Hendersonville – The wait is over!

Matthew Hickman and Lisa Hoffman, co-owners of Underground Baking Company have opened their long awaited Independent Bean Roaster two doors down.

Matthew and Lisa refer to their shop as a “Brick and Mortar ‘tasting room’ and roasting operation” as opposed to a “coffee shop”.

With that in mind, there are no plans for Wi-Fi, free or otherwise. They’d like folks to stop in, taste various beans and roasts, perhaps with a pastry from Undergound, and join the conversation.

Today, I met Barista Sandy Polson. If you’re local, you might recognize her from Jongo Java on Main St. She made me this gorgeous latte full of robust flavor.

Not in to coffee so much but your coffee-lovin’ friends want to check IBR out? They offer a pretty good variety of teas.

Like what you’re drinking? Pick up beans, mugs, and other accoutrements while you’re there.

Full disclosure: I’ve known and have had a massive soft spot for Matthew and Lisa from the time I met them as they first dipped their toes in retail years ago. They’re dedicated to their craft and sincere in their dealings with the public. Many customers have become friends.

If you go in the next week or so, please have patience. I expect they’ll be busy and possibly working out a few processes.

As of this writing, hours are: Tues – Fri: 7:30AM – 2PM Sat: 8AM-?? Sun and Mon: CLOSED

Independent Bean Roasters
346 7th Ave E
Hendersonville, NC 28792

Mills River – It’s a given. Sierra Nevada Brewery puts out some dang good beer. But what about their tours and food?

There are multiple tour types: Brewhouse; Beer Geek; Trip in the Woods; Beer, Cheese & Charcuterie Tasting; Guided Educational Tasting; and the Visitor Corridor. The Brewhouse tour is complimentary, but other tours require a paid ticket.

I took a Brewhouse tour with a group of media friends followed by dinner as part of a WNC Farm Tour (search #wncfarmtour) with the NC Department of Agriculture.

Our tour began in a room just off the taproom. We listened to a short presentation while sipping a beer. I’m not sure if this was part of the standard Brewhouse tour, or if it was offered to us because we were a media group?

We headed down hallways overlooking the bottling line, passing rooms where the science behind the beer takes place, a hops sample/storage area, and a huge room with row after row of tanks.

A tank room with beautiful copper tanks, pictured below, was our last stop before hitting the tasting room.

As tasting rooms go, this one’s a pip! Plenty of room and intimate at the same time. And just look at that generous lineup on the counter!

We were happy campers, and we hadn’t even had dinner yet.

If you haven’t been to Sierra Nevada’s “estate” in Mills River yet, you’re in for a treat. You have some choices when it comes to food: seating inside or out, reservation or first come first served seating, order from full menu, indoor bar, or walk-up counter outside.

Sometimes when a restaurant is attached to something else, like a brewery, distillery, etc., the food doesn’t exactly shine. That’s definitely not the case here.

One of my all time favorite soups, Butternut Squash, was made with estate grown squash, swirled with crema, and topped with toasted pumpkin seeds. Thick, creamy and delicious.

Isn’t this Market Salad beautiful? It’s made with Pitch Pine lettuce, grilled NC squash, Holly Springs heirloom tomatoes, estate lunch box peppers, and drizzled with Stout balsamic vinaigrette. So fresh!

Our entree – Braised Bison Brisket – served with Freedom Farm potatoes in a rich sauce, estate celeriac, and shiitake gratin was surprisingly good. I was honestly impressed. Fork-tender and beautifully seasoned.

And to cap it all off, a Lively Orchard Cobbler made with Fuji apples. Our group of cooks, food photographers & writers took one look at the first spoonful and sent it back for more oven time. Second time delivered was the charm. Delicious!

You may be wondering at the heavy nature of our dinner. The weather hadn’t turned warm yet so it was perfect for a chilly night. See all current menus* here. *Remember that online menus sometimes aren’t updated, so using them as a reference is best.

Epicurean Notes:

• Note the care, detail, and quality along the approach the main gate.
• Prepare yourself for something unexpected and special when you go through the main gate the first time and see the brewery. The first time I saw it, I was reminded of a huge California winery estate.
• Take time to walk through the garden or play Corn Hole out back.
• Lve music can sometimes be found out back on the outdoor stage.

Sierra Nevada Brewery
100 Sierra Nevada Way
Mills River, NC 28732
Phone: (828) 708-6176

Fletcher – Stopped at The Garage today to see if they had their espresso machine up and running.

The answer was YES! Finally!! This was probably my fifth time stopping in to see what they were going to do with their well-decorated coffee shop.

Awesome decor is fine, but it is all about the coffee after all.

Shocking as it might be, I’ve been drinking fewer lattes lately. This means that what I do drink has to be darned good.

I’m afraid it made them a little nervous when I asked if they knew what they were doing with the espresso machine. A little spilled milk later, I had an excellent latte in my hands. Rich, robust, and hot.

There aren’t a ton of baked goods yet. I’m guessing they’ll carry more as they get busier. Baked goods they do have are excellent and are from what I consider Hendersonville’s top notch bakery, Gateaux, and Blue Door Bakery in Candler.

This coffee shop is part of the bigger Garage building, a booth-type shop where various vendors sell original art, antiques, vintage, and this & that. If you have time, definitely explore.

My only suggestion for the owners regarding the coffee shop is to add electrical outlets, surge protectors, or whatever, to increase the number of outlets. There are a few available if you need to recharge your device as well as yourself.

At this point, they have a Facebook Page, but no website.

The Garage on 25
3461 Hendersonville Rd
Fletcher, NC 28732
Hours: Open today · 10AM–5PM
Phone: (828) 376-0198

Tryon – Even if you’re not a “horse person”, 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 “newbies”.

It’s summer. It’s hot. Especially in the sun. Good thing there’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’d watched the action for a while, we headed over to Blue Ginger Sushi & Noodles. If Sushi isn’t your thing, or your just not in the mood, there are multiple eateries on site.

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’s a dark. The roll is wrapped in foil and placed in a shallow pool of “151” alcohol. The fire goes out when there’s no more alcohol to burn.

If a drink is what you’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 “Gladiator Polo” (June 24th) and the “Hobby Horse Series” (yes, it’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’re planning on their Facebook page.

Need more to keep you busy? There’s a market/small grocery store and coffee shop, and they’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’s quite a selection of lodging on site (1 – 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 “Lodging” link in their website’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’s even a sandy area next to the water.

Gosh! I think I’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’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’s Eve party

Arden – Sweet Tooth and I decided to check out Baked Pie Company a few days ago. They’ve been open about two months and getting rave reviews.

Check out the corrugated tin ceiling. And believe it or not, the floor is tile. I admit to touching it to be sure. As she served up our flights, owner Kirsten Fuchs’ sister-in-law gave Kirsten all credit for the cozy decor.

In addition to being the only dedicated pie shop in the Asheville area, they are unique in that they are offering flights. That’s right. Three “slivers” of pie.

I’m hear to tell you that they are not “slivers”. They are slices. Not huge, granted, but certainly not slivers. Flights, including a scoop of ice cream, are $12.99. The ice cream is optional and will save you $2 if you do without.

All three of my choices were good, but if I had to pick a favorite, I’d go with the Honey Pecan.

Sweet Tooth’s favorite was the Peanut Butter Brownie.

Both Sweet Tooth and I thought the Lemon Meringue was good, but could be a bit “brighter”. Meaning a little more “lemony”. The filling texture was a somewhat different from what you might expect. Maybe more home made?

We mentioned all of this when asked how we liked the pies. They were very receptive, so it may be different when you go. Definitely order it if you like Lemon Meringue.

We both liked that the Apple pie wasn’t over-spiced, with just the right amount of cinnamon.

A daily list of pies is posted on a chalk board behind the counter and on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bakedpiecompany/

When you cannot eat another bite, there’s a bus station for your dishes down the hall by the restrooms.

Oh! Almost forgot to tell you about the cookies they make! I especially flipped over the sheep cookie.

Baked Pie Company is most definitely Epicurean recommended!

Epicurean Notes:

• All merchandise in the shop is for sale.
• Baked Pie is open late-ish until 8pm most of the week and 9pm Friday and Saturday.
• If you go later in the day, call to be sure they’re not sold out.
• This is a great spot for a date night, girls night out, or after an early movie.

Baked Pie Company
4 Long Shoals Rd
Arden, NC 28704
Phone: (828) 333-4366