Food News: famous chefs, new restaurants, and The Answer

More food news than you can shake a baguette at.

February 6, 2014; 6:00 AM • by Ross Catrow

Everyone knows that Mekong’s official tagline is “Beer is the answer.” Did you also know that “The Answer” is the name of Mekong’s new (yet-to-open) brew pub?! That’s right, Richmond’s king of beer will open his own brewery, and whenever he decides to open the doors it won’t be soon enough. If, like me, you can’t wait for the opening, you can taste their first official brew at Mekong: a collaboration with Extra Billy’s called Kong Krush.

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It might sound bizarre, but the oyster stout is a wonderfully tasty, if a bit esoteric, style of beer. In fact, Maryland-based Flying Dog makes a Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout that’s made with Rappahannock River Oysters. On the local beer front, Legend Brewing has announced their own oyster stout collaboration with St. George Brewing called Teach’s Oyster Stout. Yeah, that Edward Teach! Part of their Urban Legends series, Teach’s Oyster Stout will debut on February 24th.

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Top Chef (season six) contestant and DC restaurant-owner Michael Isabella announced this week that he’d be opening an RVA location of Graffiato. Style Weekly asked their food writers who’ve been to Isabella’s DC restaurant to let us know what we can expect. tl;dr: casual, pricey, wood-fired, and delicious.

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Pomegranate opened in Carytown this past Tuesday and, before all of the Mike Isabella brouhaha, was the talk of #rvadine. You can check the menu here; it’s meat-heavy with entrees starting at $21 and topping out at $27 for the grilled tenderloin of beef.

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Style Weekly has word that the owners of Toast and Estilo (the latter the winner of this year’s Elby for Best New Restaurant) will move into 900 W. Franklin, site of many an after-hours dance party (RIP Cous Cous / The Well). They’re shooting for a March opening with a concept similar to Toast, and, from owner Jessica Bufford, “We won’t be a college bar, we’re not booking music, we’re definitely different.”

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M Bistro & Wine Bar closed for business this past Saturday. The bistro, located out in Rocketts Landing, had been open for three years, and with its closing leaves The Boathouse and Conch Republic as dining options for Rocketts-oriented East Enders.

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The Enrichmond Foundation has announced the 2014 17th Street Farmers’ Market festival lineup. This year’s slate of fests includes the uber popular Bacon Festival, the Brunswick Stew Festival, the Richmond Cider Celebration, and–new this year–the Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest.

Prepare yourself and your tastebuds for Richmond’s hottest new festival–The Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest, a celebration of chicken wings. They’ll come flavored hot, mild, sweet, spicy, teriyaki, buffalo, Asian, Thai and…more ways than we have space to share. Plus live, local music, shopping, cold beverages and much more! The event is free to attend. Food and beverages available for purchase.

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Richmond BizSense has a quick bit of doughnut news, which we all know is the most important news of all. Sugar Shack, in addition to opening its downtown location in a quick second, will add a patio and some outdoor seating–pending planning commission approval, of course.