The Piedmont Virginian's blog

The Small Plate Explosion and the Creative Mixologist

Judy Liberson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:03:59 +0000

The headline could be a book title for anyone following news in the food world. Restaurants have tuned in to the small plate explosion, whether they call it small plates, mezze, or tapas, the result is the same: A more affordable and fun way to eat out. Maybe it’s a response to the continuing focus by diners on the price-value equation or just one of the hottest trends in the food world.

Another restaurant has joined the small plate club: The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville now offers small plates on Thursday evenings, (”Thursdays on the Farm”). This week, March 11, they introduce Patrick Forest, their new bartender and mixologist. They even have an enticement to try out the new dining concept: 10% off your total bill. No, that does not include wine and cocktails! Adding a mixologist means diners can discover a creative cocktail to give their evening more spirit!

Remember that this is the restaurant that hosted a “Farm to Table” event at New York’s James Beard House in January. If you didn’t venture north for that experience, you can savor the tastes and enjoy the complete menu Friday evening, March 26. For reservations, call 540-822-9017.

Richest County in Country–Whew!

Judy Liberson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:51:02 +0000

The word is out and Loudoun County grabs the ring: What a Distinction! What does it mean to be the richest county in the country? It could be good for attracting high-end businesses and finding builders who want to match the demographic information from the Forbes list of the top 25 richest counties.

The report found that the median annual income is over $110,000. Maybe proximity to Washington, DC helps. (Proximity to DC and the government job opportunities also has another Piedmont county on the list: Prince William County).

Loudoun offers the rolling hills with towns and villages and a quieter lifestyle than the big city not that far away. There are plenty of fine dining opportunities, great relaxation spots, and your choice of over 20 wineries to help you settle in. On the famous city list, there’s Middleburg, long considered the horse crowd’s heaven, but one not to be overlooked for its small city charm right in the middle of a bustling county.

Don’t forget another city drawing a lot of attention: Leesburg which has married the older sections with a new-found energy of commerce.

If you live in Loudoun, you probably want the attention to focus elsewhere. Some may even scoff at something like this accolade, but if you want to see what it’s all about, then this is a great county to explore!

Lists!

Save the Bay, Local Action and Local Food

Margaret McCann — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:54:33 +0000

Tuesday, March 9th you have the opportunity to help the Save the Bay and have a great dinner. Charlottesville area restaurant Camino and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have teamed up to create a unforgettable meal and reminder for patrons to take local action to protect streams and the Bay. There will be a special prix fixe menu of local foods, that will be available for only $30 per person. The meal will feature items such as Rappahannock River oysters, Bay scallops, Hog Island clams, wild striped bass, and poached flounder with blue crab, all items that depend on the Bays Health. Often we are reminded of just how fragile our bay is too late, when we cannot get the foods that we have grown to love and enjoy seasonally. There will be Chesapeake Bay Foundation Staff at the dinner to discuss actions to protect and restore our local streams. Parties of four are encouraged, bring your friends!

Reservations are required and seatings are at 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. To make your reservation call 434-293-2323.

Camino is located at Camino 220 West Market Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 [map]

2nd Annual Bridal Showcase at Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard

Margaret McCann — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:04:13 +0000

Save the Date 2010 Bridal Expo Sunday, March 14, 2010 1 – 5 PM Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard

Are you a bride-to-be, have one in the family or in your group of friends? Come celebrate and prepare for your upcoming wedding with the 2^nd Annual Kluge Estate Bridal Show! The event will be full of high-quality vendors from the Central Virginia area who are looking to make your wedding the most fabulous it can be. With a glass of sparkling in your hand, you can chat with them and see all that they have to offer. Hors d’oeuvres and other delicious goodies will also be available! There will also be fabulous door prizes from the vendors present, including a customizable honeymoon and the site of Kluge Estate itself! Admission is $10.00 at the door.

For more information please contact: Sallie Slater & Kathryn Schmitz (434) 977-3895 x119 or kschmitz@klugeestate.com

DrinkLocalWine Event shines the Spotlight on Virginia Wine, must have ticket for 2010

Margaret McCann — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:27:16 +0000

Do you want to learn more about Wine, or just want to experience it on another level then think about attending the Virginia Drink Local Wine Event.

Drink Local Wine Conference is an exciting addition to the world of Virginia Wine, and an event that will bring our wines center stage. This second conference, sponsored by Drinklocalwine.com and Virginia Wine Board will be held at Lansdowne Resort on April 24-26, 2010. Washington Post wine columnist Dave McIntyre and wine blogger Jeff Siegel, the Wine Curmudgeon have brought this event to Virginia based on the quality of the wines and the growth of the region. The panels, which will be hosted by the likes of Andrew Stover, Richard Leahy, Dave McIntyre and Michael Wangbicker, are designed to focus on the diversity and quality of the 157 wineries in Virginia. This is a great opportunity to open up the Virginia Wines to the country. Everyone knows that California makes wine, but it is time to show everyone what else is out there.

This Conference is open to the public and will bring together your average wine drinker, winemakers, wine writers, grape growers, sommeliers and you. Features of the event include Virginia and its terrior, Social Media and wine, and how Local Food and Local Wine are a great and natural combination. Just for fun a Twitter Taste off will be a fun way to send the word out about what you are tasting, opening up a whole new level in wine tasting.

The Drinklocalwine event is only $65, which includes all 3 panels, lunch and of course the Twitter Taste Off. Tickets just went on sale, but register soon, as this event is sure to sell out quickly.

For more information visit the Drinklocalwine.com website. Other conference sponsors include Landsdowne Resort, Tuscarora at the Mill and Magnolias at the Mill. For information or to register, call (978) 276-9463 or send an email.

Love your Library

Margaret McCann — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:06:29 +0000

I am not sure if I can get tax credits for my ‘donations’ but I am sure that I have definitely made a significant donation to my local library. I love my local library, and on a recent visit I realized how economic pressures and recent local government cutbacks have really effected the library on so many different levels. We visit our local library often, I like the selection of books and the fact that with a busy family we are sure to find something for everyone. We can find the story tapes, movies, new books all for nothing. I support my local library and often pay quite a bit in overdue fines, which have just happened to go up. I never mind paying those fines, and always joke that this is my donation towards the new library that is supposed to go up near my home. I have also come to the conclusion that our libraries are in trouble, only the problem is that patronage is also up. The economy has driven a lot of people to the local library. The patrons are there to check out books and movies in an effort to save money, but they are also there to use the computers to update resumes, work on taxes, and entertain their children. Many of the local libraries have reduced hours, increased fines, and even closed some branches. The libraries are so important to our communities and we need to recognize their need for help. Our local library is lucky enough to have a Book Cellar, this is a used book ’store’ that provides just over $16,000 of revenue for the Library each year. The Book Cellar relies on donations from the community which they then sell on selected dates to the public. The Purcellville Library also has a Bi Annual book sale that helps to raise funds. There is alot you can do to help think about book donations, cash donations or Amazon even has wish lists for the local libraries. Ask your librarian what you can do to help out.

Virginia Wine Expo, Even More Wine than in 2009!

Margaret McCann — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:15:53 +0000

Head to Richmond this weekend for the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Expo. This is Virginia’s premier, upscale wine and food event of the year. There will be over 55 Virginia wineries on site pouring their finest vintages. The Virginia Wine Expo will also feature some of Virginia’s finest restaurants, they will be sampling their finest dishes. On hand there will also be Virginia specialty food purveyors who will be sampling and selling their products. The Virginia Wine Expo will also feature a Sit-Down Reserve Tasting, the Governor’s Cup Grand Tasting, celebrity chef demonstrations, wine and food pairings. New this year at the Virginia Wine Expo is Sparkling & Sweets. There is something for all the Wine Lovers in Virginia. This is a great opportunity for you to meet the winemakers and taste what Virginia is growing! Make Mine Virginia Wine.
Day Passes: $35 in advance; $45 at the door, discounted tickets for Sunday are available by using promo code SUNDAY200 at check-out.

2010 Virginia Governor’s Cup goes to the The King Family Vineyards 2007 Meritage

Margaret McCann — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:24:02 +0000

The King Family Vineyards 2007 Meritage has won the coveted 2010 Virginia Governor’s Cup award for red wine. Selected from more than 200 entries representing all of the appellations in the Commonwealth, King Family Vineyards 2007 Meritage is a blend of 56% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Malbec.

King Family Vineyards 2007 Meritage Tasting Notes/Background; The wine was aged in French oak for 18 months. There are dark fruits, especially black cherry and raisin, on the nose with a hint of toast. Full mouth of black cherry, smoke and clove. Perfect structure with firm, balanced tannins. The finish is smooth and lingering. It is recommended that you drink this wine now through 2015. A total of 615 cases were produced. The 2010 Governor’s Cup winner also won a gold medal at the 2009 Monticello Cup.

The grapes were hand-harvested, hand sorted, then de-stemmed without crushing (whole berry). Fermentation vessels were a combination of open-top stainless steel tanks and fermentation bins. The lots were kept separate.
Punch-downs and gentle pump-overs were done during fermentation to extract color, tannins, and structure. Different yeast strains were used for each batch to start alcoholic fermentation, to increase the wine’s complexity.

Many lots underwent an extended maceration to increase mid-palate body, after which the lots were transferred to French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. The final blend was determined through exhaustive tastings, trial blends and individual barrel selection prior to the first racking in June 2008. After eighteen months in barrel, the wine was fined with egg whites just before bottling. No filtering was done in order to maintain the complexity and life of the wine and increase the aging potential.

Is there a Novel in You? Let it out!

Margaret McCann — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:15:43 +0000

Most of us have hopes and dreams and sometimes life truely gets in the way. If you have ever dreamed of writing a Novel, or if you have started writing a novel, here is your opportunity for your dreams to come true. Books & Crannies and the Middleburg Country Inn are sponsoring a writer’s retreat at the Inn on March 5-6, 2010, in beautiful, historic Middleburg, VA. This Writer’s Retreat will be a small, intimate gathering that will give you the opportunity for personal interaction with authors and agents. You will have time to meet with several local published authors and talk with literary agents about your work. You will also find out more about the complexities and challenges of publishing in today’s marketplace. It is amazing to think this but you will also be able to have your work read by an established literary agent. You will even gain a bookseller’s perspective on what readers want, how to promote your work and more. There is a little bit of space for those who choose not to stay at the Inn, but think of what you could be missing. The price for this experience is only $250 which includes: All accommodations, wine and welcome party Friday evening, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and Sunday breakfast.

Books & Crannies: 540-687-6677 www.booksandcrannies.com to learn more

Middleburg Country Inn: 540-687-6082 or go to www.middleburgcountryinn.com

The writers will include: Ellen Crosby - Ellen is the author of the acclaimed Wine Country mystery series set in Virginia, including The Merlot Murders, The Chardonnay Charade, The Bordeaux Betrayal and The Riesling Retribution.

Susan McCorkindale - Susan is the author of Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl, a hilarious memoir of her life after leaving the glamour of Manhattan for a cattle farm in Virginia.

Marc Leepson - Marc is a journalist, historian and the author of six books, including Desperate Engagement, Flag: An American Biography and Saving Monticello: The Levy Family’s Epic Quest to Rescue the House that Jefferson Built.

First Tuskie’s Winemaker Luncheon with Nate Walsh, winemaker Sunset Hills Vineyard

Margaret McCann — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:26:44 +0000

Tuscarora Mill is proud to announce that Nate Walsh, winemaker at Loudoun County’s acclaimed Sunset Hills Vineyard, will be the first winemaker in a new series, The Tuskie’s Winemaker Luncheons. This Winemaker Luncheon will take place on Saturday, February 27 from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm at Tuskies in downtown Leesburg. The purpose of this series is designed to educate and inform both visitors and residents alike of Loudoun County’s unique viniculture. Where both the food and drink of the region should be celebrated and enjoyed together.

Nate has selected four of his favorite vintages from Sunset Hills for tasting and will be giving a lecture on these wines and their production while also covering wine tasting tips for newcomers. Nates goal will be to show you how to fully appreciate each wine tasted. These wines will be paired with menu items that Tuskie’s Executive Chef Patrick Dinh has selected to compliment each wine. The cost of the Winemaker’s Luncheon is only $35 per person, including wine. For reservations to the Sunset Hills Winemaker’s Luncheon, call Tuskie’s at (703) 771-9300.

Menu includes

2008 Sunset Hills Reserve Chardonnay: Served with Smoked Salmon Croquettes, accompanied by Bermuda Onion Cream.

2008 Sunset Hills Viognier: Served with Celery Root Soup, Roasted Apple Relish and Smoked Raisin Puree.

2008 Sunset Hills Benevino Cabernet Franc: Served with Grilled Angus Short Loin, Roasted Butternut Squash and Scalloped Potatoes and Tarragon Mustard Sauce.

2007 Sunset Hills Cabernet Sauvignon: Served with two warm cheeses, a Morbier from France and a Blue DeGraven from Holland.