Food & Flavors

Perhaps some folks would think that the last place someone would seek out oysters would be the Blue Ridge Mountain region. But if your quest involves oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), then you’ve definitely come to the right place.

Some effort is required to eat shagbark hickory nuts, but it’s a worthwhile enterprise as the nutmeat inside features a delightfully sweet aroma.

My wife Elaine and I regard our region’s native wild persimmon as, hands down, our favorite fall fruit and also as the source for our favorite kinds of homemade bread and cookies any time of the year.