River City Food and Wine

SOF at J. Emerson Aug. 21

2008-08-20T17:51:00.003-04:00

J. Emerson on Grove Ave.will be tasting wines from the South of France on Thursday, August 21 from 5:30-7:30 PM. The free line up includes:

2006 Domaine Saint Andre de Figuiere, Cotes de Provence
2007 Domaine de la Mordoree, Lirac, White Rhone
2006 Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
2002 Chateau Pradeaux, Bandol Rouge

Kitchen Renovation Saga Part 11 - A Kick-Ass Stove

2008-08-16T14:12:00.004-04:00

At last, after years of waiting, I finally have the stove! A Wolf 6 burner all gas baby. It's beautiful! I am overjoyed that I can now bring a large pot of water to a roiling boil and that I can truly simmer. I'm still working out the oven features with the convection piece, but I'll figure it out. And since the stove and hood were installed we were able to complete the cabinet installation.

We also purchased a kitchen island with a decent work space area and a good amount of storage. Yeah!

Restaurant Wine Pricing

2008-08-15T15:22:00.001-04:00

Anything Wine links to a great article about restaurant wine pricing. If you ever order wine in a restaurant, it's a must read.

Where Is The Joy In A Crunchy Bean?

2008-08-15T14:39:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday evening we tootled over to Six Burner. It was nice to see them busy. We took advantage of their $10 carafe of red special. On this night we enjoyed a Powers Cabernet Sauvignon. A yummy bargain, indeed. My husband ordered the fried oyster appetizer and the heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad to arrive at the same time. Six Burner served up a generous portion of the seafood. The salad was good, too with shaved (possibly aged?) mozzarella. I had the pork shank which was oh-so-tender and moist. It was served with sautéed Swiss chard and applewood smoked bacon lardons and an apple cider vinegar sauce. I usually detest Swiss chard, but the bacon and sauce did not let any bitter green taste touch my tongue. I was pleased until I encountered the lima beans. These beans looked fantastic – pale, plump, enticing. Alas, every single one of those suckers was crunchy. What I would consider raw with no opportunity to soak up any of the mouth-watering sauce. I have to give our waiter high praise. When he stopped by to inquire about our dinner, I had to confess that I simply could not eat the beans. He sympathized and said that was how the chef intended to serve them. But he also offered a side of garlic mashed potatoes or polenta as a substitute. I asked for the potatoes and was quite comforted. We finished our meal with illy coffee which we love to drink, but haven’t made the monetary commitment to serve at home.

So, now on to my rant. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the South, but, in my opinion, any bean – lima bean, butter bean, navy bean, pinto bean, October bean, black bean, cannellini bean, great northern bean, kidney bean, cranberry bean, or for that matter black-eyed peas needs to be COOKED! Crunch has no place in the above line up (please note, I did not include green beans in this bean roll call). The beans can be firm, but the tooth jarring simply hardness must disappear. I’ve been to a couple of places where the waiter insisted that this was the intention of the chef. To my mind it just seems like the kitchen was slacking. Where is the joy in a crunchy bean?

Black Sheep and Watermelon

2008-08-10T15:22:00.005-04:00

At last breakfast at The Black Sheep with the Feasting on Richmond Meetup Group. I did indeed adore the French Toast with Nutella. The dish came with warmed orange syrup which I asked to be put on the side. And while the syrup was tasty, I did not want to taint my Nutella (yes, I am a freak, but a happy freak).

My husband ordered the biscuits and sausage gravy. The gravy was not the ubiquitous thick white stuff that most places serve. This was a bit thinner with visible chunks of spicy sausage. And a steal at $4.

We both savored the Community Coffee. I ordered mine iced and added a touch of cream. My hubby had his hot and straight. Both were refilled as needed.

We also enjoyed chowing down with the other members. And discussing Deviled Eggs - should sweet pickle relish be included or not? When we inquired about the availability of the Develed Eggs at The Black Sheep, our waitress replied that they had sold out last night and that Kevin's Mom would be arriving soon with more. Kevin's Mom may need to increase her production!

If you want to meet some very nice folks and love to try new places, check them out. Lauren, the Restaurant Fairy, organizes lunch meetups, weeknight jaunts, as well as weekend adventures. Our group today boasted nine diners. Most were captivated by the French Toast, but Frittata and Rancheros Neuvos were also consumed (and looked quite yummy!). The Black Sheep offered a variety of sodas including Blenheim Ginger Ale (mild or hot) and Cheerwine (regular or diet) and served in glass bottles.

After a lovely breakfast my hubby and I made our way to the Watermelon Festival. What a fine day and we found a parking spot in the shade. Williams Bakery featured Watermelon Bread

and a variety of cupcakes

and Weezie’s offered Watermelon Beverages of the alcoholic variety.

Since we had eaten a late breakfast, food took a back seat to people watching. Because the weather was not blazing hot, we stopped by Bin 22 and enjoyed a spectacular glass of red wine – 2006 Grilos Vinho Tinto from Dao Portugal. Heavier than we expected with a bright cherriness that we could have enjoyed all day.

We hope to have the opportunity to stop by one evening to mull over an entire bottle.

Filipino Festival Visit

2008-08-09T17:41:00.005-04:00

Thank goodness it was not any hotter at the Filipino Festival! The sun was a scorcher and there were not enough seats under the tents to view the stage (and get relief from the heat!).

We arrived a little before noon and parking was already filling up quickly. The food line seemed long, but flowed quickly. And, yes, there was lechon...

We ate heartily with the lumpia and the pancit being our favorites.

This was my plate. Clockwise from the rice I had lechon, chicken adobo, pancit, and lumpia.

Next year, if it is any hotter, we will pick up our food at the drive-thru station.

Filipino Festival Sat. August 9

2008-08-09T07:12:00.002-04:00

I am going to check out the Filipino Festival today. It's being held from 10 AM - 8 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes, 8200 Woodman Rd. Lumpia, Pancit, Adobo, and Lechon are all on the menu. Yummy!

The Heat Is On At Pad Thai

2008-08-09T07:02:00.005-04:00

We journeyed off the beaten path to Pad Thai for dinner last night. I had eaten there over a year ago with friends, but my husband had yet to try it. On a Friday, this place buzzed! Clearly, a popular joint and non-smoking. We were seated and ordered a pot of jasmine tea ($2.50). The last time I ate here, I raved about the steamed dumplings, so we began with steamed marinated chopped pork and shrimp wrapped in soft egg wonton and served with soy sauce ($5.95). I still loved the delicate wonton wrapper encasing the filling, but the filling did not match my fond memories. It was very heavy, thus, negating the implied lightness in the word “steamed.” They were still tasty and the soy sauce contained a sweetness that paired well with the appetizer.

For entrees, I took a traditional stance and ordered Pad Thai with Chicken – stir-fried thin rice noodle with dried bean curd, bean sprouts, peanut, scallion, radish, and egg flavored with special sauce ($8.95). My hubby chose Pad Cashew Nut with Chicken – stir-fried cashew, onion, water chestnut, scallion, and dried pepper served with jasmine rice ($8.95). Both dishes could be ordered with one’s choice of meat and one’s choice of spiciness – mild, medium, hot, or extra hot. And ingredients could also be omitted upon request. (I omitted the bean sprouts because they have always tasted like dirt to me.) Unlike some other Thai restaurants these days, medium spiciness meant these old eyes watered profusely amidst my nose running. Both dishes were chocked full of flavor. My rice noodles picked up the special sauce and the chicken was very tender. Tiny pepper flakes throughout the dish ensured that with every bite the heat increased (just think what hot would have felt like!). The Pad Cashew had a brown sauce and a mound of white meat chicken. Whole dried peppers were added to this dish. The scallions added a nice touch of color. As the heat mounted my husband contemplated a Thai beer - Singha or Chang, but muddled through without it. And while Pad Thai offered a choice of house Cabernet, Merlot, or Chardonnay, they really should look into carrying bottles of Riesling or Gewurztraminer to pair with the spicy dishes.

It was great to see this out of the way place doing well and serving delicious food and I have some spicy leftovers to enjoy for later.

Pad Thai
8456 Meadowbridge Rd.
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
559-0062

Zorba's in Northside

2008-08-04T19:52:00.003-04:00

When we moved to Richmond, we were thrilled that Zorba's at 4026 MacArthur Ave. delivered. While not the ultimate pie in Richmond, a damn sight better than any of the other delivery options in my area. It took us a while to figure out the exact combination that has now become our standard - medium pizza with green peppers, onion, pepperoni, and extra cheese.

Zorba's continues to be our standby when we do not feel like cooking and want to stay at home. We are having our standard tonight along with a bottle of Enotria Barbera from Mendocino. Just what a Monday needed!

If you live in Northside, call them up at 264-5370. They need a $10 minimum to deliver and are open 7 days a week from 4-10 PM.

Long Overdue for Another Visit - Cielito Lindo

2008-08-03T11:51:00.006-04:00

Still a fantastic Mexican place. And one that we had inadvertently forsaken for quite a while. My hubby and I met 007 there last night.

It was too blazing hot to eat outside, but the blond booths and the cool interior beckoned us. I’m still fascinated by the alcoves giving homage to various icons.

Cielito Lindo continues to concoct a kick-ass margarita. All of us were partial to the Gold variety: 1800 Anejo and Cointreau on the rocks generously served in a water glass. Mmmm! We had also forgotten that the salsa contained a slightly smoky flavor which added to our delight. For starters we shared the guacamole. The perfect cool, creamy dish to begin the evening with lots of avocado chunks and the right balance of cilantro and salt.

For dinner 007 ordered her favorite (mine as well!): Talapia Verracruz – fish served with an olive and caper verde sauce. She declared it as good as ever. My hubby turned out to be in a tamale mood, which was, quite frankly, bizarre. Every time he had ever had tamales he had not cared for them. The masa was always too heavy and overpowering. Well, not this time. The masa was more akin to a light and tasty cornbread encircling a tasty pork filling. We were very impressed with the texture and the taste. I opted for the Carne Asada Tacos – spicy pork with cheese and pico de gallo. I had my choice of soft corn or flour tortillas. I chose the corn because I had the option. Very satisfying. All dishes came with Spanish-style rice and we had the option of a side of refried beans, black beans, or a black bean/corn/carrot salad.

While we were enjoying our dinner, a couple of guys walked in to pick up a catering order. Some other lucky Richmonders were also eating well this evening.

Cielito Lindo
4702 Forest Hill Ave.
233-3022

Appreciating Customers

2008-07-26T09:29:00.003-04:00

The Kroger at Willow Lawn is appreciating its customers today from 1-4 PM. They promise food and wine pairings. Since its free, I plan to check it out.

I have no idea if the other Kroger area stores are emulating the Willow Lawn store.

Chile Excursion at J. Emerson July 23

2008-07-21T19:06:00.003-04:00

J. Emerson will feature a free tasting of Chilean wines on July 23 from 5:30 - 7: 30 PM. The line up includes:

2007 Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alex Chardonnay
2005 Concha y Toro Marques De Casa Concha Cabernet
2005 Concha y Toro Don Melchor
2005 Casa Lapostolle Clos Alpalta

J. Emerson is located at 5716 Grove Ave.

Did I Taste a Wee Bit of Heaven?

2008-07-18T20:23:00.003-04:00

We ate dinner at Cafe Rustica tonight. Yeah, you know. The one that has garnered raves on East Main? We enjoyed our dinner, but this time, we saved room for dessert:

Grilled Pound Cake with Lemon Curd and Fresh Berries.

The pound cake was moist and sported grill marks that added a bit of crunch to the mix. The curd held just the right amount of lemon flavor. Not too much to turn one's mouth sour and just enough to play off of the fresh strawberries. Fresh blueberries rounded out this send-me-to-heaven dessert. Did I mention the price? Only $5.

Next time, I may have to eat dessert first!

Shockoe Chef Showdown - Sign Up Today

2008-07-13T20:47:00.002-04:00

The 17th Street Farmers Market has a call to all Top Chefs (and all of you know you are the top!) to show your stuff on July 26. Go to their site for all of the details.

Sounds like a yummy time!

Shouting Over Mac and Cheese at deLux

2008-07-12T14:07:00.003-04:00

Last night we paid a visit to deLux on Main St. What a happening place! The non-smoking downstairs, both bar and tables, were filled to capacity while the mojitos flowed through the crowd. Our smartly dressed host whisked us up the staircase and seated us well away from the upstairs smoking bar. Our seats allowed us to people watch both bars as we worked our way through the meal. We also admired the large paintings gracing the wall by the stairs. I liked the contemporary feel juxtaposed with the exposed brick.

Indecision on our food order hounded us. A number of appetizers caught our attention, the pork special with fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers also beckoned. But, then wait, what about the skirt steak or the Cuban pork? We gave up and ordered mojitos and beef empanadas to get started. The mojitos balanced mint and lime very well. A tad sweet for what I wanted last night, thus, we only had one. The empanada filling contained a spicy ground beef accompanied by a spicy sauce. While tasty, the pastry was a bit thicker than I like and did not allow for more of the delicious filling to be stuffed in the shell.

After finishing our mojitos we ordered a 2003 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa to enjoy with the rest of our meal. Hearty and fruity.

Still indecision on our meal. So, we decided to try a couple of appetizers and share an entrée. First up was the Truffle Fries with melted Asiago cheese and truffle oil. Melted Italian-style cheese on fries that still sported potato skin with a sprinkling of dried herbs – looked like thyme to me. So far, all good. Unfortunately, I just could not detect the truffle oil. Part of it may have been due to some of the fries being coated with an orange spice that reminded me of Bullets fries or Arby’s curly fries. Any truffle oil lurking about must have surrendered to this stronger component.

The Fried Calamari tasted wonderful. Not chewy with a good breading. The sauce, however, reminded us of straight-from-the-bottle barbeque sauce. We happily ignored the sauce and enjoyed the appetizer with a spritz of fresh-squeezed lemon.

The “Oh my God” dish ended up being the Macaroni and Cheese. Vermont white cheddar sauce with ham and peas and toasted bread crumbs. Rich, creamy, must-be-a-sin-to-eat goodness. We had some food hits and misses, but this dish will definitely lure us back (and we will now need to try the Lobster Mac and Cheese!).

One last comment. deLux was LOUD! I have discovered that the owner of deLux also owns The Hard Shell (one of the LOUDEST meals we have ever had in Richmond). As we mull over when to return, it will probably be a weeknight to secure a space in the non-smoking downstairs and to hopefully enjoy a quieter setting.

Angels Share

2008-07-10T18:40:00.005-04:00

2006 Two Hands Angels Share Shiraz McLaren Vale. Oh, what inky dark cherry and plummy goodness. We enjoyed this with a pan-seared thick cut bone in pork chop.

Available at J. Emnerson for $29.95.

Fair warning: Drink at home. This baby contains 15.2% alcohol.

Just Cool Enough For Brunch Outside

2008-07-06T12:31:00.004-04:00

We wanted to go to brunch at Six Burner. Alas, they had closed for vacation. And, good for them. I'm all about vacations. I just wish I had known. So, we ended up at CanCan. Because we arrived before 11 AM we secured a table outside. The overcast skies earned our praises. Michael, our waiter, garnered our adoration as well. Pleasant and attentive.

We ordered a half carafe of rose, Eggs Benedict, the omelet of the day (garlic sausage, potatoes, leeks, and brie), and a side of frites (I believe I have mentioned that CanCan has the best fries). All good. My husband really liked how the melted brie added a nice creamy texture to the omelet. A couple of suggestions, however. My spouse always comments that the omelet should automatically be served with a side of frites. I can't fault him - we ordered enough omelets in Paris to know that the frites are a staple side. And this morning my Eggs Benedict was served over toast instead of English muffins. I prefer the English muffins, they soak up the egg yolk and the Hollandaise sauce better.

Our lazy Sunday brunch is now at an end...laundry awaits.

Another Drug Dose

2008-07-04T15:45:00.007-04:00

Recently, I've read numerous posts about Tarrant's and now Tarrantino's. I continue to crave Tarrant's Grilled Cheese and drool over the garlic rolls. Since we were going to First Friday's Art Walk (on Thursday) we wanted to try the pizza. We arrived around 6 PM and the place was comfortably brisk. I'm happy they added more space. The second room featured intriguing colorful art. As always, we were served by a wonderful, personable, and attentive waiter. We ordered a Cotes-du-Rhone for dinner and he was able to wax rhapsodic about how good it was and that the producer also makes a rose. The 2005 Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles was smooth and fruity. A good choice for a pizza.

As usual we had a tough time deciding what to order. We finally "made our own" and ordered a pie with fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and sweet Italian sausage with red sauce. We liked it. The sauce made the bottom crust a wee bit soggy, but the outer crust was a good mix of crunchy and chewy. The toppings were good quality with the cheese and pepper on the delicate side. The sausage had been shaved into thin round slices. The one thing we would have changed would have been the red sauce. We liked the sauce - pungent with a hot pepper punch. Unfortunately, it overwhelmed the other toppings. When ordering this combination again, I would request a brushing of red sauce, instead of a ladling.

Still a decent pie. We will definitely go again to experiment with other combinations (and to order from the regular menu!). I would not consider take out because it is too far away from my house.

And, although extremely warm, the art walk was lovely. Ghostprint Galley had an eerie grouping, but clearly talented artists. And the Turned for Use II exibit at Gallery 5 was worth a gander. We also found out about the First Annual InLight Richmond that will be held Sept. 5, 2008. I have marked my calendar.

A Sparkling Surprise

2008-07-01T18:47:00.002-04:00

This evenng as I was picking up a few items at the Kroger in Willow Lawn, I discovered that they are now carrying Gruet Rose Brut from New Mexico. This is the first time I have seen it in Richmond. I picked up a bottle for $14.29. I hope it will be as good as I remember...

Burgers and Onion Rings - Mmmmm!

2008-06-29T19:21:00.003-04:00

Last night we had a family get-together at my aunt and uncle's house. For supper my cousin made these fabulous Andouille Burgers and Fried Onion Rings. Both are recipes from Emeril Lagasse. Extrodinarily delicious and mouth watering. I can't wait to try it at home!

The Black Sheep - Good and Plenty

2008-06-29T17:04:00.008-04:00

Friday night we left home early in search of The Black Sheep. We had heard some rave reviews and wanted to try it ourselves. I applaud any restaurant willing to go through the rigors and nuttiness of opening an establishment in the city of Richmond and locating on what is still considered off the beaten path for most. Thus, word of mouth will be extremely crucial for this kitchy little converted storefront. As we stepped into the open space I immediately noticed the little ceramic salt and pepper shakers gracing the booths and tables. We arrived early and snagged a booth looking out of the huge picture window. Two white puppies held our salt and pepper. And an enormous ceramic frog served as the base for our table lamp. The glass floral vases filled with dirt and planted with herbs added a nice touch as well. Our waitress bedecked with various piercings greeted us warmly and enthusiatically. She was attentive throughout the evening without being overbearing.

The Black Sheep's wine list is tiny, but holds inexpesive, drinkable options. We ordered the Big Tattoo Red from Chile for $16.

For dinner, lunch and dinner offerings can be ordered. "The War of Northern Ingestion" both intrigued and amused. The side note indicated "They aren't subs, they're battleships." We espied the CSS Virginia (fried chicken livers with shredded green cabbage onion, apple, and remoulade sauce for $7) sailing forth to another table. The plate sported a two-foot long French baguette. The Black Sheep serves these behemoths "with a knife for doing battle and a napkin to signify your surrender." We were not in a war-like mood and sallied on over to the dinner options. I just had to try the Chicken and Dumplings ($10) - white pan roasted chicken with homemade herb dumplings (very biscuit-like) in a light cream sauce with minced carrots and celery. Nothing splashy, just basic comfort food and plenty of it. My dish came with my choice of sides. This was definitely an issue. I did not need anything. Our waitress intuited my dilemma and suggested the Orzo Salad - orzo, fresh veggies, herbs, and sunflower seeds tossed in a light citrus vinaigrette. I took her advice, but boxed it up to go and will be having it as part of my dinner this evening.

My hubby decided to try one of the specials for the evening - Penne Pasta ($9) tossed with summer veggies (squash, tomatoes, green beans). He added grilled Mahi Mahi for an extra $5. He enjoyed the pasta, but was thrilled by the fish. Once again, the plate was graced by a large portion that was meaty, yet moist.

We were very pleased. For this Friday evening, business slowed to a trickle around 7 PM and then picked back up nearer to 8 PM. Once word gets out about the great food and the great prices, lines should start forming.

Some of the other menu items we look forward to trying include:

Breakfast (served until 2 PM) - Black Sheep French Toast (with nutella - drool, drool, drool) and Beret Frittata (goat cheese, broccoli, herbs, and onion). And don't forget a cup of Community Coffee

Lunch (served from 11 AM until closing) - Spice Trade Salad (frisee with Asian pear and avocado with a creamy Garam Masala yogurt dressing) and USS Monitor (Swedish meatballs topped with Farmer's cheese and green onions)

Dinner (served from 5 PM until closing) - Blue Ribbon Pork (pork cutlet with VA ham and Swiss cheese served with buttered noodles)

Other Sides - Broccoli Salad and Dirty Rice

And don't forget Something Sweet - White Russian Brownie and Profiterole (topped with almonds and honey and filled with cardamon rosewater ice cream)

The Black Sheep is located at 901 W. Marshall St. They are open Tuesday - Sunday and are non-smoking (yeah!).

Intriguing Wine Tasting at J. Emerson

2008-06-24T18:41:00.003-04:00

On June 25 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM J. Emerson will hold its June wine tasting featuring an interesting mix of items including:

Broadbent Vinho Verde
Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Quinta do Crasto Douro Red
Vilafonte Series C
Chateau Musar

I am looking forward to the Chateau Musar - probably the most famous Lebanese wine and darn tasty, too. Of course, the tasting is free.

J. Emerson is located at 5716 Grove Ave.

Our First Homegrown Zucchini, Ever!

2008-06-21T18:04:00.002-04:00

What an amazing thing of beauty!

At Last, Lunch at McLean's

2008-06-21T17:38:00.004-04:00

I'll admit it. I have lived in the River City many years and have never eaten at McLean's on Broad St. My hubby and I remedied the situation today. We now understand why the parking lot is full - friendly staff, cheap food that tastes good. I had the patty melt with sauteed onions and Swiss cheese on grilled rye bread. Greasy spoon heaven. And my husband was quite taken with the jumbo burger that was topped with a ripe, sweet tomato slice. I was also partial to the Pepsi with crushed ice.

The building and the wooden booths have been through some wear and tear over the years. And the place still has a smoking section, but there was enough air circulating in the non-smoking section that the cigarette smoke was not noticible.

I really liked the signs announcing that the wait staff practices phone etiquette - if you are on your cell phone, they will respect your privacy and not approach your table until you have finished your conversation.

Next time, we'll have to order breakfast. Most of the egg dishes offer a choice of bacon, fat back, fried bologna, link or pattie sausage. And don't forget the grits and red eye gravy. Weekday lunches feature hot turkey or roast beef sandwiches. I can't wait.

Loin of Pork with Fennel

2008-06-20T17:30:00.004-04:00

Borders listed a fantastic recipe from Ina Garten - Loin of Pork with Fennel. And I made it last night. The only change I made was using dry vermouth instead of Pernod or white wine. And my version looked every bit as good as the picture. The fennel and onion added an almost-sweet flavor to the pork. I served it with slices of bread covered in sesame seeds and a 2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape which had spicy overtones and floral undertones (an unusual combination for a Rhone).

I was quite pleased with how the dish turned out and would definitely consider making it for dinner guests.