Eat, drink, and help support a worthy cause
DOSWELL (Aug. 14, 2024) — While the State Fair of Virginia has plenty of free entertainment, it also hosts ticketed events that benefit the state’s youth.
The second annual Taste of Virginia will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, in historic Meadow Hall. Proceeds will benefit the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and the State Fair of Virginia Youth Scholarship Program.
This culinary event features celebrity chefs preparing delectable foods from Virginia-sourced products. Additionally, guests will be able to sample Virginia’s finest brews, cocktails and wine, cider and lavender lemonade.
Each chef will provide multiple small-plate items, and guests also will be able to enjoy products at stand-alone stations like Smoke In Chimney’s trout, Richlands Creamery ice cream and Edgewood Apiaries’ honey.
Visitors can sample “Knock a Little Louder Cinnamon Buns” and “Rusted Roof Hash” from Sarabeth Hagen, owner and chef at SB’s Lakeside LoveShack in Richmond. The restaurant is named after Hagen but also riffs on a B-52 song, and she names her dishes after B-52 songs as well.
Kari Rushing, owner and executive chef at Vault & Cellar of Middletown in Frederick County, will be making “Appalachian Eggrolls” with country ham, picked collard greens, spring onions and carrots—complete with a special bourbon dipping sauce.
Other chefs include Laura Fonner, executive chef and owner of Siren restaurant in Charlottesville. She is a two-time winner on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games and will be making her show-winning chicken dumplings.
Tanya Cauthen, owner of Belmont Butchery in Richmond, is another of the celebrity chefs. She won the 34th season of Chopped.
Returning chefs include Steve Glenn, who appeared on Hell’s Kitchen and is now a personal chef in Richmond; and Tammy Brawley, owner of The Green Kitchen in Richmond and host of the “Heart of the Home” cooking segment on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program.
Among the libation suppliers is Tim Smith, who hails from Pittsylvania County and is best known for his starring role in Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners. But he’s also known for his Tim Smith’s Original Climax Moonshine, formulated from a 100-year-old family recipe. He will be sharing samples of his critically acclaimed spirits during the event.
The event also will include an additional distillery, two breweries, two wineries and one cidery with beverages for guests to sample.
“Some people come to the event because they want to meet and talk to the celebrity chefs,” explained Christy Murphy, AITC fundraising manager and coordinator of Taste of Virginia. “Other people are foodies and want to taste all the creations.”
No matter what the reason, attendees will leave with a true taste of Virginia.
Tickets include entry to the fair, premium parking, the Taste of Virginia event and the chance to see Chubby Checker perform his classic rock and roll on the Main Stage. Quantities are limited to 250, and tickets are on sale now through Sept. 26 at StateFairVa.org for $100 each. Starting Sept. 27, tickets will be $115.
Another ticketed event is the annual Black Tie & Boots on Friday, Sept. 27—opening night. The gala is an indoor-outdoor event in Meadow Hall and on its lawn. Proceeds will benefit the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program.
The event will feature a spread from Mosaic Catering, desserts and an open bar featuring a signature cocktail. Though the dress is semi-formal, guests are invited to wear their most comfortable boots and dance to country songs performed by Blair’s West Band.
Tickets are on sale at StateFairVa.org for $125 per person through Aug. 20, and $150 per person Aug. 21 through Sept. 14.
The State Fair is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and attracts 200,000 fairgoers. The event celebrates the best of Virginia’s past, present and future through scholarship initiatives, creative programming and a focus on the commonwealth’s agriculture and natural resources industries. In 2023, the fair was among 182 diverse events that drew more than 530,000 visitors to The Meadow. The venue had an overall regional economic impact of $41.5 million.
Media: Contact Marlene Jolliffe, State Fair executive director, at 804-994-2802 or Pam Wiley, vice president of communications, at 804-291-6315.