Table Talk: Tobacco Company celebrates 32nd anniversary

To many Richmonders, it's the go-to place to take visitors, while for others, The Tobacco Company has been a mainstay in their dining lives for decades.

The Shockoe Slip restaurant (1201 E. Cary St.) is celebrating its 32nd anniversary this summer and offering guests a specially priced anniversary meal and monthly wine tastings.

The wine tastings, held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month through August, cost $10 per person and include light hors d'oeuvres.

The three-course dinner arranged by chef David Mussi is $77 per couple; entrée choices include prime rib, crab cakes, chicken and salmon.

To view the complete menu, visit http://www.thetobaccocompany.com (under "Upcoming Events").

For details or reservations, call (804) 782-9555.

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Throughout today, local Panera locations will give away samples of the new Chopped Cobb and Strawberry Poppyseed salads, as well as summer frozen beverages: Strawberry Smoothie, Frozen Mocha and Frozen Lemonade.

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Maggiano's Little Italy wants to groom little chefs. On Saturday at 10 a.m., the restaurant in Short Pump Town Center (11800 W. Broad St.) will offer a cooking class for children ages 6-12.

Kids will learn from Maggiano's executive chef how to prepare a lasagna dinner.

The cost is $20 per child, plus tax and gratuity.

Call (804) 253-0916 to reserve a spot.

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If you're craving an iced coffee and don't want to deal with being served, 7-Eleven stores now carry self-serve French Vanilla and Mocha flavors of the iced java.

In other frosty beverage news, Chick-fil-A has a peach milkshake on its menu through Aug. 22.

And, if you're really abandoning the calorie counting, prepare for Dairy Queen's July Blizzard of the Month: Girl Scouts Tagalongs Peanut Butter Patties. And in August, you'll get to dive into a Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard. This is the second year Dairy Queen has teamed with Girl Scouts of the USA.

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On Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m., Gibson's Grill (700 E. Broad St.) will offer food and drink specials.

A portion of drink sales and cash donations at the bar will benefit the Richmond SPCA.

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Congrats to CaryTown Teas for winning two first-place awards at the World Tea Expo held recently in Las Vegas.

The Rouge D'afrique, created by owner Patricia Guillouard Adams, won for "Best Overall Blend" and "Best Iced Tea Blend."

Judges based their selections on the highest-quality and best-tasting teas available commercially in North America.

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Now open at 7304 Staples Mill Road is Subs & More, a family-owned restaurant featuring homemade soups, gyros, salads and Philly cheesesteaks.

For details, call (804) 266-8917.

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Acacia Midtown (2601 W. Cary St.) has opened its outdoor seating area.

Reservations can be made by calling (804) 562-0138. Requests for outside dining will be honored for reservations until 6:30 p.m.; after that, it's first-come, first-served, with reservations getting priority.

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Bogart's in the Fan (1903 W. Cary St.) has brought back live music and karaoke.

On Mondays, the restaurant will host karaoke from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., and on Tuesdays, Open Mic Night will be at the same time.

If you have a tip for Table Talk, call (804) 649-6120 or e-mail . The deadline to receive items is noon Friday one week before publication.