Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley

In 1947, single mother Mildred Rowe started a small restaurant in the foothills of Appalachia. Today, her restaurant serves half a million locals and visitors a year, making it the most popular reason to stop over in Staunton, Virginia. MRS. ROWE'S RESTAURANT COOKBOOK tells the story of this Shenandoah Valley institution and collects the best of Mrs. Rowe's cherished home-style recipes-timeless American comfort food like spoon bread, fried chicken, and cherry pie. Illustrated with beautiful vintage photographs, this nostalgic tribute is guaranteed to fill hearts and bellies with a hankering for a real home-cooked meal.Reviews"Most of all, I love that this book captures the real meat of life, not just its gravy."-Lily Binns, Saveur"Sometimes recipes produce more than a good meal; they bring history to life. Such is the case with Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook."-Country Living Magazine"Even those not familiar with Mrs. Rowe's will appreciate the collection of Southern and Appalachian favorites. . . Bryan's thoughtfully written portrait of the late Mildred Rowe adds to the charm."-Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MOLLIE COX BRYAN is an award-winning writer and poet. She is a frequent contributor to GRIT magazine and has penned essays and articles for NPR's "Kitchen Window," Taste of the South magazine, and Virginia Living magazine. She is also a family life columnist for a local newspaper in Staunton, Virginia. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Waynesboro, Virginia. THE AUTHOR SCOOP

What was your first job?I worked at a little country restaurant/truck stop called “Mary’s” in Raccoon Township. I scooped ice cream and made donuts, which I loved because I could make the icing any color I wanted and decorate it creatively. Eventually I was fired for my inefficiency—I used too many nuts and sprinkles. ?Do you eat your vegetables?I am a vegetarian and can’t think of a vegetable that I don’t like. Who would you cast as yourself in a movie of your life?Myself—Kerri RussellMrs. Rowe—Maggie GyllenhaalAre you "six degrees of separation" away from anyone famous?My grandfather’s cousin was Jean Harlow.?What did you want to be when you grew up?I’ve always been a writer, but I have had some other ambitions, like dancing and acting. One time, when I was 14 or 15, the circus came to town and I decided I wanted to join as an acrobat. I even got the application, and filled it out, but because I was under age, I needed my mother’s legal consent. Of course, that did not happen.