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RVA Foodie Spotlight: Chili Bowls & Pork Chops

John Reinhold | December 18, 2020

Topics: 821 Cafe, Cheddar Jackson, Chili, Dot's Back Inn, Foodie, Fresh Bread, Idle Hands Bread, local food, local foodie, Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, Pops on Grace, Pork Chops, RVA Food Trucks, rva restaurants, Saison, Smohk, Southbound, Sugar And Salt, The Continental, The Savory Grain, vegan, vegetarian food

Its been a hard year on the local restaurants. Quite a few closings have happened over the past few weeks. This amazing food community is holding on as best it can. We here at RVA have been posting lists of delivery and dining spots, and posting these Instagram spotlights to highlight some of the wonderful food you can order for pickup and delivery. Please do check these spots out, and if you can, support them by ordering a meal or telling friends about your favorite spots. This week, local food creations continue to spotlight the cold weather with warm fixings for RVA.

Every week we spotlighting our favorite local restaurants with the best #RVAFoodie finds around town. We’ll be searching weekly for the best of delicious local food porn in our community, from amazing restaurants to chefs, food trucks, pop-ups and more. Here’s a few close-to-home favorites this week to follow on Instagram. Stay warm and happy, Richmond!

If you’ve got an awesome restaurant to spotlight, reach out to [email protected]! Support local, RVA! 

#RVAFoodie This Week

@thesavorygrain

#VeggieChilli Big fan of Savory Grain, lots of choices from vegan to allergen free. Local sourced fresh food, great lunch choices to pick up.

www.thesavorygrain.com

@smohkrva

#SmokedChilli Smohk makes southern food delights with of course a classic BBQ edge. This is pitmaster style goodness, ready for pickup!

https://smohkrva.com/

@dotsbackinn

#RibNoodleBowl Dot’s Back Inn is a staple of Richmond. Classic dining style food stop thats been listed on TV multiple times. Always top-notch food. They sure could use some love right now, check them out and try an RVA Classic.

dotsbackrichmond.com

@821cafe

#VeganFrenchDip 821 is another Fan Staple — and definitely loved by many of my Vegetarian and Vegan friends. I want to also mention their desserts, which are always banging. New daily updates – and specials like the one above. Check the menu and pick up an order to go!

https://qrcodes.pro/iaE7zQ

@popsongrace

#PotatoSoup This is a new one we just found out about. The pictures on the account look so good. Looks like a perfect down-home lunch spot.

popsongrace.shopsettings.com

@cheddarjacksonrva

#EggMuffin Cheddar is a great panini shop that makes many good bites to eat. They have something for everyone, with vegan and veggie options.

cheddarjackson.com

@thecontinentalrichmond

#Frenchtoast The Continental serves up a serious brunch; it’s exactly what you need to get your day going. The French toast is fluffy and perfect, with fruit to compliment. Reimagined classics for your tongue.

thecontinentalrva.com

@southboundrva

#PorkChop Southbound is located in Chesterfield and has a great locally sourced menu. This is some fine eating here that also offers some classic fare that you know and love.

https://www.toasttab.com/southboundrva/v3

@saisonrva

#FreshPlates Oh Saison, how I need to visit you. One of my favorite meals ever in RVA was their habanero-crusted Red Snapper. Their seasonal choices are excellent — and the market also has quick bites and great beer and wine to go!

www.toasttab.com/saison-rva/v3

@idlehandsbread

#FreshBread I don’t even know. I mean, look at the picture. Need I say anything more? Check their site and daily posts for fresh baked delights and even some vegan choices. Looks so good!

https://www.idlehandsbreadcompany.com/

@sugarandsaltrva

#RedVelvetCake Red Velvet is one of my favorites so this made me stop in my tracks. I can barely stand it. NEEED IN MY LIFE.

sugarandsaltrva.com

@nightingaleicecream

#CookieMonster! You gotta love ’em. It’s just so good. Made local and fresh, and they hold together! Classic way to end the post. Check them out online, and find local spots with them as well. Cheers!

https://www.nightingaleicecream.com/

That’s all for this week’s #RVAFoodie. See you next week, Richmond!

If you have ideas or favorite spots please do reach out to [email protected]!

RVA Foodie Spotlight: Wham Bam & Hot Pots

John Reinhold | November 20, 2020

Topics: branzino, donut, griilled cheese, Hot Chick, hot pot, italian, juice, rockfish, rva food, RVA foodie, rva restaurants, tacos, vegan

If there’s any activity our RVA Magazine team loves unanimously, it’s eating. And of all the dishes in the world, nothing tastes quite as good as the ones made right here in the River City. 

So in the spirit of eating ourselves into food comas in Richmond, we’re spotlighting our favorite local restaurants each week with the best #RVAFoodie finds around town. We’ll be searching weekly for the best of delicious local food in our community, from amazing restaurants to chefs, food trucks, pop-ups and more. Here’s a few close-to-home favorites this week to follow on Instagram. 

If you’ve got an awesome restaurant to spotlight, reach out to [email protected]! Support local, RVA! 

#RVAFoodie This Week

@chengdurestaurant

#HotPot! Cheng du with the absolute amazing hot pots and schezwan food. I can not get enough hot pot as the weather turns colder..

www.chengduva.com

@pepesva

#VeggieTacos Pepes with some of the best tacos and burritos around. In Midlothian and worth the trip,

www.pepesva.com

@edossquid

#RoastedRockFish One of my favorites in RVA. Been that many years since first hitting up Mama Zu (same owners). They always do Italian right.

edossquidrva.com/menu

@/lowcoeatery

#HotChick Lowcoeatery believes in food porn just like we do. Get your down country and Charleston type flavors. Good home cooking feels ya know.

www.lowcoeatery.com

@cheddarjacksonrva

#GrilledCheese Grilled cheese and super sangwiches, lots of belly pleasing choices with vegan options as well.

@hangspacerva

#BigWhatever Hangspace makes delicious 100% vegan food of all kinds, Wanting a Burger they got it, wanting a hot dog they got it. If you like food you can feel good about stop by for pickup Thursday -Sunday or use one of them delivery services.

hang-space-online-ordering.square.site/s/orde

@Perch RVA

#Bronzino Perch is not messing around with this beautiful Bronzino. Big fan of this Mediterranean Sea Bass – its like Rockfishes yummy cousin.

www.perchrva.com

@peterchang

#DriedCabbage Peter Chang makes the second appearance on this list of shezwan food. Feeling it on the need for some right now. Peter Chang has two locations – this one is from Short Pump. If you have not done Peter Chang’s you should. If you like spice, then move it up further on your list.

peterchangrestaurant.com

@tbtelgallo

#Streetfood Tbt has made this list twice. Check their insta and social media as they are a pop up – that hits quite a few spots in town.

https://store.jasperbarrva.com/

@thebeetboxrva

#Jucie Something new to this list with some fresh juices and healthy bites. Build your own juices and plates with the most fresh ingredients.

https://linktr.ee/beetboxrva

@firststopdonuts

#AppleCiderDonuts Richmond’s very own hot apple cider donut. They are made fresh, right inside the converted school bus named Flubert!! GET TO FLUBER get the donut, trust us.

That’s all for this week’s #RVAFoodie. See you next week, Richmond!

RVA Foodie Spotlight: Reuben & Mushroom Ramen

John Reinhold | November 6, 2020

Topics: #eatdrink, #rvafoodie, desserts, eats, Richmond Vegetarian Festival, rva food, rva foodies, sticky rice, sushi, vegan


If there’s any activity our RVA Magazine team loves unanimously, it’s eating. And of all the dishes in the world, nothing tastes quite as good as the ones made right here in the River City. 

So in the spirit of eating ourselves into food comas in Richmond, we’re spotlighting our favorite local restaurants each week with the best #RVAFoodie finds around town. We’ll be searching weekly for the best of delicious local food in our community, from amazing restaurants to chefs, food trucks, pop-ups and more. Here’s a few close-to-home favorites this week to follow on Instagram. 

If you’ve got an awesome restaurant to spotlight, reach out to [email protected]! Support local, RVA! 

#RVAFoodie This Week

@perlysrichmond

#REUBENME So happy the Perlys is open again! Comfort food from there can make anyones day better. Need to stop in to get my LOX fix.

@blueatlasrva

#MUSHROOM RAMEN Blue Atlas serves up fresh inspired seasonal fare that you can get both in the restaurant and through their market.

@yayasinshortpump

#SASHIMIBUCKET YaYas is a new find that looks to bring amazing sushi and drink creations in a hip fun setting. Check out what else we found below – had to include this classic smoke drink!

@theanswerva

#RAMENCHICKEN The Answer Brewpub is a home away from home type of spot for us. They of course have some of the best and most creative beers. Don’t miss our on the amazing food either, get a wake and bacon for the win.

@rootsnk (in Charlottesville)

#TOFUSALAD Empowering people through food! Root natural kitchen has a great mission along with great foods. Make sure and check out daily plans, and throw some support their way.

@Stickyricerva

#SUSHI We have missed Sticky Rice. Need our sushi fix badly, and need my tots and sauce while I m at it.

@beauvineburger

#CLASSICBURGER Beauvine makes a really good handcrafted burger. Its a classic with amazing fries to boot.

@pearlsbakeshoppe

#PEANUTBUTTERPIE Pearls makes some of the best cakes and desserts around Richmond. They can also deal with all allergies and needs when making something special. You can also just go in and see whats in the case daily. Never disappoints.

@nightingaleicecream

#ICECREAMSANDWICH Chances are you have had one of their dank creations. This little lover above has chocolate and coffee, its cute and packs a punch.

That’s all for this week’s #RVAFoodie. See you next week, Richmond!

RVA Foodie Spotlight: Frankfuter Dog & Seasonal Sweets

John Reinhold | October 23, 2020

Topics: #eatdrink, CAKE, dog, eatdrink, frankfuter, Halloween, pie, pumkin, seasonal treats, vegan, vegetarian


If there’s any activity our RVA Magazine team loves unanimously, it’s eating. And of all the dishes in the world, nothing tastes quite as good as the ones made right here in the River City. 

So in the spirit of eating ourselves into food comas in Richmond, we’re spotlighting our favorite local restaurants each week with the best #RVAFoodie finds around town. We’ll be searching weekly for the best of delicious local food in our community, from amazing restaurants to chefs, food trucks, pop-ups and more. Here’s a few close-to-home favorites this week to follow on Instagram. 

If you’ve got an awesome restaurant to spotlight, reach out to [email protected]! Support local, RVA! 

#RVAFoodie This Week

@ensuboca_taqueria

#festivesoup En Su Boca always bringing us the fresh yummy and festive treats. Here is an enchilada soup to keep ya warm!

@momsiam

#Curry Northern Style Koa-Soi-Kai egg noodle curry chicken soup, a creamy and yummy delight.

@peoplespieva

#PizzaPie Layers of flavor on this special pie with prosciutto cotto, bacon bolognese, and lots provolone in this blend. Fished with a bacon ranch drizzle. NEED THIS IN MY LIFE!

@thecobracabanarva

#FalafelBurrito Cobra always cooking up the amazing vegan treats for us here in RVA. Fun hang spot as well, big fan of he Korean Wings here!

@hangspacerva

#VeganDog Hang space is RVA’s Vegan food Paradise, they area always cooking up the best in everyday vegan fare. Heres another one of the amazing dogs for ya.

@notabenerva

#Amazingsub Nota with a juicy looking Fried Mozz sub here. Italian go to foods for RVA.

@unionmarketrva

#PorkBellyBahnMi Smoked Pork Belly from one our favorite Markets in town. If you live in Church Hill Union is a must stop, amazing food and beverages in this amazing market!

@whiskrva

#Pumpklnmacarons Whisk has some very festive treats daily, this is an amazing and so colorful macaroon for Halloween.

@821cafe

#Vegancake 821 Cafe has been a staple of the scene for many years, vegan hot spot and perfect place for anyone for breakfast or any meal. Here are some amazing looking vegan cakes, so idea how they get this so good!

@joesinnfan

#ChocolatePie Joes Inn in the fan with this most yummy Mousse back from the dead. Joes Inn is another staple of Richmond.

@Thecontinentalrichmond

#PumpkinCheesecake Last but definitely not least is this really beautiful looking pumpkin pie cheesecake. Perfect for the season!

That’s all for this week’s #RVAFoodie. See you next week, Richmond!

What Makes The Impossible Whopper So Impossibly Good?

Noelle Abrahams | September 19, 2019

Topics: 821 Cafe, burger, burger king, carytown burgers, clean eating, environment, environmental issues, go green, green, impossible burger, impossible whopper, meat, vegan, vegetarian

We’ve got answers. Dig in, everyone.

On August 8, 2019, Burger King rolled out the Impossible Whopper at all of their locations nationwide. If you haven’t tried it yet, make your way to the nearest Burger King as soon as you finish reading this, because it’s impossibly, sinfully delicious — just like the real thing.

The Impossible Burger patty is 100 percent plant-based, but it’s not your ordinary vegetarian burger option. Impossible Foods used a scientific approach to create a meatless product that tastes, looks, smells, and even feels exactly like meat. Flame-grilled like the real deal, and with all of the same glorious toppings and sesame seed bun as the original, I’m confident that I would not be able to distinguish the Impossible Whopper from its beef counterpart, even without a blindfold. The sandwich can also easily be converted to a vegan option if you order it without the cheese and mayonnaise.

If you’re a vegetarian, you’ve probably tried all the usual burger substitutes: Veggie, black bean, quinoa, tofu, portobello mushroom. But they’re just not the same as a real burger, and often not even close. It makes sense; a black bean and a cow are two very different things. However, Impossible Foods went to the heart of the equation, and figured out the secret ingredient in meat that makes us love it so much: heme, an iron-containing molecule that is essential to all living things. In animals, heme is carried by proteins like hemoglobin and myoglobin. Since soy plants are living things too, they also have heme, and it’s carried by their legume hemoglobin.

So to create a vegan burger that tastes so impossibly good, Impossible Foods extracts the heme from legume hemoglobin in soy plants. And there you have it: plant meat!

Photo via Impossible Foods

But the Impossible Whopper is more than just delicious. It’s proof that vegetarianism is finally permeating mainstream American food culture; a feat that many people — my baby boomer dad, for example — swore would never happen in their lifetime. Impossible Foods was founded in California in 2011, and it’s understandably taken a while for them to build up their manufacturing base to a competitive level with beef burger production (a trillion-dollar global industry). But they’re getting there. According to analysts at Barclays, the alternative meat industry could reach $140 billion over the next decade.

In 2017, Impossible Foods started selling their Impossible Burger in regional chains like White Castle, Umami Burger, and Bareburger. Burger King is the first nationwide fast-food restaurant to carry their Impossible Burger product, and that’s what makes the Impossible Whopper such a big deal for America. You could already order an Impossible Burger at other nationwide casual dining chains like The Cheesecake Factory and Red Robin, but those are restaurants where you have to tip a server, so they’re less likely to be frequented by low-income Americans.

The issue of equal access that plagues vegetarianism is one that exists plainly here in Richmond. Before Burger King, Richmond residents could get an Impossible Burger at 821 Cafe, Carytown Burgers & Fries, or their local Kroger grocery store. But price is certainly a factor in who buys one at those places — the Impossible Burger at 821 cafe is $12, making it $3 more than their beef half-pounder option. At Carytown Burgers & Fries, subbing an Impossible Burger for the traditional beef patty tacks on an extra $5 to your total cost. With a suggested retail price of $5.59, Burger King is slinging the cheapest Impossible Burger in town.

Obviously, Burger King isn’t the place you would go in search of a gourmet burger, and that’s why the Impossible Whopper is a big step for the American vegetarian industry. Historically, going meatless has been a privilege of the middle and upper classes — those who can afford to opt for higher-end chains and independently-owned, boutique restaurants over fast food, or those who have the time in their day to prepare home-cooked meals.

Photo via Impossible Foods

Fast food restaurants are disproportionately patronized by minorities, the working class, and those who live at or below the poverty line. You’d be hard pressed to find a vegetarian option that’s not a salad at any mainstream fast food restaurant, and who would pick a bowl of lettuce over a burger at the end of a long, hard work day, knowing that’s all they’ll eat for the rest of the night?

With over 7,400 locations in the U.S., Burger King is also bringing an affordable meatless burger option to rural, low-income communities whose residents may have never even heard of the Impossible Burger before, let alone had the chance to try it. In small-town rural America, you’re unlikely to find a mom-and-pop diner or cheaply priced restaurant selling decent vegetarian items that aren’t just more sad-looking salads. But odds are, there’s a Burger King in town, or somewhere nearby. Burger King is making a pivotal move on the vegetarian frontier by providing exposure and access to meatless options in areas like these.

Obviously, the American food industry isn’t going to change overnight. It’s not like every person in the country is now going to buy an Impossible Whopper every single time they want fast food. But it’s a big step in the right direction. America’s infatuation with meat has always seemed like an impervious, immovable fixture in American food culture, and now Burger King and Impossible Foods are proving that we can slowly chip away at the unethical, unsustainable industries supporting mainstream eating habits.

Burger King plans to make the Impossible Whopper a permanent item on their menu by next year, but current availability is reportedly still part of a trial period, so get it while it’s hot, and drop us your review in the comments!

Top Photo via Impossible Foods

Don’t Have A Cow! Check Out Richmond VegFest This Weekend

Christopher Brown | September 13, 2019

Topics: events, festival, festivals, healthy eating, plant based diet, richmond vegfest, veg fest, vegan, vegetarian, vegfest

This Saturday in Byrd Park, Richmond VegFest will show us all the most delicious ways to eat a meat-free diet.

For 16 years, the Richmond VegFest has been the go-to for vegan and vegetarian food throughout the area. Now with the ever-growing population of the city turning toward more vegan-friendly options than ever, the festival is adjusting to meet the growth of newcomers and OGs who have now gone vegan. Brenda Morris and Mark Ogilvie, the event coordinator and volunteer organizer for RVA VegFest, respectively, are excited for people to embrace the changes that have been made.

This year, the festival will be held at Byrd Park instead of Bryan Park. This will be the first time in the festival’s 17-year run where the event will be hosted at a new location. Morris hopes the new location will be able to accommodate the crowd more successfully than their original spot has in the past couple of years.

Image via Richmond VegFest 2019

“Bryan Park is a gorgeous park and we all loved having it there, but we really ran out of space,” Morris said. “The biggest complaint we would get every year is parking… so hopefully people will have less of a problem parking than they had in the past in Bryan Park.”

The date has also changed this year. Having previously held the festival during the first weeks of June, guests were sometimes hit by extreme temperatures. Morris joked that the temperature had an effected on her ability to eat.

“I’m a big eater, but I don’t wanna eat when it’s 100 degrees out,” Morris said.

So instead of having the festival around early summer, RVA VegFest relocated to the season’s tail end, taking to Byrd Park on September 14. While early September can host its share of 95-degree days, Morris expects this Saturday to have cool temperatures as well as great weather.

VegFest veterans should appreciate these changes, but newcomers are sure to wonder what they can expect from this festival. As with every major festival in town, the food tops the list of things you can look forward to. According to Ogilvie, this year, the festival will have about 34 food vendors, ranging from My Vegan Sweet Tooth to In The Raw Soul Catering.

Photo via Richmond Vegfest

The diverse food choices will give guests who are trying to eat a more vegan lifestyle a bigger variety of tastes to try. In the days before the festival got started, vegans like Morris couldn’t find this kind of variety. However, she believes vegans and vegetarians pressuring restaurants to have more vegan-friendly options played a crucial role in bringing a variety of new tastes to the meatless food world.

“Over the years, they have seen that there are not just vegans that are interested,” Morris said. “There are people who are trying to eat healthier, that do care about the environment. When they go out to eat, they want to have these options available, too. So that demand has helped drive this growth, and I think it’s going to continue.”

Along with a wide variety of food options, there will be cooking demonstrations taking place throughout the festival. One of the missions of Richmond VegFest is to convince those who are not vegan to consider more of a plant-based diet. According to Ogilvie, the cooking demos will offer both vegans and non-vegans the opportunity to watch chefs craft meals, as well as hear personal stories about what made them go vegan.

Photo via Richmond Vegfest

Along with these chefs, there will be guest speakers who will tell their stories, and explain why going vegan is good for humans as well as the environment. Nutritionist Derek Tresize, who will also be in attendance, will help attendees plan out a vegan diet.

Plus, there’s fun for both human babies and fur-babies, as the VegFest will have a section for the kids called the Kids Patch. Guests can bring their pets along, too, and Ogilvie recommends getting there early so guests can get the full experience of the RVA VegFest (and, of course, find a parking spot).

“I get a little disappointed that you get all this wonderful food, and you know if you have one big meal, it’s like ‘ugh I can’t eat anything else,’” Morris said. “[At the festival], you can eat more of the food that’s there.”

The Richmond VegFest will take place on Saturday, September 14 from noon to 6 at Richmond’s Byrd Park. For details and directions, visit their website.

Top Image via Richmond VegFest

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