THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502150092
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: A LA CARTE
SOURCE: Donna Reiss
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
WITH ITS FOUR floor-to-ceiling bay windows overlooking the Oceanfront, the Sheraton at 36th and Atlantic in Virginia Beach is a delightful spot for a leisurely Sunday brunch.
Before fair-weather visitors and sun worshipers crowd the Boardwalk, locals can enjoy the water view without suffering the winter winds. Here, the sea motif comes inside, in subdued blues and creams. Two large models of 19th century steamers act as room dividers. Well-spaced tables with sweeping water views allow comfortable maneuvering toward the buffet tables.
Arranged in corners and alcoves, the $12.95 buffet ($11.95 for senior citizens, $6.95 for children 4 to 12) includes coffee or tea, and juice, champagne or mimosa. Omelets and miniature Belgian waffles are made to order; ham and roast beef are sliced at a carving station.
The fresh salad fixings are standard, but the mixed salads have a little verve, especially chicken salad with carrots, mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms. A raw bar station with oysters and clams on the half-shell and steamed shrimp is chilled by an ice swan. For breakfast, eggs Benedict are perfectly poached, and bacon and sausage links are plentiful; hot entrees of pasta, chicken, pork, swordfish and ratatouille offer variety.
A dessert spread presents two types of chocolate cake plus other cakes, almond cream mousse, and crumbly nut cookies. Phone 425-9000.
Charity auction
Dine, dance and bid on a dinner prepared just for you by a local chef.
The 10th annual Chef and the Child Dinner, which benefits the children's milk fund of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Quality Inn Lake Wright, on Northampton Boulevard in Norfolk.
Sponsored by the Tidewater Chefs' Association, the $50 event includes a cocktail hour, five-course dinner made by professional chefs; wine; and dancing to the music of Katz and Jammers. Call 439-3977, 625-1436, or 557-9508 for information and tickets.
Chinese New Year
Peking Duck Inn, 5204 Fairfield Shopping Center in Virginia Beach, will welcome the Year of the Pig at a Chinese New Year party at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cost is $25 a person and includes fried oysters, sauteed conch, fresh duck, sizzling filet mignon and other festive foods. Call 495-9110 for reservations and information.
Crave crawfish?
If you'd rather eat crawfish, go to the newly redecorated Bienville Grill in Norfolk.
Chef-owner Mike Hall imports the crawdads fresh from Louisiana, boils them the traditional way, and heaps them on platters for $4.95 a pound Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Bienville on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 28, with music, door prizes and traditional king cake. Costumes optional. But carnival colors will be featured in catfish Mardi Gras with purple cabbage, green onions, yellow peppers and sauteed crawfish. The restaurant is at 723 W. 21st St. Phone 625-5427. MEMO: Send restaurant news, along with your name and a daytime phone number,
to a la carte, c/o Flavor, The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, 150
W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510, or send e-mail to
dreiss(AT)infi.net.
by CNB