Category Archives: Mountains

If it’s April, it must be time for beer

Posted on April 11, 2013 by didaniel

Craft beer followers already pour into North Carolina because of its reputation as the South’s premiere beer destination, with more breweries than any state south of Pennsylvania (73 and counting). More and more of those breweries are now locally sourcing … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Guilford County | Tagged | Leave a comment

How sweet it was …

Posted on January 8, 2013 by didaniel

I got this sad news today from John Swann at Maple Creek Farm, famed for its southernmost maple syrup. I’ve written about them here before, and check out the photos too! To our Followers, Customers, and Friends: We regret to … Continue reading →

Posted in Yancey County | Leave a comment

Let ‘Chefs of the Mountains’ be your guide

Posted on October 9, 2012 by didaniel

First, there was the “Food Lovers’ Guide to the Triangle.” Now there’s “Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants & Recipes from Western North Carolina” (John F. Blair, $19.95), by food critic John E. Batchelor. John doesn’t know it, but he helped … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashe County, Avery County, Books, Buncombe County, Cooking, Family travel, Haywood County, Henderson County, Recipes, Road travel, Watauga County | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Llamas, alpacas, and tigers, oh my!

Posted on June 13, 2012 by didaniel

With school out, it’s time to take the family to FARMS! Children of all ages (as they say) love llamas and alpacas. (I was just kidding about the tigers in the headline.) Below are three of my favorite fiber stops … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Rockingham County, Watauga County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How can that even be?

Posted on March 22, 2012 by didaniel

As my partner, Lina, likes to say: How can that even be? How can NO North Carolina person or place be among the final nominees for James Beard awards? That’s just kooky. I guess we did so well in last … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Durham County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

It’s maple-tree tapping time again — yes, in NC!

Posted on February 20, 2012 by didaniel

It’s time to get sappy! Yes, it’s maple syrup-tapping time again — even in North Carolina! Maple Creek Farm outside of Burnsville, in the mountains, will host its fourth annual Maple Tour on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, from … Continue reading →

Posted in Family travel, Farmers, Food, Yancey County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Green-light specials at holiday markets

Posted on November 17, 2011 by didaniel

Thanksgiving shoppers can be grateful for the number of farmers’ markets holding special market events specifically for the holidays. Not only that, the Triangle and Western NC local-food communities have put together websites giving overviews of holiday markets.  The mountain version, organized … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Henderson County, Madison County, Orange County, Wake County, Watauga County | Leave a comment

Farm Fresh NC on UNC-TV’s ‘Bookwatch’

Posted on October 6, 2011 by didaniel

D.G. Martin interviewed me in the summer for his author-focused show, “Bookwatch,” on UNC-TV. We had a wide-ranging talk about agritourism, farm-to-table restaurants, farmers markets, etc. It was a fun show, and I’m grateful for the opportunity! It first aired Sept. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Charlotte area, Coastal Region-Sandhills, Dining, Farmers' markets, Food, Mountains, Triad, Triangle, Wine | Leave a comment

Farm films: pass the (local) popcorn

Posted on August 30, 2011 by didaniel

Two farm-focused films are in the news. First, the long-awaited documentary about young farmers, “The Greenhorns,” premiered in Brooklyn this summer and will being shown in at least one  community screenings in North Carolina, on Sept. 18 in Chatham County. All details … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Films | Leave a comment

Veritable cornucopia of fall news and happenings

Posted on August 28, 2011 by didaniel

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news and calendar listings. Here are a few items of interest, followed by calendar of events: *  Yay for one of my favorite restaurants, Knife & Fork, which won … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Johnston County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Rowan County, Stanly County, Wake County | 1 Comment

Food and race; High Country tour; learn to write, paint and cook in a day; food classes; and more!

Posted on August 2, 2011 by didaniel

Mark your calendars for these farm-food events in the Tiangle and the mountains:  Thursday, Aug. 4: “Eating the Other: Food, Race and You,” discussion of race as it relates to agribusiness, farmers’ markets and the slow food culture. At Southwest Regional … Continue reading →

Posted in Alleghany County, Ashe County, Avery County, Bicycling, Cooking, Dining, Durham County, Family travel, Farmers, Food, Road travel, Watauga County, Wilkes County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cool stops in Hot Springs, Asheville

Posted on July 20, 2011 by didaniel

My Farm Fresh farmers’ market tour is traveling geographically with the harvest, starting in the Coast and Piedmont in the spring, moving to the Triad. Finally I’ve reached the mountains, just in time to cool off from the heat of … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Madison County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A deluxe Farm Fresh backroads mountain tour

Posted on June 15, 2011 by didaniel

I wrote this very detailed story  with lovely photographs for Blue Ridge Country magazine. It’s in the current (July/August) issue. The four-night roadtrip, with itinerary, takes you from Asheville to Ashe County, with great sights and food stops in between. Check it … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashe County, Buncombe County, Watauga County | Leave a comment

Find dining in Asheville

Posted on June 6, 2011 by didaniel

Wrote this little ditty below for a Boston Globe summer-fun roundup, so makes sense to share with my NC readers. With farm-to-table dining practically de rigueur, farmers are starting to share the menu with foragers. In what is billed as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Dining, Food, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Asheville’s Tupelo Honey Cafe puts out cookbook

Posted on May 25, 2011 by didaniel

Tupelo Honey Café is one of those landmark dining spots that actually deserves its popularity. Tourists and locals alike go to the Asheville restaurant for Southern comfort food with a modern twist. It’s a high-volume place (and a second location … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Books, Buncombe County, Cooking, Dining, Food, Recipes, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Farm Fresh’ tour visits Hendersonville and Flat Rock

Posted on May 18, 2011 by didaniel

Loads of fun planned in western NC, specifically Henderson County, starting  Thursday, May 19, at the cute Flat Rock Tailgate Market and ending Saturday, May 21 at the Blue Ridge Bookfest, with several stops in between. Hope you can make one … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Dining, Farm Fresh book events, Farmers' markets, Food co-ops, Henderson County, Lodging | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where to find organic U-pick strawberries

Posted on May 12, 2011 by didaniel

2013 Update: Strawberries are a full month or more late, so are just starting to get juicy in mid-May. Crazy. Check with these places, researched in 2011, to make sure they have berries. Happy picking! Several people have asked me … Continue reading →

Posted in Brunswick, Buncombe County, Food, Franklin County, Fruit, Orange County, U-pick farms, Wake County | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Kudos to our two James Beard finalists!

Posted on March 21, 2011 by didaniel

North Carolina placed two of five chefs vying for Best Southeast chef award from the James Beard Foundation. For the second year in a row, the Triangle’s own Andrea Reusing made the cut with her Asian-tinged locally sourced fare at Lantern in Chapel … Continue reading →

Posted in Jackson County, Orange County | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nice ‘Farm Fresh’ article in Asheville paper today

Posted on March 11, 2011 by didaniel

Very nice article in the Asheville Citizen-Times today about “Farm Fresh” events and the book in general. Mars Hill College student and C-T intern Rachel Connor wrote it, and I was impressed by her level of questions and what ended … Continue reading →

Posted in Buncombe County, Farm Fresh book events, Farm Fresh events, Media | Tagged , | Leave a comment

‘Farm Fresh’ bounty in Asheville this weekend!

Posted on March 10, 2011 by didaniel

Come support farms, farmers, and food at “Farm Fresh North Carolina” events in Asheville this weekend, March 11 and 12. (Free food at first and third! Woo-hoo!) If you can’t make these events, I’ll be back in Asheville in June. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Buncombe County, Dining, Farm Fresh book events | Leave a comment