Richmond Rave: Garnett's Cafe

What follows is going to be one big long love letter to my most favorite Happy Hour spot in Richmond - Garnett's Cafe. Ever since my first trip there, I have been meaning to write a Richmond Rave about Garnett's, but for some reason it just never happens. I've been collecting photos with each successive visit and have finally decided that it is high time that I sit down and tell you all just how much I adore this place.

Garnett's is nestled in the Fan on the corner of Park and Meadow. It's a tiny tiny place that makes me think of my grandmother's kitchen, circa 1950. There's a Kit Cat Klock on the wall along with mish-mash collection of prints and photos; colored glass vases catch the light from the windows; the well loved dishes might be chipped; and your menu is likely to have battle scars. 

It all adds up to a retro, kitsch, pleasantly scruffy, cozy atmosphere. 

I was first introduced to Garnett's as a good Happy Hour spot. Every week day they offer $3 happy hour snacks and glasses of wine until 6:00 pm (I think... could be 6:30...). And on that snack list is my most favorite food item in all of Richmond: Devils on Horseback.

What, exactly, is a Devil on Horseback? All that you really need to know is that they would be more accurately be referred to as Heaven on a Toothpick and are also known as bacon wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola cheese. Here, let me show you:

Just the fact that I got to make a collage of these
babies has made my day.

I know, I know. It sounds a bit weird. Maybe even scary. Before I had DoH, I had never even consumed a date. And truth be told, I am not one of those bacon-obsessed people who has to eat bacon wrapped things if they are available on a menu. But the combination of the sweetness of the date plus the savory, salty bacon and the sharp, pungent gorgonzola is just perfection. 

Marcey and I have been known to order a second plate of these. At $3, it is nearly impossible to resist. 

But it's not ALL about the DoH. The other $3 Happy Hour snacks are delightful as well.

I love how worn this card is

My second-favorite item is the White Bean Spread Crostini

The $3 glass of wine isn't just some sub-par house red or white either; I've had excellent Riesling, Pinot Noir, and a Viognier. Bonus that they are served in these adorable stemless RVA wine glasses.

On one Happy Hour date with my Work Wife, we each had 2 glasses of wine and split 3 appetizers. We walked away full and happy for the total price of $15 each including a 20% tip.  It simply can't be beat. 

Beyond the excellent Happy Hour specials, Garnett's menu offers a huge variety of sandwiches, a handful of salads with unusual but delicious dressings, and a unique sampling of side items. Sandwiches are conventional with a twist: Roast Beef with gorgonzola, for instance; or the Grilled Cheese made with gouda and gruyere. Some other beauties include:

Turkey and Bacon
 {with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and garlic aioli}

WBLT
{roasted garlic white bean spread with lettuce and tomato}

From the special VCU Basketball 2013 Seniors-themed menu:
The #10
{bacon, hard boiled egg, green tomato relish, lettuce, and avocado}

MLT
{sliced cold meatloaf, lettuce, and tomato on ciabatta,
choice of garlic aioli or gorgonzola cheese}

My favorite side is the black-eyed pea salad. Until I went to Garnett's, I had never really eaten black-eyed peas before, but I find that this "salad" is a perfect light accompaniment to the hearty sandwiches.

Like many Richmond restaurants, Garnett's offers a slew of vegetarian options and any of their sandwiches can be made with Gluten-free bread, making it a good choice if you have a group of folks with a variety of dietary styles. It's extremely reasonable prices (at $9.75, the Big Daddy sandwich is the most expensive thing on the menu) also keep it accessible to just about anyone. 

For a no-fuss, no-frills, casual, down-home with a twist kind of meal, take yourself right on over to this gem. And even if you think you don't like dates, get the Devils on Horseback anyway. You'll love them... and if you don't, at $3, they will at least have been a cheap adventure. 

The lowdown:

• Parking is on the street and not metered, so bring your parallel parking skills. I always find something on Park (punny!).
• It is a tiny place, but I've never had trouble getting a table. Then again, I'm always there extremely early and by the time I leave all of the seats are filled. So if you aren't an early bird like me, you might be out of luck.
• Their Happy Hour is the best deal in Richmond.
• They also offer a $30 Date Night Deal every night from 6-9 pm: any two menu items and a bottle of Virginia wine. Not a bad deal, though I have never partaken of it myself. 
• If you're looking for a fancy, sleek atmosphere, this isn't your spot. This is casual with no frills - in a good way. You'll feel just like you're sitting at your kitchen table, except someone else does all the work.  
• Service is fast and attentive without being annoying or overbearing. 
• Devils on Horseback. That is all.

Stop and Smell the Roses

If you haven't visited Maymont's Italian Garden during the month of May, you should get there soon. Having been gone for half of the month and in zombie land for an additional quarter, I nearly missed out on the rose  bloom this year.

This morning I took a slight detour down into the Italian Garden before heading back to shut myself into my office for the rest of the day. I'm so glad that I did; as soon as I stepped into the garden, the scent of roses was all around me and the stunning blue of the sky against the whites, greens, and corals of the garden made for quite a pretty picture.

Though still beautiful and fragrant, this riot of roses isn't going to be around much longer. I encourage you to get to Maymont as soon as you can to enjoy this little slice of heaven.

Richmond Rave: Proper Pie Company

Today I made the observation that although I am chronically early to everything in real life, I am chronically late when it comes to blogging. Maybe someday I'll get ahead in the virtual world but for now, I'll just roll with it.

So, today I am going to write a pie-themed entry, even though I am one day late, as yesterday was Pi Day (3.14). In honor of the day, I did this:

But before that, I went to Proper Pie Company for lunch with my good friend Danielle. After all, is there a more appropriate day on which to eat pie for lunch?? I think not.

But first, a confession: this wasn't the first time I'd been to Proper Pie. Marcey and I went there post-Love Rox 10k and I had every intention of writing a Richmond Rave soon after. Obviously that didn't happen but I took lots of photos that day, so the photos that follow are from then.

Now that all disclosures have been taken care of...

Proper Pie Company is a tiny, delightful little shop in the Church Hill neighborhood in Richmond. Right now, Church Hill is the up-and-coming, hip neighborhood of the moment and lots of restaurants have been popping up there. I've heard great things about all of them, but Proper Pie was at the top of my "To Try" list for the simple reason that I. Love. Pie. Especially pie crust. When I'm making a pie at home, it takes every ounce of my self control to not just stand in the kitchen and eat the entire pie crust as I press it into the pie plate. When I eat pumpkin pie, I eat all of the pumpkin filling out of it and then enjoy the pie crust on its own. 

Yes, I know that's weird. But seriously, Pie Crust = <3

Anyway. Proper Pie Company is a Kickstarter success story. Started by Nikki and Neil, Proper Pie Company features pies in the style of New Zealand and Austrailia - in Nikki's own words: "It’s a hand-sized, hand-held, handmade meat and/or veggie pie that can serve as a snack or a meal." Basically, it's a hand held piece of heaven. Aside from the savory NZ/Aussie style pies, Proper Pie Co also sells a slew of sweet varietites and the menu changes daily - announced via Facebook and Twitter, of course.

Daily menu board

The space itself is small but wide open with a retro vibe. The walls are a minty green that I asssociate with the 50s and my grandmother's kitchen and the counter is gleaming silver. As you wait you get to see all the non-stop pie-making action going on in the kitchen. I myself was transfixed by one of the chefs making the crust (of course).

I believe that is owner/founder/chef Neil at work!

When Marcey and I arrived on a rainy Saturday at 1 pm, there was quite an insane line.

Luckily it moved very quickly. It seems that Proper Pie is mainly meant to be a grab and go kind of place. There are no servers and very few seats - just a 2 bar areas (you can see one in the above picture on the left - 6 seats; the other faces the front window and is another 6-8 seats) and two 2-person tables along the wall. In the case of all the seating areas, you are likely to be surrounding by/jostled by people standing in line, so don't expect a quiet kind of lunch. Even when Danielle and I went yesterday, the place was crammed full by 12:15.

Anyway, enough about that. On to the truly important stuff: PIE.

It was very difficult to choose what kind of pie to get. Savory or sweet? Traditional mince and cheese or the New Zealand favorite, Chicken and Kumara (the NZ version of the sweet potato)? Apple Cheddar, Chocolate, Lemon Meringue, or Strawberry Rhubarb???? Each time, I have decided to be completely gluttonous and get a savory and a sweet. In all honesty, the savories are on the small side, so I feel completely justified in getting both. 

Marcey & I got (starting in lower left corner, working clock wise):
Sausage Roll
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Apple Cheddar Pie
Mince & Cheese

Let me tell you folks, every bite of each of these pies was pure heaven. As we ate, Marcey and I paused after every bite and had small respective foodgasms. "Omigod this is so delicious!" "Seriously, is this not the  most amazing thing you've ever eaten?" "Oh, this place is BAD NEWS for me. BAD NEWS." "I don't want to keep eating because I don't want it to be all gone, but I can't stop!"

Danielle and I had a similar experience yesterday - even though I told myself I should be adventurous, I couldn't help but get the mince & cheese again, along with a slice of strawberry rhubarb. Danielle was the daring one - she got the chicken and kumara (which she said was delicious) and a slice of chocolate pie.

It's a very good thing that Proper Pie is located in Church Hill and not right next to my place of employment. If it was, I'd want to be there every single day, working my way through the menu. 

So, do yourself a favor - get to Proper Pie Company PRONTO. And then get a savory and a sweet. Trust me, you won't regret it. And at an average price of $5 for a savory and $5 per slice of sweet, it won't really break the bank either. 

The lowdown:

• Parking is on the street and because of the wild popularity of the shop, it can be tricky. But you should be fine... just bring your parallel parking skills.
• Proper Pie takes credit (on an iPad - so hip) and cash, so no worries about having to stop by the ATM.
• Seating is incredibly limited and even when you get a seat, if it's busy you won't be comfortable. If you plan to try to eat there, I would recommend getting there a tiny bit before they open at Noon to ensure a spot at one of the bars. The tables are just impossible if there is a line - people will be standing on top of you.
• Check out their Facebook and/or Twitter posts to get the pies of the day before you go. 
• Be ready to stand in line, but don't freak out if it is long. The line will move quickly - the pies are pre-made, so they are grabbed out of the case and handed over in a matter of seconds. 
• Be aware that once you have it, you will have to go back.

Richmond Rave: Grove Avenue Water Stop

This past Sunday, I had the great pleasure of participating in what I believe was the First Annual Grove Avenue Water Stop Super Shuffle 5 Miler.

Whew - that was a mouthful.

The Grove Avenue Water Stop is something of a fixture on the Richmond running scene. It was started by a local runner named Sheri Crowell. Sheri lives along Grove Avenue, which is a pretty popular thoroughfare for runners. In April 2011, she started to put a water cooler out in front of her house for runners and other exercising folk and since then, the Grove Avenue Water Stop (GAWS) has earned itself a kind of cult following. There was even an article about GAWS in the local paper (check it out here).

I myself was completely ignorant of GAWS until I started to run with the Run Like a Girl group last spring. My first encounter with GAWS was during a crazy warm (by crazy warm, I mean 85 degrees) early April day. The RLaG group always kept a much speedier pace than I was used to, and by the time we got to the last mile of the evening's run, I was dying for some water. To be fair, we all were. And behold, there it was!

Even better, Sheri happened to be out in her yard and insisted on snapping a picture of the group.

I remember being so awed that someone would take it upon themselves to provide a water station for complete strangers 365 days a year and out of nothing but the goodness of her own heart.

So, when I saw the Facebook announcement for the Super Bowl Shuffle, I was all about it. I wanted to support Sheri and as an added bonus, I had a 5 miler scheduled for that very weekend. Done and done.

On Sunday, a hugely diverse group of runners, walkers, bikers, dogs, and stroller-pushers gathered at GAWS as flurries swirled around us. This wasn't a race - just a casual, friendly kind of run. Everyone was enthusiastic though, and the positive energy was contagious.

Most of the group just before the start of the run

Represent!
(even though burgundy and gold clash
big time with my pink shoes!)

Greg brought along his dog Earl, who was an amazing runner. We started near the front of the pack and pretty much stayed there. Ok, ok, I might be fudging a little bit... once the crowd settled, we ended up in the second pack, behind all of the teenaged boys who no doubt finished in under 30:00.

The course was simple and marked with pink arrows stuck on any available surface (telephone poles, trees, no parking signs, fences). Since this was an unofficial race, we all looked out for each other with cries of "car back" or "clear" or "hold up!" echoing up and down the group as we made our way along the 5 mile route.

It was camaraderie at its best. Runners just hanging out and enjoying each others' company.

About halfway through, Greg and I realized that Earl was first place in the dog division, so we joked and ribbed on him for the rest of the race. "No stopping to pee, Earl - we've got a PR to think about!"

Truth be told, thanks to Earl, we ended up running at a pretty fast clip for the whole 5 miles.

And Earl did get first place in the doggie division.

The run ended with some post-run snacks in Sheri's garage. It was a great spread - gold fish, candy hearts, pretzels, oranges, bananas, water, Krispy Kreme - basically junk food heaven.

There were even door prizes, of which I was a winner.

Best race swag EVER.

The whole thing was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. From what I understand, it is going to be an annual event. I'm already looking forward to next year!

I am still completely overwhelmed by Sheri and her family's generosity to the Richmond running community. Really, we Richmond runners are pretty lucky to have such a supportive community. Not all are so fortunate.

So, a big fat

THANK YOU!

to you, Sheri, for all that you (and your family) do for the active community. You rock!

Richmond Rave: Chihuly at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Here in little old Richmond, we are lucky enough to have a world-class fine arts museum - the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

I can hear your groan right now - geesh, first this girl tries to convince me to go the Symphony, now she wants me to go look at paintings?

Just give me a minute, ok?

Ever since the VMFA reopened in May 2010 after years of major renovation and building, they have been trotting out one fabulous exhibit after another. I went to Picasso, Elvis at 21, Xu Bing's Tobacco Project, Farbrege Revealed, Mocha Dick, and Tiffany: Color and Light and loved every single one.

Don't tell the others... but Fabrege was my favorite... until now.

Chihuly, the current exhibition, has unseated them all. Teka and I hit it up on the Friday before the marathon.

If you've never heard of Chihuly - ok let's be real... you probably haven't - he is a completely awe-inspiring, phenomenally-talented, eye-patch wearing American glass artist whose work is nothing short of amazing.

What makes the eye patch even more bad-ass?
He got it when a car accident threw him through a windshield
and the glass cut his face.
The GLASS... which he continues to use to create amazing art!

His work is everywhere from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The current exhibition at VMFA features 6 rooms of Chihuly's works plus an outdoor sculpture that was completed over the summer and a large (and by large, I mean GIGANTIC) chandelier installation in the main lobby of the Museum.

There are many many reasons why I love this exhibit. First, and most simply, the art is both breath-takingly impressive and  accessible. I can guarantee that everyone who goes to see this will enjoy it. A lot of people don't like to go to fine art museums because they think they won't "get it" and will therefore look less-than-intelligent (or some other silly thing).

It's impossible to not "get" Chihuly. I mean, look  at this stuff:

(all photos taken by me legally  at the VMFA exhibit)

Second, I just kind of love Dale Chihuly. The guy is a no-nonsense bad-ass artist. For $5, I got the audio guide for the exhibit, which featured Chihuly himself. I hadn't yet experienced the artist telling me about his art (since most of the art I go see is by long-dead artists...), so it was a treat. It was even more fun because his explanations were very frank and to the point. Usually they were something like, "I like the way it looked, so I just went with it." Or, "I wanted to use every color of this material that is possible to create, so I did."

No pretending like he is some inspired gift from God - he just does his thing, and if it turns out cool, well, cool.

Love it.

I also think it is awesome that Chihuly allows photography in his exhibitions. Nine times out of ten, photos inside of ticketed exhibits are a no no, for understandable reasons - if I go in an photograph every thing in the exhibit then post it on my blog, why would anyone then go pay to see it?

Chihuly's works are different though. They are so complex that there is no way that photos can do them justice. Every person will notice something different about each installtion - each person will make Chihuly their own when they see it for themselves. What you see in my pictures are what I got out of the exhibit - which will be completely different from what you get from it.

Plus he has an eye-patch. Which just makes him that much more awesome.

Third, the exhibition is large enough to feel fulfilling but small enough to not feel like you just want to be finished. I loved the Fabrege exhibition, for instance, but it felt like they just threw every piece of (non-interesting) Fabrege that they could find into it along with the real draw, the Imperial Easter Eggs. Yes, some of it was also very interesting, beautiful, and cool... but it was a bit of overkill. It took forever to get through that exhibit... even longer  than forever if you were with a group of people who wanted to look at every.single.blessed.piece.

You can go see and appreciate the Chihuly in 30 minutes. Of course you can linger if you want to (I revisited my favorite room, which I'm going to share in a minute), or you can go through faster than that, though I don't know why you'd want to. I think that Teka and I took about 40 minutes.

The final, and biggest reason, I love this exhibit: the Persian Ceiling installation. I could have sat under that ceiling for hours and never have been bored. Actually, I might go back just so I can sit in that room for a while.

Teka taking it all in.

So this weekend, after you've gorged yourself on Thursday and shopped like a fool on Friday, perhaps a visit to Chihuly is in order.

In fact, I insist. You won't be sorry, and everyone will enjoy it.

The lowdown:

• The exhibit runs through Feb 10, 2013 but take it from me - you do NOT want to go in the last month of its run. I did that with Picasso and the place was a complete zoo. Go now, before everyone panics because it's going to be gone soon and they haven't gone to see it yet. Crowds are not conducive to art viewing. Go now when it's quiet and you have plenty of time to enjoy and dawdle.
• Cost is $20 per adult, $16 for seniors 65+, students with ID, adult groups of 10+, and youth ages
  7 – 17, FREE for VMFA Members. I highly advise getting a membership. Mine has paid for itself many times over... plus it gives you free parking. Speaking of which...
• Parking can be found in the VMFA parking deck (accessible from Boulevard or Sheppard Street), $5 for non-members, FREE for members (get a membership!). There's plenty of free street parking around, but sometimes finding a spot is harder than it should be.
• You are allowed to take photos in the exhibit, which is unusual (no flash).
• If you haven't already done so, take some time to explore the rest of the VMFA. The permanent collections are free and they are wonderful. I especially love the East Asian Collection.
• Museum hours vary, so check out their website.

Richmond Rave: Cafe Rustica

Today I want to share one of my favorite little hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Richmond:

Cafe Rustica 

Cafe Rustica

I know it doesn't look like much, but let me assure you - the food at Cafe Rustica is fabulous.

For 2 or 3 whole years, I drove past Cafe Rustica every single day and never even knew it was there. There is nothing overt on the exterior that signals "awesome restaurant located here." I found out about Rustica through my dear Work Wife, who took me there for my birthday in 2009. When she parked I remember saying, "Uh... there is a restaurant on this block??"

Yes, indeed Kathryn. Looks can be deceiving.

Rustica really is a tiny hole in the wall kind of place... emphasis on the "RUSTIC"

You won't find gleaming wood booths or a polished marble bar at Rustica. But for me, that is what makes it such a great place. It feels comfy, lived in, and familiar. Adding to this cozy feeling is the fact that the place is pretty darn tiny - and quickly fills up during lunch hour. If I had to guess, they can accomodate 24 at tables and booth and an additional 8 at the bar.

Being a planny plannerston, I always arrange to meet my lunch date at 11:45 to ensure a table.

This past Monday I was in need of a pick me up to start off my week, so I asked my former co-worker and now good friend Gail if she'd like to join me for lunch at Rustica. She immediately agreed (she never turns down Rustica, which is just one of the reasons I love her), so off we went.

The daily menu is limited, but there are always great specials and the prices can't be beat. The house salad, which is gigantic, is only $5. Pair that with a cup of soup du jour for $3 and you've got yourself a fresh delicious lunch for $8.

The most expensive item on the lunch menu is Insalata di Pesce (pan roasted salmon over spinach, bacon, & red onions tossed in a feta & herb vinaigrette) for $12. One of these days I'm going to try it because it sounds amazing.

On Monday, however, I went with my stand by: the Salad "Ballerina molta piccola." It's a romaine based green salad with local apples, sugared walnuts, pulled roast chicken & gorgonzola vinaigrette. It is also gigantic and only costs $8.

I have never been a big fan of salads-as-a-meal. Generally I eat the salad and then during the afternoon I find myself starving. But not this salad. This salad is completely fulfilling. It is one of the few salads that I actually crave. Big time. The walnuts and the gorgonzola vinaigrette are my favorite parts.

It's served with two big pieces of the house-made garlic herb bread. Sometimes I resist the bread but honestly, not eating it seems like a crime because the stuff is so darn delicious.

Gail decided to try the special. I don't remember all the details but I know it was - salmon cakes over mesclun with some kind of divine sounding dressing.

This lovely concoction was just $9!

In the end our bill was under $20 for both of us (before tip).

Yep - Twenty. Dollars.

I am forever in-debted to Work Wife for introducing me to Rustica... I'm sure I never would have found it otherwise. Since that birthday lunch I have been back more times than I can count for a lunch and even managed to drag Husband there for dinner once (which was also wonderful).

Some of my other favorites from the menu are the Hummus Platter, the Rustic Skillet (if you feel like blowing your entire calorie allotment in one meal), Aosta Valley Panini, and Grilled Fromage (with a cup of soup for just $7!).

One neat thing that Rustica does is Sunday Supper - a 3 course set menu for $15. Each week of the month has a different supper:

1st week: Roast Chicken
2nd week: Pot Roast
3rd week: Cioppino
4th week: Salmon
5th week: Chef's Choice

I've always wanted to try it, but haven't made it yet.

I'll have to put it on my restaurant bucket list - and you should to!

The lowdown:

• Don't let the appearance fool you - this place is the real deal
• Satisfying portions and top notch food for a low low price (I'm not kidding)
• Arrive just before noon to ensure a seat
• Parking is available on the street, bring your quarters because there are meters
• On that note, if you are going to split your bill, bring cash. Rustica will not split bills (the only tiny complaint I have against the place) between credit cards or otherwise
• Not the fastest lunch spot on the planet, so not recommended if you're on a tight schedule
• If you're so inclined, there is also a reasonably priced wine list with good by-the-glass selections