Local RVA

Where to Shop for Healthy Foods:

Ellwood Thompson’s: a local, organic market in Carytown. They have a large refrigerated section with pre-made wraps/sandwiches which are vegan/vegetarian friendly, a large hot bar/salad bar with a plethora of options, a juice bar, a large bulk bin section and a prepared foods counter.

Good Foods Grocery: an organic grocery store with a huge bulk bin selection. There are two locations in Richmond.

Trader Joe’s: I like TJ’s for buying staples like almond milk, nuts, dried fruit, cereal, oats, yogurt, cheese, hummus and frozen fruits and veggies. I find their produce section to be a be scant and over priced but there are some items that are good buys like bagged greens and salad mixes and bags of avocado, limes, lemons and onions. They also have ridiculously good deals on wine.

Whole Foods: Whole Foods is my favorite store! They carry almost any organic product you can think of as well as obscure health food items like chia seeds and wheat grass. I like to make a stop at Whole Foods in all the cities I visit because they’re all set-up differently and have a variety of products based on the region and location. (I’m pretty sure this makes me a food nerd.)

Where to Eat Out:

• Balliceaux: One of my favorite restaurants in Richmond.
• Carytown Sushi
• Fresca on Addison: One of my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Richmond. They serve the same types of meals I would make for myself at home, which I love. The sushi sandwich on their homemade whole wheat pita bread is to die for!
• Ginger Thai Taste: One of the three Thai restaurants in Carytown, this place is my favorite Thai restaurant in Richmond.
• Ipanema Cafe: Vegetarian/Vegan restaurant with delicious dishes and amazing desserts. The menu changes pretty often and is written on a chalkboard when you walk in. I love this place.
• Lehja Indian Restaurant
• Mezzanine: A farm-to-table restaurant I love.
• MoMotaro Sushi
• Olio
• Stella’s: A fabulous and authentic Greek restaurant
• Sweet Frog: Serve yourself fro yo!
• Carl’s Ice Cream: (Fredericksburg, VA) Not the healthiest option ever, but it’s seriously the best ice cream I’ve ever had!
• Guru Indian: (Fredericksburg, VA) – Amazing Indian food.
• Sammy T’s: (Fredericksburg, VA)

Farmer Markets:

• Monument Avenue Farmers Market
• Saint Stephen’s Farmers Market
• South of the James Farmers Market

Find Delicious Products Made Locally:

• Bombolini Pasta: delicious, fresh pasta that comes in a ton of different flavors from whole wheat, tomato basil to cinnamon and chocolate. They even have black bean and gluten-free pastas.
• CCNO Bars: raw, vegan bars made locally in Charlottesville, Va.
• Great Harvest Bread: Charlottesville, Va.
• Pizza Tonight: pizza kits with homemade dough and sauce, special seasonings and toppings. Made right here in Richmond.
• Reginalds Homemade: a local company that makes peanut butter (and cashew butter)! The peanut butters are made with Virginia peanuts  and other all-natural ingredients. Some of the  flavors include: Apple Sin, Hazelnut Amaretto and Double Chocolate Chunk.
• Twin Oaks Tofu: best tofu ever! <– Check out the tour I took of the Twin Oaks Community.
• Zaydie’s Granola

Work Out

• Project Yoga Richmond
• CORE Pilates
• Glenmore Yoga
• Yoga Source

Things to do:

Broad Appétit – Here’s my recap from 2010 & 2011

Visit the James River

Richmond Vegetarian Festival: In 2011, I was a judge for the Meatless Gourmet Vegan “Iron Chef” Competition

Whole Foods Cooking Demos

• May 2011 – Spring Menu
• January 2011 – Health Starts Here
• November 2010 – Thanksgiving
• October 2010 – Greens!
• June 2010 – Vegetarian
• April 2010 – Mexican
• January 2010 – Seafood
• December 2009 – New Year’s Eve/Holiday