Question 1

Brooks Tavern: Tryon vs Hendersonville

Accepted Answer

This is going to be a short article, mostly image-based. I want to say right up front, I&#8217;m a fan of both Brooks Tavern locations. Both have warm and cozy feels. Same menus, but definitely different spaces.
Hendersonville is a smaller space, therefore less seating. Choose between booth or bar seating, plus a couple tables. Original brick walls, lighting and bar design set the tone. It&#8217;s been a local hang out since it opened.
Tryon has a lot more space with multiple table/chair seating areas, a piano in one of them, and bar seating. Tables are topped with black tablecloths, that along with lots of older brick & rock walls & wood beams, add to the knotched up, but relaxed ambiance.
Eight of us met for dinner at the Tryon Brooks Tavern this week. It was a very early dinner, so there weren&#8217;t many people in the house yet. I took advantage and took lots of pictures to share.
Not pictured, because we immediately dug in, are two Appetizers. Both were very good!

Deviled Eggs: classic creamy stuffed eggs with paprika and a sliver of Brooks famous candied bacon.
Fried Mushrooms: fresh mushrooms hand breaded to order, then deep fried golden brown, served piping hot with their homemade Ranch dressing.

Full Disclosure: I&#8217;ve done work for Brooks Tavern, building and now maintaining their website.

Question 2

Mountain Brook Vineyards serves up elevated Wine Dinners

Accepted Answer

Mountain Brook Vineyards’ (https://www.mountainbrookvineyards.com/) location is gorgeous in “the middle of nowhere” Tryon, NC countryside. They have views forever (almost 360°), produce excellent wine, do a good job with food they offer, as well as food trucks they bring in, and they have a robust and varied lineup of events. We’ve been to one of their “Movie in the Vines” events and now a fantastic Wine Dinner last week that was perfectly catered by long-time local Chef Michael’s Catering. Watching a movie in the Vines is a fun outdoor evening in nice weather. Snacking & sipping on terraced seating while watching the movie projected on their gazebo’s lowered screen. Just before we were seated at the Wine Dinner, I was able to take a look at the catering kitchen and prep/staging area, and I have to say I’m extremely impressed at the quality of the food that was produced, and even more, that hot dishes actually arrived at the table hot. Another takeaway was the brilliant seating place card design that included a line drawing of the entreé each person had pre-chosen. That makes it so much easier for servers. There isn’t a picture of the passed appetizers in the gallery, but they were great. Bite-sized is the way to go when appetizers are offered by servers walking through groups of mingling people. Yes, small high top tables help, but only so many people can fit around them. Anything larger than bite sized can get messy and awkward if you’re trying to hold a glass and take multiple bites of something on a napkin or small plate. WINE DINNER MENU – March 19,2022 Passed Appetizer Sweet Chili-Lime Glazed Shrimp with Avocado in Tortilla Flower, Micro Garnish Paired with Mountain Brook Vineyards 2020 Sauvignon Blanc 1st Course, Salad Spring Greens, Gorgonzola, Candied Pecans, Blackberries Ginger-Lemon Vinaigrette Homemade Silver Dollar Rolls, Whipped Butter Paired with Mountain Brook Vineyards 2020 Chardonnay (unreleased) & Gehricke, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California 2019

Question 3

One Year Until FEI World Equestrian GamesTM come to Tryon!

Accepted Answer

Tryon &#8211; The one year to go countdown to the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM Tryon 2018 (WEG) launched last month. With more than 500,000 people expected to attend the 2018 Games, the 12-day spectacle of equestrian champions is one of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar and will be the largest equestrian event in North Carolina’s history. Mark Bellissimo, CEO of host venue Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Tryon, N.C., announced today that tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, October 16, 2017. Competition action at WEG 2018 runs from September 12 through September 23, 2018, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for September 11.
A variety of ticketing types and prices will be offered such as an All Games Pass for each week of competition or both weeks, an All Session Day Pass, All Session Discipline Pass, as well as individual event tickets, and opening and closing ceremonies. Ticket prices vary, but include an inexpensive Day Pass that gives attendees access to event grounds and expo only. A complete list of ticketing options will be available online at www.tryon2018.com or www.Ticketmaster.com.
In addition to announcing ticket sales, TIEC has today released a “Destination Tryon” video to showcase the region where the 2018 Games will be held. Prior to winning the bid to host WEG 2018, Polk County, North Carolina dwelt as a hidden gem, tucked away in the bucolic Blue Ridge Foothills, bordering South Carolina. Surrounded by bold mountains and scenic foothills, the area is conveniently located within an hour of top cities including Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina and Greenville in South Carolina. The rural community now joins the league of iconic destinations around the world &#8211; like Normandy, Stockholm, Rome and Aachen &#8211; to host equestrian sport’s most distinguished championships.
Click here to watch the Destination Tryon video.
For WEG 2018, Bellissimo is focusing on the love of horses to bring added attention to equestrian sport and touch a broader audience of horse enthusiasts globally, highlighting the important role horses have played throughout history.
“All of our nations were discovered on the back of a horse and these amazing animals continue to provide livelihood, transportation, security, entertainment, friendship, therapy, and sport around the world. The love of the horse is universal and profound. The Games is an incredible stage to show the world how important and valuable this creature is and celebrate our relationship with them,” said Bellissimo.
Fédération Equestre Internationale President Ingmar De Vos shared his excitement about the forthcoming Games at TIEC.
“Marking one year to go to the FEI World Equestrian Games is always a very exciting time and we’re really looking forward to the spectacular event that Tryon will bring,” Ingmar De Vos said. “The Games are the greatest gathering of the best athletes and horses from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of people will have the opportunity to enjoy the magic of equestrian sport as world champions are crowned across the eight FEI disciplines. The USA is renowned as a country of horse lovers and is also hugely successful in the sport so we are delighted to have this, the FEI’s flagship event, back in America once again.”
United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) President Murray Kessler is pleased that the WEG is coming back to the United States for 2018 and will be hosted all at one venue at TIEC.
&#8220;We are confident that Mark Bellissimo and his team at Tryon will host an exceptional World Equestrian Games next year. Having the Games in the U.S. gives us an opportunity to celebrate the joy of horse sports with millions of Americans in a way that will help grow engagement and participation in all equestrian sports in this country.&#8221; said Murray Kessler, President U.S. Equestrian.
The Games are expected to have tremendous economic impact to both Western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate. The previous WEG held in Normandy (FRA) in 2014 had an estimated economic impact of $400 million and attracted 575,000 spectators. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper praised the organizers’ success in bringing the Games to the Carolinas.
“The World Equestrian Games are an incredible opportunity for North Carolina, and we are pleased to host this event,” said Governor Cooper. “We applaud the efforts of Mark Bellissimo and the organizers at Tryon International Equestrian Center to bring this global event to North Carolina and stimulate economic growth for our state as a result.”
Held every four years alternating with the Olympic Games, the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM combines the world championships for jumping, dressage and para-dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting and endurance into one massive 12-day event.
Click here to watch the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM Tryon 2018 promo video.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations for the 2018 WEG are being managed by Connections Housing, a full-service sourcing, housing and event management company. With 30 years of experience serving events in a range of industries, Connections has two full-service, fully-owned call centers and will oversee all aspects of the housing process from contracting and room block management to reservations and post-event analysis. Accommodations will open to the public on Monday, September 18. For more information about accommodations, visit www.tryon2018.com.
ABOUT THE TRYON INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort, host of the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM Tryon 2018, is one of the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destinations. From carousel to competition, the mission of Tryon Resort is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport, and increase access to this majestic animal. With first-class facilities for hunter/jumper, dressage, and eventing competitions, the facility will soon accommodate all eight equestrian disciplines. Tryon Resort is a spring, summer and fall haven for equestrian competitors and enthusiasts, and a year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment. Learn more at www.tryon.com.
ABOUT THE FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES™
The FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG), which are administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the worldwide governing body of equestrian sport, is the major international championship event for the eight core equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. For more information, visit www.tryon2018.com and http://www.fei.org/tryon-2018

Question 4

The perfect lunch outing with the girls!

Accepted Answer

Tryon &#8211; Even if you&#8217;re not a &#8220;horse person&#8221;, get yourself over to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) for lunch, dinner, shopping, cocktails, and family friendly fun!
Four of us gal-pals decided to head over to TIEC, get some lunch, and check the place out. Two had already been and two of us were &#8220;newbies&#8221;.
It&#8217;s summer. It&#8217;s hot. Especially in the sun. Good thing there&#8217;s plenty of shade throughout the property. And watch from the shade is what we did before lunch. Each horse and rider entered the arena from the tunnel before tackling the course for points. It was fascinating watching the horses go around the circuit and over the jumps.

After we&#8217;d watched the action for a while, we headed over to Blue Ginger Sushi & Noodles. If Sushi isn&#8217;t your thing, or your just not in the mood, there are multiple eateries on site.
Tuna Tataki Salad: Green leaf mix with tomato, cucumber, avocado topped with Tuna Tataki and Sesame dressing
Special of the day. Can&#8217;t remember what was in this roll.
A few of the rolls are actually set on fire at your table. Nancy got the Pyro Roll. We all thought it was fun to hear the roll sizzling as it cooked, but the flames would be more dramatic in the evening when it&#8217;s a dark. The roll is wrapped in foil and placed in a shallow pool of &#8220;151&#8221; alcohol. The fire goes out when there&#8217;s no more alcohol to burn.

If a drink is what you&#8217;re looking for, definitely check out Legends Grille. The bar area had a good vibe. Of course, they serve great food, too.
As we walked around the property, we came across this very cool Silo Bar! Check out the hammock chairs under the arbor. LOVE it! I can just picture hanging out in those chairs or around the fire pit with friends on a summer evening, cocktail in hand.
Besides dining, there are a ton of other things to see and do at TIEC! Watch &#8220;Gladiator Polo&#8221; (June 24th) and the &#8220;Hobby Horse Series&#8221; (yes, it&#8217;s a thing), and for family fun, check out Saturday Night Lights Grand Prix. At past Saturday Night Lights, there have been fire twirlers, acrobats, magicians, free pony rides, mechanical bull riding, sand-castle building, shag dancing competitions, vintage car shows and craft beer festivals. See what fun they&#8217;re planning on their Facebook page.
Need more to keep you busy? There&#8217;s a market/small grocery store and coffee shop, and they&#8217;ve ingeniously brought in modular log cabins and set them up as a variety of, albeit high-end, retail shops.
I was even thinking that TIEC might be a fun place for a weekend get away. There&#8217;s quite a selection of lodging on site (1 &#8211; 7 bedroom homes and log cabins), RV pads, and more options coming quickly: a 5-star hotel/spa, a 4-star hotel, and more. Go to the &#8220;Lodging&#8221; link in their website&#8217;s main menu for details and prices.
One of my favorite spots is a large riverside gazebo with seating and grills right next to a cluster of log homes. There&#8217;s even a sandy area next to the water.

Gosh! I think I&#8217;ve covered everything . . . TIEC is just incredible. They are working furiously on infrastructure and more additions to the complex because they won the World Equestrian Games 2018 (think winning as the city that will host the Olympics). Over 600,000 visitors and participants are expected!
Regional tourism boards, lodging associations, and other groups in NC and Upstate SC have been working together to plan and be prepared for this event.
This is a WORLD CLASS destination in our region that has a few minor kinks to work out regarding speed of service at the restaurants, but I only see it getting better. And in my opinion, the food was worth waiting for.
Epicurean Notes:

It&#8217;s usually FREE ADMISSION at TIEC. During certain (WEG) events that happen infrequently, there may be an entry fee.
There are nice spaces you can book for private events
Dining tables overlooking the main arena are available to rent
TIEC is a year round venue, but horse shows do not typically run in the winter.
Check for special winter events like the Christmas Craft Markets/Shows and the New Year&#8217;s Eve party

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