GRAFTON, W.Va. – Grafton, W.Va., and its centennial Mother’s Day celebration will be featured on an upcoming episode of the popular Food Network series Dinner: Impossible. Hosted by Chef Michael Symon, the show will air on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. EST/PST.
During each airing of Dinner: Impossible, Chef Symon receives a daunting assignment to prepare a large meal for an even larger group, with little planning, limited time or resources. These and other obstacles usually pop up throughout the show, pushing the limits of the cooking process.
Many parties helped make the Grafton episode come to life. Homer-Laughlin China especially made and donated FiestaWare Mother’s Day dessert plates for all 500 guests; the West Virginia Department of Agriculture set up a farmer’s market, complete with Mountain State meats, fruits and vegetables; while MountainMade created a complete outdoor storefront for Food Network and Grafton residents to browse and shop. The West Virginia Division of Tourism and West Virginia Film Office coordinated with Food Network to facilitate the show’s production.
Mother’s Day in the United States was founded in Grafton by Anna Jarvis. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson named the second Sunday of May “Mother’s Day.” West Virginians also originated other familial celebrations: The first Father’s Day celebration was in Fairmont, near Grafton, and National Grandparents Day was first commemorated in Oak Hill. Grandparents Day will take place on Sept. 7, three days prior to the airing of the show.