Brunch at Amuse is an Awesome Thing

Amuse is serving up a wonderful brunch. My current favorite dish is the Pork Chop Biscuit with Fried Eggs and Mushroom Gravy. Such a delight for the taste buds.

And don't forget to also see the Kehinde Wiley exhibit, A New Republic, before it leaves town. Big, bold, bright, beautiful!

We in RVA are so lucky to have VMFA!

Breakfast Porn from WPA

What is better than roaming around Church Hill on a cloudy morning taking photos and winding up at WPA Bakery for an enormous egg biscuit and coffee?

Was it good for you, too?

The Urban Farmhouse in Scott's Addition

We had lovely Country Ham and Egg Sandwiches for brunch at The Urban Farmhouse in Scott's Addition. A simple, yet satisfying meal accompanied by an iced coffee.

We loved the open airy space and the patio for outside dining. So glad to have this Farmhouse in the Scott's Addition neighborhood.

Dressed and Pressed Biscuit at South of the James

The South of the James Market may have gone into winter mode, but a fair number of vendors are carrying the torch. The Dressed and Pressed food truck offers biscuits.

We tried the sausage and egg version. The biscuit was a little crumbly, but good. I was surprised to see link sausage which was tasty. The best part was the very flavorful egg. A generous size for $4. I also treated myself to an Alchemy mocha. Yummy!

A Visit to Tazza Kitchen

While it's been around for a while and it's garnered lovely reviews, we had never been out to Tazza Kitchen. Quite frankly, we just don't get out to the Short Pump area very often. And when we do, we almost always regret the traffic and the hassle and the mind-boggling layout of some of the parking lots. We don't need the stress.

Well, last week we were both there and we decided to give TK a try. We went early since we had no reservations. A good thing, too. The place filled up as the evening progressed. It seemed to attract hen parties. There were three in our seating area alone. Later on we saw some cock parties strutting in as well.

Tazza Kitchen has a decent layout. In the front there are small casual tables and a fire place when it's chilly. The bar offers a view of the wood-fired oven and a glimpse into the kitchen. The outdoor patio is extensive with another small bar thrown into the mix. Appealing to both hens and cocks alike.

Next time we want to enjoy the patio

We ordered a Barbera to enjoy with dinner. The wine list is an eclectic mix, but everyone should find something to satisfy.

A very nice Italian red

To eat we shared the Meatballs - pork, beef, and veal served with Parmesan, tomato sauce, and "brick oven bread." Neither one of us liked the dish. The tomato sauce had a charred, almost burnt taste. It wasn't that it was bad; it was not to our taste.  I did like the bread, soft and kissed by the wood-fired oven then drizzled with a little bit of olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Here is where our waiter excelled. He asked us about our meal. We told him it did not suit our taste and let him know why after he probed a bit. He apologized and offered us something else. We said we didn't need another starter; we were going to order entrees, and we were fine.

While the meatballs were not to our liking, the service was stellar

We both ordered the Steak and Peppercorn Potatoes - a grilled flat-iron steak with smashed fingerlings, salsa verde, and a sunny-side up egg. This was a very tasty dish. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the egg paired very well. The salsa verde added a little twist, but did not take away from the main attractions.

A wonderful entree cooked and seasoned perfectly

While we were eating a manager came over to ask about our meal and the meatballs. We repeated our experience with the meatballs and expressed high praise for the steak dish. Kudos to both the waiter and the manager since they took the meatballs off of our tab.

If we are in the Short Pump area, we would definitely consider eating at Tazza Kitchen again. Let's hope the weather cooperates with some mild air so we can experience the patio and sample the pizzas at a future date.

Huevos Kuba

Huevos Kuba a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Brunch at Kuba Kuba. Yummy! Don't forget to enjoy a limeade or some Cuban coffee.

Corned Beef Hash with Eggs, Grits, and Toast

Corned Beef Hash with Eggs Grits and Toast a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Available everyday at Brook's Diner. They also have tasty Sausage Gravy Over Biscuits.

Bacon Eggs Potatoes Toast at Magpie

Bacon Eggs Potatoes Toast a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

The Magpie serves up a scrumptious brunch!

Donostia Basque Kitchen

A few doors away from The Portman we discovered Donostia Restaurant, a Basque tapas spot. Clean contemporary lines with a rustic touch met us as we entered this teeny place on a rainy evening. We secured the last unreserved table. At times it is advantageous to be unfashionably early.

All of the offerings were small to medium-sized plates and, for a London restaurant of this caliber, prices were less than expected.

We chose a Spanish Rioja to start.

And then on to the food. We kept our menu with us throughout the evening until we were through and experienced quite a few dishes from the expected to the unusual (unusual stateside, at least).

First up were Boquerones - white anchovies with piquillo peppers. While traditional, a bit too fishy for me. I concentrated on enjoying the peppers.

And then Pisto with Quail Egg. The ratatouille-like veggies were tasty and the egg delightful.

The Tempura Prawns with Ham and Mango were most excellent. We could have ordered many more rounds of these shrimp.

On to Creamy Croquettes with Jamon. Crunchy, creamy, salty.

Check out the Mini Wagyu Beef Burger with the Purple Potato Chips. Cute with great flavor.

One of the meduim-sized plates was the Monkfish with Black Rice. The fish was not fishy-tasting and had a nice sear. The black rice was unusual and a treat.

We also enjoyed Pigeon Breast with Peas and Pancetta. Served medium-rare, the pigeon was a hearty fowl more akin to duck or even ostrich.

Of course, we also had to try the Triple Cooked Potatoes with Brava Sauce. Yummy, indeed, with a slightly spicy sauce featuring pimenton.

A great place with a wonderful vibe and lovely service. If you go, try to make reservations. We got lucky.

Brunch at The Blue Goat

The last time we attempted to eat brunch at The Blue Goat, the place was mobbed. This time, the bar was a bit busy, but the restaurant side of the house was sparse. We were surprised by the attendance and welcomed our wee bit of luck.

First up, Strawberry Fields Mimosas: muddled strawberries, mint, and sparkling wine. Refreshing and only $5 a glass.

The brunch menu offered a variety of options including salads, goat ravioli, BLTs, and pancakes. We both wanted eggs. Hubby ordered the Blue Goat Scramble ($7) with shallots, peppers, and mozzarella. A delicious combination and quite satisfying.

I had to have the Goat Benny ($9): Serrano ham, tomato (well, no tomato for me), poached eggs, and hollandaise. The eggs were perfectly runny and melded into the sauce. The ham, delightfully salty. I loved the toasted slices of baguette instead of the traditional English muffin as the base.

Both dishes came with a choice of one side. We both selected the Pommes Frites. Yes, they were very good.

We enjoyed the food and drink and the prices were reasonable.

Rock on Blue Goat!

Mini Wine Dinner at Acacia Mid-Town

A few Sundays ago we attended a "mod" wine dinner at Acacia. Mango Salon presented various hairstyles and then a three course dinner was served. We liked the menu offerings and decided to go. The "mod" hairstyles were fine, but we always come for the food (and wine).

We began with a white wine sangria sporting muddled strawberries and pre-dinner amuse bouches: fried oysters (hubby's favorite), country pate and house-made pickles (yum for me), truffled deviled eggs (not bad), cheese with citrus marmalade (good).

For the first course I ordered the Potato Crusted Shrimp on Ragout of Spring Peas, Sunchokes, Caramelized Red Onions, Sunflower Shoots, and Surry Sausage Butter paired with 2010 Brandbrg Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley, Oregon. I really enjoyed the shrimp and the Oregon Pinot Gris. Nice pairing and the food-to-wine ratio was appropriate.

Hubby had the Tarragon and Campari Poached Peach Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese and Lettuces with Blood Orange Vinaigrette paired with 2010 Seven of Hearts Viognier/Roussanne, Columbia Valley, Oregon. The peaches did not really taste poached. While they were good, they just tasted like peaches. The rest of the salad was fine. While the white blend was drinkable, both of us preferred the Pinot Gris.

For the second or main course we both selected Pan Roasted Bistro Beef Fillet, Potato Gnocchi Gratin, Broccolini with Confit Shallots and Garlic and paired with 2009 Wildaire Tempranillo, Folin Vineyard, Rogue Valley, Oregon. The beef was tasty. Hubby loved the gnocchi. It was way too rich for me. The wine was disappointing in several ways. We did not think it paired well with the beef. We've had other varietals and blends from the Rogue Valley and were pleased. This Tempranillo was a bit too smokey for the simply prepared meat. Another problem was the food-to-wine ratio. We did not have enough wine to enjoy with this heavy rich course. We had to be parsimonious with our sips to make the wine last. We had noticed several other tables ordering additional bottles of wine. Is this how Acacia makes a profit on their wine dinners? If so, what's the point in a wine dinner? Serve a three course meal and let me make my own wine selections.

For the dessert course we had Strawberry Angel Cake and Marscapone Ice Cream paired with 2008 Terra Blance Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, Yakima Valley, Washington. The strawberries and the dessert wine paired beautifully. Such a delight to the palate. The ice cream was also yummy. Unfortunately, the angel cake was extremely dry and not enjoyable at all.

As much as we love going to Acacia for regular meals, the wine dinner did not live up to the restaurant's otherwise stellar reputation.

The First Week of April in Richmond

This year April has been a perfect month for residing in Richmond. Hubby and I have done quite a bit and eaten even more. I wanted to share some of our local adventures with you for the first week in April.

Right at the beginning of the month we attended the Homestyle Brunch at Six Burner hosted by Chef Philip Denny and The Marinara. I got to take photos! Check them out here. We had three flavors of sous vide fried chicken (Thai iced tea, tandoori spiced, and Korean spiced) along with greens and waffles and kimchi. All yummy.

The Virginia Historical Society invited all of Richmond to the inaugural Food Truck Court. Lots of excitement was generated and lots of people and lines. We ended up getting dessert first at Mister Softee (chocolate milkshake).

Mister Softee

We then wandered over to Caliente to enjoy burgers (half price on Tuesday nights).

With the burgers we enjoyed a Petite Syrah from Foppiano. We had heard earlier that day that old man Foppiano had recently passed away at the ripe old age of 101. We toasted the venerable vintner.

Santa Fe Burger with Roasted Peppers and Avocado

Lot 96 Petite Sirah from Foppiano. 

On the the first Friday in April we went to the VMFA to view the silent ode to Communism - Battleship Potemkin. What really made this special was the band Goldrush. The super talented musicians performed live while the movie ran. So cool.



And afterwards we headed over to Carytown for a lovely dinner at Amour Wine Bistro. After taking a little bit of time figuring out the menu options and eventually getting a wine list to peruse (everyone wanted to suggest wines by the glass and I wanted to know what they had by the bottle and the price range), we decided on the 3 Course Prix Fixe Menu and a bottle of 2008 Chateau Lyonnat Bordeaux.

A Lovely Bordeaux

The amuse bouche was a grilled ramp on crostini. Such a nice ode to early Spring.

The Season for Ramps

We proceeded to enjoy a garlic and leek soup and grilled beef tenderloin. Dessert was chocolate creme brulee with caramel and sea salt. What a delight!

Incredible Dessert!

The  South of the James Winter Market is still going strong and Ault's Family Farm had a fresh chicken waiting for us. Yeah! Spring onions, greens, and asparagus are now available. Of course, the pooches are also out in full force.

Time for Spring

Onion Variety

Oh Joy!

For Easter we had brunch at the Empress and enjoyed a pitcher of mimosas.

Mmmm...Mimosas

The pulled pork and eggs were outstanding. The biscuits with the eggs benedict were most excellent. But I think it was just a wee bit early for the kitchen. One of my eggs was missing and the seasoned potatoes were almost not done. Breakfast potatoes need to be cooked until extremely tender. Maybe if we had wound up there after Easter on Parade we would have hit the kitchen in its stride?

One-eyed Benedict

  In any case make sure to see the mural on the side of the building by Lelo. Bright and colorful.

Isn't this cool?

Easter on Parade is always fun. Bunnies, eggs, a yarn bomb, bonnets, dogs. And this year the Art 180 project. I'm glad that residents found front yard homes for these young artists' works after Easter.

Art, entertainment, and FOOD! Go out and enjoy Richmond in April!