Food News: All you can eat and then some!

So much food news this week in Richmond, that I just don’t know where to begin!

February 20, 2014; 9:45 AM • by Ross Catrow

Richmond BizSense has a nice profile of Michael Ng, owner of Thai Cabin and Thai Corner. Ng also owns the space at 317 N. 2nd Street, which he plans to lease to the Slideways Mobile Bistro folks for their attempt at a brick-and-mortar spot. While Slideways focuses on sliders they also have some other interesting menu items like fries and…blackened frog legs!?

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The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for the 2014 James Beard Awards. The Roosevelt’s Lee Gregory was nominated (again) as a semifinalist in the “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” category. This is the second straight year Gregory has been nominated, and he is the only Richmond chef to make the list. He’s a also a super swell guy!

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Patrick “Boka” Harris will open his second brick-and-mortar location in the old 304 Pizza Bar location (which opened just last year and closed this past January). Richmond.com mentions the possibility of late-night tacos until 3:00 AM, which, by god, is a brilliant idea.

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Style Weekly has the news that Tarrant’s will open a westerly outpost in the old Grandpa Eddie’s spot at Cox and Three Chopt. They hope to open their doors in six month with Chef Carlos Silva, formerly of Bistro 27, at the helm.

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The Top, which was once Kingdom, which was once Alley Katz, will open sometime in May. BisSense has the news, and it looks like the space will trend towards dance parties, away from its rock and roll roots.

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PIZZA NEWS! Shockoe Bottom-based The Pizza Place is expanding to a second location on 308 N. Laurel Street (formerly a yogurt shop and before that a burrito place). Also Charlottesville-based Christian’s Pizza will open a new location in The Village Shopping Center–which is quickly becoming a great place to get some good grub.

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Fan of the Fan has a quick look inside of the soon-to-be Foo Dog. Looks like they’ve got the floors in and some of the bar built out!

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The 2300 Club, which is “Richmond’s best kept secret for fine dining and relaxed socialization in historic Church Hill,” has hired Chef Michael Hall to run their kitchen. The 2300 Club is a private club that has been around since 1964. Chef Hall is the former owner of M Bistro at Rocketts Landing.

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In yet another showing of the rare camaraderie Richmond chefs have with one another, Heritage will host guest chef takeovers once a month starting this coming Monday. These guest chefs ultimately hope to open their own place at some point, and the takeovers allow them to show off in front of a live studio audience.

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This Saturday, FeedMore will host their annual Zest Fest gala which benefits FeedMore and their mission of hunger relief. Tickets are $150 per person and get you food prepared by 20 different chefs, local beer, and Virginia wine. Tickets to the gala as well as raffle tickets for the live auction can be purchased online.

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This week brings the Virginia Wine Expo to Richmond; things kicked off this past Tuesday. Of interest to winos and normal folk alike is the Walk-Around Grand Tasting. $37 get you a tasting glass and access to wine from over 50 Virginia wineries. Richmond.com has a good look what some dining local spots are doing to help celebrate the expo.

Photo by: Nathan Cushing