Plate and Goblet: Garage gastronomy, mimosa merriment, vampires, dumplings, and cachitos

Ford's Garage shifted into high gear Nov. 18 with a grand opening that began with a ribbon-cutting – and was promptly followed by an eager lunch crowd surging through the doors to check out the 1920s decor and burger-and-beer fare.

After snapping pictures in the bar and restroom (not a normal journalistic pursuit, but these restrooms feature clever sinks crafted from tires and "fueled" with gas pump nozzles), I looked over the menu and could not resist the temptation to stay for lunch myself.

It took time to decide, but I finally ordered the "Lunch Brake" shrimp wrap ($11.99) – then second-guessed my choice umpteen times as I watched the parade of other diners' choices go by, from onion rings skewered on an automotive funnel, to "Edsel's Hot Pretzels" served with beer cheese, and chicken macaroni and cheese served in a skillet. I was not at all disappointed with my shrimp wrap – but made a note to return soon (with a crowd) and sample the rest.

Meanwhile, owner Steve Israel came by to chat about the restaurant's roots in Ft. Myers, Florida, near Henry Ford's winter home, and how the concept evolved to appeal to car-lovers – as well as to nostalgia buffs and lovers of classic American cuisine. Pointing out the 1922 Model T Speedster – one of the earliest "sports cars" – mounted above the bar, Israel said that the Short Pump location of Ford's is the only one displaying that particular model. The Henrico restaurant (located at the former site of Carolina Ale House and MPM Tiki Bar) is also the only location to boast five vintage cars inside.

Israel, who has a daughter in Richmond, honored his grandchildren with their own Burger of Fame on the menu. Leo and Noah Wetzel are listed on the burger menu as “Two Kids from Richmond,” along with local notables such as Eric D. English, Henrico's Chief of Police, and Henrico Fire Chief Jackson Baynard.

I had plenty of entertainment as I ate, and particularly enjoyed watching the gleeful antics of a bartender as she jumped up and down behind the bar to trigger the bell – which duplicates a garage warning chime. The bar is also equipped with a klaxon horn (the kind with the distinctive "ah-ooga" used in early automobiles) – a sound that Israel was happy to demonstrate as well.

In other words, Ford's Garage is an experience, not just a meal. Where else, after all, can you get a kick out of using your napkin? At Ford's, it's a blue shop towel, rolled up inside an elegant napkin ring formed from a hose clamp.

I recommend a visit soon – if only to wash your hands in the tire sink. (And please, let me know if it takes you a try or two to get the faucet running. It would be nice to know there are others who had trouble figuring out the trick....)

Mimosa Fest, a daytime celebration for brunch and mimosa fans that originated in Austin, Texas, made its first appearance outside of Austin Nov. 10 – at Atlas 42 in Glen Allen. Early arrivals at the event scored "Save Water - Drink Mimosas!" t-shirts in addition to swag bags, and a variety of vendors offered shopping opportunities. (Short Pump bake shop Frostings was easily the most popular vendor – thanks to providing free samples of mimosa cupcakes.)

Kicking off with an hour of bottomless mimosas, the event offered guests partial cups of bubbly to start, then steered them to a bar full of mixers, ranging from the orange juice standard to such blends as strawberry peach and pineapple mango. An array of fresh fruits, from raspberries and strawberries to orange slices, was also available to enhance the visuals along with the flavor.

Among the brunch-style appetizers that accompanied the mimosas were chicken-stuffed egg rolls, mini waffles and pancakes on skewers, shrimp and grits, and "chick-fillet bites" (chicken nuggets on waffle fries). Guests who wanted more substantial fare could choose from the gourmet food trucks outside.

DJ Precise kept music fans energized on the dance floor, while other party-goers basked in the sun and played games on the patio. Several guests celebrated their birthdays with friends at Mimosa Fest, and from the look of things, many will want to celebrate the same way next year. No word yet on whether the event will make a return visit – but it certainly doesn't hurt that this area has so many mimosa fans. The Richmond Region, in fact, was the first region in the country to launch a Mimosa Trail. What's more, Richmond Region Tourism has rolled out a free mobile passport, enabling Trail-goers to earn swag after visiting just five venues.

Looking for ideas for the mimosa-lover on your gift list – someone who might enjoy a basket full of mimosa makings and details about the Trail? Find inspiration at VisitRichmondVA.com.

Vampire Penguin, a national chain that serves shaved-ice desserts, milkshakes, bubble teas, and flavored lemonades, has added a third Richmond-area location on Ridge Road in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center.

Intrigued by the name, I listened to a recent Retail Intel interview with the brothers who created the concept. I learned that the penguin was chosen for its link to snow and ice, and the vampire was included to add a charmed, enchanted, or "out-of-this-world" element.

"A vampire penguin shouldn't exist," they explain in the interview. "Just like our product shouldn't exist."

While the uninformed consumer might assume that Vampire treats are similar to traditional frozen desserts like ice cream, or shaved ice with flavoring drizzled on top, a Vampire dessert bears little resemblance to a snow cone or ice cream cone. Instead, say the owners, the flavoring is evenly distributed and frozen into the ice, resulting in a fluffier texture that is more like cold cake.

The original Henrico location of Vampire Penguin opened in 2021 and can be found in the Twin Hickory Shopping Center.

Sabrina Moreno of Axios Richmond recently gave a shout-out to the cachitos at Coco Cafe and Bistro, a new Venezuelan restaurant on West Broad Street just west of Parham Road.

Moreno, who is from Venezuela, describes a cachito as resembling "a closed bread roll stuffed with ham and cheese." She warns that the cachitos sell out quickly, but also recommends tequeños, empanadas with cheese and shredded chicken, and the arepa with carne mechada and yellow cheese.

With the addition of Coco Cafe, Henrico County now has two Venezuelan restaurants; the other is Con Salsa on Mountain Road in Henrico.

Back in August, Moreno took the suggestion of a reader and tried the breakfast sausage, egg and cheese kolache at Surrounding Counties off Three Chopt Road. The shop's kolache succeeded in making her list of best breakfast sandwiches in the area – although she recommended adding hot sauce to offset the sweetness of the doughy bread. Moreno also noted that Surrounding Counties uses only Duke's Mayo in its kolaches – and found it amusing that the coffee shop bills itself as "The Chipotle of Breakfast."

Ugly Dumpling is coming to Willow Lawn – just not as soon as was originally planned. The Chinese-street-food chain (think dim sum and dumplings) was slated to open its first Virginia location in November, but has pushed back its opening to early next year due to construction delays, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

India K'Raja is back.

A staple of the Henrico restaurant scene for almost three decades, India K'Raja has struggled in recent years – and not simply with the standard restaurant woes that accompanied with the pandemic. The restaurant was also damaged by burst pipes – and an unfortunate attack by vandals.

Now newly renovated, India K'Raja is back in business serving its classic Indian cuisine – and the Sappal family is hoping for both old and new customers to come and show them some love.

Richmond BizSense has reported a number of new developments on the Short Pump restaurant scene, from the fast-casual chain Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls preparing to open in Westgate Shopping Center (11761 W. Broad St.) to Dave's Hot Chicken taking over Rusty Taco's old space in Short Pump Crossing. Dave's is known for its Nashville-style fried chicken sandwiches, tenders and sliders, while Mason's is famed for its traditional lobster sandwiches served on a New-England-style hotdog bun.

Shake Shack, which arrived in Henrico's Willow Lawn area two years ago, also will open a Short Pump location soon, BizSense reported. The burger chain will set up shop in the West Village shopping center, now under construction across from GreenGate.

BizSense also reported the sad news that Kuba Kuba Dos is closing after almost a decade at its location on Ridge Road.