It started out as a normal, beautiful day in Southport and before you knew it there was talk of grits and ramps. If you don’t know what a “ramp” is, you are not alone. When the authors at the Friends of the Library Southport Oak Island’s (FOLSOI) annual meeting got to talking about why they love Appalachia, they shared favorite ingredients and how the people that live in this region are so connected to their land and what it can produce during the growing season.
Our moderator, Deborah Holt Noel (host and a contributing producer of NC Weekend), did a fantastic job bringing out the stories of Jason Talbot (local chef and author of Modern Appalachian Cuisine) and how growing up in West Virginia influenced his cooking, including his favorite white bread, fat and mayonnaise sandwich.
Also, how Sheri Castle, who lives in Western North Carolina, brings a focus on locally sourced ingredients such as apples to her award winning cooking show on PBS (The Key Ingredient), and how Teri Brown’s new book, Daughters of Green Mountain Gap, is set in Appalachia and follows three generations of women and their conflict over the use of roots and herbs versus the medicine available in the town’s apothecary.
The program ended with a taste of Appalachia set up by FOLSOI volunteers, that included pepperoni rolls, apple cake, cornbread and apple butter. A good time had by all!
*A special thank you to our platinum sponsors – LaPolena B&B and Atlantic States Weather, Inc.]