Wine Rep Michael Smith on his best Richmond day ever
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RIchmond's own Michael Smith. Image: Courtesy of RK Lorde
We're back with another installment of our series, Best Day Ever, highlighting how awesome locals spend their perfect Richmond day.
The big picture: This time, we chatted with Michael Smith, a local wine rep and fixture in the Richmond dining scene for the last decade.
- You probably best know Smith from his stints running local restaurants like Laura Lee's, The Roosevelt and Amuse before he headed into the wine world full-time at Common House, and now as a rep with Native Selections.
The intrigue: His latest venture is "30 Days of Rosé," a month-long Instagram series that's part local talk show, part celebration of rosé, the blush-colored wine style that Smith calls "summer's favorite beverage."
- The series returned this month after a five-year hiatus. Catch it daily through June on his Insta and meet different locals.
Here's Smith's best Richmond day ever:
🐕 I wake up relatively early these days, around 7am, and take my little dog for a walk in the neighborhood for about 45 minutes first thing. After showering, I pack up the wines that I'll plan on showing that day around town.
🌯 Breakfast: I'll head to The Smoky Mug for their breakfast burrito and a cappuccino. I live in the Northside, and I love the outdoor space/patio at Smoky Mug in the mornings, and will spend a little bit of time getting my day organized with emails, etc.
🥪 Lunchtime: Usually something quick, as the height of my workdays falls around lunch-time. But there's plenty of options! If I'm not snagging a quick sandwich from Shields Market in the Fan, I might be peeping the grab-n-go at any of the Stella's Grocery locations.
- But this is what I do in Richmond, when I'm on the go. Just the other day in Staunton, I popped into the Chicano Boy Taco shop and had a fantastic and quick couple tacos with excellent guac and salsa.
- I love that my job puts me in regions outside of Richmond so I can see what's happening elsewhere.
🤐 Afternoon activity: Sometimes I play hooky from my appointments and float around in my saltwater pool, but I can't tell you where that is.
🍕 Dinner happens after my order cut-off time of 6pm. I'm either making something small at home, or I might find myself at Pizza Bones enjoying whatever the weekly special pie is!
- I'm usually sick of wine by that point, but if I'm feeling like I want a beverage, I'll pop into the Emerald Lounge for a daiquiri or some other fun rum drink. Who doesn't love a tiki-drink??!
🪩 Evening activity: I'm an old man these days, and usually am in bed before 10pm. But on the random night that I'm out and about the town, you can bet I'm starting out at Bamboo Café drinking a Cape Cod.
- And if you get me really fired up, I might convince you to go dancing with me at Babe's of Carytown. Look out!