Tuesday's Taste: Wedding ideas

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - We talked all things wedding ideas with our favorite foodie, Patrick Evans-Hylton in this week's Tuesday's Taste.

Many restaurants in Hampton Roads are noted for their jewel-box size and intimacy, but a new trend seems to be adding additional space, not necessarily to increase the number of diners on a regular night, but for special dinners like during the holidays, or for banquet rental.

In the spirit of Wedding Week here on The Hampton Roads Show, here is some information about two of the newest additions to local restaurants.

At Zoes Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Virginia Beach, the Napa Room has opened. It is a large private dining room that can accommodate 30 people on one large, double wide table, or function as a second dining room that holds six extra tables.

There is a large flat-screen television which plugs into computers (great for sharing photos and videos). Tinted pocket doors makes the space completely private. A new lounge area also opened, just outside the Napa Room, for gathering in comfortable leather chairs and ottomans.

At La Bella in Ghent, a dining room adjacent to the restaurant has also opened principally for private functions, and can accommodate more than 12 dozen folks.

Zoes Steak & Seafood is at 713 19th St., Virginia Beach. Call 757-437-3636.

La Bella in Ghent is at 738 W. 22nd St., Norfolk. Call 757-622-6172.

WINE – BY DESIGN

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) hosts its 22nd annual Wine By Design on Feb. 22 as a fundraiser for the center. The theme this year is Sparkle! to celebrate the museum’s exhibit, Out of the Box: Trends in Contemporary Jewelry.

The evening features food prepared by local chefs, along accompanying wines. Live entertainment and a silent auction are also featured.  There will be an after party at Catch 31 at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, starting at 10 p.m.

Tickets are $50 for MOCA members, and $55 for non-members.

Planning a wedding? This is a great chance to go around and sample cuisine from a number of restaurants when thinking about finding a venue for a rehearsal dinner, caterer, or a place to take out-of-town guests.

For tickets and more information, click here .

THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

There are way more things to do with a Girl Scout cookie than just dunk in milk.

The fifth annual Samoa Soiree, a benefit for the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, gets under way Feb. 23 from 6-10 p.m. at The Mariners Museum in Newport News.

Top chefs in the area grab a box – or two – of their favorite Girl Scout cookis and craft unique appetizers and desserts; samples are de rigeur as the culinarians vie for an assortment of critics’ and people’s choice awards.

The evening also features hors d’oeuvres, adult beverages, live music, and a silent auction.

Thinking about the theme of Wedding Week, you could find inspiration here for either dishes at the reception, or a fabulous food favor. 

For tickets and more information, click here.

A TASTE-FUL EVENT TO FIGHT HUNGER

Taste of Hampton Roads, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia’s annual charity event, takes place March 5 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

This is the 24th annual Taste, which features sampling of food from more than two-dozen area eateries. There is also a pre-event VIP fete.

Event organizers say Taste of Hampton Roads is a primary fundraiser for the group, which this year has a goal to help hundreds of local agencies including church pantries and area Kids’ Cafes to disburse or prepare and serve some 1 million meals to those in need. Tickets are priced at $75 for general admission.

As with the Wine By Design event, if you are planning a wedding, this is a great chance to go around and sample cuisine from a number of restaurants when thinking about finding a venue for a rehearsal dinner, caterer, or a place to take out-of-town guests.
 
For tickets and more information, click here .

IRON CHEF, WILLIAMBURG STYLE

The Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association (WARA) Iron Chef/Wine & Food Expo returns to the colonial capital on March 7 at the Colonial Heritage community.

Nine local chefs battle it out in an Iron Chef-style competition amid a backdrop of heavy hors d’oeuvres from five Williamsburg restaurants and some 50 wines from around the world.

As with the Wine By Design event, if you are planning a wedding, this is a great chance to go around and sample cuisine from a number of restaurants when thinking about finding a venue for a rehearsal dinner, caterer, or a place to take out-of-town guests.

For more information, contact WARA or call 757-221-6835.

NEW ON THE CUISINE SCENE

The last time I was here we talked about Chef Bobby Huber and his new restaurant, Braise, which is anticipated to open in the early spring.

But there are lots of other restaurants that have either opened in the last few months, or will open soon, and here is a run-down of the delicious, ever-changing cuisine scene of Hampton Roads.

In the theme of Wedding