Jordan Wright
September 15, 2016
All photo credit – Jordan Wright
 The view from 20-Minute Cliff Usually a trip through Nelson County has us making a beeline to Charlottesville. And though Thomas Jefferson’s university town has beauty, history and terrific restaurants, there are tons of other attractions in this bucolic county worthy of a visit – and a few night’s stay. Let Route 151 be your guiding star. For our adventure we allowed five days and four nights, and only scratched the surface, vowing to return to the places we discovered and those we’d heard about and missed. And although this is piece is entirely subjective, feel free to design your own trip by cherry-picking from our favorites.
 Farms dot the landscape on the Blue Ridge Once past the Manassas exit on Route 66, the road opens up to spectacular vistas, rolling countryside and the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bill Coffee’s family-owned Buckland Farm Market outside of Warrenton on Route 29, is always our first stop. The large farm store has a dizzying array of homemade cheeses, fresh fruits and veggies, plants and preserves, and more importantly, a wide array of mouth-watering baked goods. In autumn there are pumpkin turnovers and pumpkin whoopee pies along with Southern pecan and apple pies. You’ll also find the widest selection of Bob’s Red Mill products. If you’re on an overnight stay, bring a cooler and stop on the way home for farm-raised beef and eggs. The haunted corn field will open weekends throughout October and pick-your-own pumpkins are in the field now.
 The Spa at Wintergreen Resort After purchasing a few jars of local honey and the prerequisite snacks, we proceeded up the mountains to check in at Wintergreen Resort, heading post haste to the serenity of The Spa for massages. The full-service spa offers a variety of options and we chose a combination of Swedish, deep tissue and reflexology. The ‘Green Tea and Lemongrass’ stress-shedder includes a salt scrub, hot stones and Vichy shower for the ultimate in relaxation. From now till November the treatment switches over to the autumn-inspired ‘Pumpkin Chai’ sugar scrub. Afterwards don plush terry robes and relax with a cup of herbal tea in the lounge overlooking the woods, or a swim in the indoor pool. Finish your hydrotherapy in the steam room or sauna before heading off to dinner.
 Fresh cut bouquet from Pharsalia Wintergreen has several dining options and the Copper Mine Bistro in the heart of Blackrock Village is the homiest of all. Have breakfast here if you are planning on morning activities at the resort. Golf, tennis, mountain biking and skiing are the most vigorous activities, but for less of a workout there’s yoga, trail walking and swimming. Visit the Nature Center to learn about the flora and fauna and archeological history of the area. Guided walks leave from here or you can venture out on your own using their free trail maps.
Devil’s Grill is the resort’s fine dining restaurant. And as with the other four restaurants, guests can go casual, though here tables are dressed up with candles, flowers and white linens signaling a fancier repast. A new chef has arrived since we dined there in late June, but expect locally-sourced seasonal food with a gourmet flair.
The morning brought rain and mist and the fern-bordered path to the Copper Mine Bistro was dense with fog. Weather in the mountains has a habit of improving after a few hours and by the time breakfast was over the sun had broken through the clouds and we took off for the mountain course to make an early tee time.
 Devil’s Knob golf course Devil’s Knob is the most challenging of the two courses (18 holes at Devil’s Knob and 27 holes at Stoney Creek), and I’m afraid in our zeal we didn’t do it justice. But it was worth every scenic moment. Sitting at an elevation of 3,800 feet and cooler than its sister course, Stoney Creek (designed by Rees Jones), we found wildflowers and wildlife our chief distractions. This beautifully laid out Ellis Maples designed course takes advantage of the spectacular mountain views and rushing streams cascading down from the mountain tops.
 The cottage gardens at Basic Necessities Lunch brought us off the mountain to a small cottage surrounded by a lush perennial garden where we met Kay Pfaltz, an avowed Francophile with a joie de vivre that’s indelibly contagious.
 Let Kay Pfaltz choose your wine Kay is the author of the charming memoir Lauren’s Story: An American Dog in Paris and co-owner of Basic Necessities with Sallie Justice and Rosie Gantt. Together they helm this restaurant and retail store. The enchanting spot reflects a distinctly French flair drawn from Pfaltz’s years as a writer living out her dream in Paris with her adored beagle, Lauren.
 The shop at Basic Necessities In the front section the shop is filled with a wide array of cheeses, freshly baked baguettes, patés and sausages – perfect for pairing with wines from Pfaltz’s expertly selected collection.
Pfaltz, who pens a local wine column, makes her selections based on taste, style and affordability and I homed in on a few sumptuous, well-priced burgundies and a number of carefully curated Virginia wines from the Commonwealth’s better winemakers. Her clientele certainly benefits from her discriminating, Gallic-honed palate to guide them.
 Chocolate cake at Basic Necessities The dining area is in the back and overlooks more gardens. Provencal patterned tablecloths echo the French theme while floral print china and sprays of wildflowers in stone crocks adorn the tables. Lunches are served Tuesday through Sunday, with dinner service on Friday and Saturday nights only.
Thanks to Justice and Nelson County cook, Mae Collins Tyree, we were able to partake of a lovely French-inspired luncheon.
 Charcuterie platter at Basic Necessities I was particularly taken by the delicacy of a watermelon + tomato gazpacho, a classic Croque Madame and a lavish charcuterie platter with all the accoutrements. Pfaltz’s choice of a nice French rosé put us in mind of the French Riviera on a summer’s day. We capped off our French feast with a slice of richly dense and multi-layered chocolate cake.
Nelson County boasts ten wineries, three craft breweries, two cideries, one meadery and two distilleries. You will most assuredly not get to visit them all in one trip. We gave it our best shot and epically failed. However you choose to approach this tempting dilemma, it is ultimately more satisfying to focus on a few, all the better to savor the experience. In this way you’ll be able to spend quality time with folks eager to share their passion for the land and their commitment to their products.
 Tony and Elizabeth Smith at Afton Mountain Vineyards At Afton Mountain Vineyards winemakers Tony and Elizabeth Smith are proud owners of their upscale winery whose vines were planted in the 1970’s. Formerly known as Bacchanal Vineyards, the Charlottesville couple bought the vineyard in 2009, and doubled the acreage under vine. They expect their annual production of 2,200 bottles to increase to 5,000 in the next few years under the care and watchful eye of winemaker Damien Blanchon who hails from the South of France.
Currently the winery produces 15 varieties – something for everyone’s palate. Their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2012 Petit Verdot recently won gold at the 2016 Monticello Cup Wine Competition and they are exceedingly proud of being the area’s only producer of Pinot Noir.
 Enjoying a glass of Petit Verdot Reserve at Afton Mountain From the elevated tasting room on a drizzly afternoon you might see a group of horseback riders make their way across the vineyard.
 Riders tour the vineyards at Afton Mountain Vineyards Rebel’s Run at Afton Mountain is a nearby stable providing guided tours of the vineyard and the scenic countryside. Riders stop in to relax with a glass of wine beside the lake before heading back to the stables. ‘Sip and Saddle’ packages can be booked through the stables or local B&B’s who pack box lunches for the riders.
 Christine and Denver Riggleman beside casks of their aged bourbon A stop at the wildly successful upstart Silverback Distillery introduced us to Virginia-born owners Christine and Denver Riggleman. After years of living the transient military life and raising their three daughters, Denver offered his wife Christine the chance to choose their next path. To his utter surprise, she told him she wanted to start a distillery. Their daughters, who are very much hands on in the endeavor, voted on the nickname they had given their father, “Silverback”, after the massive gorilla – their term of endearment in reference to his large build. (He has since shed the excess pounds and it’s difficult to picture him as inspiration for the simian moniker.)
 The tasting lounge at Silverback Distillery Silverback Distillery opened for business less than two years ago and has already been the recipient of eight international awards. Combining a blend of Virginia grains with American craftsmanship, they currently offer Beringei Vodka, Strange Monkey Gin (winner of Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition), Blackback White Grain Spirit and Blackback Rye Whiskey. An aged bourbon is coming soon. Stop in for mini cocktails – the London Mule with gin, ginger beer and lime juice was our favorite quaff. They have limited distribution and most sales are here at the Tasting Room, so be sure to pick up a bottle or two to take home.
 Bold Rock’s Tasting Room Close by you’ll find two local craft cideries – Bold Rock Hard Cider uses 100% apples from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, while Blue Toad Hard Cider gets 100% of their apples from New York state. No concentrate bases whatsoever like the larger cideries. Farm to Tap.
 A worker checks the hoses on the tanks at Bold Rock Hard Cider Bold Rock is a massive operation with three locations in Virginia and one in North Carolina, while Blue Toad is a tiny speck on the map. Try them both and judge for yourself.
 The Tasting Room at Blue Toad Hard Cider If you’re looking for an active bar scene, Devils Backbone Brewing Company is nearby. This large craft brewery, recently purchased by Anheuser-Busch, is set on 100-acres of farmland with plenty of outdoor seating in its naturalistic gardens. Families congregate at the covered outdoor bar as children explore the paths.
 Barbecue at Devils Backbone The restaurant features sixteen beers on tap to pair with simple pub food.
 The restaurant at Devils Backbone Brewing Company If you’re lucky enough to be in Nelson County on a Saturday, head for the farmer’s market. Along with pretty flowers, fresh fruits, cheeses and veggies, you’ll find some unusual vendors like local bladesmith, T. Hipps, whose line of heirloom quality handmade cutlery called Karma Blades, will set you apart from the run-of-the-mill chef or hunter. Or Lynne Ross of La Sunflower who makes her beauty products with comfrey and other natural home grown herbs.
 Purple cauliflower from the season’s bounty Stop by Barefoot Bucha’s stand to try their organic kombucha made locally with organic ingredients and served on draft and pick up a homemade lemon meringue pie from The Hungry Fox.
 The James River Cut-ups entertain the crowd at the Nelson County Farmers Market Hopefully you brought a cooler to take home John and Jade Sonne’s organic pork, eggs and berries from Spruce Creek Farms and some kimchi and fermented drinks from Farmstead Ferments.
 Fermented vegetables from Gathered Threads Where else can you find okra hot dogs and cider brats? Why from The Rock Barn, of course. Other unique finds are fermented vegetables from Gathered Threads, who offer wide range of products from tsukemono, gingered carrots and apple & juniper sauerkraut.
 Essences from Primal Wisdom My personal favorite from Virginia Vinegar Works is ‘Blackberry Cabaret’. Not too sweet, not too tart – it’s the perfect addition to any kind of salad.
 Sandy Beebe shows her artwork And, if you want to know why painter and printmaker Sandy Beebe, whose works are reminiscent of Grandma Moses, moved to Nelson County, she’s at the market every Saturday and is delighted to chat about its charms.
 Mary Wolf owner of Wild Wolf Brewing Company All this food and no stove to cook it, was making us hungry. So turning back onto the Brew Ridge Trail we headed for lunch at Wild Wolf Brewing Company to meet owner Mary Wolf whose son Danny Wolf is the Master Brewer.
 Wild Wolf’s restaurant is housed in a restored schoolhouse This unique, eco-friendly, family-owned brewery, offers a wide array of beers and a restaurant housed in a former 1910 high school with wrap-around porches. Stroll around the 10-acre former garden center to enjoy ponds, a water wheel, a biergarten and rustic outbuildings.
 The Gazebo gardens at Wild Wolf The restaurant has an exceptional Head Chef in Chris Jack, and a talented Pastry Chef and Baker in Higgins Stewart, both of whom create truly memorable food. According to Mary two years ago she and Danny decided to go farm-to-fork. Now they send spent grain from their hops to a local farmer to feed his cattle in trade for beef.
 Herbed gazpacho ~ Shrimp and grits Eggs come from the chickens that live beneath their hops vines, and there’s a vegetable garden for much of the produce and summer herbs tucked into Jack’s dishes.
 Chickens feed on insects beneath the hops vines at Wild Wolf In the kitchen heritage breed Autumn Olive pigs are butchered for sausages and the ground pork is added to burgers. Grits are prepared using stone ground corn from the nearby Woodson’s Mill in Nelson County. The craveable, crisp-crusted cornbread brought steaming hot to the table in wire baskets, is made with Ula Tortilla’s organic, locally grown, non-GMO corn flour. This rustic restaurant retreat is a must stop for excellent, chef-driven local cuisine and hoppy IPAs made with Cascade hops used in their “Primal Instinct” IPA. We loved knowing Wild Wolf was selected as the Virginia Green Brewery of the Year.
 The Tasting Room at Democracy Vineyards Was it the wine or the beer? But somehow we missed the turnoff to Del Fosse Winery leading us to a scrappy little vineyard that hadn’t been on our radar. Democracy Vineyards may not be on many people’s list, but we loved its quirky theme and amazing collection of political memorabilia that lines the walls of the ultra-modern tasting room. Started by Susan Prokop and Jim Turpin on an old apple farm, Democracy now features eleven wines with such startling names as ‘Suffrage’, ‘Freedom’, ‘Magna Carta’ and ‘Velvet Revolution’. Be sure to taste their ‘Parliament’ 100% Petit Verdot dessert wine, and ‘Freedom’ a ‘Pinotage’ varietal.
A short drive away is the Virginia Distillery Company, where the elegantly furnished Visitor’s Center signals this luxury brand. This summer the company launched ‘The Virginia Whisky Experience’, a one-of-a-kind guided interactive tour and museum experience for its visitors. It includes a tour of the state-of-the-art distillery and the Cask House ending in a tasting of their Virginia Highland Malt and a sampling of their craft cocktails either in the Visitors’ Center or on a 2,000-foot patio replete with water and fire features.
 Inside the distillery Fed by seven converging springs, the distillery was the dream of George G. Moore, an American visionary who was determined to see Virginia whisky come back to an area once better known for its Prohibition Era stills. Moore died three years ago and the project was taken up by his son, Gareth Moore and wife, Maggie, who have shown the same pioneering determination. While VDC’s whisky was aging in used bourbon casks for a minimum of three years, they began distilling and aging their Virginia Scotch Whisky in the Scottish Highlands and shipping it back to Lovingston, finishing here in port-style wine casks where it will age for six to twelve months. Not all the malted barley will come from Virginia, as there are not enough local farmers able to fulfill their needs, so most will be sourced from Scotland’s famed Boby malt mill.
 Guests settle in for a tasting of Virginia Highland Malt Until their on-site product has aged completely, the tasting room offers the Scottish-distilled Virginia Highland Malt in a number of specialty cocktails. We particularly enjoyed the ‘South of Manhattan’ which we paired with their specialty Gearhart’s Chocolates Whisky Truffle made with their Highland Malt and sold in the gift shop.
 Carol mixes the ‘South of Manhattan’ ‘South of Manhattan’ Cocktail from Virginia Distillery
- 4 ounces Virginia Sparkling Cider
- 1/2 ounce Luxardo cherry juice
- 2 dashes cardamom bitters
- 2 ounces Virginia Highland Malt Whisky
- Orange peel
- Luxardo cherry, for garnish
 South of Manhattan In a shaker, mix together cider, cherry juice and bitters. Add two ice cubes and the Virginia Highland Malt Whisky. Stir and strain into a coupe glass. Rub the rim of the coupe glass with the orange peel and garnish with the Luxardo cherry and the orange peel.
 Fourth generation owner Jim Saunders Jim Saunders is the fourth-generation owner of Saunders Brothers founded in 1915. The affable farmer took time to drive us in his bright red truck through hundreds of acres of peach, apple and Asian pear orchards plus 36 varieties of boxwoods. (You’ve probably seen their boxwoods in the White House gardens, planted during the Kennedy administration.)
Bouncing along the rutted farm roads, Jim regaled us with tales of the 1200-acre Nelson County farm. Jim’s father, Paul Saunders, is the family genealogist and successful author, penning two wonderful books, “Heartbeats of Nelson”, a fascinating 634-page photo-filled anthology on the history of the county and its people, beginning in pre-Civil War times to the present day. His second book, “Down on the Farm”, tells the history of the Saunders’ family life and the business of running the farm. You can get pleasantly lost in these emotionally-connected stories of life and times by the Piney River.
 Author Paul Saunders – Heartbeat of Nelson & Down on the Farm We finished the tour in the farm store with Homestead Creamery’s delicious homemade peach ice cream from their Farm Market and left toting a basket of early yellow Sentry peaches destined for our cobblers. Look for Saunders peaches, apples and pears at Whole Foods. Their Albemarle Pippin was Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple and is great for baking as well as cider.
 Early season Sentry peaches The Rock-n-Creek Cabin is the most unique accommodation I have ever come across. A rustic two-level A-frame cabin with wraparound porches, it is set in the woods and encircled by a series of ponds. And though I was not particularly keen on the unidentifiable insects flitting around the bathroom floor, it’s more luxurious than camping out.
 Amid his oak baskets Christy gets to work on a new decoy. Host and owner Richard Christy is a renaissance man. He is an accomplished chef, caterer, self-taught decoy and shorebird carver, and basket weaver. His Buck Island Bay Decoys and Mountain Man Basketry studio is adjacent to the cabin. I tell you this because you will be interacting with him as he prepares your dinner. He is a font of information about the area’s wonders and a fascinating conversationalist. As a former chef to Gerald Ford, he has helmed many restaurant kitchens around the country and continues to consult on new food products for major producers.
 Richard Christy Chef/Owner of Rock-n-Creek Cabin with the first course Back to the experience. When booking your reservation, Christy will ask what style of cuisine you would like him to prepare. In my case I left it to him, and after he had checked out this website, he decided he would do something un-restaurant-like and totally out of the ordinary, choosing to prepare a “wildcrafted” dinner sourced entirely from wild edibles – with the exception of the vanilla, flour and sugar used in the dessert.
Our dinner was entitled ‘WILD THING – I Think I Love You’ and Christy presented us with a beautifully printed menu of our three-course dinner.
As we sipped our wine from barstools looking through to the open kitchen, the pony-tailed chef tossed freshly foraged salad greens – creek lettuce, lamb’s quarters, dandelion, chicory and cattail hearts – topping them with grated pickled duck egg, toasted pumpkin seeds and buttermilk dressing. Our palate refresher was “Apple Pie Moonshine”, his signature concoction of homemade moonshine, cinnamon and apple cider. Strong medicine meant for those who spend the day foraging and hunting in the woods as opposed to tooling around country roads in an air-conditioned SUV.
 Blue catfish entree We took our seats in candlelight while Christy prepared our next course – blue catfish filets in brown butter on creamed ramps and nettles, finished with preserved fig. A side of savory sweet potato and caramelized onion puree added sweetness and extra complexity. It was divine!
 Pound cake with wild blackberries, honeysuckle crema and spruce tip ice cream Dessert was a harmonious medley of foraged ingredients. Dense pound cake served with stewed wild blackberries and enhanced with honeysuckle crema and hand-churned spruce tip ice cream. I can assert without equivocation that I have never enjoyed a meal more uniquely delectable.
The cabin with its full-sized kitchen has all the amenities you’ll need whether your bringing the whole family or looking for a romantic getaway for two.
 A small group of visitors await a tour of Swannanoa Palace High atop the Blue Ridge Mountains sits Swannanoa Palace – one of those intriguing places, you never knew existed.
 A view from the mountaintop at Swannanoa Built in 1912 to replicate the style of the Villa Medici in Italy’s famed Borghese Gardens, millionaire philanthropist and railroad magnate James H. Dooley and his wife Sallie May used the 22,000-square foot Italian Renaissance Revival villa as their summer mountaintop retreat. (You may be more familiar with the Dooleys’ better known Maymont home and gardens set beside the James River in Richmond.) It is divinely lavish with exquisite frescoes, carvings and massive fireplaces of Sienna and Carrara marble. Hidden doors and a secret elevator are revealed to the curious visitor, and the incongruous ‘Persian Smoking Room’ features teakwood carvings, mosaics and a mosque fresco above the fireplace. An exquisite Moorish lantern, bejeweled with sapphires, rubies, amber and opals, hangs above the exotic decor.
 Architectural details abound in the decaying palace – A bejeweled Moorish lantern lights up the ‘Persian Smoking Room’ The 52-room Afton mansion appears to be haunted and one group claims evidence of the ghost of Sallie May. A few years ago a team of ghost hunters from the Twisted Paranormal Society set up night beams and recording equipment in the mansion claiming to have recorded spirits within. One year later they returned under the auspices of another paranormal show called The R. I. P. Files attempting to identify the ghosts who reside there.
 The expansive pergola depicted in the Tiffany window has fallen into disrepair The white marble palace is mostly abandoned, but guided tours of the ground floor and gardens are given seasonally from May through November on Saturdays and Sundays.
 A Tiffany window at the top of the grand stairway portrays Sallie May Dooley in her gardens at Swannanoa On our tour Victoria Airisun Wonderli, author of Swannanoa Palace – A Pictorial History of the Past and People, was busy signing her fascinating book on the history of the mansion. There is currently no website for the property. For information on visiting hours call 540 942.5201.
 Author Victoria Airisun Wonderli signs her book on Swannanoa It was high time to shed any notions of ghosts and spirits and things that go bump in the night. And what better way to exorcise the demons than a glass of wine and a spot of lunch?
 Cardinal Point’s grounds provide stunning views of the mountains When we arrived for lunch on Sunday two musicians were playing mellow tunes on the deck at Cardinal Point Winery. Overlooking gardens abloom with roses and daylilies, we settled into a spacious sofa feeling carefree and peaceful.
As the duo took requests, we gobbled up a delicious box lunch of salad and sandwich while alternating between Vinho Verde-styled, ‘Green’ and a lively estate-grown Cab Franc rosé. Ginger and Maya chocolate bars from Gearhart, the Richmond-based artisanal chocolatier, were the sweet finish.
 Lunch on the covered deck at Cardinal Point Winery During lunch, Sarah Gorman, sister of owner Tim Gorman, spoke with us about the evolution of her brother’s vineyard which currently has 15 acres under vine.
She told us how Tim, one of a smattering of Virginia owners who is also a grower, came to be a winemaker. Tim is known for his fresh and innovative takes on classic vinifera, and naturally is very passionate about the growing side of things. Gorman got into winemaking as a result of being frustrated by how the grapes he was growing for other vineyards were not being honored. A creative winemaker, he prefers to ‘read’ the grapes when they are ready. This tells him what kind of wine to make as opposed to having to force a grape to become something other than what it should be.
In a small winery such as this, he can come up with innovations, and he does. His ‘Clay Hill’ Cabernet Franc, made with grapes from a neighboring vineyard, was a 2016 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medal winner. A classic Loire Valley style, it has also done well in international competition. Be sure to sample some of these unique wines unknown to other Virginia wineries – like the 2014 ‘Quattro’ made from Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Viognier and Traminette grapes for an off-dry wine with notes of candied apple and pear.
 Wine and chocolates at Cardinal Point Winery Interpreting how each fruit has evolved in a season allows Tim to inform his winemaking decisions. For his 2015 ‘Frai Chardonnay’, a wine with peach, pear and tropical notes, he stopped the ferment short of dry, leaving it with only 2% of residual sugar. Sarah mentioned that the 2015 unoaked ‘Hopped Chardonnay’ is flying out of the tasting room with buyers surprised at how differently a chardonnay grape can be expressed.
The winery also features a five-bedroom 19th century farmhouse for overnight stays. Check the website for upcoming events.
After doing a bit of shopping at Tuckahoe Antique Mall, we pressed on to Veritas Winery where we would spend our final night. No, not in a vat of grapes, but at the bespoke Farmhouse at Veritas.
 The flower filled pergola greets visitors to Veritas Winery What we came upon was a breathtaking winery with vast expanses of green lawns, acres and acres of vines and a production facility that sustains a wine-drinking clientele of over 3,000 club members and boasts a grand ballroom for weddings and large events.
 The busy tasting room at Veritas Winery Founded by Andrew and Patricia Hodson, a British couple who moved to the county to lead a quieter life, they thought they’d put a few acres under vine. In a short time, their flight of fancy became one of the most successful, and stunning, wineries in Virginia with many of their family members filling the roles of winemaker and managers. We took a lengthy tour of the production facilities which are vast. And though I took reams of notes, most are cryptically abbreviated. Here’s what I can be sure of. All their grapes are grown in the Monticello AVA, which consists of four counties including Nelson, and they bottled and sold their first wines, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, in 2002. Their philosophy is to exclusively use estate or local grapes and they are most excited about a merlot they are testing using grape pomace (the skins, pulp and seeds from grapes).
 Sheep graze alongside the vines at Veritas As for the technical stuff, they employ a reverse osmosis machine and a state-of-the-art gyro cube for riddling and they are very proud of their gravity-fed vineyard. I felt myself going into shutdown mode, either from too much technical stuff, or the fact that we had come inside to refrigerated cellars from 98-degree heat.
The tasting went swiftly as I passed over some too young reds to get to the best of the lot. The 2014 ‘Vinter’s Reserve’ Red is their most promising wine right now, as the 2013 cuvee won the Gold Medal at the Governor’s Cup and I found the 2013 Petit Verdot to be coming along nicely. I had a particular affinity for the 2015 Viognier which is touted as cellaring well, and a more delicate than expected version of ice wine called ‘Kenmar’.
 The Farmhouse at Veritas We checked into The Farmhouse at Veritas, more of a bespoke estate home, elegantly appointed with walls of books, an old-fashioned billiard table in the Gathering Room and fine antiques. High-end decorator touches grace the eight suites that are outfitted with high-quality linens and premium amenities. Not your typical roadside B&B, the 1839 home was where the Hodson family lived when they first took ownership of the former horse and cattle farm. Guests can also opt for ‘The Barn Cottage’, a charming two-bedroom, two-bath cottage with a fireplace in the living room and a full-size kitchen available for guests.
 Outdoor dining at Blue Mountain Brewery As much as I preferred to luxuriate in such splendor and sneak off with a book to the second-story front porch, we took off down the road for dinner at the Blue Mountain Brewery where we arrived in time to watch the sun set. The award-winning brewery is proud of its 20 varieties of craft beers made with their own hops, Simcoe, Cascade and Centennial, and using deep well water as well as brewing exclusively in Nelson County since 2007.
 Combo pizza at Blue Mountain Brewery Char-grilled pizzas and burgers including plenty of vegan options are made from scratch and designed to pair well with a myriad of beers. (Local wines and even kombucha are available too.) We sat on the outdoor terrace watching kids run around the lawn while a lively group played cornhole. Check the website for upcoming Oktoberfest events.
 The potager garden and dining gazebo at The Farmhouse at Veritas Morning at The Farmhouse brought a champagne breakfast of fresh fruits, croissants and omelets prepared to your liking by the estate’s chef. We eschewed the screened-in porch to enjoy the pleasures of a large brick-floor gazebo. Surrounded by the raised beds of the kitchen garden and row upon row of Chardonnay vines we whiled away the hour sipping the aforementioned Mousseux while butterflies and honeybees flit about the roses and coneflowers. A very civilized way to begin the day before returning homeward. Check the website for upcoming yoga and hiking retreats.
Jordan Wright
August 15, 2016
Special to The Alexandria Times
 Annapolis Harbor Although Annapolis is a hop, skip and a jump away, I thought it would be fun to give it more than a cursory visit and include some nightlife, wine life and a bit of water-centric fun. To that end we booked a few nights at the recently newly redecorated Annapolis Waterfront Hotel.
 The newly redecorated rooms at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel Now part of Marriott International’s prestigious Autograph Collection brand, known for its spectacular portfolio of luxury hotels around the world, the hotel reflects a decidedly contemporary nautical air with stunning rooms overlooking the town’s main harbor. As the only hotel overlooking the waterfront, its central location allows visitors to walk to shops, restaurants and historical attractions. Travelers will be pleased to know they still provide all of the benefits of Marriott Rewards program. Boaters will love that it has its own dockage.
 Harbor view from the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel In the past we have enjoyed Sunday brunch at the hotel’s Pusser’s Caribbean Grille with its waterfront dining and lively bar. Named for the 350-year old West Indian rum brand, their rum-based drinks are delicious and potent. Be sure to snag a bottle of their newest release called Gunpowder Proof from the onsite Pusser’s Company Store. You’ll be among the first to try it. This 109-proof dark rum has only been available stateside for one month.
- Hot Tip: When booking your accommodations be sure to inquire about the hotel’s special partnership with the Naval Academy. The “Exactly Like Nothing Else” package, allows overnight guests an opportunity to dine at the Alley Restaurant in the historic wood-paneled Officer’s Club. Dining in the club is an exclusive privilege normally reserved for Navy families.
Sightseeing
No visit to Annapolis is complete without a trip to the Naval Academy located in the heart of town. Our lively guide was Mike Zitzman who regaled us with curious backstories and little known facts on the history of the 338-acre property as well as the program for midshipmen (women are called midshipmen too). Did you know that during their training each cadet must wear a water-filled fanny pack? This new regulation was implemented to ensure cadets are not dehydrated while practicing their drills.
 Cadets rest between drills at Halsey Field House On the day we visited the temperature rose to a brutal 98 degrees. Thankfully we weren’t the ones sporting heavy cotton uniforms and rifles over our shoulders. Another fascinating factoid: The Navy has more pilots than the Air Force. (Hint: Pilots, not aircraft.) And the Army has more boats than the Navy. (Hint: The Navy calls them “ships”.)
 The domed ceiling in the Naval Chapel On campus many of the buildings, including the dormitories housing over 4,000 students, are open to the public. Check out the museum at Preble Hall for paintings, antique model ships and fascinating salvaged artifacts, and the awe-inspiring Main Chapel to see the largest pipe organ in America and marvel at its massive Tiffany stained glass windows.
 A Tiffany window in the Naval Chapel Beneath the chapel you’ll view the crypt and marble sarcophagus of Commodore John Paul Jones, the most celebrated Revolutionary War naval hero. There is also the Levy Center, a place of worship for midshipmen of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. Book this special guided tour through the hotel or drop in at the Armel-Leftwish Visitor Center.
 The marble sarcophagus of John Paul Jones A 3-mile drive from town is Great Frogs Winery, a 100-year old former tobacco farm with placid views of the rolling countryside. Located on the Chesapeake Bay, its rustic tasting room is housed in a former tobacco drying barn.
 The converted tobacco barn at Great Frogs winery Arriving at the height of a summer downpour proved to be a cozy complement to our tasting as we relaxed to the sound of the rain hitting the tin roof.
 Let the tasting begin at Great Frogs The winery is run by Californians, Nathaniel O’Shea and Andrea O’Shea, who have planted a wide variety of grapes in this sandy Maryland soil. We especially liked their 2014 Vintner’s White and an exceptional aged port straight from the barrel.
 The delicious cheese and charcuterie platter It is a fine place to while away an afternoon over delicious locally-sourced cheese and charcuterie. As the rain subsided and the sun glistened over the vines, we were treated to a double rainbow. How lucky can you get?
 A double rainbow seen from Great Frogs Getting out on the water is part of the adventure and there are a number of options to choose from. If you’re a fan of standup paddleboarding (SUP), the latest form of exercise is yoga sessions on SUPs. Head over to Capital SUP to see professional paddleboard racer Brian Meyer. His boathouse is in town on Spa Creek beside his stepfather Barry Levinson’s beautiful grey-shingled home.
 Paddleboarders gather for morning yoga on Spa Creek If you prefer a captain at the helm of your ship, go big – as in a 74-foot double masted wooden schooner rigged with four sails. From the hotel’s docks catch the breeze on The Woodwind and sail the Chesapeake Bay on a two-hour cruise. Book the special “Wine in the Wind” tour on August 28th. This French Burgundy tasting with hors d’oeuvres is a three-hour cruise. If you’re staying at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel where the ship docks, be sure to ask for the special room + sail rate.
 The Temptations perform at the Ram’s Head When the sun goes down there’s plenty of entertainment nearby. Plan ahead for the hottest musical acts at the Ram’s Head Tavern (we caught The Temptations in their sold-out show). Or head to the Infinity Theatre Company. A 15-minute drive from town, it features New York theatre and children’s shows. Another option is the award-winning Colonial Players who will feature Martin McDonagh’s dark, Irish comedy, The Cripple of Inishmaan, beginning September 9th and running through October 1st. Not to be ignored are the Compass Rose Theatre, Annapolis Opera, Ballet Theatre of Maryland and the Annapolis Shakespeare Company. For tickets and more info on these venues visit www.InfinityTheatre.com
Dining
Annapolis has always been tops in seafood restaurants, and frankly, a lot of us come here for the sweet Maryland blue crabs, the famed rockfish and the oysters, many of which are harvested from the world’s largest man-made oyster reef.
Many visitors go for fish and chips at the laidback Galway Bay Irish Pub or seafood-centric Carrol’s Creek Café for fine dining (reserve ahead for a waterside table) and Blackwall Hitch, whose latest outpost is on the harbor in Alexandria, Virginia. But if you’ve visited before, you may want to explore.
 Michelle and Jeremy Hoffman of Preserve restaurant Thanks to some insider tips, we made our way to Preserve, a rustic modern outpost for canned, pickled and fermented vegetable dishes from Restaurant Eve alums, Jeremy Hoffman and Michelle Hoffman. Jeremy informs his cooking from his Pennsylvania Dutch background, elevating homey small plates to a modern sensibility.
 The bar at Preserve Start with a few of his tangy-sweet pickled offerings. The relish dish features Old Bay Turnips, Bread and Butter Green Tomatoes, BBQ Carrots, Bloody Mary Celery, Soy Ginger Daikon and Beets lavished with dill weed. I was imagining how nicely they’d pair with wintertime fare when fresh vegetables are out of season and hearty meat dishes can be enhanced with a touch of acidity.
 Minced Pork Lettuce Wraps at Preserve Next set your sights on some tweaked out starters like Kimchi or Minced Pork Lettuce Wraps with peanuts, cilantro and red onion. The servings are small, so you’ll want to order a few things.
 An assortment of “ferments” at Preserve The menu lists a number of meat dishes to choose from (the house made liverwurst called to me). Vegans will delight in discovering the Oyster Mushroom Po’boy. I savored the Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie with its golden crust.
Jeremy’s Cabbage Alley line of raw, vegan and gluten-free “ferments” – sauerkraut, kimchi and curtido – are available by the jar.
 Breakfast at Chick & Ruth’s Delly Another unique spot is the iconic Chick & Ruth’s Delly, which is not spelled “deli”, though it certainly is. This beloved four-generation establishment is the be-all, end-all of Jewish delis. Unfortunately, many of these wonderful outposts of traditional Jewish cookery have gone out of business, yet this stalwart is still going strong. Why? Well, I’d say it’s because they don’t stint on friendliness, food or quality. The waitresses are cheery, the platters are heroic and the homemade pies are legendary. With twenty-four flavors to choose from, the pie menu alone is testament to Chick and Ruth’s patriotic commitment to freedom of choice.
 The Governor’s Table As a popular hangout for the capital’s lawmakers, politicians’ photos line the walls going back to the 60’s. There’s even a specially reserved table for the Governor’s Office, be they Republican or Democrat. Townsfolk will tell you that every newly elected governor has come here and stood beside both locals and out-of-towners to salute the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance on their first day in office. You too can participate in this unique observance every weekday morning at 8:30am.
 Classic Smoked Salmon on an ET bagel Though featured on the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food for 6-pound milkshakes and a 3-pound “Super-Duper Colossal” cheeseburger, we nonetheless settled for something far less challenging. After all it was breakfast and, though you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, a cheeseburger in the morning wasn’t exactly what we had in mind.
 Owner Ted Levitt inspects the morning’s bread. All pastries, breads, bagels, pies and cookies are baked on premises My advice? Go for the Belgian waffles with homemade fruit toppings, the smoked salmon with all the accoutrements served on an epic in-house made bagel, or the Maryland lump crabmeat omelets.
 Settle in with Pork Chops, Grits and Scrambled Eggs at Chick & Ruth’s A particularly ravenous member of our group bit the bullet and happily chowed down on a duet of pork chops with creamy grits and hash brown potatoes. Savvy travelers will take home at least one of those splendid pies and a dozen bagels.
Heads Up for the Labor Day Sailboat Races
For sailing enthusiasts, the 2016 Annapolis Labor Day Sailing Regatta is a great opportunity to see sailboat racing in action. Hosted by the Annapolis Yacht Club, the Eastport Yacht Club and the Gibson Island Squadron, the races will be held on Saturday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 4th. For more information call Kathy Parks at 443 386-9057 or visit www.AnnapolisYC.com/racing
Photo credit ~ Jordan Wright
Jordan Wright
February 29, 2016
Photo credit: Jordan Wright
 Along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way County Donegal, a windswept land of mountains and coastal cliffs, meadows and quaint fishing villages is finally getting its due as one of the most beautiful and unspoiled destinations in the world. Not only does it offer up its mysteries to those interested in probing its rich heritage, but it affords a myriad of activities for those seeking adventure.
 Pastoral Scene of the Fanad Peninsula Depending on your interest, in a single day you can take in a night of music in a lively pub, explore ancient ruins, hike a mountain passage or loll about at tea time in the posh drawing room of a turreted castle.
 Eventide in Moville For some it’s a round of golf with sweeping sea views, a feast of mussels and lobsters from the daily catch, or surfing the waves along a Blue Flag beach. Others are drawn to the music. Donegal is where New Age songstress Enya launched her career in a pub owned by her musical family the Brennan’s, and a place where on any given night, fiddlers and balladeers still raise the rooftops at local watering holes. There’s so much to enjoy if you remember that getting there is part of the adventure.
 The blue waters of Mulroy Bay You’ll find the Irish are genuinely keen to meet strangers – like our chance encounter with a pair of octogenarians who giggled like schoolgirls and chatted us up when they heard our American accents, or the shopkeeper who poured generous shots from a bottle of homemade poitín, Ireland’s answer to white lightening.
 Wild crocosmia Traveling along well-paved highways the land spreads out like one great patterned tablecloth – the undulating hills and roadsides ablaze with color. Mile after mile claims great swaths of purple heather, vivid orange crocosmia and bright yellow gorse bowing to the breeze. Sheep are ubiquitous dotting the fields under a vast horizon bisected by impossibly blue skies. Even on a misty day it’s beguiling.
 Sheep graze atop the headland on Arranmore Island It’s a mystical land of ancient Druids and conquering Vikings, of ruling dynasties and the chieftain families of the O’Neills and O’Donnells. From the sea we get tales of Spanish Armada ships wrecked on northernmost shores and from the land mystical histories of burial mounds older than the pyramids of Egypt are revealed. It is known to travelers as the Wild Atlantic Way. And it is where our adventure unfolds.
Oh, the things you can do in five days! It is wondrous.
 The Grianan of Aileach From Dublin go north through County Meath and its alluring horse country, and beyond through the counties of Monaghan, Tyrone and Strabane, to make your first stop at the Grianan of Aileach, a stone ringfort built in the Neolithic age and linked to the Tuatha de Danann. A short walk down the hill beside a small spring, will take you to a small wooden cross that marks St. Patrick’s Well, a spot it is thought that St. Patrick visited in the 5th century.
 Connemara ponies beside the bay Overnight in Moville at the oceanfront 17th century Redcastle Hotel. The property features a luxury spa that uses 100% organic seaweed-based Voya beauty products, a 9-hole parkland golf course and an indoor Thalasso pool overlooking the waters of Lough Foyle. Its in-season menu highlights locally sourced food elegantly prepared. www.RedcastleHotelDonegal.com
 View from the greens at Greencastle Golf Club along Silver Strand Beach In the morning set off along the windswept northern coastlines across the Inishowen Peninsula between Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly, stopping first in Greencastle. Here you can visit the local Moville Pottery, play a round of golf at the Greencastle Golf Club on Silver Strand Beach at Sweet Nellie’s Cove (call ahead to pre-arrange) and tour the Inishowen Maritime Museum & Planetarium. www.InishowenMaritime.com
 Brian McDermott’s Cooking School Lunch brought us to the outskirts of the small town of Carrownaffe where well-known BBC-TV chef Brian McDermott, fondly known as the “No Salt Chef”, welcomed us to his cookery school in a charming clapboard cottage surrounded by herb and vegetable gardens. McDermott triumphs a no-salt diet created as a result of personal health issues.
 (L-R) Fish course at the cooking school ~ Berry crumble for the class Focusing predominantly on seafood, the chef also offers a “Catch It, Cook It” experience that combines a kayak or canoe fishing trip with a hands-on demonstration on how to prepare your catch. Don’t be surprised to see playful porpoises, dolphins and whales breaching along the coastline. The subsequent three-course luncheon is the main attraction. www.TheNoSaltChef.com www.InishAdventures.com
 Fort Dunree Known as “Grey Fort” or “Fort of the Heather”, Fort Dunree is a former coastal defense fortification in nearby Buncrana overlooking the Lough Swilly fjord. Built by the British in the early 1800’s, it offers a small, yet fascinating, military museum that spans the period from Viking invaders to present day.
 The 90 cm carbon arc searchlight Of special interest is a large collection of artillery guns and a 205-year old carbon arc searchlight, still in use today. www.Dunree.pro.ie
Stop in the pretty village of Buncrana where you’ll find plenty of pubs and shops and the restored St. Mary’s Hall Cinema built in 1904.
 Potted agapanthus at Rathmullan House Listed in Ireland’s Blue Book of Irish Country House, Historic Hotels and Restaurants is the four-star Rathmullan House, a stunning Georgian manor with bespoke gardens, modern amenities and an exceptional cuisine.
 A view of the gardens at Rathmullan House Breakfast is a stunner with Irish cheeses, fresh ham, homemade brown bread, flapjacks, bowls of fresh berries and house-made granola. www.RathmullanHouse.com
 A pub in the wee village of Buncrana Before leaving Rathmullan take a tour of the Kinegar Craft Beer Brewery. One of the founders of the Wild Atlantic Way Craft Beer Trail which boasts 13 small craft breweries, it is located at the end of a narrow country lane surrounded by fields, farms and horses. This small but productive popular brewery is the epitome of a family-run operation. www.KinegarBrewing.ie
 (L-R) Off to market ~ The barns outside Kinegar Brewery Traveling along the Fanad Peninsula to the lighthouse, stop at Ballyhiernan Bay. Over a mile long, the dune-backed beach is the perfect stroll before lunch.
 The dunes leading to Ballyhiernan Bay Though Donegal features 11 lighthouses, the one on the Fanad Peninsula is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Perched atop the heart-poundingly spectacular cliffs of Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay, the iconic lighthouse has its own heliport.
 The Fanad Lighthouse and heliport With advance booking you can overnight in the cozy efficiency and awake to the sound of giant waves crashing up against the rocks plus a vista of unimaginable beauty. www.FanadLighthouse.com
On the way to Churchill and Glenveagh Castle note the Derryveagh Mountains rising in the distance. You’ll be passing thousands of acres of bogs where turf is still harvested to heat homes. Set on a high promontory along Lough Veagh, the castle is part of the Glenveagh National Park and the Donegal Garden Trail.
 The walled gardens and greenhouses of Glenveagh Castle Once there, take a guided tour of the antique-filled rooms of the Scottish baronial style mansion house, the Victorian walled gardens and the greenhouses. The former estate and hunting lodge of the heir to the McIlhenny Tabasco fortune, it was constructed in 1869 and visited by American film stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin.
 One of the drawing rooms at Glenveagh Castle This 40,000-acre setting, framed by the Dooish and Staghall mountains, has its own herd of red deer who drink from the clear waters of the lough. You can learn more at the Visitor’s Center about the park’s recent project to reintroduce the Golden Eagle to Ireland. Take time for a spot of tea and freshly made scones at the café where tiny birds flutter in and out among the tables. www.GlenveaghNationalPark.ie www.DonegalGardenTrail.com
On Main Street in the former fishing village of Dunfanaghy is Arnold’s Hotel, a cozy, well-located, family-run hotel with views of the bay. After check-in head off for dinner at The Singing Pub and Ocras Café in Downings on Sheephaven Bay.
 The daily catch served in copper-lidded tureens at the Ocras Cafe There you’ll find a welcoming peat-burning fireplace, seafood fresh off the boat and lively music by local bands.
 (L-R) A typical jam at The Singing Pub ~ The peat burning fireplace at The Singing Pub Nautical décor includes a lifebuoy from the Titanic. On the night we visited, bracketed between traditional Irish folk music and American country ballads, we heard a beautiful young lass sing a haunting rendition of Patsy Cline’s “I Can’t Help It”. www.ArnoldsHotel.com www.SingingPub.ie
 Riders head out to the shoals of Killahoey Strand After a traditional Irish breakfast, walk behind the hotel to find the stables. Snag a helmet and boots from the tack room and saddle up to take a guided group ride into the shoals of of Killahoey Strand along Dunfanaghy Bay. www.DunfanaghyStables.com
 On the ferry to the island Heading off to Burtonport the Errigal Mountains loom largely over the bucholic terrain. At the harbor catch the 15-minute ferry ride to Arranmore Island, a scenic island boasting a population of around 600 residents, which swells to nearly a thousand in summers as visitors come to the traditional Gaeltacht schools to learn the Irish language.
 The harbor at Burtonport Aboard the ferry you’ll probably share a bench with adorable Irish-speaking children who make the daily round trip to schools on the mainland. For daily ferry schedules visit www.ArranmoreFerry.com.
 Jimmy the Sheep Once on the island you’re in the town of Leabgarrow. Head to GrassRoutes to rent electric bicycles to reach the headlands on self-guided tours. www.GrassRoutes.ie. Keep an eye out for Jimmy, the cutest black-faced sheep on the island. Scuba and sea angling charters leave daily from the harbor. And if birding’s on your agenda, tour the neighboring chain of islands by charter boat. www.DiveArranmore.com
Once back on the mainland it’s time for a pint of Guinness or a perfectly made Irish coffee topped with soft whipped cream at Leo’s Tavern in Meenaleck.
 Making the perfect Irish coffee at Leo’s Tavern Named after Leo Brennan, an accomplished musician and father of the iconic singer Enya, the large pub is lined with her celebrity photos and framed platinum and gold records. www.LeosTavern.com
 Harvey’s Point Lodge For timelessly elegant dining and world-class wines, make reservations far in advance for the ever-popular Harvey’s Point Lodge. Situated along Lough Eske, the hotel’s restaurant, calls its dining experience, “Cuisine Art” and offers a dinner cabaret on Wednesday nights.
 (L-R) Local fish and clams with oranges and roasted beets ~ Irish beef with foie gras and local vegetables at Harvey’s Point ~ Meringue atop coconut pie with lime and strawberry sauce Should you choose to overnight here, the suites in this award-winning hotel are spacious and luxurious. www.HarveysPoint.com
 Solis Lough Eske Castle Solis Lough Eske Castle is framed by the Blue Stack Mountains on one side and the lough on the other. A five-star property, it is a peerless example of a Tudor-baronial castle.
 Tea time at the Solis Locke Eske Castle Take time to stroll the 41-acre woodlands and enjoy the spa and indoor pool. Breakfast is lavish and features fresh fruits, locally smoked salmon and made-to-order omelets. www.SolisHotels.com/lougheskecastle/
 (L-R) The manor at Salthill Gardens ~ Guarding the manor at Salthill was this terrifying clutch of tailwaggers A half-hour’s drive away outside the village of Mountcharles, lie the perennial-filled gardens of Salthill with its striking seaside views and fields of meadow grasses overlooking Donegal Bay.
 A riot of color in the gardens at Salthill Wander through mown paths lined with ferns and wildflowers and take in the aroma of 19th century roses that flourish on stone arches in the walled gardens.
 A bowl of shells adorns a window ledge inside the potting shed These exceptionally curated gardens with charming potting shed for visitors, are overseen by Elizabeth Temple who resides in the mansion house and can often be found tending to its glories. www.DonegalGardens.com
 (L-R) Eithna’s ~ The dining room at Eithna’s By the Sea Traveling to Mullaghmore in nearby Sligo County is Eithna’s by the Sea run by Eithna O’Sullivan and Prannie Rattigan of Prannie’s Irish Seaweed Kitchen. Rattigan is a medical doctor by trade and an expert in edible seaweed who lectures at conferences around the world on the benefits of algae, more familiarly known as seaweed.
 A bounty of seaweed ready for the kitchen Over 600 species of marine algae can be found off Irish shores. Here they are sustainably harvested along the Atlantic coast where their vitamin and mineral-enriched flavors appear in delicately prepared seafood dishes.
 (L-R) (L-R) Crab and seaweed with lemon foam ~ Crab and seaweed with lemon foam ~ Fish and shellfish form a delicious relationship Be sure to sample one of her homemade cakes and take home a bottle or two of hand-harvested dried seaweed. Nori, kombu, sea lettuce, dulse and wakame are available for purchase. www.EithnasRestaurant.com
 The Spanish Armada Trail After lunch tour the Spanish Armada Trail on foot, on horseback or by kayak along the tidal lagoons with Maritime Archaeologist Auriel Robinson of Sea Trails. www.Seatrails.ie
Close by Dublin’s airport in Meath, but a world away from the hustle and bustle, is the opulent, Georgian period Dunboyne Castle, a magnificent property with spa and lovely gardens. Relax in this former home of the Lord of Dunboyne before your flight home.
 Courtesy of Dunboyne Castle Hotel www.DunboyneCastleHotel.com
For direct flights to Dublin from Dulles Airport visit www.AerLingus.com. For further information on traveling the Wild Atlantic Way, visit www.WildAtlanticway.com.
Jordan Wright
October 14, 2015
Special to The Alexandria Times
Richmond is getting a lot of ink from around the country as it blossoms into a desirable destination for seasoned travelers. On a return flight from Ireland last month I was seated next to young German headed to Richmond for the 9-day UCI Road World Cycling Championships. He wasn’t a journalist, or even an athlete (for emphasis he patted his expansive belly), this was his first trip to America and he was off to our state capitol for a world-class sporting event.
Change comes quickly to a place when creative minds are firing on all cylinders and Richmond’s renaissance began in fits and starts in the 1980’s with the careful restoration of historic portside factories into airy lofts, galleries and restaurants. Today young entrepreneurs have seized on the affordable rents for their fledgling businesses and the city has exploded with new life. Even the film industry is onto the stunning architecture of this historic city. Spielberg’s epic drama Lincoln was shot here, as was the soon-to-be-released PBS Civil War drama, Mercy Street. This is not your buttoned up Southern city any more.
Once seedy Broad Street is humming with new activity, in part due to the more than 31,000 students attending VCU located in the heart of the city. Now formerly overlooked neighborhoods like Church Hill are grabbing the spotlight. Across the city the trend shows no sign of slowing down with historic buildings being preserved and rehabbed into stunning contemporary living spaces.
New restaurants open every week – – some doing tasty riffs on Southern classics, others drawing from exotic cuisines. Many pair their food with Virginia wines or any of the thirteen Richmond-area microbreweries. Next year California-based Stone Brewing Company will open its eastern U. S. brewery operations and World Bistro & Gardens along Gillies Creek in the historic Fulton Hill neighborhood.
As for the Arts, apart from major international touring art shows at the prestigious Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, there is also a flourishing local art scene with galleries and colorful murals dotting every area of the city. Look for the new VCU Institute for Contemporary Art to open a 43,000-square-foot museum showcasing innovative exhibitions, performances and films by 2017.
GO EXPLORING
 (L-R) Swan Bed – Italian Garden at Maymont Maymont offers 100 lush acres of breathtaking gardens, a nature center, and a Romanesque Revival-style manor house chock-a-block with Victoriana reminiscent of the Gilded Age. Take time to stroll through Japanese, Italian and Victorian gardens or ride a horse-drawn carriage through magnolia-lined allées. www.Maymont.org
 Lewis Ginter Garden Ranked No. 2 among America’s Best Public Gardens, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features themed gardens including the Children’s Garden, Healing Garden, Rose Garden and Victorian Garden and the South’s most magnificent domed conservatory filled with hundreds of exotic specimens. www.LewisGinter.org Both are part of the Richmond Garden Trail as are six other sites.
 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Along with more than 33,000 works of art from around the world, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts houses a collection of beautiful Fabergé jeweled eggs. “Rodin” arrives in late November with over 200 works from the Musée Rodin in Paris. www.VMFA.museum
The Virginia Historical Society featuring a fascinating and comprehensive collection of Virginia history from 16,000 BCE to the present. Opened this month “Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times” features 36 costumes from PBS Masterpiece’s Downton Abbey series. www.VAHistorical.org
The Valentine Museum tells the story of Richmond’s early history including the women’s suffrage rights, the slave trade and civil rights. A current show, Classical Allure: Richmond Style, features select gowns and artifacts from their Costume and Textile collection of over 40,000 pieces, the largest of its kind in the South. www.TheValentine.org
 The Science Museum of Virginia Science is cool at the Science Museum of Virginia. Housed in the grandiose former Broad Street Union Station, designed by architect John Russell Pope in the neo-classical style, explore tons of interactive exhibits on space, health, electricity and the earth. A new exhibit, Alien Worlds and Androids features early TV and film robots up to present day outer space heroes. Be sure to check out the 76-foot Dome theatre – – the largest screen in Virginia. www.SMV.org
Stroll Cary Street for cute shops – vintage clothing at Bygones; gifts and more at Mongrel; and great consignment shops such as Ashby and Clementine.
TASTE THE TOWN
 (L-R) Sub Rosa Bakery – Plum tarts from Wood-Fired Bakery Breakfast – Sub Rosa Wood Fired Bakery in Church Hill where a brother-and-sister team, Evrim and Evin Dogu, use a German-made mill to grind organic flour to bake into their crusty breads, yummy cookies and rustic tarts served on eclectic plates from Tree Hill Pottery in Richmond. www.SubRosaBakery.com
Brunch – Sunday Champagne Brunch at The Jefferson hotel is prepared by Chef Patrick Ehemann and served in the Rotunda lobby. It is the pinnacle of Southern haute cuisine. Be sure to try the soufflé-like spoonbread. Reservations recommended. www.LemaireRestaurant.com
Lunch – Tucked into a residential neighborhood, Stella’s serves modern Mediterranean and Greek dishes; The Savory Grain for New American comfort food with a large selection of microbrews and craft beers; and a perennial favorite, the French-inspired Can Can Brasserie in Carytown.
 Ardent Craft Ales brewery Sips – The bar at Lemaire; Saison Restaurant cum gastro pub, or The Roosevelt for craft cocktails in a two-story red clapboard house; on-site brewed quaffs at Blue Bee Cider, Virginia’s only urban cidery in the Old Manchester district; the cool scene at Ardent Craft Ales, a brewery in the burgeoning Scott’s Addition neighborhood. Best Autumn saison, Sweet Potato & Sage. Check their calendar for open brew days.
 (L-R) Roasted Beets with beet mousse and navel oranges – Sable Fish with Maitake mushrooms, charred scallions and dashi broth – Espresso Chocolate Mousse, with orange, hazelnut, and anise hyssop at Maple & Pine Dinner – A tough call with so many to choose from. The intricate fusion dishes by Executive Chef Lee Gregory at the sophisticated and hip Maple & Pine in the glamorous new Quirk hotel; Comfort for locally-sourced, meat-and-three contemporary Southern from Rising Star-awarded chef, Jason Alley; The Roosevelt for three-time James Beard Foundation nominee David Dunlap’s snappy Southern cuisine; Mamma Zu for old school Italian; and Perly’s for serious Jewish deli.
 Meat Loaf, squash casserole and cheddar cheese grits at Comfort STAY
 Hotel Rotunda
With 70-foot-high ceilings and a staircase long rumored to have appeared in Gone with the Wind, The Jefferson Hotel’s Rotunda lobby is one of Richmond’s most sought after spaces for important events. In his 1987 nationally broadcast Sunday morning segment for CBS News, Charles Kuralt described it as (arguably) the most beautiful (public room) of any hotel in the country Luxuriate at The Jefferson – The Queen of American Beaux Arts hotels, this opulent jewel of an historic hotel has cut the number of their rooms down from turning the remaining guestrooms into expansive suites. For the ultimate stay, book a Grand Premier Suite that features a lavishly appointed marble-tiled bathroom with a television invisibly incorporated into the mirror, soaking tub and separate dressing room. www.JeffersonHotel.com
Quirk Hotel and Gallery – The new kid on the block. Recently opened and lovingly restored, this hip boutique hotel had a former life as a swank department store. Sip handcrafted cocktails on the rooftop terrace. www.DestinationHotels.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fire, Flour & Fork – October 28th – November 1st – A four-day culinary gathering with tours, special dinners, classes featuring local chefs, cookbook authors, culinary historians and beverage experts. A foodie’s wet dream. Fire, Flour & Fork
On November 13th from 7pm till midnight revel in InLight Richmond. Organized by 1708 Gallery, enjoy a free, public exhibition of light-based art and performances to be held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Watch the Community Lantern Parade along with performances, sculpture, video, and interactive projects that illuminate pathways, walls, sidewalks, green spaces, trees, benches, building facades, and more, in and around the VMFA campus.
November 27th – January 11th 2016. The nightly holiday extravaganza Dominion GardenFest of Lights: H2Whoa at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features over half-a-million twinkling lights, hand-crafted botanical decorations, model trains, holiday dinners, firepit with s’mores, hot chocolate (for purchase) and more. This year’s “H2Whoa” theme showcases water in all its forms. Experience a dazzling 30-acre light and botanical display of magical, whimsical water events. Stroll through twinkling “rain storms” as crystal raindrops and fluffy storm clouds float overhead while you marvel at a thunderstorm of lights. In the Conservatory you’ll see a wintry wonderland, rainstorms and rainbows, and even a tropical rainforest.
For more information on upcoming events go to www.VisitRichmondVA.com
Jordan Wright
April 20, 2015
Special to The Alexandria Times
 At The Shack My plan to spend a weekend in Staunton (pronounced “Staan’-tun”, please and thank you) was hatched last year when I heard of a young chef who was gathering a national reputation for imaginative food served up in a tiny brick building he calls, The Shack. Since then chef and restaurateur, Ian Boden, has lit up the food world garnering awards and tons of ink in his zeal to use Virginia farm products in both imaginative and delicious ways.
But as with all trips, the more you research the region where you’re headed, the more it evolves into a journey that will lose all sense of being scripted – – which is exactly what happened and which I highly recommend. The plan was to head out mid-morning Friday and drive straight to Staunton. That plan went straight out the window when I realized all the fun places we would pass along the way. Here’s what I recommend.
From Route 66 take Route 17 to Delaplane and Three Fox Vineyards where owners, Holli and John Todhunter, echo their love of all things Italian. In the barn-style tasting room you’ll find mostly Italian varietals from estate-grown grapes. Relax in a hammock or claim a game of bocce ball.
 The Long Branch Foundation – The spiral stairwell A few miles away just off Route 50, is the 200-year old mansion and gardens of Long Branch Plantation. Hard by the blink-and-you’ve-missed-it sweet little hamlet of Paris, lies the recently restored “noble mansion crowning a rising ground…” as American author Washington Irving described it in 1853. It is worth a tour of its period architecture and antique furnishings and a chance to learn about its horse retirement facility.
 Lots to choose from at the Locke Store – Katie Shapiro at the Locke Store in Millwood Just across 50 and a short drive along Millwood Road is the Locke Store in Millwood, VA. The original general store, founded in 1836, is now a food emporium chock-a-block with craft beer, wine, locally raised meats and cheeses, and tempting baked goods by pastry chef, Katie Kopsick Shapiro. Choose from homemade quiches, pot pies, salads, cakes, fruit pies and sandwiches on bread made from flour ground at the Burwell-Morgan Mill – – a restored flour mill across the street where you can have your picnic alongside a babbling stream. On the next street over is The Red Schoolhouse where 4,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles await the discerning buyer.
 The Red Schoolhouse Antiques Getting on 81 from there was a cinch and we soon arrived in Staunton and checked into the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center, a centrally located Colonial Revival hotel built in 1924 and recently remodeled. From our room we could see the Mill Street Grill below – – a handy spot for a quick dinner before curtain up at the Blackfriars Playhouse around the corner. If you’re looking for fancier fare try Zynodoa, a local favorite in a modern setting with upscale dining.
 Oysters Rockefeller at the Mill Street Grill The playhouse is part of the American Shakespeare Theatre, a year-round performance venue fashioned after 17th century English theatres. Here Shakespeare’s plays are offered with on-stage seats for chosen audience members. I’ve been here several times and always enjoyed a rousingly entertaining production by seasoned actors. Be sure to get there early for the mini-concerts before the play.
 Blackfriars Playhouse at the American Shakespeare Theatre – Photo credit Lauren D. Rogers Another purpose of my visit was to tour Joel Salatin’s 550-acre Polyface farm in nearby Swoope and on Saturday morning that is where we began our day. The author, speaker and farming guru is a legend for his sustainable farming practices and was featured in the film Food, Inc. Chefs and eco-aware farmers hang on his every word and the farm itself is a testament to Salatin and his humane animal husbandry practices. You can see the pigs, cows, chicken and sheep in their grassy habitats or shop for meats and cider in the farm store.
 Hoop House and The piglets at Polyface farm The night before we noticed a huge building with plate glass windows. Old cars were posed like fashion models and I was determined to see what it was all about. So before lunch we meandered over to find what is being billed as ‘the largest garage in the South’ – – a cavernous 27,000-square foot, former Ford dealership housing an amazing collection of cars in a 1911 building. Located on South New Street, the museum is owned by Bruce Elder an avid collector who sells and restores antique and classic cars. Roaming (and gasping in awe) through the three-story building, we came across dozens of beautifully restored cars including a 1924 Model T, a 1925 baby blue Rolls Royce Twenty (this one sported a price tag of $80k), and some notable Nascar winners like a 1953 single seat vehicle called ‘The Lincoln Special’ – – a Dreyer Champ car that ran on a dirt track. The museum is a car fancier’s fantasyland.
 1924 Model TT Lunch at the Pampered Palate Café was a lovely respite. The quaint spot on East Beverley Street specializes in homemade soups and sandwiches and is surrounded by tons of interesting stores, art galleries, breweries, a wine tasting room, a glass-blowing studio, and shops featuring local handicrafts.
 Glass blowing – Artisan works at Sunspot Studios From there we walked to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum. A fascinating and illuminating museum with exhibits detailing the history of our 28th President though his life and times. On display are hundreds of Wilson’s personal objects including his roll-top desk and 1919 Pierce-Arrow presidential limousine. A recent addition is a walk-through trench that trembles with the sounds of a real battlefield from World War I. Beside the museum sits the Presbyterian Manse, Wilson’s birthplace. The three-story brick home is filled with Wilson family heirlooms and antiques, and a guide is there to describe daily home life in the mid-19th century.
 1919 Pierce-Arrow presidential limousine Afterwards take a relaxing 45-minute guided tour around the city by trolley. Departing from the Visitors Center, it’s a terrific opportunity to see the historic homes and churches (a jaw-dropping 78 by last count) that abound as well as Mary Baldwin College, whose campus is smack dab in the middle of town. During the tour your guide will describe the many exquisite buildings ranging from Gothic, Greek and Renaissance Revival to Dutch Colonial, Chateauesque and even Italianate, many of which were designed during the Victorian-era by renowned architect Thomas Jasper Collins. In fact the town’s splendid architecture was one of its most surprising aspects.
 Palladian stained glass windows grace this former Masonic headquarters At last it was time for our long-anticipated dinner and the stated reason for this pilgrimage and we stroll a few blocks from the hotel to find what appears to be a 1950’s one-story structure along a quiet road. Once inside, we shed any preconceived notions of what a restaurant should look like and trusted in the chef, even though the place looks more like a pop-up or a way station for twenty-six mismatched chairs and seven tables that have lost their home. Still, it’s cozy and unpretentious and quite serious about its mission – – a 180-degree turn from the greasy, calorically-weighty cooking of Southern style restaurants. Here sauces are lightened and cooking methods respect the fresh ingredients. Expect to taste dishes you thought you knew, but here are elevated to an appreciative art form.
 Inside The Shack In a relatively short time, Boden has joined the ranks and emerging cooking style of the New Southern Cuisine trumpeted by famed chefs like Edward Lee of Atlanta, Georgia and Sean Brock of Charleston, South Carolina – – accomplished chefs who have taken familiar Southern dishes and reinvented them, made them better, more interesting and more alluring. We are talking deepened flavors and soul-stirring deliciousness.
 Escolar Lettuce Wrap – Berkshire pork at The Shack A paper menu with the date on top lets you know that the menu is at the whim of the chef, the season and the farmers he trusts. Though I can assure you these preparations will not be on the menu when you arrive, you can luxuriate in the thought of them as I have in this writing. You get to have your own experience with whatever ingredients Boden is playing around with on that day.
We tried nearly everything on the menu, and found some favorites – – Winter Vegetable Salad with farro, bitter greens and chickweed, dressed in a barrel aged maple vinaigrette; Escolar Lettuce Wrap, a raw fish paired with cracklin’s, house made kimchi, miso and key limes. Entrees that sang to us were the Berkshire Pork Loin with country ham fried rice, spinach purée and delicata squash topped with fava bean shoots; and King Salmon with roasted crosnes (a tiny spiral-shaped tuber), Brussels sprouts and lady apples in a red wine butter sauce. Desserts that made us swoon were Sorghum Cake with brown butter apples, buttermilk whey and bay leaf; and a madcap fling with a sweet treat called ‘Junk Food’ which turned out to be a slice of oatmeal cream pie plus a cruller and a blondie.
 Creamy Heirloom Grits – Wagyu Beef at The Shack After a good night’s sleep we returned for brunch. And, why not? When you have reveled in the best there is, why not revel again? I state my case for the Biscuits and Rabbit Gravy, the Wagyu Oyster Steak with rosemary pistou, and the Creamy Heirloom Grits served in a cast iron pan. There is no shame… just glory and a sharp sense of wanting to return.
 Demonstrations at the Frontier Culture Museum Before heading home one last stop beckoned – – the Frontier Culture Museum, a place passed countless times while driving down 81 towards the Blue Ridge Mountains. This open air, living history museum reflects the early German, West African, Irish and British pioneers who bravely brought their trades, farming methods, and building styles to rural America. Authentic costumed docents roam the farm sites and pretty wooded acres, instructing guests on how settlers lived and thrived in the Shenandoah Valley in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It is a highly educational experience with hands-on opportunities. You will learn that a number of these historic homes were brought over piece-by-piece from the Old World and reassembled here. You can easily spend two hours here but plan on at least three. You wouldn’t want to miss seeing the heritage breed horses or holding a baby lamb. In good weather a picnic purchased in town would make for the perfect day.
To plan your trip around upcoming cultural events in Staunton go to www.VisitStaunton.com.
![[Window Title] Microsoft Windows Search Indexer [Main Instruction] Microsoft Windows Search Indexer has stopped working [Content] Windows is checking for a solution to the problem... [Cancel]](https://whiskandquill.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/spinner-blacksmith.jpg) Spinning wool – Blacksmith at the Forge Photo credit – Jordan Wright
Shelly Ross
Whisk and Quill, Guest Contributor
March 2015
 Atsumi on The Island of Phuket, Thailand I am in a beautiful a tropical setting, lying face down on a flowered cushion and covered with a beautiful batik sheet. A strong, nimble and serene Thai woman is giving me the daily massage of my choice. It is a warm day and a soft breeze rustles the tinkling seashell curtains as the swaths of batik that surround my thatched hut flutter in the air. Exotic birds call to each other in a language unfamiliar to me. A soothing fountain flows melodiously nearby. I hear someone in the distance chanting prayers and the aroma of surrounding flowers, coconut and aromatherapy oils waft in and out of my senses. There are only the sounds of a symphony of all that is pleasant and soothing. I am totally in the present and completely content as I savor the experience. And unlike the dread I have often felt at the end of a relaxing massage, I know I will be doing this every day for the next three weeks.
This year my getaway options were limited to one trip, so I needed to choose carefully if I wanted it to be perfect. These were my parameters.
* It had to be affordable, but it also must be pleasant and beautiful. I wanted to feel comfortable traveling solo.
* It had to be culturally interesting.
* It had to be near a beach.
* And, just as importantly, it needed to be a trip that wouldn’t add to my waistline.
It took most of the winter to cobble together a plan that would meet all my conditions, but finally, I chose my dream vacation. I didn’t know then that this trip would also become a personal journey for me.
Over the past 25 years my education and my professional life have focused on learning about and creating health, both for myself, and others. And I believe that we teach, what we need to learn. As with everything in life, it is not easy to follow a strict regime and adhere to the all of the basics of a healthy lifestyle, but we do our best. I wanted to see if I could follow a healthful regime and still have fun.
My choice to go to the Atsumi Detox Retreat and Healing Center in Phuket, Thailand initially felt challenging in many respects. Having previously experienced a brief stint at a well-known health/detox center in the U. S., I knew that it could be challenging and prohibitively expensive to boot. But at Atsumi I was in for a wonderful surprise. My fasting program was a breeze. The added bonus was that I met such a diverse and stimulating group of people from all over the world while having the vacation of a lifetime. Even the getting there was easy. Rather than being taxed by the long flight, I luxuriated in the care, comfort and attention from the Thai Airways attendants.
Fasting is an amazing energy boost, helping to re-boot your health, boost your immune system, flush out toxins, lose excess weight and water, and strengthen your ability to fight off illness. And there are a myriad of other rejuvenating benefits. I find it to be safer, less daunting and much easier to accomplish with the guidance and support of professionals and the joy and camaraderie of like-minded friends. At Atsumi you can choose from various levels of fasting, including juicing and simple raw food fasts.
Never, in all my years of extensive travel, have I stayed in a place where all of the staff was so supportive, accommodating, cheerful and graciously efficient, going out of their way to assist with even the most trivial request. I did, indeed, feel welcome in every way.
The grounds are beautifully landscaped and the accommodations comfortable and spotlessly maintained. The Center is located on the south end of the island (not as crowded as the more touristy areas of Phuket) and the beaches are the most pristine.
Founded 13 years ago, Atsumi is the first of its kind in the area and the most all-encompassing experience. Anna, the delightful Thai woman who is the founder and hands-on owner, is a big part of the Atsumi day. She keeps the Center dynamic and moving forward with new offerings and wonderful amenities.
Our days began with the early morning gatherings where we joined our compatriots (all very friendly, as we are in this together!). There we drank ginger tea and shots of wheatgrass and chose the therapies we would like. These could be outside trips, massages and/or cleansing colemas. We also enjoyed an exercise event that varied each day and there were many to choose from – – a mountain view or beach walk, yoga, horseback riding, an exercise circuit, or Pilates to name a few – – all just challenging enough to sweat, but gently geared for us fasting folks.
 Outdoor living and relaxing The middle of the day offered a ride to and from the beach and on scheduled days, a temple trip, a visit to the large Buddha on the hill, or a luxury taxi available for sightseeing and shopping. Phuket is a very popular destination for travelers, so it is a treat to visit the city and admire the sights. If you like, Anna can arrange a visit to a local orphanage where even small donations are welcomed.
In the evenings you can go to a bustling night market, watch Thai boxing matches, take a Salsa dance class, or just practice yoga and meditation. In between all of these electives, are cleansing drinks and your appointments. If you are on a raw food fast, fresh salads and fruit are delivered to your room and iced fresh coconut water is readily available at the bar. Thankfully with all these engaging activities I was too busy to think about eating.
 Healthy and delicious detox food delivered to your room What I loved about my stay was that whenever I wanted to I could relax by the pool, swim, take a book to the reading area, watch a movie or sleep all day. It’s as laid back or as busy as you like with no pressure to adhere to anyone else’s schedule.
I particularly noticed how quiet and serene it is. You almost have to wonder where everyone is. I marveled in the incredible menu of therapeutic options including a long list of quality healing modalities (some quite exotic). Spa offerings do cost extra, but are priced much less than in the States. All of the practitioners are highly professional and their different techniques are worth exploring. One of my favorite classes was on raw food cooking. It was conducted by, Toh, the utterly charming and hilarious concierge of Atsumi.
For two of my three weeks a friend, who had been to Atsumi before and was eager to pay a return visit, joined me. We couldn’t resist pushing the envelope and decided to explore the area on rented motorbikes, riding around with the wind in our hair. Some called us Thelma and Louise, though we felt more like Peter Fonda and Woody Harrelson.
As my friend was ending her stay and transitioning out from the raw food part of her program, she suggested we try some Thai food and local lobster. After a day of preparation for the change in diet, one of resort’s drivers took us to a luxurious outdoor restaurant on the water where we enjoyed our last evening together. Upon our return the staff just smiled and said, “Hey, you gotta have fun!” No pressure or judgment – – they’re just available for guidance.
On my last week I had my second go at seven more days of the raw food fast. What I came away with after this incredible voyage of health and spiritualism was a time of deep relaxation, a boost to my body from guided and safe fasting, a wellspring of inspiration, further education, new and interesting friends, a glowing tan, and lasting deposits in my memory bank.
My personal journey was about a sense of strength, accomplishment, independence, perspective and freedom which wouldn’t have been complete without the experience of lovely Phuket, those ubiquitous Thai smiles, a bit of authentic Thai cuisine and bathing in the blue waters of the Andaman Sea. What I came away with was the best trip I’ve ever experienced. What I left behind was ten pounds.
To learn more about the Atsumi Healing Center visit www.AtsumiHealing.com.
 Shelly Ross Shelly Ross is a seeker of adventure who has been chipping away at her ‘bucket list’. She is the founder and owner of The Natural Marketplace, a health food store and organic deli she opened 25 years ago in Warrenton, Virginia, an hour’s drive from Washington, DC. Shelly is a Certified Nutritional Consultant, certified in Raw Food and Superfoods Education, and a member of the Association of Drugless Practitioners. In addition, she has attended many years of herbal school, homeopathy classes, nutritional courses, supplementation seminars and self-education in the field of health and wellness. After exploring vegan, vegetarian, macrobiotic and a few other lifestyles, she is now a gluten-free omnivore adding consciously raised, quality Paleo protein; raw dairy products; and organic raw and cooked vegetables to her diet.
For more information about her Warrenton store visit www.TheNaturalMarketplace.com.
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