More than 170 exhibits will highlight latest trends in home building, remodeling, decorating and landscaping. Cooking State to featureMasterChef Junior contestant Annabelle Nolan
COOKEVILLE – Winter is still here, but spring is calling. The Home Builders Association (HBAUC) is ready for warmer temps and hopes to usher in better weather at the Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show March 4-6 at the Hyder-Burks Pavilion in Cookeville.
The event is a showcase for the latest trends in home building, remodeling, decorating and landscaping. This year, more than 170 exhibits will feature products and services from the region and beyond.
If you are shopping for furniture, a lawn mower, windows, plants, cookware, specialty foods or even a completely new home, you will find everything at this event, said the HBAUC’s Melanie Chadwell. For more than 40 years, the HBAUC has sponsored this annual event. With spring on the way, it’s the perfect time to preview products that will enhance your home, garden and outdoor living spaces, she said.
The Cooking Stage is a popular attraction, with local and regional celebrities demonstrating recipes and sharing tips for entertaining and healthy living. Presenters include restaurant chefs, cookbook authors, and more, including Cookeville’s Annabelle Nolan, contestant on MasterChef Junior. Since her appearance on the Fox TV series, Nolan has become a local and national celebrity. She will demonstrate old-fashioned biscuits with a variety of toppings to sample, so you can get more creative at home.
Boosted by barn sales and TV shows like “American Pickers,” the HBAUC has added a new barn sale area to the event this year with antiques, vintage home décor, and handmade shabby chic items for sale.
The Putnam Friends of the Library “Coffee with An Author” will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5, with a program by Nancy Vienneau, author of “Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook.” Nothing seems more down-home and authentically American than a potluck supper, and Vienneau will talk about how this tradition can be enhanced with southern, sustainable and seasonal accents.
Sunday afternoon’s seminar, “Beautiful Finishes with Pure & Original Paints” will feature a European paint line that is new to the U.S. Leslie Stocker, graphic designer, artist and creator of the hit blog, “Colorways with Leslie Stocker,” will demonstrate easy ways to create finishes for your home and for rejuvenating pieces of furniture.
Another show highlight is the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association’s “Stay and Play” travel expo, returning for its third year and highlighting vacations, weekend or day trips within a short drive from home. Information on the Upper Cumberland’s cultural, historic and scenic attractions, as well as its outdoor recreational opportunities and lodging options will be available.
Admission to the Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show is $5. Opening night Friday, March 4, includes a special two-for-one price. Event hours are 4-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. For directions and more information, call the Home Builders Association at (931) 528-7472 or visit www.uchba.com.
Cooking Stage Schedule
Friday, March 4
5 p.m. Ellen Wolfe, Seed Fork of the Highlands
Gluten-free foods do not have to be flavor-free, so learn to make your own crunchy snacks that do not compromise on taste. This session will demonstrate the ingredients and procedure for making gluten-free crackers in a dehydrator. Come see how easy it is, and taste the difference.
6 p.m. Steve Ford, Cooke House
Why wait for a special occasion to make a beautiful and delicious dessert? Chef Steve will demonstrate three different desserts made from one base.
7 p.m. John Cahill, The Juice Box
Drink to your health. Learn about the many health benefits of fresh, natural, local juice that is yummy, sweet and relatively low in calories.
Saturday, March 5
10 a.m. Amy and Darrell Jennings, WCTE
Inspired by Downton Abbey, WCTE will sponsor a summer excursion to London, so Darrell and Amy will prepare an English style dish “with a twist” to help you get ready for a trip to Highclere Castle.
11 a.m. John Brantley, Lagniappe Spice Company.
Lagniappe custom blends are rooted in Southern heritage, but utilize spice sources from around the world. John’s flavorful recipes for Booyah BBQ Hot Shrimp Dip and Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip will become favorites at your house.
1 p.m. Nancy Vienneau, author of Third Thursday Community Cookbook
Nancy’s theme will be “Great Spring Greens” as she demonstrates seasonal recipes from her cookbook, such as Crispy Herbed Goat Cheese Croquettes with spring green salad, shallot-honey vinaigrette and Greens; and Straw and Hay, which is a sautéed medley of greens with spinach and plain linguine, spices, pine nuts, raisins, parmesan.
2 p.m. Rae Rae, 98.5 KissFM radio personality
As a tribute to KissFM, Rae Rae will create Kiss-Tastic Pretzel Bark with Hershey’s Kisses and caramel. Rae Rae has a segment on her radio show called RaeRae’s recipe.
3 p.m. Chad Combs, Seven Senses
2015 World Chef Challenge champion Chad Combs will feature his locally famous Shrimp and Grits recipe, one of the dishes that earned him the national title. The multiple flavor layers in this dish will stimulate your palate and demonstrate why it’s one of the most popular items on the menu at Seven Senses Food & Cheer.
4 p.m. Marquest Higgins, Purple Fork Restaurant
The Purple Fork will open soon in Sparta, and will offer “Cuisine with Heart” a special kind of comfort food. Chef Marquest Higgins will demonstrate Texas Caviar, a Southern classic.
5 p.m. Wayne Lush, Shag Dog Catering Company
A perfect hotdog needs perfect sauerkraut, so learn to make Southern Style Bavarian Sauerkraut with caraway seeds, sautéed onions.
Sunday, March 6
1 p.m. Annabelle Nolan, contestant on MasterChef Junior
Since appearing on MasterChef Junior on Fox TV, Annabelle has become a local and national celebrity. Annabelle will demonstrate old-fashioned biscuits with a variety of toppings to sample, so you can get creative at home.
2 p.m. Chef Barry O’Connor. Bull & Thistle.
Chef Barry has more than 25 years of experience as a chef in Ireland, the UK and Europe. He now brings “The best of Dublin and London” to the Upper Cumberland. Chef Barry will prepare a Seared Irish Crab Cake, resting on Corn Grits with a light Hollandaise sauce. He will also demonstrate hand-cut and pan-seared beef tenderloin, topped with Guinness wild mushroom sauce, and accompanied by rosti potatoes.
