked fierce debate as to which was better, but that is a post in itself.
The one complaint I have is the price. I know, me whining about price again. You all begin to think my wallet requires the jaws of life to open it which isn't true. I fully accept that you pay for quality and Bev's is certainly quality. But I think what annoys me is that a product that is supposed to be a small treat is such a big hit to the bank account. I'm not talking millions of dollars or even $10. It was $4 for my cone. I just feel that is a touch high, but again, that could be me. You will have to judge for yourself.Bev's Homemade Ice Cream was the perfect treat for our long walk on Saturday. It pumped up our blood sugar and got us ready to finish browsing the other side of the street. I would recommend Bev's next time you find ourself in a day of shopping in Carytown.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Embracing Social Media
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One of the goals of Going Out in Richmond is to reach out to the masses. To inspire their appetites, banish their boredom and reignite their passion for all this city has to offer. I want visitors to have a guide to what Richmond is all about. I want to be the go to source for those in the know and those that want to be. That is a lofty goal, but one that is completely attainable with some effort. But frequent posting won't do it alone. I realized I needed to embrace social media. I need to use this Twitter the kids are all raving about. I also created a Facebook page in hopes of spreading the word. My hope is that you, my faithful readers, will like my page and follow me on Twitter. My page can be found here: Going Out In Richmond on Facebook. And follow me on this Twitter thing: @GoingOutInRVA. I'll do my best to keep my 180 character updates interesting.
I also want to give a quick shout out to Swell Design (Swell Design) for my new logo, which can be seen at the top of this post. I also appreciate my brother for the QR code that links right to my blog. With any luck, I'll someday have it all over Richmond. But, that's not gonna be for a bit. I would like to say the support of my readers, friends and family in helping me design, edit and promote this blog has been huge and so very appreciated. I request you keep it up!
Finally, we might have our first guest blogger coming up soon and I'm pretty stoked about it. Details to follow.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Chuy's
4/5/13:
My friend NK moved to Richmond this past week and I'm very glad she did. With packing up all your stuff and loading it into a truck comes the inevitable unloading. Friday was a beautiful day for moving, so that's what we did. We unloaded a lot of her stuff into her new place. Well, that builds a terrible hunger in a person. We drove around Short Pump for a little looking for something to inspire us. We saw Chuy's ( Chuy's or Chuy's RVA Facebook Page) and on a whim decided to stop for some Mexican food.
Chuy's is located at the West Broad Village Shopping Center in Short Pump. The parking is tough. Don't park in the Kona Grill lot, which is behind Chuy's as they will tow you. We ended up parking in the Whole Foods lot with no issues. I am hoping parking is something Chuy's gets figured out stat as they are going to need it.
As NK and I walked up to the front door there was a gentleman there to greet us. He was passing out slips of paper to people walking in. Well, it was apparently a soft opening for friends and family that day, not the general public. How we missed the giant sign that said "Open to the Public Soon" I'll never know. That could have been the end of our post right there, sent away embarrassed. But the guy at the door sized us up and said "You look like friends to me. Come on in." He handed us our paper and explained the day to us. It was a full staff test run day. Our paper had 2 dishes on it which we would order and a question for the staff to test their knowledge. The best part... it was free. Any non-alcoholic drink and any menu items we wanted were on the house. JACK POT!!! So, NK and I rolled into the front lobby on a swell of luck and excitement. The front lobby is big with plenty of seating. It looks like it is well prepared for the crowds that will surely come.
The very friendly staff at the front took our name and gave us a buzzer. Then they suggested we wait in the bar area and try out their queso bar. I'm sorry, come again? Did you say queso bar? As in melted delicious cheesy goodness? Thankfully there were no old ladies in front of us because they would have been tossed aside in our rush to see this sight with our own eyes. Allow me to describe it for you: Chuy's has mounted the trunk of a car on the wall. In this trunk is a big pot of melty queso, some ground beef, some salsas and chips. You essentially add what you like to your queso, building a your perfect dip. The bar is free during happy hour Monday to Thursday (I'm pretty sure from 4 to 7). It is excellent. The cheese is great, flavorful and creamy. The ground meat adds a nice little bite and texture. The chips are thin, so expect breakage. Plan accordingly. NK added the salsa to hers. I went straight ground meat. To each their own and both were very good.
We got our chips and dip just as we were buzzed for our table. As we were led to our table we passed the homemade tortilla station. I had to stop and double check that I was seeing what I was seeing. There, behind the glass, were 3 ladies hand mixing, rolling, pressing and cooking tortillas. There were corn, flour and blue tortillas being made at a fantastic rate. Each one was uniform, yet unique. I think that this is a great idea by Chuy's. It gives you that sense that they really care about the quality of their food. And you can always taste the difference between a fresh tortilla and a store bought frozen one. Nicely done Chuy's.
Soon after we were sat we were greeted by our very cheerful waitress. She took a minute to explain the menu, check our chip levels (which were dangerously low) and get our drink orders. The drinks being free prompted me to go crazy and get an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half sweet tea). NK got a sweet tea and we got down to looking at the menu. We both knew what we were ordering, per the ticket we received at the door, but we looked anyway. NK was getting the chicken burrito, which was served in a fresh-made 12" flour burrito with refried beans, cheese and the oven roasted chicken. It came with rice, as all the dishes looked to. I bit the bullet and got the Veggie Enchiladas. These are made-up of spinach, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, serrano, fire-roasted green chili, corn and cheese rolled up in a blue corn tortilla. Granted, no meat, but it sounded good. Once we ordered we sat back and discussion started. Here is the dangerous time as you just keep eating chips... And the staff is always willing to refill your basket. You fill up. Just remember that you still have a meal coming...
Our meals arrived on hot plates with amazing smells wafting off them. After she set them down our waitress asked if we would like any additional sauces. I asked her for a hotter sauce and she suggested the Boom Boom sauce. I, of course, accepted. While she was off getting that we dug into our meals. I'll start with NK's burrito. It was massive. It was packed to the max and took up a major chunk of the plate. The filling was very good. The chicken was well seasoned and there wasn't an overpowering amount of beans. We both really enjoyed it and I would certainly try a different one next time I was there. My enchiladas were exceptional. All of the veggies were cooked perfectly. The peppers added a subtle heat, which I always love. It wasn't even close to a domineering or overpowering heat either, for all those who prefer a lot less bite then I do. The blue corn tortillas were phenomenal. They were flavorful and crispy. They did nothing but elevate this dish. The Boom Boom sauce is spicey and was amazing on the rice. I recommend it for those seeking the spicy.
After we were stuffed to the rafters we got ourselves some boxes. There was just too much good food for one sitting. Our waitress checked on us one last time during which I inquired about the push-up pops I had seen one of the other waiters give to some children at another table. Yes, I wanted the same ice cream that a bunch of 5 year old kids had. It was a push up pop... Our waitress quickly, and with a huge smile on her face, brought us each one. They were sherbet pops from Blue Bell Dairy. They were an excellent palette cleanser for the end of the meal.
Chuy's has a winning formula being cooked up. The staff is very pleasant, the food fresh & tasty and the queso bar is a melty dream come true. Short Pump is now in possession of a Tex-Mex haven that I highly recommend to one and all. I know I'll be back soon.
Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Queso Bar, Staff, Food
Cons: Parking
My friend NK moved to Richmond this past week and I'm very glad she did. With packing up all your stuff and loading it into a truck comes the inevitable unloading. Friday was a beautiful day for moving, so that's what we did. We unloaded a lot of her stuff into her new place. Well, that builds a terrible hunger in a person. We drove around Short Pump for a little looking for something to inspire us. We saw Chuy's ( Chuy's or Chuy's RVA Facebook Page) and on a whim decided to stop for some Mexican food.
Chuy's is located at the West Broad Village Shopping Center in Short Pump. The parking is tough. Don't park in the Kona Grill lot, which is behind Chuy's as they will tow you. We ended up parking in the Whole Foods lot with no issues. I am hoping parking is something Chuy's gets figured out stat as they are going to need it.
As NK and I walked up to the front door there was a gentleman there to greet us. He was passing out slips of paper to people walking in. Well, it was apparently a soft opening for friends and family that day, not the general public. How we missed the giant sign that said "Open to the Public Soon" I'll never know. That could have been the end of our post right there, sent away embarrassed. But the guy at the door sized us up and said "You look like friends to me. Come on in." He handed us our paper and explained the day to us. It was a full staff test run day. Our paper had 2 dishes on it which we would order and a question for the staff to test their knowledge. The best part... it was free. Any non-alcoholic drink and any menu items we wanted were on the house. JACK POT!!! So, NK and I rolled into the front lobby on a swell of luck and excitement. The front lobby is big with plenty of seating. It looks like it is well prepared for the crowds that will surely come.
The very friendly staff at the front took our name and gave us a buzzer. Then they suggested we wait in the bar area and try out their queso bar. I'm sorry, come again? Did you say queso bar? As in melted delicious cheesy goodness? Thankfully there were no old ladies in front of us because they would have been tossed aside in our rush to see this sight with our own eyes. Allow me to describe it for you: Chuy's has mounted the trunk of a car on the wall. In this trunk is a big pot of melty queso, some ground beef, some salsas and chips. You essentially add what you like to your queso, building a your perfect dip. The bar is free during happy hour Monday to Thursday (I'm pretty sure from 4 to 7). It is excellent. The cheese is great, flavorful and creamy. The ground meat adds a nice little bite and texture. The chips are thin, so expect breakage. Plan accordingly. NK added the salsa to hers. I went straight ground meat. To each their own and both were very good.
 |
| Old ladies best get out the way. NK was ready for some queso. |
We got our chips and dip just as we were buzzed for our table. As we were led to our table we passed the homemade tortilla station. I had to stop and double check that I was seeing what I was seeing. There, behind the glass, were 3 ladies hand mixing, rolling, pressing and cooking tortillas. There were corn, flour and blue tortillas being made at a fantastic rate. Each one was uniform, yet unique. I think that this is a great idea by Chuy's. It gives you that sense that they really care about the quality of their food. And you can always taste the difference between a fresh tortilla and a store bought frozen one. Nicely done Chuy's.
Soon after we were sat we were greeted by our very cheerful waitress. She took a minute to explain the menu, check our chip levels (which were dangerously low) and get our drink orders. The drinks being free prompted me to go crazy and get an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half sweet tea). NK got a sweet tea and we got down to looking at the menu. We both knew what we were ordering, per the ticket we received at the door, but we looked anyway. NK was getting the chicken burrito, which was served in a fresh-made 12" flour burrito with refried beans, cheese and the oven roasted chicken. It came with rice, as all the dishes looked to. I bit the bullet and got the Veggie Enchiladas. These are made-up of spinach, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, serrano, fire-roasted green chili, corn and cheese rolled up in a blue corn tortilla. Granted, no meat, but it sounded good. Once we ordered we sat back and discussion started. Here is the dangerous time as you just keep eating chips... And the staff is always willing to refill your basket. You fill up. Just remember that you still have a meal coming...
Our meals arrived on hot plates with amazing smells wafting off them. After she set them down our waitress asked if we would like any additional sauces. I asked her for a hotter sauce and she suggested the Boom Boom sauce. I, of course, accepted. While she was off getting that we dug into our meals. I'll start with NK's burrito. It was massive. It was packed to the max and took up a major chunk of the plate. The filling was very good. The chicken was well seasoned and there wasn't an overpowering amount of beans. We both really enjoyed it and I would certainly try a different one next time I was there. My enchiladas were exceptional. All of the veggies were cooked perfectly. The peppers added a subtle heat, which I always love. It wasn't even close to a domineering or overpowering heat either, for all those who prefer a lot less bite then I do. The blue corn tortillas were phenomenal. They were flavorful and crispy. They did nothing but elevate this dish. The Boom Boom sauce is spicey and was amazing on the rice. I recommend it for those seeking the spicy.
After we were stuffed to the rafters we got ourselves some boxes. There was just too much good food for one sitting. Our waitress checked on us one last time during which I inquired about the push-up pops I had seen one of the other waiters give to some children at another table. Yes, I wanted the same ice cream that a bunch of 5 year old kids had. It was a push up pop... Our waitress quickly, and with a huge smile on her face, brought us each one. They were sherbet pops from Blue Bell Dairy. They were an excellent palette cleanser for the end of the meal.
Chuy's has a winning formula being cooked up. The staff is very pleasant, the food fresh & tasty and the queso bar is a melty dream come true. Short Pump is now in possession of a Tex-Mex haven that I highly recommend to one and all. I know I'll be back soon.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Capital Alehouse
3/27/13:
I have been to Capital Alehouse several times, both before and after moving to Richmond. It's one of those places that everyone seems to know about. My friend TS came into town for an interview and wanted to meet up for lunch after. He suggested Capital Alehouse (Capital Alehouse) and, knowing their beer selection, I was not one to argue.
Capital Alehouse is located downtown on East Main St. It's just West of Shockoe Bottom in a section of hotels and office buildings. Be warned, first and foremost, parking SUCKS. There is a parking garage around the corner, but it's very tiny. There is also street parking, but that can be tight during the day. Granted this is an issue everywhere in downtown, but I just wanted to note it here so that you could prepare. If you are meeting someone, I suggest factoring in an extra 10 minutes and $1 in change for parking. Unless it's after 6 pm as then street parking is free.
TS was already there by the time I got there. He had ordered a beer so I jumped on the wagon and got one myself. Capital Alehouse has a HUGE HUGE HUGE beer selection. They have tons of beers on tap including a lot of local craft beers. They also have a massive bottled beer selection if that is your preference. I am a huge supporter of local brewery's so I went with Legends "Hopfest" IPA. It was bitter and hoppy which I just love. I'm not sure what TS got, but it was lighter. Looked tasty, as most beers do.
Beer does not make a meal by itself (as much as some people will argue that). So, we needed a little food. TS suggested the sausage and cheese plate. This is a pretzel that comes with sausages, cheeses and fruit. I will say, it was pretty impressive. The pretzel was giant and flavorful. It was brushed with what I think was a garlic butter and was perfectly salted. The middle was soft and warm while the outside was perfectly crusty. There were several varieties of cheese cubes and sausages served with the pretzel. I'm not sure exactly what they were, but they were cold and tasty. It also was served with sliced apple. The combination of pretzel, apple, cheese and sausage was perfect. All the flavors, the salty of the pretzel, the sweet of the apple, the smokiness of the meat and the smoothness of the cheese blended together into a nice bite. It was a good start and a nice balance to the beer.
For lunch we agreed that sandwiches were a good choice. I mean, how does one go wrong with a sandwich. For me, I had to go with the Cuban. Pork tenderloin AND ham? I can't even tell you how that just blows my mind. It also came with a chipotle pepper mayo, so I figured I would give it a try. TS went a little more conventional with the Capital Club. It's a basic club with a beer stout mustard served on a pretzel roll. I chose to get mixed greens as my side while TS went with sweet potato fries. While we waited we had a second beer.
All of the food was very good. My sandwich had good flavor and was nicely prepared. The bread was excellent, crusty and warm. The pickle slices provided that slightly sour taste which kept the bites interesting. The mayo flavor was muted by the flavor of the Havarti cheese and the pork, but I didn't feel like I missed it. I will say that my mixed greens were slightly under dressed but our waitress was quick to bring me some additional dressing to rectify that issue. TS liked his sandwich as well. The pretzel roll was an excellent vessel for all of the fillings. He said that it all tasted perfectly balanced. He also really enjoyed the sweet potato fries, which aren't my cup of tea. Needless to say, we devoured it all.
I will say that Capital Alehouse has got a lot of good things going for them, but they have one negative: price. Now, before you jump all over me I'm aware it's a stupid thing to complain about. Things aren't free and you pay for quality. I'm fine with that. I just think $20 for the pretzel appetizer is a lot of money. Or $18 for some of their beers. Granted, I don't have to order those things. I can find a different option. But, it just seems excessively expensive to me. Just my opinion...
Capital Alehouse is a nice place to go if you are looking for an after work beer or a nice dinner. It would make a very nice place for a date. If you are looking for a place to go downtown that isn't packed with college kids, Capital Alehouse is a fine choice.
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
Pros: Beer Selection, Food
Cons: Parking, Prices
Capital Alehouse is located downtown on East Main St. It's just West of Shockoe Bottom in a section of hotels and office buildings. Be warned, first and foremost, parking SUCKS. There is a parking garage around the corner, but it's very tiny. There is also street parking, but that can be tight during the day. Granted this is an issue everywhere in downtown, but I just wanted to note it here so that you could prepare. If you are meeting someone, I suggest factoring in an extra 10 minutes and $1 in change for parking. Unless it's after 6 pm as then street parking is free.
TS was already there by the time I got there. He had ordered a beer so I jumped on the wagon and got one myself. Capital Alehouse has a HUGE HUGE HUGE beer selection. They have tons of beers on tap including a lot of local craft beers. They also have a massive bottled beer selection if that is your preference. I am a huge supporter of local brewery's so I went with Legends "Hopfest" IPA. It was bitter and hoppy which I just love. I'm not sure what TS got, but it was lighter. Looked tasty, as most beers do.
Beer does not make a meal by itself (as much as some people will argue that). So, we needed a little food. TS suggested the sausage and cheese plate. This is a pretzel that comes with sausages, cheeses and fruit. I will say, it was pretty impressive. The pretzel was giant and flavorful. It was brushed with what I think was a garlic butter and was perfectly salted. The middle was soft and warm while the outside was perfectly crusty. There were several varieties of cheese cubes and sausages served with the pretzel. I'm not sure exactly what they were, but they were cold and tasty. It also was served with sliced apple. The combination of pretzel, apple, cheese and sausage was perfect. All the flavors, the salty of the pretzel, the sweet of the apple, the smokiness of the meat and the smoothness of the cheese blended together into a nice bite. It was a good start and a nice balance to the beer.
For lunch we agreed that sandwiches were a good choice. I mean, how does one go wrong with a sandwich. For me, I had to go with the Cuban. Pork tenderloin AND ham? I can't even tell you how that just blows my mind. It also came with a chipotle pepper mayo, so I figured I would give it a try. TS went a little more conventional with the Capital Club. It's a basic club with a beer stout mustard served on a pretzel roll. I chose to get mixed greens as my side while TS went with sweet potato fries. While we waited we had a second beer.
All of the food was very good. My sandwich had good flavor and was nicely prepared. The bread was excellent, crusty and warm. The pickle slices provided that slightly sour taste which kept the bites interesting. The mayo flavor was muted by the flavor of the Havarti cheese and the pork, but I didn't feel like I missed it. I will say that my mixed greens were slightly under dressed but our waitress was quick to bring me some additional dressing to rectify that issue. TS liked his sandwich as well. The pretzel roll was an excellent vessel for all of the fillings. He said that it all tasted perfectly balanced. He also really enjoyed the sweet potato fries, which aren't my cup of tea. Needless to say, we devoured it all.
I will say that Capital Alehouse has got a lot of good things going for them, but they have one negative: price. Now, before you jump all over me I'm aware it's a stupid thing to complain about. Things aren't free and you pay for quality. I'm fine with that. I just think $20 for the pretzel appetizer is a lot of money. Or $18 for some of their beers. Granted, I don't have to order those things. I can find a different option. But, it just seems excessively expensive to me. Just my opinion...
Capital Alehouse is a nice place to go if you are looking for an after work beer or a nice dinner. It would make a very nice place for a date. If you are looking for a place to go downtown that isn't packed with college kids, Capital Alehouse is a fine choice.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Mekong
3/28/13:
As I stared into the fridge I realized how much I didn't, wouldn't, and COULDN'T cook anything I had that night. It was one of those times that I wished I had someone to cook for me. Needless to say, that wasn't happening. So, what to do? It came to me immediately. Text MC and see if she wants to get dinner at someplace new (well, new for me). Thankfully, she came through on both accounts. She suggested meeting at Mekong (Mekong) at 6:45. Done and done.
Mekong is located on W. Broad St. in what looks to be the shadiest building ever. It is kinda packed into a building with a few other businesses. From the outside, you worry. But, it's a whole different story once you get inside. The inside of Mekong is actually very nice. And it's HUGE! There is a ton of space. There are rooms upon rooms. Plus a giant bar area. Pretty much a perfect spot if you have a lot of people getting together or coming into town. MC did say that even with all of the space, you still have to have a reservation for Friday nights as it gets that busy. Thankfully, this wasn't a Friday so we were seated right away.
Mekong, if they are proud of nothing else, are proud of their beer selection. As they should be. Their beer menu of tap beers alone is impressive. They have an amazing selection that encompasses all styles and flavor profiles. I supported a newer local brewery, Center Of The Universe. I got their IPA, PocaHOPtas. It was excellent. It was very hoppy, which I love, and had a great full flavor. MC got a beer called Breakfast of Champions. It is a "badass coffee stout" that certainly lived up to it's description. It was chocolaty with a solid coffee kick on the back end. Very tasty and well worth getting next time. We only had a brew each, but they were excellent. Mekong is certainly for beer lovers.
The menu at Mekong is not what I would define as extensive. Yes, it's big, but that is because they have all the different main ingredients (chicken, beef, etc.) listed on its own page. But, if you not, it is the same dishes in each list with just a different main ingredient. So, you will see pork with a spicy ginger sauce on one page. Then you will see it with chicken on another and beef on another, so on and so forth. So, like I said, big but not extensive. I'm fine with that. Know what you're good at. MC convinced me to try the noodle soup. She told me it's a huge portion and very filling. It was just chilly enough out that soup worked. MC ordered the Mi Hoanh Thanh, which is the soup with egg noodles, wontons and shredded pork. She also got an order of the crispy vegetable spring rolls (Chia Gio). I went with the Hu Tieu Mi Nam Vang, which had clear and egg noodles with shrimp, pork, fish balls and pork liver. I also got the soft spring roll with pork and shrimp (Goi Cuon). She went with the small bowl of soup, I with the large. While we waited we chatted of other restaurants on our list to visit. Always a good way to pass the time: talk of different food while waiting for food. Glad we really branched out in the topics...
Our rolls arrived first (and quickly) as an appetizer. Mine was served with what I believe to be a plum sauce with crushed nuts on it. I could be WAY off, but that's what it tasted like. The roll was a decent size and packed with filling. It was served a few degrees below room temperature. It was excellent that way. The shell kept together and it left the vegetables crunchy. I dipped in the sauce a few times, but didn't feel it was required to add to the flavor. It did lend a slight sweetness to counter the pork, but not enough that it was a must do. MC got 2 rolls with her order. They were deep fried, so served warm. They were also thinner then mine. They came with the same sauce, I believe. She said they were very good, nice and crispy.
Our soups arrived shortly after the appetizers. Mine came in what I can only describe as a gallon bowl. MC's was maybe a half-gallon bowl. Either way, it was a lot of soup. Now, what I forgot to mention before is that the broth/base of these soups is built on chicken broth, bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions and lettuce. It is served with lime slices and fresh diced chili. I added the lime and as much chili as I could fit into the bowl. I like it spicy and that did the trick. I will say that I truly enjoyed my soup. It was incredibly flavorful and hearty. The pork liver was tasty as was the fishy. Neither over-powered the milder chicken flavor. The little bite of the cilantro was a nice taste change every few bites. Add all this to the fact that you could have swam in this bowl meant that it was a great meal. MC enjoyed hers too and proceeded to pick out and eat all the wonton noodles. She left some soup in her bowl, but that is forgiven as it would have filled a 64 oz. beer mug...
Mekong proved that great little restaurants can be found in some shady areas. I was very impressed with the whole meal. I will certainly need to explore the menu more in the future. If you find yourself in a large group looking for someplace different with a great beer, go to Mekong. The draft selection alone will make it a good trip.
Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Space, Beer Selection, Portions
Cons: Outside
As I stared into the fridge I realized how much I didn't, wouldn't, and COULDN'T cook anything I had that night. It was one of those times that I wished I had someone to cook for me. Needless to say, that wasn't happening. So, what to do? It came to me immediately. Text MC and see if she wants to get dinner at someplace new (well, new for me). Thankfully, she came through on both accounts. She suggested meeting at Mekong (Mekong) at 6:45. Done and done.
Mekong is located on W. Broad St. in what looks to be the shadiest building ever. It is kinda packed into a building with a few other businesses. From the outside, you worry. But, it's a whole different story once you get inside. The inside of Mekong is actually very nice. And it's HUGE! There is a ton of space. There are rooms upon rooms. Plus a giant bar area. Pretty much a perfect spot if you have a lot of people getting together or coming into town. MC did say that even with all of the space, you still have to have a reservation for Friday nights as it gets that busy. Thankfully, this wasn't a Friday so we were seated right away.
Mekong, if they are proud of nothing else, are proud of their beer selection. As they should be. Their beer menu of tap beers alone is impressive. They have an amazing selection that encompasses all styles and flavor profiles. I supported a newer local brewery, Center Of The Universe. I got their IPA, PocaHOPtas. It was excellent. It was very hoppy, which I love, and had a great full flavor. MC got a beer called Breakfast of Champions. It is a "badass coffee stout" that certainly lived up to it's description. It was chocolaty with a solid coffee kick on the back end. Very tasty and well worth getting next time. We only had a brew each, but they were excellent. Mekong is certainly for beer lovers.
The menu at Mekong is not what I would define as extensive. Yes, it's big, but that is because they have all the different main ingredients (chicken, beef, etc.) listed on its own page. But, if you not, it is the same dishes in each list with just a different main ingredient. So, you will see pork with a spicy ginger sauce on one page. Then you will see it with chicken on another and beef on another, so on and so forth. So, like I said, big but not extensive. I'm fine with that. Know what you're good at. MC convinced me to try the noodle soup. She told me it's a huge portion and very filling. It was just chilly enough out that soup worked. MC ordered the Mi Hoanh Thanh, which is the soup with egg noodles, wontons and shredded pork. She also got an order of the crispy vegetable spring rolls (Chia Gio). I went with the Hu Tieu Mi Nam Vang, which had clear and egg noodles with shrimp, pork, fish balls and pork liver. I also got the soft spring roll with pork and shrimp (Goi Cuon). She went with the small bowl of soup, I with the large. While we waited we chatted of other restaurants on our list to visit. Always a good way to pass the time: talk of different food while waiting for food. Glad we really branched out in the topics...
Our rolls arrived first (and quickly) as an appetizer. Mine was served with what I believe to be a plum sauce with crushed nuts on it. I could be WAY off, but that's what it tasted like. The roll was a decent size and packed with filling. It was served a few degrees below room temperature. It was excellent that way. The shell kept together and it left the vegetables crunchy. I dipped in the sauce a few times, but didn't feel it was required to add to the flavor. It did lend a slight sweetness to counter the pork, but not enough that it was a must do. MC got 2 rolls with her order. They were deep fried, so served warm. They were also thinner then mine. They came with the same sauce, I believe. She said they were very good, nice and crispy.
Our soups arrived shortly after the appetizers. Mine came in what I can only describe as a gallon bowl. MC's was maybe a half-gallon bowl. Either way, it was a lot of soup. Now, what I forgot to mention before is that the broth/base of these soups is built on chicken broth, bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions and lettuce. It is served with lime slices and fresh diced chili. I added the lime and as much chili as I could fit into the bowl. I like it spicy and that did the trick. I will say that I truly enjoyed my soup. It was incredibly flavorful and hearty. The pork liver was tasty as was the fishy. Neither over-powered the milder chicken flavor. The little bite of the cilantro was a nice taste change every few bites. Add all this to the fact that you could have swam in this bowl meant that it was a great meal. MC enjoyed hers too and proceeded to pick out and eat all the wonton noodles. She left some soup in her bowl, but that is forgiven as it would have filled a 64 oz. beer mug...
Mekong proved that great little restaurants can be found in some shady areas. I was very impressed with the whole meal. I will certainly need to explore the menu more in the future. If you find yourself in a large group looking for someplace different with a great beer, go to Mekong. The draft selection alone will make it a good trip.
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