Food News: Moves, moving food, closings, barbecue, and turning coffee into wine

Barbecue, wine and wine. No whining though about this week’s food news, it’s almost the weekend.

March 31, 2016; 12:13 PM • by Kevin Clay

Chef Jacque La Merde’s Returning to Richmond

If it’s posted on Twitter, it’s official right? Popular junk food stylist and Internet cheffy sensation, Jacque La Merde will be making an appearance at Off Broad Appétit on Saturday, June 4th–though the Twitter chain indicates that it might just be because of Jason Alley’s pimento cheese. THAT’S ALL I KNOW, BRO! Read Stephanie’s RVA News interview with Jacques, and maybe someone give him a copy of the first volume of 804ork, if you can find it. Then he’ll have Jason’s recipe right in his hot little hands!

OrderUp Richmond

Groupon-owned delivery service OrderUp debuted in Richmond this week. The site and mobile app allows diners to place orders from independent restaurants with a small delivery charge. Check it out here.

ZZQ News

Here’s a ZZQ update straight from the beef brisket-smokin’ source. Recently back from a Texas adventure to pick up a brand spankin’ new smoker, pitmaster Chris Fultz and pitmistress Alex Graf are closing in on prime pork real estate in Scott’s Addition. The exact location is under wraps until that dotted line is signed, but Fultz is planning for an “80-seat dining hall with just as many spots outside on the patio.” An expected opening date has not been announced, but rest assured, the new space will be within walking distance of their current pop-up residency at Ardent Craft Brewing. The ZZQ crew returns to Ardent on Saturday, April 23rd following Swine & Brine.

La Grotta To Move Into Hilton Richmond Downtown

One of Richmond’s finest Italian staples, La Grotta is making the move from Shockoe Slip to the Miller & Rhoads Building. As a first-floor anchor of the newly-renovated Hilton, the restaurant will have space for private events and a patio. La Grotta plans to operate in that their current address, 1218 E. Cary Street, until their move this summer.

French Film (Wine) Festival

Secco Wine Bar, literally a leap away from the Byrd Theater, opens up shop for a cocktail service with quick wine flights, bites, and French wines to-go Thursday through Sunday of the French Film Festival. Check out our guide to the French Film Festival schedule here..¹

Sad times for noodle-lovers

This just in: Shoryuken Ramen will be closing in a few weeks, but maybe will be coming back as something else at another point and in another location?

Sip of the Week: Wine With My Wifi

That Seattle-based coffee giant has been slowly rolling out “Starbucks Evenings” to includes wine service and some fancy snacks. Richmond stores just got in the game at the Reynolds Crossing Location, Huguenot Village, and Hull & Winterpock locations. Locally, you can make the evening shift from coffee to booze at 10 Italian Café, Caffèspresso, Lift, Urban Farmhouse, Quirk, and Can Can among others.

Bite of the Week: The Daily’s Veggie Plate

The Daily‘s Crispy Brussels Sprouts have a magical charm, especially on the restaurant’s vegetable plate that makes for a perfect lunch. Also, they make it a breeze to add grilled chicken to your veggie plate, and they won’t look at you all crazy!