Food News: Raw cakes, intense shakes, Jell-O shot, rock of yacht

Excessive food options for you, and also some folks that are helping people without excessive food options. The latter is more important, but also read about the former.

July 2, 2015; 9:09 AM • by Stephanie Ganz

Photo by: meow alix

ICYMI: TRICYCLE GARDENS IS AWESOME

In the summer of 2013, Tricycle Gardens pioneered an initiative to bring fresh produce to corner stores in the East End. The goal: improve access to locally-grown, healthy food in Richmond’s food deserts. We’ve talked a fair bit about food deserts already, so I’m going to assume you’re all nodding thoughtfully. The program has been very well received, and RTD reported late last week that this “Corner Farm” program will expand to include 40 more stores! That’s amazing news, especially for people with unreliable access to nutritious food, which includes way too many people in the Richmond area.

DOWNTOWN BODEGA OPEN FOR BUSINESS

The charming art deco storefront retail space at 109 E. Grace Street sat vacant for too long, but when restaurateur Johnny Giavos partnered with chef Kevin Roberts for the new incarnation of Perly’s next door, its empty days were numbered. The space is now home to the newly-opened Kohlmann’s; which co-owner Kevin Roberts describes as “a neighborhood boutique bodega,” serving prepared foods from Perly’s, pastries from Stella’s, Boylan’s sodas, and Blanchard’s coffee.

The space is staged very similarly to Giavos’s Stella’s Grocery, which opened in April, with cute white tables and chairs, brightly-lit display cases, and well-merchandised shopping aisles, plus an admirable wine selection. Kohlmann’s is open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Staff says, if there’s something you want to see in the store, just let them know.

IS IT STILL CALLED A “BAKERY” IF ALL THE CAKES ARE RAW?

If you’ve become addicted to the culinary marvel that is Nettie’s Naturally’s raw, vegan horchata cheesecake, get ready for some important news: Nettie’s Naturally will soon open their brick and mortar bakery at 100 West Clay Street in Jackson Ward. In addition to the life-altering cheesecake, you’ll find Lynette’s entire line of desserts, all of which are gluten-free and made without the addition of cane sugar. But don’t let all those scary words fool you; Nettie’s desserts are good enough for those of us who are comfortable with all the flours, fats, and sugars that life can throw at us. They’re just that good.

SAIL ON: PASTURE’S YACHT ROCK PARTY

Kick off your holiday weekend with one of the greatest American treasures–yacht rock. Pasture will host their second annual yacht rock party this Friday, featuring frozen drink cocktails (Piña coladas! Strawberry Riesling daiquiris!) and kitchen specials, including fancy devilled eggs, BBQ chicken-on-a-stick, and a chorizo sloppy joe–be careful in those pastel polo shirts, guys! And there will be music, of course, because what’s a yacht rock party without Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs, and Steely Dan? A misnamed bummer of a party, that’s what.¹ Oh, and did I mention the red, white, and blue Jell-O shots!? Well, I’m mentioning them now.

TWO-HOG HOLIDAY

If you haven’t nailed down plans for the 4th yet, may I suggest joining your friends in Goochland for Lickinghole Creek and the not-yet-opened Belle & James’s First Annual Pig Roast.

These good people will be roasting two whole mojo-spiced hogs that have been braised in Three Chopt Tripel. Belle & James has the sides game covered with jalepeño-smoked gouda mac ‘n’ cheese, bacon and purple corn cornbread, kale and Brussels leaf salad with maple-tahini dressing, braised collard greens, apple-fennel slaw, and sweet corn and black bean relish. Tickets are $15 per person, which includes food.

JAY FRANK POP-UP AT THE CASK CAFÉ

If you’ve ever noticed the tall guy meticulously making doughnuts at Dixie Donuts and thought, “That guy looks like he knows what he’s doing,” you’re right. That’s Jay Frank, and his culinary resume spans the globe, including a stint at Ayinger Brewery in Aying, Germany. Frank will be serving up a four-course menu at The Cask Café on Thursday, July 9th. The Cask crew will be tapping kegs of DC Brau, which should go nicely with Frank’s very summery menu:

• Chilled, charcoal grilled Alaskan Ivory salmon, fresh herb sauce, tomato-cucumber salad
• Tuna tomato tartar, crab chips
• Crispy five-spice pork belly, tomato jam, coconut cream, lime
• Local corn salad, arugula corn cakes

Enjoy the menu from start to finish or choose dishes a la carte, because these guys are super laid back and not into making you commit to anything. Prices vary–all courses are $10 or under.

HOME IS WHERE THE PIMENTO CHEESE HUSH PUPPIES ARE

Now you can take a peek inside Bryan Voltaggio’s Home without risking a restraining order! On July 21st and 22nd, Voltaggio’s Family Meal will host two intimate three-course dinners, featuring some of the chef’s favorite recipes from his new cookbook, Home.

Voltaggio says Home was inspired by the way the chef likes to eat with his own family–casually but not compromising the flavor and technique he’s known for. He says one of his favorite recipes in the book is for Bacon Wrapped Corn on the Cob: “When I make succotash at home, I usually add bacon and incorporate fresh herbs,” he says. “This dish has all the flavors of succotash, and you can eat it with your fingers.” (Sounds ideal for the 4th of July, if you ask me.) Tickets to the Home dinners are $75 per person and include a signed copy of the cookbook, but they do not include beverages, tax, or tip; so know that. You can appease your family members who didn’t get to go with their own signed copy of the book for an additional $35. Call 804.447.1879 or make reservations online.

RVA PSA: NEW DRINKS AT SAISON

Saison’s summer cocktail menu just debuted, and all I’ve got to say is: YEAH DRINKS. I’ve got my sights set on the Mezcal Old Maid–Mezcal, London Dry Gin, lime, demerara, cucumber, and mint. Don’t mind if I do.

FROM ELSEWHERE…

I’ll be honest, I’ve been unable to stop thinking about Jell-O shots since I mentioned them several paragraphs ago. If you’re like me, I found this for you.

SIP: SHOCKOE ESPRESSO AND ROASTERY’S ESPRESSO SHAKE

Tucked in a quiet Shockoe Slip corner, Shockoe Espresso has been roasting and serving up Mill Mountain Coffee’s (based in Roanoke, star city of the south!) beans since 1993. I have to admit that’s before I was even drinking coffee. But not before I was drinking milkshakes! Their espresso shake is more of an experience than a milkshake, perhaps best shared. The three shots of espresso, creme de cacao, and vanilla ice cream come together to make a drink that’s like a dessert that promises to get you through the rest of your work day, should you choose to proceed with it.

BITE: SHYNDIGZ FREEDOMFETTI CAKE

What’s more fun than Funfetti? FREEDOMFETTI. Shyndigz is offering a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and red white and blue sprinkles this week only. Here’s a perfectly acceptable 4th of July scenario that would not suck: Watch all the war movies from Sands of Iwo Jima to American Sniper on Netflix while making your way through the better part of a Freedomfetti cake and other patriotic snacks (like beer!) because THIS IS AMERICA AND YOU CAN DO THAT IF YOU WANT TO.

GRAM: @STOCKMEATS

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July 2, 2015 9:09 AM 0