Two food comas within one week…life is good.

September was a big month for us as far as celebrations go. Within one week of each other, we celebrated Jared’s 30th Birthday and our 2nd year anniversary as a married couple. I know this is long overdue, but I wanted to share with you where we dined for both occasions. For Jared’s birthday, we went to a favorite of ours, Tarrant’s Cafe in downtown, Richmond. For our 2nd year anniversary, we wanted to stick with tapas and Spanish food since we went to Spain for our honeymoon. However, we tried something different since the place we wanted to go to had a private event. We went to Mezzanine in Carytown, which happened to be a new favorite (when we have money) Haha.

Tarrant’s Cafe is not knew to us at all. We’ve eaten here several times and every time, the food never disappoints. They serve a variety of classics with twist. They have a strong Richmond following. It’s always crowded so I suggest reservations.

We started with ordering soups since it was a pretty gloomy day. The She Crab soup is a favorite of the locals. Sadly, I wasn’t too much of a fan. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but my one big issue with it was the strong alcohol taste it had. It was probably the sherry or liquor in the soup that overpowered the whole thing. I couldn’t even finish it and passed it along to Jared, who didn’t seem to mind.

Jared ordered their soup of the day, which was hearty and filling on a cold, rainy day. We don’t remember what it was, but it was a cross between a soup and a chowder.

With our meal, we got toasted bread soaked in deliciousness of garlic, herbs and olive oil.  This was great to dip into our soup. I could have eaten all four pieces by myself!

And the real reason we decided to come to Tarrant’s Cafe was to try their infamous chicken and waffles. Before we ordered, we thought we’d get maybe 2 pieces of fried chicken with a plain, thin waffle. Boy were we wrong. Our waitress set our plates in front of us and we were both floored. What came out was three huge pieces of chicken (a leg, thigh and breast) on top of a freshly cooked, thick Belgian waffle. We were in heaven. Just look at how much you get for less than $16!

The chicken and waffles came with freshly cooked green beans that were perfectly seasoned. There was also this syrup that was both savory and sweet. We found out it was a combination of maple syrup, tahini and whole-grain mustard. Who knew that combination would work so well. So, even though we tried to finish our plates, we honestly couldn’t. Jared even had to throw in the towel. We had leftovers for lunch the next day, which made us even happier.

Within the same week, Jared and I celebrated our 2-year anniversary! We really ate pretty damn good that week. We decided to go to Mezzanine because our first choice fell through and I saw they had a Living Social coupon. $20 for $40 worth of food, not bad at all. I’m really glad our first choice didn’t work out because Mezzanine was a pleasant surprise. Hands down, it was by far the tastiest food I’ve had in a while. There’s something about this place that made us not care about how much we spent because the food was THAT good. The quality, the flavors were impeccable.

First on the list, order the cheapest bottle of red they had one the menu. It was infact cheaper than buying by the glass. This was a solid Pinot Noir, light and crisp.

We ordered the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which came with a red onion vinaigrette crab salad. The fried green tomatoes were exactly how I would cook them. They were sliced thickly, the exterior was super crispy. It was fantastic. The only thing I hesitate about this appetizer was the dressing, I wish there was more of it. The crab salad was a nice addition, but it was on the dry side. Just needed more sauce!

We ordered two small plates and shared between the two of us. The first plate was braised short ribs with a hoisin jus over top Byrdmill grits. We were both speechless. What else can I say about this perfect dish? It was buttery, tender, silky, flavorful, moist, sweet, succulent, rich and amazing. It was perfection on a plate. I don’t even think we said a word to each other since we were so focused on our meal! Haha. You know the food is good when it’s quite.

What could probably top the braised short ribs was their Carolina shrimp and grits. Seriously, I have never tasted something so delicious and so flavorful. I think Jared and I were fighting for the last bite. It was THE best meal I think I’ve ever had. It was certainly one of those kind of meals that leaves a mark. It was the kind of meal I live for.

We finished our meal with my favorite dessert, creme brulee. A nice finishing to end our dinner. All in all, our tab was a little high than we wanted to spend. But with a living social coupon and the fact that the food was INCREDIBLE, I couldn’t care less. Thank you Mezzanine for a memorable food experience!

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Charlottesville “Lipstick” Wine Tour

If you haven’t done this before, I highly recommend it. First things first, pick a person who doesn’t drink that much. They can be the driver. Haha. Pick 3-4 wineries in the Charlottesville, Virginia area. Map them on Google, copy and paste the map into something like the “Paint” application on your computer. With the spray can tool, which comes out looking like lipstick, connect the wineries. That’s how we designed our wine tour with our friend, Aaron, coining the term, “Lipstick Map.” Not as complicated as you think.

We went on our wine tour with another couple. It was actually their fabulous idea to go to Charlottesville and check out a few wineries with a brewery mixed in there. Our journey started with Veritas, then Blue Mountain Brewery for lunch, King Family and saving the best for last, Pippin Hill Farms. It was one of the best Saturdays with good wine, good friends and some beautiful Virginia mountains you’ve ever seen.

First stop: Veritas Vineyard & Winery {151 Veritas Lane  Afton, Virginia 22920}

I know a few people that have gotten married at Veritas. They have a beautiful indoor reception covered in lace drapery. I’m also very familiar with their wines because Veritas always makes an appearance at wine expos in the Richmond area, and I’ve actually bought a bottle or two of their red. The winery was really nice and sweet-looking. There was a wrap around deck that allows guests to sit outside to enjoy the scenery and weather. We went inside because it was a hot May day and we needed some wine to cool off. When we walked inside the tasting room, it was a drastic change from the exterior. The colors were bold. The atmosphere was very rugged and quite masculine. The wine itself was quite impressive. We sampled 8 very lovely wines, all I really enjoy. One in particularly we loved and got a glass of was the Mousseux. It’s a sparkling wine in a deep pink color. It was crisp and refreshing on a very warm day. The strawberry, cherry and raspberry flavors were clean and fresh. I could have drank a whole bottle.

Verdict: The wine here definitely didn’t disappoint. I highly enjoyed both the whites and reds, especially the Mousseux. The flavors were bold and distinct. The scenery though was not my favorite of the trip, mainly because it was a little hilly. Other than that, I’d go back for their wines! One recommendation, I wish they had ceiling fans outside…note that Veritas!

Second stop: Blue Mountain Brewery {9519 Critzer Shop Road  Afton, VA 22920}

As far as food and beer experience are concerned, Blue Mountain Brewery was our least favorite on the tour. We rolled up to the Brewery, packed as can be for a typical Saturday. They even had parking attendants directing traffic. Getting seated was not an issue, which was surprising. We ordered a flight of beer for everyone to share and ordered lunch. Well, sadly the beer was very very disappointing. I’ve drank my fair share of beer, good beer, and these Blue Mountain beers were terrible. There were about 8 different brews, all of which we did not enjoy. Jared, Mr. beer drinker, had to fight through to finish the beers. The food itself was just OK. My crab cake sandwich was tasteless. Didn’t have that fresh crab cake flavor that I love so much. Jared thought the description on the menu was tastier than his actual burger. The couple that did score was Aaron & Cyndy who ordered the pizza. If you do go there, just stick with the pizza.

Verdict: Not a place I would recommend nor have any desire of returning. Sorry, Blue Mountain. I wish your beer and food were better!

Third stop: King Family Vineyard {6550 Roseland Farm Crozet, VA 22932}

One of the coolest thing about this vineyard is the fact they have polo matches on the property. So, off behind the building were the horse stables. I was surprised as hell to see actual horses just chilling in the stables. It was pretty entertaining. But back to the wine. We arrived at the vineyard and immediately went inside the tasting room only to be bombarded with tons of people. It felt very touristy especially with the several bachelorette parties and tour groups. It felt crowded inside, so I wish it was a little larger and not as cramped. I guess we weren’t in the mood to compete with the loud crowds. But, we found a spot at the bar, started to taste and soon we couldn’t care less about the noise. The wines were solid. They went with fewer wines and perfected them really nicely. In this situation, their philosophy was “less is more.”

Verdict: The wines were solid, maybe not that memorable, but enjoyable. I think the bachelorette parties inside the winery annoyed me a bit. I did love the endless view. The mountains and a well-maintained property with the greenest grass would probably make me give this place another shot.

Fourth and last stop: Pippin Hill Farms {5022 Plank Road North Garden, VA 22959}

There aren’t any words to describe my love for Pippin Hill Farms. Literally, I am in LOVE with this place. Pippin Hill Farms is probably two years old. Because my day work involves weddings, I’m always looking at wedding photos and I’ve seen some gorgeous ones taken at Pippin. First off, the owners definitely designed this vineyard correctly. They were smart about the placement of the building. It sat on a hill overlooking the most breathtaking view that I take for granted living in Richmond. They certainly planned this place with weddings in mind. When you arrive, they have a deck overlooking the mountains with chairs facing outward. Couples can get married right on the lawn. There’s a reception area inside the barn. And then a tasting room where you can eat, drink and relax. If you don’t believe me, just look at the photos!

Verdict: If I were to renew my vows, I would do so here. If I were to get married for the first time, I would do so here. If I wanted to visit just one winery in Charlottesville, I would go here. Everything about this vineyard is absolutely breathtaking. From the views, décor, furniture, food and wines, this place is freakin’ unbelievable. Hands down, Pippin is my ultimate favorite.

We decided not to do a tasting of all their wines, rather just ordered a glass and ate more food. They serve small plates with seasonal local items designed to pair with their wines. We ordered a cheese platter which had some candied nuts, several fig jams and an orange marmalade. Besides the portions being a little small, there was nothing to dislike. I just wish there was more! We also ordered the hummus which was incredible fresh. Definitely tasted like it was made that day. As you can see, we left nothing behind. I will be honest with you, this place is not cheap. A glass of wine was $9. I recommend buying a bottle and splitting it.

Thanks so much Cyndy and Aaron for inviting us to Charlottesville! We had a wonderful time and I’m already thinking about the next 3-4 I want to visit next. This time, Jared can drive :)

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Sampling Broad Appetit $3 at a time

One of the best food festivals that I love the most in RVA is the annual Broad Appétit. I look forward to it every single year. My sister from D.C. even makes it down for this event. I’m serious when I say, it’s one of the best. The concept of this festival is very simple. Each restaurant prepares $3 mini-dish favorites for you to try. You go up to to a booth, read their menu and pay $3 if you want to sample. It’s a great way to try restaurants that you’ve never been before and finding some gems that you would definitely revisit.

My mother-in-law was in town for the weekend, so this was one event Jared and I brought her to. From past experience, getting to Broad Appétit early is important. As soon as it starts at 11 a.m., we were there. That way, we can get our sample with no line and hang out for the rest of the afternoon. They even had local beer to sell, which I would have partaken in, but was full from all the eating. We tried 9 different dishes, lets take a look at each one!

1. Korean barbecue on a scallion pancake from Ginkgo:
Our first sample of the day wasn’t too bad. It was a good idea, but the scallion pancake needed some work. I’m assuming it was prepared the night before or the morning of, so it tended to be on the dry and tough side. However, the Korean barbecue on top of the pancake was super tender and sweet. The relish was crunchy adding a nice texture overall.

2. Pulled pork over a bed of gnocchi and apples from Community Kitchen:
This was our first time eating gnocchi and it was heavenly. I believe they were making the gnocchi on the spot. All the flavors in this dish were nicely balanced. It was salty and sweet with a creamy, light sauce.

3. Spicy shrimp and grits from Mansionfive26:
So highly disappointed about a dish I typically enjoy eating. Really lacked on spice and flavor. The shrimps were small and the sauce was too watery. I wanted it to be good, but I’ve had better (at Balliceaux). The grits were cooked very nicely though.

4. Ribeye taco and Teriyaki beef taco from Boka Truck:
I’m not a Boka truck virgin anymore!! All the times I wanted to try a taco from the Boka truck, the line was a mile long. This time, it wasn’t! The tacos were very different in taste than the typical Mexican-style. These were more Asian-inspired with loads of spice and texture. Solid tacos!

5. Salmon over rice from La Parisienne Bistro & Cafe:
Not one of my favorites, but my mother-in-law enjoyed it a lot. For me, there was just too much going on. There were so many different kinds of flavors in the rice, sauce and salmon that I felt a little overwhelmed and sadly, underwhelmed at the same time.

6. Crab cake from Martin’s:
One of my favorite foods is a well-made crab cake. Surprisingly enough, the crab cake from Martins’ (of all places) was all crab and done really well! The presentation lacked, but the aioli and side vegetables complimented the crab really nicely. The cake was lumpy with lots of crab and not a lot filling, which is my kind of crab cake. Very nice.

7. Salted Chocolate Caramel cake from Shyndigz:
Best damn slice of cake I’ve ever eaten. Hands down. The combination of chocolate, salt and caramel was UNBELIEVABLE and inspiring. They also had a key lime cheesecake to sample, which was equally as good. I will honestly check their bakery shop on Patterson to try more! LOVED IT.

8. Pork belly with slaw on a steamed bun from Sticky Rice:
It was our first time eating pork belly, and boy, I’m in trouble. May not be the healthiest, but ironically, it wasn’t too salty or oily. I do wish the cut was a tab larger because the steamed bun was kinda big.

9. Seared scallop with roasted corn and bacon from Spoons:
Can’t leave the festival without eating a perfectly cooked scallop. Spoons offered this super fresh scallop that just melted in my mouth. The sweetness from the corn and saltiness from the bacon added so much flavor. A favorite.

And so that wraps up our food experience at Broad Appétit. If I had to pick my favorite dish from all that I sampled, it would be the salted chocolate caramel cake. I know it’s a dessert, but it was to die for. My second favorite would be pork belly buns. If you missed out this year, definitely make an attempt to remember next year. Look, even this kid (my nephew) had a great time at his first Broad Appétit experience!

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Filthy 5k Mud Run…One and done!

I don’t know why my husband convinces me to run. I am not a runner. Never have been. To run 3.1 miles is not normal to me. So to run 3.1 miles up and down hills, through mountain trails, across bridges and crossing through a mud pit…well, that’s definitely not normal. It’s a lot harder and more difficult than you think. But I did it! Wahoo! I accomplished my goal to at least finish the race and not stop. I only have Jared to thank for. He helped me cross the finish line with words of encouragement all the way through. Your support, Jared, is priceless.

Dominion Riverrock is a few years old to the Richmond area. It’s an outdoor lifestyle festival with tons of bands performing during the weekend with fun athletic races that include running, kayaking, biking, dog jumping and so much more. It’s an event that brings thousands of people to Brown’s Island in Richmond. We decided to participate in the Filthy 5K Mud Run just to cross it off our list. While it certainly was fun, I probably wouldn’t do it again. We both like to be active in our lives, but running is just not fun for me. I’d rather continue with MMA than run :)

Here’s a before and after photo of us:

After running 3.1 miles, we came close to the finish line and had to Army crawl through a mud pit. That’s probably the tannest Jared has ever been! The weather was pretty ideal. It was a little warm in the beginning, but as soon as the sun set, the temperature dropped and we were freezing!

We were able to rinse off with cold water through hoses that were set up for the runners. As a reward, each runner got one drink ticket to enjoy a beverage after the race. Honestly, Jared had to finish my beer because my whole body was shivering. We were both freezing to death, literally freezing, because it got so cold and we were still damp. As soon as we finished our drinks, we booked the hell out of there, turned the heat on in the car, drove home and took hot showers. We got into comfy clothes and fell asleep. Running certainly takes a lot out of you and I was exhausted.

Running the Filthy 5k was definitely a great experience to share with my husband, but like I said in my headline….ONE AND DONE!

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A nice little day trip to Williamsburg Winery

I’m pretty lucky to be only an hour away from some of the sweetest wineries in Central Virginia. Richmond is literally a short drive to Charlottesville and Williamsburg, which are two cities that have numerous wineries and can be the perfect little dry trip with some girlfriends. So that’s exactly what I did this past Saturday. Two of my friends and I drove to Williamsburg Winery to enjoy a little tasting and tour. We spent only $10 pp to get a pretty thorough tour of the winery, and sampled seven different wines. The tour was an hour long…no joke! The first 40 minutes was practically learning/walking through the winery, and the last 20 was tasting the wine. I think we definitely got our money’s worth.

As you drive into the property, you’re greeted with acres and acres of land (Williamsburg Winery is 60 acres total). A tree lined dirt path led us to the actual winery. It was just a beautiful, sunny and gorgeous day for this trip!

We arrived late afternoon around 3:15pm. It was fairly crowded, but we were able to get on the 3:30 tour. We walked inside the shop and learned that their wines were fairly reasonably priced. The cheapest was $8, but obviously the price goes up from there.

Our tour began right on time with a short video describing the history of wine and of the winery itself. Not too thrilled about this portion, but the video was only 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, our personal tour guide assigned to our group took us through different parts of the winery. I forget his name, but he was good!

He took us to a couple different areas in the winery including the barrel cellar where wines were kept stored in oak barrels for roughly 6 months.

Continued onto the production area…

And to the wine museum…

Learned that the first wine bottle was called an “onion” bottle (photo on the right). It was suitable for the very rough terrain, note the wide bottom. However, when roads were built, the bottles evolved to what we see now in the stores, which are more compact than the onion bottle.

Now the fun part…taste time! These were seven wines we sampled at the end of the tour. A pretty wide selection with three whites, three reds and a dessert wine. After the 40 minute walking/lecture tour, the whole group was ready for this! Haha!

Everyone got a sheet of paper with the names of the wines so we could take notes. We also received a wine glass with the Williamsburg Winery logo etched on it. We found a spot and our guide started to pour!

I certainly had a favorite, the Lord Botetourt. It’s a red wine with a blend of several different grapes. It was amazingly delicious. It was incredibly super rich and flavorful, which after sampling the whites and lighter reds, felt really nice on the palette. This doesn’t even compare to my Trader Joe wine, sorry La Finca. I can splurge a little bit when the wine is this good. I brought one home with me for a reasonable $14. Can’t wait to enjoy it soon!

Thanks Rachel and Emily for a fun day trip to the winery! If you get a chance to go, think about doing the more expensive tour for only $36. It includes a 2-hour tour with more wines to sample with gourmet cheeses and crackers. But if you decide to go on the $10 tour, you’ll certainly enjoy it. It was well worth the trip.

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