Weekly Food News: Casa Del Barco sails west, Dogtown Brewing Co.’s forthcoming menu, erase your library fines with a donation, and more

All the news that’s fit to eat

Casa Del Barco opening soon at Short Pump Town Center – HOUSEpitality Group, the folks behind The Boathouse and Casa Del Barco, will open their second Casa location, bringing the Mexican flavors of their Canal Walk restaurant downtown to Short Pump Town Center. No opening date has been publicly announced, but we hear it will be very soon (in fact we’re headed to preview the soon-to-be-completed space Thursday morning). The 8,400-square-foot restaurant takes over the space formerly occupied by Tara Thai and will feature upscale decor, a private dining area, and an open-air rooftop tequileria where patrons can choose from a menu of 200 tequilas and mezcals. The second location of Casa del Barco will offer a similar menu to the original, featuring Mexican cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients and inventive cocktails. Read our article announcing the location from back in February here.

Blaze Pizza now open in Innsbrook – A fast casual pizza chain’s second Richmond area location is firing up in Glen Allen. Blaze Pizza opened in Innsbrook this past weekend at 4101 Dominion Boulevard in a newly-constructed outparcel building in front of The Shoppes at Innsbrook. The concept offers nine signature pizzas, a build-your-own option, and a selection of salads. Everything is made to order. The company’s first Richmond location is in Midlothian. Read more here.

Richmond’s next brewery will feature all sorts of snacks and entrées – Husband and wife team Michael C. Hild & Laura Dyer Hild own both are at it again. The pair behind $4 million in investments in Manchester (including the forthcoming Butterbean and Hot Diggity Donuts concepts) have announced plans for Dogtown Brewing Co. at 1209 Hull Street. Beyond beer, though (the details of which you can read in our RVA Beer Explorer) you can expect everything from small bites to larger plates–a rarity in the Richmond brewing scene. Expect everything from oysters and soups to pupusas, burgers, and ribs when the new spot opens in late 2018 or early 2019. Richard Hayes has the scoop here.

A rundown of some of Richmond’s best smoked fish – Would you buy smoked fish from a barbecue place attached to an auto shop? Dina Weinstein, writing for Richmond Magazine, says don’t overlook it! She names TD’s Smokehouse in the West End as one of the area’s best spots for the dish, popular at holiday tables. Restaurants such as Southbound, Heritage, and Perly’s are also named among the roundup. I can personally attest that Perly’s fish board is probably one of the best in town. Check it all out here.

All is forgiven at the Library of Virginia if you donate to FeedMore – It happens to the best of us. If you’ve been avoiding the Library of Virginia because you haven’t returned books or other materials, take heart: a donation of canned foods to FeedMore means all will be forgiven, according to their Facebook page. Just bring canned foods, not money, and your fines will vanish into thin air. If only this worked with credit card debt! Get all the details here.

Donate to Pasture’s annual foster care holiday gift drive – Speaking of donations, the good folks at Pasture, led by Michele Jones, are once again collecting items for kids in Central Virginia’s foster care system. Drop off everything from essentials like hats, scarves and gloves to toiletries, toys, and clothes to the restaurant at 416 E. Grace Street by December 17th. All gifts must be new and unwrapped. Details here.

This week’s restaurant reviews

• Garnett’s at The Valentine (Richmond Times-Dispatch)