Q: Casual Luxury at The Firehouse Inn

Rutherfordton – What to do with a cool building that once housed the firehouse, city water, and police departments when it’s no longer needed? Turn it into a gorgeous Bed and Breakfast, of course! Co-owners Keven and Kitty McCammon purchased The Firehouse Inn, a beautiful 6 bedroom bed and breakfast, from previous owners who had completely remodeled the interior. Since the purchase, they’ve made it their own. The lowest level serves as home to BlueRidge Design, Kitty’s interior design company. She has exquisite taste, by the way. It’s chock full of the cutest and most beautiful gifts and products. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Kitty while staying at the Inn. Think lovely southern born and raised woman with character strong as steel. She is the proud owner and manager of Maple Creek Farm, where she and her husband raise Texas Long Horn cattle. You can buy the famously lean Maple Creek Farm meet at BlueRidge Design shop.We hopped into Kitty’s Hummer (right, a Hummer) and drove out to the farm for a look-see. Because the cattle would walk away if they sensed strangers, Kitty drove right out into and around the hilly pasture. Talk about fun! The Firehouse Inn 125 W 1st St Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828) 286-9030 BlueRidge Design 134 N. Washington St Rutherfordton, NC 28139 828-286-8069

Question 1

Why Postero Must Not Close

Accepted Answer

Hendersonville &#8211; Another year in the books, business partner and friend, Nichole Livengood (Gap Creek Gourmet), and I celebrated over dinner at Postero.
I&#8217;m a sucker for Brussels Sprouts. Postero&#8217;s take: Carmelized Brussels ($5) with local honey and toasted peanuts was fantastic. A generous serving, it&#8217;s practically a meal in itself. Loved the added crunch of the toasted peanuts.
See the complimentary bread behind the Brussels? It&#8217;s dangerous. It&#8217;s delicious, but be strong. Don&#8217;t be tempted to eat too much. You&#8217;ll regret it when your appetizer and entreé show up.

And just look at this $5 Smoked Butter and Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes appetizer! Both of these dishes are listed as &#8220;Provisions&#8221; on the menu. So good, but huge! Sharing is a good thing.

Just as we were marveling at the size of the apps and how much food we had inadvertanly ordered, Owner/Chef Jason Reasoner sent out Edamame Hummas ($6) from his &#8220;Snack&#8221; menu. Wow! We&#8217;re talking tahini, lemon sauce, olive oil, crushed edamame, and pickled yellow raisins, served with an ample supply of crostini. Now we were really in trouble. We loved the flavor and texture combinations.
Chef told us later that people weren&#8217;t too sure about this dish when he first put it on the menu, but now it&#8217;s sometimes hard to meet demand.

Yours truly was in the mood for something substantial and special. Postero&#8217;s &#8220;Steak&#8221; ($27) &#8211; grilled Beef Tenderloin with smoked butter-cauliflower mashed potatoes, Postero Steak Sauce, Burgandy braised mushrooms, and Blue Cheese butter met the bill big time.
I can&#8217;t say enough about the Postero Steak Sauce. It&#8217;s definitely not your average steak sause. Absolutely fabulous! It&#8217;s the kind of sauce you don&#8217;t want to leave on your plate. And those mushrooms. Terrific!

Every single dish came to the table hot. That doesn&#8217;t always happen at restaurants.
Nichole ordered a Market Plate ($19). This is a gamble I almost took, but opted for the Steak instead. I would have been totally happy with this daily preparation of &#8220;seasonal produce from the fields and local markets&#8221;. What a great combination of nuts, greens, cheese, and other veggies. Yum! Another good plate to share.

We were pretty full, but wanted to finish on a shared sweet note. Even though Chocolate Molten Cake can be cliché, we thought Postero&#8217;s version sounded different &#8211; and it was house-made. On the menu as Chocolate and Peanut Butter ($6), it&#8217;s filled with peanut butter sauce and served with a scoop of salted peanut brittle ice cream. You really have to try this. So good.

Postero must not close. Ever. Hendersonville, NC has needed a fine dining spot for quite a while. The kind of place you previously had to head north to Asheville to enjoy. And if you were paying attention, you would have noticed prices are definitely reasonable for this level of creativity and skill.
Postero is definitely Epicurean recommended.
Postero
401 N Main St
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 595-9676

Question 2

Defiant Whisky Founder Featured in New History Series "Billion Dollar Wreck"

Accepted Answer

BOSTIC, N.C. &#8211; Tim Ferris, Founder and President of both Defiant Marine and Defiant Whisky, is featured in the new HISTORY series, “Billion Dollar Wreck.”
The series follows famed treasure hunter Martin Bayerle and his son Grant as they embark on a complex expedition in pursuit of both personal redemption and a billion dollars’ worth of treasure aboard the renowned and mysterious sunken cruise liner, RMS Republic. “Billion Dollar Wreck” premieres Monday, February 8 at 10 p.m. ET/ PT.
Ferris brings to the expedition years of technical deep-sea salvage diving expertise. It is the kind of high-risk, high-stakes project Ferris’ Defiant Marine knows better than anyone in the world, and it taps into a trait he shares with Bayerle — a determined and relentless desire to beat the odds in projects others would abandon.
“I was immediately drawn to Republic’s undeniable and truly historic story,” said Ferris, “and my role is to identify and manage a myriad of desires and expectations and orchestrate a safe and timely recovery.”
One of the largest and most luxurious ocean liners of its time, Republic sunk shortly after its departure from New York Harbor in the early hours of January 24, 1909. Considered unsinkable, the White Star ship collided with another vessel and now sits at the bottom of the Atlantic.
While on board, Ferris became fascinated with the story. “The history and legacy of the wreck are extremely compelling and motiving.”
Ferris is a likable leader attracted to finding creative solutions to any challenge. Without knowing it, many viewers have already gotten a taste &#8211; literally &#8211; of Ferris’ passion for invention and drive for perfection. And they got it not from his exploits on the ocean, but from his other great love and business — Defiant Whisky. By setting out to produce the best whisky possible in a way previously unheard of, Ferris’ whisky making remains true in all his endeavors — whether on the sea and off.

Defiant Marine Inc. is primarily an emergency response deep-sea commercial diving and heavy ship salvage company. Defiant Marine Inc, works all across the globe on a moment’s notice to provide assistance and experience in solving complex and environmentally-sensitive problems.
Defiant Whisky is the internationally award-winning Single Malt Whisky of Blue Ridge Distilling Company. For more information about Defiant Whisky or to schedule a tour of the distillery, please call 828-245-2041 or email info@blueridgedistilling.com.
Release

Question 3

Best Places to Steal a Kiss in Asheville, NC

Accepted Answer

Innkeepers of the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association have assembled a list of best romantic places. You’ll fall in love with their outdoor hikes, strolls, food stops and more.
Love With a Victorian Accent
At the Beaufort House Inn, there’s a “kissing nook” on the landing of the winding, wooden staircase, original to the 1894 home where Charlton Heston lived for a short time. Sweet spots abound at this Victorian bed and breakfast with a front porch gazebo that’s perfect for couples or a crowd. Once guests force themselves to leave the house, innkeepers Christina and John Muth recommend a romantic stroll on the front lawn of the Biltmore House & Gardens. (Tip: The new “Fashionable Romance” exhibition featuring wedding gowns in film and Vanderbilt wedding heirlooms opens at American’s largest privately owned home opens Feb. 12 through July 4, 2016.) Wrap up your day with a toast to your beloved at the Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar. Christina enjoys suggesting this used bookstore and wine bar with its “glowing atmosphere with intimate seating corners” to guests. Cheers!
Dinner, Anyone?
Crooked Oak Mountain Inn is nestled on a mountaintop, wrapped in trees and rhododendrons with a fire pit for storytelling, guitar playing and more. Innkeepers Michael (most people call him Bear) and Patti are former caterers, so they know their way around the dinner table…and Asheville restaurants, too. Their top romantic recommendation is Zambra. Travel + Leisure describes Zambra as a “colorful, secret world…designed by a local artist, the low-lit retreat is accented with Moorish arches, wooden columns, and booths lined with throw pillows.” The restaurant serves an eclectic tapas menu with Spanish, Portuguese and North African accents and local North Carolina ingredients&#8211;and you’ll likely encounter a belly dancer, too!
Hankering for a lovely view of the Asheville skyline? Patti and Bear recommend the Sky Bar at Asheville’s historic Flatiron Building for a drink or coffee. It’s especially lovely (and also a little busier) around sunset.
A Place to Stroll
Emily and Bill, innkeepers at A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast, worked together in the medical profession as a medical illustrator and photographer in Boston before focusing their artistic passions on working together at the inn. They recommend wandering the sculpture garden at The Grovewood Gallery, off the beaten track on the grounds of The Omni Grove Park Inn.
Emily says you can find a lovely bench or intriguing sculpture hidden away here…and enjoy a few intimate moments.

Heart Pounding Hikes and Drum Circles
If the weather is good, Susan and James from Carolina Bed and Breakfast encourage guests to grab a picnic from the nearby Greenlife Grocery and take the five-mile hike to the top of John Rock in the Pisgah National Forest. To raise your heart rate closer to their inn, they recommend the Asheville Drum Circle at Pritchard Park, a free community event occurring every Friday evening. (The drum circles move indoors during the winter). They send guests to cap off the evening with one of the unique desserts at James Beard-nominated Katie Button’s second restaurant, Nightbell Restaurant & Lounge. Finally, Susan says the swing on the front porch of their 1901 American Craftsman-style home is a favorite place for an evening kiss, too.
Carolina Inn Bed & Breakfast
Heat Things Up in Hot Springs
More than one inn recommended taking a picnic and hiking the Lover’s Leap trail in Hot Springs, NC, about 45 minutes away from Asheville. The Appalachian Trail goes right through the center of this quaint mountain town. Take the 1.6-mile loop from downtown to Lover’s Leap. This hike will get you breathing hard and take about an hour and a half if you’re in fair shape. After the hike, innkeepers Gary and Cindy from North Lodge on Oakland Bed and Breakfast recommend the Hot Springs Resort and Spa. The resort’s written history dates back to 1778 when white settlers discovered the springs—and artifacts used by Cherokee Indians who used the springs for their curative powers. Relax here with a couple’s massage followed by sparkling wine and a private mineral bath. Arturo and Emilie at Chestnut Street Inn will pack a bath mat, towels and even a rubber duckie for guests heading to Hot Springs, and they’ll book their favorite tub for you, in advance.
See more about Ashevile&#8217;s best romantic places HERE.
Whatever the occasion, the 16 inns of the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association offer the ultimate insider experience as seasoned guides to the Asheville area. Book some romance into the year ahead at http://ashevillebba.com/ or call 828-250-0200 for more consumer information.
Release

Question 4

Greenhouse Moto Cafe to open in Mills River

Accepted Answer

A fun new concept cafe and bar, Greenhouse Moto Cafe, is scheduled to open in 5 weeks at the old Carolina Roses location &#8211; 4021 Haywood Rd in Mills River, NC.
If you&#8217;re not familiar with the area, it&#8217;s close to the new Bold Rock cidery, and surrounded by farm land. UPDATE: for those that are concerned about getting dusty/dirty, they are on a paved road.
 
I had a chance to pop in and talk to one of the two Jeffs that are opening the place. Luckily, he was at a good stopping point in hanging display bikes.
 
Believe it or not, most of these vintage motorcycles are part of the other Jeff&#8217;s collection and are in running condition. Down the road (pun intended), they hope to be able to offer group road trips on these bikes.
I&#8217;m pretty sure I spotted Norton, Kawasaki, Triumph, and lots of BSA&#8217;s. When I mentioned that a certain group might be miffed if there weren&#8217;t any Harleys, Jeff pointed to the lone bike representing. See it bottom right in the picture below.
UPDATE 2/8/2016: My mistake. The black and white bike, bottom right is NOT a Harley. The Harley is hanging just out of view. So, I went back and took a quick pic to satisfy purists (myself included). Check out the second picture down.

Plans are in place for a number of taps featuring local beer and a couple set aside for Bold Rock Hard Cider. Eventually, they&#8217;d like to get their full liquor license.
A kitchen won&#8217;t be happening for a while, so in the meantime, they&#8217;re going to have a couple food trucks on hand. The cool thing about this is that they have so much room in the Greenhouse, the trucks can pull right inside the back so they&#8217;ll be out of the weather.
During the rehab of this huge greenhouse, lots of scrap wood began piling up. They&#8217;ve used the larger boards on a back wall and got creative with smaller strips over this doorway.
It leads to an adjacent space that may eventually house a &#8220;private club&#8221; social space. The kind you pay $1 to belong to to satisfy liquor laws.
Live music will be happening regularly here, too. I spotted a cool looking antique upright piano where the bar&#8217;s going in.
The Jeffs are hoping Greenhouse Moto Cafe becomes a jumping off point, stop, or even destination for local, regional, and long range road-trippers. It&#8217;s close enough to the Blue Ridge Parkway that it would make a great stop.
Of course, you don&#8217;t need to roll up on a motorcycle to be welcomed. Pull up on a bicycle, in a car, or even on foot and you&#8217;ll be welcomed. Jeff made a point of saying the Greenhouse will be a place where everyone is welcome. They hope it becomes a spot where locals hang out.
There&#8217;s no website yet, but you can &#8220;like&#8221; their Facebook page to keep up on their progress and know when they open: Facebook.com/Thegreenhousemotocafe
Greenhouse Moto Cafe
4021 Haywood Rd
Mills River, NC 28759

Question 5

The 10 Best Bakeries in North Carolina

Accepted Answer

Have a sweet tooth like me? These 10 Best Bakeries in NC are listed from West to East across the state, but not ranked within the list.
Many of these bakeries sell at their local farmers&#8217; markets. Check their websites for details.
Karen Donatelli Cake Designs (by Appointment Only) (Asheville)
1000 Hendersonville Road Suite 1
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 225-5751
Owner/Chef Karen Donatelli creates gorgeous confections, including the most sublime cakes and pastries. Donatellis has converted from a retail space to an appointment only format outside of downtown. Kept her bakery on this list just in case you want to order a custom cake or pastries. She&#8217;s that good.
Image: facebook.com/KarenDonatelliBakeryCafe/
Image: facebook.com/KarenDonatelliBakeryCafe/
Underground Baking Co. (Hendersonville)
352 7th Ave E
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 674-7494
Co-owners Lisa and Matthew specialize in breads, but they bake plenty of pastries, too. Two of my favorites are their Almond Horns and Christmas Bread. They&#8217;ve been at their Historic 7th Ave. location for 5 years now, enticing locals and visitors alike to visit a part of town they&#8217;re helping revitalize.
Image: Underground Baking Co Facebook Page
Image: Underground Baking Co Facebook Page
Flat Rock Village Bakery (Flat Rock)
2710 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 693-1313
Flat Rock Village Bakery is housed in a cute building warmed by a wood-fired oven used for baking breads, pastries, and pizzas. If there are any left by the time I get to the bakery, I usually get a Turnover &#8211; any flavor. In warmer weather, find a seat on the spacious deck in the shade under one of the large Magnolias.
Image: Flat Rock Village Bakery Facebook Page
Image: Flat Rock Village Bakery Facebook Page
Amélie&#8217;s French Bakery & Café (Charlotte)
2424 N Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 376-1781
Amélie&#8217;s team of owners describe their shop as a &#8220;Parisian shabby chic bakery and cafe serving French inspired fare.&#8221; All I can say is Vive la France!
Image: Amelie&#8217;s Facebook Page
Camino Bakery, Coffeehouse, and Winebar (Winston Salem)
310 W 4th St
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 721-9990
Camino is one of those sweet spots that anchors a neighborhood. This one happens to be downtown Winston Salem. They have a nice loose leaf tea selection, in addition to espresso drinks, that can be ordered by the cup. If you prefer your cuppa with tea in a bag, they&#8217;ll hand tie one for you.
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant (Durham)
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 401-2600
A terrific German bakery/cafe. Love this place for a meal, fresh-baked bread, and pastries. Be sure to check out their yearly Oktoberfest celebration and seasonal Christmas Stollen.
Guglhupf
Guglhupf
Loaf (Durham)
111 W Parrish St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 797-1254
Owner Ron Graff bakes in a 30,000 pound custom wood-fired oven and has set up Loaf in the European tradition; a neighborhood shop where you pick up your fresh-baked goods, rather than a bakery/cafe. Accordingly, Loaf’s interior might be considered minimalist with a bread rack, pastry case and coffee hot pots.
Stop in for items you want to take home, to a friend&#8217;s place, or on a picnic.
Loaf Durham
Loaf Durham
La Farm Bakery (Cary)
4248 NW Cary Pkwy
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 657-0657
With his wife and partner, Missy, Lionel Vatinet opened La Farm Bakery in 1999 and hasn&#8217;t looked back since. The star here is definitely bread. Vatinet is an acknowledged expert bread baker. He authored the well received book, A Passion for Bread.
I&#8217;ve run into Lionel at the Asheville Bread Festival, Beaufort Wine & Food Festival, and many other events over the years. He&#8217;s an exceptionally nice guy.
Nichole and I stopped in at the Cary &#8220;mother ship&#8221; for lunch and dessert in September. There are plenty of delicious sweet treats made at the bakery, too.
Image: La Farm&#8217;s Facebook Page
Image: La Farm&#8217;s Facebook Page
The Peppered Cupcake (Wilmington)
105 S Front St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 399-1088
More than 80 unique flavors from sweet to savory &#8211; served warm. What more could you ask for in a cupcake? Next time I&#8217;m in Wilmington, it&#8217;s a Ginger & Pear cupcake for me! Wait &#8211; maybe the Bourbon Black Cherry & Vanilla Cobbler? No, the Strawberry Basil Cobbler sounds really good. Anyone up for sharing?
Image: The Peppered Cupcake Facebook Page
Image: The Peppered Cupcake Facebook Page

Question 6

Lake Lure's Flowering Bridge

Accepted Answer

Rather than demolish a decommissioned bridge in 2013, folks in Lake Lure got creative and re-purposed it as a walkable garden spanning the Broad River. The garden extends just beyond each end of the bridge, also.
Next time you&#8217;re in Lake Lure, stop, walk the bridge, and breath deeply.
&#8220;Officially dedicated Oct. 19, 2013, the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge blooms on the historic 1925 Rocky Broad River bridge in Lake Lure, NC. When the bridge was closed to traffic in 2011, the Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge came together to create gardens on the 155 feet of the bridge and along a pathway at both ends of the three-arch span itself. With an emphasis on native plants, the Friends mission is to create a “Gateway to Somewhere Beautiful” for the enjoyment of the public.&#8221; ~ Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge
The Flowering Bridge website
Facebook.com/LakeLureFloweringBridge

Question 7

Casual Luxury at The Firehouse Inn

Accepted Answer

Rutherfordton &#8211; What to do with a cool building that once housed the firehouse, city water, and police departments when it&#8217;s no longer needed?
Turn it into a gorgeous Bed and Breakfast, of course!
Co-owners Keven and Kitty McCammon purchased The Firehouse Inn, a beautiful 6 bedroom bed and breakfast, from previous owners who had completely remodeled the interior. Since the purchase, they&#8217;ve made it their own.

The lowest level serves as home to BlueRidge Design, Kitty&#8217;s interior design company. She has exquisite taste, by the way. It&#8217;s chock full of the cutest and most beautiful gifts and products.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with Kitty while staying at the Inn. Think lovely southern born and raised woman with character strong as steel. She is the proud owner and manager of Maple Creek Farm, where she and her husband raise Texas Long Horn cattle.
You can buy the famously lean Maple Creek Farm meet at BlueRidge Design shop.We hopped into Kitty&#8217;s Hummer (right, a Hummer) and drove out to the farm for a look-see. Because the cattle would walk away if they sensed strangers, Kitty drove right out into and around the hilly pasture. Talk about fun!
The Firehouse Inn
125 W 1st St
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-9030
BlueRidge Design
134 N. Washington St
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
828-286-8069

Question 8

Biltmore's Dirty Secrets

Accepted Answer

Hidden, but visable if you know where to look, you can find the Biltmore Estate&#8217;s dirty secrets. They&#8217;re mostly across the river from Antler Hill Village.
A group of us with an interest in sustainable, healthy farming took a tour of the dirty (producing) side of Biltmore.
SO many fascinating things are going on in the &#8220;back 40&#8221;, it&#8217;s better to share an overview without going into too much detail, and include an Image Gallery you can peruse.
Our tour was led by the personable Dr. Ted Katsigianis, a 32 year Biltmore employee.
After earning master’s and Ph.D. degrees in animal science under adviser Thomas Merritt at Penn State, he worked as a livestock extension specialist at the Universities of Kentucky and Maryland. While at Maryland, a close friend called him about a buddy with a farm in North Carolina who was looking to get out of the dairy business and into beef cattle. The buddy turned out to be William Cecil, George Vanderbilt’s grandson. Katsigianis agreed to consult and eventually became a permanent employee of The Biltmore Company.
Dirty Secrets
aka What you probably don&#8217;t know about Agriculture & Farming at Biltmore:

The pretty Gazebo just outside Lioncrest used to be a livestock sale ring.
The old ferry used by anyone wanting to cross the river to the agriculture and farming side of the estate was replaced by a bridge about 4 years ago. Much easier for everyone, but a little piece of history gone.
All electric livestock fences on property are solar powered.
A couple dozen bee hives are producing honey used on the estate. They&#8217;re hoping to up production soon.
Chicken and Quail are raised on property, producing eggs and meat for Biltmore&#8217;s many restaurants.
Their chickens lay brown eggs and are the same heirloom breeds that Vanderbilt kept.
A limited number of pasture-raised pork are on site.
Estate sheep can be seen grazing under solar panels and throughout the vineyard. There are 150 to 175 lambs per season that supply Biltmore restaurants.
A 42 acre man-made lake moderates temperatures year round in the vineyard and is also used for irrigation.
Dairy cows used to reign, but it&#8217;s all Angus-Wagu cross now (600 to 700 head).
Biltmore Chefs get 20lbs of prime cuts from each steer. They serve up to 50 steers per year.
On-property solar panels (9 acres/5,000 panels to date) provide 25% of Biltmore&#8217;s power needs.
There are four to five acres planted in vegetables and microgreens, but there are plans to expand that to twenty acres. Fifteen to twenty percent of all produce used in Estate restaurants is grown on property.
Currently, 18 varieties of red and green lettuces are being grown hydroponically.
Non-GMO Canola is a big crop on the estate now. Look for the beautiful yellow fields when the canola is blooming. They make bio-diesel fuel from the canola that powers many work vehicles. Their goal is to some day produce food-grade oil also. See photos of their lab in the Gallery.
The Biltmore Mound, one of thirty currently documented archaeological sites on the estate, is an American Indian mound that was discovered in 1984 by an archaeologist working for the state. It remains today as a site that has over time yielded invaluable insight into the lives of the Connesstee indians, believed to be ancestors of the Cherokee tribe.
Different colored signs on the trees in various parts of the estate indicate Biltmore Challenge equestrian endurance ride routes. We&#8217;re talking 25 to 100 mile rides completed in one day! Competitors from around the world regularly participate.

Biltmore&#8217;s dirty secrets are out! Hope you learned some interesting facts about what goes on at Biltmore behind the scenes.

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