THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603260057
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F6 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: A LA CARTE
SOURCE: DONNA REISS
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
OPEN WIDE will open an assortment of microbrews for the benefit of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, April Fool's Day.
The ``No Foolin' Around'' tasting will feature labels such as Black Dog Honey Raspberry, Big Shoulders Porter, and Wild Goose Spring Wheat, as well as hors d'oeuvres from chef/owner Phil Haushalter.. .
Local restaurants and merchants have contributed gift certificates that will be raffled.
Tickets are $20. They are available at the restaurant, 122-124 Granby St. (533-9153); the Foodbank, 2308 Granby St. (624-1333); and the concierge desk of the World Trade Center, 101 W. Main St. (627-3265), all in Norfolk.
Sunday nights swing at the Bistro and Rotisserie, 324 N. Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach, behind Le Chambord restaurant.
The redecorated, casual restaurant serves live jazz and a special prix fixe dinner of four courses for $14.95 plus tax and tip. Diners receive soup, Caesar salad, a choice among three main dishes - fresh catch of the day, pasta, or rotisserie chicken - plus coffee and dessert.
Light a la carte items such as mussels, oysters mignonette, and hot crab dip also are available from the open kitchen supervised by talented chef Alvin Williams.
A new cigar-smoking section - separated from the main dining area by folding screens and made comfortable by cushy sofas - features cognacs and whiskeys to accompany a selection of stogies.
For information and reservations, call the restaurant at 486-3636. ALEXANDER'S REVIVED
The renovated lobby lounge of the Omni Waterside Hotel in Norfolk is a revival of Alexander's, the original lounge when the hotel opened in 1976. It boasts a black marble dance floor, outdoor patio, river view and live jazz from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and dance bands from 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Management promises a jazz brunch later in the spring.
The new club looks to be a grand hotel-style nightclub. The menu is light and lively: soups, finger fare like cheese bread and calamari, Caesar salads, and focaccia sandwiches. A vodka bar features ``a variety of spirits found nowhere else in the area.'' Call 622-6664. TASTE OF THE TROPICS
Gladwin Jarvis, well-known local chef originally from Antigua, has opened a Caribbean restaurant in the former Metropol Market, 442 Granby St., Norfolk. At Tropical Delights, Jarvis preserves many of the architectural features of the gourmet shop, placing plants in alcoves that once held specialty foods.
The month-old restraurant serves sandwiches and salads as well as fried plantains, salmon with citrus butter, seafood stew with couscous, snapper with Creole sauce, and rum-glazed ribs. Homemade soups and desserts are regular features.
At a recent lunch, the island take on Manhattan clam chowder was refreshingly spicy with a hint of citrus, and conch fritters were yummy puffs. Jerk chicken was as peppery as we had hoped but not incendiary.
Tropical Delights is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Lunch prices average $6. Dinner on Saturday night averages $13. Call 623-0027. by CNB