Fancy Food Show Trends: #1 – Virginia’s rich culinary traditions.

Family food producers from Virginia represented in high style.  From country ham to chutney to bbq sauces, chocolates and pasta, the Virginia Pavilion attracted buyers from across the nation whose great taste made the best of the Commonwealth a destination.

Clare & Neville Turner make their award winning chutneys in Washington, VA.

Continuing a local tradition that began with Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, Charlottesville’s Pasta Valente was founded by Fran Valente in 1982. Her daughter, Marianne (pictured here) carries on the tradition. Inspired by Italian tradition, Fran started making pasta in her sewing room with a small hand-cranked pasta machine. Initially she sold her pastas at the Charlottesville City Market on Saturday. Today, Pasta Valente products can be found all across the continental United States.

Charlottesville based Orthopaedic physicians, Dr. David Heilbronner and Dr. Bruce Wilhelmsen, promote their line of bbq and hot sauces.