PLATE AND GOBLET: Recapping the Food and Beverage Expo, and the return of the Lebanese Food Festival

Editor's note: This is the first in a planned monthly series of (mostly) local news updates and notes related to food and beverages – including updates about Henrico restaurants, food-themed events in the county and region, new adult beverages in the market, and everything in between. Your ideas, tips, updates and questions are encouraged! Did you try a new restaurant? We want to hear your thoughts. Know of a special food-related event that's coming up? Let us hear about it! Got a question about craft beer? Ask us! E-mail Patty Kruszewski at patty@henricocitizen.com.

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March 30 was a busy day for foodies, with the Food and Beverage Expo back in town after a two-year hiatus, a new Short Pump restaurant showing off its stuff, and a sustainable-foods event at University of Richmond.

I started off with a lunch-time tour (natch) of the Expo, sampling from vendors serving everything from oysters and jam to cider and kettle corn.

Among the Henrico businesses making appearances at the Expo were Three Sisters, famed for their cheese straws, and Empanadas Market, which has a to-go kitchen on Westbriar Drive.

Michael Lampros, who built his gourmet salsa business from his western Henrico home, had an array of award-winning salsas on hand – though, sadly, not my favorite.  The crab salsa that first won me over to Gunther's Gourmet was out of stock.  Lampros cited supply issues, which he (and Gunther's Gourmet fans) can only hope are temporary.

At Two and a Half Irishmen, however, I scored a traditional Irish buttermilk scone. Operated by the Duffy family, the Irish bakery offers breads, cakes and hot cross buns. I dropped the wrapped scone in my tote bag to browse and promptly forgot to eat it.  Two days later, I had it for breakfast, and it melted delightfully in my mouth. (Can't imagine how good those scones must be when they're fresh from the oven!)

Later that afternoon, I headed to Short Pump for an opening-week event at MPM Tiki Bar, the latest from the family that brought such restaurants as Mom's Siam, Yaya's Cookbook, Sabai, and Pik Nik to the Richmond area.

Located in the former Carolina Ale House and Mimi’s Café sites in West Broad Village, the MPM takes its name from the combination of Mom's Siam, Pik Nik and My Noodle Bar, according to Sukanya Pala-art (who co-owns MPM with her two sons.)

The restaurant, billed as a tropical-themed, upscale sports bar, features an Asian fusion menu, multiple TV's for game-watching, a pool table, and a stage equipped for live music.

But the porch area, where the tasting event took place, is what sets the place apart from typical sports bars, with its rustic wood look, swings, and tiki-hut-style booths. It's the tiki vibe that will bring me back to MPM for my next visit – well, that and the crispy pork belly appetizer. Try as I might, I can't think of too many other sports bars where I can pair my beer with pork belly.

It was 8 p.m. by the time I could get from MPM to the University of Richmond, but I was hoping to catch a few minutes of "Eating for the Future" before it ended (supposedly) at 9 p.m.  Unfortunately, the event organizers were just packing up, but they invited me to sample some leftover plant-based treats (cookie bars with lemon and other fruits).

The "Eating for the Future" event, which I'd heard about through a newsletter from the UR Office for Sustainability, was billed as a way to learn about the impact of food systems on individuals and the planet.  I had missed the movie that kicked off the event, Eating Our Way to Extinction, and the panel of local experts who discussed tips for adopting a plant-based lifestyle.  But the organizers assured me that the free event will be held once every semester.

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Gather your friends and prep your palates – the Lebanese Food Festival is back on the calendar!

While Richmond's Easter parade, Greek Festival and Broad Appetit festivals have been cancelled for another year, Henrico County's favorite food festival is a go for May 13-15.

With any luck, my old softball teammates and I will have a chance to gather there one night to indulge in our team tradition, the semi-sacred Doughball Challenge. The decades-old tradition took on almost mythical status when my youngest was a pre-teen with an enormous appetite, and astounded adults with her ability to cram in even more zalabia than our largest teammates.

Another highly-anticipated festival favorite for me is the eggplant dip known as bubbaghanooge. It's been decades now since my former co-worker at an Innsbrook office (I'm looking at you, Ryan Wenger) introduced me to bubbaghanooge, but I'll never forget my first taste of the creamy delicacy made of eggplant, sesame, and lemon juice. The only restaurant I've found with bubbaghanooge as tasty as the festival's is Natalie's Taste of Lebanon, which unfortunately has closed its Cox Road restaurant to move to South Richmond, where it's now open in the former Positive Vibe Cafe space just off Forest Hill Avenue at 2825 Hathaway Road.

But there's hope for year-round fans of bubbaghanooge. Natalie's (nataliesrva.com) reopened last week in its newly-renovated space, formerly the home of Positive Vibe Cafe in Richmond. The new location, at 2825 Hathaway Road, serves the Middle Eastern favorites familiar to Short Pump patrons and boasts a covered and heated patio, bar and lounge area, and catering. What's more, Natalie's will continue the Positive Vibe traditions of inclusive hiring and providing job training for people with special needs.

For details about the Lebanese Food Festival – or to plan your assault on the zalabia and bubbaghanooge booths – visit lebanesefoodfestival.com.

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A few months back, Osao held a pop-up preview at Short Pump Town Center, where guests were treated to tapas (small plates), bocadillos (sandwiches) and Spanish cheeses and hams.

While a brick-and-mortar restaurant is not currently available, Osao offers its menu items online, along with information on how to book a Spanish-themed wedding, anniversary, or graduation party -- complete with Spanish music playlists and cortadors to carve and serve the guests.  For details, visit osao-spain.com.

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Chime in with your food or drink thoughts, tips or questions! E-mail Patty Kruszewski at patty@henricocitizen.com.