Spring and Good Newz is Everywhere!

Alexandria, VA – Virginia restaurants are finally allowed to serve people again at bars. It’s been over a year, since March 2020, that the State instituted Covid-19 safety restrictions to protect us from the virus. Instead of being seated at tables next to a bar, customers will be able to sit at the bar. The new state order requires that all alcoholic beverages can only be sold, consumed, or possessed on premises before midnight and after 5 AM. Restaurants will still be allowed to provide carryout or delivery service of alcoholic beverages as they are doing currently.

Coming Soon

DashMart is coming to Alexandria. This will be the first location in the metro area. DashMart is an affiliate creation of DoorDash and offers grocery and other items delivered right to your door. Their warehouse will open at 826 S. Picket St. and will be open for deliveries 24/7. According to their blog: “we’re announcing the launch of DashMart stores nationwide. DashMart is a new type of convenience store, offering both household essentials and local restaurant favorites to our customers’ doorsteps. On DashMart, you’ll find thousands of convenience, grocery, and restaurant items, from ice cream and chips, to cough medicine and dog food, to spice rubs and packaged desserts from the local restaurants you love on DoorDash. DashMart stores are owned, operated, and curated by DoorDash.” Local businesses are encouraged to sell their products through DashMart.

Amazon.com Inc. is going to take over part of the former Safeway store that closed in Bailey’s Crossroads at 5821 Crossroads Center Way. This will be the fifth location for the company and will provide a 40,000 sq. ft. full scale grocery store. The company is also working to open another small-format Amazon store for Crystal City. Another Amazon supermarket, AmazonFresh, is opening at the Festival at Manchester Lakes in the Fairfax County section of Alexandria at 7005 Manchester Blvd. The 31,000 sq. ft. store for Amazon Prime members. Customers will place their bags in a cart, sign in using their Fresh QR code in the Amazon app, shop, and exit through the Dash Cart lane to automatically complete their payment. The cart uses a combination of computer vision algorithms and sensor fusion to identify items put in the cart. Unlike Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh offers a wide selection of national brands, private label, and store-made products at a low price.

Continuing to Adapt

Stracci Pizza has found its permanent location at 106 Hume Ave., former home of Nectar. Still serving from their trailer, the location will soon be operational. Chef Tom Cardarelli is making his pizza with his own hand-made straciatella mozzarella and a house made crust. As before, order online at https://stracci-pizza.square.site/.

Speaking of pizza, &pizza is coming to 207 Swamp Fox Rd. at Hoffman Town Center, joining the locations at BradLee and Potomac Yards. There will be indoor seating for 20 and limited outdoor seating for now. Also available is pickup and delivery by UberEats. One of their signature pizzas include a Gluten Free Cauliflower crust with handcrafted tomato sauce, covered with Daiya mozzarella style shreds, bell peppers, red onion, black olives, mushrooms, and minced garlic.

Old Town North has reimagined their Taste of Old Town North with a two-month long leisurely tour of the neighborhood. Purchase a $10 passport to visit the shops and restaurants in the area to sample their goods and services. During the Taste, participating businesses will offer discounts to Taste Passport Holders. Passports are available on the Old Town North website and at the Community Table at the Old Town North Farmer’s Market. A percentage of ticket sales will benefit ALIVE! Also at the Community Table is the ALIVE Food Bin where you can donate healthy, non-perishable foods to be distributed to Food Pantries in Alexandria. Donations of food for four-legged friends for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria are also happily accepted.

Please Say a Prayer

For those of you who frequent the Del Ray, 4 Mile Run, or West End Farmer’s Markets, our good friend and vendor, Tommy Thomson, of Tom’s Amish Cheese is gravely ill. Tom has regaled us with gravelly voiced stories and inimitable sense of humor for many years. He has been too ill to continue attending the markets but his wife Barbara, and their many friends are helping to continue bringing his products to market. Please send your prayers to Tom and his family during this time. We will bring more news as it becomes available.

Until next time, eat well and enjoy!

Do you have some foody newz to share? Feel free to contact me at [email protected].

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