Case Clinger, owner of the Pizza Inn in Floyd, was recognized  for his contributions to the company. Pizza Inn presented him with the Culinary Pizza Challenge Award at its national convention in Destin, Fla. Clinger was recognized for his Krazy Chicken Pizza recipe.

Here is the press release from Pizza Inn.

FLOYD, VA (August 21, 2012) – Pizza Inn, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZI) recently hosted its 2012 National Franchise Convention in Destin, FL, where franchisee Case Clinger, owner of the Pizza Inn location in Floyd, was recognized for his contributions to the company. Read more »

A new southern bistro is opening today in Roanoke. The River and Rail Restaurant is opening in the former Lipes Pharmacy in south Roanoke. Executive chef Aaron Deal and sous chef Sarah Mankie will serve up dishes made with locally found produce and products. The River and Rail is managed by Catherine Price. Visit riverandrailrestaurant.com for more information.

Here is a press release from Polished Pig Media.

(June 13, 2012—Roanoke, VA) On June 14, Roanoke welcomes a new restaurant with the highly anticipated opening of The River and Rail, a southern bistro. The most recent resident of the landmark Lipes Pharmacy space, The River and Rail brings Chef Aaron Deal’s ever changing menu of locally found produce and products, including: grass-fed beef and bison, goat and duck, forest-fed pork, farm-fresh eggs, and more. Read more »

Businesses in four communities are in the running for “best of” honors.

The Roanoke Times’ community news publications — The Botetourt View, So Salem, SWoCo (in Southwest Roanoke County) and The Burgs (in the New River Valley) have launched their annual “best of” reader polls.

The categories vary from zone to zone, but there are generally categories for restaurants, and various service-oriented businesses.

Each one also has a “best new thing” category, in which businesses often win, and a “best thing not on this list” category for businesses (or others) who don’t fit neatly into a category but whom readers want to honor in some way.

Here’s where to find the contests:

* The Best of Botetourt County (4th annual)
* The Best of Salem (4th annual)
* The Best of Southwest Roanoke County. (4th annual)
* The Best of the New River Valley (7th annual)

Dining Services employees constructed costumes and appeared as characters at the Alice in Wonderland dinner at the D2 dining facility.

Virginia Tech Dining Services has been awarded national honors for its special Alice and Wonderland dinner. Here is a press release from Virginia Tech:

BLACKSBURG, Va., July 29, 2011 – Virginia Tech’s Dining Services was recently awarded a grand prize Loyal E. Horton award and a gold medal in the Residential Dining Special Event category by the National Association of College and University Food Services for its Alice in Wonderland dinner.

An honorable mention was also given for the Virginia Harvest Celebration dinner, inspired by Virginia Tech’s 2011 Common Book, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.”

The grand prize Loyal E. Horton award was presented at the National Association of College and University Food Services 53rd national conference, held July 16 in Dallas, Texas. The Loyal E. Horton awards contest, a highly competitive and prestigious peer recognition program, is open to all 550 higher education institutions that are members of the association. Loyal E. Horton grand-prize winners are selected from each category’s gold award winners.

Virginia Tech holds nearly 40 special dining events throughout the school year to add interesting and educational experiences to the regular dining schedule. Dining Services has earned 38 Loyal E. Horton awards since 1992, in addition to awards from various industry organizations for programs, facilities, menus, and sales. Read more »

A former Roanoke City Market vendor has a new gig: managing and baking for 2nd Helpings, the cafe run by the Roanoke Rescue Mission. Here’s more information from the Rescue Mission:

For 26 years, Georgia Crump was the owner and baker at Nuts & Sweet Things located in the Market in downtown Roanoke.  Opening her business in September of 1985, Crump was located downtown when the Market building food court first opened until it closed for renovation in 2010.  Originally planning on returning when it reopened, Crump changed her mind while waiting on the remodeling to finish.  The following week after informing the City of her decision, she joined the staff at 2nd Helpings, an earned income department that rasies funds for the Roanoke Rescue Mission.

“Joy & John Sylvester-Johnson were regular customers of mine for many years,”  said Crump.  “When John passed away in May, I came by the mission to bring Joy’s family a tray of some of their favorite baked treats and we began to talk about my decision to not return to the Market building.  Out of the blue, Joy offered me the position as manager of the 2nd Helpings Café.  Ironically, my family had been praying with me about my future plans. I felt like the offer to come to 2nd Helpings was an answer to our prayers.” Read more »

Brandon Hall has received $1,000 from Chick-fil-A to further his studies at Liberty University. The chain will award $1.6 million to restaurant team members in 2011. Here is a press release from Chick-fil-A:

Chick-fil-A’s 38-year-old national Leadership Scholarship program has awarded the honor to its newest recipient Brandon Hall from Roanoke.

A $1,000 scholarship was presented to Brandon Hall from Chick-fil-A franchised operator Bob Childress at the free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant at Valley View Boulevard. Hall is the 35th team member from that location to receive the honor. Hall is currently attending Liberty University studying religion.

“Brandon’s core values and pursuit of excellence align with the integrity and superior standards of Chick-fil-A,” said Childress. “He is one of 50,000 dedicated and hard-working Chick-fil-A team members across the country who daily put forth their best effort in providing award-winning service and freshly prepared food to create as pleasant of a dining experience as possible for our customers. It is an honor to return the favor by acknowledging our team members’ efforts with this scholarship.” Read more »

The new Wine Corkage Law goes into effect July 1, giving restaurants in Virginia the option of allowing customers to bring in their own wine. Here is a press release from the Virginia ABC:

RICHMOND – A new law that gives ABC-licensed restaurants the option of allowing customers to bring in their own wine goes into effect next week.

Key points about the corkage law:

• The law takes effect July 1.
• It’s voluntary: Restaurants may allow customers to bring their own wine, but they are not required to do so.
• Restaurants may charge a “corkage fee” if they allow customers to bring their own wine. There is no maximum or minimum price for the corkage fee.
• The restaurant must have an ABC license to serve alcohol.

The legislation passed the General Assembly earlier this year. Here is a link to the law: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+sum+sb1292

A free seminar for retail merchants and restaurateurs is coming to Blacksburg next week. Here are the details from the Montgomery County Economic Development Department:

Montgomery County, Virginia - A FREE two-hour seminar, titled “Staying Relevant for Retail Merchants and Restaurateurs,” is coming to town next week.  The workshop will be held Monday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn University in Blacksburg.  Registration is required.

To learn more, visit www.yesmontgomeryva.org/content/121/231/1327/1612.aspx

Firehouse Subs will open a restaurant in Blacksburg on Monday, it’s fifth location in Southwest Virginia. Here is a press release from Firehouse:

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Renowned for hearty, oversized portions and piping hot subs, Firehouse Subs announces the grand opening of its first location in the area on Monday, June 20, 2011. With 432 locations nationwide, this will be the fifth location in southwest Virginia. The chain is famous for premium meats and cheeses piled high atop toasted sub rolls served with fresh produce. The authentic firehouse setting is based on the founders’ 200 years of firefighting heritage, and the Blacksburg restaurant is decorated with local fire department artifacts and pictures of well-known area fire scenes.

Firehouse Subs features Specialty Subs, such as the No. 1 selling Hook & Ladder® known as the “Best Sub in Town,” and the New York Steamer®, both named after fire trucks. The Hook & Ladder includes Smoked Turkey and Virginia Honey Ham smothered with Monterey Jack cheese. The New York Steamer, inspired by New York delicatessens, combines corned beef brisket and pastrami topped with Provolone. All large Specialty Subs boast a half-pound of meat. Firehouse Subs’ intense flavors result from a unique steaming method, which perfectly complements the natural qualities of the premium meats and cheeses. Read more »

An architect's rendering of the exterior addition to campus dining hall West End Market

Virginia Tech’s West End Market dining hall is expanding to add more seating. Here is a press release from Tech:

Virginia Tech students know that West End Market dining hall can get a little crowded. To improve service and increase capacity during meal times, West End Market is undergoing renovations for expansion.

An additional 100 interior seats and 30 patio seats will be added to increase dining capacity. The glass wall along the side of the restaurant facing Ambler Johnston Hall will be moved out by 18 feet to make room for the additional seating. The kitchen, production, and dry storage areas will be expanded and improved, and an additional walk-in cooler and freezer will be added to reduce transportation back and forth to the Fighting Gobbler Sports Lounge. Brand new public restrooms will be added, as well as a locker room for employees.

The dining center will remain fully operational during the renovations in order to provide continuous service to dining customers. Read more »