The Mountain State is hosting an imaginative “Cellar To Table” dinner series you don’t want to miss.
The “culinary road trip” is perhaps my favorite journey.
I explored the American South through Mississippi tamales, Carolina barbeque, and Memphis fried chicken so savory I can still taste it over a decade later.
Now, you can embark on a foodie expedition in West Virginia by way of “Cellar To Table,” an innovative dinner series set in some of the Mountain State's most iconic and naturally beautiful sites.
This culinary event promises to be unlike any other, with exceptional cuisines curated by members of WV Cooks—a group dedicated to the Farm-to-Table movement, supporting local farmers and celebrating heritage foods and traditional preparations.
Heritage foods and preparations are at the heart of WV Cooks' mission. The group celebrates time-honored recipes and reimagines them with modern techniques to create dishes that resonate with history and contemporary tastes.
Dinners are hosted at picturesque locales and include an overnight stay.
[see more details here about the upcoming April 9 event]
The event spotlights locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing not just the freshness of the produce but also the artisanal quality of locally produced goods.
Unlike traditional Farm-to-Table dinners, Cellar To Table puts the spotlight on locally produced and shelf-stable items.
“We have a long tradition in Appalachia of ‘putting up' food at the end of harvest for the hard times in the winter,” notes WV Cooks founder Matt Welsch, affectionately known as “The Vagabond Chef.”
Born and raised in the hills and hollers of Appalachia, Welsch (pictured above) developed his love for the land and its bounty from a young age. His childhood adventures in the deep woods around his family's farm laid the foundation for a lifelong journey in culinary exploration.
“The great thing about these Appalachian Cellar products is that they're shelf-stable, and that allows us to ship a taste of WV all over the world,” he adds.
Cellar To Table is a natural extension of his passion. “I love finding synergy in my life, and this event pulls together a lot of the great things I've been working on,” Welsch explains.
By integrating locally produced goods with traditional techniques, the dinner series pays homage to Appalachian culinary heritage and redefines how West Virginia cuisine is showcased.
For those interested in experiencing this unique culinary journey, tickets and additional information can be found on the West Virginia State Parks website or by following WV Cooks on Facebook.
