Hey everyone, did you catch my Tuesday Taste segment on The Hampton Roads Show this week?
We’re always reporting on palate pleasing food news you can use. Here is a recap of what we talked about, and check out the video HERE.
FESTEVENTS SUMMER BREW FEST
Here’s a great way to unwind after a full week back to work following the long Independence Day weekend: Festevents presents the Fifth Annual Summer Brew Fest this Friday, July 10.
The event takes place on the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront at Town Point Park from 5 – 9 p.m. Admission to the festival is free and open to the public.
Scores of breweries pouring their craft offerings to help get the weekend started right; a full list of brews on tap can be found at the Festevents website.
For more information, www.Festevents.org
DOWNTOWN NORFOLK RESTAURANT WEEK
This Summer Restaurant Week augments one in January and runs from Sunday July 12 to Sunday July 19.
Some 20 restaurants offering prix fixe meals.
Some offer lunch, some dinner, some both. Prices are $10, $20, and $30 depending on the meal. Some restaurants offer a seafood focus and others are offing a specialty cocktail as an add-on.
A full list of participating restaurants, along with their menus and pricepoints, is on the Downtown Norfolk Council website.
Some points to keep in mind to get the most from Restaurant Week:
- Make reservations early
- This is a great opportunity to try new places or new items at favorites
- Use the savings to order a bottle of wine or buy something a little extra to support the restaurant
- Remember to tip the server on the whole value of the meal, not just the discounted price
For more information – www.DowntownNorfolk.org
BAKERS CRUST RENOVATIONS & NEW MENU ITEMS
There is a new look to Baker’s Crust’s signature store at Hilltop in Virginia Beach and new menu items at all the locations.
At Hilltop, a new entrance with an impressive wooden door that opens up to a renovated bar area with communal tables in a bright, open space. Effective lighting warms up the wood and creates an inviting spot to linger over the menu.
A new ribbon of flavors appear on several items, including burrata and pork belly. There are new sliders and salads (shown is the grilled salmon salad), including new salad dressings. There are new pizza and burger offerings. Also on the menu, shrimp and grits, fish and chips and fish tacos.
I really enjoyed the fish tacos: battered haddock cooked until crispy on the outside and moist and flaky on the inside and served nestled in tortillas with tomato-tarragon slaw and pico de gallo.
A slightly updated name reflects the changes – Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen.
There are Baker’s Crust locations in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg.
For more information – www.BakersCrust.com
SMACK YOUR MAMA GOOD:
SHAWARMA HUMMUS BOWL AT MR. SHAWARMA
If you have not been to Mr Shwarma you need to go – it’s a small, unadorned restaurant across from Farm Fresh on 21st Street near the intersection of Colley in Ghent.
From all the delicious Mediterranean offerings – I could go on and on about the falafel, I loved the Shawarma Hummus Bowl.
Shawarma meat is a spiced and marinated meat – in this case turkey – with layers of lamb fat in the middle, slow cooked on a vertical spit and then shaved off.
It was piled high on top of rich, creamy hummus and with a drizzle of olive oil and other sauces and served with light, fluffy pita bread for dipping and impromptu sandwiches.
Mr. Shawarma is at 727 W. 21st St., Norfolk. Call 757-962-9966 or visit www.facebook.com/MrShawarmaNorfolk
STAY HUNGRY, HAMPTON ROADS!
Patrick Evans-Hylton is a Johnson & Wales-trained chef and award-winning food journalist.
He has reported on food in print, television, radio and social media since 1991, including being senior editor for food and wine at Coastal Virginia Magazine. His latest book is Dishing Up Virginia.
Evans-Hylton is a regular contributor to hrScene.com where the give readers food news to use from across the region and afar. He blogs at PatrickEvansHylton.com
The post Tuesday Taste with Patrick Evans-Hylton appeared first on hrScene.