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

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

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.

Question 13

Green Man Brewery Releases Grateful Dead Tribute Beer

Accepted Answer

Green Man Brewery (https://www.greenmanbrewery.com/) has released the 11th edition of their Hazy Homage series- The Grateful Haze. This Grateful Dead inspired tangerine and grapefruit forward hazy IPA comes from a specialty line of hazy IPAs launched quarterly, each dedicated to a particular band or artist. Previous features include Nine Inch Nails-inspired Pretty Haze Machine, David Bowie-inspired Hazy Cosmic Jive, and the original Van Helen-inspired Van Hazy IPA.
The Grateful Haze features layers of citrus, creamy coconut from the Sabro hops, mango, dried apricot and candied pineapple. It is lactose-free, 6.8% alc./vol. and comes in a four-pack of 16 oz. cans. Its packaging stands out because of its four unique can designs per pack, a first for Green Man and a rarity in the beer business.
Green Man also just debuted their new slim cans for their Green Man Cider made in partnership with Urban Orchard, an Asheville-based cider company just down the street from Green Man. The cider itself will remain the same- all natural, gluten-free, sugar-free, 5.5% alc./vol. and will come in a four-pack.
Beer + cider lovers can enjoy both offerings on tap at either of Green Man&#8217;s taprooms- the Green Mansion (27 Buxton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801) + Dirty Jack&#8217;s (23 Buxton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801), or purchase four-packs at the Green Mansion. Both are also available for purchase through Green Man&#8217;s online beer store GetGreenMan.com, which ships to 13 states.

Question 14

It's about Wine and Views at Linville Falls Winery

Accepted Answer

Nestled between lush, picture-perfect rolling hills planted with grape vines sits Linville Falls Winery (https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/). Views from their expansive patio and indoor space take in those hills, as well as their Red Barn (Lawn Bar) and healthy, full of life pond.
The Red Barn is opened for overflow when the winery is especially busy, but with the expansive lawn, cozy seating groupings, and pond, I might just walk down to the lawn seating with my wine when they&#8217;re not that busy and the Lawn Bar isn&#8217;t open.
Their Website is informative and easy to navigate. You&#8217;ll find succinct information on just about whatever you want to know. Take flights, for instance.
Wine Flight: $12 for your choice of 4 wines, 2oz. of each & souvenir glass. Can be ordered at a table with a Wine Steward, or in the Red Barn on busy weekends
Can you bring your own food? The answer is yes, but if you want to get something there, they &#8220;source various locally made snack items.&#8221; It&#8217;s reasonable that they say &#8220;locally made snacks&#8221; rather than giving details because they might have to change them up as things are available or not. If you&#8217;re curious about what they might have on hand, I&#8217;ve included a picture of their &#8220;snack&#8221; cooler in the gallery. The day we were there we saw pre-made charcuterie boards, local goat & dairy cheese, homemade pimento cheese, packaged cured meats, water & other non-alcoholic drinks.
Looking like a something right out of Tuscany, the entire operation is family owned and operated. All staff we interacted with were welcoming and friendly.
What about the wine? Between us, we tasted:

Cabernet Sauvignon, WA &#8211; Columbia Valley
Red | Dry | Heavy Body | French Oak
Notes: Pepper, Cherry, VanillaAlcohol 13.50%
Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon, WA &#8211; Columbia Valley
Red | Dry | Heavy Body | French Oak 2 years
Aged 6 Additional Months in American Brandy Barrels
Notes: Tobacco, Oak, VanillaAlcohol 13.50%
Merlot, WA &#8211; Columbia Valley
Red | Dry | Medium Body | American Oak
Notes: Plum, Fig, BlackberryAlcohol 13.50%
Red Barn Blend, WA &#8211; Columbia Valley
&#8220;Big Red&#8221; | Dry | American Oak
Notes: Rustic, Tart Cherry, SpiceAlcohol 13.00%
Petit Verdot, NC &#8211; Yadkin Valley
Red | Dry | Light Body | American Oak
Notes: Pepper, Black CherryAlcohol 13.00%
Rosé, NC &#8211; Appalachian High Country
Blend | Semi-Dry
Notes: Strawberry, RaspberryAlcohol 12.00%
Mountain White, NC &#8211; Appalachian High Country
White Blend | Sweet
Notes: Pear, StonefruitAlcohol 12.00%

Everyone&#8217;s palate is different, but between the two Cabs, we both preferred the Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet. Other than the Cabs, he preferred the Red Barn Blend to the Petit Verdot. I didn&#8217;t care for the Rosé, thought the Merlot was okay, but took a bottle of the Mountain White home for porch sitting in warm weather. Our overall favorite was the Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet.
Linville Falls Winery is slightly over an hour drive, much of it scenic, northeast of Asheville. When you go, tell them Carolina Epicurean sent you.
Linville Falls Winery
9557 Linville Falls Hwy. Linville Falls, NC 28647
Blue Ridge Parkway Mile 317
(828) 765-1400

Question 15

ASAP’s Farm Tour Returns Sept. 18–19

Accepted Answer

ASAP’s highly anticipated annual Farm Tour is back for 2021, following cancelation in 2020 due to COVID-19. On Sept. 18–19, from noon to 5 p.m., approximately 20 Appalachian Grown family farms will welcome visitors for guided tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. This fun and educational weekend offers the public a chance to experience firsthand how food is grown and raised in the mountains, sample farm-fresh products, and meet local farmers. The tour is a great outing for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The 2021 Farm Tour will feature farms in Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood counties, all located within an hour drive of Asheville. Every year, ASAP introduces new farms on the tour and brings back old favorites, including u-pick farms, vineyards, flower farms, fiber producers, and more. A full list of participating farms will be announced later this summer. Farm Tour guides, including a map, driving directions, tour tips, and farm descriptions, will be available at community centers and area businesses in mid-August.
“The ASAP Farm Tour gives us a chance to share our dreams and passion with others committed to a sustainable future,” said farmer Sara Martin, whose Two Trees Farm in Haywood County has been a past tour favorite and will return for 2021. “Showing people the joys of working the land and eating fresh food creates a community. We are truly happiest when we have our feet in the soil, sharing skills to make agriculture more accessible to others. Come share our dream!”
The Farm Tour is an outdoor event and will follow current state guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hand-washing facilities or hand sanitizer will be available at all farms. Visitors who are not vaccinated should wear a mask and maintain social distancing while on the tour.
Farm Tour passes are on sale now for $35 at asapconnections.org/farmtour. One pass admits a carload of visitors to all farms both days. Pending availability, passes purchased the weekend of the tour will be $45. More information, including details on volunteering and attending the tour for free, can be found at asapconnections.org or by calling 828-236-1282.
ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)
ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more, visit asapconnections.org.

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