Business

Chocolate-covered rum balls. Sliced duck on a bed of red quinoa. Chocolate ganache martinis with hints of Grand Marnier. Smoked gouda grits with shrimp. Is your mouth watering yet?That was just some of the cuisine sampled by locals and tourists at the Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association’s first public wine and food expo on Thursday night. Around 400 people packed into the Virginia Room at the Williamsburg Lodge to watch a cooking competition inspired by Food Network’s “Iron Chef.”

A serendipitous turn of events has reopened zPizza in New Town and provided a business opportunity to a couple who’d sought it unsuccessfully five years ago.

Remember when winning a promotion involved camping outside of businesses, participating in eating contests or creating crazy fan art? That day has passed now that social media has created another way for businesses to connect with fans.

Ukrop’s may be gone, but the new owner Martin’s wants to find out what loyal customers want.

Ask Matthew Meyer what he does for a living and he’ll give you a one-word answer: “Winemaker.”When pressed on what his job at Williamsburg Winery really entails, he admits it can be like any other management job: supervision, paperwork and meetings. But he isn’t often pressed for details; people are usually dazzled by the glamorous answer of “winemaker.”