Illustration and photos by Fitz
Article by Fitz, Chris Fellini, Wade A. Hunter and Nadira
Norfolk has become the city for dining out in Hampton Roads. The roster of forward-thinking chefs continues to grow. Hledik at Saint Germain, Estero at Nouvelle, Corrie at Chartreuse, Marsh at LeGrand, Hannah at Press, Ordonez at Alkaline: just a few that come to mind. Then there is the entrepreneurial team of Hausmann and Porter who with Handsome Biscuit, Field Guide and Toast have enticed the belly of many a Millennial. Want a dope burger? Kiss the ring of Sums and company at 80/20. Want actual authentic Mexican? Hit up Jessy’s. How about amazing Middle-Eastern street food? Mr. Shawarma has you covered. Soul Food ― say hi to my boy Mo at My Mama’s Kitchen. Got a hankering for some of the best bread of your life, like, “carbicide” inducing?- hit up The Bakehouse in Chelsea. It’s an exciting time for food in the city I love and it got me thinking. If I had to pick four courses in Norfolk, forget cohesion, just my favorite four courses- a salad, app, main, and dessert what would this “Frankenstein Four Course” look like? I posed this question to the mag’s main contributors, the only criteria being that the dishes picked must be permanent menu items. After much debate we rigorously decided on the following…
Salad– No Frill’s Teriyaki & Sesame Grilled Tuna Salad:
Heavyweight comic John Pinette used to say: “Salad isn’t food. Salad comes with the food. Salad is a promissory note that food will soon arrive. There is no joy in salad!” Well, here is a salad that endeavors to be much much more! Perfectly seared thick slices of yellow fin tuna in a sweet sesame marinade blend effortlessly with black bean salsa stacked on mounds of fresh greens! It’s “food” alright, and damn filling! -Fitz
Salad runners up worth mention-
Goat Cheese & Carmelized Walnut Salad by Ten Top *Fellini
Greek Salad by Fellini’s Restaurant *Wade
House Salad by Rajput *Nadira
Appetizer– La Bella’s Involtini di Melanzane:
An appetizer should be the essence of flavor, but keep you salivating for the main. The Involtini di Melanzane from La Bella in Ghent is just that. It hits all the flavor notes. The eggplant is rich and buttery, the cheese mixture is both creamy and salty, and c’mon, who doesn’t love red sauce. Fresh from the oven, this is guaranteed to warm you up in the winter. There’s enough to share with a partner, but you won’t want to. -Fellini
Appetizer runners up worth mention-
Fried Pickles by Grilled Cheese Bistro *Nadira
Pig’s Ears Chicaronne by Saint Germain *Fitz
Bagoong Fried Rice by Alkaline *Wade
Main Course– Saint Germain’s Beef Wellington:
Not since feeding on exotic birds while lounging on early Roman triclinia has there been a dish of such unmitigated decadence as that of the beef wellington; a darling of modern midcentury menus, with many heads of state―from Nixon to Churchill―finding it a regular favorite. There couldn’t be a better choice for a communal course at Saint Germain (a place whose environment and very name evokes a rich mystic history). Harkening back to 17th century French sensibilities, a seventeen ounce beef tenderloin is cooked rare and enveloped with local Surryano ham, mushroom duxelles, and a pastry crust, then baked to golden perfection. Served with a sauce Madeira, the filet itself is enough to serve two to four.
Wade A. Hunter (center) with Kyle and Tristan at Saint Germain
It also comes with decadent accouterments such as the perfectly roasted cipollini onions, trumpet mushrooms, and smoked puree pommes. Enjoy this with the darkest red wine that can be mustered (in a goblet, of course) for the fully regal, Henry VIII-esque experience. A better main course could not be had in Norfolk. -Hunter
Main Course runners up worth mention-
Korma Curry Chicken by Saffron *Fellini
Chicken Provencal by Nouvelle *Nadira
Curry Goat by Island Krave *Fitz
Dessert– Azars Flowerless Chocolate Cake:
Amidst Norfolk’s burgeoning gastronomy scene sits Azars. It’s an unpretentious café that offers a consistent menu of standard Middle Eastern staples. Beyond the falafel and shawarma there is a dessert case full of delicious sweet treats. The flourless chocolate cake rounds out this Franken-meal with its eloquent simplicity. Fudgy, full of chocolate and straightforward it is all business. A chocolate bar without the nuts, nugget or non- sense. Pair with wine or Turkish coffee and it‘s bliss. -Nadira
Nadira outside of Azars
Dessert runners up worth mention-
Coffee Orb/ Cotton Candy/ Honey Comb “Nest” by Saint Germain *Fitz
Lemon Curd Waffle by Waffletina *Wade
Bread Pudding by Nouvelle *Fellini
For more on No Frill visit them HERE
For more on La Bella visit them HERE
For more on Saint Germain visit them HERE
For more on Azars visit them HERE
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