Plate and Goblet: Kitchen fun, the 7-finger pork chop, Dry January specials, sushi buffet and a Henrico winery
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I had the pleasure of spending a recent evening at The Kitchen Classroom over the holidays, cooking (and eating!) a meal featuring "Flavors of Morocco." (There are also classes featuring Greek, French, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, Cajun and Creole cuisine, and more.)
Under the guidance of our chef and teacher David Booth, a dozen of us chopped and sauteed ingredients to produce a gourmet feast of tagine, couscous, and carrot salad – topped off with a lemon cake dessert. It was a party atmosphere as we gathered around our tables to cook, and almost everyone indulged in the wine and beer available for purchase. But it seemed to me, after standing for an hour or two – not to mention inhaling all the tantalizing smells – that we'd never get around to the eating part. (I would recommend a solid snack before class.)
As we devoured our dinners (my own is pictured above) I asked my teammates what they liked best (besides the eating), and they agreed that the convenience of having ingredients already apportioned and prepared was a giant plus – no shopping, washing or measuring.
But by far the best part (mentioned by every participant) was that the dirty dishes and pots disappeared the minute we were done with them – spirited away to a back kitchen!
No shopping for ingredients? No crusty, sticky piles of pots and dishes to wash afterwards? And good food and drink to boot?
Even for those who don't love puttering in the kitchen, this can be is a fun date night or girls' night out. (Besides, there are classes on making cocktails, too.) What a great Valentine or birthday gift a night in this kitchen would make!
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If you're taking the Dry January route, or simply cutting back on booze, Celeste Farms (profiled in the June P&G) is now hosting evenings centered around alcohol-free pairings. These feature a multi-course, farm-to-table dinner with non-alcoholic pairings, including mocktails crafted by the owner of Point 5, the NA bottle shop in Carytown.
Although "The Point 5 Dinner Experience" is already sold out for Jan. 13 and 27, wait lists are available, and with any luck – considering the obvious demand – there will be more such nights to come.
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Another restaurant celebrating Dry January is Mellow Mushroom, which is debuting a Lavender Groove mocktail to add to its NA offerings. Available through March 4, the zero-proof purple-hued drink is composed of blueberry puree and lavender syrup with floral flavorings and garnishes.
If you want to pair your mocktail with a vegan pizza, Mellow Mushroom is bringing back its Miss Mushroom pizza to celebrate Veganuary. The Miss Mushroom features minced garlic, fresh spinach, sliced portobello, caramelized onions, and dairy-free mozzarella and feta crumbles. Like the Lavender Groove, the Miss Mushroom is available through March 4.
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The countdown has begun to grand opening day at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, which will be located in the former site of Bar Louie's in Short Pump Town Center. Perry's first Virginia location will open Feb. 5 at 11788 West Broad Street. The high-end steakhouse was founded in Texas in 1979, beginning as a small meat market in Houston and ultimately expanding into restaurants in multiple states. The restaurant will feature patio dining, four private dining rooms, and an island bar (Perry’s Bar 79, named for the founding year).
One item that caught my eye amidst all the hype about the steakhouse is that Perry's is known, somewhat surprisingly, for its pork chop as well as its steak.
Even though I've been a pork chop fan since childhood, I've never had one that looks anything like the "seven-fingers-high" rotisserie-roasted chop at Perry's. (I checked it out on You Tube, of course.)
On Fridays – note that Friday is the only day of the week that Perry's is open for lunch – the restaurant touts a lunch-time pork chop meal for $19.
That makes February 9 the first Pork Chop Friday – and it's already on my calendar.
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Another restaurant on my list to try is Sushi Masa, which opened recently in Westland Shopping Center on West Broad Street.
Like Perry's, Sushi Masa is the first Virginia location of a Texas-based chain – but there the resemblance ends. Sushi Masa is all about Japanese fusion, and features an all-you-can-eat sushi bar, complete with a variety of sushi rolls, salads, and appetizers ($20.98 at lunch; $30.98 at dinner, which includes an alcoholic drink).
Much as I like sushi, I admit I am even more attracted by the Sushi Masa decor portrayed in photos accompanying a Richmond Magazine article. Labeling the ambience "Las Vegas-esque," the magazine describes elaborate murals, water features, a tiny bridge, a koi pond, and dangling lanterns and parasols. Some of the tables are even housed under gazebos.
What's more, Sushi Masa has a karaoke room that can be reserved for private parties.
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While Henrico has long been surrounded by wineries in Goochland, Hanover, New Kent, Charles City and Chesterfield counties, it did not have one to call its own – until recently.
Located in Varina not far off Darbytown Road (and just four miles from the Capital Trail), the newly opened River Dog Winery is situated on a small family-owned farm vineyard with only five acres under vine.
On the River Dog website, owners Chris and Debbie Ziolkowski tout the vineyard as pet-friendly and the wines as small-batch and hand-crafted. Winemaker Floyd W. Oslin has been growing grapes and making wine for more than 40 years – having made his first vintage at age 16.
