By Andrea Izzo
Change is afoot in Hillsboro, WV. There is a new executive chef in town. His name is Nick Travelle and he hails from Blaenau Ffestiniog in Wales (population 400). He is cheffing away at the Hillsboro Public House and has plans to twist and tweak the menu a bit. Blair Campbell, who owned the Pretty Penny Cafe and was instrumental in getting the Hillsboro Pub kitchen up and running, has moved on. But don’t fret, The Hillsboro Pub is still the magical place it has been for over a year.
To be fair, this particular location, 7484 Seneca Trail, has been magical for quite some time. It was originally Moore’s General Store (1893) selling groceries, antiques, and food. “It remained a general store until the 1980’s when it was repurposed into a series of different restaurants” notes Terrell McSweeny, owner of the Hillsboro Pub.
“It’s always been a beloved community gathering spot. They used to sell individual nails out of bins and lollipops for the children.” The Hillsboro Pub still has the original shelves and tin ceiling. They also have food, coffee, beer, wine, cocktails and music. Terrell intends to keep it a family friendly gathering place as evidenced by the name Hillsboro PUB. In Celtic tradition, pubs are local gathering places for all. We will get back to the local and traditional, but first…what’s new?
Nick Travelle, Executive Chef, comes from a small mining town in the mountains of Wales that belong to the same mountain chain as the Appalachians. This is probably why he feels so at home here. He came in a bit of a circuitous route including Cork, Ireland and Seattle, Washington where he met his wife who is from Hillsboro. He brings with him a Celtic culinary tradition focused on locally sourced and seasonal food. He also has a culinary training certification and has begun a training program for employees at the Hillsboro Pub. They learn knife skills, how to source food locally and seasonally, and of course how to make delicious meals. Nick says, “They can learn something in the kitchen and take those skills away with them to college. It is an opportunity for people to take these skills with them and see a little bit of the world or stay.”
In addition to the training program, other changes include the expansion of hours and new menu items. The Hillsboro Pub is now open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. New menu items will be heavily centered on locally available and seasonal meats and produce. Several menu items that pay homage to the past remain including the Ruby Burns and the Rosewood Sticks. From the beginning local products have been featured. Oak In Love told me, “Our beef is from 3 miles away. You can’t get much more local than that.” Beef isn’t the only local thing you can find here. Local honey, syrup, coffee, produce, pork, lamb, art, and music are all here waiting for you to enjoy. They also have a takeout option. A sampling of local talent at the Hillsboro Pub includes homemade stained glass by Peggy Owens, Coffee by Lori Doolittle, beef by Evan Rose, Celtic music by Patrick O’Flaherty, and paintings by Katherine Lebowski.
Plan a road trip to Hillsboro, WV and go to the Hillsboro Public House before or after taking in the nearby attractions. The Greenbrier River Trail is just about a mile away, the Pearl S. Buck House is just up the road, and the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is 15 minutes from the Pub. “Take a hike in the Cranberry and then come here” suggests Madeline Pritt. If you do, you will enjoy local scenery, local food, local artists, local music, historical photos, and indoor/outdoor seating. What better way to enjoy life?
For more information on the Hillboro Public House visit Hillsboropub.com.
