Shalom Farms Grows Deeper Roots
By John Haddad Shalom Farms, initially established as a pilot project of United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond in 2009, has rapidly grown into a multifaceted nonprofit improving access to healthy food for everyone. Last year alone, the group logged 1,677 educational visits and 4,547 volunteer visits, and farm volunteers invested a total of 12,436 […]
The White Horse: Southside Restaurant Scene Grows
Perched at the triangle where Forest Hill Avenue and Semmes Avenue meet sits a scattering of historic buildings that has served as a center of activity for the Southside for well over 100 years. Once there were power lines for electric street cars (operational until 1949), a popular chain of gas stations called James H. […]
A Mother, a Son, and a Gelato Shop
Barbara Given is a fighter. At 81, she has grit and determination beyond measure. Standing confidently behind the counter of Stoplight Gelato Café, a business she launched in Jackson Ward earlier this year, she’s clearly proud. Her business is buzzing. Customers are happy. And there are over 30 unique flavors of homemade gelato in front […]
Wholesome Food in a Jar
Sometimes opportunity strikes when you least expect it. A business can germinate from a simple act of kindness. Fresh and local food, packed in a mason jar and shared with friends, has become a recipe for success. This is a unique business idea, so using marketing and PR strategies from companies such as https://www.ceres-pr.co.uk/, can […]
From Bean to Bar
By Luis Davila As with many good ideas, the decision to launch a small-batch chocolate company started over a cup of coffee. Alexander Burlingame, a philosophy student at VCU, was working at Lamplighter Roasting Company and was intrigued by the coffee-making process. In particular, he was drawn to the uniqueness in each roast and the […]
Chiocca’s Downstairs Deli
Writer’s block is the bane of my existence. How do I spell relief? A trip to Chiocca’s Downstairs Deli, an antediluvian throwback in the Museum District. Subterranean and hidden beneath a corner of Kensington and Belmont, this six-decades-old bar and sandwich dive has it all: torn seats, fading signs from defunct local bars and publications, […]
Serious About Biscuits
“It’s weird, sometimes you just know if something’s right.” That’s how Tim Laxton describes the feeling he got when he first drove by 5411 Lakeside Avenue and spotted a “for rent” sign hanging in the cozy storefront that he would eventually occupy. The business he launched from the location six months later, which he named […]
Old Produce: Preserving Our Future
Over the past several generations, the food we eat has changed. Farm subsidies have impacted what farmers grow. More than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from our farming landscape, half of the breeds of domestic animals have been lost, and more than 80 percent of corn and 90 percent of soybeans are now […]
The Savory Grain
Joining the small but expanding ranks of Richmond’s farm-to-table dining establishments, The Savory Grain embraces the same ethos that guides Jami Bohdan, owner and operator, in her daily life as a consumer. To the 18-year restaurant industry veteran, indulging in the bounty of nearby farms, breweries, and wineries just makes sense. “I don’t see why […]
Good, Clean, and Fair Food
Slow Food RVA took root in 2009, bringing to Richmond an important national and international food movement. Waving the banner of “good, clean and fair food,” the mission of Slow Food RVA is three-fold—to celebrate, educate, and advocate. The organization celebrates the pleasures of food and breaking bread together through events such as their Graze series […]