The people of Appalachia have an astonishing ability to make something out of nothing, to survive harsh weather in remote locations, to live off the land, to forage for the treasures that the woods and streams have to offer if you just pay enough attention, and to make their struggles into something beautiful. Perhaps this is an exaggeration or a glamorization or perhaps it is a thing of the past, but there are food traditions found in the Appalachian South that should be recognized, learned from, and inspire the food on our tables and in our mouths.

A branch of Heirloom’s mission is to tell a story through food and drink, and this dinner serves to do just that. We want a bite of this meal to evoke the morning sun streaming through the fog of the Smoky Mountains, and the view of the vast blue ridges when they come into view as the mist lifts and the fog burns off. Another nibble takes you on a trek through a dense wood, your boots beginning to get soggy from the damp forest floor. As you come to a clearing, perhaps you hear hogs snorting as they root for nuts and underbrush and smell smoke rising from the morning hearth.

Each course will be paired with wines from Virginia’s Commonwealth Collective, represented by Tamara Vrooman Lucas and the winemaker from Ankida Ridge Vineyards, Christine Vrooman. This mother daughter pair are experts on Virginia winemaking and will walk you through the ins and outs of these regional favorites.

This is the sort of event that we live for at Heirloom. We have been looking forward to this and researching this and planning this for months and we can’t wait for it to finally happen. Basically, we want you to know that this will be a truly special meal and it is worth your time and the button on your pants that you may lose to attend.

The menu below is subject to change based upon availability. Please note that due to the nature of this regional cuisine, changes based on dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated this time around. (We are so sorry. It just doesn’t seem like we can maintain the integrity of the menu with substitutions like we can at other times).

Veritas Scintilla Sparkling White
Lisa Donovan’s Pimento Cheese Nabs
Rye Whiskey Cured Trout, Fennel Salad, Red Bud Capers, Johnnycakes
Mini Black Pepper & Thyme Biscuits, Apple Butter, Country Ham

Early Mountain Five Forks White Blend 2018
Grilled Independent Baking Company Grit Bread, Sunny Side Up Duck Egg, Butter Basted Morels & Ramps

Early Mountain Rose 2018
Buttermilk Cornbread Soup, Sorrel Pesto, Pickled Green Strawberries & Rhubarb

Ankida Ridge Pinot Noir 2015
Grilled Quail, Creasy Greens, Roasted Turnips, Cornbread Croutons, Sorghum Mustard Vinaigrette

Early Mountain Foothills Red Blend 2017
Pan Fried Boneless Pork Chop, Leather Britches, Fried Cabbage & Apples, Smoked Cider Pork Gravy, Chow Chow

Jittery Joe’s Coffee
Green Tomato Hand Pies, Buttermilk Sorbet, Salted Sorghum Caramel, Black Walnuts