Fall has always been my favorite season. I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that it contains both my birthday and my favorite holiday, Halloween. More than at any other time of year, the transition from summer to fall brings the back-to-school season, a perfect time for a fresh start, then soon… Read More “Life starts over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
School’s out and it’s time to explore. Living in Virginia, we’re lucky to have plenty to do in our home state – from beaches to mountains and from historic sites to theme parks to national parks. We also have Washington, DC on our doorstep, opening the door to plenty of cultural offerings. Want to do… Read More Summer Fun
If you happen to find yourself in Front Royal, like I did for work on Monday, do yourself a favor and stop at The Apple House. You’ll find plenty of Virginia-made barbecue sauces, jellies, jams, dips and snacks, as well as a full-service kitchen cooking up breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s a wide selection of… Read More The Apple House
Summer in Virginia is a time for festivals, and the best festivals celebrate the foods the Commonwealth is known for. Here are some of the best: *Gordonsville’s Famous Fried Chicken Festival – Saturday, May 20, 11 AM-5 PM, Gordonsville Fire Company Fairgrounds – Celebrate the “chicken-leg center of the universe” and Gordonsville’s long history of… Read More Summer Food Events in Virginia
In keeping with the craft beer trend, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg has opened a brand new “brauhaus” featuring 30 rotating craft beers on tap. This cozy spot is located inside “Das Festhaus” in Germany, and is tucked away at the back of the building, offering a quiet place to enjoy a craft beer or beer… Read More Busch Gardens Williamsburg Opens New Craft Bier Brauhaus
On New Year’s Day, I took my boys to my Granny and PawPaw’s house for our annual family ritual of eating black-eyed peas for good luck. My aunt brought some delicious spoonbread, and my kids raided the ever-present candy jar in the windowsill. When I took our dishes in the kitchen to put them in… Read More Transcribing my Granny’s cookbooks
I had been looking forward to Fire, Flour & Fork (“an event for the food curious”) for a ridiculously long time, and the event did not disappoint. FFF ’14 was a four-day culinary gathering celebrating the vibrant food culture and history of Richmond through a speaker series, themed lunches and dinners created by local and… Read More Fire, Flour & Fork ’14
Virginia has a long history of growing and cooking with apples, dating back at least to Thomas Jefferson. At Monticello, Jefferson grew many varieties, including his favorites: Hewes’ Crab and Taliaferro for cider production and Newtown Pippin and Esopus Spitzenburg for dessert fruits. An hour North of Monticello, Graves Mountain Lodge holds an annual Apple… Read More Apple Season
“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!” ~Humbert Wolfe Anyone who knows me knows that autumn is my favorite season. My birthday and my favorite holiday – Halloween – are both in October, and I adore sweatshirt weather. There are… Read More Fall Food History Events in Virginia
So in case you haven’t heard, on Sunday, September 28, some of Richmond’s best chefs and bartenders will be assembling at Historic Scotchtown in Hanover County to cook local meats and veggies over an open fire, and to share drinks, local wines and beers with what I’m sure will be an appreciative crowd. At Beast… Read More Come on out to Beast Feast 2014
Dogwood Dispatches 