Edible Blue Ridge Fall 2022

the comfortable bed, we made sure to get up early so as not to miss two of our favorite stops on the trip. The Staunton Farmers Market starts at 7 a.m., certainly one of the earlier markets in the area. Many of the vendors have sold their products since the market was formed in 1993. Chestnut flour baked goods, fresh-pressed juices, bloomy cheeses and produce soon filled our basket as we circled round the stalls. What I love about a good market is that you always leave with more than just a basket of goodies. It’s a chance to learn from artisans, con nect with people and relish in community gathering. Reunion Bakery As a self-proclaimed croissant connoisseur, I have to say Reunion may just make the best leavened goods in all of Virginia. A good croissant should flake at the lightest touch, and the ones baked by owner/pastry chef Bryan Hollar just dissolve in your mouth. They are so buttery they border on the divine, and don’t sleep on the canelés! These ooey-gooey little guys are caramelized on the outside and contain a voluptuous vanilla and rum custard within, making them just the thing to pair with a shot of Crucible espresso. Buttery and sweet pastries aside, the lines that form for Reunion are also

Clockwise from top left: Reunion Bakery window display. Spiral staircase at the Blackburn. Drinks at the Green Room.

towers, crab cakes and lobster mac and cheese are customer favorites. The evening we dined, bass was the catch of the day, and it was a dramatic and succulent centerpiece to our meal (if it’s on the menu, order it!). The shrimp and grits were some of the best we’ve enjoyed in our travels, with roasted red peppers and sundried tomatoes making for an earthy sauce to complement the creamy grits. Like an ocean, the restaurant is vast and can seat many guests, so if you are look ing to plan an adventure with friends, this is the ideal place for a large gathering. While you await your BLU Point reserva tion, or after being transported to another world by catching a play at the American Shakespeare Center, head over to the green room . Cozy yet cool, this hip little joint offers a vast portfolio of beers, wines, ciders and an intriguing aperitivo cocktail list. If you taste something that tickles your fancy, you may just be in luck, as they have a bottle shop in the back where you can purchase hard-to-find beers and wines.

MORNING SUSTENANCE Although we were inclined to sleep in, given

edible blue ridge fall 2022 | 29