Turn Up

BE
IN
GOOD TASTE
JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2016
Turn Up
the
Heat
Stony Point Fashion Park warms up the winter
ShopStonyPoint.com
ON THE COVER
BE
IN
GOOD
TASTE
JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2016
Winter is here, but Jack Frost isn’t nipping at our
nose. We’re heating things up with some fabulous
food finds from Stony Point Fashion Park. In this
issue of Be In Good Taste we chase the chill away
with lots of good times with family and friends, and
a delicious chili potluck.
1
About Patrick
Find out more about our
Resident Foodie
2/3Shopping List
Fabulous foodie finds to add
to your list
4/5An Entertaining Idea
ABOUT PATRICK
Patrick Evans-Hylton is Stony Point Fashion Park’s
Resident Foodie and editor of Be In Good Taste.
Patrick is a Johnson & Wales-trained chef and awardwinning food journalist. He has reported on food in
The season sizzles with three
fantastic fêtes
6
Take 5
Take the chill off with chili
7
Getting Social
Share your Stony Point Fashion Park
foodie photos on social media
8
Foodies – Mark Your Calendar
Awesome events you won’t want
to miss
print, television, radio and social media since 1991.
He is author of several books, including Dishing Up
Virginia. He blogs at www.PatrickEvansHylton.com.
Patrick’s tip: Winter shopping means bringing out
the reinforcements. We fuel our visit to Stony Point
Be In Good Taste is published six times a year by Stony Point
Fashion Park and is free of charge. All information contained herein
is copyrighted and may not be used without permission.
Stony Point Fashion Park is located at 9200 Stony Point Parkway
in Richmond. For more information call (804) 560-7467 or visit
www.ShopStonyPoint.com
Fashion Park by making a stop early in our journey at
The Daily Grind Coffee House and Creamery. This
time of year we are trying to be a bit healthier, so
we order a skinny latte – a coffee drink of rich, bold
espresso and steamed skim milk. If this doesn’t warm
you up, little else will.
Be In Good Taste - 1
Shopping List
Fabulous foodie finds
from Patrick Evans-Hylton
Sometimes things pop up in places you’d never expect. Great mugs for a classic
cocktail at a Super Bowl party. Beautiful pots for relaxing with a spot of tea with
friends on a cold afternoon. Gorgeous champagne flutes to toast Valentine’s Day.
I recently walked through the mall with a friend who helped me find all sorts of great
items perfect for my upcoming seasonal get-togethers with family and friends. With
my trusty iPhone in hand, I took photos of some of the items we found, and share
them with you here.
Touchdown: Super Bowl Soirée
Gran Marnier Dark Chocolate Pecans &
Virginia Peanut Company peanuts
AT PECAN JACKS WORLD FAMOUS SWEETS
Watching the Big Game means plenty of big munching; These two delicious finds at Pecan Jacks
are great to put out on their own in bowls and let the fans dig in. For a real treat, mix the two for a
sweet and savory delight.
Baking Steel & Pizza Seasoning, Pizza Dough Flavor
AT SUR LA TABLE
Fresh is always best, and that translates to pizza, too. Satisfy your savory tooth by making a
homemade pizza – or two (or three) by making the perfectly flavored crust on the baking steel
and seasoning the pie just right with the spice blend. Also, top your pizza with fresh mozzarella;
see the cheese making kit in the Entertaining Idea column on page 6.
Tea, Caddy, Mug
AT ANTHROPOLOGIE
“Tea Revives You” is a mantra we believe in. We love having friends over to discuss books or a
must-see movie, and have a long, relaxing afternoon over a pot of tea. This caddy is great for
storing delicious finds, and the mug (also with a great saying) is a wonderful way to enjoy the
warm elixir.
#stonypointfoodie #stonypointdining
Be In Good Taste - 2
Tea for you, you for tea
Hot Water Kettle
AT DILLARD’S
Sometimes it’s a good thing to get into
hot water. This electric hot water kettle
is a good example. Water is quickly
heated for making coffee, tea, or
perhaps a cup of cocoa.
Sweet- Scented Candles
AT YANKEE CANDLE
I love the ambiance that a beautifully
scented home creates. Out of all the array of
fragrant candles available at Yankee Candle,
the Chocolate Layer Cake, Vanilla Bourbon
and Vanilla Cupcake really set the mood for
a fun evening when love is in the air.
Recipe: Hot Cha Cha Cocoa Mix – in a
large bowl add 2-3/4 cups powdered
milk, 2-1/4 cups confectionary sugar, 1-1/4
cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, 2
teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons
cornstarch and 1 teaspoon table salt and
whisk to combine. Place in a container
with 1 cup white chocolate chips. To prepare, place a 1/2 cup of the mix in a
mug with 1 cup hot water, stir, and top with miniature marshmallows.
Tea Kettles, Citrus Lavender Sage
herbal tea
AT TEAVANA
Beautifully crafted, colorful tea kettles
harken to quiet rituals of enjoying tea,
perhaps in some quiet tea room
nestled just off a peaceful garden.
We love these offerings from Teavana,
along with myriad of teas offered;
the Citrus Lavender Sage herbal tea is
our latest crush.
Also, make a Hot Tea-ddy cocktail using the
Citrus Lavender Sage herbal tea (or any other
tea). The recipe is in the Entertaining Idea column on page 5.
Lobster Cracker
AT SUR LA TABLE
Luxe Faux Fur Wine Bag
AT RESTORATION
HARDWARE
Fun – and furry – these faux fur wine bags
add a touch of luxury and whimsy when
presenting a bottle of wine to that special
someone.
#stonypointfoodie #stonypointdining
Lobster is one of those luxuries that folks
can’t seem to get enough of, and it will be
on many folk’s plate come Valentine’s Day.
These crackers are just the thing to break
through the crustacean’s shell and get to that
sweet meat underneath. Steaming your own
lobsters at home? Try topping them with my
Orange Spice Compound Butter.
Recipe: Orange Spice Compound Butter – In a
small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons unsalted butter that
has been softened, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon
salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Mix completely and shape into a log
with wax paper, rolling tightly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or freeze for up to six months.
Be In Good Taste - 3
Chambord Dessert Sauce
Baked dog treats
Champagne Flutes
AT PECAN JACKS
WORLD FAMOUS SWEETS
AT FIDO PARK AVENUE
DOG BOUTIQUE
AT DILLARD’S
This delicious, rich sauce, made with fine
raspberry liqueur, is a delicious treat anytime,
but the gorgeous hue and rich berry flavor
make it especially good at Valentine’s Day.
We love a spoonful placed in the bottom of a
flute then filled with champagne, or drizzled
on top of sliced and toasted pound cake.
There is all sorts of love out there, and it’s
not just limited to those of us with two legs.
Folks love their dogs, and so does Stony
Point Fashion Park. We also love the tasty
assortment of treats at Fido Park Avenue
Dog Boutique. A dozen of these in a cute
bag from Papyrus and you’ll be in puppy
love too.
Not only does champagne and other bubbly
beverages look better in long, tall flutes, but
there is a reason behind the design, which
allows for the bubbles to travel from the
bottom to the top. Toast your Valentine in
style; I love this variety of flutes, found
at Dillard’s.
Tall, gold and handsome, to be 88 years old, Oscar isn’t a bad looking dude.
That’s Oscar, as in the famous golden statuette that is awarded annually to the winners
of the Academy Awards, which honors cinematic achievements in the film industry.
AN ENTERTAINING
IDEA
Crudité, cocktails
and cinema
The 88th Oscars are held Feb. 28 (www.Oscar.Go.com), and now is a good time
to have some friends over for an evening of noshing and catching up on some of
the nominees on the “small screen.”
And we are going totally California on this one: spa cuisine at its finest,
including a blockbuster array of fresh vegetables and dips and other healthy –
but delicious – eats fit for the Hollywood elite.
(But if you want to splurge, put out some rich-and-really good chili, like we’ve
got in our Take Five article on page 7.)
The fete starts with fun invitations, a dress code of the highest standards, preawards trivia games, and your own awards! Create mini-awards for your guests,
like Best Dressed and Most Entertaining.
The Crudité:
We start our parties with some spa cuisine – an extensive offering of healthy
eats; eating healthy was one of your New Year’s resolutions, wasn’t it?
For your screening party, consider a carefully displayed vegetable platter with a “dip bar” for folks to dunk then dine the crudité.
You’ll want to present a dish that has plenty of color, as well as variety. Also, make sure the vegetables are cut and chopped
into either one- or two-bite pieces.
And think outside of the slice: trim down those green onions. Cut the carrots on an angle. Use a small cookie cutter to make shapes
(stars are awesome this time of year) from slices of zucchini, squash and the like. Pare down the broccoli into cute little florets.
Offer grape tomatoes rather than tomato wedges. And more.
#stonypointfoodie #stonypointdining
Be In Good Taste - 4
When presenting your platter, arrange in a flow and direction; don’t just dump the veggies on the plate.
Classic vegetables to include:
- celery, outside peeled and cut into fingers
- carrots, cut on an angle
- baby carrots
- broccoli florets
- cauliflower cut into small pieces
- radishes cut in half
Dip into these dips:
- tomato or tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo
- garlic, roasted red pepper or classic hummus
- cocktail sauce spiked with some grated horseradish
- mashed avocado mixed with Greek yogurt and dill until smooth
- lemon zest and lemon pepper pureed with cottage cheese
- roasted garlic cloves pureed with herbs and low-fat cream cheese
- minced cucumber with garlic powder and mint mixed in yogurt
Some more unusual offerings include:
- sugar snap pea pods
- eggplant, squash, zucchini, cut into shapes
- red, yellow and green bell peppers cut into strips
- yellow teardrop tomatoes
- fennel wedges
- kohlrabi rounds
- grape and small cherry tomatoes
- large portobello mushroom caps cut into quarters
- green beans
- jicama fingers
- endive wedges
- blanched miniature asparagus spears
Keep in mind – Greek yogurt is rich and thick and a great substitute for more
calorie-laden options like mayonnaise and sour cream.
Other edible ideas:
- Grab some quality sushi from Kobe Sushi at Stony Point to take home
and serve with a low-sodium soy sauce
- Panera Bread at Stony Point has many healthy sandwich options;
take some home and cut into quarters and serve
- Dim sum is the Chinese equivalent to tapas; pick up some favorites
like Handmade Pork Dumplings, Vegetable Spring Rolls and
Hand-Folded Crab Wontons at P. F. Chang’s
- Make some whole wheat pasta, chill, toss lightly in extra-virgin olive
oil with chilled, grilled and flaked salmon and sprinkle with sea salt
and fresh dill
- Air-pop popcorn, place in festive red and white-striped popcorn bucket, lightly drizzle on melted dark chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt
- Slice fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes and fresh basil leaves, lightly drizzle
with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper
The Cocktails:
Toast your favorite movie or movie star with a cocktail that’s got a healthier
slant to it. Here are a few tips:
- Add seltzer to a cocktail or glass of wine to add a bit of
effervescence and cut down on the calories.
- Substitute diet or lower-calorie soda and tonics for full
calories ones.
- Make drink mixes (like margarita) from scratch so you can control
the ingredients, rather than buying store-bought ones. If you do
buy the store-bought mixes, look for the “skinny” versions.
- Look for lower-calorie sweeteners for cocktails that call for
a sweetener.
- Use fresh ingredients in your cocktails; juice your own fruits
when possible, such as orange juice for mimosas.
- Consider using fat-free milk, including fat-free evaporated and
condensed milk, as an alternative in creamy cocktails.
- Use Egg Beaters for drinks that call for egg yolks.
Recipe: Pop-tail – Make a cocktail a poptail by infusing a
glass of alcohol – we like to use champagne or a glass of
wine – with a popsicle made with fresh fruit juice.
To make: prepare popsicles with fresh fruit juice and bits
of fruit added in the mold. Pour a highball or similar glass
with alcohol, unmold the popsicle, and place, stick-sideup, in the glass and serve immediately.
As the popsicle melts, the alcohol in the glass is infused
with the juice/bits of fruit.
Recipe: Hot Tea-ddy – Enjoy a hot toddy that’s healthier:
prepare a pot of tea (we get ours at Teavana at Stony
Point). While the tea is steeping, fill an Irish coffee glass
with hot water, swirl around, and pour out. Immediately
add 1 tablespoon honey, 1-1/2 ounces rum and 1
tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice. Add tea and
garnish with a wedge of lemon.
For one of our favorite teas du jour, check out the
Shopping List column on page 3.
And remember, drink slowly – enjoy the cocktail and make it last; you’ll end up drinking less that way.
#stonypointfoodie #stonypointdining
Be In Good Taste - 5
STONY POINT
MUST HAVES
Here are some items we found on a recent stroll through Stony Point Fashion Park that we would use at our party:
The envelope please: set the
mood with stylish invitations from
Papyrus to impress guests
Encourage your party-goers to
dress for the Red Carpet with fine
apparel from Dillards and
Saks Fifth Avenue
Decorate with lots of candles
from Yankee Candle and look for
black-and-white-themed items
throughout the mall to give
your party panache
Everyone loves a swag bag: look
for food-centric party favors from
Sur La Table to give to partiers.
Maybe a miniature whisk?
Perhaps a fun cookie cutter? Who
wouldn’t love a colorful spatula?
Mozzarella Cheesemaking Kit for
mozzarella/caprese salad, also
from Sur La Table
Colorful tumblers to use for
cocktails and pop-tails,
from Anthropologie
Cocktail shakers, available as a
Classic Cocktail Shaker, Boston
Cocktail Shaker and Recipe
Cocktail Shaker, from
Sur La Table
Quick Pop Maker for pop-tails,
also from Sur La Table
Take-out sushi from Kobe Sushi
at Stony Point and sandwiches
from Panera Bread
Pasta machine and pasta rolling
pins to make pasta/salmon salad
from Sur La Table
Also from Sur La Table, wooden
grilling planks in alder, hickory
and maple for pasta/salmon salad
Popcorn containers for sweet/
savory popcorn munch, from
Sur La Table
We also found all sorts of great platters, bowls and glasses throughout the mall, including at Dillard’s and Sur La Table.
#stonypointfoodie #stonypointdining
Be In Good Taste - 6
TAKE
5
Take the chill off
with chili
No one is quite sure when the first bowl of chili was served up, but by
the end of the 1800s, it was gaining popularity. The San Antonio Chili
Stand at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago served the spicy
mix of meat and seasonings to a wide audience, who lapped it up.
Like many classics, there are lots of variations in chili. Some folks use
beef, chicken or turkey while others make theirs vegetarian. Some add
beans or tomatoes, while others don’t. Then there are variations, like
chili verde and white chili.
This winter, have a chili potluck with family and friends. Ask them to
come with a small crock of their favorite style, and you serve up yours,
too, along with a bar of toppings.
We found some great items at Stony Point Fashion Park to help make
your chili social sizzle. Here are some ideas:
1. We found an assortment of fun and functional Le Creuset cookware
at Sur La Table that would be great for making a pot of chili. Looking
for an easy recipe? Here’s mine:
Recipe: In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook 1 pound ground
beef, stirring occasionally, until browned, and drain off excess grease.
Add 3 large cans of diced tomatoes and 2 large cans, drained, of
kidney beans. Add 1 jalapeno, diced, and 1 small onion, diced, and
stir. Add 2 tablespoons chili powder and 1 tablespoon freshly ground
black pepper, and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low heat.
Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
2.Serve up the chili in fun bowls; we love the colorful Fiestaware
offerings at Dillard’s.
GETTING
SOCIAL
Foodies – show us what you’ve got
3.Use jewel-encrusted
frames from Papyrus to
insert print outs of toppings and
place in front of each bowl to help guests identify the ingredients.
Some topping suggestions:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
sour cream and/or Greek yogurt
grated cheddar cheese
chopped scallions, onion or and/or cilantro
hot sauce, salsa and/or pico de gallo
sliced avocado
pickled peppers
crushed corn chips, or crumbled cornbread
4.Use the same frames to identify ingredients to pour the chili on top
of, such as:
- prepared spaghetti noodles or macaroni
- crushed corn chips, or crumbled cornbread
- french fries
5.Serve your chili with some ice cold beer; Richmond is home
to lots of craft and microbreweries. Grab a growler at one of
our favorites, such as Ardent Craft Ales, Center of the Universe,
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Legend Brewing Company or
Strangeways Brewing.
Maybe it’s a great piece of cookware from Sur La Table or a
tasty treat from Pecan Jacks World Famous Sweets. Perhaps
it’s a delicious dinner out that you’ve enjoyed from Fleming’s
Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, or a cocktail served in highball
glasses from Dillard’s.
However you get your foodie on from one of the great stores or
restaurants at Stony Point, let us know!
Share your fabulous finds at Stony Point Fashion Park by
posting your photos on social media using the hashtags
#StonyPointFoodie and #StonyPointFoodAndWine – I’ll be
checking them out from time-to-time. We may use one of your
photos in an upcoming issue of Be In Good Taste and reward
you for your efforts.
#stonypointfoodie #stonypointdining
Be In Good Taste - 7
foodies
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
There is always something going on for foodies at Stony Point Fashion Center. Here’s a
sampling of events to mark on your calendar. For complete details, and for information
on other events at Stony Point Fashion Park, be sure to visit:
www.ShopStonyPoint.com/events
RESTAURANT NEW AND NOW
Stony Point Fashion Park is home to a number of
outstanding restaurants that are always offering
creative menus filled with delicious dishes.
There are several tasty things to take note of
at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,
including:
SWEETS FOR THE SWEET
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, See’s Candies
showcases rich and decadent sweets for your sweet – or
for yourself. The shop opens up for a limited time only
offering Cupid-approved treats.
For more information, visit Sees.com
Taste of the Season Menu – featuring a threecourse Prix Fixe menu filled with soul-warming
flavors like earthy cheeses, filet mignon, crabstuffed lobster tails, toasty acorn squash and
pumpkin cheesecake.
Prime Rib Sundays & Mondays – is offered
through Feb. 8 and offers Fleming’s most popular
dish on Sundays and Mondays for just $29.95.
Reserve Pours – allows access to Gary Farrell
2013 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Cuvee 16 for
$17.50 per glass or $70 per bottle, until supplies
last.
Filet & Flights – featuring a petite filet, mashed
potatoes and red wine flight for just $39.95 is an
on-going special.
SUR LA TABLE
Each month Sur La Table hosts an assortment of
culinary events and classes that cover a wide range of
topics; here’s a sampling:
Jan. 30
Date Night: Dinner in Tuscany
4 and 7 p.m., hands-on with Lynne Just
Feb. 14
Chocolate Obsession
11 a.m., hands-on with Paula Gear
Feb. 22
Mastering Seafood
6:30 p.m., hands-on with Brian McCaffery
For more details and a complete list visit
SurLaTable.com or call 804-272-7094
Prime Monday – is also an on-going special of
appetizer, entrée and dessert on Mondays for only
$44.95.
For more information, visit
FlemingsSteakhouse.com
Stony Point Fashion Park
•
9200 Stony Point Parkway in Richmond
•
(804) 560-7467
•
ShopStonyPoint.com
Be In Good Taste - 8