Hidden Treasures:

Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is for lovers of great food, live music and historic Americana. And its unofficial cultural capital, Staunton, may be the region's best kept secret

By Stephanie Citron

Amtrak Arrive Magazine July/August 2010

It was Saturday night at the chic Zynodoa Restaurant in Staunton, Va., and we were trading forkfuls of entrees between the two tables. Mind-blowing, considering the other diners were complete strangers. We had started it; we were curious about their garbanzo-stuffed rainbow trout and they were eyeing our cornmeal-dusted oysters in black bean tomatillo sauce. They had driven an hour from northern Virginia to sample Chef Michael Lund's fare, after reading that he was the selected chef for President Obama's first White House state dinner. Lund is the new chef here, hailing from the five-star Inn at Little Washington.

We couldn't help but wonder "Why Staunton?" as we walked around the corner to Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only reproduction of Shakespeare's indoor theater. Inside, we roared with laughter along with the rest of the audience...

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