Food News: Pizza, more pizza, cream puffs, and…Clearly Canadian!!

It’s only the most delicious soda that ever there was! Oh, and a ton of stuff involves the Aziza’s / Pizza Tonight situation, plus more pizza, and a really cool thing at Pasture that we urge you to check out right this second.

May 21, 2015; 9:00 AM • by Stephanie Ganz

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP PIZZA

Pizza Tonight is putting down roots and Aziza’s on Main is uprooting in what may come to be known as the Great Pizza Switcheroo of 2015, though it probably will not. Much of the response to the news has included two words: Cream Puffs. Don’t worry folks, Pizza Tonight plans to pay homage to the beloved oversized profiterole on their new menu, which will also feature small plates, weekend brunch, and pizza, glorious pizza.

You know it’s a great week when you have TWO separate pizza stories to report. The RTD has news that coal-fired pizza operation Lucca Enoteca, owned by Maria and Michael Oseguera of Short Pump’s Maya Mexican Grill and Tequila Lounge, will open in the former 525 at the Berry Burk location later this summer.

CHEF PHILIP DENNY IS BACK IN THE BOTTOM

Philip Denny drew a devoted following as the executive chef at Six Burner before commanding the kitchen and scoring rave reviews at Aziza’s on Main. The chef has been working most recently as the co-executive chef of McCormack’s Big Whisky Grill. Now, he’ll finally have a place of his own. Richmond Times Dispatch reports that Denny will open a restaurant at 1812-1816 E. Main Street in Shockoe Bottom. Denny’s not sharing much about the restaurant yet, but says he’s excited to return to the neighborhood.

DO THESE THINGS:

• Friday at noon, Paul Cassimus, aka “The King of Pops,” opens the doors and the patio on his Pop Factory, which will be open seven days a week this summer, Monday-Saturday 12:00-8:00 PM and Sundays 11:00 AM-7:00 PM.
• Saturday from 10-5, don your floppy straw hat and hit the fields to pick your own berries at Gallmeyer Farms. According to their website, there will be rides of both hay and ponies, though after riding a pony, I’m not sure what kind of thrill riding hay can provide.
• Sunday and Monday, LUNCH will have an “American Picnic Pop Up,” celebrating ribs, king crab, potato salad, and several other things that make our country great.
• Next Tuesday at 5:00 PM, the Cask Cafe will host a pop-up with food from the Nile.
• Also next Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 PM, Pasture will host a Foster Care Awareness event, where they’re asking guests to bring toiletries to donate. A Case for Hope, founded by Pasture co-owner Michele Jones, provides toiletries and other necessities for foster children.

SIP OF THE WEEK: CLEARLY CANADIAN

Did you, like me, do the majority of your growing up in the 1990s? We probably have a ton in common! Like, how we think Kelly obviously should’ve chosen Brandon, or how we know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme song and will sing it at the slightest provocation, or how we yearn for the clear, effervescent refreshment of a Clearly Canadian still, to this very day. Grub Street somewhat misleadingly reports that Clearly Canadian is “coming back,”, and I’m latching on to this news and not letting go. Latch with me, 90’s youth.

BITE OF THE WEEK: AZIZA’S CREAM PUFF

As I mentioned earlier, so much of the response to the news that Aziza’s on Main is closing shop has to do with that glorious cream puff. Where will it go? Where will we go? What is love? Well, you can all rest your weary heads thanks to Brandon Fox’s news that the puff in question will soon resurface, made by the hands that know it best, Rusty Fallen, mother to Billy Bread’s Billy Fallen. After a brief hiatus, you can get your cream puff fix at Rancho T’s, and no, that’s not a euphemism for anything, you perv.

‘GRAM OF THE WEEK: @STOCKMEATS

Bacon. I've been assured it's "the next big thing". #bacon #nextbigthing

A photo posted by J.M. Stock (@stockmeats) on May 17, 2015 at 11:52am PDT

JM Stock Provisions has been manning the butcher case at Harvest Grocery Supply for a while now, providing Richmond with some mighty fine beef, chicken, pork, and lovingly-made sausages; but until now it’s all been fabricated at their Charlottesville location and trucked in. Well, soon that will change. Harvest and JM Stock will soon be offering more cuts, thanks to an in-store expansion that will allow the butchers to do more of their meaty chores on-site. That’s a win for freshness, and a win for us. Their instagram will be the best place to see what’s not to be missed in the case each day.

Photo by: roboppy

May 21, 2015 9:00 AM 0