The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) held its 8th Annual Tastes of the Valley on Sunday, September 15, at the Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock, CT. While the event raises much-needed funds for the National Heritage Corridor, it originated to celebrate local farms and local chefs. Each year restaurants prepare tasting portions of delicious menu items using products grown and produced in the region.
This year the attending crowd of 200 voted for the “Best Cuisine of the 2013 Tastes of the Valley,” choosing from among 13 contenders: 85 Main, Bella’s Bistro, Dog Lane Café, Farmer’s Cow, Inn at Woodstock Hill, Mansion at Bald Hill, Oliver Wight Tavern, Publick House Historic Inn, Sweet Peas Fine Foods & Farm Market, Soleil & Sons Bakery, Vanilla Bean Café, Vienna Restaurant and Woodstock Hill Preserves. Bella’s Bistro in Putnam, CT, was selected as “Best” for its terrific Smoked Corn & Chicken Chowder. Honorable Mention went to the Oliver Wight Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA, for its delicious Coriander Braised Buffalo with Leeks & Potato Hash.
Special libations were provided by wineries, breweries, distilleries and other beverage makers: Black Pond Brews, Farmer’s Cow, Hosmer Mountain Soda, Maple Lane Farms, Pioneer Brewery, Sharpe Hill Vineyard, Taylor Brooke Winery, Westford Distillers and Willimantic Brewing Company. The “Best Beverage” was awarded to Taylor Brooke Winery, Woodstock, CT, which served samples of Woodstock Hill White, Autumn Raspberry, Corot Noir and Roseland Red. For its seasonal favorite, Apple Cider, the Farmer’s Cow was selected for Honorable Mention.