North Fork Blog

Bird Watching Weekend May 29th to 31st

We were honored to have Dr Gary Rankin join us for our Birdwatchers weekend. He talked on Friday evening to an amateur crowd about the basics of birds. He focused on how to care and feed for wild birds in our backyards. He brought great birding guidebooks, talked about birdhouses, and the different kinds of binoculars. He gave us a gift of a bluebird house and brought plans for the rest of the group on how to build their own bluebird house.

On Saturday morning he led the early risers on a birdwalk in the perimeter of the Monongahela Forest adjacent to the Inn. He then took them down by the river in the Smoke Hole Canyon. Later on Saturday afternoon, he led and narrated a birdwalk at Seneca Rocks. It was a fun and informative weekend for both the amateur and expect bird watchers in attendance. On Saturday evening all guests were able to share their bird watching adventures and stories around the dinner table while they enjoyed a delicious meal with included:

Complimentary Wine Tasting
Bruschetta made with Fresh Mozzarella made with fresh Basil from our garden
Pork Green CHili
Chicken Marsala made with Local Wild Mushrooms
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Broccoli
Carol's Famous Chocolate Souffle with French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

It was a wonderful weekend of Birding, Food, Wine, and Excellent Conversation.

Here is a list of the birds identified over the weekend in the area.

Birds seen/heard at North Fork Mountain Inn, Dolly Sods and Seneca Rocks
May 30, 2009

Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Golden-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating warbler
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

Total = 72 species

Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

North Fork Mtn Inn Chef to compete in National Seafood Cook Off

GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK OFF
www.greatamericanseafoodcookoff.com

Press Contact: Shea Communications Inc.
Richard Shea, Alexis Schneider 212-627-5766

CHEF ED FISCHER TO REPRESENT WEST VIRGINIA
IN 2009 GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK-OFF

Ed Fischer of North Fork Mountain Inn, located in Cabins, WV will represent The Mountain State at the sixth-annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans on Saturday, July 18. Fischer is among more than 20 chefs from across the nation who will vie for the title of King or Queen of American Seafood at the annual competition.

Now in its sixth year, the Great American Seafood Cook-off, presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, has featured up-and-coming and celebrity chefs over the years, and underscores the importance of cooking with domestic seafood and encourages the use of products from sustainable fisheries. Sig Hansen, the commercial fishing captain who stars in the popular documentary television show Deadliest Catch, will host the 2009 Great American Seafood Cook Off.

“Since first introducing the Great American Seafood Cook Off in 2004, we have advanced our cause and also had a lot of fun,” said Ewell Smith, executive producer of the Cook-Off and executive director of the Lousiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board. “I look forward to welcoming this talented West Virginia chef to New Orleans this summer.”

Chef Fischer, now a rising star in West Virginia’s culinary arena, left a corporate career in sales and marketing in Indianapolis in 2006 to purchase and run the North Fork Mountain Inn with his wife Carol. Fischer’s rustic cuisine, which features locally grown ingredients, has become a main attraction at the 10-room inn, a property recognized by Select Registry/Distinguished Inns of North America.

Fischer worked as a chef during his college years, but never received formal culinary training. He credits his skills to the techniques he learned from his German grandmother and later honed while preparing meals for large groups. He is a French-trained master sommelier, with certification from Gevrey Chambertin in France’s beloved Burgundy wine region.

For the Cook Off, Fischer plans to showcase West Virginia’s golden trout from local hatcheries, accompanied by morel mushrooms and ramps that grow wild in the mountains of his state.

“I always fill my kitchen with local, fresh ingredients and buy produce locally in order to reduce my carbon footprint,” Fischer said. “Buying locally is important for the environment and helps the WV economy as well.”

The Great American Seafood Cook Off will take place Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during the Louisiana Foodservice Expo. Open to the public, the event asks attendees to make a $5-$10 donation at the door. The Cook Off will begin at noon and conclude at 4pm. Participating chefs will create unique dishes with domestic seafood, and utilize fish that’s native to their home state whenever possible.

Prior winners of the Great American Seafood Cook Off include John Currence of City Grocery in Oxford, MS, Tim Thomas of the Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, GA, Justin Timineri, Executive Chef for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Randy Evans of Brennan’s of Houston, and John Besh of Restaurant August in New Orleans.

Great American Seafood Cook Off sponsors include NOAA and FishWatch, Michelob Brewing Company, Whole Foods Market, Loubat Food Service Equipment, Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Royal Sonesta New Orleans hotel. Acknowledgement is also in order to the supportive seafood organizations; the National Fisheries Institute, Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Texas Department of Agriculture, Jones Seafood Solutions, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. A special thanks also to media sponsors, Gulfscapes Magazine and Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

For more information, visit online at www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookoff.com.

Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

Spring at North Fork Mountain Inn

Spring is in full bloom at the North Fork Mountain Inn. We recently completed the construction of our new log home and are renovating the Spruce Knob room that we have been living in since we purchased the Inn in August 2006. Once completed, we will have 10 uniquely decorated rooms that can cater to your group needs. Our newest Log Cabin suites have been very popular since completion in October 2008. Whether you are planning a family reunion, small wedding, or a corporate retreat, check with us to see how we can customize your event and create memories for a lifetime. We have created several weekend specials and invite you to return and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, excellent wines, fine dining, and warm hospitality that many have come to expect from Ed and Carol.

Ed was recently chosen by Governor Manchin to represent West Virginia in a National Seafood Competition scheduled for July in New Orleans. Come and help perfect his recipe for Golden Trout, which includes local popular delicacies such as ramps and morel mushrooms.

We are very excited about the Inn being featured in the May issue of the Washingtonian. Come and see why the North Fork Mountain Inn is the preferred destination for those in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia communities.

Come experience the North Fork Mountain Inn with one of our special 2009 event weekends.

Bird Watchers Weekend
May 29th-31st. Join fellow birdwatchers to hear Guest Lecturer, Gary Rankin, PhD, talk about birding and lead guided birdwalks. View the returning WV breeding birds and migratory birds heading north.

Wine Dinner Weekend
June 19th to 21st. Owner Ed Fischer, Master Sommelier, has paired elegant summer white wines with a "Seafood Feast" that will delight the food and wine lover in each of us. The festive event is $ 80.00 per person and includes wine pairings along with this 5 course extravaganza.

Golf and Massage Weekend
August 21st to 23rd. Enjoy the option of an all-inclusive weekend that combines Golf, Massage, and all meals, including wine. Please call Ed or Carol at the Inn to customize the package that works best for your preferences.

Please contact us to learn more about these special 2009 events and check availability.

Inn Keeper

Posted on Saturday, May 09, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

Spring Mountain Festival

Spring Mountain Festival week has arrived. The usual signs of spring are popping up every day. We seen new shades of green daily as a each new tree shoots its leaves as a display that winter is over and spring is here. It was rumored that there were snowflakes sighted today, but I am confident that tonight is the last night I will have to bring the recently planted herbs in.

Friday evening is a Christian Youth Rally featuring contemporary/rock Christian bands "Covenant" and "Lost Keys". Flea Market Vendors will be open in the former Petersburg Auto Pavillion and Craft Vendors will be located in City Park near the main stage.

Saturday's festivities will begin with a parade through downtown Petersburg. Other Saturday activities include "Wild World of Animals", Country Music Star, Josh Oldaker, and Hometown native, former Miss West Virginia, and Nashville Recording Star, Julia Burton and her band.

Sunday's Gospel Music will begin at 1:00 with Josh Oldaker performing. He will be followed by several local community gospel groups.

We have one room available, Cave Mountain. If we are fortunate, we will be able to enjoy a private Saturday evening concert at the Inn as Josh Oldaker, who is staying with us at the Inn might be encouraged to "sing for his supper" as he did last year.

We saw our first hummingbird sentry today. I put fresh food in the feeder so they will hopefully send a good report and bring many to spend the summer at the North Fork Mountain Inn. We have seen several yellow and gold finches. They seem to be hungry as they eat the thistle seed as fast as we can put it out. Refilling the bird feeders has become a daily activity.

It is so refreshing to see the early spring flowers bloom. We are anticipating the azaleas and rhodendrums coming to life soon. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. We are looking forward to receiving our first batch of ramps and morelle mushrooms, as we perfect our "golden trout" recipe that we are planning to represent West Virginia in the National Seafood Cookoff in New Orleans in July this year. So come and give us your feedback on our "WV Style, Golden Trout".

Check back to our blog as I will be posting the link for the WV DNR Stocking report. As you may know, the golden trout is grown locally, and it is "prime time" fishing season right now in Smoke Hole Canyon.

If you can't join us this weekend, check out our Upcoming Events link on our website www.northforkmtninn.com to see the exciting upcoming events scheduled. If you want to participate in one of these exciting weekends, we encourage you to choose your favorite room or check out our new log cabin suites.

Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

The Mountains are alive with Spring Colors

The North Fork Mountain is starting to come alive with vivid Spring Colors. The Red Buds are in bloom. The migrating birds seem to have a voracious appetite this year. The yellow finches are especially attracted to the thistle seed we put out for them. The grass is starting to grow. So that means if you are looking for cheap entertainment, you can watch Ed mow the steep hillside in front of the Inn. Our herd of 12 deer are not able to keep up with the grass that seems to grow faster with the warm sunshine we have been enjoying.

We are nearly finished with our new log home at the top of the hill. We plan to be moving in May. That will open up a new room at the Inn that we have been living in for the last 2 1/2 years. So if you are thinking of building a log cabin home, we invite you to come and check out our log cabin suites and our new home. They were log packages that we purchased from Appalachian Logs in Southern West Virginia. You can see that our builder, Lawrence Eby and Sons, are true craftsmen. You would never know that this was their first log construction project.

Are you thinking about getting married this year? Come and see why we are the perfect one-stop destination for small weddings or elopements. Our Memorial Day Wedding last year was such a success, that we are planning to make destination weddings another feature of the North Fork Mountain Inn. In fact, Ed is in training to become a certified pre-marriage counselor and as an officiant, he can marry you also. A successful Inn Keeper must be able to wear many hats.

So whether you are coming for the food, wine, beautiful spring scenery, or just need to get away from the noise and the busy life you are living, call or go online and book your next peaceful getaway at the www.northforkmtninn.com and enjoy the solitude and quiet peacefulness of our beautiful mountain paradise here in "almost heaven, West Virginia".

Inn Keeper

Posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

Golf and Spa Treatment Weekend August 21-23rd

Come and enjoy the finest golf and beautiful mountain views as part of our special Golf and Spa Treatment weekend. Enjoy 18 holes, with a cart, including a gourmet picnic basket at either Valley View Golf Course or Fisher Mountain. These nearby golf courses offer some the the best golfing you will experience in West Virginia. If golf is not your thing, then you can enjoy being pampered by massage therapist, Sherry Musser. She does everything from reflexology to pedicures to full body massage. Let us customize a spa experience for you that includes a gourmet picnic basket. Call Carol today as these packages will go fast. A two night minimum stay is required.

Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

Cooking Classes Weekend September 11 to 13th

Did you ever wish that your spouse or significant other could cook like Ed and Carol at the Inn? Now here is your chance. We will spend all day Saturday teaching you how we prepare many of the favorite dishes at the North Fork Mountain Inn. From the made-to-order omelets to the chocolate souffle, we will send you home prepared to dazzle your friends with recipes and ideas on how to improve your dining experiences and jazz up your presentation. The cost is $ 150.00 per person and includes both lunch and dinner. Don't miss this exciting and fun packed weekend. We will send you home with some personalized gifts as well. A two night minimum stay is required.

Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009 - Permanent Link - 0 comments

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