That’s not usually the easiest question to field, but lucky for me I have some recent reference material on hand to help me weed through the many, many wonderful places in Richmond to eat.

The first place to start is Style Weekly‘s most recent issue, with their annual State of the Plate issue.  I have read through the issue and it’s worth going through the whole thing, rather than having me point out just an article or two that I would suggest.  The magazine not only gives a rundown of the best of the best, but it has a number of other restaurant-related articles that will give any foodie in Richmond a warm fuzzy feeling. 

(And Nate’s Taco Truck is featured in one of the side pictures throughout the issue.  I had forgotten about this gem that I had the pleasure of running into down at First Fridays a few months ago.  Incredible!  I highly suggest you take any chance you get to have one of Nate’s tacos.)

There is a great analysis of the issue and the Top 50 results posted at the804.com from yesterday.
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On the subject of food and restaurants, there is a new food festival that will highlight local chefs and local foods.  "Broad Appetit" will be held on May 18th from noon to 5:00pm on the 100-300 blocks of West Broad Street.

Here are a couple of blurbs from the official press release (which can be found here) that I thought best described the new event in a nutshell:

The first annual Broad Appétit Food Festival will feature Richmond’s
favorite food purveyors, restaurants, chefs, cart vendors and artisans.
The event is free to the public and is designed to feed one’s mind,
soul and body with an eclectic mix of crafts and art, offerings from
twenty of Richmond’s favorite chefs, and a huge kid’s area complete
with original food-related entertainment and cool activities.
…
  Renowned author and food revolution leader, Joel Salatin from Virginia’s own Polyface Farms, Inc. will be on hand to discuss the Polyface founding principle that
the ultimate safe and secure food supply is the one growing in your own
community. Joel was excited to be involved in this inaugural event
stating "celebrating local food and its answers to food fears, this
event applauds relationships between good producers, culinary artists,
and integrity food aficionados."

If you are ready to not only experience some of the area’s most talented and well-known chefs, but also open your food horizons (yummy bugs!), then put this event on your calendar.

Thanks to Richmond Food Collective for the tip on this one!
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And one last minute bit of news: Style Weekly’s restaurant critic, Brandon Fox, will be on WRVA 1140-AM, on Doc Thompson’s radio show at 4pm today (Thursday).  Sorry for the late notice, but I just saw the news about it a moment ago.