New sushi, new noodles, and community gardens

BETA TESTING

The owners of JKoji are in the soft opening phase of Fighting Fish, a sushi restaurant in the former Cultured Swine space on 2nd Street. The team is testing the menu this week during dinner hours, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, with lunch service expected to begin in the next week or two. The menu includes apps like Flaming Tuna Nachos and a Sushi Donut, plus maki sushi rolls, and donburi--Japanese rice bowls, including a Hawaiian Poke Don. There's also a sushi burrito, one of God's gifts to mortals. 

2 FAST 2 FURIOUS

Two popular local chefs, Bobo Catoe and Craig Perkinson of Southbound, are dishing up a pop-up of their very own, "Fast and Furious" on April 30th at 5:00 pm at The Roosevelt. According to Instagram, the dishes and cocktails at this pop-up will be inspired by Asian street food.

****UPDATE****

According to Bobo Catoe, the Fast & Furious Pop-Ups will be monthly affairs, each lead by Catoe and each with a different theme. The former Husk chef and current Southbound Sous Chef says for the first pop-up on April 30th, the menu will consist of small plates for between $5 and $12 each, while later pop-ups may be presented as coursed dinners.

Future themes include "Nadando con los Toros," or Swimming with the Bulls, which Catoe describes as Seaside Tapas; plus, "Secret Garden (Vegetarian Tasting Menu), Take me out to the Ballgame (Ball Game / Backyard BBQ Small Plates), Homegrown (My Mom's Food), and a few others to feature some friends from my time in Charleston at Husk and maybe even a buddy from Australia if we can swing it."

Here's the schedule, as of now, with plans to offer twice-monthly pop-ups from July until December:

• April 30th
• May 7th
• May 21st
• June 18th

DIRT DON'T HURT

Looking for a way to get your hands dirty and give back to the community at the same time? Renew Richmond has several upcoming volunteer dates at area schools and community gardens. Dig in!

SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET

Congratulations to Sunny Baweja of Lehja. Baweja headed south to the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair in Houston last week, and Houston Press writer Mai Pham named his dish the best of the night. Here's what she had to say (I'm hoping this tuna avocado bhel will find its way to Lehja asap):

If you just happened to walk up to Sunny Baweja’s table on Friday night, chances are you would have seen him scooping hefty mounds of his tuna avocado bhel (a type of chaat, or Indian street food) onto a spread of sample plates. Indeed, this is what I saw when I arrived at his stand — a jumble of ingredients dressed in a brownish sauce and topped with fresh pomegranate seeds. I didn’t expect the explosion of flavors and textures that took place once I took a bite. But the puffed rice, creamy avocado and tuna chunks combined with mango, pineapple, cilantro, tomato and red onion in a harmonious song and dance on the palate. A tamarind, date and ginger chutney sauce, ever so slightly tinged with green chile spice and a hint of banana, tied it all together. Exemplary.

MORE HIGH FIVES

Richmond Magazine food editor, Stephanie Brejio, took home a slew of well-deserved accolades from the Virginia Press Association Awards, including Best in Show for Specialty Writing for her piece on Tuffy Stone. Big ups to her and the entire Richmond Mag crew.

#RVA #PSA: PATIOS, BRAH*

Laura Lee's is planning to add about 20 new seats on a brand new patio that owner Kendra Feather says will be ready in about 6-8 weeks, just in time for all the good weather. Prepare your sun frocks accordingly.

#RVA #PSA #2: NOODLES & DUMPLINGS, NOW NOODLIER

There are some delicious changes taking place over at Peter Chang's Noodles and Dumplings. A new menu includes a wider selection of housemade dumplings and hand-pulled noodles, which you can watch being made on-site in N&D's open kitchen. You'll know when it's happening because there will be lots of thwapping sounds.

#RVA #PSA #3: SECCO BRUNCHO!

The Secco gods (ok, owner Julia Battaglini) have decided that we deserve their brunchly treats again, for the first time. Starting April 30th and every Sunday following from 10:30 to 2:30, look for Secco's Benny's of the Day, other extra special brunch selections, and the libations that suit them best!

SIP: EASTER COCKTAILS

Don your best bonnet and check out the Easter Parade this weekend; and once it's all said and done, mosey on home for some Easter cocktails, because all holidays are better with a lil nip. These Easter cocktails via Imbibe are bubbly and light, perfect for day-drinkin'. 

BITE: Acacia's BACON WRAPPED SUGAR TOADS W/ BLACK PEPPER BBQ SAUCE

It's like angels on horseback, but somehow...way better.

GRAM: @REDCAPPATISSERIE

Lots of lovely pastry pics await you, as does Red Cap Patisserie's GRAND OPENING, this Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm! Don't sleep on the tourtiere, a savory pastry filled with the most wonderful things, including a coq au vin variety that they humbly call the "chicken, bacon, and pea;" but believe me, it's so much more than that.

*I miss RVANews every day, and I'm not going to stop talking about it.