On Location: Fredericksburg

By Jennifer Pullinger, Photo by Donna Hopkins

Don’t go to Fredericksburg just for the history; go to find out what makes its local food scene one of the most buzz-worthy in Virginia.

With Civil War Sesquicentennial commemorations cropping up across Virginia this year, there’s no better time for a weekend getaway to Fredericksburg. Most know of the city’s historic role in “The Late Unpleasantness.” What you may not know is how well Fredericksburg deserves its reputation as a hotspot for locavores. Indeed, one of the city’s historic district jewels has earned a rare distinction: Epicurious.com recently named Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen on Charles Street one of “The Top 10 Farm-to-Table Restaurants” in the U.S.

If Poppy Hill is packed the day you’re visiting, simply head down the street to another favorite, La Petite Auberge on William Street, known for its French and regional fare comprised of seasonal, locally grown produce. For some post-meal rest and relaxation, and for the full Fredericksburg area experience, check in at La Vista Plantation, a bed and breakfast located near the sites of some of the Civil War’s most famous battles. In the morning, innkeepers serve guests a hearty breakfast that includes Smithfield Bacon and fresh eggs from hens that freely roam the property.

Start day two at Hartwood Winery, a short 10-mile ride from Fredericksburg. Make sure you sample the Rappahannock Red, which the vintner has been producing for 35 years. For more home brewed beverages, duck into Lee’s Retreat at the Blue & Gray Brewing Co., where you can find beer brewed on site, Virginia wines, and weekly food specials often made with fresh ingredients from nearby farmers.

Before your Fredericksburg jaunt wraps up, pop into Bistro Bethem on William Street. Its menu features a range of locally sourced ingredients, including eggs, greens, vegetables, and herbs. Bistro Bethem diners can also enjoy rabbit, pork, and turkey from local farms.

If it’s seafood you prefer, get some Chesapeake Bay crabs to steam at home at B&G Seafood Market off Route 3. You can also stock up your pantry at Miller Farms Market in Locust Grove. It’s worth the side trip through the countryside to load up on wildflower, tulip poplar, and Dutch clover honeys; Highland County maple syrup; lamb from Retreat Farms in Rapidan; and grass-fed bison from Brookneale. In April Miller will offer a freshly picked Mesclun mix, and with the kick-off of the growing season in May, strawberries ⎯ the ideal way to savor your sojourn to through the historic Fredericksburg region.

CONTACTS:

Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen
1000 Charles St. Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 373.2035
www.ciaopoppyhill.com

La Petite Auberge
311 William St., Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 371.2727
www.lapetiteaubergefredericksburg.com

La Vista Plantation Bed & Breakfast
4420 Guinea Station Rd., Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 898.8444
www.lavistaplantation.com

Bistro Bethem
309 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 371.9999
www.bistrobethem.com

Hartwood Winery
345 Hartwood Rd., Fredericksburg,VA
(540) 752.4893
www.hartwoodwinery.com

B & G Seafood Market
4901 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 548.3474‎
www.bandgseafood.com

Blue & Gray Brewing Co.
3300 Dill Smith Dr., Fredericksburg, Va. 22408
(540) 538.2379
www.blueandgraybrewingco.com

Miller Farms Market
12101 Orange Plank Road, Locust Grove, VA
(540) 972.2680
www.millerfarmsmarket.com

Jennifer Pullinger, a freelance writer in Richmond, VA, has been following food culture since 2001, when she worked with Rachael Ray to secure her first appearance of “The NBC Today Show” and her first meeting with The Food Network.