Richmond, Virginia has a burgeoning food scene, which has been punctuated the last few years with an amazing festival called Fire, Flour, Fork. We attended Fire, Flour, Fork this year! Let’s see how we spent a very food-focused weekend in Richmond VA.
Arriving in Richmond VA
We arrived Friday night and after checking into the Omni Richmond, right in the Capital District, we ventured out to explore downtown and found ourselves at Pasture for a late dinner. With a menu filled with small sharable plates, Pasture is taking a new look at Southern classics. Some must tries are their Crispy Ham Cured Pork Ribs and their House Burger.
Saturday Morning in Richmond VA
We woke up bright and early Saturday morning and started exploring Richmond VA. Our first stop was the beautiful Capital building. We were lucky to enjoy a beautiful fall day and strolled all over the grounds!
After that we headed to the nearby Citizen Restaurant for a fabulous brunch. We tried the hash, house omelet and some Vietnamese coffee. The perfect way to refuel for our busy day ahead exploring Richmond VA!
Saturday Afternoon in Richmond VA
That afternoon we knew we wanted plenty of time to enjoy the VMFA (which is free all year round!). So after brunch we headed over! The grounds and the building itself are something to take in and enjoy.
The beautiful public space outside of the museum was filled with plenty of spaces for people to relax and enjoy the nice weather. And once you enter the museum you are can enjoy art from all over the world. The museum has everything from ancient artifacts to Renaissance art to pop art. We could’ve stayed there all day!
Then it was time to head over to our first Fire, Flour, Fork event called: Smoke on the Water. Located about 25 minutes outside of the city, Smoke on the Water was a celebration of everything BBQ, a southern staple!
There were cocktails to try, classic smoked meat dishes, along with fish and vegetables and decadent sides like mac & cheese.
The food and drinks were provided by the top BBQ restaurants in the Richmond area. And for visitors like us it was a chance to taste our way across Richmond, all while staying in one scenic place!
When we arrived we enjoyed the beautiful sunset and the night turned into a beautiful Virginia evening.
Brunch in Richmond, Virginia
On Sunday we got up and knew where we had to go for brunch, Cary Town. Cary Town is the cultural center of Richmond. Full of shops and restaurants, this is where the city goes when it wants to have a good time. We popped into the Daily Kitchen for some avocado toast and a breakfast sandwich.
After another nice brunch we headed down the street to Kokee Tea for some post-brunch taro boba.
Once we had walked all around Cary Town we jumped in a Lyft and went to Agecroft Hall. Agecroft Hall is a beautiful Tudor estate open to the public. We toured the gardens and took in plenty of that Virginia sunshine.
Fire, Flour, Fork
And finally that afternoon we had another fabulous Fire, Flour, Fork event to attend. We headed back to the VMFA to the John Dabney Dinner, which is an annual event that honors the contributions to the Richmond food scene by 19th century caterer and chef, John Dabney.
And this year the guest of honor was Carla Hall, a Top Chef participant, chef and cookbook author. We all learned about the amazing contribution of John Dabney and his family during a turning point in American history, the Civil War and post-bellum period. Afterwards and during a tasty dinner, we heard from Carla Hall on her inspirations for her new cookbook “Soul Food”.
Our weekend in Richmond was filled with food and friendly people, what more could you ask for? Thank you to Visit Virginia for hosting us and to Fire, Flour & Fork for bringing people together over food!
For more foodie adventure trip ideas be sure to read our blog posts on a Foodie’s Trip to Martha’s Vineyard, our Food Guide to Cannes and a Michelin Starred Meal at Marchal in Copenhagen.
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