Weekly Food News: Farmers market guide, rooftop beers, The Boathouse heads to Hopewell and more

Where to get the best local produce and more

It’s farmers market season, and while South of the James Market–which is celebrating its first decade this spring–is the big player in town, there are a handful of lesser known, more boutiquey markets in the metro area. No matter whether you’re in search of fresh local veggies, handmade jewelry and crafts, or just a good local meal from an area food truck, Casey Quinlan, writing for Richmond Magazine, has you covered.

Check out her roundup here.

The Boathouse sets sail for Hopewell

The fourth location of The Boathouse (the sixth, if you count owner HOUSEpitality Group’s two Casa Del Barco locations) is set to open soon in Hopewell. Owner Kevin Healy lead media on a tour of the forthcoming location at the fork of the James and Appomattox Rivers earlier this week. The restaurant is part of the city’s $6 million riverfront redevelopment project and features plenty of indoor, outdoor, and private dining. Oh, and the signature water views the restaurant is known for, too.

Karri Peifer has all the details on (and photos from) the forthcoming restaurant here.

Beer, sausages, and pretzels on the roof–prost!

The Hof Garden, the new Bavarian rooftop concept from Carter and Annie Snipes and partner Bobby Kruger, officially opens to the public tonight. I went and checked the space out on Monday night. The menu includes three kinds of sausages, barbecue, sauerkraut, and potatoes–all of which can be ordered in combination trays known as “U-Boats,” plus a selection of local and German beers. There’s a taproom on the first level of the building along with the rooftop space, which has been upgraded with more seating, umbrellas, and a trellis since last summer’s event series. The opening event, which is more or less sold out, begins at 5:30 PM tonight. But fear not–you can get in on the action Wednesdays through Fridays after work, and the popular Sunsets at the Hof series will begin again this Thursday, May 4th as well.

Get the full scoop on The Hof Garden here.

Kings Dominion to host “Taste of Virginia” festival beginning this weekend

Kings Dominion has announced a new weekend event series, “Taste of Virginia,” in which you can sample some of the best the Commonwealth has to offer, from crabcakes and oysters to Smithfield ham and cheese empanadas. The event is open to all park guests on weekends from May 6th through the 21st, but you can also purchase “tokens” to enjoy larger sample sizes and a wider selection of food and drinks.

Get hooked up with all the details right here.