Food & Drink

Father-Son Duo Resurrects Heirloom Watermelons

Summer means nostalgic backyard get-togethers—the warm temps, the breeze, and the sweetness of a thick watermelon slice dripping juice that makes your hands sticky. In anticipation of the next watermelon-forward event, you might wander chilly grocery aisles, looking for the plumpest, ripest, most perfect watermelon. We’re here to suggest that you think again. There’s a […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Virginia Ranks Best in Business, Lifestyle, and More

National publications, studies, and ranking lists agree: Virginia is for lovers—and winners. Here’s a look into several ways Virginia topped the charts in 2024: Our creative capital city CNN Travel crowned Richmond as America’s best town to visit in 2024 for its rich arts, culture, and history, plus a great food and beverage scene. Our […]

by Hope Cartwright

Colonial Recipes for Founding Father-Approved Cocktails

Modern drinkers, meet the spirited Colonial cocktails of America’s early days. From Cherry Bounce to Paul Revere’s Lantern, these historic cocktails were bold enough for Revolutionary War heroes and refined enough for Founding Fathers. Now, they offer Virginians a unique way to toast the past. Cherry Bounce From George Washington’s Mount Vernon 10–11 pounds fresh […]

by Hope Cartwright

Behind the Cheese Course at The Inn at Little Washington

I remember my first bite of brie cheese. I was about 8, on a trip abroad with my parents. The extent of my culinary world had been limited up till then—and cheese-wise, a good cheddar was my equivalent of exotic—but once I sunk my teeth into that creamy, luscious wedge, I was hooked. A bona […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Emmy-Winning French Magnolia Shares Her Signature Style

Once, while eating Chef Missy Wolff Fraley’s poisson en papillote with herbal sauce, a woman was reduced to tears. She said the dish reminded her of a beautiful trip she’d taken to France with her husband, the love of her life. The encounter was a powerful one—for the diner and the chef. “My heart filled […]

by Amy Brecount White

Making of a Chef

Ian Boden’s culinary passion blossomed as a kid, as he helped his family craft traditional Jewish dishes like potato latke and chicken matzo ball soup for parties. His mother was so impressed she arranged an internship with Marc Fusilier at his Manassas-area fine dinery, Chez Marc Café 28, when Boden was just 13. The mentorship […]

by Eric J. Wallace

A Charlie Brown Christmas Cocktail from Vault & Cellar

This yummy yuletide creation comes from Cami Buracker, head bartender at Vault & Cellar in Middletown. After a few sips, you may find yourself with a milk mustache, kindling a nostalgic nod to a certain character from the familiar Christmas classic. Add the first three ingredients to a shaker, add ice, and shake. Garnish with […]

by Hope Cartwright

Yule Brynner: A Festive Cocktail to Brighten Your Holiday Season

Yule Brynner This colorful, fruity seasonal sensation is “a drink that smells as good as it tastes,” says Genaro Amaya, bartender at Marigold at Keswick Hall outside Charlottesville. And its low ABV offers a light, refreshing contrast to the indulgences and heavy sweets of the holiday season. Build in a shaker, add ice, and shake. […]

by Hope Cartwright

Red Osier Cocktail: A Holiday Drink from Primland Resort

Red Osier This warming cocktail whets your appetite with flavorful and fruity notes, named after a local plant native to Southwest Virginia, the red osier, or red-twig dogwood. A well-loved winter specialty at Primland Resort of Auberge Resorts Collection in Meadows of Dan, director of outlets Frank Vitulli says, “Of course, the brilliant pop of […]

by Hope Cartwright

Brew Like a Pro

“There’s a few main rules to live by when it comes to starting to make better coffee at home,” says Stephanie Wein of Pinup Coffee Co. By the time it reaches the customer’s hands, high-quality coffee has already been through a lengthy, detailed, international process. The last thing you want to do is ruin it […]

by Hope Cartwright

Owners of Famed Chateau Bet Big on Virginia with Purchase of Iconic RdV Vineyards

As the first rays of morning sun fall over the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Joshua Grainer is already in the vineyards at Lost Mountain. He’s walking up and down vineyard rows checking on the vines before meeting with the vineyard team to discuss the plan for the day. He knows these vineyards well. […]

by Frank Morgan

Unveiling Coffee’s True Flavors: Virginia Coffee Roasters’ Specialty Brews

Coffee—the universal good morning, driving force behind business superpowers, perhaps the most prolific beverage in all pop culture—is naturally bitter. Aside from the addictive properties of caffeine, what inspires such fascination in coffee is a mystery to those who question the initially unappealing taste. Haden Polseno-Hensley, co-owner of Red Rooster Coffee in Floyd, recalls growing […]

by Hope Cartwright

Virginia’s Wide World of Wines

Virginia’s world of wines is rich and diverse, and the 67 restaurants throughout the state that received Wine Spectator’s recently announced 2024 Award of Excellence are proof that a ticket to Napa or Burgundy isn’t necessary to enjoy outstanding food and wine. The Commonwealth has plenty of world-class options. The Wine Spectator awards extend far […]

by Madeline Mayhood

New Staunton Restaurant is a Delightful Surprise

For fans of star chef Ian Boden and his famed, hole-in-the-wall, Staunton fine dinery The Shack, a visit to the newly launched Maude & the Bear culinary inn begins with a series of delightful shocks. A thoughtfully landscaped parking area gives way to the arched porch of a 2,500-square-foot, English-style Montgomery Ward kit-home-turned-restaurant that dates […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Goochland’s Greenswell Growers Go Big

The “lettuce connoisseurs” at Greenswell Growers in Goochland, as CEO Carl Gupton has dubbed himself and his team, produce about 700,000 pounds of lettuce a year—all out of an acre-and-a-half streamlined greenhouse facility. There, the plants grow from seed to salad-ready without any human hands. And though the indoor expanse of bright green sproutlings seems […]

by Hope Cartwright

Can They Rival NYC’s Best?

The great bagel debate. A hot button argument over breakfasts across the country comes down to this: what makes a bagel a real bagel, and can one be found anywhere outside of the Big Apple? Luckily, Virginia bakers haven’t been deterred by naysayers and New York bagel sticklers yet—they, and their bagel dough, rise to […]

by Hope Cartwright

Made in Virginia Awards 2024: Drink

2022 Cabernet Franc Eastwood Farm and Winery – Charlottesville $32, EastwoodFarmAndWinery.com Morgan describes this glass of wine as “a delicious expression of Cabernet Franc that is decidedly Virginian.” Eastwood Farm and Winery aims to deliver a profile with notes of cherry, peppercorn, and coffee, suggesting pairing it with hearty dishes like risotto or everyday eats […]

by Hope Cartwright

The Virginia House-Wife Celebrates 200 Years

From the nuances of frying veals’ feet to how to dress a lamb’s head, Mary Randolph was the 19th-century’s answer to Ina Garten. Generally considered the country’s first cookbook author, she wrote the wildly popular The Virginia House-Wife in 1824, which enjoyed brisk sales and 19 printings until the outbreak of the Civil War. To […]

by Madeline Mayhood

Christmas in Central Virginia

Merry Christmas, Charlottesville! Merriment & Magic. If you like your holidays with a dash of razzmatazz, check out Charlottesville’s Christmas events. The Grand Illumination takes place at Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall on Dec. 6. The merriment commences just as evening falls and features vendors selling holiday crafts, tasty treats, and beverages, as well […]

by peggy sijswerda

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Events

July 19, 2025

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July 19, 2025

Shrek the Musical

All Saints Performing Arts Center (PAC)

July 19, 2025

Handling and Installing Artwork

Crossroads Art Center

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Around the world, as both a beverage and a pastime, tea is steeped in history and ritual. From the casual to the ceremonial, tea is a throughline for many cultures, and now, it’s enjoying a renewed interest from beverage pros who are drawn to tea’s unique flavor characteristics, health benefits, and cultural connections. Recently, two […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

STAUNTON – Festival of Concerts June 26–Aug. 2: The stunning strums and resounding chords of classical music echo through Staunton’s mountain landscape as Heifetz International Music Institute students from around the world take the stage, with new concerts every day. HeifetzInstitute.org GLOUCESTER – Food Truck Frenzy July 13: Virginia’s most mouthwatering food trucks descend on […]

by Hope Cartwright

Top Summer Mountain Events in Virginia

Making the most of summer’s fleeting sweetness reaches new heights in a mountaintop setting. From the Blue Ridge to the Alleghenies, sun-soaked adventures unfold among soaring trees and peaks. Discover what Virginia’s ridges offer at mountain venues this summer. Chairlift Sunset Sessions, Roseland July 12 & Aug. 16 Take in sunset views of misty blue […]

by Hope Cartwright

Food & Drink

Father-Son Duo Resurrects Heirloom Watermelons

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Events

“Earth to Table” Invitational Exhibition

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New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

Top Summer Mountain Events in Virginia

Food & Drink

Father-Son Duo Resurrects Heirloom Watermelons

Current Issue

Events

“Earth to Table” Invitational Exhibition

Shrek the Musical

Handling and Installing Artwork

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Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

Top Summer Mountain Events in Virginia

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