Food events are still merrily going around despite the end of summer, but oftentimes, it’s hard to find space in the food section to get them all in. To remedy that, I’ve compiled a short list of a few you might want to check out.
The annual Armenian Food Festival at the St. James Armenian Church at 834 Pepper Ave. arrives on Friday, Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m. and lasts through Sunday, Sept. 18. You can fill up on spinach boreg (spinach pie), lahmajoon (meat pie) and a couple of khourabia (sugar cookie) with a glass of pomegranate wine while enjoying traditional music and dancing. armenianfoodfestival.com.
St. Benedict Catholic Church takes over the block in the Museum District for its Oktoberfest celebration on Friday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Sept. 18. All manner of wurst will be available, along with schnitzel and desserts including apple strudel. There’ll be a stein-holding competition, live music, dancing and a Christkindlmarkt. Of course, with beer as its focus, you’ll find just about every local brewery represented with their versions of pilsners, lagers and special Oktoberfest releases, as well as Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s Benny and the Fest, brewed specially for the festival. stbenedictoktoberfest.com.
The second Wahoo Cup Craft Brewers Invitational takes place this year on Saturday, Sept. 17 from noon-6 p.m. at Lickinghole Craft Brewery. Breweries from Charlottesville and Richmond will go up against each other to see who will reign supreme and take home the coveted cup. There will be plenty of food, beer and live music, and a portion of sales at the event will go to Children of Fallen Patriots, a national charity providing scholarships to the families of soldiers killed in duty. And Style’s very own Jack Lauterback will be there to sign autographs and tell you about the event next week. wahoocup.com.
You should call your mother right away and make plans to attend Supper with Mom on Sunday, Sept. 18, from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Omni Hotel Downtown Richmond. Chefs from East Coast Provisions, the Daily, the Betty on Davis, Stroops Heroic Dogs, Ciao Capri, Kabana Rooftop and Will Richardson, formerly of Shoryuken Ramen, will concoct dishes inspired by the food they grew up with. You can expect things such as corn kimchi fried rice with soy-marinated egg and Edward’s country ham, and Birdie’s and Bowties — black pepper pimento mac ‘n’ cheese — along with a Mother Shrub champagne cocktail and a full bar. Tickets are $150 and proceeds go to support of the March of Dimes. marchofdimes.org/virginia.
And it doesn’t end with the weekend. On Tuesday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m., Camden’s Dogtown Market in Manchester is throwing a four-course wine dinner featuring wines by Elizabeth Chambers, of McMinnville, Oregon. Chef Andy Howell says her winery was one of the most memorable stops on his trip last summer to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Howell plans to serve grilled asparagus wrapped in house-made ham with local greens and goat cheese crème frâiche and pan-roasted Pacific salmon over beet carpaccio with poached black mission figs, among other dishes.The dinner costs $60, not including tax and tip, and you can RSVP to camdensdogtown@gmail.com. cdmrva.com.
The same night, September 20, Max’s on Broad will also host wine importer extraordinaire Bartholomew Broadbent — the man who brought Richmond the perfect summer drink, rosé vinho verde — starting at 6 p.m. The five-course paired dinner will include scallops with sun-dried tomato orzo and brown-butter beurre blanc and pan-seared duck breast with tricolor couscous and green beans with a citrus gastrique. Tickets are $60, not including tax and tip. maxsonbroad.com.
