genericeric

Have recently dined at two of Richmond's most esteemed southern-themed restaurants that can be a challenge to get into. Shagbark in the Libbie Mill is an upscale variant on the theme that feels, both in menu and atmosphere, just like you're sitting in Charleston. Service is prompt and professional, with one notable exception I'll come back to. Overall it feels like a restaurant run by people who know how to run a restaurant. The wine list is also extensive, with some great finds (albeit quite the markup). Fried Green Tomatoes ($16)with field peas, ham hock, arugula and tomato broth are a bit cliche but were very well done, with us fighting over the last bite. Seared duck breast ($37) with cress, onion, oven cured tomatoes, baked fennel, beluga lentils and foie gras emulsion was prepared (in my opinion) flawlessly, with the duck cooked perfectly having a crispy skin. That being said, the whole dish ate heavy with muddled flavors - I would have gladly traded the "foie gras emulsion" for some acid to brighten things up. The feedback from my wife on her Pumpkin Seed Crusted Salmon ($34) with brussels sprouts, bacon and squash risotto was similar - the apple cider jus couldn't quite lift the dish up despite a perfect cook on the salmon, and both ended up going back partially eaten. Side note - a table of 6 next to us ordered before us, and received their meal just as we were leaving. Dishes were nearly thrown on the table before the server ran, as if he was afraid of the feedback - it was almost comical. His approach likely didn't help... Feedback for the The Stables at Belmont is somewhat similar. Somehow the Cast Iron Baked Pimento Cheese and Collards Dip ($16) managed to be fairly light on its feet, with a slick of hot sauce on top that wasn't too spicy. The Smoked and Stuffed Acorn Squash ($29) with wild rice, golden raisins, pine nuts and pickled peppers got credit for being a somewhat unusual vegetarian dish, but didn't quite come together. The Lamb Lollipops ($23) with fennel rub and whipped chevre (appetizer as my entree) was decent, but the meat itself wasn't well-trimmed and was quite fatty. Service was friendly and prompt, and my wife declared it the best martini she'd ever had - so perhaps everything else was superfluous. I'd head back to both for a drink and appetizer, but wouldn't rush to either for dinner.

Celladora is a wine bar/wine shop/pseudo restaurant that I must have walked by at least 20 times on my way to another wine bar (Jardin) and didn't even realize it was there until I read a profile in Wine Enthusiast on the best wine shops in the United States. Honestly even after I'd parked with an address it took us a hot second to realize it was right across the street. Intended first and foremost as a wine shop, the shop focuses on natural wines. As such, the llean toward central and eastern Europe is heavy - certainly the largest share of Austrian wines I've seen in a retail space. But, I also recently snagged a 1988 Arbois magnum and have been enjoying spatburgunder bottles from the modest, but not tiny by an means, collection. The wines by the glass menu runs 6-10ish glasses with offers of more if you don't find just what you like, and any bottle in the shop can be opened with a $10 corkage. To call in a wine "bar" would be disingenuous as no bar exists, but a few small tables or the chance to sip while you stroll around the shop. The owner admits she started offering some "snacks" and small dishes to offer guests a nibble while they sip on a glass, hoping they would then buy the bottle. Now, it seems she's a very happy "victim" of her chef's talent, as the brief dinner menu is pumping out some really incredible food. Our visit earlier in the week brought a trio of Mediterranean dips with toasted Sub Rosa bread (and several requested refills). I've eaten at a number of 2-3 star Michelin restaurants over the last 12 months, but the Braised Fennel in a parmesan cream was the most delicious, most satisfying dish I've had all year. Braised Short Rib pasta was a deceptively short description for a dish that was packed with little surprises, and Pork Belly Sausage with spinach had an almost kimchee slant to it. Fluke stayed on the lighter side but had a crumble topping that I've been dreaming about since. The only menu disappointment was that descriptions are so scant, its hard to do the dishes justice in writing. Not bad for a "kitchen" that is behind a divider and manned by one person. While still somewhat hiding in plain sight, Celladora is starting to gain notoriety - there was another photo shoot the evening we visited. Frequent pop-up events are very popular with the local crowd. That being said, its still possible to text for a reservation one night and be seated the next (its becoming harder to just pop in on a Sunday afternoon and find a seat).

I think it was for comparison purposes. BTW I just checked and there are EMP reservations available for 2-3 weeks out on weekend nights, days after the renewed 3* Michelin rating, which would have been unheard of 2 years ago.

FWIW, that dinner all inclusive cost is about 10% higher than what the same cost at Le Bernardin last month.

In case anyone is heading to the U.S. Open - I thought Alex Guarnaschelli's Fare was reasonably good - not great and severely expensive (as is everything at the Open), but a step above the food village offerings. The really good options were on the 100 level of Ashe. I would skip the Eataly outpost if I had to do it again, but I was very pleasantly surprised with the food at Aces, the reservations restaurant for courtside tickets and club passholders. I appreciated that the buffalo cauliflower came with sauce on the side - not only could you control the sauce level, but since it was sauceless it stayed very crispy. The tuna was also on point. There was a very quiet little cocktail bar with better wines than most places around gate 58. Never waited more than 2 minutes and had great service. But $22 for a honey deuce grounds-wide? Just enjoy a cool vodka tonic from the Grey Goose stand and save yourself the $5 cup every time.

Had a blowout anniversary dinner last night at LB, ordering the Chef's Tasting menu with wine pairings. The meal and service were technically flawless. I'll put notes on the menu below with pictures to follow. Both service (as noted upthread) and the menu make me want to shout "This CAN be fun!" but with three stars, it can be difficult to strike the balance between personal and relax with fine dining. The pacing of the meal here was quite slow - I do wish I had mentioned up front that, while we weren't in a rush, a faster pacing is appreciated so that one is on me. The wine pairings were, with one exception, perfect. The 2014 Bollinger was stunning, and multiple dishes (the lobster in particular) would not have been as successful without the selected wines. One illustrative note on the formality of service - while completely professional, I found the sommelier for our table wasn't providing as much background on the wines that I typically prefer (acknowledging that not everyone does). I began to ask questions with limited response - eventually discovered she was from Beirut and asked about her familiarity with Chateau Musar - turns out that she is a member of Hochar family that owns the winery, which led to the one very genuine conversation of the evening and was a highlight. Menu: Amuse Bouche while I had a difficult time understanding the description, it was a tartare, a raw scallop with black truffle, and a warm vichyssoise Everything was delicious and was a very representative introduction to the meal to come Tuna Layers of Thinly Pounded Yellowfin Tuna; Foie Gras, Toasted Baguette, Chives. Albariño, Bodegas Forjas del Salnes, Leirana, Rías Baixas, Spain 2021 This seems to be a signature of LB, and was a highlight of the evening. My wife doesn't typically enjoy raw seafood preparations but thoroughly enjoyed this. Scallop-Caviar Warm Scallop “Tartare”; Osetra Caviar Sauce Marinière. Bollinger, La Grande Année, Aÿ, France 2014 Who doesn't love caviar? I wished the mariniere sauce was a better balance, but the Bollinger was fantastic Langoustine Sautéed Langoustine; Petite Mâche Salad Truffled Cream and Mushroom – Balsamic Vinaigrette. Altesse, Roussette du Bugey Montagnieu, Franck Peillot, Savoie, France 2020 A good dish, but very much wished the vinaigrette had more punch to balance what was a very rich dish Lobster Poached Lobster; Summer Vegetable Medley Miso-Sake Lobster Broth. Sake, Junmai Tokubetsu, Hakurakusei, Miyagi Prefecture NV The beets on the plate were the highlight of what was a very good dish, with the sake acting as a perfect foil for this also being too rich Dover Sole Pan Roasted Dover Sole; Green Olives Toasted Almonds; Aged Sherry Wine Emulsion. Palomino Fino, Equipo Navazos, La Bota #77, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalucía, Spain 2015 This dish was fantastic, with some roasted mushrooms providing the perfect lift. This was the one pairing I felt didn't work - I understand it with the almonds, green olives and sauce but it became one more note rather than providing a counter balance Hiramasa Grilled Hiramasa; Roasted Maitake Bone Marrow-Red Wine Bordelaise. Brunello di Montalcino, Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Fattoria del Colle, Tuscany, Italy 2017 The unanimous least-favorite dish of the evening (and is the only one not pictured below). The saucing was disappointing, and the whole dish ate very one note, with disappointing saucing. The Brunello was knockout. Apricot Apricot Sorbet, Chamomile Ice Cream*. Pear Cider, Eric Bordelet, Poirè Granit, Normandy, France 2021 The cider was the perfect palate cleanser, and the dish was a refreshing change at this point in the menu Pistachio Pistachio Praliné, Grand Marnier Bavarois. Sauternes, Les Carmes de Rieussec, Bordeaux, France 2012 My wife enjoyed this more than I did, but was still perfectly pleasant. Petrol flavors in wine can go either way for me, this sauternes was too heavy on the gas for my taste. Despite the bill being well over a thousand dollars for two, I felt that the ingredients, care in preparation, wine selection for the added price, etc. were worth it (as much as a meal at that price point can be). I would absolutely go back to LB, but would order from the 4 course, prix fixe menu or dine in the lounge (side note - yes it was a Tuesday in August but there were open seats in the lounge all night for anyone wanting to stop in for a light bite). Side note: We asked for sparkling water and I do expect to be charged. That being said, the water came in house carafes and was refilled without being asked. To be charged $30 for sparkling water at the end of a four-digit meal feels... off-putting

Unfortunately for both Humm and the workers he's underpaying, this wouldn't be the first time a price increase has occurred with the excuse being to raise wages, but the wage hike doesn't happen.

A year ago at this time, a reservation at EMP was the hottest, hardest-to-get ticket in town. After receiving a few marketing emails recently I checked this morning and you can get a prime time reservation any day this week, and it there was one time you could eat at a vegan restaurant, I would think late August would be ideal for seasonality. Between the terrible Times review, the mixed ethos of offering meat to private clients while standing on a moral vegan high ground (if that's such a thing) and a dramatic price increase by removing gratuity from the price, Humm may have broken what once was a truly remarkable experience.

I've had some mixed results with Kelsey Clark's recent Southern Grit cookbook, but Twinkle Light Succotash was one of the better recipes I've made this year. It doesn't hurt that we're at the prime of fresh produce season. I never would have thought to put pickled okra in this dish, but it plays (and I used jarred, store bought - would be even better home-pickled). I served with Ina Garten's Lemon Chicken Breasts and some couscous with almonds and raisins, but I'm pretty sure just setting a heaping pile of this in the table would've pleased everyone (and the recipe DOES make a heaping pile).

Last night was Canarian Ropa Vieja. The recipe was a bit out of my comfort zone and took about 90 minutes, but it wasn't difficult and the end result was delicious. One note if anyone attempts this - reserve a lot more of the poaching liquid than the recipe indicates. I ended up using about 2 cups while cooking the potatoes and to give it some more moisture toward the end.

Last night I made Hoppin' John out of Kelsey Clark's recent Southern Grit cookbook. Two observations - 1. This was not Hoppin' John (in fairness, she addresses this in a side note), and 2. Any time I try to make a long-cooked, southern rice dish, it fails. It was... fine. But for the level of effort, I need more than fine to repeat. Tonight I partially redeemed myself with Trout Almondine, hericot verts and Moroccan couscous. I've been trying to work more seafood into our diet, but my wife is a tough sell. The filets of trout from Wegmans today were fresh and huge, with the almondine sauce a big hit. The filets were big enough to avoid being overcooked and survived my bumbling attempts to flip. It was a chaotic 20 minutes, but this meal was on the table in 20 minutes, and was well received all around.

Stayed at the Wharf this week for a mini sorta staycation, and stopped into Del Mar for the first time in a few years. Was somewhat nervous about going in with a 2 year old and 6 year old, but they and the servers were all on their best behavior so it worked out well. I will give them the award for best Sangria ($20) I've had. There are three different varieties, but the waitress was from Madrid and had a strong recommendation of the Sangria Roja, which was very well balanced. Pan Con Tomate ($14) Catalan Crisp Bread, Tomatoes, Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil was pleasant, though the tomatoes were quite cold rather than room temp. Croquetas de Jamon y Trufa ($19) Creamy Fritters Filled with Jamón Ibérico, Black Truffle, Alioli were fantastic, though I'd probably eat a tire if it had truffle cream on it. The 2 year old loved them as well... The Paella de Mariscos ($100) Maine Lobster, Tiger Prawn, PEI Mussels, Monkfish. The menu listed this as serving 1-2, two of us split it with some little people having bites of rice, and it was a very sufficient portion. The seafood tasted fresh and the socarrat was delicious and well-formed. Any time I order a dish for $100 I'm going to be nervous, but we both felt like it was worth it. A lot has been said about the price point of this restaurant, and it IS very expensive, but we very much enjoyed our meal. Next time I'll look forward to having some of the croquetas at the bar with a glass of sangria.

I like chocolate, and I like brussels sprouts, but the two together don't work They just didn't pair well together... at all.

Last night was Ina Garten's Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli. The aioli was good, the salmon was fine, but... together it was one of the worst dishes I've ever made (that I didn't screw up). We both took one bite and threw it out. On the side, I made a delightful beet salad with home-roasted beets, roasted almonds, goat cheese, balsamic reduction and a little olive oil. And peanut butter toast.

My wife and I have very different tastes but I do all the cooking, so occasionally I hand her a few cookbooks and ask her to pick out things that look good to her. This week was Chrissy Teigen's Chipotle-Honey Chicken. I've had mixed experiences with Chrissy's recipes in the past, but this was excellent. Spicy, smokey, sweet, caramelized, and not too difficult. If I made it again I would probably do all drumsticks and no thighs simply because the skin crisped better on the drumsticks. Ironically, my wife didn't care for it at all...

Thanks for the recommendation! I made the apricot chicken for lunch yesterday with some quinoa and roasted carrots and it was easy and delicious. I made with breasts instead of thighs at a slightly reduced cook time - my only issue was the thighs would've been a more appropriate lunch size, but... leftovers!

Agree. When reading it I couldn't decide if I was insulted that they thought I was that stupid, or embarrassed that they were. I've been a big fan of what I felt was a uniquely special experience provided by the EMP team over the years, but between the faux altruism of "going vegan" while serving beef to your private event clients to hiding a jaw-dropping price increase behind improving staff compensation equity while making tipping optional, it feels like this restaurant in living on borrowed time. I did notice they also sent out a message well after the usual reservation availability date for open slots in February - while no doubt also impacted by omicron, certainly a fair cry from a waiting list thousands of patrons long just a few months removed.

I've ordered Goldbelly a few times and have generally had very good experiences. I've also sent Goldbelly to family around a funeral and some new parents when I wasn't able to make something. First - yes, many of the offerings have a dramatic mark up. I will say there are more and more sales/deals that are substantial - for example the site currently has a 22% off everything offer. I do wish they had more offerings for smaller groups of people - I would order Gott's Roadside but I don't need or want ten burgers for 2 people. That being said, a lot of these foods are unique in one way or the other, and sometimes for a special treat the variety is nice. I've yet to be disappointed in the quality received.

I'm from Iowa, and we called them casseroles. Folks from 'up north' call them hot dishes. Either way, they often aren't that healthy, but are easy, inexpensive, and satisfying in a comfort food sort of way. Tonight I made Molly Yeh's "Taco Hotdish" which is sort of a frito pie/walking taco casserole situation. I swapped out the beef for ground turkey, and topped it off with a heaping salad, turning the hot dish into sort of a taco salad base. I'm tired, its cold, and this was easy and a family crowd pleaser. I wouldn't want to eat this type of thing every night, but tonight it worked. Paired beautifully with a High Noon pineapple seltzer. P.s. I'm growing very tired of having to go to four grocery stores to get the ingredients to make a single dinner. Make a casserole like this and I bet you can find the goods every time - I did.

Supernova, from Mallorca based on the Mantonegro variety, has become my go-to red wine during the week when I don't want something as heavy as a cabernet or syrah. Leans more red fruit than black (but with notes of both, some licorice and prune) and some soil notes but not intensely forest floor, this wine goes well with a broad spectrum of foods, from cheese (not too funky) to burgers to stews. It isn't dissimilar to a Sta Rita Hills Pinot, and at around $35 (wine.com) its price point also matches its weeknight profile.

Last night was Chrissy Teigen's chicken lettuce wraps from her Cravings cookbook (recipe reproduced here: https://studiosheppard.com/chrissy-teigens-thai-chicken-lettuce-wraps/) They're... lettuce wraps. I added shredded carrot, and if I made again would cut the ginger a bit and add diced squash and celery to increase the vegetables. Then in a brain lapse I decided to make Cauliflower fried rice as the side dish. This fried rice was tasty, but too similar in flavor and texture to the main. Next time I'd probably add some toasted sesame seed and perhaps some thai chili to bump things up a bit, but really solid recipe, just poorly paired by me.

Working my way through Ina Garten's Modern Comfort cookbook, Saturday was Shrimp and Linguine Fra Diavolo. Everything about this should've been a hit - good sauce, the right amount of spice, fresh seafood, but it just didn't come together for me. I don't think it was entirely the shrimp's fault, but the shrimp selection at Whole Foods was tired- I got the best looking of the lot and learned I probably should've punted. Also is it just me, or does Whole Foods chronically under-size their shrimp? Also made her garlic bread to go along with it - it was fine but honestly I probably enjoy the frozen loaves in the grocery freezer just as much. Last night was her take on Chicken Pot Pie soup. Eh. The soup was fine - cream sherry is added twice during the process and if I ever made this again I'd probably skip the second dose. The puff pastry on the top didn't do anything for me - simple cut outs of pre-made pie crust would've been better. I have had great luck with Ina when I let the masses due the testing and make her highly rated recipes. I've had a few duds lately going rogue.

I got it at Barrel Thief in Richmond, however I've been able to find the Foretal Moulin-a-Vent before at Arrowine in Arlington, so may be worth a call over there assuming its closer. Upon drinking more of it on Thursday, the Foretal was MUCH preferred to the Manoir Du Carra. If Arrow doesn't have it, BT may ship, but their site looks out of date so suggest calling.

Was a bit hesitant to post about Nouveau in this thread since Moulin-a-Vent produces some of my favorite wines, but hey its the third Thursday of November, so may as well be the one day a year I pop open a bottle from the southern reaches of this under-valued region. Tried two today, the first being Domaine Manoir Du Carra. Very typical - light, fruity, straightforward BN. The second is Domaine Foretal, which has a little more complexity and takes a slightly more serious approach. Both are chilling and half a glass of each will be had later before tabling this and popping the Rottiers, but it will be a festive happy hour.

Chez Max is not hip, not trendy, not the latest big thing. It's not in Scott's Addition or Church Hill. It's a quiet little neighborhood restaurant tucked next to a strip mall in Tuckahoe/Far West End. But everything about our experiences here has been a half step better than it needs to be for a lovely little French restaurant serving classic French dishes. Cocktails are cold and crisp and service is always friendly. Foie Gras ($18) on crostini with blackberries, pear and vanilla syrup is my go-to with a glass of Sauternes. Duck A L'Orange ($28) is well cooked with bright sauce work, and Dover Sole ($45) meuniere, fileted tableside, is a nice splurge. The Key Lime pie is homemade and not cloyingly sweet like too many version. Wine markups are reasonable, with many in the 1.5-2x retail arena. Like everything else, selections are classy, if not too inventive. My one complaint - dishes are heavy. While this fits with the theme, a nice ratatouille wouldn't be too far afield... But definitely worth a stop for any Francophiles in the area.