Faye Wood of Auntie Faye's Spratt

Faye Wood, of Roanoke, has been coming to the Roanoke Farmer's Market since she was born in the 1950's. She, her mother, and her grandmother would visit the Market on early Saturday mornings so her grandmother could buy eggs, butter, meat, and vegetables. Though Faye's mother and grandmother are now deceased, she continues to carry on the tradition they started today both as a vendor and as a customer.

Faye's business, Auntie Faye's Spratt, is relatively new. However, she has hopes of expansion in the near future. Her product, Auntie Faye's Spratt, is a secret family recipe that has been in her family since the early 1800's. The recipe was originally developed by Faye's great, great Uncle who owned a saloon in Knoxville, TN. In an effort to increase drink sales, her Uncle developed the "Jack Spratt" recipe. While Faye is not sure how he came up with the recipe's name, it does remind you of a common nursery rhyme. Faye's Uncle served Jack Spratt on hot dogs, hot smokes, and bratwurst. Basically, he would split the meat that had been ordered in half, fry it on both sides, then serve it on a bun with the Spratt. His Spratt was super hot and spicy, and the men loved it! Customers would order a Spratt sandwich or two, while constantly also ordering beer to wash it down. Faye's Uncle's goal was achieved, and because of the Spratt, his drink sales increased. Today, Faye's Spratt has earned her the honor of being a member of Virginia's Finest.

You'll find Faye and her Spratt on the Market during spring, summer, and fall. While she's mostly present on Saturdays, occasionally you'll also find her on a Thursday or Friday. To contact Faye to see when she'll be available with her Spratt, you can email her at fecw1@yahoo.com.