Food News: Subscription alcohol, celebrity visits, oysters, Estilo, and pops, pops, pops

Good news and bad news, but mostly good (popsicle margaritas counts as like twenty pieces of good news).

June 18, 2015; 9:01 AM • by Stephanie Ganz

Photo by: Erin Soorenko

SAY IT AIN’T SO, ESTILO

Sad news this week–Estilo has closed its doors for good. Owner Jessica Bufford said via press release that she and husband/business partner Josh Bufford will work on other concepts for the space, as soon as they settle into their new roles as parents. The couple; who are also co-owners of Toast, Shoryuken Ramen, and Hutch; are expecting their first child soon.

Estilo had recently been given a menu overhaul at the hands of Magpie chef/owner Owen Lane. Lane was heralded as a wizard in a recent Style Weekly review of Estilo. Thankfully, wizards don’t ever die, they just return to the misty mountains (in this case The Magpie) and emerge more powerful than previously imaginable, so I’m looking forward to that!

SORT IT OUT

The British are here! Four roving British foodies, aka SortedFood, are putting miles on the hashtag #lostandhungry, eating their way through the states based on recommendations from their nearly 55,000 Twitter followers. SortedFood chef and founder Ben Ebrell has been in Richmond since Tuesday and tweeting about visits to The Daily and Heritage. Check out Richmond Magazine’s Q&A with the SortedFood crew, and clear your calendar for TONIGHT at 7:00 PM, when the gang will be at Rappahannock meetin’ and greetin’ and, presumably, eatin’.

ANY CLUB THAT WOULD HAVE ME AS A MEMBER

Saison Market has come up with what sounds like possibly the best club of all time, The Beer and Wine Club! According to owner Jay Bayer, folks can choose from four options, from Beginner ($30/month) to High End ($200/month). When you sign up, you list your likes and dislikes, and then just sit back and let the Saison folks do the thinking. They’ll come up with a box of booze to match your budget every month until you say uncle. Visit Saison Market to join the club.

THE MOLLUSK

I’m always happy to share oyster news, and this week I have two very relevant events to share: First, this Sunday, Hardywood Brewery will roll up their shucking sleeves for the third annual Father’s Day Keg ‘n’ Oyster Fest because the way to show Dad you love him is through bivalves and stouts, trust me. And for the occasion, Hardywood will introduce the Rappahannock Oyster Stout, which, with its briny aroma and chocolatey finish, sounds like a meal in itself; but, because it’s not, there will be meals of raw and fried oysters, crabcakes, Pizza Tonight pizzas and Goatocado quinoa bowls.

I promised you two oyster-related events, and I’m a lady of my word: Next Tuesday, Secco chef John Ledbetter and Chef Rich Chinnock of Six Little Bar Bistro in Hampton will serve their heroes-on-the-halfshell five ways with five wines in a standing-room-only oyster party at Secco for $65 per person. Get your tickets and ready your bibs.

FROM ELSEWHERE…

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a time for obligatory daytime fasting according to the Five Pillars of Islam, began this week; and this New York Times article explores the role of the date in Ramadan and the fast-breaking meal iftar. Ramadan Kareem!

SIP: POPSICLE DRANKS (AT CONTINENTAL DIVIDE)

I often find myself saying, “You know what this drink needs? A DAMN POPSICLE.” And because the King of Pops specializes in making dreams come true, he will soon team up with the bartenders at The Continental Divide for a “Pop Takeover.” On Thursday, June 25th, all the king’s pops will find themselves getting saucy in the Divide’s finest Margaritas. You can also just get them for dessert, sans booze…if you’re a child. (JK! I value sobriety!) Paul Cassimus, the local king himself, says flavors will include Coconut Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, and Blueberry Lemonade, and possibly Pineapple Habañero. Just imagine the upgrade your margs are in for!

BITE: CAMDEN’S DOGTOWN MARKET’S ROLL OF INFINITE CHOICE (CHICKEN SALAD OPTION)

Andy Howell puts his wood chips to good use, smoking his way to one of the most memorable and delightful chicken salad sandwiches I’ve had in a long time. This particular variation is light with a perfect level of smoke, and it seriously works in a buttery grilled roll topped with a handful of microgreens. The ample side salad was busting out with carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions with a zippy little balsamic vinaigrette. It was exactly what I wanted to eat for lunch, and for $7, it’s a great value for which I will inevitably return.

‘GRAM: @SigneBirck

Danish-born, NYC-based photographer Signe Birck’s images of food are stark and stunning. Take a look.

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Stephanie Ganz

Stephanie Ganz thought there would be pizza.

June 18, 2015 9:01 AM 1

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