The Reynolds Homestead American Music Series presents Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer in The Unique Sound of the Mountains on Sunday, April 9, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door: $8 for adults; 15 and younger are admitted free.
Martha Spencer, of the popular White Top Mountain Band, encouraged Larry Sigmon to join her in playing a few tunes. With Spencer playing bass in Barbara Poole’s signature spirited double-slap style, the “unique sound” was reborn.
Refreshments will be served, and dancing is encouraged.
Immediately following the concert, those who wish to sample Appalachian fare may join Chef Dale Hawkins downstairs at 5 p.m. Hosted by Jean Haskell, director of the Appalachian Studies program at Virginia Tech, the event will immerse dinners in the cultural foodways of this area.
Tickets for the dinner event are $35 per person. Seating is limited and must be purchased in advance. Call (276) 694-7181 for more info and to purchase tickets.
Hawkins, co-owner and executive chef at Fish Hawk Acres in Buckhannon, W.Va., will prepare what he calls “New Appalachian Fare: global foods fused with local ingredients and giving them a regional interpretation. You’ll find nothing overly complicated, just two or three ingredients working together to create something new or elevate a familiar dish.”
Hawkins’ menus reflect the seasons, local harvests and that the world is becoming smaller. His culinary creations draw on products from local family farms, while at the same time take advantage of the increased availability of specialty foods from across the globe.
Hawkins’ dishes are best described as Seasonal Contemporary Regional cuisine strongly influenced by Western European and Pan Asian cultures, as well as local rustic fare. His mission is to use the freshest, high-quality ingredients for every component on the plate.
Quite naturally, his philosophy was shaped by growing up on a farm where gardening, baking breads and learning to preserve foods was the order of the day. Under the tutelage of his parents and parishioners in the community of Rock Cave, W.Va., he developed an early and deep appreciation for seasonality, food and traditions. He helped his family preserve fruit and pickle vegetables, and he joined with community neighbors in the annual seasonal ritual of making maple syrup.
Celebrate Appalachian culture all afternoon on April 9 at the Reynolds Homestead, starting with the Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer concert and culminating in Chef Dale Hawkins’ tasting dinner.
