Food Notes

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: June 24, 2008

Try the grill to help JABA chill with Cool-Aid

JABA will present “Grillin’ and Chillin’ for Cool-Aid,’’ a concert and barbecue dinner to benefit the Cool-Aid cooling assistance program, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in JABA’s garden at 674 Hillsdale Ave.

Les Sinclair of Z95.1 will be the host for an event featuring music by Acoustic Groove Trio members and Bennie Dodd. There also will be a silent auction, “Cash in for Cool-Aid,’’ from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cool-Aid provides air conditioners and fans to community members of all ages who meet certain low-income standards and need cooling equipment as a result of health problems.

Tickets are $20. The menu includes choice of barbecue and vegetarian entrees. Only 175 tickets will be sold, and they’re available at Plan 9, C-ville Weekly, Sidetracks Music and JABA’s Twice is Nice Thrift Shop and online at http://www.jabacares.org. For details, call 295-0396.

Mountfair opens its vineyards for first tastings

Mountfair Vineyards has opened its doors to the public, and complimentary tastings and tours are available from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Chris Yordy and Fritz Repich of Mountfair Vineyards have spent the past eight years building a dream, and the result is three newly released red wines. They worked with local winemaker Brad McCarthy, who helped them find their style as they developed their dream.

Yordy and Repich met at Cisco Systems, where they continue to work full time. Their wives have the same birthday, and between them the families have five children younger than 10.

They plan to start small and grow slowly. They sort the grapes by hand, punch down by hand during the fermentation process and spend hours making sure the blends highlight the right qualities of the grapes.

The timber-framed tasting room is four miles north of White Hall on Fox Mountain Road, just off Brown’s Gap Turnpike. The winery was built from timber felled on the property. Timber framing is a passion for Yordy, who started that pastime in 1985.

Mountfair is open from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and by appointment. Learn more and find directions at http://www.Mountfair.com. To schedule your visit, call 823-7605.

DelFosse sets the table for summer dinner

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery in Faber will present its Summer Wine Dinner from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

The menu will be by Eric Stamer of Eric Stamer Catering.

DelFosse wines will be served. There will be a 10 percent discount on wines purchased at the events, plus a complimentary wine glass.

The event is $75 per person, and reservations are required. For details, call 263-6100.

It’s time to stop and smell the lavender

Lovely Lavender Day will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Pharsalia in Tyro, while lavender will be in full bloom in Nelson County.

Annie Greer Baggett of Sunshine Lavender Farm in Hurdle Mills, N.C., and Foxie Morgan of Pharsalia will share their knowledge of soothing and versatile fresh lavender. The day will include a tour of the home, a lunch that will include culinary uses of lavender and an afternoon of fresh lavender workshops.

Pharsalia, a fifth-generation private home and former plantation, is being preserved and opened for private events and learning workshops.

Reservations are requested in advance, and fees are charged for the workshops. Choose from “Fresh Floral Display” for $68, “Crafting with Fresh Lavender’’ for $98 or “Fresh Lavender Wreath’’ for $128. Learn more at http://www.pharsaliaevents.com.

Oak Ridge brings out the brews and vino

The 16th annual Nelson County Summer Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington.

There will be microbrew beer, a wine tasting for a separate fee, craft and food vendors, a children’s activities area and rural living exhibits.

Music will be presented on Saturday by Terri Allard from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and Tropikiimba from 2 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. The Sunday lineup includes TigerLily from 1 to 2 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. and the Seldom Scene from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 at the gate and $10 in advance. Children ages 12 and younger get in free. One-day tickets are available at Plan 9 and online at http://www.nelsoncountysummerfestival.com. For information, call 263-8676.

There’s food and wine packed away in Cellars

Rappahannock Cellars will present its June Wine and Food Pairing at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Winemaker Jason Burrus and chef Katie Creveling are teaming up to present a menu of lemon risotto rice with peas, spanakopita, seared scallop with mango salsa and lemon pound cake with fresh local blueberries, paired with wines. There will be a detailed explanation of why the foods and wines complement each other.

The event is $30, $25 for club members. Space is limited. To reserve a space, call Sarah at (540) 635-9398.

Learn how to cook wings with a little class

Jim Winecoff, owner and chef of Mona Lisa Pasta, and Terre Sisson of Charlottesville Wine and Culinary will continue their Summer Cooking Classes series with “Wings’’ at 7 p.m. Monday.

The participation-style class will address techniques for preparing tasty wings. The class will cover oven-baked mahogany wings, lollipop wings with spicy berry glaze and pork-stuffed chicken wings.

The class is $55. A light meal and complimentary beverage are included. To reserve your space, call 295-2494.

South River goes for the South American touch

South River Restaurant and Wine Shop in Waynesboro is presenting a Chilean and Argentinean Wine Dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Rob Gardner of Country Vineyards will be the guest for an evening of South American foods paired with wines. For reservations and details, call (540) 942-5567.

Gray Ghost kicks off month-long drive Tuesday

Gray Ghost Winery will have a food drive throughout the month of July to benefit the Culpeper Food Closet.

Any food or monetary donations enter the donor in a drawing for tickets to Gray Ghost’s Holiday Open House.

Gray Ghost Winery is at 14706 Lee Highway in Amissville. The tasting room is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For information, call (540) 937-4869.

From staff reports