Photo courtesy Leaping Waters Farm on Facebook.

Leaping Waters Farm in Elliston is throwing a huge event at 3 p.m. on Sunday that they’re calling “Feast in the Fields.”

The farm, which sits on 800 acres, will provide half of a steer, three pigs, a lamb and geese for the local food event. The meat will be roasted over open fires in the field. Beer and wine will be for sale and live music will be happening all day.

Some talented chefs will be on site supervising the cooking. They include Food and Wine’s Best New Chef 2011, James Lewis of Bettola and Vittoria Macelleria in Birmingham, AL; Colin Donnelly of The Red Hen in Lexington, VA, Jason Alley from Pasture and Comfort in Richmond; David Brewer from the Imperial Life and Table Restaurant in Asheville, NC; Tanya Cauthen from the Belmont Butchery in Richmond. Local chefs participating include Josh Lebreque and Nate Sloan from Local Roots in Roanoke.

This is going to be another event that proves a lot of chefs these days are drawn to the promise of open fields, big fires and whole animals.

In addition to the food, music and alcohol, there will be non-alcoholic beverages, swimming, fishing and pony rides. Children are welcome, as are designated drivers.

Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for kids ages 13 to 18, $15 for kids ages 5 to 12, free for kids under the age of 5. VIP tickets for $100 apiece will get you early admission, a meet-and-greet with chefs, a farm tour and a farm t-shirt.

For more information or to buy tickets, click here or email leapingwatersfarmfest@gmail.com.

Walter Scheib

Former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib will return to Southwest Virginia later this month to cook at The Chef’s Table, a fundraising dinner for the Summer Feeding & Reading program and the YMCA’s Physical Education program at Forest Park Academy.

Scheib cooked a similar dinner for the YMCA in May 2011 and has cooked guest dinners at The Palisades Restaurant in Eggleston several times. Apparently, he likes our area!

This month’s fundraising dinner will take place May 18 at McVitty Manor in Salem and will feature four courses inspired by some of the favorite dishes of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Scheib served as White House Chef during both presidents’ terms. He will be assisted behind the scenes by local chefs and students from the Culinary Institute at Virginia Western.

Here is the menu:

- Crab, Corn and Yukon Gold Potato Chowder
- Pepper Smoked Beef Tenderloin with Green Chile and Hominy Casserole
- Roasted Beets and Organic Greens with Herbed Feta Cheese
- Espresso “Jolt” & Double Chocolate Ice Creams with Banana Compote

During the dinner, Scheib will also entertain guests with tales of his time in the White House kitchen. Scheib now has his own company, The American Chef, through which he tours the country and does dinners like this.

Tickets to the event are $250 per person or $2,000 for corporate sponsorships that include a table for eight. It’s a steep price, but given Scheib’s talents and the impact of the YMCA programs in our community, I’m sure it will be a fantastic dinner for a worthy cause.

Before Scheib came in 2011, he shared a couple of recipes with me, which I’ll pass along to you guys in case you missed them. Click the links to see these recipes:

Orange Chili Boneless Lamb Roast

Spring Carrot and Radish Salad

The Roanoke Times | File photo.

America’s favorite Mexican holiday is fast approaching, and you can celebrate in downtown Roanoke this Saturday at the Cinco de Mayo Festival.

I call it “America’s favorite Mexican holiday” because I learned several years ago that Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated heavily in Mexico unless you’re in the state of Puebla. The date commemorates the Battle of Puebla, which happened on May 5, 1862.

The historic battle took place between the Mexican Army and French troops, who had invaded the country and were trying to drive toward Mexico City. Napoleon III thought if his men could capture Mexico City, he could take the country. The Mexicans were ill-equipped and outnumbered, but they still forced the French to retreat.

It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican Independence Day. That is in September.

Anyway, we Americans love to take the opportunity to enjoy Mexican food, drink, culture and music. That’s what you’ll be able to do at Saturday’s festival, which will take place at Wells Fargo Plaza on Norfolk Avenue in downtown Roanoke. The event, sponsored by Haley Toyota Scion to benefit the Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley, is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Beer and margaritas will be available at the festival, as well as tacos from Queso Southwestern Grill and Awful Arthur’s. American fare will include Buffalo Wild Wings.

The live music schedule is: Latin Clave, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; The Jordan Harman Band, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and The Key West Band, 4 to 7 p.m.

Admission is $5 for adults; children get in free. For more information, check out Facebook.com/cincodemayoroanoke or Cincodemayoroanoke.com.

Cupcakes from last year’s bake-off. Photo courtesy The Advancement Foundation.

In this blog post you’ll find details about the Cupcakes at the Cottage Bake-Off in Vinton, the 2013 Earth Day Celebration in Grandin Village, local seedlings for sale, a custom tea blending workshop and a schedule of food demonstrations at Blacksburg Fork and Cork.

* It’s time for the Second Annual Cupcakes at the Cottage Bake-Off, which takes place at the Charity Cottage Thrift Store in Vinton on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the same day as the Vinton Dogwood Festival Parade.

The thrift store is operated by The Advancement Foundation, a non-profit aid organization that works to eliminate poverty. Proceeds from the bake-off will go to various charities. In addition to cupcakes, the event will offer refreshments and special deals at the store.

Interested parties should register to bring at least one dozen cupcakes to the bake-off. The cupcakes will be judged at 2 p.m., just before the parade begins at 2:30 p.m. The cupcakes not tasted by the judges will be for sale to the general public at a cost of a $1 donation for each cupcake. The buyer gets to choose the charity to which he or she wants to donate the dollar.

Read more »

Poplar Forest. Courtesy photo.

Thomas Jefferson Craft Beer Tasting

April 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Poplar Forest, 1542 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest

This tasting will include six Virginia craft breweries: Apocalypse Ale Works, Blue Mountain Brewery, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company, Parkway Brewing Company, Starr Hill Brewery and Wild Wolf Brewing Company.

Admission is $30 in advance, which includes 20 (5-oz.) beer tastings. Admission the day of the event is $25 for 10 tastings or $35 for 20. Non-tasting tickets, $10 in advance and at the door. The price of admission will also include a Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest beer glass (until they run out of them).

Event is rain or shine. No refunds. There will be no children’s activities available. Buy tickets online at www.tjcraftbeertasting.com until midnight April 12 or at the museum shop until 5 p.m. on April 12. For more information, call (434) 534-8120.

Southwest Virginia Gluten-Free Expo

April 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tanglewood Mall (inside near A.C. Moore entrance)
This event will feature a variety of vendors offering tips, information and free samples to those interested in a gluten-free diet. The expo will also include raffles, prizes and games for kids.
Free admission.

Chef Behmoiras. Photo courtesy of The Bank.

Local Chef Recognized

From The Bank Food and Drink in Pearisburg: “Chef Michael Behmoiras, of The Bank Food and Drink restaurant, has been honored as one of the country’s top culinary talents in the inaugural edition of Best Chefs America. This is the first-ever peer review guide of U.S. chefs, who were chosen after extensive interviews between their fellow chefs and Best Chefs America analysts. Chef Michael is showcased in the informative and exquisitely produced 386-page coffee table book that was just released in March 2013.”

Congratulations, Chef Behmoiras!

Getty Images/IStock Photo

Herbs are the ultimate edible plants for beginner gardeners. If you don’t put any other culinary plants in the dirt, I would highly recommend at least growing a few herbs. They are easy and they elevate the quality of your cooking immensely.

Need help learning how to grow or cook with fresh herbs? Check out The Second Annual Salem Museum “Herb Faire” on April 20. The fair, with is sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Master Food Volunteers and the Roanoke Master Gardener’s Association, will include a number of workshops, as well as an herb plant sale and an herb potting station.

If you want to attend any workshops, the fee is $5 per person for the entire fair. That includes tastings and demonstrations. If you just want to go to the herb sale and don’t plan to go to workshops, there is no admission fee. The museum will be open that day, as well, and there is no admission fee for the galleries.

I will post a list of workshops below. Click “Read more” to see them. To register for workshops, email herbfaire@gmail.com.  For more information about the fair, contact your local extension office at 540 -772-7524.

Class schedule:

Read more »

The Lewisburg Chocolate Festival will offer fun for the entire family on April 13. Photo courtesy Lewisburg Downtown Business Association.

It doesn’t feel much like spring out there today, but it’s coming! With it comes a long list of food-related activities. Here’s a rundown of some of those opportunities over the next couple of months:

Virginia Cooperative Extension Food Safety Training

Tuesday, March 19, 2013 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
VA Dept. of Health, 1502 Williamson Rd. Roanoke, 24012
Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Cooperative Extension present this 4-hour training geared to food service workers.  Participants will receive training and updates on hygiene, time/temperature, preventing cross contamination, cleaning and sanitizing, food storage, and more.  $15 class fees include a booklet, handouts, resources and refreshments.  Must pre-register. http://www.offices.ext.vt.edu/roanoke  For questions contact Deb Chappell at (540)772-7524, Dchappel@vt.edu.

VCE Gardening – Organic Methods

Presented by Master Gardeners. Thursday, March 21, 2013, 6 to 7 p.m. Roanoke Community Garden Association, Main City Library corner of Jefferson and Elm. Free of charge.

Earth Day at Hotel Roanoke

On Saturday, March 23, Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center will observe Earth Day by turning off the lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m. According to a press release, the goal is to “come together with the world to celebrate a global sustainability movement by doing something very simple.”

During the dark hour, the hotel will serve dinner and drinks by candle light in the newly remodeled Regency Room and in the Pine Room Pub. The lobby and Palm Court will be lit by candles, as well. The hotel staff will turn off any non-essential lights and other equipment throughout the facility and will encourage guests to limit their use of electricity in their rooms if they care to participate.

VCE Gardening – Companion Planting

Presented by Master Gardeners. Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Hollins Branch Library, 6624 Peters Creek Rd. Free of Charge.

7th Annual Lewisburg Chocolate Festival

This downtown Lewisburg, W.Va. festival seems to get bigger and more popular every year. It’s a bit of a drive from Roanoke, but it’s a pretty drive and maybe spring colors will be out. The event includes chocolate tastings, chocolate-themed dinners, kids’ activities, live music, a chocolate bake-off, chef demonstrations, a chocolate mousse-eating contest and the HospiceCare 10K Chocolate Chase.

Tickets go on sale March 15. To learn more about the event and how to buy tickets, go to www.lewisburgchocolatefestival.com.

Read more »

File photo.

March is Frozen Food Month. There is a month for everything in the food world, as we know, but I do believe frozen food deserves some props at least once a year. What would we do without it?

Obviously, fresh ingredients are always preferred over anything frozen or canned, but when Old Man Winter turns the earth to rock and drags temperatures down to teeth-chattering levels, we must look to the frozen food aisle for many of our favorites, including fruits and vegetables.

Frozen produce shouldn’t have a bad name. Most of those products are flash frozen the same day they come out of the fields, retaining their healthy components and flavors. They are generally much more nutritious than canned produce.

In our house, our favorite frozen product is spinach. You will always find several bags of frozen spinach in the freezer. I use it in recipes, but more often it’s my go-to vegetable side dish on a night when I’m in a hurry. We probably consume one bag of frozen spinach per week, on average. We also like frozen turnip greens. Both are delicious with a little Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon.

In addition, I like organic frozen burritos, ice cream and the occasional Kashi frozen dinner. And I always have a frozen pizza in the chest freezer in the basement in case of an emergency. And by emergency I mean, like, extreme laziness or craziness on a week night.

In honor of Frozen Food Month and the fact that, according to the weather forecast, we are about to be frozen ourselves, tell me: What is your family’s favorite frozen food product? Is there a frozen product you would never buy?

You are likely to see artistic chocolate sculptures like this one at the Chocolate Sunday Festival. Photo courtesy Bev Allman.

The Southwest Virginia Chapter of the American Culinary Federation is teaming up with Hotel Roanoke & Conference center for the first Chocolate Sunday Festival this Sunday, March 10 from noon to 5 p.m.

Area vendors at this festival will provide tastings of their choice of chocolate dishes and products. In addition, guests will get to take in several demonstrations from special chef guests, who will “showcase their unique chocolate dessert tips and techniques,” according to a press release from the ACF.

Those guests include Jean-Francois Suteau, Top 10 Pastry Chef of 2011 and Executive Pastry Chef at The Greenbrier; Geoffrey Blount, baking and pastry instructor at Central Piedmont Community College; Sergio Mueller, New Product Specialist for Albert Uster Imports; Jennifer England, cake maker and owner of La Bella Torta; and Cheryl Gum, head candy and chocolate chef for The Greenbrier.

In addition to all this, there will be opportunities to win door prizes.

The American Culinary Federation Southwestern Virginia Chapter is using this event to raise money for its community outreach programs, which include teaching area children and adults the benefits of eating healthy and cooking healthy. All of the proceeds from the event will go to these programs.

To reserve a ticket to the event, go to swvacacf.org.  Tickets are $25 each.

For the second year, organizers of the Covington Cork and Pork Festival have arranged a barbecue judging class certified by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

This class, which lasts from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, will take place at Covington Baptist Church at 280 West Riverside Street in Covington. The cost is $85 per person and includes all materials, meat, and a one-year membership in the KCBS. For KCBS members, the class is $50.

To register for this class and to learn more about the festival, which is scheduled for June 28 and 29, click here.

If you’re interested, I’m sure you have lots of questions about how this works. Contest organizer Les Balgavy was kind enough to send along a list of frequently asked questions about the class. I’ll share those below.

Read more »

Introducing the Lady Alice. Photo courtesy Rainier Fruit Co.

The emails piled up in my inbox while I was away last week, so it is time to clear them out and share all of the interesting food-related tidbits. This list of news ranges from a new apple you’ll soon find in grocery stores to upcoming cooking classes at The River and Rail in South Roanoke.

Read on, and then I hope you’ll go on to have a wonderful weekend!

* Kroger is going to spotlight Sunkist Cara Cara oranges with a special lunch at the Bonsack store on Saturday. The lunch will be prepared by Kroger Chef Tanner LaPrade.
LaPrade said these oranges are not new, but they have become very popular of late. He described them as a very sweet orange with a lot of flavor.
LaPrade will make Cara Cara cabbage salad with skewered shrimp or salmon and Cara Cara salsa. There will be free samples of the food in the deli/produce area of the store, and the dishes will be available for sale on the bistro bar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The oranges will be on sale in the produce department for $3.99/3 lbs. Salmon and shrimp will also be on sale at $4.99/lb. and $5.99/lb., respectively.

* Also in produce news, it seems a new apple will soon emerge in grocery stores across the country courtesy of the Rainier Fruit Company in Washington. The apple is called the Lady Alice, and a press release describes it as “an heirloom-like fruit that is similar to a fine wine – flavorful and complex, and one that gets better several months after it is picked when the flavor reaches its peak.”
This part is also interesting: “The rarity of a chance seedling creating an apple that is quickly becoming a national favorite is a story in itself. It was discovered quite by chance on a farm near Gleed, Washington in 1978 when a grower accidentally cut an apple tree with his farm equipment. A chance seedling grew from the base and over the next 25 years, steps were taken to preserve and propagate the distinctive characteristics of the Lady Alice.  The Lady Alice brand apple is named after Alice Zirkle, the co-founder of Rainier Fruit Company in honor of her memory.”
Lady Alice apples are reportedly good for cooking and eating out-of-hand, with flesh that is slow to brown when cut and retains a firm shape when cooked.

Read more »

Photo by Don Petersen | Special to The Roanoke Times.

If you attended the Souper Bowl fundraiser this weekend and tasted all those yummy soups, you’re probably wondering who won.

According to Sandra Pratt with Wheeler Broadcasting, which organized the event, the results were:

1)  The River and Rail Restaurant – Caramel Apple Soup with spiced pecans and homemade marshmallows

2)  Friendship Retirement Community – 3 From the Sea-Food Bisque

3)  Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke – She Crab Soup

Congratulations to all the winners!

Last year’s winner was Salem Terrace at Harrogate, where Michele Carder was the executive chef. Michele has since become the chef at Friendship Retirement Community, so she placed again. Here is her winning recipe from last year for Buffalo Chicken Chowder.

I’m working on getting some more details about this year’s soups and the others featured at the event. I’m hoping to even get some of the recipes to share with you all. If you went, which soup was your favorite?

The Roanoke Times | File photo

Downtown Roanoke, Inc. has taken a page from Blacksburg’s book and has organized the first Downtown Roanoke Restaurant Week, which begins Monday (Jan. 21) and runs through Saturday (Jan. 26).

For this week-long event, more than 25 restaurants have agreed to offer specials, including a $10 lunch that includes entree, side dish, and drink or dessert; a $2o three-course dinner; and a $30 three-course dinner. Following is a list of the participating restaurants. To see more specifics about the specials they are offering, please click here.

This is a great way to get out and support our local restaurateurs while getting a good deal! If you take advantage of this event, please tell us what you thought of it.

Click here to see the participating restaurants list.

Read more »

Photo by Mike Shaw | The Roanoke Times

Before we start this holiday weekend, it’s time for a quick round-up of some food-related news. So here goes:

* On Saturday, Feb. 9, St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church in Roanoke will hold the annual St. Maron’s Dinner. The dinner is open to the public and will offer many of the favorite Lebanese foods available each year at the Lebanese Festival. The menu will include cabbage rolls, hummus, spinach and feta roll-ups and baked kibbeh.

You’ll need to arrive by 7 p.m. for this seated dinner, which will be held in the church hall. The dinner will also include Lebanese music. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children under 12 eat for $10 and takeout is available for $15. St. Elias is located at 4730 Cove Rd. NW, Roanoke. Call the church (540) 562-0012 for tickets and more information.

* A new Chinese restaurant called Marco & Luca is going to open at University Mall in Blacksburg, in the former Quizno’s Subs space. This restaurant already has locations in Charlottesville. Blacksburg reporter Mike Shaw reports that Marco & Luca will have a simple menu of traditional Chinese foods, including their popular dumplings. To read more, click here.

* Way back in April 2012, I reported that Blue Ridge Country Magazine was holding a vote as part of a four-part series about good eats along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Specifically, readers were invited to vote for their favorite food county and favorite food stop located along the parkway.

Well, the winners were … Rockbridge County and Gertie’s Country Store in Vesuvius, Va. I have never been to Gertie’s, but apparently it is famous for its infused pork. That sounds delicious to me. You can read more about the winners in the January/February issue of Blue Ridge Country Magazine. I’m not sure why Rockbridge County won, specifically, but I’m going to pick up an issue and see for myself. And if my travels take me near Vesuvius, I’ll be stopping at Gertie’s.

Have a great weekend!

Chefs dish up soup samples at the 2011 Souper Bowl. The Roanoke Times l File photo.

It may not be as popular as its namesake, but the “Souper Bowl” has still managed to draw quite a crowd in Roanoke over the past couple of years.

Now in its fourth year, the fundraiser for Roanoke Area Ministries and the Rescue Mission of Roanoke will again give ticket holders the chance to taste delicious homemade soups as local chefs vie for a first-place win. Included in the price of each ticket is a bowl made by members of the Blue Ridge Potter’s Guild, which donates some 500 bowls for the event.

Sandra Pratt, director of community development at Wheeler Broadcasting, whose station Q99 organizes the Souper Bowl, said 18 contestants have signed up to participate. They include:

2nd Helpings Cafe
202 Market
Blue Apron
Carrabba’s
Cornerstone Bar & Grill
Flanary’s
Friendship Retirement
Hotel Roanoke
Kroger
Local Roots
Martin’s
Norah’s Cafe
Pino Gelato
River and Rail
Salem Terrace
Village Grill
Rescue Mission
RAM House

In the past, Souper Bowl guests have said the handmade bowl alone was worth the ticket price, which is probably why tickets go faster than hot soup on a chilly day.

What: Souper Bowl IV
When: Jan. 20, noon to 3 p.m. Snow date, Jan. 27
Where: Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke
Cost: $25 in advance; $30 at the door; children 12 and under, free with paying adult (includes free admission to museum galleries)
Tickets: Call 387-0234 or email souperbowl@q99fm.com

Cupcake Cottage, a new business in Daleville, sells bakery treats, hipster accessories and unique boutique items. Read more about it here on the Botetourt View blog.

Also from Roanoke.com blogs today: This slideshow on the SwoCo blog of the Buddy Valastro/Cake Boss book signing at the Bonsack Kroger store on Sunday. The photos were submitted by reader Loren Wright.

Did you go to see the Cake Boss at the Salem Civic Center on Sunday? If so, how was it?

The Roanoke Times l File photo.

The holidays will really get into full swing across Southwest Virginia this weekend with events such as Dickens of a Christmas in downtown Roanoke and the Grandin Village Holiday Market.

Dickens, which lasts three Fridays in a row starting tonight, will kick off this evening with the Christmas tree lighting, high school chorus performances, carriage rides and much more. Later this month, they’ll bring back the faux snow for all the kiddies to enjoy. For all the details about Dickens, check out Annie McCallum’s article in today’s newspaper.

The fourth annual Holiday Market in Grandin Village will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. tomorrow, and it’ll include open houses at businesses throughout the village with treats and specials. There’ll also be an indoor holiday market in the space between Surf & Turf and Valley Bank on Grandin Road that will feature locally made crafts and art. There will also be live music, food vendors and a door raffle of select vendor items.

For more information about the holiday market, check out Facebook pages here and here.

This is a great weekend to make the most of our beautiful downtown and the cute community of Grandin Village, but that’s not the only place you’ll find holiday happenings this weekend and in the coming weeks. To see a big list, click here for our calendar listings.

If you are involved in an event or have a favorite one you’d like to tell readers about, feel free to leave a comment with info on this blog entry.

Have a safe and fun weekend, everybody!

Chocolate lovers, science geeks and the types of folks who love Alton Brown should perk up their ears at this: The Science Museum of Western Virginia is going to host a program this Saturday about the science of chocolate.

“While most people associate chocolate with candy bars and extra calories, they don’t know that the tasty treat also offers health benefits. It also has unique properties that target pleasure centers in the human brain,” wrote museum spokesperson Ann Shepherd.

The program will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum’s temporary location on the second floor of Tanglewood Mall. Maybe you can get a little shopping done while you’re out.

Guests will learn about where chocolate comes from, why we humans love it so much, and the history of chocolate. Experts will demonstrate how food science has changed the product since it was first discovered more than 2,000 years ago in Central and South America. You’ll get to taste samples, including organic chocolate nibs.

The program, which is part of the museum’s Second Saturday Science series, is included in the price of admission to the museum ($6 for adults, $4 for children ages 3-12, and $5 for senior citizens).

The Roanoke Times/File photo

The Stocked Market is a dream come true for avid shoppers – more than 100 different merchants all in one place just as the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear. And for food lovers, it is a good place to find interesting products for yourself or someone on your list.

The 2012 Stocked Market is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Roanoke Civic Center Special Events Center. Some 10,000 people are expected to attend the event, which helps to benefit community organizations through grants awarded by the Junior League of Roanoke Valley. The Junior League has been hosting the event for 23 years.

Of course, you’ll find all manners of Christmas decorations, clothing, home decor items, sports apparel, antiques and the like, but I’ve also seen some great food items at the market. In the past, these have included high-quality canned soups, dip mixes, peanuts, chocolates, wine and more. And since a lot of booths offer free samples, it can be a tasty way to while away the day.

According to a press release from the Junior League, early shoppers will find some great deals on Friday:

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Photo by Saucyglo/Flickr

My predecessor on The Roanoke Times’ food beat, Beth Macy, brought an out-of-this-world roasted sweet potato salad to a potluck event the other night. I went back for seconds and had to have the recipe.

The salad is made by first roasting chunks of sweet potato, then tossing them with red bell pepper, scallions, cilantro and a sesame-lime vinaigrette. It may sound like an unusual combination, but let me just tell you that it is excellent. It’s a bonus that this salad is good served at room temperature, which makes it perfect for a holiday potluck.

Speaking of Beth, she would like to let folks know that a former Nieman fellow, Audra Ang, will be doing a book signing at Too Many Books in Grandin Village this Friday at 7 p.m. Ang’s book, “To the People, Food Is Heaven: Stories of Food and Life in a Changing China” is a food memoir set in China, so whether you are interested in Chinese food or culture, you may want to put this book on your to-read list.

Also, in case you missed it, Amanda Codispoti is reporting on The Storefront blog that Bayou Lucy’s (the Cajun/Creole joint going in across from Towers Mall on Brandon Avenue) is going to open this week.

For the recipe, click “Read more.”

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Photo by Lindsey Nair.

A big sign has gone up on a newly painted white facade across from the Roanoke Valley Metro station. Yep, that means Sidewinders Steak House & Saloon is almost ready to open, according to co-owner Scott Howard.

Howard gave me a little tour of the country and western-themed restaurant and bar this week, and I can tell you that he and his partners are not doing anything halfway. The space features gleaming hardwood floors, a full stage, two full bars and a new sound system. In fact, if you walk by on Campbell Avenue you can peer in the windows and see for yourself. Howard said they have a working menu that includes steaks, seafood, and other fare at a mid-range price point. For lunch, there’ll be a soup and salad bar with up to six different soups.

Decor such as a buffalo head, some steer skulls and a Dierks Bentley guitar are waiting to be hung on the walls, and Howard said new furniture will arrive soon. The furniture is coming from New Jersey and has been delayed because of storm damage there. Once it arrives and the restaurant gets inspected by the health department and fire marshal, Howard said, they’ll get their ABC license and have a soft opening. He expects to have the soft opening later this month. I’ll keep you posted.

In other news …
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Courtesy image

Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. and the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services at Virginia Tech have introduced a special event to show support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for LGBT History Month. LGBT History Month was established in 1994, but this is the first time it is being celebrated at Virginia Tech.

The event, “Dining OUT for Equality Week” was also designed to promote Blacksburg restaurants, some of which have established special deals for lunch and dinner throughout next week, from Oct. 22 through Oct. 26.

“On behalf of the participating restaurants, we’re excited to show our support for the LGBT community with this event,” wrote Laureen Blakemore, Director of Downtown Blacksburg, Inc., in a press release. “In addition, downtown restaurants will be able to showcase their diverse cuisine, from Thailand to Italy and from vegetarian to sweet treats as well as their acceptance of the LGBT AND Ally Community.”

To take advantage of the specials, it is only necessary for diners to ask at the restaurant for the “Dining OUT” special. Here is the specials schedule for the week:

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Frances Trent, a member of the Peacock-Harper group, talks to guests at the Miller & Rhoads Tearoom event. At right is Joan Bowers, who loaned her vintage hat collection for the event. Photo by Stephanie Klein-Davis/The Roanoke Times.

The “Remembering the Miller & Rhoads Tearoom” luncheon I’ve written about a couple of times over the past few months took place today at the Roanoke Country Club. Actually, two of the three seatings took place today; the third will be held later this month.

Although the Peacock-Harper Culinary History Friends planned to host about 150 people at one luncheon, the country club will end up serving nearly 400 guests by the time the third seating is done. There are no tickets left for sale.

I purchased two tickets to the first seating for myself and my mother-in-law, who drove all the way from her home in the Outer Banks to attend with me. She is from Richmond and lived in Roanoke for many years, so she has treasured memories from the Miller & Rhoads tearooms in both cities.

To me, the best part of the luncheon was the fact that so many of the women who attended (and it was mostly women) brought out their best attire and unpacked vintage accessories as a tribute to the snappy outfits they used to wear to lunch at the Tearoom. One attendant, Joan Bowers, generously offered her large vintage hat collection for the club’s use. They incorporated them into the table centerpieces and decorated fireplace mantles with them. Bowers also loaned hats to some members of the Peacock-Harper group.

To continue reading and see the slideshow, click “Read more.”

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Photo courtesy James Zeisler Sr.

Back in May, I wrote a column about the Southwest Virginia chapter of the American Culinary Federation. After years of being fairly stagnant, the chapter is under new leadership and is determined to raise awareness about the group and its causes through community events. The president of the group is James Zeisler Sr., director of the Culinary Institute at Virginia Western.

On Friday, Sept. 28, the chapter held the first of what members hope will be many adventure dinners to raise money for their chapter. It was sort of a test dinner to see how it went so there were only 30 seats available at $50 each. They did not need to advertise the tickets for sale because they sold out through word-of-mouth very quickly. But they want to do more of these in the future because they will help to fund ACF programs such as the Chef & Child initiative, which teaches children and their parents about proper nutrition..

It was called an “adventure dinner” because guests had no idea where the dinner would take place until that evening. They were told to meet in the parking lot of Lowe’s on U.S. 460 and were then given clues to follow until they reached the destination, Layman Family Farms near Montvale. The Layman family was kind enough to let the club host the dinner in their corn maze!

The event featured a hay ride, live music, appetizers, a champagne cocktail and four courses. Members of the ACF dressed as farmers in order to serve guests, and the chefs who prepared the meal included Nazim Khan (Virginia Tech), John Schopp (Center Stage Catering), Ted Polfelt (419 West), and Tanner LaPrade (Kroger). Check out the slideshow below to see photos from the event.

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On the Rise now offers pumpkin latte. iStock photo.

I’ve received a couple of emails lately from readers with questions. I also want to share some news about On the Rise bakery and Sarah’s Place, both in downtown Roanoke.

* First, Sarah’s Place. This is the cafe that took over the space in the Patrick Henry building that formerly housed Uptown Joe’s donut shop. The cafe has announced that it has started carrying FitFood meals made by a local food prep company that specializes in healthy fare. If you’d like to try before you buy, head over to Sarah’s Place on Thursday between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for a sample. Later that evening, Jeff Scot Philips of FitFood will conduct a free nutrition and weight-loss seminar at the cafe. He will discuss the basic principles of weight loss and answer nutrition questions. That starts at 7 p.m.

* On the Rise has extended its hours from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Stop by and check out their new espresso machine. They’re now making and selling pumpkin lattes.

* A reader named Paula wrote to ask whether I know of any local businesses that sell fresh pepper-cured hams. She said she was introduced to pepper ham in Ohio but hasn’t been able to find it here. I gave her a couple of suggestions for places she could check, but I’ve never actually seen it. If you have any ideas, let us know.

* Finally, a reader named Beth wants to get rid of several years’ worth of Bon Appetit magazines from the 80s and 90s. She said they are bound in three-ring binders. She doesn’t have enough space for them anymore (and neither do I) but she’s willing to give them away to an interested party. I checked with Virginia Tech, which has a culinary history collection, but they did not need them. If you want them, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Beth.

AP file photo

Autumn has arrived and I am getting inundated with lots of emails about wonderful food- and drink-related events coming up within the next month.

Here’s a quick-and-dirty list to help you plan your next fun outing:

Sept. 29: The Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival gets underway this weekend in Christiansburg. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28, with evening hours for the corn maze. The festival also includes TONS of food, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, corn cannons, barnyard animals, face painting and a whole lot more. For all the details, including exact hours and ticket prices, click here.

Also Sept. 29: The Roanoke City Farmers Market is holding its Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will include apple butter making; antique tractors; cloggers- Kountry Kickers (10 to 11 a.m.) and Floyd Ward Dancers (1 to 2 p.m.); Haley Toyota kids area-pony rides, pumpkin painting, face painting, coloring wall, barrel fishing and more games with prizes; old-fashioned sodas and kettle korn; and the bands Rosco P and Coal Train (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Grass Monkey (2 to 4 p.m.).

Oct. 5: The Blacksburg Partnership and The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center announce the 2^nd annual Blacksburg Brew Do Beer Dinner at Preston’s Restaurant. The menu with beverage pairings:

Cider| Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe, Granny Smith Apple with Cheddar
Lager | Spiced Lump Crab Cake with Mixed Greens and Fresh Herbs, Light Citrus Vinaigrette
India Pale Ale | Deviled Eggs, Pickle Relish with Cornichon, Green Olive and Pimento with Paprika
Amber | Grilled Game Sausage with Oktoberfest Braised Sauerkraut and Spicy Brown Mustard Rye Crostini
Porter | Sliced Porter Marinated Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Butternut Squash Hash and Caramelized Shallots
Stout & Fruit | Artisan Cheese and House Made Truffles

Tickets for the Blacksburg Brew Do Beer Dinner are $49 per person plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited. Call Preston’s Restaurant at 540-231-0120 for reservations or purchase tickets online at www.blacksburgbrewdo.com/food/beerdinner/.

To see more events, click “Read more.”

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Congratulations to blog reader Rena, the random winner of two tickets to the Al Pollard Memorial Gala at the Roanoke Country Club tomorrow night.

Rena and her guest are sure to enjoy lots of good food and music at the event.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest. Rena, I look forward to meeting you in person at the gala tomorrow.

Al Pollard. Courtesy photo.

This Friday will be the date of the 7th Annual Al Pollard Memorial Gala, an event sponsored by the foundation that celebrates the legacy of one of Roanoke’s favorite restaurateurs. I have two gala tickets to give away to one lucky reader who wants to experience an evening of great food, music and dancing.

The Al Pollard Memorial Foundation raises money to endow scholarships for students at the Culinary Institute at Virginia Western Community College. That would have been an important cause for Pollard, who helped create Corned Beef & Co., Frankie Rowland’s Steakhouse and 419 West. Pollard passed away suddenly in 2006, and since then the foundation has provided financial assistance to dozens of students.

The gala takes place this year at the Roanoke Country Club beginning at 6 p.m. The big event of the evening will be the Kroger-sponsored Chef Challenge, which will pair local chefs with culinary students to prepare dishes for the crowd to sample. There will be a People’s Choice Award. The event also includes music, dancing, a cash bar and a silent auction.

To purchase tickets to this event, click here. If you are interested in winning a pair of tickets to the event, please leave a comment on this blog entry and tell me your favorite menu item at Corned Beef & Company, Frankie Rowland’s or 419 West. Please do not simply state the name of the menu item. Tell me why you like it.

You have until NOON on Thursday to enter this contest, and I’ll announce the random winner by 5 p.m. on Thursday. Good luck to everyone. I will be at the gala myself so I look forward to meeting the winner!

Changes to a new Blacksburg pub. Photo by Daniel Lin l The Roanoke Times.

On this lovely, clear Monday morning, I would like to share a smattering of food-related news:

* Growlers have arrived at Blue 5 in downtown Roanoke, which means you can take home 64 ounces of your favorite beer in a big ol’ jug. Prices vary.

* Local Roots Restaurant in Grandin Village is hosting a dinner on Oct. 18 to benefit the Western Virginia Land Trust. The non-profit works to preserve natural resources in the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, and Roanoke. That evening, 15 percent of the dinner profits will be donated to the land trust. The regular menu will be available. For more information, contact the restaurant at 540-206-2610.

To see much more food news, click “Read More.”

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The 18th annual Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 8 at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington.
This festival is meant to spotlight Virginia wines and local food businesses, but it also includes a couple of craft breweries. This year, the participating breweries are Blue Lab Brewing Co. and Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co., both of Lexington.

The wineries that will be represented at the festival are:

Barboursville Vineyards, Charlottesville
Blue Ridge Vineyard, Eagle Rock
DeVault Family Vineyards, Concord
Fincastle Vineyard & Winery
Horton Vineyards, Gordonsville
Lexington Valley Vineyard, Rockbridge Baths
Peaks of Otter Winery & Orchards, Bedford
Rebec Vineyards & Winery, Amherst
Rockbridge Vineyard, Raphine
Villa Appalaccia Winery, Floyd
Well Hung Vineyard, Charlottesville
West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery, Max Meadows
Wintergreen Winery, Nellysford

To complement all of those great beverages, there will be several food vendors at the festival, including Beameup BBQ & Cafe, Cheese to You, Good Eats Cafe & Catering, Hogback Mountain BBQ, Inc., Kroger and Pure Eats. The band Southpaw will provide entertainment.

The festival is from noon to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are available until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5 and cost $15 per person; at the gate, tickets are $20. Non-tasters and designated drivers may purchase a ticket for $10. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Lexington-Rockbridge County Chamber of Commerce at 540-463-5375 or visiting www.lexrockchamber.com.

If you love sweet potato pie, you need to head over to the Claude Moore Education Complex in Roanoke this Saturday evening for the second annual Sweet Potato Pie Contest to benefit the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture. The event is presented by the museum and the Roanoke Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Beginning at 6 p.m., chefs from around the Roanoke valley will judge pies submitted by local contestants. Tickets cost $10 per person and, if the contest is planned the same as it was last year, guests will be able to sample some of the pies.

Last year’s winners were: first place People’s Choice winner, Petunia Barlow; second place, Barbara James; third place, Nancy Wilson; judges’ choice winner, Shirley Buchanan. Buchanan shared her winning recipe last year on WDBJ7′s Weekend Diner. The video does not appear to be available anymore, but the recipe is still there.

This event is open to all ages. The Claude Moore facility is at 109 N. Henry Street, Roanoke, VA. For more information, contact Helen Dean at (540) 362-5169 .

www.tomatofestival.wordpress.com

Looking for something fun for the entire family on Saturday? If so, head over to Shawsville for the annual Eastmont Tomato Festival, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a great homespun event featuring live music, vendors, tomato-laden foods such as pizza and tomato sandwiches, and local fair-style contests.

Folks will compete for such titles as grower of the funniest-looking tomato, Heirloom Tomato Queen, Cherry Tomato Baby and Tomato Prince and Princess. There’s also a tomato-eating contest, so I hope someone shows up with a lot of antacids.

This is a picture of the 2010 Cherry Tomato Baby. I’ve shared this picture on the blog in the past, but it’s just so darn cute that I can’t resist using it again.

For all the details about the festival, including the full calendar, head over to their Word Press page here.

Illustration courtesy city of Salem.

The cooks from Thelma’s Chicken and Waffles in downtown Roanoke were scheduled to appear at the Chef’s Circle at the Salem Farmers Market this weekend, but I received word that they backed out this week.

According to city of Salem spokesman Mike Stevens, “The folks at Thelma’s were originally scheduled for this week way back in the spring, but on Monday they decided to cancel their appearance in order to put all of their focus on the day-to-day operations of the restaurant.”

Thelma’s was in the news recently when it closed without explanation for about a week, then reopened.

But have no fear — the Chef’s Circle will go on! The ever-accommodating and friendly “Chef Jeff” Bland from US Foods has agreed to fill in, and he will be assisted by WDBJ 7 meteorologist Jay Webb. If you recall, Bland is the one who made a hamburger with bacon marmalade and served it between two Amish maple donuts last year. It’s always fun to watch him cook.

“We can’t thank Jeff and Jay enough for stepping up at the last minute to man the kitchen this Saturday,” Stevens said. “They have been great supporters of the Chef’s Circle.”

The event starts at 9:30 a.m. Click here to see more details about the Chef’s Circle.

Chateau Morrisette is having a winemakers' dinner Aug. 3. iStock/Getty images.

Response to the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s food preservation class on Aug. 1 was so healthy that they’ve added a second date to accommodate interested parties who could not get in for the first class.

The second class will take place Wednesday, Aug. 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brambleton Center, 3738 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke. Water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing and drying will be demonstrated. Class costs $5 and includes take-home materials and a jar of vegetables. You must pre-register because space is limited. To register, call 772-7524 or email dchappel@vt.edu.

Pressure canner gauge testing will be available at this class. If interested, just bring your lid only. Also, don’t forget the dehydration class is still scheduled for Aug. 16. For more details about that, click here.

While I’m on the topic of food events, here are a couple of other opportunities:

>>> Chateau Morrisette is having its annual winemakers’ dinner this Friday, Aug. 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is a five-course meal featuring ingredients from the winery’s estate garden and local farms. Each course will be paired with a Chateau Morrisette wine. $75 per person; 6:30 pm. Reservations and pre-payment required.  Reserve your seats by calling 540-593-2865.

Here are the menu details:

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Inage courtesy of PBS.org/food

The talented and delightful Julia Child, who taught so many people to be more adventurous in the kitchen, would have turned 100 years old on August 15. Even though she died in 2004 (just two days shy of her 92nd birthday), fans of the “French Chef” are remembering her on what would have been her big day.

In particular, PBS has planned a big celebration featuring special programming and online features. They’re encouraging folks to cook a favorite Julia Child recipe and share pictures and comments about it on their website or Facebook page. They’ve also got some other commemorative coverage planned. Here are the details:

* Cook your own version of a classic Julia Child recipe, then share pictures or thoughts by tweeting with the hashtag #CookforJulia. Or you can post pictures and comments at PBS Food or on the PBS Food Facebook page.

* At PBS Food, you can see almost 100 “exclusive, limited-time full episodes from: In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs, Cooking with Master Chefs, The French Chef Classics, Baking with Julia and three Cooking in Concert specials.” There’s also recipes, articles, links and a Julia personality quiz there.

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