Some people—Julie Andrews, John Coltrane—like their brown paper packages tied up with string.

We’re not ones to feed stereotypes—usually. But we think it’s a shame if a big Italian family saves all of its spaghetti for itself and doesn’t share its genetic predisposition toward premier pasta-making with the general public. So it’s about time that the Oliva family has chosen to get out of their own kitchens and […]

First they got themselves a coffee shop (La Taza), then a jazz club (Saxx), the Bridge/ Progressive Arts Institute, their own BBQ spot and now a neighborhood wine and cheese shop. Some call it Soho, some call them Bobos (Bourgeois Bohemians, that is)—but we just call them damn lucky for living within walking distance of […]

"Bodo’s knows nothing about ‘coming soon.’" That’s how Chaps’ owner Tony LaBua responded to us when we inquired this summer about his plans to renovate Chaps’ front façade. Of course, LaBua is referring to the now infamous sign (that, in fact, only said "Coming") indicating Bodo’s Bagel Bakery‘s pending expansion to the Corner, which remained […]

‘Tis the season for food-centered holiday rituals, most of which involve gorging on gravy-flooded, carb-infested, stick-to-your ribs, I-don’t-have-to-worry about-showing-off-my-thighs-for-another-eight-months kind of food. ‘Tis truly a wonderful, guilt-free cultural phenomenon that not even an episode of "The Biggest Loser" could impede. And for many, all of this gluttonous seasonal eating goes oh so well with another […]

Clinton Minor will be counting his blessings this Thanksgiving. Why? Because the doors of his Scottsville café, Minor’s Diner, are still open.  And if you know what’s been going on in Scottsville this past year, you know that just being open for business is cause for celebration. You see, the road has been bumpy for […]

"Veal stock, plum wine and a watermelon." Those were the only ingredients…

For someone with French culinary school chops and experience running and owning restaurants all over the world—from Cape Town to Montreal and California to Hawaii—Hassan Kaisoum pretty much created a recipe for disaster at his Aroma’s Café & Catering in the Fontaine Research Park. Here were his ingredients for cooking up a Moroccan/Mediterranean dining den […]

As both the source and the sounding board for all things food in this town, Restaurantarama works tirelessly on your behalf to decipher inside scoop from mere scuttlebutt. Typically, we save you, the reader, from the untruths and exaggerations that little birds whisper to us, but this week, we thought we’d let you in on […]