Notes and Observations

A few rants; a few raves.

I received an email from Acacia Midtown advertising a to-go lunch special. I usually do not open these since I am not available to take advantage of the offering, but last time I read about the crab cake and this month my mouth watered over the Banh Mi with duck sausage. In both emails (and past instances going back a few years) Acacia has stated this as the routine for ordering:

YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS..........

EMAIL US SOON, THEY SELL OUT FAST

YOUR NAME:

PHONE NUMBER:

NUMBER OF ORDERS:

CREDIT CARD NUMBER:

EXPIRATION DATE:

And apparently they sell out every time. Hello? Listen up people: NEVER SEND YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO VIA EMAIL!!!! You are opening yourselves up for identity theft. This is not a secure communication method. I emailed Acacia last time and expressed concern. No response. I emailed them again this time. No response. While I would trust Acacia with the preparation of food. I cannot trust them with how they would handle my credit card. Shame on Acacia for placing their loyal patrons at risk.

Let's face it. Fat Dragon is basically a bar with okay food. I appreciate the fact they have 24 taps and feature local brews. Their cocktails are strong and tasty. They even have impressive wine service. But the food did not wow us like their sister restaurants. Nothing wrong with being more bar than restaurant. And I love taking photos of the place.

While I have yet to find a bread that I like at Sub Rosa Bakery, they have THE BEST croissants. Both the plain and chocolate are to die for and transport me back to Paris when I eat them.

I am so pleased that Little House Green Grocery now carries shallots, onions, potatoes, and garlic! They also have fresh butter from Mountain View Farm in Fairfield, VA and KimKim sauce. Every week brings new delights.

The waiter that made us avoid Amuse for so long is not working there anymore (I have no idea where he went or when he left). Hubby and I rejoiced by having a luxuriously leisurely lunch there a couple of weeks ago.

View from our table

Kaleidoscope Sparkling Cocktail

Fried Oysters

Hangar Steak with Turnip Puree and Roasted Brussels Sprouts

While it looks like bonvenu has finally married up the menu prices on-line, on the printed menu, and in their charging system, in mid-January they had not. Based on our waitresses response when we questioned the bill, it seemed like a known problem. While our food and service was good, unaligned prices do not thrill me.

The Rocket Shrimp at Mekong continues to be a favorite and while Beer is the Answer, they also have a fine list of wines at truly incredible prices.

Rocket Shrimp

Beer may be the answer but Sass is in the glass

Shout outs to both Tastebuds American Bistro and Enoteca Sogno. Northside is so very lucky to have you both. We took out-of-town guests to Tastebuds and they were mightily impressed. We met three friends for dinner at Enoteca - all with different tastes, personalities, and allergies. Enoteca accommodated everyone with grace and deliciousness.

Last weekend we tried The Grey Hill Cafe, a food truck crafting sandwiches located in the Once Upon a Vine parking lot. Hubby enjoyed one of the largest crabcake sandwiches I've ever seen. I had turkey and meunster with arugula on marble rye. Very satisfying.

Finally, Northside (and for me specifically Ginter Park and Bellevue areas) needs, no, is desperate for, a GOOD local pizza delivery company. Zorba's on MacArthur was sold to someone else and the pizzas have not been the same. While the former Zorba's was not spectacular, we had figured out what to order and was happy (we also loved Mike, the delivery driver). Now, not so much. Mike left and we have tried Zorba's Express a couple of times and just can't order from them in their current state. We have not been impressed with Arianna's either. While we enjoy the chicken parm subs on occasion, we were disappointed in the pizza.  Please, any of you budding pizza makers or any old pros, please, please, consider a pizza delivery service for Northside!

Starting January the Right Way with Dutch and Company

On the first day it snowed in 2013 we thanked the goddesses that the month before we experienced balmy spring-like weather and that the roads were clear. Hubby and I had discussed when we could try Dutch and Company. All of RVA had been waiting for it to open. We knew the place would be rocking. On the first day it snowed in 2013 we arrived at 5:15 PM.

Dutch and Company in Church Hill

A couple of tables were already settled in. The decor featured cozy lighting with a number of mirrors along the wall to project warmth. I liked the little "Dutch" touches: a bouquet of tulips in a colorful pitcher, reproductions of stamps from the Netherlands to mark the bathroom entrances, and vintage prints of Holland scenes.

The mirrors are a nice touch

The Gents

A few folks were at the bar. We wanted to sit at the bar and converse and observe/admire Michelle, our all-time favorite bartender. She's thoughtful, quiet, and meticulous; and Michelle can make a myriad of awesome libations. We ended up with a Sunday Paper and Honest to Goodness.

Sunday Paper:  Chartreuse rinse,  Wild Turkey Rye, Hennesey VS Cognac, gomme syrup (simple syrup made from gum arabic),  Fee Brothers old fashioned bitters, lemon twist

Honest to Goodness: Hendricks Gin, cucumber ginger ice cubes, Angostura bitters, tonic water 

As we enjoyed our cocktails and perused the menu, Michelle pointed out the "Jib" board - a blackboard containing the evenings snacks at $5 each. These snacks can change daily. Our board boasted the likes of smoked salmon rillette, chicken liver terrine, and Anderson Neck oysters. The menu features seasonal items and can change frequently. Of course, everything should be delicious since Caleb is in the kitchen. While we are not familiar with Phillip, I'm sure he is top-notch, as well and we probably enjoyed many of his dishes at his former place of employment (Acacia). We discovered the prix-fixe for $28: choose any appetizer, any entree, and any dessert. The prix-fixe is available every evening, all evening. A wonderful value and we took advantage of it.

The wine list is small, but offers a variety with some off-beat selections as well. We chose a Chatter Creek Nebbiolo from Washington State. An unusual grape variety for the region, but smooth and satisfying. The other great thing about the wine was the service. While most restaurants in RVA do not replenish the wine as the evening goes on, Dutch and Company did. I highly value the service (which should be an expectation, not an anomaly). While wine by the bottle may not be the usual order for most tables, if Richmond really wants to be on the national food map, service needs to be stepped up a notch. Kudos to Dutch and Company for its attention to detail.

Chatter Creek Nebbiolo with a glass cap

For dinner we started with the Pork and Squash Rillette and the Malted Barley Porridge.

A divine start to the evening: Pork and Winter Squash Rillette with Honey Roasted Pecans, Pickled Squash, and Pig Skin Cornbread. While pork rillette tends to be extremely rich, the squash toned down the richness while adding to the flavor. 

Malted Barley Porridge with Smoked Maitake Mushrooms, Roasted Pear,  Kale, and Almond Cream.  Probably the only porridge dish in RVA. Lots of textures and flavors that evoke a cozy winter evening.

For the entree we both delighted in the Hangar Steak.

Hangar Steak (medium rare) with Bone Marrow Twice-Baked Potato, Bitter Greens, and Herb Sauce. A wonderful dish. The marrow added an enormous amount of richness to the potato. The Herb Sauce was fresh and packed with garlic.

For dessert hubby opted for the Winter's Honey Pot and I enjoyed the Stroopwafel.

Winter's Honey Pot: Warm Milk and Honey, Pound Cake, Lavender Ice Cream, Citrus, and Candied Nuts. Dutch and Company secured a number of vintage honey pots for presentation. We lucked out with our Winnie the Pooh pot. A creative and delicious concoction.

Stroopwafel with Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream. Stroopwafel is a Dutch treat.. Two wafer-like cookies with caremel sandwiched in between. A simple, yet satisfying dessert.

We ended with coffee for hubby and Strega for me. It would be difficult not to indulge in one of the numerous Amari that Dutch and Company offers. As I began to sip my digestif we noticed that the dining room was packed and folks were standing at the bar with drinks, waiting for a table. Earlier in the evening Michelle had pointed out the "Champagne Room." A cozy little spot with end table, lamp, a couple of chairs. This spot is the "lounge" outside of the bathrooms. With all of the new patrons coming in, we moved our after dinner beverages to this quiet area to relax and watch diners enjoying their evening.

Coffee at the bar

As we left we walked by the big storefront window featuring the kitchen to appreciate the art and craftsmanship of providing delicious food. The only thing that could be improved upon is if there were a huge picture window between the dining room and the kitchen for diners to admire the workings of the kitchen. Of course, then we would be torn as to where to sit. At the bar to watch cocktails being crafted or at a table to see meals being prepared.

Kitchen scene

Chef Caleb

We had a lovely experience. I wish Dutch and Company much success. I look forward to enjoying more great food and beverages in the very near future.

Little House Green Grocery

Little House Green Grocery has opened and is packed with all manner of goods. I visited right before Christmas. I am so happy that this adorable storefront is within walking distance! While fresh items will vary depending on the season, dry goods are also offered as well as cheese and other dairy products, meats including pork from Polyface Farm and chicken from Harmony Hills, and natural skin-care items.They even carry food for dogs and cats.

I ended up with pork loin from Polyface Farm for a dinner party I am hosting soon.

Check out Little House Green Grocery soon and often. While there if you have suggestions or a wish list, let them know. They truly want to serve the community.

Best of luck to the new business in the area!

A Well-deserved Elby Nod for Tastebuds American Bistro

Yes, I am biased. Tastebuds American Bistro is still my favorite Richmond Restaurant. I am very, very happy they have garnered an Elby nomination for Best Neighborhood Restaurant by Richmond Magazine.

Here are some reasons why it should be your neighborhood restaurant if you are a Northsider and why it should be your go-to restaurant if you live elsewhere in RVA.

• If you live in or around Bellevue, you can walk!
• And you may want to walk if you enjoying imbibing beer, wine, or cocktails. There are always a few independent draft beers. While the wine list is small, no bottle is over $40 and the selection is very good. Most cocktails are $8 or under and Andrew continually comes up with weekly specials that delight. The latest was Santa's Helper with Belevedere Intense Vodka, Rhuby, muddled blackberries, and a splash of lemon. For dessert, try the Irish Coffee. It comes deconstructed so you can combine according to your preferences.
• Great Salmon! At least my hubby can attest to this. I am not a salmon fan, so I respect his opinion. While the sauce and accompaniments change up with the seasons, there is always salmon on the menu. Since we eat here at least once a month, you might think hubby would tire of the fish, but he always has the dilemma of whether to order the salmon (because it is so good) or something else.
• Duck Spring Rolls with a Pear Dipping Sauce. This is my favorite app. Yummy!
• Specials. Tastebuds features a special starter and a number of entree specials every week. Both of us are fans of the Wiener Schnitzel. Sign up for their email list or follow them on Facebook or Tumblr.
• Everyone who has eaten here with me has enjoyed it. My parents, my boss, friends, etc. Because of the consistency of the food and the variety of the food, it offers something for all tastes (even my friend who wants two desserts instead of an entree!).
• Make reservations via Open Table.
• Brunch. Earlier this year Tastebuds American Bistro began serving brunch. The Roasted Butternut Squash, Apple, Caramelized Onion, and Bacon Crepe with Ancho-Maple Syrup is freakin' awesome!
• And finally, the hospitality of Andrew and Valentina really transform this eating establishment into an inviting place to be. They know the neighborhood and greet regulars warmly. For newcomers, the gracious reception and the wonderful food have folks gushing by the end of the evening.

If you haven't given this neighborhood gem a try, start the New Year off right with a trip to the Northside.

As usual I have a variety of photos that I hope you enjoy.

Salmon

Duck Spring Rolls

Prosciutto-wrapped Shrimp - Appetizer Special

Irish Coffee

Butter Almond Cookies and Pear Sorbet

Vesper Martini

Trefethen Merlot

Wiener Schnitzel

Tin Barn Cab

Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad with Pickled Onions

Santa's Helper

Roasted Butternut Squash Crepe

A lovely place to dine.

Congrats to Tastebuds American Bistro!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Have a wonderful holiday! May you enjoy good friendships and family, good times, good food, and good drink!

Congrats to Deco Ristorante

Deco Ristorante earned an Elby nod for best new restaurant yesterday. (See the entire list here.) We dined at Deco a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed the following:

Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar to enjoy with bread

An inexpensive fruity red for dinner

A favorite! Fried Fresh Mozzarella with sauce. We have to order this every time. So yummy!

The special of the evening: Penne a la Vodka with Grilled Chicken Breast. The chicken was a bit dry, but the pasta was divine. Enough to take home for leftovers and add a bit of Sausage Craft sausage to the mix. 

Kudos to Deco! Thanks for providing us with a taste of Sicily.

Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Duck at Heritage

Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Duck a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Lots have been written about Heritage with all kinds of deserving praise. Dana Craig at RTD awarded the place a very rare 4 stars.

I want to focus on one dish that wowed me: Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Duck Confit, Pear, Scallion, and Pumpkin Seed Oil. A most awesome fall-into-winter dish. A bit spicy, a slight sweetness, and a whole heap of flavor. While the soup is a small portion, the complex flavors completely satisfy.

Heritage has other dishes that are lovely, too, along with an enticing cocktail list; but this soup is the dish for me.