WILDFLOUR RESTAURANT AND BAKERY
1212 4th St. SW, Roanoke, Virginia
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays)
Welcome, friends, to a new feature here at The Kitchen Recessionista! I’ve wanted to launch this for a long time, and the day has finally arrived. LeeLee and I travel a fair amount and come across some great restaurants on our journeys; I’ve always wanted to share our favorites with you! As this list grows, there will be a dedicated part of the site devoted to them; I hope these recommendations help you out on your own travels!
Up first: A perennial favorite of ours, Wildflour Restaurant and Bakery in Roanoke, Va.
LeeLee and I first stumbled on this restaurant years ago, on our first visit to Roanoke, and like a fine wine, it’s only improved with time. When visiting a new city for the first time, we usually use HappyCow.net to point us in the right direction, but this time around we stumbled on Wildflour within the pages of the Hotel Roanoke’s visitor’s guide, mentioned as a spot for fresh vegetarian fare. (And to add insult to injury, HappyCow didn’t have a word to say about Wildflour! – until I wrote an entry, that is. Hee!)
Now, Wildflour isn’t a veg-only establishment, and that’s perfectly fine with us, because what they do have in the way of meat-free fare is amazingly comprehensive and delicious. From entrees to salads to sandwiches to appetizers – and, yes, wonderfully decadent desserts – you’re sure not to leave with a growling stomach.
But before you even open your menu, you’ll see you’re in a special place. The open dining room exudes comfort from the moment you set foot inside; the servers are warm and hospitable, either making sure your food hustles to you if you’re on your lunch break or allowing you ample time to sit and chat if you’re ready to relax awhile. Original art decorates the walls; fresh-baked cakes beckon from the dessert case. It’s a place to kick back and take a breath, this Wildflour.
One of Wildflour’s very best offerings is Evie’s Red Beans and Rice, a bean-and-brown-rice concoction served with cheese (if you like) and onions, and bread on the side. As a Southerner born-and-bred, to say this is a taste of home is the understatement of the decade. The flavors are on point, piquant and comforting all at once.
Looking for something in sandwich form? You could do much worse than the Millet Grain Burger, which is a Wildflour original that stands the test of culinary time. Hearty and spicy, this homemade patty comes with a dash of cayenne pepper and a secret sauce that will have you begging for the recipe.
It would be a shame to come all the way to Wildflour and not enjoy a dessert – it is a bakery, after all. Their cakes rotate with the times, but you really can’t go wrong; LeeLee and I make the pilgrimage at least once a year and have yet to be disappointed. Or if you’re on the go, take a couple of cookies on your quest for the ultimate in on-the-road decadence.
:)