The Dish

A new bi-weekly food column by two of Richmond's veteran food writers.

Hello Richmond!

If you haven’t run into us at a restaurant or bar around town—if you do, say “hi”—we are two Richmond food writers who love sharing the scoop. Between us, we’ve been writing about dining for over 40 years (yes, we both started when we were 5) and diving deep into gastronomic education for even longer.

We’re combining forces with this new column, bringing you the news we’re hearing around town, the latest happenings we must attend, and dishes you don’t want to miss.

What we’ve heard

 

Restaurants still need your help
With the return of clean water, last week’s lack of clean consumables might have been flushed from your memory (see what we did there?) But the missing wages and revenue are real for all the restaurant workers we know and love. Please visit some of your favorite spots this week and spring for that extra appetizer or dessert. [And check out Style’s story on how some kitchens handled that trying week.]

 

Gather for Grace returns

Chef Jessica Wilson became a resident in the (now shuttered) Hatch Local Food Hall at the close of 2023. Her Gather for Grace pop-up featured cuisine blending old farmhouse traditions with fresh inspiration.

While Wilson had plans to open restaurant GRACE in Church Hill, they did not come to fruition.

The good news is that Wilson’s ethereal, long itinerant pop-up is getting a brick-and-mortar in the old Odyssey spot (formerly Billy Pie). While menu details are slim, Wilson was able to tell us that it will follow the same concept she originally planned for the Hill location. She also mentioned that the bar counter and new tile were installed this week—so opening soon is in the cards.

Fingers crossed for natural wine in the West End and jammy, caviar-topped eggs.

Scott’s Shawarma expands into Jackson Ward 

Mahmoud Farah opened his OG location, Scott’s Shawarma, in Scott’s Provisions in Scott’s Addition in 2022 and quickly gained acclaim for his wraps and falafel. Farah moved into his own space at 814 N. Robinson St. early last year. And now, he has snagged a second location in Jackson Ward with opening date TBA.

Tip from us: Get every sauce.

Surrounding Counties finds a new home

When Zach Archibald announced the end-of-December closure of his beloved coffee and kolache shop, our cries for sustainably sourced coffee and great tunes could be heard around the West End.

Less than a week later, however, he found a new space, announcing the location on his Instagram story. Archibald says they are still finalizing the lease—but should be open real soon—at the new spot in Village Shopping Center. Be on the lookout for even more SC locations, more to-go options and especially more kolaches.

When Zach Archibald announced the late December closure of his beloved coffee and kolache shop, Surrounding Counties, our cries for sustainably sourced coffee and great tunes could be heard around the West End. But there’s good news on the horizon at Village Shopping Center (Archibald is shown in the former Three Chopt location). File photo by Scott Elmquist

North End Juice Co.’s Church Hill location closes

After five years on the Hill, North End Juice Co. has closed its Jefferson Avenue location to focus on their Museum District shop. We’ll miss the second stop but are kinda-sorta hoping this means more room for the artisan gelato and soups they’ve sold in the past.

Where we’ve been

Omakase at Nami

Richmond, we finally have an omakase spot.

A recent addition at Nami (281 E. Main St.), this omakase experience is $85 per person and gets you 13 curated dishes, with sake. We hear there’s even A5 Wagyu. Book this experience ahead via Resy.

Galentine’s cake club from Olivia Wilson at Celladora

Let us eat all of the cake! Well, at least our own cake that we’ve made in tandem with local cake maker extraordinaire, Olivia Wilson.

Wilson, who has worked everywhere from Per Se to Brenner Pass, is quietly holding bespoke cake making/decorating classes at Celladora Wines in the Fan. Her December Buche de Noel class ($150 per person) sold out in record time and each attendee learned how to “roll a buche,” fill a piping bag and make meringue mushrooms, all while snacking on treats made by Wilson.

The Galentine’s cake workshop will follow the same pattern on Feb. 13. Tickets go live soon at olivia-wilson.com.

Sprezza pasta class

Ditch those post-holiday blues and learn something new at Sprezza’s pasta classes. Angela Petruzzelli grew up making pasta with her Southern Italian grandmother and is bringing all those authentic tips to you on Sunday, Jan. 19 and 26.

Classes include lessons on making two types of pasta, specialty drinks, a freshly made meal, and your pasta to take home and cook later in the week.

Follow Sprezza on Instagram for additional details and links for tickets.

Sprezza pasta class images. Photos provided by Sprezza

What we’ve tried (and you should, too)

Dry or wet, January is here. We aren’t taking sides on anyone’s health choices, but we are offering up a mocktail that will get you to February.

Lost Letter’s Is That Cashmere? is a refreshing and interesting blend of grapefruit and pomegranate punched up with cinnamon and vanilla, and finished with a bubble of soda water. The tart grapefruit keeps the drink from crashing into sugar town and the winter flavors make it fun.

Drinks at Bar Solita, which this month is offering “mocktails with purpose.”

On the same train, sister restaurant Lillian is a dependable destination for creative house-made seltzers like shisho lime green tea or cinnamon pineapple limeade.

If you’re searching for even more wellness in a glass this month, look to Bar Solita for what bar manager Cherry Coleman is calling “mocktails with purpose.”

Coleman’s N/A concoctions include Holding Space, a “non-alcoholic meditation and calmness elixir made with a floral blend of cherry blossom, lavender, rose, lemongrass, and coconut,” along with two other offerings, all aimed to assist in wellbeing and good vibes only in the new year. The wellness-driven mocktail menu will be available through the end of January.

Longtime Richmonder Jim Hamilton launched Sous Casa, the popular frozen food business that delivers fresh burritos.

What we’re eating at home:

Robey: Can’t get enough of the high protein, microwaveable, portable things from local frozen burrito company Sous Casa. Think Hot Pocket but better, way better. Don’t at me. Order your own or send me more.

Megan: Bowls and bowls of Chinese takeout egg drop soup. For breakfast. On repeat. Peter Chang’s or Hunan East. Do you have a favorite egg drop soup? Tell me!

Where we’re headed

There’s a possibility we buried the lede with this Virginia-centric travel news.

Virginia Tourism has launched Winter WanderLove, a promotion that runs now through March 31, 2025, and includes a 25% discount at select hotels across the state. Choose from luxe destinations like The Tides Inn in Irvington, Michelin-starred The Inn at Little Washington and Richmond’s own Quirk Hotel.

The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia. Photo by Scott Elmquist

—XOXO Megan and Robey

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