Food News: Texas, restaurant selfies, places open on Xmas, and Drake on cake

Let’s health it up in like a week, OK? For now…you know the drill. Eggnog! Cake! Chocolate!

December 24, 2015; 8:52 AM • by Stephanie Ganz

TEXAS NEVER WHISPERS

Thanks to this year’s SEED grants from Virginia Lisc, Capital One, and Bon Secours, two food businesses with Texas ties will open in the East End, as well as ten not-Texas-related businesses. Alamo BBQ guy Chris Davis will open at Frontier in the former Sarahfran’s location on 25th street, and Heather Horak will introduce the teeming masses to kolache, a sweet or savory pastry staple from the Czech Republic by way of the Lone Star State.

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER

“Approximately 21 people die every day from lack of organ donations available,” according to a press release from the Share a Pen, Share a Life campaign. Their goal: to raise awareness and encourage potential donors to commit to organ donation. The release goes on to say that “A single organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of more than 50 people through tissue donation.”

What can you do? Go to one of the participating restaurants and take a selfie with a Donate Life Virginia pen. You’ll be doing your part to spread the word, and you could even win a prize (in addition to saving/improving lives), including a $25 gift certificate. Participating Richmond restaurants include:

• Addis Ethiopian Restaurant (9 N. 7th St in Shockoe Bottom)
• Kahlo’s (1940 Sandy Hook Rd in Goochland)
• Fat Dragon (1200 N. Boulevard in Scott’s Addition)
• The Mill on MacArthur (4023 MacArthur Ave in Belleview)
• Stir Crazy (4015 MacArthur Ave in Belleview)

YES, VIRGINIA THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS

Good news if you’re not into the whole cooking a big meal for your family and friends thing: several Richmond restaurants are open over the holidays. From special multi-course menus at restaurants like Bistro Bobette, Brux’l Cafe, and Maple & Pine to the regular old menu at En Su Boca, The Waffle House (it’s a place!), and a handful of Chinese restaurants; there are options–options you don’t have to cook or clean up after. A Christmas miracle, indeed.

FROM ELSEWHERE…

A little holiday reading, the best longform food writing of 2015, according to Eater.

This whole Mast Brothers remelted chocolate scandal is bittersweet indeed. Sorry. Here’s a HuffPo piece from beloved bean-to-bar chocolate maker Shawn Askinosie from back in March about how their other, pre-scandal claims are dubious at best anyway.

SIP: DAT ‘NOG

Whether you prefer yours on the traditional side or new schoolier, you’ve only got a day or two left to drink eggnog before it’s gross again for the rest of the year.

BITE: FRUITCAKE

Like the ‘nog, if you’re going to consume fruitcake in 2015, God bless you, your window is closing. If you, however, feel more inspired to freeze, burn, and/or catapult your skittles-studded “cake”-brick, head over to the Science Museum of Richmond to find out what happens when people stop being nice and start getting really weird with holiday desserts.

GRAM: @DRAKEONCAKE

Speaking of cake…this Instagram account actually exists!

A photo posted by @drakeoncake on Dec 23, 2015 at 7:00am PST

December 24, 2015 8:52 AM 0