Recently, DelectablyChic! travel writer, Lynn Burshtein and I were invited by Pulse Communications, a travel PR agency, to attend food-related event hosted by Virgina Tourism.  Held at ARD (THE LOFT Andrew Richard Designs), it featured delicious delights highlighting the culinary scene in Virginia.  There were food stations featuring fried hand pies, Virginia ham, oysters, Virginia wines and more.  In addition, there were also passed h’orderves, a salad bar and cheese table.

Delicious cheese board – even more so when topped with preserves!

These mini pulled pork sliders were one of many passed hors d’oeuvres

Salad

Some of the toppings for the above salad

I found the event to be very well-organized, attended by people in the tourism industry as well as media.  It would, however, have been been a little better, functionally speaking, if the salad bar was self-serve rather than attended by a server.  Things would have moved along quicker that way.  I did like how it featured many toppings, including grapes, spicy beans, beets and cheese.  It was a welcome, healthier alternative to an evening filled with carbohydrates and other not-so-healthy treats (not that the fried hand pies were NOT delicious!).  I would have to say that the salad bar and cheese table were my favourites of the evening.  I also tried a glass of their Riesling, which isn’t too bad.  Until that evening, I had no idea Virginia had a thriving wine industry.

Fried strawberry pie topped with strawberries served with vanilla ice cream (apple pie was also available, but strawberries photograph better)

Shoofly Pie

Virginia ham in a biscuit

One of the two signature mocktails

Marble cake

In addition to food and beverage, representatives of Virgina, including its governor (a HILARIOUS man, by the way!) addressed attendees.  It was a delicious evening, with a very special thanks to Pulse Communicatons and Travel Marketing Inc. for inviting us.