A la carte: Alice Mae's is back; Moe's Southwest expands

By Tammy Jaxtheimer

Restaurant critic

SUFFOLK WILL LAUNCH an inaugural culinary celebration, Suffolk Restaurant Week, May 18-24. Prix fixe lunches and dinners, composed of an appetizer, entrée and dessert, will be served in two dining categories. Deluxe dining prices lunch at $10 and dinner at $20. Premier dining offers lunch specials at $15 and dinner at $30. Participating restaurants include Constant’s Wharf Grill, Java 149, Mosaic by Hollands, Pisces Seafood, Primo 116 Bistro Italiano, River Bistro, River Stone Chophouse, Sapporo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar, Sushi Aka, Terra Cotta Café and Vintage Tavern.

What’s new?

Moe’s Southwest Grill opened its newest restaurant at 12368 Warwick Blvd. in the Shoppes at Christopher Newport University earlier this month.  Moe’s is known for its fresh, made-to-order burritos and Southwest fare with a healthy twist.

More changes

- Zinc Brasserie at Virginia Beach’s Hilltop closed last month. Zinc opened with notable restaurateurs Todd Jurich , Marc Sauter  and Joe Hoggard  and majority partner Jerry Flowers  in August 2006.   

-  Zinc’s sister restaurant, Eurasia, will be expanding. Not only will the Eurasia, tucked behind PJ Baggan on Laskin Road, undergo expansion, including a larger bar and Sunday brunch, the restaurant concept itself will be opening in additional locations. The first will be in Norfolk, exact location yet to be determined. Additional  locations for consideration are Richmond, Charlottesville, Blacksburg and Charleston, S.C.

- La Galleria Ristorante  has closed, however it has been reincarnated as “Bobby Huber’s La Galleria: Special Events Venue.”  Huber,  executive chef and COO of ViVre Culinary Group  since October 2007,  says, “The possibilities will be truly endless” for customized events for business luncheons to wedding receptions. ViVre, established by entrepreneur James Ramsey  in January 2007, also includes Bobbywood restaurant. Contact Jackie Keane at (757) 393-0008  or jkeane@vivregroup.com  for  inquiries.

Food benefits

-  Amore filled the air last month at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia charity event, “A Taste of Italy.” Nearly 1,000 attendees raised enough money to provide more than 520,000 meals for hungry people in our community. Among the night’s awards: Morrison Healthcare Food Services won Best Booth for its Gondola Pulled Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs, Venetian-style backdrop and chefs’ attire. Norfolk’s Bardo received Most Creative Dish for grilled zucchini maki roll. The Boot, also in Norfolk, took Best Presentation for lemon gnocchi. Eurasia, from Virginia Beach, earned Best Taste with an Italian cavatappi pasta salad. Best Overall went to Captain George’s cioppino and booth.   

- Restaurants showcased their best culinary creations, using the region’s products at Chow! Hampton Roads, for the  Samaritan House and Slow Food Hampton Roads,  an organization focused on preserving our regional foodways and supporting sustainable, organic and local foods.  At the  Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront, chefs were challenged to utilize “eight of the region’s culinary calling cards,” including fresh produce, fresh catch, Chesapeake Bay blue crab, barbecue, Virginia-style country ham and Lynnhaven oysters.  Eurasia was recognized for Best Use of Featured Ingredient, for its iced oyster on the half-shell. TradeWinds at Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center earned accolades for Best Use of Local Ingredients in its veggie burger, flounder with crab and oyster with a Virginia white wine sauce and strawberry soup with a peanut bar. The  Wyndham’s Surf Club Ocean Grill earned Best Presentation for tempura oyster atop sweet potato and corn rice cake.

“The Shucker Sisters,” Clementine Macon  and Deborah Pratt,  who hold numerous local, national and international shucking titles, kept the crowd well-supplied with succulent oysters on the half shell with standard accoutrements. 

She’s back

Alice Mae’s Southern Cuisine has returned. After a three-year hiatus, the eatery has reopened in downtown Norfolk at 723 Monticello Ave. Made-from-scratch favorites, including fried chicken, collard greens, candied yams, fried fish and sweet potato pie, are offered in a traditional diner setting or to go. For those “seeking a real taste of the South,” chitterlings and pigs feet will be available.   Alice Mae’s offers breakfast and dinner daily; lunch Monday through Saturday; and a 24-hour late night and breakfast menu Thursday through Saturday. 

Tammy Jaxtheimer, flavor@pilotonline.com