On Easter Sunday the Moravians
of Salem will hold their deeply spiritual Sunrise Service. It dates from 1732
when a group of Moravian men met in the graveyard, “God’s Acre”, to sing
praises and ponder the true message of Christ’s death and resurrection. Annually
attendance includes people of all denominations from across the country.
Salem has been a destination
since its founding as a congregational town in 1766. The village had the first
public waterworks in the country by 1788 and 3-years later George Washington
visited to see it and spent 2 nights in the Tavern. In 1849 land was sold by
Salem to establish Winston but it was not until 1913 that the two towns were
officially incorporated. Modern Winston-Salem is recognized as the “City of
Arts and Innovation.” VisitWinstonSalem.com
Interestingly, some of the
greatest innovations the area has to offer are to be found in historic Old
Salem dating from 1760-1850s. The district has more original historic
structures than Williamsburg and 8 restored gardens surrounded by historic
fencing styles. The Moravian Culinary Tour encompasses sites and gardens that
showcase and interpret original plant to platter growth techniques and methodology
considered innovative today. The tour includes sites both inside Old Salem and
in Winston. oldsalem.org/gardens
The village was laid out in a
grid pattern with a main square flanked by a street on a north-south axis. At
one end of the town a tavern for use by “outsiders” was erected in 1784. No windows
were built in the side that faced the village. It now functions as the Tavern
Museum and reflects the experience of a person lodging there. The tavern meadow
features native grapes and a vegetable garden. It is one of two National
Historic Landmarks in Old Salem.
The
Single Brothers’ House, the second landmark, was constructed in 1769 to house
the unmarried brethren. Docents within the house showcase trades and individual
rooms function as galleries where craftsmen work at various trades. The Single
Brothers’ kitchen garden is necessarily large because it fed 60 males and held
both garden and field crops. Nearby stood their slaughterhouse and distillery
and brewery.
The
first privately owned home in the village was the 1771 Miksch House. The owner
was a trained gardener and in this home and garden, a housewife and a gardener
present a wonderful program that takes visitors from “seed to soil to supper.”
In the garden you learn about seasonal crops and growing hops. In the house
seasonal receipts as they were then known are shared.
Winkler
Bakery has one of the oldest operating dome ovens in the nation. It continues
to be wood heated. This functioning bakery sells both Moravian cookies and
their famous sugar cake.
In
the 1930s Vernon Rudolph began making doughnuts in a rental property in Old
Salem. The secret recipe was purchased from a chef in New Orleans and went on
to become known as Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The company has since relocated from
its original home.
Homowo
African American Heirloom Seeds collection is available, along with other
varieties of heirloom seeds in the Garden Shop at T. Bagge Merchant. The seeds
are both original to Africa, Asparagus Pea, Watermelon, Sorghum, Okra, etc.,
and traditionally associated with and used by African Americans.
Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies
are hand-rolled, hand-cut and hand-packed at the rate of more than 10-million
annually using natural ingredients. Tours take you through all the steps from
mixing to packing and culminate with a view of the rolling, cutting and baking.
The entry walls are lined with photographs of luminaries who love these cookies
including Quincy Jones. Jones orders them each Christmas for his friends and
employees and it was his gift of a tin of cookies to Oprah Winfrey that caused
her to list them as one of her favorite things. The tour is wonderful and
samples are freely given. Cookies are available online. Hanescookies.com
Part two of the tour gives
visitors an opportunity to dine at places in Winston-Salem where organic and
locally sourced foods are integrated into the menu.
The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
property was once the Art-Deco RJ Reynolds Building that was a prototype for
the Empire State Building. Now a boutique hotel it offers 189 accommodations.
11 are spa rooms, and The Katherine Brasserie & Bar that offers southern
dining with French flair. TheCardinalHotel.com
Mary’s
Gourmet Diner, formerly a 1920s bank, is one of those rare restaurants with
both a female owner and chef. Meals are comprised of locally sourced organic
ingredients and their meals are delicious. marysgourmetdiner.net
Milner’s
American Southern restaurant is family owned and features Southern American classics
with a nouveau twist incorporating fresh and regional ingredients. They are
renowned for their signature Moravian Cookie and Pecan-Crusted Salmon with
sweet potato flapjacks. milnerfood.com
Brewing has a long regional history and the Small
Batch Beer Company, a
micro-brewery with seasonal
beers keeps the tradition alive. Last year they brewed a limited edition beer
based on a 1700s historic recipe, “Salem Lot 93.” smallbatchws.com
Maya Angelou was a resident of Winston-Salem and
both her 75th birthday party and her funeral repast were hosted by
Oprah Winfrey and held at the Graylyn Estate. The award-winning chef, Gregory
Rollins, is from Barbados and brings with him an astounding knowledge of
international cuisine and fine dining. Several
dining options are offered, a more casual experience in the Grille Room, or a
4-course culinary immersive, world-class experience in the Manor House that
requires advance reservations. In-room dining is offered to those who are
lodging in any of the 85 accommodations. graylyn.com
No comments:
Post a Comment