Montana Gold, Belmont Butchery, Bombolini: Shopping! (Richmond,VA)

Sometimes, I don’t get the chance to go out to eat. This is usually because I simply have far too much television watching to catch up on. These shows will not watch themselves. Of course, restaurants frown upon me bringing in my laptop to watch tv on, so I am forced to dine at home. Luckily for me, not only does my home coop of Richmond, VA have plenty of good restaurants, but also quite a few pretty sweet food shops. So I figure, every once in a while, I should let you in on some good places.

I’ll start off with probably my favorite. In Carytown, there is an awesome little bakery called Montana Gold Bread Company. This place cranks out fresh made buns, cookies, rolls, loaves, granola, and all things rich in breadly goodness. As soon as you walk in to the tiny front area, you are hit with a fresh bakery smell that will make you instantly hungry. You can also get fresh made sandwiches there for lunch. They are pretty damn big sandwiches too. There is a frequently changing selection, with a few popular regulars. My favorite are the oatmeal cookies (they are giant), the garlic knot rolls, and the turkey club. If your ever around Carytown, step inside, you’ll love it.

Right outside of Carytown, on Belmont St, is Belmont Butchery. Like Montana Gold, this is a little place with a small front counter. There are of course many standard meat selections here, and a few rarer options, the elk and lamb are delicious. If you are looking to have a fine meal at home, you can’t go wrong with a few steaks from here. They also have a charcuterie and cheese plate area. Come here if you want snacks for a really classy home party. Oh, also, go to Montana Gold and get the Cinnamon Bread, and make French toast out of it. Combine that with some fresh cut Pepper Bacon from Belmont, and you have you’re self a breakfast fit for kings.

A newer place that I have grown to love is Bombolini, on Main Street. This is an Italian pasta and wine shop. I don’t think there is a dine-in option, but they will prepare dishes there for you (like spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken parmigiana). The main attraction however, appears to be the focus on authenticity. I actually grew up in Italy and I can say that as far as pasta, this is as close to real deal Italian as anyone has come around these parts. They have pretty much every variety of pasta you could expect, all freshly made. Along with pasta, they also have local made olive oils, and a fairly large wine selection. You could just come here for a one stop shop for a fantastic Italian dinner at home.

I think if I was forced to stay at home all day, I wouldn’t mind at all if I could go to these places for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are many other little places that are worth a trip, but these stuck with me first. Have a visit there, and I’m sure you’ll become regulars too.

* By the way, I stole the first 3 pictures from the internet. Finders keepers!