Residence » America Journey Information » Southwest Virginia Mountain Lake Lodge Ignites a Daring New Culinary Legacy with SAVOR Weekend
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Perched excessive atop Salt Pond Mountain, the place misty trails meet historical forests, the long-lasting Mountain Lake Lodge is about to debut a brand new culinary custom. From June 13 to fifteen, 2025, the award-winning resort will host SAVOR: Cooks, Farmers & Pals—a three-day celebration of Southwest Virginia’s vibrant meals tradition, deep-rooted Appalachian methods, and sustainable spirit.
Excess of a meals competition, SAVOR invitations friends into the guts of the Blue Ridge, the place native cooks, growers, brewers, and artisans will converge for a weekend of unforgettable taste, storytelling, and neighborhood. Assume wood-fired dinners beneath the celebrities, hands-on workshops, and spirited conversations between those that form the area’s meals identification.
The occasion is a collaboration with Root to Desk, a not-for-profit group devoted to preserving native foodways, and supported by Virginia Tourism. Collectively, they’re crafting an immersive expertise that elevates not solely style however function—highlighting sustainability, traceability, and connection to the land.
Set inside 2,600 acres of preserved wilderness and a pristine chook sanctuary, Mountain Lake Lodge turns into greater than a backdrop—it turns into a personality within the story. It’s right here that “farm to table” returns to its roots, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and soul of Southwest Virginia.
Whether or not you’re a culinary fanatic, a locavore at coronary heart, or just craving connection, SAVOR provides a uncommon invitation to decelerate, dig in, and rejoice the place meals and friendship really start.
“Whether you’re a food enthusiast, advocate for sustainable dining, or looking for a great weekend getaway, SAVOR is a unique opportunity to explore Southwest Virginia’s rich Appalachian culinary heritage and meet the artisans behind the flavors,” mentioned Heidi Stone, president and CEO of Mountain Lake Lodge. “Mountain Lake Lodge is surrounded by a peaceful, magical setting and the perfect place to hold this one-of-a-kind culinary experience.”
This summer time, a rare weekend awaits at Mountain Lake Lodge, the place meals, fireplace, and folklore meet atop Salt Pond Mountain. From June 13 to fifteen, 2025, the celebrated lodge will unveil SAVOR: Cooks, Farmers & Pals, a mountain-inspired culinary journey designed to feed the senses and stir the soul.
Guiding this immersive expertise is Govt Chef Wells Selbe, a passionate steward of regional elements whose cooking has lengthy been formed by the seasons, soil, and tales of Southwest Virginia. Recognized for his dedication to sustainability and deep respect for Appalachian meals traditions, Chef Selbe brings his imaginative and prescient to life via a weekend of connection—between farmers and cooks, friends and makers, roots and innovation.
The occasion, in partnership with Root to Desk and Virginia Tourism, invitations friends to expertise extra than simply meals—it’s a celebration of workmanship, dialog, and tradition.
What Awaits at SAVOR:
The Farmers & Taste MarketplaceStep right into a vibrant open-air market alive with artisans, foragers, distillers, and culinary creatives. Uncover small-batch items, handmade treasures, and meet the palms behind the harvest.
Culinary Workshops & Dwell DemonstrationsFrom open-flame cooking to creative Appalachian methods, cooks will lead interactive periods, inviting friends to style, create, and discover the tales behind every dish.
Mountain Chill Night by the FireAs the solar dips behind the Blue Ridge, the mountains come alive with music, firelight, craft cocktails, and spoken phrase—an homage to the wealthy storytelling tradition of the area.
Roots & Chill out Signature DinnerAn elegant multi-course eating expertise, this candlelit affair brings collectively the best native cooks for an unforgettable feast, full with considerate wine pairings and seasonal artistry.
The Artisan’s Breakfast TableStart the day surrounded by nature at a energetic open-air breakfast, the place cooks prepare dinner in real-time at rustic stations, providing a dawn unfold that’s as recent because the mountain air.
Set towards the breathtaking backdrop of a 2,600-acre nature protect and chook sanctuary, SAVOR isn’t simply one other culinary occasion—it’s a soulful celebration of what it means to eat with intention, collect with function, and style the land one story at a time.
