New Fort Salem, Chef Challenge

Today I did something I've never done before.  My button buddy and I went to a food tasting, a food challenge if you will, of local chefs and pioneer West Virginia foods.  This is Eleanor, my button buddy, walking around the colony of New Fort Salem.

First stop, the church...

Don't those pews look comfy?  A fireplace and a stand for the preacher.  Can you imagine sitting here for hours, maybe cold because there was only one fireplace and very uncomfortable on such seating...

We hardly stay in church for more than an hour anymore, I think the folks that worshipped here had a lot to be thankful for if they were full and had a roof over their heads...how spoiled we have become, blessed for sure, but so spoiled.

But anyway, on to the food.  

We opened with samples of tea.  I had a sample of Rose tea and Lemon Lavender.  I preferred the LL, it had a delightful aftertaste.  The teas were okay, glad to have tried them.

The first of the foods I forgot to take a picture of.  It was Wilted Lettuce Salad and potatoes and ramps flavored with bacon.  I can tell you the Wilted Lettuce Salad was my favorite dish and only because it reminded me so much of my Mama's Wilted Lettuce salad.  It was delicious, I could have eaten half the bowl of it and forgot all the rest!

Second dish was venison, grits with fish, red potatoes with ramps and bacon, fried green tomato, pickled egg and peach cobbler.  The green fried tomato and peach cobbler was for sure my favorite of this bunch.  The venison, grits and potatoes had little flavor except pepper.  Very bland, hardly any taste at all...just my opinion remember!

This dish was my favorite.  Pork tenderloin, mushroom gravy, greens with bacon and grits that were delicious...Absolutely scrumptious!  Could have eaten a big meal of this!

Last but not least was a sample of Venison stew with lots of potatoes and cornbread and a rhubarb dessert.  I almost forgot to take a picture, the stew was very good and the rhubarb dessert was delightful.  The cornbread was very good, but too sweet for my taste and it didn't need that butter at all, but she slathered it on there before I could ask her not to..lol.

There was a man there that also made Fodder Beans, green beans of a sort with pork and a few ramps I think.  They were so salty it was not pleasant to eat them, so most remained on the plate.

Bored yet?  Well, I'm done.  Hope you enjoyed this blog, it was a fun afternoon and Fort New Salem is hanging in there.  This summer there are several things to go to, I hope you'll check it out!

thanks for stopping by and take care!