ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150032
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: COMPILED BY FOOD EDITOR ALMENA HUGHES
Seafood farmers wanted
Crawfish might be your cash cow. Demand for the crustaceans, which look like lobsters and taste like crabs, far exceeds supply, said Brian Nerrie, an aquaculture specialist at Virginia State University.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service at Virginia State and the College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science will hold a workshop on raising crawfish as an alternative farm crop Saturday in Kilmarnock in the state's Northern Neck. Crawfish, which grow in fresh water, can be raised in the Roanoke area, said William Gee, a Virginia State spokesman.
The workshop will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Morning sessions will be at the Northside Grille Restaurant in Kilmarnock. Afternoon sessions will include a tour of a commercial crawfish farm. Registration is $10.
For information, call Nerrie at (804)524-5903 or Laura Rose at (804)642-7175.
Vegetarian get-together
It's time for another nonmeat-eaters' meeting. Bring a favorite meatless dish and copies of its recipe (or at least its ingredients) and join the Virginia Vegetarian Society for a potluck gathering at 7 p.m. Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, at Grandin Road and Brandon Avenue, Roanoke. Bring ideas for future programs, too.
A $1 contribution per adult helps defray the costs of beverages, building use and postage. Kids and carnivores (human only, please) are welcome.
For information, call 380-2820.
Wine-lovers weekend
Vintage Virginia, the 15th annual Virginia Wineries Festival, is said to be the East Coast's largest, with more than 40,000 attendees anticipated. It will be June 1-2 at the Great Meadow Field Event Center in The Plains.
We're talking 40 award-winning Virginia wineries pouring more than 250 wines; eclectic ethnic cuisine from approximately 30 of the best restaurants in Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas; seminars including tasting, pairing and cooking with wines; continuous live music; arena polo; entertainment for the kids; and many other diversions.
Festival hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, rain or shine. Admission is $15 in advance; $17 at the gate; $5 for people under 21; plus a $2 discount for designated drivers. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., which fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Numerous nearby hotels, campgrounds, and bed and breakfasts make the event a potentially perfect weekend getaway.
For schedule specifics and additional information, call (800)277-CORK.
More for wine lovers
The Roanoke Valley Wine Society will sample some of the Northwest's best at its Spring Wine Dinner, 7 p.m., May 23 at Hidden Valley Country Club.
Award-winning wines from Oregon's Oak Knoll Winery will be paired with crustini with chevre and pesto; pan-seared teriyaki scallops in a fresh spinach salad; charbroiled salmon fillet with Pinot Noir peppercorn sauce and saffron Chardonnay sauce; and rich chocolate torte with fresh berries.
The cost is $27 per person, inclusive. Membership in either the society or the country club is not required. To make reservations, which will be accepted until May 22, call the club at 389-8146. For information on the society, call 992-3285.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 linesby CNB