We’re Throwing A Martini And Oyster Party (And Preparing Your Thanksgiving Dinner If You’d Like)

Lifestyle
Written By Nicole Jones

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. What other day has the ethos of gratitude, togetherness, and of course, delicious food and drinks?

Our restaurants have been producing sides and pies for Alexandria’s dinner tables for the last nine years so why would 2023 be any different? Oh yeah, because I closed Stomping Ground?! It felt strange this year to not offer our Stomping Ground favorites, even though we shuttered the location earlier this year. We have all the same cooks and recipes so at Mae’s Market and Cafe we will be offering Stomping Ground Biscuits, Scones, Hashbrown Casserole (we made it fancy and called it Potatoes Gratin), homemade pies and more! 

You can place your order online by Monday, November 20, and pick up these delectable sides and pies Tuesday and Wednesday - just in time for your Thanksgiving feast. The dishes come in reheatable containers, making it easy to warm and serve, so you can spend more quality time with loved ones and less time in the kitchen. Done and done. 

I was so excited to offer up our old favorites that we also decided we needed to throw a party to kick off the holiday season and to offer you an escape from Turkey and stuffing (and your in-laws). 

Virginia's Darling, the wine bar inside of Mae’s with a knack for creating memorable experiences, is elevating the rest of your Thanksgiving week with a unique popup event.  We are ditching our regular menu for a week of martinis, champagne flights, oysters, caviar and a few more fun surprises. This popup promises a luxurious and indulgent experience and provides the perfect setting for pre or post-Thanksgiving gatherings, festive date nights, or simply unwinding after a week rife with preparations.

We are truly excited to do everything we can to ensure your celebrations are special. Mae's Market and Cafe's sides and pies will simplify your Thanksgiving feast preparations and Virginia's Darling's martini, champagne, and oyster pop-up promises an indulgent experience that adds a touch of fun to your holiday celebrations. Don't miss out on these delightful offerings – place your orders for Mae’s here and make reservations here to ensure a memorable Thanksgiving week full of culinary delights and wonderful memories.

Nicole Jones

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Head Janitor, Chef, and Proprietor | Modest Bread

Nicole’s cooking style is rooted in, but not limited to, her love of southern biscuits and her diverse culinary upbringing. A military brat, she spent her childhood in the Chicago suburbs enjoying her great-grandmother Mae’s Lithuanian cooking. As a tween, she moved to Paulding County, Ga. where she begrudgingly fell in love with the charmingly perplex small towns of the Deep South. She fondly remembers grubbing on Martin’s biscuits, late-night Waffle House debauchery and cooking with her family. 

After graduating from the University of Georgia, Nicole started a marketing career at an art nonprofit in Atlanta. At 25 years old, she became the youngest executive at the local Atlanta NPR affiliate. Chasing her dreams, she moved to Alexandria, VA where she took a short post in the Whole Foods marketing department. Realizing that cooking had been her true love all along, she began night courses at L’Academie de Cuisine. She completed her apprenticeship at Blue Duck Tavern where she was promoted to a line cook after graduation. From there, Nicole worked as a private chef for busy Washington D.C. executives and their families.

As grown-ups tend to do, Nicole realized something about her childhood -- the best parts were enjoying small town communities, cooking with her great-grandmother and sharing meals with family and friends. She opened Stomping Ground (now Rubia’s) to build a safe and welcoming community around yummy, handmade food from local sources. As her first foray running her own kitchen, she has shamelessly hired better, smarter cooks to fill her kitchen and your bellies. 

Modest Bread is a collection of idiosyncratic neighborhood restaurants devoted to hospitality in Northern Virginia and includes Rubia’s, Bagel Uprising, Mae’s Market & Cafe, and Virginia’s Darling.

www.modestbread.com

2309 Mt Vernon Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22301

703.664.0445

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