May 28, 2008
Jenny Boone has got a great scoop over on her Storefront blog about a possible expansion of Awful Arthur's Towers Mall location that will include a brewery.
We're short on details at this point, but be sure to check back for more information as this news unfolds.
May 16, 2008
Roanoke could be getting a new deli late this summer, but so far sources are mum on where the Southern-based McAlister's Deli chain wants to put their newest restaurant.
The Roanoke Times received an e-mail yesterday from Juli Carroll, a representative of Design Team Sign Company of Savanna, Georgia. Carroll is looking for old photographs of Roanoke with which to decorate the walls of the new deli.
I e-mailed her about the location and opening date and she wrote: "We don't know exactly where it is going to be but I think it will be late summer."
Retail business reporter Jenny Boone is working on getting more details from the McAlister's peeps. Look for those on her blog, The Storefront, or in her retail column in the Sunday newspaper.
According to their Web site, McAlister's Deli opened its first location in Oxford, Miss. in 1989.
The food is described as "hearty-sized deli fare, served quickly with a side of Southern charm." They especially pride themselves on their secret recipe sweet tea.
If we do get a McAlister's here, expect to walk in and be greeted by a big chalkboard menu filled with sandwiches, potatoes, salads, soups and sweets. Customers order at the counter and then find a seat at a table, where the food is delivered by an employee.
Nona, who guest blogged for me earlier this week, has eaten at McAlister's and says the soups are great and the sandwiches are big. She also said they had a really good-looking dessert case, but she never indulged because she only ate there for lunch.
This sounds like a spot I'll have to try out if they do open in Roanoke. I love stuffed baked potatoes and well-made soups, especially in the winter.
If you have ever eaten at a McAlister's Deli, let us know what you thought of it.
Photo from www.mcalistersdeli.com.
April 22, 2008
Olivia Byrd at Rockfish in Grandin Village sent out an e-mail today announcing that, beginning tomorrow, they will serve breakfast on Wednesday through Saturday mornings. This is in addition to their highly successful lunch and dinner service and the tasty Sunday brunch menu.
The hours for breakfast are 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., and the menu will include fresh muffins, biscuits, egg dishes and espresso beverages. So if you live in the Grandin area and you've grown tired of microwaveable 7-Eleven fare, check out Rockfish.
This would be a good time for me to also mention that Rockfish recently opened a wine shop beside the restaurant that is open Wednesday through Saturday until 6 p.m. I want to say that the shop sells more than just wine, but I haven't had a chance to pop in yet.
In other food news, Roanoke's unofficial start to the summer season happens the weekend of May 3 when the Community School's 27th Annual Strawberry Festival and the 28th annual Virginia State Championship Chili Cook-off invade downtown.
Continue reading "Breakfast, chili, shortcakes...oh, yum" »
March 24, 2008
Not long after switching cooking oils for a trans fat-free fried chicken product, Kentucky Fried Chicken says it is launching a new product for a whole new image: Kentucky Grilled Chicken.
According to an Associated Press story, KFC's chief food innovation officer, Doug Hasselo, says "This is transformational for our brand."
Customers may soon see "Now Grilling" signs outside their local KFC restaurant, as well as altered storefront signs and even a different chicken bucket.
The article says the grilled chicken has less fat, calories and sodium than the fried product. But it still has more than 600 milligrams of sodium, more than a third of what a 50-year-old consumer should have in a day.
At least KFC is finally jumping on the healthy food bandwagon. Although personally, I know where to go to find healthy food. And I know where to go when I want to indulge in a piece of fast food fried chicken.
What do you all think? Would you try the new KGC?
March 4, 2008
In tomorrow's Front Burner column, I'll introduce you to the new chef at Trio Bistro Bar Bottle in downtown Roanoke. And with the new chef comes a whole new menu.
Justin Buckner has overhauled Trio's old menu and replaced most of the dishes with "inspired Southern cuisine," or Southern dishes with Cajun and low country influences.
Although Justin wasn't able to get me this recipe for cornmeal crusted oysters with lemon-Tabasco aioli quite in time for the column, I still wanted to share it with you all. Look for it after the jump.
If you try out the new Trio menu, let me know what you think.
Continue reading "New chef, new recipes" »
February 26, 2008
According to the USA Today, all of Starbucks' 7,100 stores across the country will close three hours early today for barista training. That makes closing time 5:30 p.m. The stores will open again tomorrow at the regularly scheduled time.
It wouldn't surprise me if Starbucks' announcement is what prompted Dunkin' Donuts to offer coffee specials this afternoon. One chain's early closure is another chain's window of opportunity.
Between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. today, you can get a small latte, cappucino or espresso at Dunkin' Donuts for just 99 cents. So if you're experiencing Starbucks withdrawal symptoms, maybe you should rush out to DD and get your caffeine buzz on.
February 25, 2008
Thanks to alert blog reader Teresa Z, I have discovered that Flat Rock Grille at Valley View Mall isn't a chain at all!
After a tip from Teresa, I called Flat Rock and talked to Dan Shean. Dan runs the restaurant with his wife, Tracey Anderson, and another business partner. The team bought the local Flat Rock in May 2007 and have been working hard ever since to restore the food and service to top-notch quality.
Shean, who worked for Outback Steakhouse for 20 years, said they've been sourcing all of their food and other products locally in an attempt to keep their dollars in the Roanoke Valley.
I guess I'll have to hit up a different chain restaurant in order to find out whether they really do compare to some of our locally-owned establishments!
As long as I'm setting the record straight, I'd like to address a rumor that The Roanoker Restaurant is closing. The rumor floated past me sometime last week, but owner Butch Craft assured me that they are NOT closing. She said she hopes the 66-year-old restaurant has many, many years of business in its future.
When it comes down to choosing between a locally owned restaurant and a chain establishment, I almost always prefer to go local.
Not only does that mean I'm supporting a mom 'n' pop in a notoriously difficult line of work, but the service and food should be superior.
Should be.
But a couple of experiences lately have caused me to wonder if I should cut the chains a little slack.
This Saturday, after a long day of priming and painting our downstairs bathroom, my husband and I decided to clean up and go out for dinner. Because we had a coupon for the Flat Rock Grille at Valley View Mall and didn't feel like going far, that's where we ended up.
On a Saturday night, most restaurants around Valley View are full to the gills with tired shoppers ready for a table. That was the case at every restaurant we passed to get to Flat Rock, including Shaker's, Olive Garden, TGIFridays and Texas Steak House. The fact that we were able to get a table immediately at Flat Rock sort of concerned me.
It shouldn't have.
Continue reading "Cutting the chains some slack" »
February 12, 2008
The Seafood Company, which was located next to Heavenly Ham in Roanoke for the past year and a half, has closed.
Owner Frank Guilfoyle, who also owns Heavenly Ham, said the restaurant's business was growing, but not quickly enough given the amount of time and money that he was having to put in.
Heavenly Ham has been around for more than nine years, and Guilfoyle said "that's really the most paramount thing."
I think what he was trying to say is that he couldn't afford to let The Seafood Company drag Heavenly Ham down.
Continue reading "And one less restaurant for Roanoke..." »
Alexander Farm Road in Dublin will be the site of the newest addition to the Fatz Cafe restaurant chain, according to a press release.
Fatz Cafe is a Southeastern restaurant chain with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. It looks like this will be the first Fatz for Virginia.
My sister, who lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a fan of the restaurant. It has a casual atmosphere and serves American-style appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and desserts.
The press release also says Fatz is home to the "World Famous Calabash Chicken."
I've never had the chicken, but here's how it was described in a review in The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph:
Continue reading "New restaurant for New River!" »
February 6, 2008
Most of the time when a restaurant attempts to master two entirely different styles of cooking at once, I am suspicious.
Take Circles, for example, a short-lived restaurant in Vinton, which served French, Italian and Thai food. I never made it out to Circles because it didn't last long; the owner closed up shop to move downtown and open City Corner, the buffet-style joint beside Corned Beef & Company.
But just the idea of Italian food and Thai food coming out of the same kitchen baffles me. I don't know why -- they both come out of my kitchen. Just not on the same night.
Fast forward to now, when I actually find myself advocating that you guys try out a quirky little place on Williamson Road that turns out Latino and Italian food.
El Buen Gusto opened near Civic Mall within the past several months. It's located in a nondescript little brick building that looks like it could have once housed a check cashing service or something.
Continue reading "One of those strange combinations" »
February 5, 2008
Chicken Rules at Towers Mall has closed its doors for good, and people are depressed.
My editor, Kathy Lu, is one of them. She wrote a Cornershot for yesterday's newspaper about how the little rotisserie joint was her go-to spot for a dinner that tasted almost homemade.
Kathy even brought a Chicken Rules pot pie to a potluck once. I remember because I had to restrain myself from eating the entire thing.
Since Kathy's Cornershot ran, I've heard from several readers who also miss Chicken Rules already and wanted to know why it closed.
Today, I talked to Vernon Johnston, the former owner, who said business was steady for the three years his restaurant was open, but it never grew.
Johnston opened the restaurant in 2005, and it survived the coming of Fresh Market and Ukrop's. Still, Johnston said, the location was not ideal. He believes location was "80 to 90 percent" of the reason he had to close.
"It was off the beaten path where people didn't go," he said.
Johnston doesn't know what his next move will be, but he doubts if he will ever open another restaurant.
In other restaurant news, Coda coffee shop in Grandin Village is closing. Retail reporter Jenny Boone has the scoop on that over at her blog, The Storefront. Check it out.
January 29, 2008
Earlier this month, Roanoke Times business reporter Jenny Kincaid Boone reported that a new restaurant will take the place of Wertz's in downtown Roanoke. Just last week, I saw an advertisement for the new place, Horizon Bar & Grill, in our newspaper (see photo).
Wertz's owner, Gary Crowder, told Jenny he closed the restaurant for personal health reasons but will continue to sell produce on the market.
On Friday, I was able to chat with one of the new proprietors of Horizon, Scott Lockhart.
Lockhart and his mom, Debbie Spangler, are partnering up to run the new restaurant. The mother/son duo have already been running Divinity Catering in Roanoke for about a year.
Scott's background is as a Johnson & Wales graduate who has cooked at restaurants in Jacksonville, Fla., Atlanta and Denver. After he moved back to Roanoke, he worked as a chef at Teaberry's in Cloverdale.
According to Lockhart, he wants to cater to a lunch crowd that has limited time and is in a hurry, so midday fare will be casual and fast. He expects to offer soup, pasta, sandwiches, salads and daily specials "with a unique twist."
Dinner will be more upscale and varied, he says, with a focus on unusual game such as quail, venison, buffalon and pheasant. Lockhart said he was heavily influenced by his time in Denver and likes to add a "Southwestern twist" to his dishes.
I hope Horizon really will be unlike anything else we've seen in Roanoke. It'll definitely be worth checking out once the doors are open!
January 7, 2008
Important news today from the Southern purveyors of good old fried dough: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. says their entire menu is now trans fat-free!
They say you can enjoy an original glazed doughnut for just 200 calories and zero grams of trans fat. Well, let's all rush out and get a hot dozen!
I'd like to pause for a moment to address the debate over whether Krispy Kreme doughnuts are better than Dunkin' Donuts: They are.
Continue reading "Krispy Kreme punts trans fat" »
December 31, 2007
On this New Year's Eve, I want to raise a glass to Billy's Ritz, which is closing after tonight.
Billy's has occupied an elegant, solid corner of downtown Roanoke for about 20 years. During that time, I surprised my mother on her birthday at Billy's, had many lively discussions about journalism and celebrated the marriage of two wonderful friends, all over some very fine food.
Good luck to the new owner of this beautiful space. And Happy New Year to all!
December 28, 2007
Next Wednesday's Front Burner column will have a rundown of the top food news from 2007. While I was preparing to write it, I jotted down a list of all the restaurants that have opened and closed around Roanoke during the past year.
The list was much longer than I thought (and way too long to print). Surprisingly, the list of eateries that opened was about twice as long as the "closed" list. So it seems that every time a restaurant closes around here, two more open to take its place.
Maybe this is why we've been lucky enough to see an increase in the diversity of cuisine around town. We have three Thai places, three Indian places, a Caribbean/Creole joint, three new barbecue eateries, a handful of sushi places and much more.
I'm sure I didn't come close to thinking of every single restaurant that moved in or out of Southwest Virginia this year, and that's where you come in. Tell me what I forgot. And while you're at it, tell me which new restaurant you think is the best of the bunch! Or at least the most beautiful, or the most likely to succeed...
Continue reading "The ins and outs of 2007" »
November 27, 2007
A new Mexican grill is open downtown in the former Green Dolphin Grille location, just in time to fill the gap left behind when Red Coyote packed up and moved out of the market building.
No word yet on whether the food at Alejandro's is as tasty as it sounds on the menu. But since I have always suspected that I was Mexican in a past life (due to my addiction to that cuisine) it won't be long before I'm heading there for lunch.
Alejandro's is clean and simply decorated inside. I stopped there for a to-go menu today and was accompanied by my friend Pete, who lived in Mexico for 10 months. His verdict: looks very authentic.
From the looks of the menu, the grill is going to serve a lot of the same dishes available in other Mexican restaurants around town. But they also have a salsa bar in the restaurant and nine different meat choices for tacos, burritos, tortas and tostadas.
Continue reading "New nino in town" »
November 15, 2007
Another restaurant is folding this week, but they are not falling victim to low profits.
No, according to Sundance Cafe owner Sharon Gentilini, business was humming along just fine at her little Campbell Avenue lunch joint.
"We were doing excellent business here," she said. "We did a kick-butt lunch."
For more than a year, Sharon and her husband, Robert Gentilini, sold club sandwiches, soups and salads to the starving downtown masses. And those masses, bored with Zak's Cafe and still mourning Angler's departure from the West side of downtown, kept coming back.
But according to Sharon Gentilini, the Virginia Department of Health ordered the restaurant to make improvements that she was not willing to pay for herself. And Total Action Against Poverty, the owner of the building, also did not want to fund the changes, according to Dick Robers, who handles leasing for TAP.
Continue reading "And another one gone, and another one gone..." »
November 14, 2007
Every so often, I hear it: "I wish Roanoke was more like Asheville."
I'm not going to argue the point; I've been to Asheville and have always admired its charm and diversity.
But if this article is any indication, it seems that Asheville residents have actually been coveting something that Roanoke has had for many years: a Dunkin' Donuts.
According to this article in the Asheville Citizen-Times, which was forwarded by my friend Mason, the recent announcement that a Dunkin' Donuts location is coming to town has resulted in everything from cravings to squeals of delight.
The article itself has received more than 50 comments from excited readers.
Except this guy, who has to put a damper on it all:
"Waddle your fat butts on down Lardos and dunk away. Soak up that sugar and fat until you have to ride the fat chair.
Then you can complain about how your low metabolic rate makes you fat."
Oh, lighten up.
Continue reading "Score a point for Roanoke!" »
November 12, 2007
Richard Todeschini, the talented French chef who created much of Blue 5's unusual menu, is no longer in the kitchen.
According to Todeschini (pictured at left) and Kerry Hurley, part owner of Blue 5, the chef's departure was the result of "differences of opinion." Todeschini's last night at the restaurant was Nov. 3.
"I'm not going to go into details about what happened," Hurley said, later adding, "There is always a natural battle between the front and back of the house."
Sounds like the clash of two very strong personalities to me.
According to Hurley, the restaurant hasn't missed a beat since Todeschini's departure. In fact, Hurley said, they just had one of their best weekends ever.
Continue reading "Blue 5 loses one chef, gains another" »
October 17, 2007
As you can see from this picture I snapped this afternoon, Blues BBQ beside 202 in downtown Roanoke has opened for business. Monday was their first day of serving up pulled pork BBQ, brisket, grit cakes, succotash and other tasty fare.
Owner Patrick Maggi (pictured below) tells me they had 50 customers at lunchtime on Monday, which completely blew the fuse on their tiny kitchen. Since then, he has scaled back the menu in an effort to get food out faster, saying he has plenty of time to expand his offerings later.
A buddy of mine (from Tennessee, so he ought to know some decent Q), ate lunch there today and said the Carolina style pulled pork sandwich was the best he's had in these parts.
Continue reading "Blues BBQ open and hopping" »
October 15, 2007
After all the great advice about wings, I had to hit up Sharkey's on my way through Blacksburg this weekend.
Following a beautiful hike to the Cascades in Giles County on Saturday afternoon, three of us stopped at Sharkey's for a much-needed basket of wings and a cold beer. Several readers said Sharkey's has the best wings in the Roanoke and New River Valleys combined, and I should never have doubted that wisdom.
We ordered a large basket of wings (16) with Hokie Hot Sauce, which ranked number five on a scale of one to 10 (or 9-1-1). The flavor of the sauce was exceptional and we probably could have ratcheted it up to the next hottest.
What really did it, though, was the fact that Sharkeys' cooks understand what "extra crispy" wings are. Those bad boys were fiercely crispy and saucy. They also came with both blue cheese and ranch and a nice-sized pile of celery.
Continue reading "Hitting the NRV" »
October 1, 2007
Looks like the salad joint I talked about with much excitement in a previous blog entry has shut down. Over the past week or so, the Adobe Salad Works in the Roanoke City Market building has closed.
Not only have they closed, they've removed just about everything, including-- or so it appears from the upstairs balcony-- the countertops.
So much for my build-your-own-salad extravaganzas. And to think it was just May when I was rejoicing over the garbanzo beans and artichoke hearts.
I hate to see another restaurant fail in the market building. But the restaurant business in Roanoke has seen many failures before and will see many more, I'm sure. There are also simple retirements from the biz (in the case of Green Dolphin Grille) or the decision to move on before a business completely tanks.
Next week, I'll write about a new place in downtown Roanoke that's promising healthy dining options.
Meanwhile, do you know of any other restaurants that appear to have bitten the dust? You guys can be my eyes and ears.
September 19, 2007
I'm a little behind on this, but yes, The Mix One 6 in the former Dolce location on Campbell Avenue is open and serving a $6 lunch buffet. According to the sign in front of the rather nondescript-looking building yesterday, the buffet included beef stew, green beans, rice, garlic bread and dessert.
Anyone tried it out yet? Do tell.
The word on the street is that the Healthy Treats Bakery & Café at 106 Market St. in Roanoke (formerly Quiznos) is supposed to be opening any day now, if it hasn't already. And the former Green Dolphin Grille is set to become Alejandros Mexican Grill in the near future, according to business reporter Jenny Kincaid Boone. The owner of that spot says she will serve casual Mexican fare, chips with various salsas for dipping and alcohol.
Man, I hope that place doesn't turn out to be just like every other Mexican restaurant in town. I'm really craving something new on the Mexican food scene. I love that fare so much. It would be exciting to see a really unique menu at Alejandros.
Stay tuned.
August 30, 2007
Down at the corner of Campbell Avenue and Jefferson Street, in the old Rabbit Patch Cafe location, there's a new international food market that specializes in Thai and Chinese food by the pound.
The owner is the man who opened the first Thai restaurant on Salem Avenue several years ago.
On our way back from an assignment today, my buddy Pete and I loaded up our to-go boxes with lo mein, spicy tofu, hunan chicken, pad thai and a couple of other dishes. In addition, this spot has a medium-sized salad bar and a cold bar with fruit and cold salads like pasta salad and chicken salad.
The buffet does include a couple of items that seem slightly out of place, including spaghetti with meatballs and grilled salmon. But hey, this is an international cuisine spot so I guess they can get away with just about anything!
The price per pound is $4.99, and a pound adds up pretty quickly. My total came to about $7.25, a little more than I wanted to spend for lunch, but that's my own fault. Next time, I think I'll build a nice salad and then grab just a taste of the best-looking hot dishes.
The restaurant has a window bar with stools, but it isn't air-conditioned so there was no way I would eat in there on a day like today. Perhaps as the weather cools down, those stools will be more inviting.
My very first, drive-by impression of the food is that it is of the same quality you would find on a lot of Chinese buffets around town. A little on the oily side, but still very tasty. It's the concept that appeals to me the most-- a very fast, serve yourself kind of place where you are in control of exactly how much food you get and how long you spend on your lunch break.
August 15, 2007
Dan is sad.
I got an e-mail last week from my co-worker, Dan Casey, and the subject line immediately caught my attention: "Minor tip (but a major gastronomic loss for the workingman.)"
It turns out that Dan, who is probably one of the Coffee Pot's biggest fans, had gone down there for the Wednesday night BBQ buffet and was shocked and disappointed to find that after all these years, he could no longer get all-you-can-eat pulled pork, chicken and pickled slaw for just $7.
"I was absolutely crushed," Dan wrote. "It's a place where you could get a lot of great food, have three beers, leave the waitress a decent tip, and get out of there for $20."
Not to mention the fact that the BBQ buffet was always accompanied by some free, live bluegrass music. What better partnership is there?
Well, I called up the Coffee Pot to investigate this new development and had a nice conversation with bartender and waitress Missy Clark. According to Missy, they weren't selling that many buffets on Wednesday nights anymore.
"It was a waste of food," she said.
So they decided to go to a soup and salad bar with just menu orders on Wednesdays.
But there is a little sweet news mixed in with this vinegar-sour situation: Missy says they WILL occasionally still offer the buffet on nights when they expect a big crowd. That mainly means that when they have more than just one bluegrass band scheduled to play and they think lots of fans will turn out to listen, they will have the buffet. There's really no other way to find out when the buffet is scheduled than to give them a call on Wednesday afternoon and ask, Missy said.
I'll bet they will be getting a call from Dan on occasion. Or he'll be swinging his bicycle by just to stick his head in and see if he spies a BBQ buffet.
The only way to change this situation, I guess, is for lovers of the now defunct buffet to add their warm bodies to the crowd on Wednesdays and crow for some all-you-can-eat meat.
August 10, 2007
I'm trying hard not to write a scathing blog entry about the despicable service I've experienced in several restaurants around Roanoke within the past few months. I know some of you all are thinking, "Go ahead, do it!" but I am not the restaurant critic and I know the crippling consequences of ranting about specific restaurants, so I'll just stick to what I've begun to think is an overall problem in the valley anyway: mediocre service.
Often, I wonder if it is just a coincidence that I have had repeated poor service experiences this summer. Maybe everyone else is getting great service and I am complaining unfairly. But I'll bet lots and lots of you are also wondering if it's just you, just bad timing or just your unfortunate luck.
The truly disappointing part is that the food in some of these restaurants is outstanding. Just this week, I was able to sample a spectacular dish that had no place at all on my table because neither I nor my friend had ordered it. It just showed up, by mistake. When we flagged down the waitress and told her it was the wrong dish, she said, "Oh, I know. I'm paying for it."
Poor girl. She also almost dipped her long, beautiful pigtails in our water glasses. That's a special kind of talent right there-- being able to dip BOTH pigtails in BOTH water glasses simultaneously.
Continue reading "Good service-- anyone? anywhere?" »
August 1, 2007
A couple of restaurant gossip tidbits:
* Pam Martin, former owner of Bel Pasto (wine and food gourmet shop) has gone to work for Tony Pope's bistro and wine bar in Crystal Spring. So, if you missed her knowledge of fine wines and food, you know where to find her for advice.
* Marie's Caribbean Creole Cuisine is open at the corner of 5th Street and Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke. Marie Amazan, originally of Haiti, is cooking up some giant pots of delicious, authentic Haitian food like creole meatballs, red beans and rice, fried pork or beef and stewed spinach flavored with a variety of meats. If you're feeling adventurous, give it a try. Just remember that they are brand new and only have two employees. Patience would be a good thing to take with you. For more information about Marie's, look for my column in the paper next Wednesday.
* Word is that Swagat Indian restaurant on First Street in downtown Roanoke has a new owner. That's all I know at this writing, but it's on my list for further investigation.
* Finally, don't forget that Taste of Cultures is next Friday in downtown Roanoke. Local Colors diva Pearl Fu tells me the featured cuisine will be Puerto Rican, supplied by the chefs at El Coquii restaurant on Williamson Road. Reserve your lunch hour for some tasty grub!
July 20, 2007
I realize that this picture is a bit difficult to see, but the glare was a bear. It's the Campbell Avenue side of the former Rabbit Patch Cafe, the corner establishment at Campbell Avenue and Jefferson Street beside Corned Beef & Co.
Interesting....salad bar and international cuisine. That seems like an unusual fusion. The rumors I've heard (rumors! Just rumors, people!) is that a Thai restaurant is going in there, perhaps run by the fellow who opened the first Thai Restaurant on Salem Avenue.
If that's the case, we'll have Thai everywhere! Tong's Thai downtown, Tong's II on Franklin Road and the Red Jasmine place over in Vinton. Okay, my friend Rex has been trying to get me to make this joke for months now...we have a pair of Tongs! See, Rex, it isn't all that funny.
Happy weekend, y'all. I'm cooking up some wild mushrooms. If I survive, I'll write all about it in next week's column.
I found this flyer on a bulletin board out at Virginia Western Community College today. Proof, you see, that Kerry Hurley's new restaurant, Blue 5, is moving right along toward an opening date. Blue 5 is going in the old Noketown Bar & Grill location on 2nd Street.
In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that I really do not have such great sleuthing skills. I happened upon this flyer only after a blog reader named Chris yesterday sent me a link to the Blue 5 Web site.
I assume that Chris is somehow involved in the restaurant. That's okay, I like getting the inside scoop.
According to the site, Hurley is looking to open the doors next month. He's already hired a chef named Richard Henri Todeschini, who is described on the site as "renowned." I'll have to get with Hurley and Todeschini soon to learn all about the chef's background.
The site mentions a few dishes planned for the menu, including a barbecue sandwich, signature Blue 5 Burger, bacon-wrapped monkfish and ginger sesame tuna. I'm hungry.
Stay tuned for more information on this new spot.
July 11, 2007
Disc Jockey and former bartender Alan Dever has already figured out that the lunchtime crowd in downtown Roanoke could spell success for his new restaurant and bar, the Mix One 6 Club.
Dever and chef Jason McMorris are teaming up to open the club in the former Dolce location on Campbell Avenue. They hope to serve their first meal by early to mid-August.
Dever has said that he wants the club to cater to everybody, from the country music lovers to rap listeners to jazz and blues junkies. But he knows that around the noon hour, downtown workers are looking for a lunch that's not only tasty and well-made, but also quick.
Continue reading "Mix One 6 aims for good, fast lunch" »
July 3, 2007
Parker's Seafood on Peter's Creek Road was devastated by a fire in January that destroyed the entire kitchen and caused significant smoke damage to the rest of the restaurant. Co-owner Chris Parker told me this morning that after months of renovation and working out of a makeshift office in a Winnebago out in the parking lot, Parker's will open for business again next week.
If you've been missing their fare, head on out there Tuesday for the grand re-opening. Parker says the restaurant is spruced up inside, but the menu has not changed a bit.
In other food news, I just have to pass along the grocery store deal of the week. Several local Kroger stores have small, sweet red, yellow and orange peppers on sale in their produce departments this week for $2.50 a bag. I bought a bag this weekend and sauteed a few with sweet onions for brats. Then I used one in home fries, another half on a salad and I still have one left over!
I'm not tired of them yet, either. If there are any left, I mean to pick up a bag after work today and whip up some chicken fajitas for dinner tonight. When I'm in a hurry, all I do is saute strips of boneless, skinless chicken breast in about a tablespoon of olive oil and then set aside. Next, I saute sliced peppers and onion until soft, put the chicken back in the pan and stir in an envelope of fajita seasoning. If it is dry, you can just add a tablespoon of water or tomato juice.
Serve in warm tortillas with a dallop of sour cream and/or salsa and, if desired, some shredded monterey jack cheese. Easy and tasty!
June 20, 2007
Regular blog reader ShutEye Thinkin' just posted such a long and informative comment about his recent trip to the new pub downtown that I thought I would just make it a guest blog entry.
He wrote:
I visited Gunther O'Darby's Tuesday evening (6/19/07) around 5:00, arriving without having high expectations due to what I had previously heard about it. So, as I entered I had visions of the past, remembering back a few years when it was Kara O'Caen's Irish Pub.
Boy, was I surprised! And in a good way.
I immediately noticed that it was brighter inside. As I walked back towards the bar area, I noticed that some of the tables were different. Gone were the tables made from oak barrels. All of the tables inside now looked fresher, neater. I could actually see the walls this time. Not sure if I ever did get a good glimpse of them before. Gone were the multi-pane window dividers which were mounted on the bar counter, dividing the bar seating into 3 or 4 sections. I always thought that was kind of neat. Gone was the Guinness draft (Oh no!). There were three TVs, none of which was playing soccer, which some pubs must feel compelled to play in an attempt to give the place a European feel. This can be especially boring if you're not into soccer. Instead, there were good ol' ESPN and FOX or CNN News. The sound system wasn't playing Irish music, rather, it was playing WROV radio, which was really rockin'. Jimi Hendrix was wailin'.
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June 14, 2007
Word on the street today is that Tong's Thai will open its second location on Franklin Road within the next couple of days.
Mr. Bond, the fellow who opened Tong's Thai on Salem Avenue in downtown Roanoke a couple of years ago, has been remodeling the old Christopher's and Buck Mountain Grill location near Montano's on Franklin Road for several months now.
And while I'm blogging, I'll direct all hard-working, easy recipe-needing people to an amusing cooking show called 2 for 10 by Melissa.
Check out her demonstrations for some fun and simple recipes and let me know what you think.
This day has flown by like a drag racing crotch rocket. Here it is 4 p.m. and I'm just now making my daily blog entry.
I have been forced to do a little socializing in some local restaurants over the past two days (I know, how terrible), and what a strange coincidence that both establishments were celebrating the anniversary of their opening date.
Last night at Four Nineteen West, I joined four girlfriends for dinner and drinks at 7 p.m. The restaurant was quiet but the bar was loudly overflowing with folks who were there to wish the restaurant a happy 5th birthday. It amazed me that the place has been open that long because it really doesn't seem that long. These days, five years is a pretty good run in the restaurant scene in Roanoke.
They must be doing something right over there. It doesn't hurt that every single thing we ordered was tasty and attractive.
Captain Morgan stopped by for the party with a treasure chest full of free shots and an entourage of skinny damsels. Sadly, I was seated outside and he only stopped by our table on his way out with an empty chest. Boo.
Lunch today was at Table 50, a fine dining spot that is celebrating its first birthday today. With all the pricey restaurants downtown, it is a credit to those guys over at Table 50 that they're still hanging in there.
The food we ate was delicious-- it might have been some of the best curried chicken salad I've tasted in a long time. Problem is, the waitress served our lunches and then disappeared for an interminably long time. Not even a "How's the food?" or a refill on our drinks.
My dining partner actually had to get up and find someone to remove our empty plates and bring us coffee. Then, the checks had to be straightened out twice.
Sheesh! The only thing I can say is if they expect to be celebrating their second anniversary one year from today, they had better be more consistent about the service. Even a scrumptious meal does not forgive an inattentive server.
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