In an age when food conversations are often reduced to fleeting trends and calorie counts, what does it mean to find a sense of home on our plates? Author and proud resident of Appalachia Amanda Held Opelt explores this question in her new book. Amanda is coming down from the mountains of Boone to visit Belmont Bookshop, celebrating the release of "Provisions: Finding Home Through the Food Folklore of the Appalachian Table"!"Appalachian food tells a magnificent American story. For generations, the geography of the region limited the availability of many mainstream provisions, and so Appalachian cuisine is inherently inventive… It brings together features of Indigenous, Black, and European traditions… When you eat Appalachian, you experience history bodily. When you eat Appalachian, the earth and the ancestors remind you who you are". AMANDA HELD OPELT is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. After fifteen years of serving in the nonprofit and humanitarian aid sectors, she is now pursuing her master’s in Appalachian studies. She has written for Christianity Today, Premier Christianity, and 100 Days in Appalachia and lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters. All prices include admission and one copy of of "Provisions: Finding Home Through the Food Folklore of the Appalachian Table" (physical book provided at the event) . Additional books and backlist titles are available to purchase in-store or on our website. Please note that we cannot guarantee availability of any titles at the event that are not pre-ordered, so we highly recommend placing your orders as soon as possible if you would like extra copies of any books! PLEASE NOTE:There are no physical tickets for this event; you will be checked in by attendee name at the door. Tickets are non-refundable unless event is canceled. Doors to the event will open at 5:30pm with the event beginning at 6:00pm.