Some Yumminess From Last Week

Last week we enjoyed some mighty fine dishes.

Burrata at Enoteca Sogno. OMG. Creamy, soft goodness. Simple, yet so satisfying. I've raved about this before. I'm sure I will rave again.

We went to brunch at The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing. The Fried Shrimp starter was so good. I know where I will go when I have my next hankering.

Word to the management, however. We made reservations and arrived on time; while you did not have any outside seating available (which we did not request when making the reservation) you said you would seat us by the window; this made us happy. So which table were we seated at? The booth by the BRICK WALL. There were plenty of other tables. We asked to switch (our waiter promptly accommodated). We then proceeded to watch everyone else entering for brunch ask for another spot, too. The brick wall booth should be the seat of last resort.

Braveheart Beef Strip Steak with garlic and parsley compound butter with First Press Cabernet Sauvignon at Arcadia. The steak was indeed outstanding (better than the area steakhouses) and decently priced ($26).

And the Cab was tasty, hearty, and paired well with the medium rare entree.

One other thing about Arcadia: The owner John Van Peppen graciously greets all of his restaurant patrons as they dine. He has this wonderful ability to sincerely express his appreciation for their visit. Always nice to see, which, in turn, acts as an example for his staff who also provide excellent and engaging service.

In Arcadia

While the Shockoe Bottom location is anything but pastoral, the interior of Arcadia portrays an idyllic notion. White tablecloths, a river of round mirrors flowing down a soft yellow wall, cozy tables for quiet conversations.

We arrived early with no reservations and were promptly seated. The place did fill up as we progressed with dinner, so reservations are recommended.

Menu options include starters, salads, small plates, and entrees and then a selection of Braveheart Beef steaks along with a la carte sides. We spent a lot of time sipping our Manhattan cocktails ($10) (my cocktail of choice for the last couple of months) and deciding what to order. The menu held lots of tasty options in various price ranges.

Once we decided on our eating strategy, we selected our wine. Arcadia sports four wine lists: Wines by the glass, $20 bottle wines, $30 bottle wines, and reserve wines. The $20 and $30 lists are the some of the best restaurant wine prices in all of Richmond, maybe all of Virginia. For this evening we chose the Sharffenberger Brut Sparkling from Mendocino, CA for $30. Lovely bubbles.

For eating we began with Deviled Eggs with White Truffle Oil and Caviar ($6) and Shaved Iceberg Salad with Duck Bacon, Roma Tomatoes and Creamy Shallot and Mustard Dressing ($6).

The yolks of the deviled eggs were whipped and fluffy and had a slight earthiness from the truffle oil. We liked them because they were slightly different from what we grew up with. The presentation of the iceberg lettuce salad was delightful. The dressing was flavorful and I loved the duck bacon.

Next we ordered two small plates: Grilled Agave Basil Shrimp with Curry Basmati Rice ($12) and Braised Chicken Thighs with Ricotta Spaetzle and Beet Oil ($12) as well as a side dish of Yukon Gold and Sweet potato Fries with Truffle Oil and Sea Salt ($6).

Hubby raved over the shrimp and rice. The shrimp were plump with just the right amount of grilling. He could have eaten another plate of just rice - it was that good. And the thighs were perfect. I usually do not order chicken in a restaurant, but the dish intrigued me and did not disappoint. And, of course, the spaetzle delighted the palate as well. We had a generous portion of fries to share.

Upon hearing the list of desserts, we decided to share a Della Nonna Lemon Torte ($7) and Illy coffee ($2.50).

Not too sweet, not too tart. A nice finish to the evening.

Lauren, our server, was delightful. She gave us time to decide what to eat and drink. She expertly opened our bottle of sparkling and continued to fill our glasses until the bottle was emptied. Well done! And John Van Peppen, the owner, glided from table to table asking how everything was. Great service, inviting atmosphere, delicious food, affordable wine.  Arcadia.

Where I'm Coming From - Richmond Edition

Last Friday we and a few others celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary at Lemaire. A very memorable evening. Before Lemaire's renovation a birthday celebration had gone decidedly sour. On this night they were spot on. Chuck, our waiter extrodinaire, took care of our party of eight and made everyone feel special. Highlights included a wonderfully priced 2006 Grgich Hills Cabernet from Napa, Jumbo Scallops with White Beans and Ham Hock Broth, Ahi Tuna Martini, Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes, and Grilled Beef Tenderloin. Thank you, Lemaire!

Breakfast at The Black Sheep. The Bay and Barn Breakfast Sandwich. Scrambled eggs mixed with crabmeat, country ham, green onion, and Swiss cheese on griddled Texas toast. We had not eaten here in a coon's age. We need to get our asses back soon for more scrumptiousness.

Bay and Barn at The Black Sheep

Last week a girlfriend and I went to Tastebuds American Bistro. While walking between my house and sitting down to dinner I lost an earring. This week Tastebuds contacted us to say they had found my earring! And get this. I had not told them I had lost it. This particular piece of jewelry was special. Hubby had given me the earrings on my 21st birthday. To reunite the pair was particularly sweet. And what a great excuse to have dinner. We enjoyed a black bean encrusted chipotle cheese cake that was stunning! And paired extremely well with the Millsreef Merlot/Malbec. The only possible improvement, according to hubby, would be to throw some crab into the mix. He also enjoyed the Pan Roasted Salmon while I had the Duck Spring Rolls. We always have a good time here.

Black Bean and Chipotle Cheese Cake

Pan Roasted Salmon

Duck Spring Rolls

I have finally joined the Twitter universe (@pjpink101). Still trying to figure things out. I started following Arcadia and mid-week they were offering a free Braveheart Beef Carpaccio. Wow! Twitter was already paying off. We went, enjoyed the carpaccio and went on to dine on rockfish and roasted onion soup. Very lovely. And the wine list is impressive because of the pricing. They feature a $20 list and a $30 list (they have a few higher-priced reserve items, too). We ordered an Alexander Valley Cab from the $20 list. This price is just a buck higher than retail. All of you restaurants charging exorbitant prices, listen up! Why would I want to patronize you if Arcadia has great food and much more wine reasonable prices? Speaking with the owner, who visited each table to check on the meal, he said because of his wine prices, most tables order a bottle and he has a constant turnover of wine.

Purple Rice Crusted Rockfish with Spinach Absinthe Cream

Last night after visiting the opening of Simply Photography 8 at Art Works, we headed over to Aziza's on Main for wood-fired oven pizza. We always like the Pepperoni and Peppers Pizza. It reminds us of the pizza we had in Florence, Italy. Yum. We also ordered a White Pizza and replaced the fontina with mozzarella and topped it with prosciutto. So. So. Good.

White Pizza with Prosciutto