Spring is here and we’ve got a cornucopia of snack stories, dining tidings and imbibing information for your consumption—this time drafted on a bumpy bus to Copper Fox Distillery. Check it out.
What we’ve heard
The Glass glow-up continues with bakery, Petit Four
The long awaited bakery from the crew behind Grisette, Beaucoup and Jardin is now open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until sold out. “We’ve always wanted a place to bake whatever we want without the limitations of the equipment of our restaurants,” owner Donnie Glass said in a press release. At Petit Four, company pastry chef Kendra Noel will continue to crank out breads and pastries for all three restaurants as well as the petit bakery—think sourdough focaccia, pretzels and cake slices. Hours will build over time, but for now, it’s first-come, first-served out of the side door near Jardin’s patio. Coffee is available, too. If you can’t make it on Saturday morning, we suggest stopping in Jardin for the ricotta or the mortadella sammy—both are served on Petit Four’s sourdough focaccia that’s airy, crunchy, sour and soft all at the same time. We can’t get enough.
Give us all the bread
If you’ve been to Lost Letter, you’ve probably had Jane Lukas’ bread (see our lead photo above). She is @janedough_rva on Instagram and she’s been popping up all over town with gorgeous sourdough boules, sexy focaccia and some very attractive French breads. Lukas is on the hunt for her own spot. “At the moment, I’m focused on building what I have. I’m working out of my home under cottage law—I actually converted my garage into a little bakery so that’s been awesome,” says Lukas. “I was at Lost Letter as their baker and pasta maker before this, still haven’t figured out how I want to work my pasta skills into this business plan but it’s something that’s on my mind,” she says. Follow Lukas on Instagram for updates on pop-ups and ordering opportunities.
OK all you cats and kittens!
The former home of Westray’s Ice Cream (214 N Lombardy St.) has been painted and The Purrfect Bean’s Instagram (@thepurrfectbean) says they are so close to being ready to go. According to owner Michelle Langham, “[It] will be a coffee/tea cafe on the first floor and then people can reserve spots/buy tickets to hang out with the cats upstairs. Upstairs will be like a cozy living room with eight to 12 adoptable cats.” Langham is aiming for a mid-April opening.
New(veau) kid on the block
Carytown officially has a new wine cafe and we are very much here for it. Nouveau Provisions features a small, in-progress patio, a growing market area in front and several cozy seating areas with a sleek, comfortable vibe. For now, the wines are selections from owners Trevor and Kay Ferguson—we enjoyed a lovely cava brut rose on our visit. But Ferguson says they’re hoping to add selections from their Varina, Va. based boutique farm winery by July or August. For dining, you’ll find a selection of small plates—we are planning our next visit for The Betty White pizza—whipped ricotta with black truffle, roasted garlic butter, mozzarella and parm sounds delightfully decadent. You’ll also find a selection of locally made JC Desserts, including, dare we say, Richmond’s most beautiful chocolates for dining in or custom boxed to-go.
It’s not a steakhouse, it’s a classic tavern.
The new concept from the Giavos team has been announced. Situated in what we are now calling Giavos junction, Lafayette Tavern (1011 Lafayette St.) will be a classic tavern with great steaks, good martinis and heady red wine. But it’s not a steakhouse! Constantine Giavos told us it’s not! (He likes classic American taverns and we do, too.)
“There’s something about this building—the black glass, the history of the pharmacy, the way it stands on the street—that just feels special. I’ve always thought it felt like the facade of a restaurant in a Scorsese movie,” says Giavos. “We wanted to create a concept that fits seamlessly into that story, one that feels like it’s been here forever. I’ve been quietly working on the creative for a while, and we’re excited that construction is finally underway.”
Spud skirmish results …
We have some friendly discord brewing here at The Dish. And it began in our last column with a debate over the all important french fry. To recap, there were six contenders, two winners, no trophy. In a very scientific Instagram poll (with about 1,000 votes on Robey’s stories), the favorites are Sweet P’s and Susie’s. So that’s a point for Robey and a point for Megan.
You’ve got to try it … and can we get more?
For research purposes, we checked out the opening of Brazen (previously Lucky Whale), the brainchild of Jon Bell, TJ Hayes, Neil McLean and Doug Clodfelter. This crew comes from a whole host of spots you know and love: Pinky’s, L’Opossum, Alewife, Comfort, Daily Kitchen and Bar, Maple & Pine, Edo’s Squid and The Savory Grain. The renovation is clean with dark floors and walls. The menu is morphing, but we tried the Grazen wings (still being figured out), the Helle Ringer spicy fried chicken thigh topped with acid-forward celery and onion slaw (a must-order), the signature macaroni and cheese (nice and cheesy) and the Frog in a Boat (think khachapuri but on very crispy focaccia). We can’t wait to go back.
What we’re eating at home
Robey: What is Goatocado putting in their food? I mean, I know that it’s primarily uber local produce from their farm, Celeste Farms on Osborne Turnpike in Henrico, but the Mediterranean wrap blows my mind and the breakfast burrito slaps.* Both are crammed with greens with the lunch option sporting toothy chickpeas and red cabbage, slathered with plucky, lemon-coriander dressing. The breakfast choice has grits, cheese and eggs or spicy scrambled tofu. To add awesome to excellent, they have $3 draft beers all the time on a supremely underrated patio, making the good-for-you spot just as good for a sip and yap.*
*as the kids say these days
Megan: All I’ve been eating at home is the innards of takeout containers. I swear I’ll go to some farmers’ markets soon. In the meantime, I suggest you dissociate like me. Ignore your empty fridge and sink full of dishes and go to the patio at Toast at Scott’s Walk for brunch. Start with the house-made blueberry donut holes and the Cat’s Pajamas cocktail. The boozy blend of Belle Isle Cold Brew moonshine, St. Elizabeth allspice liqueur, cold brew coffee, vanilla and bitters topped with cream will make you forget about all the chores waiting for you at home.
Where we’re headed
Copper Fox was generous enough to give us a little sneak peek behind the scenes of its new vodka project located at its distillery in Williamsburg, where it is housed in the 1950s Quality Inn Lord Paget Hotel. This predominantly whisky distillery is owned by Rick Wasmund, who is just as known for his commitment to Virginia grown barley, malting it all, and smoking his malts with fruitwood, as he is for his super-cheesy dad jokes (we loved all of them, including the one about rolling papers and smoking your own). And while the liquor is good–get the Amaro, it’s excellent—we are super stoked on being able to stay at the distillery while in Williamsburg. When pressed on when the rooms will be ready, Wasmund stayed in his dad joke lane: “Like good whisky, these things take time.”
—XOXO Megan and Robey
