Friday, December 4, 2009

Aim small, miss small...

When we were in Virginia last weekend, we took an afternoon to visit Yorktown. If you're unfamiliar with the town, it was the site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War... and it's also the battle portrayed in the Mel Gibson/Heath Ledger epic The Patriot.

Our first stop was the Yorktown Victory Center.After a jog through the museum, we had fun checking out the outdoor exhibits- this was a recreated Continental Army Encampment. The interiors of the tents were all different, based on the different ranks of enlisted men that would have inhabited them.
When we arrived, we were able to see a cannon demonstration- boy was that loud!
It was fun checking out the details throughout the camp.
I also liked checking out the cooking area... isn't that an inventive way to create a stove? There were some reenactors cooking a variety of authentic dishes.
I think this was some sort of grits...
The salt pork didn't really need any explanation.....
And these were biscuits that kept for days!
Another thing the museum had to offer were colonial costumes...
We were having a too much fun in our outfits... don't you like SBV's tri-cornered yarmulke?
Meanwhile I posed by the laundry tent... which is ironic because I don't even do my own laundry. And while SBV's costume was a loaner from the museum, the bonnet is all mine- we bought it in Williamsburg! On our way out of camp, SBV modeled the infraction placards... I absolutely love this picture!!
After the camp, we checked out the 178o's farm... there was a winter garden, farm animals, and all sorts of other buildings to visit!
After the museum center, we saw the Yorktown Victory Monument before heading into town for lunch.
This is where we had reservations- it's the Cole Digges House, which was built in 1720.
It is now home to The Carrot Tree Restaurant.
Isn't it the coolest looking restaurant?
Once inside, we were seated in a cozy corner, just under a sunny window. The interior of the restaurant was warm and comfortable. We started our meal with iced teas and sodas... it was wonderful!
As we were checking out the menu, we noticed something we weren't familiar with: Old Dominion Ham Biscuits. The menu described them as: a recipe as old as Virginia, the biscuits are fresh- two buttermilk biscuits with sugar-cured ham and Chutney dressing. Of course we ordered them- "when in Rome"!
We also had the Tidewater Tomato Basil Soup- it was creamy and delicious!
For lunch I had The U. S. Grant. The menu said: Pilgrims discovered the “crane berry”. It was General Grant who ordered it for lunch. Honey roasted turkey, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts & blue cheese spread with lettuce in a tortilla wrap. I also had the Red Bliss Potato Salad with Dill for my side.
My dad had Lord Nelson’s BBQ. The menu said: It takes Debi two days to season, slow cook and pull prime pork shoulders. We serve it hot on a potato roll with cole slaw, Spinach Orzo Pasta Salad and a pickle spear.
SBV ordered The Jamestown. The menu said: The early settler’s survived the ‘Starvin’ Time’ with this sandwich of sugar-cured ham and cheddar cheese with sliced apples and chutney dressing served hot on buttermilk bread.
And my mom had the special- beef stroganoff.
Now- did you notice a trend? There was at least one piece of carrot on every plate- don't you love that? As for dessert, my mom and I had fudge cake.
My brother went with a slice of pumpkin pie...
And my dad went for the house favorite: carrot cake!
We had a really fun afternoon in Yorktown! Thanks for stopping by my blog- I hope you have a wonderful weekend!