2011 Horseradish & Herb Festival At Georgian Place

SOMERSET, PA – June 24, 2011 – The grounds at Georgian Place will be filled with herbs and much more to celebrate horseradish “the herb of the year” during the First Annual Horseradish and Herb Festival to be held Saturday, June 25th and Sunday June 26th, 2011 throughout the village. This special indoor/outdoor event will feature over 25 vendors, offering a wide assortment of horseradish products, plants, specialty foods, jellies, jewelry, crafts, and quality antiques. You can listen to scheduled lectures throughout both days discussing herbs, cooking, and of course, the secret ingredient….horseradish! The event is sponsored by Sugar Grove Herbs, where owner Barb Will’s favorite motto is “everyone needs a little sunshine”. Barb has been in the herbal business for over 23 years and specializes in teas and vitamins. The store has a treasure of unique items, including Natures Sunshine vitamins, over 100 specialty loose leaf teas, garden accessories, gifts, and a splash of eclectic antiques. Will says, “I am always interested in sharing my passion and spreading the knowledge and excitement of herbs and gardening”, on why she decided to organize the event. Attendees at the event will learn everything there is to know about horseradish. Both a root vegetable and herb, horseradish has an interesting history, tracing as far back as 1500 BC. The best time to harvest plants is after a hard frost, but they can be harvested year round. Keep the plant refrigerated to maintain hotness, if you like it hot. There will be a drawing every 15 minutes for a free bottle of horseradish sauce donated by H.J. Heinz Company. And if all this is not enough, popular and interactive DJ Rocko will be playing from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. The show runs from 10 am to 5 pm both days. Rain or Shine. Free Admission. In addition to all of the other activities, there will be a Horseradish Food Contest, judged by three celebrity judges, all with vast knowledge of culinary arts and herbs. Chef Reece Deist, C.C. head chef at the Georgian Inn of Somerset; Lori Noll, owner/operator of Lorelei’s, a bed and breakfast and culinary classroom where she teaches cooking classes; and Matthew Myers, owner of Matteo’s Herbs Galore in Johnstown. Local folks can enter recipes containing horseradish in different categories to be judged from appetizers to desserts and one for just the main ingredient, homemade horseradish! The village at Georgian Place is the perfect setting for strolling outdoors, and with so much to see and do a trip to the Georgian Place Horseradish and Herb Festival will be a well deserved and enticing day out you won’t want to miss!

Lecture Schedule: Saturday, June 25th , 2011 11:00 am - Kathy Randall (Folklore Storytelling) 12:30 pm - Tina Sams ( Wild Edibles) 1:45pm - Susanna Reppert Brill (Horseradish) 3:00 pm- Barbara Steel ( Scented Geraniums)