Birchwood HallSouthern Kitchen was our latest day trip destination. If you like to drive the back roads like we do, head out from Brevard on US-276 and wind your way up the curvy mountain road, stopping at Looking Glass Falls if you like. After about an hour you’ll land in Waynesville.
The view when the weather’s nice during winter months is fantastic! No pesky leaves on the trees getting in the way. Watch for small mountain springs and unnamed waterfalls on your way. Stop at a couple (or more) pullouts, get out and see what you can see.
If you don’t want to drive the curves, take I-40 West and follow your GPS directions to Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen, 111 N Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786. It’s a great place for lunch before exploring Main St shops, or heading back home. Their food’s tasty and reasonably priced. Note their Sanitation Score in the image below.
The I-40 route is an easy drive. It’s longer mileage-wise, but takes about the same time as the mountain-view drive.
Music from Mike Guggino and Mike Ashworth of Steep Canyon Rangers
Oskar Blues Brewery announces Brevardiversary, a celebration of nine whole years of brewing in Brevard, North Carolina. Folks are invited to the brewery for a stellar live music lineup and specialty beers on December 12.
Since Oskar Blues arrived in Brevard nine years ago, the brewery has grown and evolved, and become a firmly rooted part of the vibrant community that surrounds it. The first North Carolina brew of Dale’s Pale Ale on 12/12/12 was just the beginning.
“We couldn’t have done it without the great people in Brevard welcoming us and enjoying the beer being made right here in town,” said Bryan Townsend, Marketing and Events Manager at Oskar Blues. “Sharing fresh beers with neighbors has always been our favorite thing to do. We’re so proud to call Brevard home.”
From 4-6 p.m., get down with live music with local boys Mike Guggino and Mike Ashworth from GRAMMY award-winning band, The Steep Canyon Rangers, featuring very special guest Steve “Big Daddy” McMurry from Acoustic Syndicate!
While you boogie, enjoy great food from the Oskar Blues CHUBwagon and sip on our special Brevardiversary Brew, Cosmic Punch IPA. Cosmic Punch is a 6% ABV brew with tropical and white grape aromas. It’s made with a new yeast by Omega Yeast, which is modified to enhance enzyme production to utilize and express compounds in the hops that otherwise lie dormant.
Cheers to you, Brevard! Now, let’s party! Come out and celebrate NINE amazing years of Brevard-brewed craft beer in a can with us. Admission is free. Reach out to Aaron Baker with questions at aaron@oskarblues.com
About Oskar Blues Brewery
Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft-beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned flagship brew, Dale’s Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues operates breweries in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas featuring Dale’s Pale Ale as the nation’s #3 top-selling craft can six-pack at U.S. supermarkets. Oskar Blues is available nationwide in the US and in over 20 countries. Oskar Blues Brewery is a proud member of CANarchy, a disruptive collective of like-minded craft brewers dedicated to bringing high-quality, innovative flavors to drinkers in the name of independent craft beer.
On Saturday, December 11, 2021, Mills River Presbyterian Church will host its Third Annual Cookie Walk in the church’s Fellowship Hall from 9am to 1pm. The event is open to the public.
For $8 people can purchase an empty bakery box and then peruse thousands of homemade cookies. From snicker doodles to peanut butter to old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies, people can indicate exactly which type of cookies they wish to add to their box. The Cookie Walk will stretch from one end of the Fellowship Hall to the other, with a wide variety of different cookies available. Each box fits about two dozen cookies.
In addition to the delicious cookies, several food gift items will also be for sale in sealed, decorative containers. These include homemade Chex Mix for $4, Candy in a Jar for $4, and Soup Mixes in a Jar for $8.
Masks are required for anyone attending the Cookie Walk, and COVID safety precautions will be followed. For people wishing to “grab and go,” variety boxes of cookies will be available for purchase at the Fellowship Hall entrance for $8 per box. All purchases must be made with cash or check only (no credit or debit cards) and no pre-orders are accepted.
“Whether you’re purchasing for yourself or to give as gifts, we’ll have an extensive array of holiday treats to choose from,” says Jackie Auten of Mills River Presbyterian Church. “This is a great way to get in the holiday mood. Come out and purchase cookies and goodies for your family, friends and office.”
Mills River Presbyterian Church is located at 10 Presbyterian Church Road in Mills River, accessible from School House Road or Highway 280. For more information, call 828-891-7101 or visit www.millsriverpresbyterian.org.
La Rumba (https://www.larumbaasheville.com/) opened three weeks in the location Bonefish Grill previously occupied at 105 River Hills Rd, Suite C, Asheville. If you haven’t been inside, it’s spacious with plenty of seating in two connected dining rooms.
Rey
Folks in Hendersonville have been asking, “Where’s Rey?” Previously the Manager at Arabelle, he’s brought his knowledge, energy, and charm to La Rumba as part owner! He welcomed patrons by name, which left me a little embarassed the first couple times because I hadn’t remembered his. It took him a split second to recognize our good friends, Joe and Paula, me, and my husband, since we were in a totally different environment. His eyes smiled (mask) big time as soon as he realized who we were. And this is where I give Joe and Paula credit for finding Ray and asking us along for a meal. So fun!
As soon as you step inside, you’ll get why I say it’s a different type of Latino restaurant. Decor is “classic restaurant”, simple, clean lines, not a lot of clutter. It’s about the food, drinks, and service.
You’ll notice in the gallery below there aren’t a lot of customers. Think 11am and brand new restaurant without much media exposure. Avoid future waits and go now.
Below the gallery is a description of dishes and drinks we sampled. Some aren’t pictured because I was having too much fun and suffered missed the opportunities. All were authentic and good. See the FULL MENU HERE, including “Brunch all Day”.
Pictured:
FIRST: A note about their rice. It’s made using Ray’s grandmother’s recipe. Absolutely flavorful and delicious!
ELOTES: Mexican street corn with mayo, chili powder, queso fresco, and a squeeze of fresh lime. My take: excellent! The corn was cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious. One of us, who will remain nameless, scooped up extra sauce in a spoon and ate it by itself. If they hadn’t done that, I might have.
EMPANADAS: Three handmade, masa friend stuffed turnovers with chicken, chopped tomato, onions, cilantro, and queso fresco, served with cilantro crema sauce. My take: very good. A lot of food for an appetizer, so folks with “smaller” appetites, go ahead and order for your entree.
BREAKFAST BURRITO: Grilled burrito stuffed with your choice of meat, potatoes, onion, bell pepper, guacamole, queso Oaxaca, bacon, scrambled eggs*, and sour crema. Served with toast. My take: very good!
OCEAN VIEW COCKTAIL: Sugar Island Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, Coconut Milk. Our take: needs a little recipe tweaking and body for our palates.
AVOCADO TOAST: Grilled sourdough bread, topped with house-made guacamole, radish, queso fresco, and two eggs* your way. My take: the menu says topped with house-made quacamole. It might have been due to some kind of unusual circumstance, but mine was topped with avocado slices in addition to all the other things mentioned. The grilled sourdough is tasty, but very hard to cut through – even with a steak knife. Don’t let this stop you from ordering it!
BREAKFAST PLATE: Traditional breakfast served with two eggs* your way, choice of bacon, sausage, or chorizo, smashed fried potatoes, and toast.
Not Pictured:
PLATANOS FRITOS: With queso fresco and sour crema. My take: delicious! So delicious, I ate most of them on the plate meant for sharing.
HORCHATA: My take: all the cinnamon goodness of classic Horchata. We left with a refill to go!
LOVE POTION COCKTAIL: Tito’s Vodka, Chambord, Ginger Beer, Muddled Raspberries. My take: If you know me, you probably guessed this was my cocktail, since it has Ginger Beer in it. It’s light and refreshing. It would be good any time, but I’d definitely get this during warmer weather.
La Rumba
105 River Hills Rd, Suite C
Asheville, N.C. 28805
828-505-2128
If you’ve drivin by the 60 acre Skylaranna Hotel & Resort (https://www.skylaranna.com/) at 2075 North Rugby Road lately, you may have wondered what the pile of excavated earth on the hilltop near the road was all about.
There’s a LOT happening on the resort property – one step at a time. In addition to reimagining the original building’s interior, an “immersive family” resort is taking shape. That pile of dirt looks to be part of the new foundation process for their future Tap Room Barn location. It might also have something to do with a new parking lot, also?
There’s much more planned for this beautiful view property that’s tucked away in a curve along a country road in Hendersonville. See picture below. You wouldn’t be alone if you were to think of Skylaranna as located in Fletcher, as it’s very close to the border.
Image: skylaranna.com
“When Kevin and Anna High purchased the riverfront property that now houses SKYLARANNA Hotel and Resort, they dreamed of transforming it into an immersive family mountain escape. In addition to the full renovation of the estate into 12 boutique suites and the casual fine dining restaurant ELEVATIONS Chophouse, Anna and Kevin plan to include an in ground pool with hot tub, extended deck, day spa with massage spaces, bakery, tap room, and 20 cabins along the tree line. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we make this vision a reality!” – Skylaranna Hotel & Resort
Skylaranna Hotel & Resort
2075 North Rugby Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Hotel: (828) 919-7777
Chophouse: (828) 919-7000
“If you’ve dined with us before, you likely know Chris. He’s been a dedicated member of the Season’s team for over 23 years and his enthusiasm, humor and positive spirit can’t be missed. He always puts others ahead of himself and has even saved a number of guests who needed emergency attention over the years.
Earlier this year, Chris was diagnosed with ALS. In the face of this sobering reality, Chris and his family have been a model of strength, resilience, and grace. To honor them and raise financial support for the challenges ahead, Season’s will host a special evening to honor Chris and his family.
On Sunday, November 7 from 5-8PM, we will host a special dinner featuring a Prix Fix Menu inspired by Chris’ favorite items. The cost is $75 per person and all proceeds will go directly to Chris and his family. Tom, our esteemed wine sommelier, will be auctioning bottles of wine to support the cause while our regular musicians will be providing live entertainment. This will be an opportunity to celebrate the service, smiles and support that Chris is known for.
Reservations must be made by calling 828-696-9094 and will not be available online.
If you are unable to attend this event but would like to support Chris and his family, please consider donating to the GoFundMe Page that was created on his behalf.”
Mountain Brook Vineyards: award winning wine, a gorgeous property with 7 1/2 acres in vine, party lights strung throughout, possibly the biggest fire pit gathering area we’ve seen, and dramatic long range views. Add to that live music, food trucks, and an impressive line up of events, and you truly have a place of enchantment in Tryon.
Owners for a few years now, Vickie and Jonathan Redgrave, had a “grand vision” which has, and is, happening as evidenced (including architect renderings) in this 2018 JenNis Beverage Marketing article.
“Vickie and Jonathan share a grand vision for Mountain Brook Vineyards. Striving to develop a destination winery, building upon the existing family friendly feel by creating beautifully manicured grounds offering numerous options for outside enjoyment of their wine. The existing round tasting room is the center feature of the below concept design. The upstairs space will continue to serve as the tasting room and the outdoor patio wrapping around the building will remain for guest to sit and enjoy the gorgeous views. The downstairs will be utilized as the winery’s retail gift shop. A beautiful grass lawn with a centerpiece fountain will be flanked on each side by shaded pergola canopies. A wedding pavilion will be constructed, and the winery production facility will be expanded. The winery facility will include a classroom allowing for opportunities to teach and learn about the art and science of winemaking, from vine to bottle.” ~ JenNisBeverageMarketing
Any time is a good time to go to Mountain Brook Vineyards, but late afternoons/evenings are especially magical when the sun lowers and the moon rises. We were at Mountain Brook for one of their Movies in the Vines with a little wine and dinner from one of our favorite food trucks, Root Down. Their tiered seating areas and screen setup are perfect.
FOOD AT MOUNTAIN BROOK
Purchase on site: Uniquely crafted, pre-packaged, charcuterie boxes from Charcuter Three. Inside is a selection of assorted cheeses, meats, nuts, olives, and jams served with crackers and crostini ($22 as of this writing).
Bring your own: Vineyard owners told us that visitors are welcome to bring their own food along to enjoy with Mountain Brook wine.
WINE AT MOUNTAIN BROOK
First time at Mountain Brook, or any time really, a good choice is to do what we did and order one of their multiple types of tasting flights. Flights are 4 wines, 1 1/2 oz each, and “self guided”. Between the two of us, we chose the Red Lover’s Flight, followed by two glasses of their Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. I’d order a glass of any of the wines we tasted without hesitation. They were all very good!
With plenty of room for roaming and game playing, “The Brook” is definitely family and pet friendly without being intrusive in the least for people wanting a quieter experience.
Look through their website for information on Tours, Club Cooper their wine club, Victoria Meadows (event space), and their lovely Tasting Room in the converted original owner’s round house. The round house also has a great covered wrap-around deck.
Family owned and run, Overmountain Vineyards (https://overmountainvineyards.com/) is located in the foothill countryside outside the town of Tryon, NC. Grapes are grown and all their wines are made on site – the family’s 70 acre farm. Sometimes a novel concept these days.
“Winemakers Frank Lilly and his daughter Sofia use innovative techniques to develop handcrafted and distinctive French-style wines. The Tasting Room at Overmountain Vineyards, opened in 2010, welcomes guests year-round. The front porch offers stellar views of the foothills — or you can reserve a more intimate seating area.”
~ Overmountain Vineyards
Walking into the tasting room and front porch/patio felt more like walking into a fabulous garden bursting with color than a winery. No idea when the owners find the time to maintain all the plants and planter arrangements, but it’s sure appreciated that they do!
There are a few seating areas, covered and not. One of the first we saw had a long table with 13 place settings and full glasses of wine in honor of the 13 service members lost recently in Afghanistan.
Tastings
We each decided to do a tasting of six wines: Chardonnay, Epic Petit Manseng, Rosé 2020, Decade Red Blend, Patriot Red, and their Red Sangria, substituted for their Dry Muscadine. As family member Mark brought each bottle to our table, he thoroughly described the wine and bits of vineyard history.
The pace of the tasting was relaxed, but we never felt neglected. My two favorites were the Chardonnay and the Decade Red Blend.
I bought two types of cheese and a box of crackers to go with my tasting, and we both took advantage of the food truck on site this day – Seoul Republik. Mmm. Mmm. Those Mini Pork Dumplings!
Wrap yourself in Overmountain’s beautiful, intimate setting as you sip multiple wines in a tasting or enjoy a glass (or two).
Epicurean Notes:
Everyone, no matter what size your party, is requested to make a reservation prior to visiting.
There are two Luxury Villas available for rent on property. Both are listed as “Superhost” properties on AirB&B’s website.
Upcountry Provisions is one of those places you happen upon when you get off the main streets of a small mountain town. A place you want to tell everyone about, but hesitate because too many people might ruin it. But here I am telling you about this sweet bakery & bistro that’s local family owned in Travelers Rest, SC.
Upcountry opens early so you can pick up freshly baked breads, a scone, muffin, or croissant to go with your morning coffee. For heartier appetites, there are breakfast sandwiches, frittatas, and entrees. They stay open long enough that you can get something for an early dinner.
A word of caution – if you order eggs, go with one step less done than you want because they continue cooking as they’re served in a hot skillet.
If you fancy a pick-me-up while you’re walking, running, or biking the Swamp Rabbit Trail, they’re right off the trail.
Upcountry owners, the Kraus family, hold events in The Grove, a lot next door. Many of their events are geered toward building community.
Tom Sewing In His Garage Workshop, Circa 1983. Image: TomBihn.com
Looking for the perfect backpack for “minimal” (one carry on bag only) international travel took research. The last time I did this kind of travel was decades ago as a college student abroad.
Things have changed. Materials are as tough or tougher, but lighter. People carry different things now – phones, tablets, laptops, chargers, cords, etc.
After settling on Tom Bihn, a Seattle company that designs gear based on personal knowledge and user feedback, orders fabric, cuts it, and sews it on site, I ordered the Synik 30(Liter). If you don’t know, like I didn’t, backpacks are sized in Liters.
They have a loyal following, which I joined after ordering a backpack with the wrong interior fabric. When you order your bag, you choose from multiple exterior and interior fabric weights and colors. I was going for the lightest bag possible with tough exterior fabric that would hide dirt, and a light colored interior fabric that would make it easier to find things.
I contacted the company, told them it was entirely my fault, but could I possibly return the bag and re-order? The combination I wanted was not in stock, but they managed to find me one and ship it out immediately, without charge, before I’d returned the original!
To top that off, they offered to send a new backpack they were in the process of designing, the Techonaut 30(Liter), to my daughter for this trip. It was only available for Pre-Order at that point and eagerly anticipated, so it was a big deal. They asked only that she give honest feedback on the bag. She even got to choose the fabrics and colors. The kicker was getting it to her before our departure date. I was a little concerned, so offered to pay expedited shipping to be sure she’d have it in time. Next thing I knew, they had shipped it 2 Day Air! It made it just in time!
Techonaut 30 in Red Blend
Tom Bihn backpacks and gear aren’t cheap, but you get more than you pay for, in my opinion. It’s not just about excellent fabrics at various weights/toughness, it’s about things like top of the line, YKK waterproof zippers sized for easy handling. These zippers are a little harder to open and close because of the rubberized backing. I liked that because – waterproof if it rains. But that also means they’re harder for pickpockets to slip open.
I just carried the Synik 30 around for two weeks to, all over, and back from Croatia. I’m talking multiple flights, hanging out in airports, a hotel when a flight was cancelled, five AirB&Bs in five different cities, ubers, taxis, taxi boats, and ferries. The thing looks and works like new! The same is true for the Techonaut 30 Audrey carried.
Because they’re constantly selling out, backpacks & accessories are listed as “In Stock” or “In Production”. They post Restock dates and times, and believe me, people are waiting to hit those Add to Basket/Checkout Now buttons as soon as restocked items go live!
PACKING A BACKPACK
To Cube or Not to Cube
Packing cubes have been around a long time. You can use them in standard suitcases, totes, backpacks, whatever. People that use them love them and wouldn’t pack any other way.
Tom Bihn backpacks are built with compression straps, “O” rings, pockets, etc., so cubes aren’t necessary, but rather an additional option.
I picked up a variety of shapes & sizes by two brands – REI and Eagle Creek. All of them are “compression cubes”. That means there’s two sets of zippers. Pack the cube, zip it up, and then close the compression zipper, taking the cube down to about half the size. Believe it or not, the right travel clothes do not wrinkle, even under this pressure.
My three cubes were used for; 1) underwear & socks, 2) capris & slacks, and 3) tops.
One cube I didn’t think I needed, but WILL be adding for the next trip is a Clean/Dirty cube. They usually have a flexible/moveable center divider. Some are rectangular, some are stuff bags. As you use your clothes, move them to the sealed “dirty” side of the cube.
Count me a packing cube convert!
Accessories
After shopping around for a new smaller, lighter toiletry bag, I ended up getting a Tom Bihn Standard Spiff Kit in Island 210 Ballistic. Other brands are less expensive, but they just can’t compete when it comes to construction quality and life expectancy. It held everything I needed for a 2 week trip and fit perfectly inside the very top of the backpack.
Finally, just so everyone knows, I would have written about the Tom Bihn company and their products with or without the Techonaut given to Audrey, an avid outdoors-woman, for field testing. I’m that impressed with the company, their philosophy, and the folks that work there.
