Justin Ferguson spends his workdays making Virginia real estate deals. But when work is done and it's time to play, Ferguson becomes TheBlackSommRVA, a role that allows him to share the wine knowledge he's learned while becoming a WSET Level 3 certified sommelier.

"The more I jumped into this business [commercial real estate], I started being around wine more, and I wanted to be a better agent and understand what my clients want. So I'm like, let me learn about it. I've just kept progressing. And here we are now," he said about the bridging of his real estate and wine careers. "During COVID, it was great when the world was shutting down, and you didn't want to talk to anyone about real estate. I would call people and say, 'Hey, let's drink wine and talk about something other than real estate. We'll sit six feet apart and just be humans.' Real estate is transactional, but it gets too transactional. So, like, hey, Justin is here to provide wine value to me as well."

But Ferguson doesn't just use wine to help his real estate career.

He's been able to launch a second career as the wine director at The Underground Kitchen in Richmond, Virginia.

"It is an experiential dining kitchen. So we're not open every day, which is great," he said. "The Kitchen pays respect and creativity to the LGBTQ community but also to chefs of color with flavors. We like seasoning. Chef Steve Glenn likes Creole and Southern cooking. So that's good portion sizes, but really well-seasoned food. It's fun pairing different cultures with wine."

Initially inspired by Dlynn Proctor and the movie SOMM, Ferguson said he hopes his efforts expose more people to the beauty and wonder of wine.

"There was a guy, his name was Dlynn Proctor, and he was, like, the only Black guy. There aren't many Black Master Somms. So seeing him in that role sparked the idea — representation matters," Ferguson said about his initial push toward earning his sommelier certification. "Because my family still, to this day, doesn't drink wine; they aren't wine people. They are beer and other alcohol drinkers. I think [wine] wasn't introduced throughout my culture the same way other spirits were."

When asked to recommend a bottle of wine for Eat It, Virginia listeners to try, Ferguson did not hesitate.

"The thing on top of my mind right now is, honestly, Black winemakers," he said. "One that I've been enjoying is O.P.P wine (Other People's Pinot Noir) by André Mack."

Other stuff on this episode:

• The opening of Ripple Ray's, a Grateful Dead themed bar in Richmond (2:10)

• The new Mardi Gras menu at Get Tight Lounge (2:45)

• The Sunday Bagel phenomenon (4:40)

• The opening of the Ugly Dumpling (6:45)

• Robey's new column in Style Weekly (7:50)

• Robey's recent visits to Brave Captain and Susie's (9:00)

• The Mailbag wants to know about James Beard Awards snubbing Richmond restaurants once again (12:00)

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Richmond is kicking off the new year with a fresh vision as Dr. Danny Avula is sworn in as the Mayor of Richmond on January 1, 2025. Just days before officially taking office, Mayor Avula sat down with hosts Scott and Robey to delve into a variety of topics centered around the vibrant restaurant scene in Richmond.

In this episode, Mayor Avula reflects on how food and family meals shaped his upbringing and shares his hopes toward fostering a strong partnership between City Hall and local restaurants.

Plus, we put him on the spot to reveal his favorite dining spots in both Richmond and its surrounding suburbs.

We want to hear from you! Email the show  with your thoughts and suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover in 2025. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content!

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Antonio Owen, the chef-owner of Sweet P’s in Richmond, Virginia, recently shared his culinary journey and life philosophies on the “Eat It, Virginia” podcast with Scott Wise and Robey Martin.

The veteran’s guiding philosophies in the kitchen is that no job is beneath him.

"If you think you’re too good to take out the trash, your whole mindset is wrong," he said.

This hands-on mentality has been crucial in establishing a strong, supportive team.

The restaurant also embraces fun, with the introduction of “Whitney Wednesdays,” a weekly event celebrating Whitney Houston’s music and food inspired by her favorite dishes.

In this episode, Robey also discusses  an extensive list of Richmond-area Christmas bars that she helped compile for Style Weekly.

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Kat McCay Stanley discussed her extensive restaurant ventures, including the recent rebranding of Holy Mackerel in Prince George County, Virginia, to The Salty Siren, which offers a seafood-heavy menu.

"When Holy Mackerel hit my radar, there was no turning back. The potential there, the view, the building... So I thought, 'Is this crazy? This is pretty crazy,'" she said about her plan to revamp the restaurant along the James River near the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge. "But I also knew in the back of my mind that if I was willing to chase that craziness, I knew the absolute most dynamite person who would be interested in chasing it with me. So I actually have a 50% business partner there, by the name of Jessica Pilout, and she is the other half of The Salty Siren."

McCay Stanley also owns Old Towne's Alibi, a Petersburg dive bar known for its community involvement and zero staff turnover in three years.

During her Eat It, Virginia interview, McCay Stanley highlighted her community's efforts after Hurricane Helene, organizing multiple relief trips with trailers and trucks filled with supplies to both North Carolina and Virginia communities impacted by the storm.

She emphasized the ongoing need for support in affected area and suggested donating to Covenant Fellowship in Bristol.

This episode is sponsored by Richmond Water

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David Whitby, owner of Shoreline Seafood Market, discussed his journey from his parents starting Yellow Umbrella to his new venture Shoreline -- a seafood market and a 10-seat restaurant for special dinners.

Whitby emphasized the importance of sourcing high-quality seafood globally and shared tips for new seafood cooks who might be intimidated to prepare seafood at home.

Robey and Scott also discussed the state of service at Richmond-area restaurants. Slide into their DMs to tell them which restaurants always deliver the goods.

Shoreline Seafood Market

10614 Patterson Avenue

Henrico, Va. 23238

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When you think of Virginia's finest food and drink, you might think of Virginia ham, Virginia oysters, and Virginia wine. But Marshall Rabil suggests Virginia peanuts should be atop that list. Rabil should know a thing or two about peanuts. (36:35)

His grandparents, Dot and HJ Hubbard, started Hubbard Peanut Company, which you may now know as Hubs, in Sedley, Virginia, back in 1954. (21:07)

Rabil shared his family's peanut story with Scott and Robey, plus shared details about the upcoming Homegrown Harvest Festival he helped create as a showcase for restaurants and food purveyors in that part of Virginia. (50:11)

"I've been in Charleston, New York, I think Richmond is really growing as a food destination. I think it's going to be known as one of the greatest places to eat in the country. It's slow. I mean, the restaurant scene has popped off, but I don't think that Tidewater, Virginia gets the credit that it deserves as the culinary destination with the bounty of ingredients that we have from the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean and all of our farms and the farmers that are raising animals sustainably," he said. "So I always wanted to work with chefs and bring a party to Southampton County and Franklin. And so last year we created this festival to benefit the Food Bank and the CROP Foundation. And this year we've kind of expanded it."

Click here for ticket and schedule information.

Other topics discussed on this episode of Eat It, Virginia include:

• A new bagel place in Richmond (2:30)

• The opening of Toast at Scott’s Walk (5:10)

• Gelati Celesti Turns 40 (6:25)

• The opening of Southern Kitchen at Stony Point Fashion Park (10:40)

• The thought process behind Richmond restaurants offering (or not offering) reservations (11:40)

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Restaurant owner, entrepreneur, media personality, and community cheerleader Kelli Lemon wears many hats in Richmond, Virginia.

On this episode of "Eat It, Virginia," Kelli shared why she decided to open Urban Hang Suite in downtown Richmond and what that experience has taught her about life, business, and the city she calls home.

"Kendra [Feather] is the reason Hang Suite is open," Lemon said. "Creative Mornings, I think it was January 2017. My topic was a question mark, it was like a mystery. I was like, I'm looking for this thing, that's kind of a hangout, where people could talk to each other, but it's not a restaurant, it could be a cafe. And I think it was Anne Marie that yelled out, "Do it!" It was either Kendra or Anne Marie. And then the next day, Kendra called me. It was like, I want to show you this space."

In addition to Urban Hang Suite, Kelli talked about her roles at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, the Art of Noise, and the birth of her podcast Coffee with Strangers.

Here are some links to other things mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about RVA Wing Wars here.

Learn more about the Art of Noise here.

This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and its new exhibit Julia Child: A Recipe For Life.

This episode is sponsored by Project Birdie.

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Ty Walker and his wife Shannon own and operate Smoke in Chimneys trout farm in New Castle, Virginia. In this Eat It, Virginia episode, Walker joined Scott and Robey and shared his experience revitalizing a 1930s trout hatchery.

He discussed the challenges of starting and running a sustainable fish farm, including public perception, infrastructure limitations, and high start-up costs. (22:45)

Walker also touched on the big role faith has played in his business. (50:05)

Other topics discussed in this episode include:

• The restaurants Robey included on the July 2024 Hot List (1:58)
• The situation with Brittanny Anderson and the Pink Room (8:22)
• An update on the whereabouts of Richmond chef Bobo Catoe (11:20)
• The mystery and annoyance surrounding the lack of prices on menus (13:05)

The best ways to reach the podcast are through Instagram DMs and email.

This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and its new exhibit Julia Child: A Recipe For Life.

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The James Beard Awards, the food world's equivalent to the Oscars in Hollywood, snubbed Richmond restaurants and chefs for the third year in a row, Richmond Times-Dispatch restaurant critic Justin Lo (who appeared way back on Ep. 8) wrote in a recent article that appeared in the city paper.

Lo laid out his reasoning behind the so-called snubs and later called his article a conversation starter on the topic.

Well, consider the conversation continued.

On this episode of "Eat It, Virginia!" co-host Robey Martin shares her beliefs about why no Richmond chefs nor restaurants have been honored by James Beard since the pandemic.

She also lays out what Richmond restaurants and their fans should do to help Richmond get back on the James Beard map (15:15).

Before that, Scott shares some recent breakfast and coffee experiences (2:45) at Rise and Shine Diner in Ashland and Café y Sabor, Brecotea, and Brick Road Coffee Co. all along various parts of West Broad Street in Henrico County.

Robey also wants you yo know about a special Juneteenth Celebration dinner (8:40) with Dr. Leni Sorensen at The Roosevelt in Richmond. Tickets are available here.

This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and its new exhibit Julia Child: A Recipe For Life.

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Virginia Museum of History and Culture curator Paige Newman and her team spent months diving into the life and cultural impact of celebrity chef and icon Julia Child.

Her mission was to season Julia Child: A Recipe for Life, a national touring exhibit, to a Virginia audience.

"At first I was like, what are those? But as you delve in, in the exhibit we have five sections and we call them Virginia  à la carte," Newman said. "My first thought was, of course, James Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's enslaved chef. He had to learn the art of French cookery when Jefferson became Minister of France. And that was my first thought, we have to include James Hemings. Then doing a little more research, I'm like, oh, Julia Child was in Richmond in 1976, promoting her fourth book and she did a demo and a book signing down at Thalheimer's department store. Another was, of course, Patrick O'Connell."

Learn more about the Julia Child: A Recipe for Life exhibit here.

Before the interview with Paige, Scott and Robey discussed new exciting updates involving past guests Keya Wingfield (2:32) and Brittanny Anderson (3:51). Plus we jump into the Eat It, Virginia mailbag to answer your questions (6:20).

This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and its new exhibit Julia Child: A Recipe For Life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.