By Timothy Long

Richmond, VA is a short drive from Alexandria. Yet my wife and I never find ourselves headed there. It’s a shame. Richmond has a lot to offer. It’s a beautiful small city with a lot of regional and national history, and a delightful culinary and craft beer scene.

So, what keeps us from traveling there? It’s not the city itself. It’s the monster that lies between Alexandria and Richmond, the dreaded Interstate 95. This horrific stretch of highway can swallow your vehicle whole for hours, regardless of which direction you are headed. It can turn what should be an hour and a half drive into three to five hours. And its parallel little brother, Route 1, rarely offers any relief. When one backs up, the other quickly follows.

Therefore, like most Old Towners, we rarely head south on I-95. I tend to make fun of Old Towners for not leaving the area, my wife and I included. Old Towners act like Tysons Corner is seven states away, and that you need a passport to get into D.C. So, why did we decide to brave the treacherous 95 South and head to Richmond? We were intrigued by an exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Julia Child: A Recipe for Life.

Julia Child is an American culinary icon. She literally changed the way Americans dine. While serving in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War Two, she met her husband, Paul. Paul had spent time in Paris and had a sophisticated palate. He introduced Julia to fine cuisine. She later studied the culinary arts in France at the famous Cordon Bleu Cooking School while Paul was once again stationed there.

In 1961, Julia and her French Chef friend, Simka Beck, published Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The book was masterfully designed. Not only did it contain French recipes that were translated into English, but it was also written to be practical. Julie insisted on using only ingredients that American housewives could easily find. American dining had seemed boring after World War Two. Boiled meats and TV dinners were all the rage. Americans were more interested in convenience than taste. The country was in a state of culinary malaise. Julia pulled the nation out of that ditch, first with her cookbook, then with her hit television cooking show.

The exhibit in Richmond was fantastic. It flowed wonderfully. Julia lived a fascinating life. One that I hardly did justice to in the preceding paragraphs. The show contained artifacts from her show, and original notes from her cookbooks, and some great interactive pieces that were very fun. One exhibit was an interactive dining room from La Couronne in Rouen, France. It was the first café that Julia and Paul dined at upon their arrival. The entire exhibit was fun and quite memorable.

So, what does Julia Child have to do with beer? Nothing. Julia was a wine connoisseur. It is written that she did enjoy a good beer every now and then. But in almost every picture of her she is drinking wine. Julia often drank wine on television. And she is credited with helping a struggling American wine industry begin to grow. So, she really has nothing of consequence to do with beer. But the exhibit brought me to Richmond. And Richmond has a great craft beer scene.

My time was limited, we were only there for one evening and there was a group of us, so I had to be strategic. We also had dinner reservations.

There are many breweries to choose from in Richmond. One could spend a whole week there tasting beers. We started with Three Notched Brewing Company. Their home base is in Charlottsville, but they have a Richmond location. I love their beers.

Our bartender’s name was Baker, a great name for a great guy. Once again, we found a brewery employee whose love of craft beer was contagious. I wanted a flight of beers to taste. Baker made some great recommendations.

I started with their Local Lager. It’s a well done traditional American lager, very crisp, clean, and refreshing.

Next up, their Totally Pine West Coast IPA. I wrote an article a couple of months ago about how West Coast IPAs were changing. Well, forget that article. This one is a traditional West Coast IPA, dank and piney and loaded with bitter west coast hops. There are light notes of citrus, but this beer is not for the faint of heart. Get ready to pucker up if you drink it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My hands down favorite was the Bourbon Barrel Biggie Smores Stout. It’s a smooth and thick stout with traditional coffee and chocolate notes. You also get malt on the palate. And then, unexpectedly, graham cracker on the back taste! I was blown away.

It was time to move on to another brewery. I had a couple of places in mind, but I asked Baker for a recommendation. He told us to go to The Veil Brewing Company. And I’m really glad he did.

The Veil didn’t sell tasting flights, but they did sell 5-ounce beers. Tasting pours are usually 3 to 4 ounces. But I manned up and got a few 5-ounce tasters. I take my research very seriously.

We started off with their Vein Pilsner. I love a good pilsner, and this one did not disappoint. It was clean, crisp, with water crackers and lemon on the palate. And that great hoppy bite at the end that I adore.  I also greatly enjoyed their Master Shedder IPA, a hazy IPA with notes of melon, orange, and grapefruit.

I can’t leave any brewery without trying a stout. The Veil has Bourbon Sleeping Forever Stout. The espresso flavor was delightful. You get chocolate and bourbon on the palate as well. This beer is aged in Willet and Weller bourbon barrels for 27 months. No wonder I couldn’t put the glass down.

I’m happy to report that Richmond was well worth the trip. Do yourself a favor and spend a weekend there. Not only for the beer, but for the dining scene and the history. It’s a great place, and well worth the fight with Interstate 95 to get there.

That evening we dined at The Alewife. We had a great meal and took advantage of their well-done wine list. I highly recommend it. We raised a glass to Julia Child that night. The next time you’re enjoying great food and drink, I suggest you do the same. She brought class back to the American Culinary scene. We owe her a lot.

Bon Appètit!!

About the Author: Timothy Long is an educator, writer, consultant, and experienced restaurant operator. Email: tlong@belmarinnovations.com. Instagram and Twitter: @wvutimmy. Blog: What is that fly doing in my soup? http://whatflyinmysoup.com

Tim’s Whiskey and Cigar Recommendations

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

It’s been a very hot summer. And people don’t often think of bourbon on a stinking hot summer day. But this bourbon is very easy on the palate. The flavors are gentle with oak and citrus on the nose. The palate detects caramel, fruit, cherries, and rye, none of which jump out quickly. The mouthfeel is light and creamy. A perfect drink after a hellishly hot afternoon. It averages $30 per bottle and is 90 proof. So, it won’t burn your wallet or mouth.

La Palina Nicaragua Connecticut Toro

My buddy John Pann is part owner of John Crouch Tobacconist in Old Town. The look on his face when I asked him to recommend a cigar that Julia Child would enjoy was priceless.

“I have no idea. Did she smoke cigars?”

“Probably not. I laughed. But I bet she tried one at some point.”

We then decided to find a cigar that would pair well with the Four Roses Small Batch bourbon. As usual, John was spot on with his recommendation.

The La Palina Nicaragua Connecticut Toro is a medium flavored cigar. The smoke starts with oak, with notes of light cream, coffee, and pepper. The pepper drops off as you smoke it, but the cream and coffee notes linger until the end. This cigar finishes earthy with hints of oak blending in with the cream and coffee. It’s a delightful smoke. Enjoy.

This cigar, and many other fine cigars, are available at John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. Mention this article and get 10% off the purchase of this month’s recommended cigar.