Richmond Recipes I Would LOVE To Have

As I start to pack up and move out of Richmond, I realize that while it may not be an internationally renown food capital, this city has some fabulous restaurants. Restaurants that I will miss very much, given their decidedly not-New York prices and ambiance.

If you know any of these recipes and let me in on your secret, you will be integral to my Richmond memories.

1. Curried Oysters with Cucumber Sauce from Six Burner

2. White Balsamic Dressing from Cafe Gutenberg

3. Squash Casserole from Comfort

FOR SALE

I'm moving out of Richmond mid-June and can't fit everything in my car. If you need any of the following, check out the link below to see photos, descriptions and prices. You'll have to come pick it up but I'll help you bring anything to your car, so let me know if you're interested!

http://picasaweb.google.com/caitlin.cody/ForSale

26" TV
Shelves
Comforter + duvet cover (used once)
Sleeping bag (used once)
Rolling drawer unit
Trash cans
Alarm clock
3 tier bathroom cart
Desk Lamp
Hand Mixer
Oscillating Fan

I'll probably be adding more stuff as I figure out just how small my car really is.

The Richmond Coliseum

I graduated with my Master's Degree today in the Richmond Coliseum. I had never been in the Coliseum before, and so while this sounds a bit obvious, I was surprised at how big it was. Perhaps the "wow" feeling was increased because instead of sitting in the seats I was sitting on the main floor looking up at the thousands of parents, other family members and friends who were looking down at me.

National Battlefield Park Tour

My father came to visit me in Richmond this week. While we spent most of our time together retracing my steps from this blog project, we also did something that I would probably never have done by myself. I have always enjoyed history when it is explained to me by people with a passion for it, but have never been much of a history buff myself. So when my Father suggested that we visit some battlefields in the area, I eagerly agreed. My Father has always been interested in Civil War history, and touring the battlefields with him was a chance to take part in his excitement.

Over two days, we visited the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works, Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill and Cold Harbor. I highly recommend a visit to the Civil War Visitor Center as it does a great job of giving a Civil War for Dummies version of the war while still remaining interesting for those actually do know about history. I will say, though, that I'm not sure I loved the video they play on the first floor. An older man with sad eyes narrates a scrip that starts off something like this: "The civil war? There wasn't anything civil about it! It was a war of Northern aggression..."

The Ashland Berry Farm

A few days after next week's graduation from the Brandcenter, we will have two days to impress recruiters from all over the country. As a leave behind, I've decided to make homemade jam to showcase my love of cooking, my Richmond tourism and some of the photos I've taken this year.

If you're going to take the time to make homemade jam, don't settle for store-bought strawberries. Store bought strawberries generally have white insides which are tasteless and fibrous. Fresh picked, local strawberries on the other hand are a whole different ballgame. Smaller, redder, and sweeter tasting and smelling, these berries make jam so good that if you eat too much you feel like you may go into sugar shock. And so today I visited the Ashland Berry Farm to find the perfect strawberries.

On the down side, the Ashland Berry Farm isn't doing pick-your-own berries this year. On the upside, they've contracted for berries from other farms in the area to be brought in. I now have some of the sweetest berries ever, and my car smells fabulous from the flat of strawberries that drove home with me.

The Ashland Berry Farm was wonderful - nice people, a huge variety of plants, great advice to their customers - but just as wonderful was the drive from Richmond. As soon as I got off 95 North the light changed to that perfect evening glow - photographers' light. The air in Richmond is starting to smell like honeysuckle and things are blooming and growing faster than anyone can chop and mow them down. As someone who loves to drive with the windows down but rarely has time for pleasure trips, today was a true luxury.