Food Notes

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: July 22, 2008

Tomato Festival makes its debut in Scottsville

The Scottsville Saturday Farmers Market is the place for the inaugural Tomato Festival from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday in Dorrier Park in Scottsville.

There will be a fried green tomato cooking event from 8 to 9 a.m., a canning demonstration from 9 to 10 a.m., music from 10 to 11 a.m., and ongoing recycled art activities for children and tomato tastings.

There’s also a tomato contest, with prizes for the biggest tomato, the ugliest tomato, the tomato with the “best assets,” the celebrity look-alike tomato and the one with the most beautiful color.

Weather permitting, there will be carriage rides by Iona Farms and a visit by the Llamas of Lower Sherwood. Three locally pieced, hand-sewn and quilted wall hangings by Janice Penxa of Wind Witch Farm will be raffled at $1 per ticket to benefit the market.

The market continues rain or shine through October under the tent near the James River Bridge.

For details, visit http://www.scottsvilleva.com/market.html or call 286-3750.

Beef: It’s what’s for dinner at Amelia festival

The 29th annual Amelia Beef Festival, sponsored by the Amelia Educational Foundation, will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Tom Scott Park, one mile west of Amelia Court House on Route 38 (Five Forks Road).

There will be all-you-can-eat beef ribs, beef barbecue, steamship round and corn on the cob. Beverages will be provided. Fat Ammon’s Band and the Janitors will provide the entertainment. Tickets are $25 and will not be sold at the gate. Call (804) 561-2153, 561-2270 or 561-3568.

There will be a new Moon at Burnley Vineyards

Burnley Vineyards in Barboursville will offer a tasting of its two new wines from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

A new vintage of Moon Mist will be released. Dog Gone Red, a semi-dry red wine, will be premiered.

The winery also has a new Christmas shop to share with visitors. Admission is free. The winery is at 4500 Winery Lane. For details, call (540) 832-2828.

DelFosse pops the cork on Mediterranean fare

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery will present its Mediterranean BBQ from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The menu by Genevieve DelFosse will include brochettes, or kebabs, of marinated lamb, chicken and shrimp served over a bed of mixed organic greens with balsamic vinaigrette and spicy couscous salad. DelFosse wines will be served.

The event is $20 per person and reservations are required. A complimentary wine glass is included. There will be a 10 percent discount on wines purchased at the event.

For information, call 263-6100.

Cooking Camp is in session for the future chefs

Charlottesville Cooking School is offering its Cooking Camp for children ages 9 and older from Monday through Aug. 1, and there’s still time to register.

The camp will include two farm visits and courses in cooking skills, table setting and menu planning. A healthy snack and lunch, recipe book and apron are included.

The activities include:

l Monday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: At the cooking school, campers will learn to weigh and measure portion sizes, use fats wisely, taste herbs and spices, identify ingredients, blanch and refresh and set tables. They also will learn knife skills and etiquette. The snack will be seasonal fruit smoothies, and lunch will be grilled marinated vegetable kabobs, quinoa pilaf and peach crumble.

l Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Roundabout Farm tour and vegetable harvesting, picnic lunch and time at the cooking school for menu planning.

l July 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Cooking the harvest from Roundabout Farm.

l July 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Tour of CaroMont Farm, where Farmstead Artisan Cheese is made, and menu planning at the cooking school for the Final Feast.

l Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Prepare and eat the Final Feast, which will be at 1 p.m. Each camper may invite one guest.

The camp is $300 per person. To sign up, visit

http://www.charlottesvillecookingschool.com/signup.html.

For information, call 963-COOK.

It’s time to sample what’s in barrel at Keswick

Keswick Vineyards will present its Summer Barrel Tasting in two sessions, at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Guests can try Keswick’s premium reds still in the barrel. Many of the wines have been aging in oak over the past year and are close to bottling time. Folks who discover new favorites can purchase futures on the wines at a 25 percent discount.

Each session will offer tastings of several wines, each with a complimentary food pairing, and a chance to learn more about the winemaking process.

The winery is at 1575 Keswick Winery Drive in Keswick. For information, visit http://www.keswickvineyards.com.

Space is limited to 25 people per session, and reservations are required.

The event is $35 per person, $25 for Wine Club members and barrel owners. For reservations, send e-mail to

or call 244-3341.

Felini’s wine event hosts wine expert Julia Cahiza

Winery representative Julia Cahiza will be in town to present Marraso wines from Argentina at Fellini’s No. 9 for this month’s “Wine at the 9’’ event.

Sparkling wines from Spain also will be featured at the event, which has a theme of “Tapas-Sapat,’’ or tapas forward and backward. There will be a tapas menu with the first four courses made forward and backward.

Call for reservations, as seating is limited.

The cost is $120 per couple or $65 per person, including tax and gratuity. Save 10 percent by paying in cash. For reservations, call 979-4279.

Hull selected team leader at Tastefully Simple

Janie Hull has been named a team leader with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct seller of gourmet foods.

Hull, a Charlottesville resident and independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, earned the promotion through sales achievements and by adding new consultants to the team.

Tastefully Simple is the original national home taste-testing company featuring easy-to-prepare gourmet foods. Learn more at http://www.tastefullysimple.com.

To learn more about Tastefully Simple products, taste-testing parties and business opportunities, send e-mail to .

From staff reports