The Church Hill Food Tour

Sarah and Wade had gifted us at Christmas with a coupon for a tour from Discover Richmond Tours. Finally we were able to schedule it. We picked The Church Hill Food Tour. Sarah righly had suggested that it might be the one we would like most because she knows we love history. But I have a feeling that we would have enjoyed anything.

So, it was Christmas in July (the 30th) for us. The tour was from 2 to 4 pm. 

We were supposed to be at the Patrick Henry Park. We had received an email giving us a lot of information: the address, that their was a large glass sculpture with the famous quote etched in where we should meet, and about parking etc.

GPS told us it would take as 21 minutes which was exactly right. We were early and sat in the park looking at the humongous tree, marveling and wondering what it might have seen in all its years.

We were so lucky with the weather and all. Today was the best in many before and after. There was also a slight breeze on Church Hill. 

Our guide Olivia was punktual and there was only another couple in this tour. She told us that it was her 3rd today and at the previous one she had 12 guests. 

The young couple from Norfolk were on a day's outing and had only booked yesterday. Cat and Jessie were very good company. One can only hope they say the same about us, ha-ha.

And off we went. Our first stop was Riverbend Roastery. 

Our guide Olivia told us about the history of the place, the owner, the business motto etc. We had a choice of three different coffees. James and I selected the coconut ice coffee which we made to our taste with things (milk or sugar etc) from a 'bar'.

They roast all their coffee themselves and this is the roaster.

The next stop was The Nile RVA. 

The two brothers were from Ethiopia but had lived all over the world. I am not sure about the names but the one talking with us had interesting stories, besides that his wife was expecting her first child (daughter) any minute and he was very excited. 

Daughter Sarah will be interested to know: 

(from their website) We use the TEFF grain flour for our injera (flat bread), so the entire Ethiopian menu is gluten-free. This tiny grain is packed with considerable amounts of iron, protein, calcium and fiber.

We actually ate with our fingers (no silverware) and found it very comfortable in this place. Somehow felt it was the right thing to do. Olivia had given us wetwipes for before and the restaurant wipes for after. 

I am somehow surprised that I quite enjoyed the little meal and didn't feel self-conscious at all. I told him about the Ethiopian Christians worshipping in our church every Saturday morning. I told him 6 am and he said that this was late. It should be 5 am.

There was a big poster with all the Ethiopian herbs and spices. 

One of the interesting stories was of his brother Robel Teklemariam representing Ethiopia in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver as a  cross-country skier. On the shelf above my seat was this photo. He said that many in his country thought that strange but since many are excellent runners it made sense that they had learned to ski living in countries with colder climates. 

A quick photo on the outside.

The next stop was Second Bottle. We tasted one white and red wine and they were both lovely. The store was very interesting and the owner very nice to talk to. The selection of wine was impressive if you are looking for something special, the prices were not out of this world. 

Our guide Olivia was very knowledgeable besides being bubbly and fun to be with. She lives in the area and obviously loves it. She has a lot to tell. This (former) church was not allowed to be torn down for a highrise building. Instead it was converted into condos. Olivia explained that the neighborhood association fights a lot of fights in court to keep Church Hill 'neighborly' the old-fashioned way. Many of the new businesses go extra steps to function environmentally consciences and make a point of offering 'fair trade' food etc. They also add back to the community like supporting safe playgrounds.

I quickly took a couple of photos while walking past.

We stopped at the Proper Pie Company  just long enough for Olivia to pick up our 4 pies. They were hot and in a paper baggy. She explained that the owner was from New Zealand and tried to make perfect pies like he remembered them from home. 

I don't know whether it is mainly take-out because we walked across the street and ate them* in the park while Olivia gave us the history about Patrick Henry and the St. John's Church across the street. The way she explains it is so interesting and easy to understand. Not like a lecture but like a conversation.

(*actually we ate only one of them. The other made it home for tomorrow.)

She also told us about the field hospitals at that time, that the injured soldiers were brought to the section which was put up by the state they were from. I can't remember which state field hospital it was where the nurse started sanitizing the tools after each surgery.

Olivia also told us about Elizabeth Van Lew. A very interesting story. Wikipedia does not say that she freed many slaves with her money. Two of her own slaves did not want to leave her but kept working for her. She paid them the same as she would white people. A daughter of the former slaves was Maggie Walker and her story of course is known by all in Richmond.

And then off we go to Sub Rosa Bakery. Olivia explains about the flour which they mill themselves in a way that it is almost gluten free (the European way? if I understood right). We sat down and each had a chocolate croissant. I was amazed how much I liked it since I usually don't care for croissants. Especially after all the other food we already had. 

Everything is baked in this oven.

I have no idea how my new camera took the above photo of Sub Rosa so strangly. It looks distorted and must have been the angle (I think I need to read the directions).

I have to catch up with the others. It's already 3:59 pm. 

The next and final stop was at the Liberty Public House. It is located in the ground floor of the (former) West End Theater. Olivia explained the changes which had been made. It's all very clever to keep the Church Hill area special. 

We each got a slider but I can't remember what exactly it was. I think it might have been a small piece of country fried chicken breast and I remember something like peach/BBQ. The owner came also with a homemade hot sauce which was very nice. 

Olivia said 'good bye' to us here. The young couple left soon too and James was very thirsty. As it was happy hour and I was driving back anyway he got a nice beer. 

I knew that Sarah had been invited with her family by friends to spend the afternoon on a pantoon boot on the James River. She texted while we were walking around that they were at Rocketts Landing which is very close. (this is a screenshot of the texting)

And on the way walking to the car I had to take a photo of the roots of this tree. We saw many like that but the photo just didn't come out as I hoped. One had to watch though not to stumble while walking around.

Just opposite where we had parked was St. John's Church. So famous. So much history. But it had already closed for the day. We have to visit another day.

Back home we talk about it. This was a lot of fun. And no question: no more food today.

*  *  *

Sometimes I can't leave things alone. I was too nosy to find out how criss-cross we had walked. 

And as always ... I really enjoy hearing from you. A comment is always very welcome.