The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Money

November 10, 2009

Gourmet on the Gorge Weekend to offer hands-on opportunities

By Michelle James

With activities and events such as whitewater rafting and Bridge Day, the outdoor offerings of the New River Gorge area are extremely well known.

Joy Marr and Karen Vuranch, however, say there is much more to the Fayetteville area than outdoor adventure and scenic beauty, and the duo’s Gourmet on the Gorge Weekend is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to experience the other side of southern West Virginia.

The event, which will take place Nov. 21-22, will include a local gourmet food tour, wine tasting, two cooking schools and a performance by Vuranch as Julia Child.

“I think it’s a great way to get people who want to come to the area but don’t want to be here for Bridge Day or rafting season,” said Marr, who operates a catering business in Fayetteville. “It will be an intimate visit with the area.”

The weekend’s events will begin Nov. 21 with a tour of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and will include a tour of award-winning Blue Smoke Salsa in Ansted and a gourmet pizza lunch at Pies and Pints. After lunch, the day’s activities will continue and include food and wine tastings at Fayetteville’s Studio B, Trillium Crafts, Gumbo’s Cajun restaurant and Wisteria Gifts.

The day’s activities will conclude at Tamarack as chef Jamie Henderson, who trained at The Greenbrier, will conduct a cooking school and will then prepare dinner for the participants. Vuranch, local storyteller and actress, will wrap up the day with a performance of Julia Child.

“Karen really lends some authenticity to the role,” Marr said of the performance. “She really gets into it and becomes Julia. It’s really enjoyable.”

On Nov. 22, Marr will conduct a cooking school at Gourmet on the Gorge in Lansing and the weekend will conclude with a Sunday brunch.

Marr says she is hopeful for a good turnout for the weekend, which, in addition to showing another side of the area, will offer participants more hands-on opportunities than traditional cooking shows.

“Sometimes you go to these (cooking shows) but have to sit back in a chair and watch it all go by,” she said, adding the weekend will be just the opposite. “The participants are going to be there, talking one-on-one with the owners and producers of these goods and they can actually put their hands on things if they choose to.

“It’s a great opportunity.”

A ticket for the two-day event is $295. Anyone interested in learning more information or in registering can do so by visiting www.gourmetonthegorge.com, or by calling 304-574-0394.

The deadline to register is Friday.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com

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