Brews and barks

IPAs and pups — could it possibly get any better? This Sunday, April 29, Strangeways Brewing and Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) are teaming up for the annual Bow Wow Luau. Admission is free, and the event will include food trucks like Go Go Vegan Go and Jus Cukn’, pet-related vendors like Canine Adventure and Honest to Dog, adoptable dogs, a silent auction and of course dozens of beer on tap. For a suggested donation of $5 you’ll get a koozie, and any donations will go directly to the RACC.

Events of the day include a pets contest for best costume and best trick, plus face-painting and an opportunity to meet RACC dog alumni. Festivities kick off at noon and go until 6 p.m.

So berry delicious

This Saturday, April 28, Blue Bee Cider will host the annual Virginia Berry Cider Jam, an all-day festival honoring and celebrating berry ciders. Mean Bird will serve a berry-inspired brunch menu from noon to 3 p.m., and Agriberry CSA and Farm will be on site selling fresh fruit from 2-7 p.m.

All day, eight berry-infused ciders will be available for flights, including those from six visiting cideries: Big Fish Cider Co., Courthouse Creek Cider, Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery, Old Hill Cider, Potter’s Craft Cider and Winchester Ciderworks. Flavors will include raspberry, blueberry, strawberry-ginger and blackcurrant.

Malty and mindful

You love beer, but you also love the environment. Is there a happy medium between enjoying local craft brews while also caring about sustainability? Style’s beer writer Annie Tobey chatted with several local brewers and put together a roundup of their efforts to take care of the environment while also producing those brews that we adore. Check out the story here.

Eat more to feed more

It’s that time of year again, y’all: Richmond Restaurant Week, spring edition. It kicked off yesterday (Tuesday, April 24), and chefs at 34 area restaurants will create three-course prix fixe menus for $29.17 per person. The restaurants will then donate $4.17 from each meal to the hunger relief organization FeedMore.

Participating restaurants include Belle, Chez Foushee, Lehja, Millie’s, Pearl and Helen’s. For more information and a full list of restaurants, check out the Richmond Restaurant Week website.

Cookin’ with the coaches

Last week I joined some other local food writers (and a sports writer) for the annual Coaches’ Cook-Off. The competition benefits the Positive Vibe Foundation, an organization that provides training and job opportunities for adults with disabilities. Virginia Commonwealth University coach Mike Rhoades and University of Richmond coach Chris Mooney went head to head, with the help of the Richmond Restaurant Group’s Michelle Williams and Spoonbread Bistro’s Michael Hall, respectively.

It was a tough call, but Rhoades and Williams came away with the victory after serving a creative and comforting shepherd’s pie in an individual sized cast iron skillet. And I promise, their win had nothing to do with the homemade cocktail they served ahead of time to butter up the judges.