In this action-packed episode of Eat It, Virginia! we talk Games of Thrones (SPOILERS), preview the Elbys with Richmond Magazine, learn about the perfect date wine, and Robey offers her Richmond Restaurant Week recommendations.

We're celebrating the opening of Richmond's newest restaurant - Fatty Smokes - by sitting down with EAT Restaurant Partners Director of Stuff Chris Staples. Chris talks about his upbringing in the Richmond food scene, when he decided to devote his life to hospitality, and his role in one of Richmond fastest-growing restaurant groups.

We close this week's episode by jumping into the mailbag to answer questions about Ashland and Petersburg and discuss the importance (or lack thereof) of a restaurant's name.

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Samantha Kanipe (one half of the husband-wife team behind the Richmond Experience) talks about her successful side hustle, the highs and lows of sharing on social media, and the Richmond experiences she suggests we all try.

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Chauncey Jenkins is the son of a Richmond chef. Growing up in his father's kitchens (and sustained by his grandmother's Mac & Cheese), Jenkins could not resist the sirens' song that is the food and service industry. To help achieve his dream of owning his own hotel, the Richmond Community High School graduate studied at the famed School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University in upstate New York.

Jenkins eventually found his way back to his hometown where he started to work at The Jefferson Hotel. Today Jenkins is the general manager of Lemaire Restaurant, the AAA Four Diamond restaurant inside The Jefferson Hotel.

In this week's episode of Eat It, Virginia! Jenkins talks about his service style, the advice he gives hotel guests visiting Richmond, and how he is working to make one of Virginia's finest restaurants more accessible to the community it serves. He also discusses his alter ego, the rapper Mr. Chance Fischer.

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Graffiato closed its Richmond outpost in 2018 after its Washington D.C.-based founder, a celebrity chef, was accused of sexual harassment. Kristel Poole was the general manager of Graffiato in Richmond at the time and shared her experiences from that chapter of her life. She and Robey also reminisced about past culinary adventures involving lamb testicles. And Kristel offered suggestions on what NOT to do when going out to eat.

It's been a big month for local food honors as both James Beard semifinalists and the Virginia Governor's Cup wine winner were announced. Scott and Robey will discuss those honorees, debate who serves the best french fries in Richmond, and brainstorm where to take kids out to eat.

Robey ends the podcast discussing her "unbelievable experience" at the national steakhouse chain. SPOILER ALERT: It wasn't good.

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After we get caught up on Scott's new love affair, Robey dives into Richmond restaurant openings, the proper price for a good burger, and upcoming food festivals. Booth Hardy from Barrel Thief recommends this episode's perfect pour and Chef Johnny brings the heat from the kitchen to tell us what's wrong (and right) with Richmond's restaurant scene. We close the show with by answering questions from the mailbag and Robey's Valentine's Day themed Rant.

Mentioned in the show:

John Maher - ChefJohnny

Tiny Victory - tinyvictoryrva

Laura Lee's - lauraleesrva

Brenner Pass - brennerpassrva

Adarra - restaurantadarra

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Starters: We'll get caught up on some Virginia food news headlines, try to determine who serves the best margaritas in town, and discuss the ups and downs of healthy eating in Richmond.

Main: We'll check in with sommelier Booth Hardy (Barrel Thief Wine Shop and Cafe) who suggests this week's perfect podcast pairing with our special guest Mike Lindsey, the Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations at Eat Restaurant Partners.

After Dinner Drinks: Robey does her best to embarrass Scott by exposing his lack of restaurant knowledge. Then we'll dip into the mailbag and answer some of Richmond's most pressing restaurant questions. We cap off the episode with Robey's rant. This episode's target -- celery juice.

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