If when you hear Virginia and gastronomy, all you can think of is deep-fried, comfort food, and barbecue, stop and think again. Just across the border from America’s capital, Washington D.C., Virginia is a culinary destination on the cusp of true greatness, earning accolades from local critics and global connoisseurs alike. Some proof, just as a warmup.
- Washington D.C.is one of the few American cities that boasts a Michelin Red Guide. The ONLY Three-Star Michelin restaurant in that guide, The Inn at Little Washington, is actually in Virginia, near Shenandoah National Park, more than 115 kilometers from the District.
- Michelin starred chef Jean Georges Vongerichten just opened a restaurant at the newly remodeled luxury property Keswick Hall, Marigold by Jean George, near Charlottesville, VA, a more than a two-hour drive from Washington D.C.
- Seven of The Washington Post’sEight Road-Trip-Worthy Restaurants in Maryland and Virginia are in Virginia. Virginia is the top producer of wild and farm-raised oysters on the East Coast.
- The Virginia Oyster Trail offers unique experiences you won’t find just anywhere, including Chef’s Table Tours where you dine in the water on fresh oysters pulled straight from the water, and a day-long Oyster Academy, where you can learn all about the Virginia oyster from expert watermen.
- With more than 300 wineries, almost 300 craft breweries, 70+ distilleries (making spirits from award-winning bourbon to moonshine), as well as cideries and meaderies, Virginia has the perfect craft beverage to pair with any of its remarkable meals.
If we focused on restaurants across the entire state, it would take hours. So, let’s focus here on Richmond, a city that has been racking up national and international accolades as a must-visit destination for years now. Virginia’s capital city has an incredibly diverse food scene that celebrates the accessibility of delicious seafood and local produce through numerous, award-winning fusions.
From Basque cuisine and local oysters to South African, Szechuan, and even New Zealand-style pies, the flavours you fancy will be found in Virginia’s capital. Here are just a few examples to tempt your taste buds while highlighting Richmond’s incredibly diverse food scene.
