Good Books, Good Bread and More at St. Paul’s 11th Annual Fundraiser

Food, wine and a good book.  That’s the recipe for Cooks and Books – St. Paul, Virginia’s annual fundraiser for the Lyric Theater and Friends of the J. Fred Matthews Memorial Library.

Held in late July, the event combines cooks from area restaurants and regional authors. It has been my privilege to be one of the invited authors for the past two years. Among the 2023 authors: Ron Short, Willa Dalton, Carol Doss, Damean Matthews, Danita Dodson, Michael O’Donnell. Fletcher, Kari Kilgore, Jason Adams, Beth Davis, Jim and Teresa Mullins, Jason Barton, Shane Simmons, Linda Hoagland, Karen Peters and Joe Tennis.

This year, one person represented both cooks and books. Linda Skeens brought her cookbook, “Blue Ribbon Kitchen.”  The Russell County, VA native accidentally achieved national fame when no one could find her after she won most of the cooking and canning blue ribbons in the 2022 Virginia-Kentucky District Fair. 

If you get a chance to attend next year. Please make it a priority. You will love St. Paul, the people and the event. Oh, and make sure you come early to spend the weekend.

I took some pictures but did not get everyone.