River City Food and Wine

Deliciousness at Shagbark

2016-09-26T09:22:00.000-04:00

Let me just come right out and declare that we had a lovely meal at Shagbark. The decor, the staff (a few who used to work at our old Tastebuds stomping ground), the attention to local purveyors, the food all were spot on for our first visit.

The interior of Shagbark: An airy space with rustic touches. The communal table made from a shagbark hickory sports a centerpiece accented by wild game feathers.

We arrived at 5 PM for a cocktail on a Sunday. Since we had no reservations and this place has already garnered national attention we thought arriving early would be the best strategy. We were happy to be correct. After imbibing in a Shagbark Sour featuring Bowman Brothers bourbon and James River ostervit, we were escorted to a cozy table for two.

Our bartender carefully crafts our Shagbark Sours.

Many of you are probably asking about the name. When I mention the name to friend or acquaintance, immediately the reply is "Shag whaaat?!" The name comes from the Shagbarrk Hickory tree. The communal table at Shagbark is made from the bark of one of these trees.

Walter Bundy (owner and former executive chef at Lemaire) features a menu with plenty of both local and Southern charm that changes with the seasons; at times focusing on items from a micro-season. Some of the temptations include fried green tomatoes, country ham, onion bisque with crab, frogmore stew, and fresh figs.

Highlights of our dinner included pan roasted Carolina grouper with shrimp, corn, and tomatoes as well as chicken breast with fingerling potatoes and butter-milk dill dressing.

Pan roasted Carolina grouper: A meaty white fish with a delicious crispy edge and served with summer corn and succulent shrimp.

The chicken came from River Oak Farm . This breast was the best I've ever eaten outside of my Mom's fried chicken. Both tender and moist. The buttermilk-dill dressing seemed an unusual accompaniment for the chicken, but it made for a delightful taste experience that not only enhanced the breast, but brought even more life to the roasted potatoes. Yumminess in abundance!

A delightful experience that hubby and I need to repeat as often as we can.

How to Fall in Love with Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit Moonshine

2016-09-18T15:00:00.000-04:00

So this is how I did it:

Attend Midtown State Fair in the new Libbie Mill Midtown development
Walk up to the Belle Isle Moonshine table
Order a Ruby Moon cocktail
Enjoy on a hot afternoon
Fall in love

The Ruby Moon consists of Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit Moonshine, Aperol, Lillet Rose, and white grapefruit juice. Refreshing, not wimpy.

Kolache RVA

2016-09-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

While Kolache RVA has a storefront in the Church Hill area, they also show some love for Southside by setting up a tent at the South of the James Market.

That's where I encountered the apple and cherry varieties. Kolaches are little bread pockets and can feature both savory and sweet offerings. The dough is slightly sweet so I prefer the fruit and cheese varieties, but Kolache RVA also carries pockets featuring Alamo BBQ or the soon-to-be-famous maple cream and sugared bacon, No matter your preference RVA is definitely filled with delightful yumminess!

Mrs. Yoder's Donuts

2016-09-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

Such sweet deliciousness at Mrs. Yoder's Donuts.

Get Out of Town to Boxwood Estate Winery

2016-09-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

On a hot August weekend hubby and I spent some time in Northern Virginia and became enamored with Boxwood Estate Winery.

Located just outside of Middleburg, Boxwood contains 19 acres of vines, and currently grows mostly red Bordeaux varietals. A rose has also been bottled, and soon a venture into Sauvignon Blanc will emerge.

All of the reds are surprisingly good. I still believe in the "taste it before you buy it" method when it comes to Virginia wines. This tasting impressed. The Topiary made my mouth the happiest, and I now have this wine in my rack at home.

The winery features a stainless steel tasting and indoor picnic room as well as a great space for outside relaxation (as long as temps are mild). The sleek contemporary design paired with old world style wines lends an overall sophistication to this gem of a winery.

Definitely worth a visit to check out some red deliciousness.

Trio Grill - An Indulgence in NOVA

2016-09-09T18:07:00.000-04:00

In July we traveled up to Northern Virginia for a brief weekend respite from RVA. On Friday night we weighed a few options for dinner and had decided to take our chances in the Mosaic area when we drove by Trio Grill. In the span of a few seconds my thoughts were: I remember seeing/hearing something about the place - It's right here on Lee Highway? - Maybe we should try it. And then, "Hey Hubby! Can you turn the car around?"

We were early and thirsty and they had a table just for us. With a Trio Manhattan under our belts we indulged ourselves with a kick-ass wine, medium-rare steak, and over-the-top fries with duck fat hollandaise sauce. While the meal wasn't too adventurous, it was sumptuously delicious. Our waiter was personable and attentive, and it was a great beginning to our getaway weekend.

Trio Grill received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in 2016. Conn Creek Anthology was a real treat for us.

A perfectly cooked steak topped with a roasted shallot. Yum!

The ultimate indulgence - fries with duck fat hollandaise

The menu should have something to please most palettes, and they have a nice patio when the temperatures become reasonable.

Peter Chang Scott's Addition

2016-09-05T14:19:00.002-04:00

At last, a great Chinese restaurant in the city! And one that serves cocktails and dares to have a decent wine list. Thank you Peter Chang for bringing your culinary vision to Scott's Addition! I appreciate the duck dishes in particular. Take a gander at the Shredded Duck with Onion and Scallion.

The duck slices are so tender, and the portions are generous enough to take home some leftovers for lunch the next day. Quack, Quack Good!

Brunch at Amuse is an Awesome Thing

2016-08-27T07:20:00.000-04:00

Amuse is serving up a wonderful brunch. My current favorite dish is the Pork Chop Biscuit with Fried Eggs and Mushroom Gravy. Such a delight for the taste buds.

And don't forget to also see the Kehinde Wiley exhibit, A New Republic, before it leaves town. Big, bold, bright, beautiful!

We in RVA are so lucky to have VMFA!

South of the James Market Goodies

2016-08-26T17:58:00.001-04:00

The South of the James Market is still going strong, thank goodness, with a plethora of veteran producers as well as newcomers. Always fun to visit!

Check out these beauties:

Take time on a Saturday morning to head on over to Forest Hill Park and grab some goodness.

Hot Dogs, Anyone?

2016-08-24T21:38:00.000-04:00

Check out the hot dog and slaw at Perly's!

Delish! And don't forget - Perly's features cocktails and wine on tap!

A Blast from 2016 Broad Appetit

2016-08-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, Broad Appetit 2016 has come and gone, but I came across this photo of a Deviled Ham Slider from Pasture today and couldn't resist posting it.

My Favorite Things from Huynh's

2016-04-03T06:17:00.001-04:00

Every time I eat at Huynh's these days I always order the same items. They are so good and satisfying, I seldom stray off course. When I do take another path, I end up having regrets.

First off I just gotta have the Jicama Root Shrimp Rolls. I love that they use jicama. The fresh crunch makes for a pleasant beginning. Two plump rolls are served up with peanut sauce.

Next up, BBQ Pork and Crispy Spring Roll Noodle Salad. Thinly sliced grilled pork with a fried roll chopped up into bite-sized portions. The roll adds a bit of crunchy pizzazz to the noodle dish. And one mustn't forget the fish sauce. Yummy!

Tasty, delicious, and decently priced. If only they would stop rolling around the big cart to bus tables. The wheels travelling over the grooves in the tile can be distracting from a delicious noodle salad.

Old School Italian at Angela's

2016-03-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

Angela's Ristorante is so old school I could not find an official website or Facebook page. Maybe it doesn't matter. On a Friday night the place filled quickly with regular patrons generating a neighborhood camaraderie that testifies to Angela's staying power.

The decor is a bit dated. It looks like it was established primarily as a pizza and pasta joint and then ventured out to other traditional Italian dishes. Our wonderfully capable and affable waitress told us that the kitchen had been expanded a few years ago.

Welcome to Angela's

The bar/hostess station contains all the basics and generous Manhattans were served to our table. We received menus and were immediately overwhelmed. Pages of offerings and a separate page of specials. We kept looking over the veal selections.

Angela's also features a small wine list. Generally, I find that traditional Italian places have a mediocre wine list with low-end Chiantis and Montepulciano's at sky-high prices. Not here. We had some decent choices from California at prices we could live with.

From some of the dishes served up at other tables we knew portions were large, so we did not order an appetizer. We finally decided upon the Veal Pizzaiola, which was served with a choice of pasta. I chose angel hair tossed with garlic and olive oil.

So here is the thing that really impressed me. Our waitress noticed we had only gotten through half of our Manhattans when we put in our order. She asked if we wanted to have the kitchen wait 5-10 minutes before cooking our meal. We immediately said yes! Such a delight to experience that attention to detail.

We finished our cocktails at a leisurely pace before dinner arrived.

And wow! did dinner arrive. The Veal Pizzaiola was huge. Tender cutlets smothered in a crushed tomato marinara with melted mozzarella. The side of pasta was a generous serving, too, and reeked of garlic in a good way. The dish was everything that I expected: over-the-top and yummy.

A generous serving of Veal Pizzaiola

Italian comfort food with lovely service and delicious leftovers for another night. Being old school has its joys.

Angela's is located at 425 N. Ridge Rd. in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center.

Lunch Time at Amuse

2016-03-16T18:44:00.000-04:00

Always great to have lunch at Amuse.

Green Salad with Prosciutto and Comte Cheese

Curry Fried Oysters

A Valentine's Trip to NYC

2016-03-15T18:58:00.000-04:00

Well, we left before Valentine's Day, but we went for a long weekend. Of course, it was one of the coldest weekends this Winter, so we tried to stay indoors as much as possible and enjoy some long, leisurely meals.

A NYC Valentine

Upon arrival we headed to Maysville for cocktails and dinner. After imbibing a Kentucky Redbird (a bourbon and fruity concoction), I then decided to move on to the Willett Pot Still, neat. Mmmm! The food highlight was the seared beef with radish and apple. The bartenders were friendly, especially since we arrived right as they opened. We ate in the dining room for our meal and the restaurant filled up quickly. Coordination of courses proved to be a bit bumpy leaving us with multiple plates jockeying for position.

An awesome bar shelf

Kentucky Redbird

Seared beef with radish and apple. A wonderful dish from Maysville.

Walking back to the hotel we stumbled upon Eataly. Wow! a bit overwhelming. We couldn't resist ordering the Nutella Affogato.

Decadent after dinner dessert/coffee from Eataly.

The next morning we headed to The Met. The museum is big and contains a wide variety of art and artifacts. We were particularly enchanted with the vibrancy of the Thomas Hart Benton paintings and delighted by the Oceanic exhibit.

Thomas Hart Benton - July Hay

Crocodile Ceiling Panel

For lunch we visited the Petrie Court Cafe. Tasty food, lovely service, and a decent people-watching experience.

The blue hat is awesome

A wonderful Cab from Paso Robles

Enjoying a French Dip sandwich at The Met

After lunch we saw armored knights and Dutch masters.

The armor collection is impressive

Govert Flinck - Bearded Man with a Velvet Cap

Back to our tiny hotel room for a rest before dining at Perry St. This was our dinner splurge. A five course tasting menu with wine pairings. Unfortunately, it was way too dark to take decent photos. The highlight was a Lobster Thermidor with mushrooms, Gruyere, and tarragon. A perfect melding of flavors paired with a white Burgundy. Luscious, decadent, delicious.

The following day we attempted to walk around the city and enjoy a few outdoor sites. The frozen fountain at Bryant Park was really cool (actually frozen). And we wandered around Rockefeller Plaza.

The frozen fountain was fascinating

Billowing flags at Rockefeller Plaza. No wonder we were cold.

We ended up at Columbus Circle with half a mind to venture over toward the Hudson River to view the Intrepid when we realized the cold weather was winning. It was near noon and we needed a place for lunch. Robert came to our rescue. Located on the ninth floor of the Museum of Arts and Design, the place is colorful and modern with a spectacular view of Central Park and NYC. We settled in to enjoy drinks, wine, food, and restaurant patrons. An indulgent spot to warm our bones. The staff treated us very well, despite the lack of reservations.

Bright colors and funky furniture at Robert

What a view!

Wine splurge

Potato and Watercress Soup. The right starter on a frigid day.

Steak Frites

Fur coats and shorts - NYC style

Diners at Robert

After lunch we did wander over to see the Intrepid from the outside. In the late afternoon we headed to MoMA to take advantage of free admission night. Wow! What a freakin' zoo! Busy and chaotic. The line for the coat check was at least an hour long! It was tough to enjoy the art because we were constantly jostled by other Friday night freeloaders. I was pleased to see a couple of Klimt paintings. This was the highlight for me.

Waiting to check coats. We carried ours.

Gustav Klimt - Hope II

As we left MoMA we ran into a cat head. We appreciate this kind of art, too.

Cat Head

After chaos we needed to relax a wee bit before dinner. A glass of sparkling at the Morrell Wine Bar did the trick.

And then we plunged right back into chaos visiting Don Antonio for pizza. Crowded, loud, and busy, but delicious wood-fired pies.

The crowd at Don Antonio.

Margherita with Sausage. Wood-fired Deliciousness.

The next morning we boarded the train for home. Fun trip despite the cold temps. Lots more still to do on future visits.

NYC - Fun Times

Tastings of Charlottesville

2016-03-14T19:34:00.000-04:00

Tastings of Charlottesville has been around since the early 80's. It's a wine shop, wine bar, and restaurant. Folks may be put off by the dining room decor which reminds me of a last holdout from a 70's seafood restaurant.

But ignore the decor and enjoy lunch or dinner and fabulous wine (a $7 corkage fee on top of the retail price in the shop).

About a month ago we popped in for lunch. I only had the Lobster Bisque, but the description nailed it: Real Lobster, Real Butter, Real Cream. Period. Service with Croustades.

And true to the description the bisque was creamy with little lobster bits in every bite. A rich indulgence for a Saturday lunch.

Sign up for Tastings email list and be tempted to travel to Charlottesville on a regular basis.

Boulevard Burger & Brew

2016-03-13T10:06:00.000-04:00

Retro RVA hits its full stride with Boulevard Burger & Brew. Red and white tile and roofing; round, chromed bar stools (don't forget to twirl!); and a huge neon sign make anyone of a certain age sigh nostalgically.

We arrived on a warmish Winter day late in the afternoon as it was opening (it's now open for lunch except on Sundays). Already the place was packed. The myriad bar stools were all taken, and we snagged the last high-topped table. Once we were seated, couples and families waited outside for a bit.

What makes this joint different from the drive-ins and burger places of yore (at least in the South) is the addition of alcohol. Beer and wine were available on tap and the cocktails offered the mundane to the neon Weird Science served in a chemistry beaker. The draft red wine was drinkable and very reasonable at happy hour.

The food offerings are basic: burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken sandwiches and fingers, a couple of salads for good measure. The meat from the burgers is sourced from Creekstone Farms, and it is Black Angus and non-GMO. BB&B offers a number of topping variations and, if you want to strike out on your own, they have "Just a Burger" and a list of additions to please any burger palate.

The Kelly's Classic was served with American cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and onion. The inside bun edges were seared and met expectations. The burger was accompanied by a little cup of pickled veggies. A nice tangy touch.

Of course a side had to be ordered as well and I am a sucker for beer battered onion rings. And yes, they were good.

After a burger and onion rings it's usually time to stroll out of an establishment and digest the meal. But no. BB&B had adult milkshakes. So we made folks waiting for a table wait just a bit longer and indulged in a Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Milkshake. Salted caramel whiskey, creme de cacao, and soft serve in a salted rim with a caramel garnish. Whoa! So good and so very, very filling.Next time if we want a milkshake, we will go easy on the other food.

It's nice to have a burger joint on Boulevard. It makes for a bright, colorful spot in Scott's Addition that caters to a variety of folks. May the neon sign remain bright for many years.

Yumminess from Camden's Dogtown Market

2016-02-06T08:10:00.001-05:00

I don't get over to Manchester as much as I should, but when I do I try to hit up Camden's Dogtown Market for delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. Last week it was time to try the Caprese Press with fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, and house-made pesto on grilled foccacia. Served with a heaping pile of frites and homemade pickles - delightful.

The other great thing about Camden's is the wine. Any wine from the market can be served with a $10 corkage fee. The current pinot noir line up is mighty impressive.

Great food; great drink.

Sometimes We All Need a Little Mothering from Dot's Back Inn

2016-02-01T18:25:00.000-05:00

We had been cooped up and snowed in long enough. We trudged through the snow and unplowed city roads to arrive at Dot's Back Inn for some cheap booze and delicious burgers.

The Famous Amos was just what I needed. A bacon cheeseburger with a seared bun and an add-on of grilled onions. I kept the indulgence going with a side of onion rings. True comfort food after surviving a foot of snow.

Coal-Fired Pizza and Delicious Pastas at Newly Opened Lucca

2016-01-30T16:33:00.001-05:00

Lucca has now opened on East Grace. While a few decor changes have yet to be realized, the coal-fired pizza oven has been installed and ready to serve.

We arrived the day the sign was installed and chose to enjoy everything at the marble bar. The Luccan cocktail featured rye, amaro, orange bitters, and a brandied cherry. Very pleasing while we studied the menu.

It was great to see a Sardinian wine on the list, and we readily ordered it for our meal.

We started with a Carrot Salad with a tart vinaigrette and feta and hazelnuts.

For entrees hubby and I took different paths. The Cavatelli with roast suckling pig, kale, and plums caught his eye. Heavenly and richly flavored.

I hankered after a pizza. The pizzas at Lucca come in one size - extremely large and feature four options. I enjoyed the Scarmoza with pancetta, scallions, oregano, and scarmoza mozzarella. The crust was firm and crunchy. A mighty tasty pie and large enough to bring a bunch of slices home.

Dessert looked tempting, but the fullness of our tummies prevented the indulgence. Maybe next time. And there will definitely be a next time. Perhaps we will sit by the octopus wrestling mural...

Some Spiciness at Cheng Du Restaurant

2016-01-27T19:15:00.002-05:00

I stopped in at Cheng Du on a pre-Jonas snow day for Shredded Pork in Garlic Sauce. Only one chili pepper, but spicy enough for me!

And enough for an enjoyable lunch the next day as well.

A Delicious Bite at Family Meal

2016-01-24T11:22:00.000-05:00

Back when Family Meal first opened we went and experienced a definite lack of kitchen coordination. This time we arrived for an early lunch and all ran smoothly. The fried chicken is still good and breakfast is available all of the time.

We were happy with an item that apparently had just popped back on the menu: Gougeres.

Little hot bite-sized cheesy pastry puffs were oh-so-yummy on a cold January day.

We Are Still Craving The Shrimp From Mas Tapas

2016-01-23T07:36:00.000-05:00

After hearing about Mas Tapas in Charlottesville for years, we finally went. Muy deliciosa!

Mas Tapas

We arrived on a dreary late afternoon right before they opened and a line had already started to form. About 30 minutes later most of the seats were taken and an hour later folks were standing around waiting. Due to the weather they all stood around at the crowded bar. While the bar is long and would have been a great spot to watch the kitchen in action, the onslaught of the incoming hungry (and thirsty) masses made us grateful that we were at a table.

Th bar before the storm of people

Our waitress was lovely and brought us some marinated olives to savor while we looked at the menu. A sheet of paper listing all of the options lay before us and we were to mark which dishes we wanted similar to a sushi menu. The list was long, and lots of items caught our collective eye. Our waitress was patient and went on to explain that usually tapas meant small plates, but the owners were from the deep south and portions were usually a bit more generous.

We continued to peruse and ordered a cherry muddled old fashioned to tide us over. Usually, I avoid old fashioneds because I don't want sugar added to my bourbon. In this case, the cherries added just a hint of sweetness, no additional sugar added. Best old fashioned ever, for me.

Okay, we now had our thoughts together to order. Here were a few of the dishes that posed somewhat good enough for the camera.

Grilled steak with a smokey tomato sauce. Only served medium rare. Nice char on the outside. A thick piece of flatbread arrived with the dish. I'm not sure why. We both took one bite and thought it was bland and mealy. The beef was much better.

Iberico ham and Manchego cheese with crusty bread. Simple, but satisfying. I had to deconstruct my sandwich so I could dip the bread in the olive oil that graced our table.

Grilled jumbo shrimp with garlic sauce. The star of the show. These guys were gigantic, meaty, and sweet. A bit messy because they did not want to give up their shells easily. Definitely worth the effort. When we go back this will be at the top of our list to order.

What a yummy night. While the place was busy we experienced great service. The menu holds even more tasty gems, and we plan on returning to try more (and to devour the shrimp again).

We Decide to Have a Delicious Lunch at Peter Chang China Cafe Despite Short Pump Traffic

2016-01-16T10:48:00.000-05:00

We were headed for Charlottesville for the afternoon on a gloomy Saturday and decided to have lunch at Peter Chang China Cafe. You know the place. It's tucked up in a Walmart shopping strip in the middle of Short Pump, and it's an absolute horror to get to the place from the city (or anywhere else). We strategized the best route that would cause the least stress and, whew!, we made it.

Peter Chang China Cafe Dining Room in Short Pump

At least we were rewarded with some good eats. Hubby had Golden Mountain Chicken. A mountain of fried shredded chicken, indeed, with a light sweet and sour sauce. We both thought this would be the perfect Asian dish to enjoy while watching football playoffs.

Golden Mountain Chicken

I chose the darker side of the poultry spectrum with Shredded Duck with Scallion and Onion. Sublime ducky tenderness! And more than enough to enjoy for lunch the next day.

Shredded Duck with Scallion and Onion

While I always enjoy going to Peter Chang, the traffic can be daunting, and I end up eating nearer to my home. Can't wait to have a Peter Chang establishment in RVA proper!

Breakfast Porn from WPA

2016-01-14T18:11:00.000-05:00

What is better than roaming around Church Hill on a cloudy morning taking photos and winding up at WPA Bakery for an enormous egg biscuit and coffee?

Was it good for you, too?