WASHINGTON 鈥� The nation鈥檚 capital isn鈥檛 the only great food city in the local area. Virginia鈥檚 capital city is also raking in recognition for its innovative and fast-growing restaurant scene.
In the last year, national publications including , and have put Richmond on the map as a top town for eating and drinking.
Susan Winiecki, co-owner of and associate publisher of Richmond Magazine, says the city鈥檚 shift into the culinary spotlight started about 15 years ago when chef Jason Alley opened his restaurant, Comfort, on downtown鈥檚 once-desolate Broad Street.
Now, that corridor is thriving.
鈥淲e have galleries there, we have a brand-new boutique hotel called Quirk,鈥� Winiecki said.
Alley opened his second Richmond restaurant, Pasture, on Grace Street, and similar to his first, five additional restaurants followed his lead. Winiecki says this has happened in other neighborhoods across the city, including Church Hill, Oregon Hill and Scott鈥檚 Addition.
鈥淵ou know, restaurants follow restaurants. It takes people with the fortitude and foresight of saying, 鈥業鈥檓 really going to make this neighborhood my home,鈥� and it draws others,鈥� Winiecki said.
This month, Richmond is celebrating its food community with the annual festival, Nov. 17 through 20. The four-day event was founded by Winiecki and her Real Richmond Food Tours business partner Maureen Egan three years ago.
This year鈥檚 event is packed with 45 dinners, demos, tastings and tours put on by hometown heroes, as well as chefs from all over the country, including several from the D.C. area.
鈥淲e saw that there was the need for more 鈥� a larger scale event,鈥� Egan said.
And she wanted to build one that was different from the typical food festival.
For starters, Fire, Flour & Fork is not in a convention center; it takes place all over town in restaurants, museums and historic landmarks.
And Egan says it鈥檚 鈥渘ot a 鈥榮tick-your-glass-out and get-it-filled-up kind of thing.鈥欌�� The events are intimate and interactive.
鈥淲e want each event to feel very special and not feel like you鈥檙e just in a herd being pushed around from place to place. We want everyone to get a sense of Richmond while they鈥檙e here,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e just wanted to show off Richmond to all sorts of people.鈥�
If you need some guidance tackling the schedule, Egan says the event that will have 鈥渢he most bang-for-your-buck and the most Richmond in one room鈥� is Thursday night鈥檚 Cornucopia dinner, also called 鈥淔riendsgiving,鈥� at the John Marshall Hotel. Local wines, ciders and beers will be poured alongside a feast prepared by 15 Virginia chefs. 聽
On Saturday, festivalgoers can take up to five different culinary classes at The Valentine Museum, and at Vagabond, Barboursville Vineyard鈥檚 Jason Tesauro will pour 26 wines from around the world.
Another can鈥檛-miss experience is Saturday鈥檚 Pie in the Sky, where participants can devour sweet and savory pies atop the observation deck at City Hall. This is a great opportunity to include the kids, since there will also be popcorn, craft soda and plenty of chances to get your hands dirty with a rolling pin and dough.
The whole festival wraps up on Sunday with a panel discussion on cooking鈥檚 creative process with Questlove at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
鈥淭hen we鈥檙e going to do a dinner at the very end, based on everyone鈥檚 memories related to music and food,鈥� Winiecki said.
If you can鈥檛 make it down to Fire, Flour & Fork, you can still get a taste of the capital city with a quick food-fueled Richmond road trip 鈥� and Winiecki has a few recommendations for your itinerary.
For starters, spend an afternoon in Scott鈥檚 Addition. This once-industrial section of town is now the brewing center of the city.
鈥淚t has really come into its own the past year. You have cideries, breweries, you have craft liquor that is being made there, whether it鈥檚 whiskey or gin nearby. You can have an incredible afternoon literally walking from block to block and going to the tasting rooms,鈥� she said.
Winiecki also suggests a trip to Church Hill. Grab breakfast at or at . Peek inside and then swing by for lunch at .
Tickets for Fire, Flour & Fork events range in price and can be purchased .
