THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502010039
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: A LA CARTE
SOURCE: Donna Reiss
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
YOU CAN HELP FEED the hungry and save money on your own meals, too.
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia is offering $35 books of discount coupons, redeemable at area restaurants and cultural and sporting events. Proceeds help provide meals for the community's needy.
Also via the Foodbank: specialty posters featuring matchbook collections from Virginia Beach restaurants. Image Ad Graphics of Virginia Beach recently unveiled the poster, the 23rd in a series from cities across the country.
Proceeds from sales of the Virginia Beach poster will be used to feed the hungry in this community.
You'll recognize some of the matchbook logos: a swish of purple star from the Lucky Star; a languorous blue fish leaning against a palm for Hot Tuna; a howling coyote from Coyote Cafe; a black bird from the Raven.
Look for the posters and matching T-shirts in local restaurants, or call the Foodbank at 624-1333. A Norfolk-restaurant matchbook poster is scheduled for February release.
Seriously surprised
Skipjack's in Norfolk surprised us.
The arcade atmosphere in the pool room off the raw-bar foyer suggested a spirited mood. But we hadn't a clue the food might be serious.
But serious it was, from well-selected salad greens to well-balanced sauces and a respectable, inexpensive house wine from Copper Ridge.
Although the sweetish barbecue sauce on a standard chicken breast was uninspired, the chili-laden mashed potatoes were excellent, the grilled vegetables chunky and flavorful, and mako-and-scallop cakes with fennel and caramelized onions both unexpected and tasty.
Elegant appointments from Le Charlieu, the French restaurant that once inhabited this handsome urban house, have been tempered by grays. Striped coverings give the chairs a casual look, and dark blinds hang in place of damask drapes.
Slipknot provided acoustic music, and by 10 p.m. the house was filled with people ordering nachos and beer. Join the crowd at 112 College Place. (Phone: 626-3505.)
Suddenly Monroe's
Monroe Duncan, of Monroe's in Norfolk, is warming the winter nights with tableside preparations in the fireplace lounge.
Duncan and Tony Klementzos, former partners at Suddenly Last Summer, will stir up Caesars, saute shrimp Savoy, and swirl crepes Mad Nero (with brandy-plumped raisins, chocolate mint liqueur, and cognac). The restaurant is at 8180 Shore Drive. Call 588-0100.
Carrying us back
The old carriage house at 313 W. Bute St. in Norfolk has seen several restaurants over the decades. Most recent is the 2-year-old Carriage Inn (phone: 622-4990).
Brighter than before with the brick painted white, the redecorated interior displays old farm implements, equestrian memorabilia, and posters of charming rigs. The food was less inspired than the comfortable neighborhood mood, however. MEMO: Reviews are based on a single, unannounced visit by a party of four,
unless otherwise noted. The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star pay for
the reviewer's meal and those of the guests.
by CNB