Return to Accanto

Even though we are huge fans of Ryan Baldwin, we don't make it out to Accanto very often since we live in the city and this little gem of a bar/restaurant is located in the interior of the Short Pump area. In fact, we have to check Google maps to find it, or wander around lost with the natives cussing us out as we slow down and make u-turns. Strangers in a strange land indeed.

This past week we did find out way to Accanto enticed by their three course menu on Mondays and Tuesdays for $25.

While we came for the food, service is important as well. At first our waiter was a bit off the mark with our bread arriving, but no utensils. Once utensils were placed, the service did not miss a beat. I was particularly thrilled with the attentive wine service. Well done!

Everything we had was delicious. I wanted to share some of the highlights.

Grilled Calamari with Arugula, White Beans, and Parmesan: While I like fried calamari, I have shied away from the grilled version. I knew On this night, I decided to try it. The calamari was extremely tender with a subtle char. The beans were done (yeah!) and the light lemon added the perfect touch. Light and tasty.

Flash Fried Oysters with Mango and Coconut: Of course, my hubby could not resist the oysters. He liked the creative accompaniments. 

Charred Filet of Beef with Yukon Gold and Queso Stuffed Baby Pepper Rellinos: Perfectly medium rare.  I also enjoyed the potato and cheese stuffed peppers. The peppers were roasted and peeled before being stuffed. I really like roasted peppers and the filling made it even better. Yummy!

White Chocolate Black Pepper Cheesecake with Brandies Kumquats: Very sweet with a tiny jolt of pepper.  Inventive and satisfying.

Kudos to Ryan for his excellent cuisine. The folks residing in the very, very far west end are lucky to have such a wonderful spot for dinner and drink. And for you wine-imbibers, Accanto features half price wine on Wednesdays.

Stella's Filet

STELLA’S FILET a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Oh-so-yum! One of the most fabulous dishes in RVA. Stella's Filet - grilled filet mignon (medium rare) topped with jumbo lump crab and a sherry dijon sauce. Only at Stella's!

Waypoint Grill in Williamsburg

I visit Williamsburg about once a year. I used to live there many years ago and the place lost most of its charm for me while I was there. One of the things that I did enjoy about the place was my introduction to the world of wine and food. Hubby and I took a wine appreciation class; we belonged to a wine tasting club; and we attended numerous wine dinners. The most memorable of those dinners were at the Williamsburg Inn with Chef Hans Schadler presiding over the event. This was where I discovered the pure joy of a perfect wine and food pairing. How a wine may taste one way before the tasting of the food and evolve into something else while eating. This was where I ate fish and raved about it. I had portobello mushrooms that actually tasted like steak. Seven courses with all of the formalness that was the Williamsburg Inn back in the day. And Chef Schadler could fix anything and I knew it would be delicious.

A little over a year ago. Chef Schadler returned to the Williamsburg area to open Waypoint Grill located in a fairly new shopping center. They were open for Saturday lunch and we made the trek to try it out. The setting is contemporary graced with tidewater-influenced art. Weekend lunch was a good time to dine. Not too busy, yet, the wait staff were attentive and competent. I very much appreciated the continued wine service throughout our meal.

Yes, we splurged and had wine. An old friend: Alexander Valley Merlot. We have found this wine to be consistently good and drinkable over the years. Waypoint Grill has a lovely selection of whites, reds, and sparklings with prices ranging from $27 to $89 per bottle. The Alexander Valley was $39 which is about twice the retail price.

For lunch Waypoint Grill offered a short list of "Beginnings." The Simply Fried Shrimp caught my eye. The Simply Fried Oysters attracted my hubby. The menu should have listed them as Simply Perfect, because they were in both taste and presentation. Lightly breaded and succulent served with a remoulade-like sauce; crowned with perfectly fried onions. We could have ordered a second helping. Both were $9 each.

Because I was having fried shrimp as a first course I ordered French Onion Soup Gratin ($6) as a second course. Traditionally made, and a large serving. A nice accompaniment to the Merlot we were enjoying.

Hubby could not resist trying the Oven Braised "Pot Roast" with fingerling potatoes and vegetables ($11). The beef was tasty and oh-so-tender.  Such a great dish for a winter's day and more than generous portions. For him he had the ultimate in surf and turf.

We were too stuffed for dessert, but the apple cobbler/dumpling sounded divine. If you are headed to Williamsburg, take some time to seek out Waypoint Grill. Since they are in a little shopping center away from the main tourist attractions, the restaurant caters to locals. Not many places in the old colonial capitol care about the people who actually live there. The service was excellent; the food extraordinarily satisfying.

 

Pizza Dough Demo

Last Saturday we attended a pizza dough demonstration at Little House Green Grocery. The dough master was Andrew Wisniewski of Tastebuds American Bistro. He reviewed the blooming of the yeast, use of bread flour due to gluten content, and the patient waiting a day or two to make the pizza. We then sampled a fresh pie from the portable oven.

Here is the photo sequence:

Each participant left with frozen Tastebuds dough to make their own pizza. We thawed it out and let it rise. While I could not make a perfectly round shape, I was able to feel the stretchiness of the gluten in the dough and could elongate the dough without creating holes. I made sauce with lots of garlic and basil and topped it with fresh mozzarella and Della Nonna sausage from Sausage Craft.

If you go to Tastebuds American Bistro Andrew will be happy to share his recipe, but be aware that his restaurant measures by weight instead of cups. The equivalents translation from professional setting to home kitchen may need some experimentation.

Thanks to both Tastebuds and Little House Green Grocery partnering to provide a delicious program!

Gearhart's Chocolates

Just imagine. It's Valentine's Day. I arrive home from a busy day at work. I check the mailbox; no mail. I look down and see a package addressed to me. This is unusual. I never receive packages. Could it be that my hubby sent a package? Highly unusual. And he planned it just so to arrive on February 14? No way.

I was right. So, who was thoughtful enough to send me a package to arrive and and delight me on Valentine's Day? Gearhart's Chocolates! It was a complimentary 8 piece sampler box. And, yes, I fell in love.

The artistic assortment included Earl Grey, Mint Julep, and Maple Pecan. All perfectly crafted and perfectly delicious.

I adored the pattern on the Raspberry-Zin.

With Easter just around the corner and then Mother's Day not far after that, consider an artful, decadent, and most-appreciated gift of Gearhart's. They can even deliver!

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!

Pastrami and Swiss on Rye

Pastrami and Swiss on Rye a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

I don't get a chance to eat at Perly's very often. I took advantage of the Presidents Day holiday to enjoy at grilled Pastrami and Swiss on Rye at the bar. Mmmm!

The New Roasty Swine

Back in February we enjoyed lunch at Camden's Dogtown Market. We were happy that they stayed open until 3 PM for lunch/brunch. We also appreciated the $5 mimosas in an assortment of flavors (fruit juice is good for the soul, right?).

The New Roasty Swine was the sandwich of choice: pork loin, caramelized onions, provolone, and red pepper chow-chow. Hearty and delicious.

If I lived in Manchester, I would definitely shop the market as well.

And attend the Free Friday Wine Tastings.

Treat yourself to some good grub.

Tonight's Specials at Tastebuds American Bistro

Hubby and I enjoyed some lovely awesomeness at Tastebuds American Bistro last night. All of the dishes we consumed were part of the weekend specials. The specials are also available this evening. Go enjoy! Remember, you can make reservations on Open Table.

Here was our line up:

Blackberry Bourbon Smash - Larceny bourbon, blackberry cordial, lemon, and fresh sage.  A great start to the evening.  Andrew features a special cocktail and local draft beers every weekend.

Crab Fritters with Pequillo Pepper Remoulade. A wonderful balance of crab and hushpuppies.

Veal Schnitzel with Red Cabbage and Roasted Potatoes. We so enjoy the veal specials at Tastebuds. Last night's schnitzel was particularly tasty. The veal was so tender it melted in the mouth. The roasted potatoes were seasoned just right with salt and pepper (and all of the potatoes were done - sometimes restaurants overlook this important aspect when it comes to roasting potatoes). The red cabbage came out steaming hot and added a touch of winter sweetness to the meal.

Poached Bosc Pear with Whipped Goat Cheese and Fig and Brandy Reduction. Admittedly, dinner was plentiful, but at times dessert can be irresistible. The poached pear was a nice light choice. The pear was still a bit firm, but all of the graininess had disappeared and the pear was not very sweet (which I appreciated). The sweetness came from the goat cheese and the fig and brandy reduction. An elegant end to a wonderful meal.

So happy this place decided to land in my neighborhood!

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.