Pints, Forks & Friends Field Notes

The opportunity for a quick road trip to Flint Hill, Virginia presented itself and I jumped all over it. The last time I was down that way was a few years ago visiting Culpeper Virginia, which is a bustling, majestic town in it’s own right. Flint Hill is a little more secluded. To get there I had to make that trek across the infamous Pennsylvania Turnpike… I don’t think I’ve ever traveled on it when it wasn’t raining at some point.

I was meeting up with some great pints, forks “friends” John Andrews, Ted Rubin, and Jeffery Mitchell over at Griffin Tavern, where we enjoyed some incredible english pub-style meals featuring Shepherds Pie, Bangers & Mash, Fish n’ Chips, steaks and more. They even accommodated a vegan dish for Ted. We ate outside and even weathered a little storm that passed through. We all just rolled with it.

The brew selection was on point as well featuring a lot of local craft beers on tap. Lately I’ve been into more IPA’s and tried a Hopwork Orange by Blue Mountain Brewery, which was an outstanding local brew. We had a great conversation going about the future of retail, especially in regard’s to Jeffery’s Culpeper Cheese Co’s. new direction. Will it go back to a true brick and mortar, or will it be a hybrid style shop with a heavy ecommerce focus? Like John says… Do both;)

Side Notes

• Jeffery was the “big cheese” in Pittsburgh last week at the American Cheese Festival. He oversaw like 10,000 pounds of cheese sold at that event… Call Guinness Jeffery!! – Full Story Here
• The bartender was from Akron, Ohio and born in the same hospital as me;)
• John and Ted were traveling to Washington D.C. the next day to visit Ted’s daughter Niki, who had a summer internship at the SEC, and promoting the Photofy App along the way via their own usage and meeting with several brands in the DC area
• Pints, Forks & Friends expands website with “On The Road” Field Note section.
• We stayed at The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn – walking distance from Griffin Tavern