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By Sherrie Norris
Ask Ann Harmon about cornbread and she can tell you how
it made her the Queen of the Cornbread Cook-Off for several years
running in Linville. Harmon is just one of many great cooks who
compete each June at the Annual Cornbread Cook-Off at Linville’s
legendary Old Hampton Store. Of course, living just across the
street from the store, she doesn’t have very far to carry
her hot cake of bread in for judging, nor does she waste any time
getting back home with title, ribbons and awards in hand. Harmon’s
involvement in the contest each year has become as much of a tradition
as the competition itself, and one she doesn’t plan to miss.
When asked if she had a secret recipe, she replied, “I don’t
know any secret; I wish I did.” She enters the same cornbread
every year – Mountain Plain Cornbread, her own original recipe
that she experimented with until she got it “just right.”
She sometimes enters a Mexican Cornbread, as well. Harmon has
won first place in the cook-off nearly every year that she has
entered, last year being the exception. “I got third place,
but it didn’t bother me one bit.” Her sweet, gentle
spirit and outlook on life make her a winner either way.
Abigail Sheets, owner of Old Hampton Store, encourages all area
cooks to enter the contest before Saturday, June 30. Pre-registration
is required.
You don’t want to miss this event that draws crowds from
miles around. While the sweet smell of homemade cornbread is floatin’
through the air, and folks are tappin’ their feet to some
of the best bluegrass music, someone’s going to win valuable
gift certificates to the store, just because he or she baked the
best tasting cornbread. That “someone” could be you.
It’s that simple.
And that’s not all . . . there will be artists demonstrating
their work and lots of excitement as the morning progresses, plus
plenty of Uncle Lee’s famous hickory smoked Barbeque ready
for lunch. The cornbread will be served with food purchased from
the store’s restaurant and rumor has it that a big pot of
beans will also be simmering on the stove and ready “just
in time.” Home-made apple pie, cobblers and banana pudding
will be available as well as regular menu items.
The Old Hampton Store, located in the heart of Linville, NC, is
an integral part of our local heritage, but it’s not just
another general store. The 86-year old historical site has been
described as “unique” mainly because of the working
grist mill on site, used for grinding and producing fresh flour
and cornmeal every day. The Cook-Off offers a chance to celebrate
the fine bakers who use the meal for their cornbread and to have
some old fashioned family fun in the process.
Contestants are supplied with fresh meal upon registration earlier
in the week and are asked to bring their entries to the store
for judging by a panel of local dignitaries on Saturday morning.
The competition will officially begin at 10:00 a.m. with winners
announced and prizes awarded around noon.
For more information, visit or call The Old Hampton Store today
at (828) 733-5213.
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