Alexandria,VA- St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub is planning to open another location at 529 Montgomery St. in North Old Town. The location is part of the new development of the apartment building. The coffee pub will have approximately 80 seats for customers. Also under development is a Southern-style market and kitchen in a historic warehouse. More expansion of local favorites includes Cheesetique in Shirlington is taking over the Luna Grill site with large windows on two side and lots of natural light. This new location next to their current location provides a lot more dining space. Here’s hoping they meet their plan to open in early November.
What’s new you ask?
The Mill will occupy the warehouse at 10 Duke Street near the waterfront. The building previously housed a mess house and commissary for the Union Army during the Civil War. The Mill will first floor will be modelled after a tavern serving casual food such as clam chowder, crab cake sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches and other southern favorites. The bar will feature Virginia craft beers. A market will fill the rear of the first floor where customers will be treated to various pastries, croissants, breakfast sandwiches, boxed lunches, carryout meals, and wine, beer, and other beverages. The second floor will house indoor dining with two balconies. Menu items include crab cakes, fried oysters, and other seafood dishes. The lower, basement level will provide quick food items including lobster and crab corndogs, burgers, and more.
Goodie’s Frozen Custard is applying to open a location at the Mutual Ice Co. Ice House at 200 Commerce St. Mutual Ice Co. was founded in 1900 to provide ice to residents and servicing rail cars along the Potomac Yard rail line. This location will operate as a walk-up frozen custard stand. Their application states that they are planning to serve carry-out frozen custard, coffee, and baked goods daily from 6 am to 11 pm. Goodie’s is known for its frozen treats including the Food Network approved Boogie Woogie, a turtle pecan sundae made with vanilla bean frozen custard topped with Georgia’s fines buttered pecans and drizzled with chocolate and caramel. The menu will also feature shakes, sundaes, and pints to go. Their custards and toppings are made in their own kitchen with natural ingredients. 5101 Seminary Rd., currently a dry cleaner, will be the location of a new restaurant open from 6 am to 2 am. The menu will feature breakfast, lunch, and dinner with both indoor and outdoor dining. The menu will include shwarma, beef, and chicken.
Del Ray is always the place to be
New to Del Ray is SmallCakes Bakery at 1506 Mt. Vernon Ave. The founder is Jeff Martin who may look familiar because he has appeared on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. The shop features a variety of gourmet cupcakes, cupcake-infused ice cream, and other tasty treats. Don’t forget to get some doggone good puppy treats.
Let’s Meat on the Avenue, is offering a variety of fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving. In addition to the organic Murray’s and heritage Kelly Bronze and Dartagnan Red Bourbon turkeys, they are also featuring certified, humanely raised turkeys. You can order a variety of birds including goose, quail, and pheasant. They can create crown roasts or other specialty presentations to make your holiday memorable. Order now. Also available at Let’s Meat on the Avenue is Ayoba-Yo – featuring Biltong and Droëwors. Ayoba-Yo was founded by the van Blommestein Family, who moved to the United States 19 years ago from South Africa. They found replacements for most of the things they loved but they missed their South
African Biltong and Droëwors that started making their own. Their premium dried meat snacks are made from grass-fed beef. They contain zero trans-fat, preservatives, gluten free, msg, nitrates, and of course, zero sugar. Recently, Ayoba-Yo, has been selected as a finalist for Amazon’s Small Business of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on November 8th 2019.
NOVA keeps getting recognized
Thrillist cites Beenie Weenie, 2680 Shirlington Rd. and opened in 1954, as the birthplace of half smokes in DC area, served as breakfast with an egg on top. The half-smoke was first manufactured by local meatpackers Briggs and Co. Now, people line up for half-smoke sandwiches for breakfast or smothered in chili at lunch time. Just a little secret, we smuggled in one of those half smokes with chili into the hospital for a sick friend! FYI, they close when the sun goes down. Need a half smoke and are close to Old Town? Hit Haute Dogs and Fries, 610 Montgomery St., for a half smoke that can be served 20 different ways not counting the “Choose Your Own Toppings” option. Maybe not as traditional but just as good.
