Secco steps it up, Blue Goat goes “late night,” and oysters on the horizon

Appeasing appetites of all sorts, here’s a rundown of RVA’s tastiest food news.

June 7, 2012; 9:45 AM • by RVANews staff

Breaking oyster news: According to Richmond.com, the guys from Rappahannock River Oysters and the much talked about Merroir Tasting Room are bringing the goodness to Richmond in September. Ryan and Travis Croxton are finalizing their lease on both 320 and 322 E. Grace Street–the old Louisiana Flair and adjoining property. The two are very passionate about being a part of downtown’s revitalization by building up the area near Centerstage. Merroir RVA will be more restaurant than tasting room with just 1/3 of the restaurant dedicated to an oyster bar.

Chef Dylan Fultineer, previously part of Blackbird in Chicago and Hungry Cat in Santa Barbra (where he worked alongside James Beard Award winner Pal Hahan), will take on head chef duties. The menu will be seafood heavy with a focus on fresh oysters (duh!) and fish with small plates also available. If you can’t wait until September to get in on the goodness, you should visit Merroir in Topping, VA which is right on the river and only an hour and a half away. Perfect for a day trip.

If oysters aren’t your thing, then maybe barbecue is, or perhaps bourbon? This Saturday the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival will take place at the Richmond International Raceway. There will be 60 beers, 40 bourbons, and a TON of barbecue. Sounds like quite the Saturday, doesn’t it? Ticket options are as follows:

VIP Admission: $45 in advance only–Valid Saturday from Noon-6pm. Includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, and unlimited beer & bourbon sampling.
Regular Admission: $35 in advance / $40 at the door–Valid Saturday from 2-6pm. Includes admission into the event, a souvenir tasting glass, and unlimited beer & bourbon sampling.

Also on Saturday is Massey Cancer Center’s 10th annual Moonlight Magic at James River Cellars. This is a really fun event with wine tasting, dinner, live music, a silent auction, and more. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. This year, you can even start the event over at the Hardywood Park sampling room at 5:30pm with transportation over to James River Cellars provided for free by James Limousine. Supporting a local charity doesn’t get much easier than that!

If you have an extra $28 in your pocket, Secco has got a deal for you. Every Sunday through Wednesday from 5:30pm-9pm you can indulge in the Chef’s Tasting Menu put together by Tim Bereika’s, one of Richmond’s most acclaimed chefs. Menus change daily, but will always include two antipasti, two small plates, and a dessert; vegetarian and gluten-free options available. As always, keep in mind that Secco is a small space so if you have a party of five or more reservations are highly recommended.

New menu alert! Blue Goat has a new late night menu(PDF), which you can sample from 10pm–midnight, Wednesday through Saturday. Maybe you had the early bird special and need something to tide you over until the next day, or maybe you need a little snack after indulging in a few adult beverages throughout the night? Blue Goat has you covered.

Oh, in case you missed it, you can check out last week’s Broad Appetit’s winners and maybe make some plans to visit these folks during your weekly dining routine.