AC&T, SOJ, and BVF - A weekend for the senses

Last night we were lucky enough to be invited to Ashland Coffee and Tea to experience John Cowan's brand of very fine music. I want to thank J and D for introducing us to a new musician. while tapping our toes we sipped A by Acacia Red and ate turkey paninis and Quiche Lorraine.


And today...what a banner day. First up, early morning at the South of the James Market in Forest Hill Park. All of the vendors are now making good on that hard work of planting and tending. The bounty is beautiful and overwhelming. Today we bought even more goodies including:

• BLT sandwiches for breakfast at Big Daddy's - can you say ripe, sweet Hanover tomatoes??
• Sun Gold cocktail tomatoes from Amy's Garden
• Iced coffee from Blanchard's
• Indonesian hot tea from Koralee Coffee
• Chocolate chip cookies from Countryside Bakery - they still carry blue chicken eggs and today they also had quail eggs; the chocolate chip cookies were so good last week, we had to buy some more
• Red bell peppers and corn from Pleitez Produce - last week the corn was so sweet we could have eaten it raw
• Onions and purple long beans from Fertile Crescent Farm
• Tomatoes from the Hanover guy
• Microgreens from the Microgreen guy
• Feta from Lover's Retreat Farm

Always fun. Always dog friendly. Always colorful and picturesque.

And then we treated ourselves to a drive in the country to Brookview Farm. We had talked about going for forever and had never made it out there. Today was the day.

We were warmly greeted and received information about their organically raised beef and how they also carry pork raised on another farm nearby. The freezers were packed with deliciousness. On this visit we picked up:

• NY strips
• Ground beef
• Sweet Italian pork sausage
• Beef brisket

Considering what we purchased, the prices were not exorbitant. The steaks were $11 a pound which is comparable to The Fresh Market here. I'm excited about trying some local beef and pork products. Last week we purchased a flat iron bison steak from Edmonds Farm at SOJ. We marinated, grilled, and devoured the steak. What tender, lean goodness. I highly recommend giving it a try. The bison producers come to the market every other week.

River City Supper Club #5

River City Supper Club # 5. B and G hosted the event this time and took us on an Asian journey. The table and place settings were beautiful.

We were greeted with Thai tea. Very refreshing.

We then made our way to the back patio to sip 2006 Domaine Seguin Pouilly Fume while the first course was being prepared.

The first course was Vietnam-influenced with two types of Spring rolls and a fish cake.

Paired with a 2008 Pigmentum Malbec Rose from France.

The second course was also inspired by Vietnam – Mussels with lemongrass.

Paired with a 2007 Domaine de Saint-Antoine Rose from France.

The third course shifted us to Korea with Maeun-tang, a fish and seafood spicy soup with mushrooms. No picture available, unfortunately. The soup was paired with a 2007 Les Champs des Plantes Pouilly Fume and a 2008 Fritsch Windspiel Riesling from Austria.

The main course was also from Korea and featured Bulgogi – a marinated beef lettuce wrap

And Japchae – a mushroom and beef noodle dish.

The wine pairing was a 2007 Syrah from the Collines Rhodaniennes region of France.

And last to satisfy our sweet tooth – Chinese inspired Mandarin orange ice cream with sesame brittle.

What an abundance of delicious food and flavors. I had never had a Korean dish before or Thai tea. The wine choices were well thought out, tasty, and refreshing. We took our time with dinner and conversed a great deal (I have to say that discussing the merits of Weird Al Yankovic was a low point, however).

Thank you B and G for a wonderful evening!

Tastebuds American Bistro - Delicious as Always

After a very long and busy week at work for both of us, we headed over to River City Cellars for the free Friday wine tasting. They had a kick-ass/delicious line up. Check out their notes:

Pampano 2008 Rueda: Grassy scents mesh with exotic aromas of guava and citrus pith in this aromatic but dry white wine made from Verdejo and Viura grapes in central Spain.

Fritsch 2008 Riesling: Our latest discovery from the talented Austrian winemaker, Karl Fritsch, this very dry, very fresh Riesling has lots of peach skin and orange aromas.

Bouland 2007 Morgon Vieilles Vignes: Plushly textured and rich with cassis and berried flavors, this fabulous red from the Morgon cru of Beaujolais is one of the best examples of the Gamay grape that I've ever encountered.

Vercesi del Castellazzo 2007 Oltrepo Pavese Rosso "Pezzalunga": Located in the rolling hills of the Oltrepo Pavese district of Lombardy in northern Italy, the Vercesi del Castellazzo produces several wines including this elegant, medium-bodied dry red made from an assemblage of Barbera, Bonarda, Uva Rara, Pinot Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon. Silky in texture, this complex red offers aromas that remind one of cinnamon and dried cherries.

Tintero 2007 Moscato d'Asti: Grown on a steep hillside vineyard in the Piedmont region of Italy, this exuberantly perfumed, delicately sweet sparkling wine has aromas that recall nectarines and various white flowers.

We bought the Pezzalunga and the Fritsch Riesling. Yummy!!

After the tasting we took care of a few cats for friends who are in London this week (wistful sigh). And then, instead of heading for a grocery store, we headed home and walked to Tastebuds American Bistro.


The menu offered a plethora of lip smacking, droll-inducing goodness. To give us more time to decide we ordered a glass of 2007 Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina. Very citrusy and grapefruity. Initially refreshing, but one glass was enough.

We then ordered a 2007 Montirius Cotes du Rhone to enjoy with dinner. Soft on the palate with light spice.

Everything we ordered to eat was fantastic! First up were a couple of small plates to share - Imaginative and flavorful.

Duck Leek Spring Rolls

and Pork Adobo Taco with Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa

We then had the Traditional Cheese Pizza. Very basic, but very good - especially the cheese (an abundant amount) and the crust. My hubby is extremely picky about pizza crust and he raved about this one. Crispy on the bottom. The edges were more puffy and just slightly chewy. He described it as a flattened baguette and this was a very good thing.

A most excellent experience, as always.

More Treasures South of the James

Once again we visited the South of the James Market. Yay for us. Our new edible treasures included:

Bison flank steak from Edmonds Farm
Garlic and onions from Fertile Crescent Farm
White corn and white potatoes from Pleitez Produce
Cherokee tomatoes from (I forgot, please forgive me)
Green beans from Walnut Hill Farm
Iced coffee from Blanchards Coffee Company
Hot tea from Koralee Coffee
Maple sticky bun and chocolate chip cookies from Country Side Bakery (these guys also carry blue eggs)

And, of course, a few colorful snaps to view…

Marshall Street Cafe and First Fridays

We finally made it to Marshall Street Cafe for dinner. We had always been intrigued by the corner spot and were thrilled that it was non-smoking. The space was much tinier than expected - a nice looking bar, a few tables, and a corner band set up for jazz later in the evening (another reason to return).

The menu offered appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees with price ranges from $7 - $15. The wine list was hand-written and small and we had to ask for a list by the bottle. But we did find a 2006 Gouguenheim Cabernet for $18.

We ordered Philly cheese steaks with fries - one with onions and peppers (for me), one without the veggies (for hubby). The food was basic, yet nicely prepared and completely satisfying.

As we ate, others wandered in to grab seats for the jazz (every Friday beginning at 9 PM). We liked the neighborhood atmosphere and the vibe. And dinner with a bottle of wine and tip was less than $50. Oh, yes!

And then we strolled Broad to gaze at art and listen to music. On the art side we liked Scott Phillips at the Schindler Satellite Gallery as well as The After Life: A Skull Exhibition at Quirk Gallery. The music front featured Hazeltone (Marshall Tucker meets The Rolling Stones) in front of Metro Sound and Music. What fun. I'll leave you with a few night snaps...

Tomato Stealin' SOB

We were growing some beautiful tomatoes in our back yard. The first time ever that we were going to have a decent harvest. The tomatoes were still green - not yet turned. And someone took them. This was not the work of a four-legged critter.

Bastard.

Vino Market - New Wine Shop

Vino Market opened up a couple of months ago off of Robious Road near the 288 interchange. They have a great selection and offer free tastings every Friday. Hunter and Dave are very welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. They also carry a good selection of cheeses and meats. Sign up for their email list at the web site.


I know this is a welcome addition to the area. Check them out!

SOJ on FOJ

We made it to the South of the James Market again this week. And brought home the following:


Huge, sweet blackberries (Pleitez Produce)
Red leaf lettuce (Victory Farms)
Onions (a producer from Hanover - did not catch the name)
Cheese stuffed coffee cake (Bread for the People)
Iced coffee (Blanchard's Coffee)
Tart cherry pie (Simply Southern Pies)


Corn and tomatoes are beginning to appear. And more peaches are available. Faith Farm is offering whole, half, and quarter cow shares for next Spring.


Check out a few more photos - including the incredible garlic, stalk and all.

Happy 4th of July Northside!

I hope you enjoy the patriotic display.

Stir Crazy

There's a lot to be said for Stir Crazy, the Northside coffee spot - walking distance from my house, Rostov's coffee, featured artist (check out the quilts currently on display - truly amazing!), a lounge area in the back, meeting space, dinner now being served with a selection of wine and beer, etc., etc.

On the flip side the prices are high for morning fare. We went for breakfast this morning. A medium mocha, medium latte, a bacon and egg biscuit, and a sausage and egg biscuit - $15. And while we really liked the coffee, the biscuits were not wonderful (very dry, pre-made). We would have ordered bagel sandwiches, but they were almost $5 a piece if one wanted bacon or sausage. I did like the fact that we were served our coffee drinks in mugs since we were dining in.

I know that this is a favorite Northside spot for many residents. And I'm glad we have local businesses in the area. Unfortunately, it's tough to make this place a regular daytime habit. Maybe we should check out dinner one evening - the prices seem more in line with some of the wine bars in the area.

I did see on the website that Stir Crazy is having a contest to rename the place. Could this mean other changes are on the way??

The Tea House at Lewis Ginter

Friends gave us a couple of day passes to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. We decided to visit today. Although a tad humid, the sun was not cruel and most of the children relegated themselves to the small water fountain play area. We encountered a plethora of bees, butterflies, lotus flowers, roses, etc. I hope you enjoy the slide show below:

For lunch we dined at the The Tea House run by Meriwether Godsey. I've always appreciated the iris-patterned carpet and the tables today also sported irises. We arrived just before noon to a sparsely populated dining room (a few more came in as we ate) and ordered champagne cocktails (the traditional kind with brandy, bitters, and a sugar cube).

The menu offered an eclectic variety of sanwiches, salads, and heartier fare. We both took a risk and ordered something that we would normally not select. My hubby took a chance on Crook’s Corner Shrimp & Grits - stone ground grits with cheddar & Tabasco topped with large shrimp sautéed with bacon, mushrooms, scallions roasted tomato & garlic. Unfortunately, all of the ingredients except for the veggies and shrimp competed with each other for the top dog prize. Too rich, too bacony (unusual for either of us to say anything has too much bacon), too tabasco hot, too cheesy, and way too much grease/oil. The presentation was not pretty either.

My order, on the other hand, was absolutely stunning in both taste and presentation. I had Shrimp Toasts with Sambal - sliced baguette topped with avocado cream, spicy mango sambal, & chilled shrimp. The dish was served with my choice of side and I chose the watermelon and feta salad. What an excellent choice! This was a fantastic summertime dish that popped with color and flavor.


Thus, my question is this - How can a restaurant get one item bang on and beyond, yet fail miserably at another? Because this was The Tea House prices were in the $12-13 range. Not inexpensive for lunch. Perhaps sticking to salads and sandwiches (typical "tea room" fare) might be the key.

More Fun And Produce South of the James

This morning's jaunt to the South of the James Market was fun and busy. I forgot to pick up extra cash, so we had to forego coffee and breakfast (Thistledowne Farm had some awesome looking chocolate croissants - C'est la vie). This time we scarfed up the following:


Wax beans (we really like these beans!)
Red leaf lettuce
Red spring onions
Peaches
Patty pan squash (the guy offering these had a great recipe pitch - slice horizontally, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and then grill; we will be grilling on Sunday!)


Here are a few photos from today:

Garlic Bread

Twice this week I have made garlic bread – the first, a downscale version; the second, a more gourmet version. Both knocked our socks off. The key ingredient was the super fresh garlic from Fertile Crescent Farm that I picked up at the South of the James Farmers Market last Saturday. The garlic was so much easier to peel and exuded that oh-so-delicious garlickyness. Here are my garlic bread variations…

Garlic Bread – Variation One

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mince two cloves of garlic and then mash them to a paste-like consistency. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt to 2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter. Mix well. Spread garlic mixture over 6 slices of Italian-style bread (for this version, I picked up my already sliced bread from Food Lion). Sprinkle dried oregano over the bread slices. Sprinkle grated Romano cheese over the bread slices. Place the bread in a baking pan with a rack (I like to get air between the bottom of the bread and the baking pan). Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Yummy, yummy.

Garlic Bread – Variation Two

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mince two cloves of garlic and then mash them to a paste-like consistency. Add the garlic and a pinch of salt to 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and mix to combine. Brush the garlic mixture over 6 slices of Italian-style bread (for this version, I picked up the bread from The Fresh Market and asked the bakery to slice it for me). Place a thin slice of fresh mozzarella on top of each bread slice. Sprinkle the mozzarella with dried oregano. Place the bread in a baking pan with a rack (I like to get air between the bottom of the bread and the baking pan). Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Delightful.

Whether downhome or upscale, it’s all good!

A Trip to New India

On Friday we went to New India on Lakeside for dinner. Our friend really likes Indian food and has raved about this spot in particular. Since we had a decent Indian food experience in London, we decided to continue our culinary journey.

I have to admit that the outside of the place did not look very inviting. In fact as we approached the building we wondered if it was open. The small sign on the door did indicate open. We were a tad early. As we entered, the dining space was completely empty. No wait staff could be seen. We peeked around the corner and from the kitchen the owner waved and warmly invited us to a table. As we waited for our friend, we were presented with papadum along with tamarind chutney and mint chutney. The flatbread was okay – plain and grainy. The tamarind chutney had a sweet spicy flavor which I liked a lot. The mint chutney was hot, which surprised us.

Upon the arrival of our friend we read over the extensive menu. Very tough to decide. Our friend ordered Lamb Vindaloo ((boneless lamb in a hot and tangy sauce with potatoes and a touch of vinegar) and Garlic Naan. I was torn between the Tandoori Chicken and the Chicken Tikka Masala. The owner explained that the tandoori dish was dry and the tikka masala dish had a sauce. I was not quite sure what he meant, but I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala (marinated in spiced yogurt, cooked in mildly spiced tomato, onion gravy, and creamy sauce). I also ordered Garlic Naan. Both my friend and I asked for medium hotness. My husband ordered Tandoori Chicken Tikka (boneless chicken marinated in yogurt sauce with special herbs and spices and grilled in tandoor). And he decided to try the Peshawari Naan (stuffed with sugar, raisins, and coconut).

Our friend devoured the Vindaloo with exclamations of satisfaction interjected throughout the meal. The tandoori arrived on a sizzling platter which reminded us of fajitas. And dry meant no type of sauce at all (which suited my hubby), but this did not mean devoid of flavor. The chicken breasts had been marinated and exuded deliciousness. My spouse was also impressed at how sweet and tasty the near-raw veggies (onion, cabbage, and green peppers) were. The tandoor was piled high with meat and veggies. We took almost half of the chicken home with us. He also enjoyed the naan. It held just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering. He could not detect any coconut, however.

My dish presented itself in a cute metal bowl containing boneless chicken and a lot of sauce along with a side dish of basmati rice. What a wonderful blending of tomato/onion, creaminess, and spicy hotness. I appreciated the complexity of flavors. And the Garlic Naan – I could have sat there and eaten this flatbread all night.


I have to admit that we continue to be Indian food novices. We definitely do not have a discerning or sophisticated palate, but we do know if we like a thing or not. We enjoyed New India and plan to return to try other dishes.

New India
5516 Lakeside Ave.
Richmond, VA 23228
804-266-1170
Eat In or Take Out
Non-Smoking

South of the James Market

It's happening and everybody is doing it (even at 8 AM it's tough finding a parking space). The vendors (veggie or otherwise) present everything with pride. Today hubby and I bought:


Fresh garlic

Oakleaf lettuce

Fennel

Wax beans

Potatoes

Feta

Blanchard's iced coffee (way too hot for the hot stuff!)

Lavender cheesecake (and shamelessly devoured it for breakfast)



We drooled over everything else (especially the barbeque!). Here are a few vendor links:


The Cracked Egg Bakery

Lovers Retreat Farm

Blanchard's Coffee

Victory Farms


And the link to The Market Umbrella.


And a few pictures to tempt the few of you that have not experienced the market. See you next time.