A grand opening will be held beginning at 9 a.m. Monday for The Holistic Kitchen, a new business in the Norge Crossing shopping center that offers classes in cooking and nutrition. Owner Sophia Shepherd is a former caterer who also worked for 17 years as the cafeteria manager at Jamestown High School.
“I’ve always loved cooking and dreamed of owning my own business,” she said. “I created this idea of a teaching kitchen to teach and inspire and bring something a little different to Williamsburg for people to love.”
Shepherd became a nutrition consultant two years ago and plans to incorporate her expertise in with her cooking classes and workshops. The Holistic Kitchen offers daily courses for kids, teens and adults covering various topics, including foundations of holistic nutrition, balanced meal planning, mindful ingredients, hands-on cooking techniques and food as medicine philosophy.
“The Holistic Kitchen will teach you how to create meals that support your overall well-being and health, whether you are a beginner or seasoned home cook,” she said.
Shepherd also plans to collaborate with local farms and farmers markets to educate about the benefits of using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
“I want to teach people how to shop at the markets, how to prepare the things they see at the markets and how to cook with vegetables they may not be familiar with,” she said. “I am excited. I want this to be a place that is enjoyable and comfortable for people, just like their kitchen at home.”
Virtual classes will also soon be available. The Holistic Kitchen is located at 7500-A Richmond Road adjacent to Elite Coffee. For more information, visit theholistic-kitchen.com.
New dirty soda popup opening this summer
Dirty Sippin LLC, a new dirty soda popup venture, is slated to open in the area in June. The new business is operated by Williamsburg native Hayley Lowry, who was looking to serve fun drinks other than coffee.
“I’m going to be specializing in many different flavors of dirty soda, which is our everyday soda we all know and love, but mixed with extra things such as syrups, creamers, cold foams and much more to give your drink a more fun and elevated experience,” Lowry said.
One of Lowry’s signature drinks will be the Shark Attack — Sprite mixed with strawberry puree, blue raspberry syrup and creamer. “The drink not only looks really cool but it tastes amazing as well.”
Sugar and dairy free options will also be available. For more information, visit Dirty Sippin on Facebook.
Center Street Grill in New Town permanently closing
After more than two decades in business, Center Street Grill in New Town is permanently closing. The restaurant is owned and operated by Jacx Ramos, who ran the business with her husband, Eric Ramos, and business partner Michael Jeo.
“As we close this chapter, we are incredibly grateful for the support of our guests, staff and community over the years,” Jacx Ramos shared in a news release. “Center Street Grill has been our life for the last 20 years. It’s always been about bringing people together, and we look forward to celebrating that one last time.”
The restaurant will host a farewell event on May 9 with live music by Identity Crisis beginning at 3 p.m. The property, located at 501 Center St., is up for sale.
WARA launches new ‘WARA’s Eras’ Campaign
Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association has launched a new, interactive way to explore local restaurants. Now through June 12, diners can experience food through the “WARA’s Eras” initiative, based on the notion that everyone goes through “eras” of what they are craving.
According to a release, “One week it’s BBQ. The next, brunch. Then suddenly, it’s seafood. WARA’s Eras taps into this familiar feeling, encouraging diners to explore participating restaurants based on mood, cuisine and experience.”
WARA member restaurants will be categorized by theme to create an easy way for guests to discover new favorites or revisit beloved establishments, said Rachel Sears, executive director of WARA.
“WARA’s Eras is all about making dining out feel fun, social and a little adventurous,” she said. “It gives people a reason to try something new while celebrating the incredible variety we have here in Williamsburg.”
Visit Williamsburg is collaborating with WARA on the new program. For more information, visit wara757.com.
Brandy Centolanza, becentolanza@cox.net