Foods associated with election campaigns have varied throughout the history of our country. Some have stemmed from the market days of Colonial times. Others evolved from church festivals and from militia parades.

Demonstrations in store at Monticello festival

I had mixed feelings about the purchase of Anheuser and Busch by the Belgian-Brazilian firm InBev SA.

Recently I have been serving barley as an accompaniment to meat or chicken instead of rice, pasta or potatoes. I use the quick cooking variety, which takes only about 10 minutes to cook unless other ingredients have been added as flavor enhancers. Frequently the longer-cooking version of barley is the basis of Beef and Barley Soup, a famous German specialty.

Autumn Hill’s open house has barrel tasting

Have you noticed that many of the peaches this year have rather smooth skins? Have food botanists, through breeding, eliminated that typical fuzz of the peach?

Monticello puts focus on wine and grapes

We have seen various images of Beijing while watching the Olympics on television, but we have not discovered much about the food of this capital city of China. Many of us are familiar with some Chinese provincial cooking, primarily Cantonese and maybe Hunan or Sichuan, both of the latter being spicy.

Cardinal Point Winery uncorks the fun and funds

Buy local. Eat local. Film local.

Whenever I think of certain foods or special occasions, recipes and their ingredients come to mind. This is the case with filet of sole. One of my fondest memories of sole was a simple dish, which I thoroughly enjoyed at the Hotel Louvre in Paris.

Tomato Festival makes its debut in Scottsville

With the price of meat going up by leaps and bounds, I find myself turning to chicken as a main course. I have always had an affinity for chicken, particularly during the summer months.

To market, to market is first for local community

I was very sorry to hear that Felicia Rogan is closing her Oakencroft Winery after some 25 years in business. I understand that the property is for sale and hope that someone will carry on the excellent tradition that Felicia Rogan has established.

Bring on the French wines for Bastille Day

Many people take a bottle of water with them almost wherever they go. I like water, but prefer an effervescent drink, such as soda water, because I find it to be a better thirst quencher. Water always has been available, but not drinks with bubbles.

Pearce is coming home for Afton concert

On Friday many of us will be celebrating Independence Day. Some may go to a local baseball game and enjoy a bag of peanuts — truly an American tradition.

Try the grill to help JABA chill with Cool-Aid

Crozet residents soon will have a new coffee shop to add to the area’s growing retail and restaurant scene.

Oats are not high on my list of staples, and I rarely think about using them, except in the winter when we occasionally have oatmeal for breakfast. On the other hand, I had a friend who ate only oatmeal for breakfast every day for all of his adult life.

Local wineries put their best fruits forward at the recent State Fair Wine Competition and came away with a lion’s share of ribbons at the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education.

Enjoy a Barren Sunset in Fishersville on Friday

Driving across Tennessee recently Allan and I found a delightful Italian restaurant near Exit 374 off of Interstate 40, west of Knoxville. The restaurant is called Vinny and Me.

Cashmere Jungle Lords head to Cardinal Point

It is always amazing to me how many items in the culinary field we take for granted — such as the great variety of spices. Although we may not use them every day, food would be awfully dull without spices.

I frequently experiment with recipes and recipe ideas. This was the case the other day, when I was reading about the traditional French Tart Tatin. It is really an upside-down apple tart made with puff pastry. Thus I thought, “Why not make it with something besides apples?”

Emperor will compete
in sushi competition
Bryan S. Emperor, executive chef at Ten on the Downtown Mall, has been selected to compete at the 2008 Sushi Awards, which will take place in October in London.
The event brings together connoisseurs, food journalists and members of the public to taste the original creations of the best sushi chefs worldwide, dubbed the Seven Sushi Samurai.
Expert judges and guests will vote to determine which of the samurai will win the coveted Sushi of the Year Award 2008.
Emperor was selected from the awards appearance after competing in a sushi battle during the National Sushi Society’s Grand Sushi and Sake Tasting in Washington earlier this month.
For details about Emperor, visit http://www.ten-sushi.com.

Every once in a while a familiar household food product graces our TV screens, even though pharmaceutical and car ads dominate these days. This was the case the other day when I noticed an ad for Oreo Cookies, a well-known product of the National Biscuit Company (NaBisCo).