Q: Skylaranna Hotel & Resort Setting High Bar

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. “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

Q: An Evening to Support a Season's Hero

From Season’s at Highland Lake “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.”

Q: Secrets to Getting the Most Out of the 75th NC Apple Festival Labor Day Weekend

Insider tips from 1898 Waverly Inn: Western North Carolina’s largest festival hits a big year this Labor Day weekend with our 75th NC Apple Festival. It’s Hendersonville’s busiest weekend of the year which in the past has had close to 250k people walking Main Street from Friday morning through Monday’s King Apple parade finale. You’ll find the biggest crowds at the festival on Friday from 3pm-8pm, all day Saturday and Sunday until 6pm. You’ll also find the highest room rates of the year on Friday and Saturday night as well. To get the best value, book Thursday night before the festival starts and hit Main Street at 10am. At this time, you’ll avoid the elbow to elbow crowds and will also reach merchants and apple farmers before most other festival goers. If you want to see one of the best small town parades in the Southeast, then book Sunday night at the Waverly at the end of the festival. That will give you the last moments of the street fair on Sunday night and will also allow you to stick around on Monday to watch the King Apple Parade from the front porch of the inn at 2:30. You’ll also be able to enjoy great food and live music which we will provide up until the parade starts. The Waverly Inn still has many great rooms for the Apple Festival. Call 828.693.9193 and book today.

Question 1

WNC Cheese Trail - Cheese Fest Update and More!

Accepted Answer

The WNC Cheese Trail will be rescheduling the Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest to September 25th 2022 at Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain, NC.

After listening to our cheesemakers and other key partners, we made the decision to postpone the Cheese Fest until September 25, 2022. We want everyone to fully and safely participate in all that the Cheese Fest offers — like tastings and pairing — and the majority of cheesemakers felt unable to do so at this time due to staffing and supply chain issues.
We also need to have the volunteer infrastructure to support our cheesemakers, chefs, and activities. A fall Fest will allow us to put on the type of event you all love — giving you everything Cheesy in one place!
Finally, we are moving the event from Highland Brewery to Oak and Grist Distilling Company. We’re excited to build this new relationship. As we move forward with planning the event, be assured that we’ll have all the activities you loved from the previous Fests as well as new fun opportunities for the whole family.
Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for hand crafted cheese and small family farms. Hope to see you at the Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest Fall of 2022!
All ticket holders for Cheese Fest 2020 have been sent an email about how to move forward with their ticket purchase. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer for CMCF 2022 please email wncctcmcf@gmail.com
In Other News

The WNC Cheese Trail now has an app hosted by Loyal Brew! We partnered with Loyal Brew to build this app to create more ways for the public to interact with the Cheese Trail and our many wonderful Members. Our app is separated into two passports, one for our Cheese Makers and the second for our Pairing Partners ( Associate Members). Followers of the WNC Cheese Trail can easily sign up and log when they visit Trail Member locations or purchase Trail Member products. After gathering enough passport &#8220;stamps&#8221; users will have a chance to win prizes from the WNC Cheese Trail! This app is 100% free to our users and no download is necessary!
To view the WNC Cheese Trail app please visit:
https://www.loyalbrew.com/wnc-cheese-trail

Question 2

Completion of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails Announced

Accepted Answer

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) Executive Director Angie Chandler announced the completion of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails on March 3rd. The news highlights the curation of 310 destinations, including artist studios, galleries and arts organizations.
The completed, drivable craft trails now cover 25 Western North Carolina counties, all in the Blue Ridge mountains and foothills and the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Chandler says the footprint of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails is equivalent to the land covered by the state of Maryland.
Visitors can plan their trip at BlueRidgeCraftTrails.com. Itineraries, extensive listings and video with artisans offers a slice of small town creativity.
Chandler says, &#8220;Western North Carolina is one of the most distinctive cultures in the United States. We have amazing craft artists and galleries with such variety and creativity. They are ready to welcome locals and visitors alike.&#8221;
Joe Waldroup Wood Turning and Sculpting
Why this matters now: Trails Tap Into a National Trend
The Blue Ridge Craft Trails offer a new reason to visit the mountains and foothills, get outside and explore hidden gems. Destination Analysts new American travel research shows travelers will focus on fun in 2022, going to less crowded places and enjoying the outdoors.
The Blue Ridge Craft Trails answer the need, including well-known destinations such as Asheville and stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It also invites visitors to small towns and communities such as West Jefferson, Murphy, Sparta and Waynesville to meet artists and makers. Regional itineraries on the website home page combine craft stops with local food, culture and outdoor exploration.
In addition to attracting visitors to small towns, Chandler says the project also connects makers with buyers, bringing economic development to the region.
&#8220;Our heritage area was established to preserve traditional and contemporary craft as a living tradition in Western North Carolina,&#8221; explains Chandler. &#8220;I have long family history in this region. When you think about it, art is an inspired response to the mountains, foothills, forests and fauna around us. Craft is in our cultural DNA.&#8221;
Fingerweaving &#8211; Oconaluftee Indian Village, Cherokee, NC
You&#8217;re Invited!
Wit Tuttell, Vice President of Tourism and Marketing for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Executive Director of Visit North Carolina, invites travelers to plan a North Carolina road trip.
&#8220;We’re asking visitors who love the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most visited National Park Sites in America, to also take a road less traveled,&#8221; Tuttell says. &#8220;The completion of the trails comes at a great time. Its culmination also brings much-needed economic support to craft artists and small businesses in rural areas who have been hurt by the pandemic.&#8221;
Image below: The 25 counties included in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the Blue Ridge Craft Trails.

About The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) serves as the steward of the cultural and outdoor heritage of Western North Carolina’s mountains and foothills. The area was federally designated as a National Heritage Area in 2003 because of its unique culture, character and natural beauty. BRNHA is one of 55 National Heritage Areas (NHAs) in the United States. Others include Yuma Crossing (NHA) in Arizona; Rivers of Steel (NHA) in Pennsylvania; Ohio and Erie Canal Way (NHA) in Ohio; Augusta Canal (NHA) in Georgia; and Niagara Falls (NHA) in New York.

Question 3

Itto Ramen Bar and Japanese Tapas opens in Arden

Accepted Answer

Tony Lin, owner of Itto Ramen Bar & Tapas, has opened his third location at 335 Airport Road in Arden.
&#8220;Brand&#8221; content as it relates to food and drink program is creative and completely delicious, if a little confusing. Is it Itto Ramen Bar & Tapas or Itto Ramen Bar & Japanese Tapas? Is the website ashevillejapanesefood.com (Arden location only) or ittoramen.com (all three locations)? Scaling a business up isn&#8217;t always easy.
The Arden location website doesn&#8217;t have a menu posted, but lists their Specialties as Tapas, Sushi, Ramen, and Dim Sum. See the Arden menu here. I&#8217;ll be going back, but if they launch a solid Dim Sum program, you can bet &#8211; well, alot of things &#8211; that my family will be regulars.
Epicurean Notes:

See image captions for names of dishes.
Love the wall mural! Especially The Great Wave by Hokusai Katsushika. Such a classic.
They got the most seating possible into this space. It&#8217;s done well, but you&#8217;ll probably end up talking to people, definitely checking out plates, at tables near you.
Not easy to see in the image below, but there&#8217;s Sushi Bar seating rear left.
Every dish we had, including the Ramen to go we left with, was excellent!

When you go, keep in mind they&#8217;ve just recently opened and there may be a kink or two to work out. And it&#8217;s always good to call to be sure they&#8217;re open before heading out to a restaurant these days.
Itto Ramen Bar & Japanese Tapas
335 Airport Rd
Arden, NC 28704
828-676-0558

Question 4

Season's at Highland Lake Announces 2022 Wine Dinner Lineup

Accepted Answer

&#8220;This all-inclusive experience at Season&#8217;s at Highland Lake includes several delicious wines carefully paired with a five-course meal. Our chef and sommelier will guide you through the evening and provide insights and facts along the way. It&#8217;s always a great time but seating is limited so be sure to make reservations ahead of time! The dates of all future events are posted below.&#8221; &#8211; Season&#8217;s at Highland Lake

Welcome to our Italian Wine Dinner January 20, 2022
Creamy Florentine Soup
spinach | artichoke | “cacio e pepe” arancini | calabrian chili oil
2018 La Segreta Planeta Grillo DOC, Sicily
Salmone Picatta
white wine butter | fried capers | preserved lemon | zucchini “linguine”
2019 Cantina Zaccagnini “Il Vino dal Tralcetto” Montepulciano/Sangiovese Rosé, Abruzzo
Intermezzo
limoncello sorbetto | luxardo cherry | lambrusco
Crispy Duck Leg
calabrian chilies | balsamic reduction | prosciutto wrapped & goat cheese stuffed figs | basil
2019 Camigliano “Rosso di Montalcino” Sangiovese, Tuscany
Short Rib Bolognese
pork belly | chianti | portobello | salsa di pomodoro | bucatini
2014 Stefano Accordini, Valpolicella Superiore Classico Ripasso Blend, Veneto
Cannoli
pistacchio | espresso salsa al cioccolato
$95 per person
Please call (828) 696-9094 for reservations
Upcoming Wine Dinner Dates:
Italian Wine Dinner | $95
January 20, 2022
Spanish Wine Dinner | $95
February 24, 2022
French Wine Dinner | $95
March 24, 2022
Salute to Spring Wine Dinner | $95
April 21, 2022
Passion for Pinot Wine Dinner | $95
May 19, 2022
Sommelier Smack Down | $105
June 16, 2022
Summer Bounty Wine Dinner | $95
July 21, 2022
Around the World Wine Dinner | $95
August 18, 2022
First of Fall Wine Dinner | $95
September 15, 2022
New World Wine Dinner | $95
October 20, 2022
Chef’s Wine Dinner | $95
November 17, 2022
Holiday Wine Dinner | $105
December 15, 2022
Please call (828) 696-9094 for reservations, a credit card is required to secure a reservation.
Season&#8217;s at Highland Lake
86 Lily Pad Lane
Flat Rock, NC 28731

Question 5

Forestry Camp: Unique Dining in Asheville

Accepted Answer

So much to unpack here! I was going to write about our dinner for two in mid-December, 2021 at Burial Beer Co.&#8217;s Forestry Camp in Asheville, but major changes are taking place, so it might be a completely different experience for you when they reopen in February.
&#8220;We will be taking a well-needed rest and reflection for the month of January so that we can open anew on February 4th and welcome you into the new Burial Beer realm. Focusing on a taproom lounge experience, new spaces and venues, and immersive tours. Naturally, we had to have killer new grub from the team of Chefs, the latest VISUALS wine and cider, a list of some of the most incredible wines from friends of Burial, and one hell of an upgraded cocktail list.&#8221;
&#8211; burialbeer.com/location/forestry-camp
So, for now I&#8217;ll share images of the magical evening my friend and I spent over dinner and drinks at Forestry Camp. Can&#8217;t wait to see what they come up with next at such a unique location!
About Forestry Camp:
Built by the CCC, the multi-building facilty housed men who worked building the Blue Ridge Parkway. The structures remain much as they were when originally built, making it a very unique property, especially as a tap room, lounge, and restaurant.
Keep up with the latest from the amazing team at Burial:

Burial Beer Co Website
Burial Beer Co Facebook Page
VISUALS Instagram Page: A natural winery from the folks at Burial Beer Co
Forestry Camp Web Page
Burial Beer Forestry Camp Instagram Feed

Forestry Camp
10 Shady Oak Dr.
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 505-4452

Question 6

Holeman and Finch Asheville - in Reverse

Accepted Answer

Why reverse the Holeman and Finch experience? Because Impressed came after Annoyed, which came after Confused, so I&#8217;m leading with the positive and will sum it all up at the end.
Impressed
Uppermost, servers were friendly and top notch. They actually made the evening.
Dessert, Sticky Toffee Pudding served with pour-over sauce and vanilla ice cream, was delicious. There are lots of options on the menu, but don&#8217;t miss the charcuterie, oysters, and chilled seafood. Their charcuterie program is curated and awesome.
From our seats we could see (through the shelving, jars, etc.) cured meats thinly sliced by hand. To the right of the shelves we watched a gorgeous hand-cranked meat slicer in action. We watched Co-owner Chef Linton Hopkins reaching for this and that as he put together charcuterie boards using excellent cheeses and cured meats.
Create your own Charcuterie board from the meat and cheese listings on the menu. It&#8217;s a little confusing. The menu says &#8220;served with bread, nuts, pickles & mustards&#8221; and &#8220;choose one choose many &#8211; all by the ounce.&#8221; So order any combination (all cheeses, all meats, both) and as much as you like, but know that prices on the menu are for 1oz of that item.
Oysters and Chilled Seafood are ordered from a menu (.pdf) laid out like a Sushi menu. Note how many of each item you want to the left of that item.
If you&#8217;re a popcorn fan, try their Bacon Popcorn. Take a bag home with you. It&#8217;s delicious and addictive.
Annoyed
Why would you choose to seat media, on hand to experience all that is your new restaurant, on metal stools, at a narrow counter, at a window facing the street, where the only thing they can see is a reflection of themselves?
We requested different seating and were offered spots at the bar. Only problem was they were directly in front of stocked shelves, so the view of bar action was obscured and servers behind the bar couldn&#8217;t get to us very easily.
Confused
You&#8217;re expecting us, right? Confirmed with a NYC PR company as well as the Holeman and Finch Operations Manager, no one seemed to know what was happening. No one introduced themselves to us, explained anything about the Holeman and Finch concept, owners, or anything else. It felt awkward and confused.
Some of the confusion on our part was because we weren&#8217;t aware of the concept going in. We were expecting table seating in a typical &#8220;restaurant&#8221;. I&#8217;d done my research, but not until we saw the menu did we get that Holeman and Finch is based on a &#8220;Public House&#8221; format. It feels like they refined their concept as an afterthought and are still dotting i&#8217;s and crossing t&#8217;s. Although their parent Hopkins and Company website lists a Holeman and Finch Public House opening soon in Colony Square, Atlanta, this location is listed as Holeman and Finch Asheville.
We weren&#8217;t quite sure about portion sizes and wondered if some dishes were meant to be entrées. Chef Linton took a minute to explain that there are no entrées on the menu, just various dishes of various sizes. Choose from Snacks, Plates, Parts, Meats & Cheeses, Farm, and Sweets. If it matters to you, ask your server about portion size. See MENU (.pdf).
Wrapping it Up
My take: Holeman and Finch is like an intimate, old English countryside neighborhood Public House relocated to Asheville and modernized with current decor. It&#8217;s a place where you should not be surprised if you find yourself conversing with the people at the next table or bar stool. It&#8217;s where I&#8217;d meet up with friends for drinks and food. We&#8217;d most likely end up talking and laughing over a table-top full of shared plates.
&#8220;I prefer it when someone looks like a nice person, and you think, &#8216;I could have a laugh with them in the pub.&#8221;
&#8211; Jo Brand
Even with the confusion and annoyances, I love the Holeman and Finch concept and hope they&#8217;ll tighten things up over the next month or so.
Epicurean Notes:

If you see a red &#8220;86&#8221; stamped on the menu, it means that item is no longer available. You know, it&#8217;s been &#8220;86ed&#8221;. Seems like a labor intensive thing, but on the other hand, it frees up the servers from having to explain what&#8217;s available and what&#8217;s not.
They&#8217;ve put as much seating into this small space as humanly and legally possible. If the patio opens back up (new Avl regs on parking lot seating & heating), some of the seating pressure should ease.
Question menu items if you want details. One of the dishes we had was Blackened Chicken Liver captioned &#8220;buttermilk spoonbread, mostarda&#8221; ($13, see image gallery), The buttermilk spoonbread had a saucy rather than the expected Yorkshire Pudding type consistancy and the mostarda (not everyone knows what this is) was a peach mostarda di frutta.
Holeman and Finch Asheville is the latest offering from Hopkins and Company, an Atlanta based hospitality group. They originally opened this location as H & F Burger right before Covid hit in 2019, shutting down shortly afterward.

Holeman and Finch Public House
77 Biltmore Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
828-417-3053
Sponsored

Question 7

Take the road less traveled to Birchwood Hall

Accepted Answer

Birchwood Hall Southern 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&#8217;ll land in Waynesville.
The view when the weather&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;s a great place for lunch before exploring Main St shops, or heading back home. Their food&#8217;s tasty and reasonably priced. Note their Sanitation Score in the image below.
The I-40 route is an easy drive. It&#8217;s longer mileage-wise, but takes about the same time as the mountain-view drive.

Question 8

Oskar Blues Brewery Celebrates 9 Nine Years in Brevard

Accepted Answer

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&#8217;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 &#8220;Big Daddy&#8221; 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.

Question 9

Are 2,000 Cookies Enough? Cookie Walk, Mills River Presbyterian Church

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

La Rumba, a Different Type of Latino Restaurant, Now Open in Asheville

Accepted Answer

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&#8217;t been inside, it&#8217;s spacious with plenty of seating in two connected dining rooms.
Folks in Hendersonville have been asking, &#8220;Where&#8217;s Rey?&#8221; Previously the Manager at Arabelle, he&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;ll get why I say it&#8217;s a different type of Latino restaurant. Decor is &#8220;classic restaurant&#8221;, simple, clean lines, not a lot of clutter. It&#8217;s about the food, drinks, and service.
You&#8217;ll notice in the gallery below there aren&#8217;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&#8217;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 &#8220;Brunch all Day&#8221;.

Pictured:
FIRST: A note about their rice. It&#8217;s made using Ray&#8217;s grandmother&#8217;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&#8217;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 &#8220;smaller&#8221; 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 &#8211; even with a steak knife. Don&#8217;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&#8217;s light and refreshing. It would be good any time, but I&#8217;d definitely get this  during warmer weather.
La Rumba
105 River Hills Rd, Suite C
Asheville, N.C. 28805
828-505-2128

Question 11

Skylaranna Hotel & Resort Setting High Bar

Accepted Answer

If you&#8217;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&#8217;s a LOT happening on the resort property &#8211; one step at a time. In addition to reimagining the original building&#8217;s interior, an &#8220;immersive family&#8221; 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&#8217;s much more planned for this beautiful view property that&#8217;s tucked away in a curve along a country road in Hendersonville. See picture below. You wouldn&#8217;t be alone if you were to think of Skylaranna as located in Fletcher, as it&#8217;s very close to the border.
&#8220;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!&#8221; &#8211; Skylaranna Hotel & Resort
Skylaranna Hotel & Resort
2075 North Rugby Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Hotel: (828) 919-7777
Chophouse: (828) 919-7000

Question 12

An Evening to Support a Season's Hero

Accepted Answer

From Season&#8217;s at Highland Lake
&#8220;If you&#8217;ve dined with us before, you likely know Chris. He&#8217;s been a dedicated member of the Season&#8217;s team for over 23 years and his enthusiasm, humor and positive spirit can&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217; 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.&#8221;

Question 13

Mountain Brook Vineyards - Mountaintop Enchantment

Accepted Answer

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&#8217;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 &#8220;grand vision&#8221; which has, and is, happening as evidenced (including architect renderings) in this 2018 JenNis Beverage Marketing article.

&#8220;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.&#8221; ~ 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 &#8220;self guided&#8221;. Between the two of us, we chose the Red Lover&#8217;s Flight, followed by two glasses of their Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. I&#8217;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, &#8220;The Brook&#8221; 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&#8217;s round house. The round house also has a great covered wrap-around deck.

Mountain Brook Vineyards
731 Phillips Dairy Rd
Tryon, NC 28782, United States
828-722-1037

Question 14

Wrap Yourself in the Beauty that is Overmountain Vineyards

Accepted Answer

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 &#8211; the family&#8217;s 70 acre farm. Sometimes a novel concept these days.

&#8220;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.&#8221;
~ 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&#8217;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 &#8211; Seoul Republik. Mmm. Mmm. Those Mini Pork Dumplings!
Wrap yourself in Overmountain&#8217;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 &#8220;Superhost&#8221; properties on AirB&B&#8217;s website.

Overmountain Vineyards
2012 Sandy Plains Rd.
Tryon NC 28782
828-863-0523

Question 15

Secrets to Getting the Most Out of the 75th NC Apple Festival Labor Day Weekend

Accepted Answer

Insider tips from 1898 Waverly Inn:

Western North Carolina&#8217;s largest festival hits a big year this Labor Day weekend with our 75th NC Apple Festival. It&#8217;s Hendersonville&#8217;s busiest weekend of the year which in the past has had close to 250k people walking Main Street from Friday morning through Monday&#8217;s King Apple parade finale.
You&#8217;ll find the biggest crowds at the festival on Friday from 3pm-8pm, all day Saturday and Sunday until 6pm. You&#8217;ll also find the highest room rates of the year on Friday and Saturday night as well. To get the best value, book Thursday night before the festival starts and hit Main Street at 10am. At this time, you&#8217;ll avoid the elbow to elbow crowds and will also reach merchants and apple farmers before most other festival goers.
If you want to see one of the best small town parades in the Southeast, then book Sunday night at the Waverly at the end of the festival. That will give you the last moments of the street fair on Sunday night and will also allow you to stick around on Monday to watch the King Apple Parade from the front porch of the inn at 2:30. You&#8217;ll also be able to enjoy great food and live music which we will provide up until the parade starts.
The Waverly Inn still has many great rooms for the Apple Festival. Call 828.693.9193 and book today.

Carolina Epicurean

NC Mountains

Category: NC Mountains

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