Food News: Perly’s adding market, Duck Donuts floats into town, and a quest for the perfect cup of hot cocoa

This week: Perly’s announces a new upscale market adjacent to their restaurant, a popular OBX donut operation sets up shop in RVA, the search for the perfect cup of hot cocoa, and details on even more booze coming to Scott’s Addition.

December 18, 2014; 11:27 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

After breathing new life into one of Richmond’s longest running downtown restaurants, restauranteurs Johnny Giavos and Kevin Roberts, along with developer Scott Coleman, plan to take the concept of Perly’s to the next level. The trio has signed a three year lease on a space adjacent to the restaurant to bring an upscale market to East Grace Street. The move was twofold–an effort to bring a grocer to an area lacking a quality neighborhood market, and an effort to prevent competition from swooping in on the vacant property as Grace Street’s resurgence continues.

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Few things say Christmastime like a nice, rich cup of hot cocoa. If you’re looking for something a little more special and delicious than that packet of Swiss Miss, RVANews contributor Hayley DeRoche has you covered with some of the best spots to get a gourmet cup of hot chocolate. Her journey for the best cup in RVA begins at Ellwood Thompson’s and Capital Coffee & Desserts, before she makes her way to the more upscale end of the spectrum with some picks that have more personality and panache–such as cocoa from Can Can, Lamplighter, and Proper Pie Co., among others.

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Another week, another national writeup about Richmond’s dining scene and how we’re collectively raising the bar. This week, Saver Magazine published their definitive guide of where to eat in RVA. Making the list were some of the usual suspects doing great things in the kitchen, including Mama Zu, Rappahannock Restaurant, and Peter Chang China Café, but the magazine also gave some major love to spots like Lamplighter Roasting Company and Country Style Donuts.

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Speaking of donuts, Duck Donuts finally opened in The Shops at Willow Lawn on Monday morning. Naturally, I was one of the first in line. Not just because I love donuts in general, but because these rings of sugary awesomeness were always a staple on family trips to the Outer Banks growing up (the company’s namesake is none other than Duck, North Carolina). The Richmond location is one of a growing number of franchises in North Carolina and Virginia. If you haven’t given them a try yet, you owe it to yourself. They have a caky consistency unlike any other offering in town.

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Already a neighborhood with a growing craft beer scene, a meadery, and a possible urban winery on the way, there’s one thing Scott’s Addition is missing–cider! A local entrepreneur aims to fill that void. Just 24 years old, Will Correll has plans to open an up to 10,000-square-foot space in the fledgling neighborhood. Already backed by a group of investors, Correll hopes to open Busky Cider sometime in 2015. Asked why Correll decided to open in Richmond (after considering other cities such as Williamsburg), he tells Richmond BizSense simply, “Richmond is quickly developing as one of the best places to make craft beer,” and is confident that cider consumption will follow that trend.

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Superstars Pizza in the Near West End is getting into the giving spirit with the ’12 Days of Superstars Pizza.’ The promotion is a scavenger hunt in which the pizzeria will release daily clues about where a gift card is hidden. Each one will be inside a local business. The fun runs through Christmas Eve.

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Finally, have you ever thought about all the thought and effort that goes into designing restaurant menus? RVANews’ Stephanie Ganz took an in-depth look at Richmond restaurants’ menus, and divided them into three basic design categories: minimal, gilded, and Constantine Giavos. Yes, that’s right. The well-known restauranteur is also known for his unique menu styling around town. You’ll never look at your menu the same way again after reading this piece.

Photo: Flickr/Kettlebeller