I like coffee

Kate: This post is dedicated to that caffeinated beverage of caffeinated beverages: coffee. I am an avid coffee drinker, an avid hot coffee drinker, even in the hottest of summers. In fact, for several years, while I lived in Tucson, Arizona, I'd wake up extra early (around 5 am) and head to my local coffee shop (a Cafe Paraiso) and join the other early bird hot coffee drinkers. Ice doesn't belong in my coffee; other people's coffee (my mother's, for instance), fine, but not mine. Here's a few I've found, though also I love sitting at a regular bar and ordering a cup o' joe.

For really good coffee, Can-can is great, and their regular cup is less than $2 (compared to the new over-priced Starbuck's standard, that's not bad). It's strong and flavorful coffee, nutty. The staff are good, too, with a refill before you know you need it. Here, the coffee's ordered at the bar, and they bring it to your table on a saucer with cream and brown and white sugar cubes (love the sugar cubes!).

Ellwood Thompson's coffee shop pours another great cup, though it'll cost ya a bit more. A strong brew and lots of variety, it's a good stop for the coffee enthusiast. It's also an excellent place to go and just sit. There are couches, plush chairs, tables (both small and really large), two bars, and a patio. The food's great, too, though again, it'll cost ya.

Quickly, I'll mention that as a child I shopped at the Fan Market on Stuart and Robinson, and I whole-heartedly approve of its reincarnation. I can't deny my love any longer.....I love that Starbuck's! The coffee is no different than at any other Starbuck's, but it's good staff, good customers, and a great location. Warning: Starbuck's wireless is a pain in the *ss to access. Go somewhere else, like...

Good joe and good food: Shockoe Espresso, near the Martin Agency. I love the big tables here; they're great for working. The free wireless also helps (not complicated like Starbuck's; you simply sign up). The couches and comfortable chairs are great for lounging. This joint closes early, though.

For the earthy, very local feel, visit the Black Hand Coffee Company in the Museum District. You'll know you're supporting local business and getting a good, strong cup of coffee at the same time. It's a small, but welcoming shop, and I believe they do some catering, so check it out!

Capital Coffee House on Cary Street is another local gem, where you'll find some of the same regulars there morning, noon, and night; but this just adds to the charm. Another excellent cup of joe and good light food (especially dessert), too.

And, Rostov's: not the place to drink the coffee (it's not a coffee bar), but certainly the place to pick it up to take home. They carry a great variety of flavorful teas, as well. I love the Richmond blend, especially in the winter. While you browse the cups, saucers, loose teas, and other caffeine accoutrement, the aroma of freshly roasted coffee fills the air and makes it almost impossible not to leave with something in hand.

This is installment number one in my tales of caffeine in the greater Richmond area. More to follow...

Mamma Zu

Whitney: This past Wednesday a bride to be, her closest friend, and the future mother- and sister-in-law all went to Mamma Zu. Quite possibly one of the more romantically lit restaurants in Richmond (they must save a ton on their electric bill). Mamma Zu was first introduced to me by that future mother-in-law. And it seems no matter how many people are or are not dinning in our party we always order the same thing and leave feeling the same way (over-stuffed and happy).

First on the agenda is always the Brocolini- light and fresh greens, heavy on the garlic and oil, sprinkled with pine nuts and finely chopped garlic-What more can you ask for?

Then: White Pizza-perfectly thin and light, this pizza makes a great appetizer.

Fried Oysters- The future mother-in-law swears this is the place in Richmond to get the best fried oysters! They are lovely.


We also added to the order (courtesy of the closest friend) the Caprese- which is so light and lovely; this dish really goes well with anything you order. The tomatoes and fresh mozzarella were truly the freshest I've had all season long.

Let's not forget the Beans and Squid- this is a true surprise! I was always weary about trying this dish, but it has been on the table for over three years now, so one day I figured what the hell. It's amazing!!! Light, not too oily and it kicks with lime (one of my favorite ingredients to cook with).

Now onto the entrees: We ordered the Duck and the Red Snapper. I have recently acquired a taste for duck (thanks to Acacia-Mid Town) and I have to say that the Duck (medium rare (a choice made by the future mother-in-law)) at Mamma Zu is really something worth falling in love with all over again (order it anyway you like it, though).

The Red Snapper is a new fish for me at Mamma Zu (normally we order the Branzino or the Rockfish (all whole fish)). I felt that the Red Snapper really lived up to the Mama Zu reputation of delicious, full flavored, amazing fish! This fish was a great choice and I am glad we tried something new.

We finished the evening with coffee and the ever so decadent Tiramisu. Let's just say one slice of heaven, four spoons, equals perfect amount of sweet treat after a garlic induced onset of deliciousness.

Overall: If this is first time as a Richmonder or if you're from out of town, disregard aesthetics momentarily. From the outside Mamma Zu doesn't look like much, and the interior isn't that much better. But stop complaining long enough to eat, and I promise you'll never have another bad thing to say about it. As a warning, there is always a wait. Have all your party ready and be prepared to camp: it's worth it.

Kate: Just to add on to what Whitney's already written so eloquently, Mamma Zu was a fantastic surprise. This was my first visit, and, taking one look at the almost decredpit exterior, I wasn't sure what to think. Was it the dull-on-the-outside-but-brilliant-diamond-in-the-rough, or was it overrated?

My experience tells me that the food is stellar, and, as Whitney wrote, worth the wait for a seat. Every dish, and there were many, was packed with flavor. So many Italian restaurants serve food that is warm and covered in cheese with absolutely no flavor whatsover. This was a complete rebuttal; Mamma Zu reaffirmed my love of Italian cuisine.

This sounds dramatic, but lately my experience has been the standardized mediocrity of both nationwide chains (Magianno's, for example) and corner ma-and-pop's alike (None of these I'll name, because, despite the lackluster food, the atmosphere and local tradition make these places worthwhile.).

I ordered the caprese, and it was mouth watering. It's a simple dish (tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil with some additional herbs and oil) done well with fresh ingredients.

I, also skeptical of squid and beans, enjoyed every bite of the immense table full of food.

Comment on Whitney's explanation of romantic lighting: I arrived a little late and could barely see Whitney and her soon to be family-in-law in the back corner table. Even the shapes of the plates on the table, once I was seated, were difficult to make out in the utter absence of light. In a way, though, it added to the culinary experience, taking away any sight sensation and focusing all energy on taste.

While the staff were not the friendliest group, I wasn't planning on adding them to my Christmas card list anyway. The food arrived quickly, and it was good.

Overall: good stuff that I'd highly recommend to anyone I respect or want to impress with my culinary acumen

Note: Mamma Zu has no website, but online reviews of the restaurant are abundant.

ACACIA Mid-Town

Whitney: Date night again and we've decided that we must re-visit Acacia. The last time I went everything was just so lovely and the food is AMAZING! (Thank you Dale).


We ate (what felt like) everything. Let's begin with fried oysters, southern coleslaw, spicy mayo 9- these were each served in little sauce plates and each had its own bed of southern coleslaw and a small dollop of spicy mayo. I enjoyed seeing (and tasting) the spicy mayo outside of a Sushi joint.
Pictured above is the tuna ceviche peruvian style, with cucumbers, onions on avocado 9- (the avocado is amazing and I don't even like avocado) and as you can see it's really beautiful.

We also ordered the sauteed scallops, homemade gnocchi, spinach, parmesan sauce 24. This is phenomenal! For some reason gnocchi and scallops are just wonderful together. This dish is so wonderful, probably my favorite so far.

We were too stuffed by the time the sauteed rockfish, broccolini, and plantains made it to the table. But we gave it effort enough to know that the plantains combined with the salty rockfish and broccolini are divine.

In the past we have also tried the Duck Salad, The Calamari, Potato Scallops wrapped in Applewood Bacon, and the Crab Cakes.

The menu changes seasonally so you are always ready for more ACACIA Mid-Town.

The food is great; the mood is awesome (it's a very calm and contemporary feel right in the middle of down home Richmond). The bathrooms are pretty awesome too, simple and sophisticated and too difficult to figure out.

Acacia is a great place for a family meal, or a snack at the bar with friends. I love the huge brightly lit open kitchen, the enormous wine cooler and their private room is private enough but still central to the heart of the restaurant.

Overall: I highly recommend this place, I have for many years and probably always will. If you thought the old location couldn't get any better, then you thought wrong. This is nice. It's convenient location is between shops and entertainment and they offer Valet parking.

The 26th Annual Watermelon Festival

Whitney: This is the second year (I think) that the Carytown Association has ran the Watermelon Festival, and I have to say I think they are doing a great job. The vendors were eclectic and had a something for everyone. Though the association did place a stage at the 2800 block, blocking off three businesses. This I thought was crucial because normally Mom's Siam is packed every year. But I guess the association didn't mind sacrificing a Thai and a Sushi restaurant and The Window World for the sake of aesthetics.

That one minor detail aside, I met Kate at Weezies at 10:30 a.m. They make lovely Bloody Mary's (I had two). Kate ordered French Toast and I ordered the Hummus Platter (it was just too hot for anything else). Though Kate's order of french toast could have been fancier and smaller it certainly was good and she really tried to finish it. My Hummus platter was very large (typically they are) and very very good.

The place was totally packed all day long. We didn't hang there long because we really wanted to get a start on our (HOT HOT) day.

We ducked in and out of booths and I talked myself out of a psychic reading and a buy-one-get- one-half-off deal on travel mugs.

We staggered around in the thick of the heat and babies in strollers that were too hot to fight it any longer and dogs that were panting like a freight train. Some were hanging out in the two water misters provided, but most tried to get from point to A and B without making pit stops. IT WAS HOT.

We decided to take our fading buzz to Mom's Siam to sit in the shade of the patio and talk to Mom about the festival. Only when we sat down we couldn't see the festival because of the stage. Actually I thought we would be forced to sit inside because the patio would be packed, but as I said earlier the way the street was blocked off really hurt business for the 2800 block of Cary St.

Nonetheless, we ordered a bottle of Prosecco and two tall waters. We hung out and chit chatted until another friend of ours joined us for dinner at Mom's Siam. Again I really wasn't hungry with all that heat, so Kate and I just ordered the Fried Tofu Bites and Katie ordered (her usual) Tofu Pad Thai. And we all ate and were happy. We had a round of Watermelon Tini's (ohh so GOOD), and we decided to take our adventures to one more vendor: Mezzanine.

At this point everyone was leaving and that damn stage that was blocking my view all day was finally coming down. I decided to walk to Mezzanine since that Watermelon Tini hit me pretty hard. The walk was nice. It wasn't as hot, and there was much less of a crowd.
We sat inside because I had had it with the heat and couldn't cool off and my head was pounding. We ordered two bottles of wine and got lost in conversation. Caught up with old friends we didn't mean to run into and really enjoyed the environment that is Mezzanine.

The 26th Annual Watermelon Festival was over. And though its always hot and always taxing its something a true Richmonder takes advantage of because a true Richmonder is always looking for a reason to celebrate.

On a Hot, Humid Day...What else but Watermelon?

Kate: Tomorrow, Sunday August 9, we'll see Richmond's 26th Carytown Watermelon Festisval. While I love watermelon, festival food, great sales, and live music, I can't love the scorching heat and oppressive humidity that usually accompany this event. Why August? Tomorrow should be no exception with hot temperatures and sunny skies in the forecast, it promises to be sweaty and uncomfortable. And, the dogs, those poor over-heated dogs. Leave them at home tomorrow; they'll be much more comfortable there.

Water Grill

Whitney: Water Grill Restaurant has been open for about a week. They intend on serving lunch, and brunch but at the current time they are only serving dinner. On a sticky August evening three friends decide to dine at Water Grill. The haunting chill of what used to be Karsens still remains since none of the decor and architecture have changed. We were seated upstairs because on this particular Thursday evening Water Grill was packed. We started with the usual rounds of Reds of Whites, some chosen for name and some chosen for body. They were all lovely and most about 8.00 a glass.


The first appetizer to arrive at the table was a beautiful Tuna Tartare-9.00- Sesame seeds, Soy Syrup, Wakame Salad, and Dragon Noodles- stacked neatly about 1.5 inches thick with the Wakame Salad and Dragon Noodles balanced on top this dish is aesthetically appealing. The texture of the crunchy Wakame Salad and crispy Dragon Noodles blended with the moist Tuna Tartare was simply phenomenal.


Next came the Fried Green Tomatos-7.00- Homemade (Spicy) Pimento Cheese, Ancho Cream and Cilantro Oil- Since Kate is a bit of an expert on what is good and what is not a good Fried Green Tomato, she these were better than the ones that she has anywhere and that includes Julep's.



Whitney: While we were pigging out on the first two appetizers the Fried Calamari arrived. Fried Calamari-7.00-Hanover Tomato-Orange Chile Sauce- Very nicely displayed (didn't have that popcorn texture to them at all) but possibly a bit overcooked. They were a little dry but the overall verdict for the ever so popular Calamari was told by the empty plate not with words.

I personally ordered (to share of course) the Vegetable Trio-16.00- Polenta Cake, Shitakes, Black Pepper Balsamic Reduction: Tomato Mozzarella Napoleon: Stuffed Roasted Pepper. This was a meal where and every thing on the plate complimented the other items on the plate. The Polenta cake was indeed a little slice of cake covered in a blanket of wonderful Shitakes. The Napoleon had no need for a complex any longer. This three tier Tomato and Mozzarella teased my taste buds and satiated me immensely. The tiny stuffed Red Pepper seemed to be stuffed with a Cous Cous of some sort. It was delicious.

Overall: The Water Grill is a nice place to dine. The atmosphere is nice and the patio if you can get a seat out there is wonderful.

The Boathouse

Whitney: Hands down this is a lovely place to dine. You are sitting right on the water under beautiful pine trees and its all tucked away in quaint Brandermill. The staff is welcoming and ready to serve. But don't get your hopes up too high we cannot 'have our cake and eat it too'. I encourage everyone to go just to sit and watch the sunset but stick with drinks and maybe just the Asian Salmon Salad.



We've all heard the Boathouse buzz but are these people really tasting the food or can they not get over the ambience?



My date and I ordered a total of four appetizers (we'd been pre-warned to only go for appetizers and drinks, that the food was simply not worth the buck). So we ordered a Cava split 9.00 and a Strawberry daquiri. (Most splits about town are anywhere from 6.50-8.00 so the price isn't too far off base).



We decided to stick with the Calamari Fritte-9.50 and there was nothing fabulous or wonderful about the Calamari but it wasn't terrible either (how hard is it to mess up Calamari up, right?). Also ordered were the Maki Rolls, rice, nori, cucumber, scallion, red peppers, ginger, wasabi, sweet soy dip with Spicy Tuna with Chile Sambal and Jalapeno- 9.50. Though the rolls were pretty and simple we also had to take into a consideration that we were not at a Japanese establishment. So we let the fact that the rice was not fresh and that the Spicy Tuna was not actually spicy- pass.
However, The Crab Louis Salad-12.50-was pretty bad! Despite the plesant sounding description on the menu- Crabmeat, Spinach, Asparagus, Artichokes, Tomatoes, Capers, Egg and Louis Dressing- the Crab was NOT fresh. I don't know if it was canned crab, or if they used crab off of another plate, or if this crab was from the trash even but this was not fresh crab on my salad. So much so that I ate around the crabmeat. The Salad itself was a beautiful display of fresh lettuce and artichoke with huge stalks of asparagus, tomato and a sliced boiled egg on top. Even the Louis Dressing was wonderful-but the crab was funky. When the issue was addressed our waiter told us "the crab is delivered fresh daily. But I don't like it either". To this I thought, "Thanks for all your help"!
Finally I'd like to mention the Asian Salmon Noodle Salad-Maple ginger, Glazed Grilled Salmon, Sesame Noodles, Hoisin Vinaigrette, Baby Spinach, Asian Slaw and Fried Leeks- 12.50. This was a dish worth the money, worth the box to take it home and so worth it the next day for lunch. All of the ingrediants led to a colorful array of veggies and noodles all mixed together for my consuming pleasure. The Maple Ginger and the Salmon were tangy and sweet but not of the Teriyaki descent. I highly reccomend this dish.

Overall: The setting was surreal and made us feel like we were vacationing (and for Richmonders' it is quite a hike (especially when we have better food right down the block)). The overall food experience was a total catastrophe. If the only thing holding a menu together is Seafood (so much so that you have an array of items such as Sushi and Pizza and Lobster Bisque on the menu) then shouldn't the Seafood (at least) be fresh?

Buy Fresh Buy Local

Kate: I have this bumper sticker, but it's not on my car. I do, however, want to advertise it here. Richmond has a pretty good stock of Farmers' Markets. Visiting one of these will not only keep you stocked with fresh in-season local produce, but it'll help keep Richmond farmers' markets a part of city life.

Click on the link to find out where one is near you. Make sure it's open before you head out.

Arianna's Grill

Whitney: Across from Caliente, Arianna's is nestled in the base of Devil's Triangle. It is nicely painted and a nice addition to the little 'restaurant square'. Nothing too fancy, just your basic tables and (very large) booths. We sat down and Ryan came over to our table fastidiously (the place was dead). We started with a sweet tea (which was good and sweet) and a glass of Lambrusco-Chiarli, Italy. The Lambrusco was aesthetically shocking yet tastefully appealing. It is a deep red sparking wine and it taste like grape juice. The Lambrusco is $5.00 a glass and $18.00 for a bottle-but don't bother looking for it. Ryan says, "it is not sold retail but you may be able to find something like it".

I ordered the Fettucine al Cognac-shrimp and Scallops in a creamy Cognac sauce-13.95.
The dish arrived with the tiniest scallops I have ever seen (not at all like the ones at Mom's Siam). Though the may have been tiny they gave you plenty tiny ones to make up for it and they were cute. Fettucine and (lots of tiny Scallops) were surrounded by perfectly placed (and decently sized) Shrimp. This was amazing! The red cream sauce with the green flecks of Parsley made this dish 'oh so pretty' and it was 'oh so tasty'. I continued eating well past my cut off point and still have plenty left over for another meal. I was thoroughly impressed with this dish, all for $13.95.

My date ordered the Linguine Pescatore-with mussels, clams, shrimp and calamari in marinara sauce (and he added chicken for $3.00). It was so pretty! The Mussels were placed around the pasta and the marinara was fresh (you could really taste the wonderful basil that they used to complete the recipe). The dish without the chicken was $15.95.

Overall: I'd say this is a great casual dining experience. You can were jeans or whatever and still eat well priced amazing food. Fantastic!

Sticky Rice for the Sushi Un-enthusiast

Kate: So, a co-worker says, "how 'bout sushi for lunch?"

To which I reply, "I don't like sushi." As this particular co-worker was hell bent on sushi, we went to Sticky Rice. This is the tale of the lunch of a sushi un-enthusiast at a sushi joint.

There was no crowd, which is always a pleasant surprise at lunch-rush hour, and the drinks were delivered quickly. We happened to sit at a small wooden booth with a sign that said something to the effect of "Sorry, the Air Conditioning may leak." Which it did. Large water droplets landed on the table and occassionally on the food. They did warn us.

I, not loving sushi, ordered a spinach salad ($4) and a roll of spicy tuna (about $5); a can do a roll now and then. The spinach salad arrived not two minutes after I ordered it, and its non-existent prep time was evident in the make-up of the salad itself. It was a small bowl of very green spinach leaves, two cucumber slices, two grape tomatoes, with some carrot and onion shavings. The amount of spinach was overwhelming, and the dressing (an orange ginger compote) was thick and un-spreadable. I used it as a dip, but not for long. Along with being a sushi un-enthusiast, I realize I am an orange-ginger "dressing" un-enthusiast. Not a great salad. I didn't finish it, though I thank Sticky Rice for a healthy dose of fiber and protein via an abnormal serving size of raw spinach leaves. (See nutritional information for spinach.)

Next comes the sushi. My compadre ordered two rolls, spicy salmon and another that I forget. She absolutely loved both of them; she is a sushi enthusiast. My spicy tuna arrived. It was indeed spicy, which I love. The roll itself was good. It held itself together and didn't cause any gag reflexes, which I consider a triumph.

For other sushi un-enthusiasts out there, Sticky Rice does have a variety of food on the menu, including sandwiches, salads, and non-sushi entrees.

Also, their drink menu is robust, with a pretty good selection of beer, wine, sake (of course) and a full host of alcoholic beverages one would expect from any full bar.

Aside from the dripping AC, the atmosphere was stellar: quiet, trendy decor, great large front window for people-watching, and a friendly staff.

Overall for a sushi un-enthusiast: A big Okay.

Overal for a sushi enthusiast: Fabulous (though I've heard from other sushi enthusiasts/purists that Sticky Rice is not as hard-core traditional sushi as they'd like)

Only one way to find out: try it. For weekend nights, go early. It gets crowded early on and stays that way. It also gets loud, but apparently not on weekday lunch hours.

Pegasus Restaurant

Whitney: On a whim I had the pleasure to dine at Pegasus last Thursday. I don't know what I was expecting but what I got felt a lot like home. I don't remember there being any music just the light buzz of casual conversation throughout the restaurant. The mood was very relaxed, in fact, I haven't been to a place where I've felt that relaxed in a long time. I ordered the Grecian Vegetarian Penne (13.95) and my date ordered the nights special; Soft Shell Crab 25.50. Both entrees came with a side salad. Spinach, tomato and feta.
The salads were simple and understated but refreshing and satisfying.
The Soft Shell Crab entree was perfectly paired with southern style green beans and displayed nicely on two seperate dishes. The entree consisted of 3 healthy Soft Shell Crabs sauteed with potatoes and the dish was consumed ardently.

I had a steaming pile of Grecian Vegetarian Penne before me and though I tried to consume all of it in one sitting it was still just as savory for lunch the next day. Such a colorful pasta I felt a little guilty consuming the mirage of beauty before me. Outfitted with green zuchinni, yellow squash , feta, spinach, black olives, beans, tomatoes and sprinkled with parsley, this dish was right on point.

Overall: I enjoyed Pegasus and enjoyed the lack of stimulation. Sometimes its nice to go and eat and not feel totally exhausted because of all the pomp.