Michele Wilson did not grow up in Virginia, but she has roots in the Commonwealth. Wilson, who owns Ma Michele's Cafe in Midlothian, shared her life story on the "Eat It, Virginia!" podcast. Learn about Wilson's upbringing, her food, her commitment to her community, and her restaurant staff.

"They're the best investment I've ever made," she said. "It may sound cliche, but if you're smart and you want to be successful, then you need to take care of the people that are taking care of you. And that's not necessarily always the customer first. It's your employees first. And with my being a small, minority business, I can't compete with larger businesses and what they can offer their employees. So you know, you damn well better be nicer."

Ma Michele's Cafe is located at 10811 Hull Street Road in Midlothian. Call 804-912-1644 to order lunch or dinner.

Michele Wilson did not grow up in Virginia, but she has roots in the Commonwealth. Wilson, who owns <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mamicheles/">Ma Michele's Cafe</a> in Midlothian, shared her life story on the "Eat It, Virginia!" podcast. Learn about Wilson's upbringing, her food, her commitment to her community, and her restaurant staff.
"They're the best investment I've ever made," she said. "It may sound cliche, but if you're smart and you want to be successful, then you need to take care of the people that are taking care of you. And that's not necessarily always the customer first. It's your employees first. And with my being a small, minority business, I can't compete with larger businesses and what they can offer their employees. So you know, you damn well better be nicer."
Ma Michele's Cafe is located at 10811 Hull Street Road in Midlothian. Call 804-912-1644 to order lunch or dinner.

Eat It, Virginia! is a deep dive into the food, restaurants, and dining trends of Richmond, Virginia and spots around the Commonwealth. 

Eat It, Virginia! is a deep dive into the food, restaurants, and dining trends of Richmond, Virginia and spots around the Commonwealth.

Eat It, Virginia!

Michele Wilson:  Ma Michele's Cafe

David Whitby, owner of Shoreline Seafood Market, discussed his journey from his parents starting Yellow Umbrella to his new venture Shoreline -- a seafood market and a 10-seat restaurant for special dinners.

Whitby emphasized the importance of sourcing high-quality seafood globally and shared tips for new seafood cooks who might be intimidated to prepare seafood at home.

Robey and Scott also discussed the state of service at Richmond-area restaurants. Slide into their DMs to tell them which restaurants always deliver the goods.

Shoreline Seafood Market

10614 Patterson Avenue

Henrico, Va. 23238

David Whitby, owner of <a href="https://www.shorelinerva.com/">Shoreline Seafood Market</a>, discussed his journey from his parents starting Yellow Umbrella to his new venture Shoreline -- a seafood market and a 10-seat restaurant for special dinners.
Whitby emphasized the importance of sourcing high-quality seafood globally and shared tips for new seafood cooks who might be intimidated to prepare seafood at home.
Robey and Scott also discussed the state of service at Richmond-area restaurants. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eatitvirginia/">Slide into their DMs</a> to tell them which restaurants always deliver the goods.
<a href="https://www.shorelinerva.com/">Shoreline Seafood Market</a>
10614 Patterson Avenue
Henrico, Va. 23238

David Whitby: Shoreline Seafood Market

When you think of Virginia's finest food and drink, you might think of Virginia ham, Virginia oysters, and Virginia wine. But Marshall Rabil suggests Virginia peanuts should be atop that list. Rabil should know a thing or two about peanuts. (36:35)

His grandparents, Dot and HJ Hubbard, started Hubbard Peanut Company, which you may now know as Hubs, in Sedley, Virginia, back in 1954. (21:07)

Rabil shared his family's peanut story with Scott and Robey, plus shared details about the upcoming Homegrown Harvest Festival he helped create as a showcase for restaurants and food purveyors in that part of Virginia. (50:11)

"I've been in Charleston, New York, I think Richmond is really growing as a food destination. I think it's going to be known as one of the greatest places to eat in the country. It's slow. I mean, the restaurant scene has popped off, but I don't think that Tidewater, Virginia gets the credit that it deserves as the culinary destination with the bounty of ingredients that we have from the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean and all of our farms and the farmers that are raising animals sustainably," he said. "So I always wanted to work with chefs and bring a party to Southampton County and Franklin. And so last year we created this festival to benefit the Food Bank and the CROP Foundation. And this year we've kind of expanded it."

Click here for ticket and schedule information.

Other topics discussed on this episode of Eat It, Virginia include:


A new bagel place in Richmond (2:30)


The opening of Toast at Scott’s Walk (5:10)


Gelati Celesti Turns 40 (6:25)


The opening of Southern Kitchen at Stony Point Fashion Park (10:40)


The thought process behind Richmond restaurants offering (or not offering) reservations (11:40)

When you think of Virginia's finest food and drink, you might think of Virginia ham, Virginia oysters, and Virginia wine. But Marshall Rabil suggests Virginia peanuts should be atop that list. Rabil should know a thing or two about peanuts. (36:35)
His grandparents, Dot and HJ Hubbard, started Hubbard Peanut Company, which you may now know as Hubs, in Sedley, Virginia, back in 1954. (21:07)
Rabil shared his family's peanut story with Scott and Robey, plus shared details about the upcoming <a href="https://www.homegrownharvestva.com/">Homegrown Harvest Festival</a> he helped create as a showcase for restaurants and food purveyors in that part of Virginia. (50:11)
"I've been in Charleston, New York, I think Richmond is really growing as a food destination. I think it's going to be known as one of the greatest places to eat in the country. It's slow. I mean, the restaurant scene has popped off, but I don't think that Tidewater, Virginia gets the credit that it deserves as the culinary destination with the bounty of ingredients that we have from the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean and all of our farms and the farmers that are raising animals sustainably," he said. "So I always wanted to work with chefs and bring a party to Southampton County and Franklin. And so last year we created this festival to benefit the Food Bank and the CROP Foundation. And this year we've kind of expanded it."
<a href="https://www.homegrownharvestva.com/festival-details">Click here for ticket and schedule information</a>.
Other topics discussed on this episode of Eat It, Virginia include:
<ul>
<li>
A new bagel place in Richmond (2:30)
</li>
<li>
The opening of Toast at Scott’s Walk (5:10)
</li>
<li>
Gelati Celesti Turns 40 (6:25)
</li>
<li>
The opening of Southern Kitchen at Stony Point Fashion Park (10:40)
</li>
<li>
The thought process behind Richmond restaurants offering (or not offering) reservations (11:40)
</li>
</ul>

Marshall Rabil: Hubbard Peanut Company

Restaurant owner, entrepreneur, media personality, and community cheerleader Kelli Lemon wears many hats in Richmond, Virginia.

On this episode of "Eat It, Virginia," Kelli shared why she decided to open Urban Hang Suite in downtown Richmond and what that experience has taught her about life, business, and the city she calls home.

"Kendra [Feather] is the reason Hang Suite is open," Lemon said. "Creative Mornings, I think it was January 2017. My topic was a question mark, it was like a mystery. I was like, I'm looking for this thing, that's kind of a hangout, where people could talk to each other, but it's not a restaurant, it could be a cafe. And I think it was Anne Marie that yelled out, "Do it!" It was either Kendra or Anne Marie. And then the next day, Kendra called me. It was like, I want to show you this space."

In addition to Urban Hang Suite, Kelli talked about her roles at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, the Art of Noise, and the birth of her podcast Coffee with Strangers.

Here are some links to other things mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about RVA Wing Wars here.

Learn more about the Art of Noise here.

This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and its new exhibit Julia Child: A Recipe For Life.

This episode is sponsored by Project Birdie.

Restaurant owner, entrepreneur, media personality, and community cheerleader Kelli Lemon wears many hats in Richmond, Virginia.
On this episode of "Eat It, Virginia," Kelli shared why she decided to open <a href="https://www.urbanhangsuiterva.com/menu">Urban Hang Suite</a> in downtown Richmond and what that experience has taught her about life, business, and the city she calls home.
"Kendra [Feather] is the reason Hang Suite is open," Lemon said. "Creative Mornings, I think it was January 2017. My topic was a question mark, it was like a mystery. I was like, I'm looking for this thing, that's kind of a hangout, where people could talk to each other, but it's not a restaurant, it could be a cafe. And I think it was Anne Marie that yelled out, "Do it!" It was either Kendra or Anne Marie. And then the next day, Kendra called me. It was like, I want to show you this space."
In addition to Urban Hang Suite, Kelli talked about her roles at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the <a href="https://rbre365.com/">Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, </a>the Art of Noise, and the birth of her podcast <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Coffeewithstrangersrva">Coffee with Strangers</a>.
Here are some links to other things mentioned in this episode:
Learn more about <a href="https://www.bluebeecider.com/facebook-event/rva-wing-wars/">RVA Wing Wars here</a>.
Learn more about the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ArtOfNoiseRVA/">Art of Noise here</a>.
This episode is sponsored by the Virginia Museum of History &amp; Culture and its new exhibit <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://virginiahistory.org/exhibitions/julia-child-recipe-life__;!!FJkDyvWmnr4!fllLxCj6dL4Au0Ae_ueH4RhHLbaMvbnlV8O5QxICXa9Y3o46-6evYk_Nbk54pXOHUmPS8o1Ybrxbje5ktdww$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Julia Child: A Recipe For Life</a>.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://project-birdie.com/">Project Birdie</a>.

Michele Wilson: Ma Michele's Cafe

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