Asheville NC Archives - There Goes Connie

Looking Back at my 2018 Travels and Recommendations

01/07/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t just looked back at my calendar and all of the photos I took. During 2018, I visited 23 destinations, finished construction/decisions/moving involved with our new house and hosted the 11th Annual Cousins Camp. You might think I’d be ready to stay home for awhile, and yes. I truly do savor days for writing, thinking and “just being.” But, those of you who know me best, know that I always LOVE planning. So, happily my calendar is filling up with more amazing places to explore in 2019.

A few of the trips I made in 2018 were purely for fun, but 100% have or will end up as blog posts or articles in other publications. And, 100% of the places I visited can be wholeheartedly recommended for you. The vast majority were in my heartland, a.k.a. The Deep South, but I also got on a few airplanes along the way.

I began the year with Steve on Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL, and we ended our travel year seeing New York City at Christmas time. In between, there were fabulous restaurants, hotels, museums, attractions of all kinds and stunning displays of nature. Here are some highlights, pretty much in order as I saw them through the year. Maybe one or more of them will capture your attention and draw you in for a closer look. Please stick with me as we explore more hidden, and not-so-hidden, gems in 2019.

Shellhunting with the shorebirds on tranquil Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL in January of 2018.

The iconic tree in Rockefeller Center, New York City, December 2018.

February is a wonderful time to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast. There are many activities and advantage for snowbirds, and of course, the seafood is always fresh and delicious.

A search for the many painted mules in Jasper, AL is a fun pursuit. While there, the shopping and dining options are plentiful.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum is an important destination. While in town, try some of the great restaurants — Highlands Bar and Grill, Galley and Garden, Chez Fonfon, etc. — and take the elevator to the top of the Vulcan.

It was so much fun to share a “Gone with the Girls” tour with my daughter and granddaughter. Clay and Henry Counties and their towns of Jonesboro, Locust Grove and McDonough (just a few miles south of Atlanta) are full of great eateries. shops and attractions, among them is the Road to Tara Museum.

Oxford, Mississippi is home to the University of Mississippi, 4 restaurants owned by John Currence and Rowan Oak, home of novelist William Faulkner. What a great town!

In addition to famous recording studios, boutique hotels, the University of North Alabama and good Southern eats, be sure to visit the store and workshop of Natalie Chanin and get a close look at her fabulous textile artistry.

The historic and beautiful Dunhill is a great place to stay in downtown Charlotte. The rooms are comfortable, the location is great, and The Asbury, adjoining restaurant, has award-winning chefs.

Biltmore House and Gardens is a MUST when visiting Asheville, N.C. Also, consider one of the delightful B & Bs in the area.

While visiting the Old 96 District of South Carolina, I highly recommend staying at The Inn on the Square in Greenwood, S.C.

Historic Brattonsville is an informative attraction in the Olde English District of South Carolina, between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC.

Canton OH is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and SO MUCH MORE!!

Downtown Cleveland is filled with sports venues, hotels and restaurants. A little further out are attractions for history, art and music lovers, and don’t forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Columbia, TN has a great historic downtown, the James K. Polk Home and the Blythewood Inn Bed and Breakfast. Be sure to plan a stop when you’re in the Nashville area.

Gadsden, AL has Noccalula Falls within its city limits, plus a wonderful Main Street with shops, restaurants and a very active cultural center.

Corinth, Mississippi is the site of important Civil War history. Here is a poignant fountain outside the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.

The Palm Court, ornate restaurant inside the Plaza Hotel in New York City, is where one of America’s most famous Afternoon Tea parties takes place.

Go. See. Eat. Experience. There’s a great, big, fascinating world out there.

(Just scroll back through my blog posts to read about these places in greater detail).

RHUBARB: Highly-Acclaimed Chef Brings Marvelous Meals to Asheville, N.C.

06/22/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Whether you visit Asheville, North Carolina to see the Biltmore Home and Gardens, to explore the art scene or simply to take in the beautiful scenery, I urge you to make reservations for dinner at RHUBARB located at 7 SW Pack Square. And, go one step further and request to be seated at the chef’s area where you can watch the culinary wizardry take place. You will be so impressed, AND you’ll enjoy a memorable meal.

Chef John Fleer was born and grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C. He majored in theology at Duke University and started working toward a master’s degree. But, a part-time job led him to his true passion of food and cooking. He left graduate school and enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Along the way of honing his skills in the kitchen, he had an amazing weekend job as a private chef for Mary Tyler Moore! Wow.

He made his way back to the South when he was hired as a chef for Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN. During the almost 15 years that Chef Fleer was at Blackberry, he is credited for developing a signature style known as “Foothills Cuisine.” It combines the hearty foods originating from the Smoky Mountains with the products of the Farm’s heirloom garden and the freshest regional produce. Dishes contain both gourmet and Southern comfort elements. Now that Chef Fleer has his own restaurant in Asheville, he still is dedicated to seeking out the finest possible ingredients to use in creating dishes for his guests.

Chef Fleer has been a finalist FIVE TIMES for the James Beard award as Best Chef Southeast. With all of his impressive credentials, I was a little intimidated to be seated so near as he conducted what appeared to be a finely-tuned symphony of kitchen staff members, pots, pans, foods, an open grill, sizzling skillets, fresh herbs and wood-fired ovens. Yet, when I had a short time to chat, I found him extremely personable with a ready smile and a quick wit. It didn’t surprise me to learn that he is married to his high school sweetheart. They have three sons, and the family shares a passion for playing and watching soccer. That tells me that he purposely seeks to have a life outside the kitchen, and I think that ability to find balance in his life is at least one of the keys to his success.

Rhubarb opened in October of 2013 in a couple of storefronts in Pack Square in a room that was formerly an adult bookstore. Pack Square is located at the intersection of Patton, Biltmore and Broadway Avenues in Downtown Asheville’s Historic District.

The menu is constantly changing to reflect the best of each season. The night Steve and I were there, we shared the Goat Cheese Burrata with Rhubarb Jam, Pickled Strawberries and Crispy Shallots.

Then, we had the nightly fresh fish for our entree.

To end our meal, we had probably the most unusual dessert we’ve ever been served. The Executive Pastry Chef is 31-year-old Kaley Laird. She prides herself on imaginative flavor combinations. We had a fabulous creation called “Dream of Summer” that had just the right amount of sweetness and was extremely intriguing and satisfying. According to Chef Kaley, this dessert is reminiscent of the S’Mores she remembers from her youth with even the smokiness of the campfire infused in the flavors. This was the description on the menu: “Burnt Sage Ganache, Marshmallow Panna Cotta, Smoked Caramel, Sage Ice Cream, Almond Butter and Benne Seed Crumble.” Read more about her and about Chef Fleer on the Rhubarb website.

Here are some photos of the crew at work: One makes salads while shrimp is sauteeing. Another is handling the grill and the oven, while another checks internal meat temperatures. Chef Fleer makes sure that every plate leaving the kitchen area is presented perfectly. We saw one plate — that I would have thought was just fine — handed back to a staff member to redo according to more exact standards. It was impressive.

Rhubarb is closed on Tuesdays, so check the website and make your reservations before you head to Asheville. I believe you’ll be in for a delicious experience.

LEARNING FROM PASSIONATE PEOPLE: Engineers Reinvented as Innkeepers in Asheville, N.C.

06/18/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Dan and Diane Rogers earned degrees in engineering back during their college days, but he migrated into a sales position, and she became a stay-at-home mom and honed her skills in the kitchen. Eventually, she took a job as a Girl Friday/bookkeeper for a CPA friend. Little did they realize that they were being perfectly groomed to eventually reinvent themselves as owners of a B & B in Asheville, N.C. Dan’s sales job took an unexpected turn, and they found themselves trying to figure out what to do next — and were still young enough and healthy enough to pursue something completely different. Pinecrest B & B was for sale. They snatched it up, began the steep learning curve, and now have a very successful business that is a vibrant part of the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association.

Pinecrest B & B, nestled in an Asheville neighborhood.

Steve and I met Dan and Diane the afternoon after spending hours at the Biltmore Home and Gardens. The Biltmore was amazing, especially with the displays of Chihuly glass, but we were worn completely out. I rang the bell and was greeted by their smiling faces. What a relief! They showed Steve and me to our beautiful room, gave us a quick tour of the common areas, offered to answer any questions we had, and then left us to rest and recuperate.

Welcoming foyer/entranceway.

Dining room for breakfast.

Sitting area in the sunroom.

A welcome bag was in the room with some of the most delicious popcorn I’ve ever eaten. Diane could go into the popcorn business and be a huge success, but there was more. Fresh peanut butter cookies with chocolate ganache were waiting on a sideboard. Oh. My. Goodness. The recipe is embedded in the inn’s website under their blog. Here’s a link. They are somewhat labor-intensive, but I can guarantee they will become a cookie you dream about. And, can you believe it? The cookies are gluten free!!

Delectable popcorn created by Diane Rogers.

Afternoon treat – peanut butter cookies with chocolate ganache.

The beds are equipped with sheets and bedding by Comphy. The rooms are filled with delightful amenities. You’ll enjoy a truly comfortable night’s sleep. THEN COMES BREAKFAST!.

Guest room – Grace Suite.

Dan is the congenial host, serving the guests — ladies first, of course — and being sure everyone has what they want. In the meantime, Diane works her magic in the kitchen. Breakfast is served at 9:00 a.m., but for guests who have to leave earlier, a to-go breakfast is provided. Listen to the menu when we were there: Deviled eggs, Asparagus and Proscuitto, Stuffed French Toast with fresh peaches and maple syrup, and Breakfast Sausage with coffee, tea or juice. It was outstanding and served so attractively. There were 10 of us at the table, including a couple from Ireland, so the conversation was stimulating and fun.

Deviled eggs, asparagus wrapped in proscuitto.

Stuffed French Toast with fruit and sausage.

I so regret that I didn’t get a photo of Dan and Diane, but there’s a great one on the Pinecrest website. The moral of this whole story is that it is entirely possible for people to put their whole life experience to use in very unexpected ways and be highly successful. The possibilities are almost endless.

If you plan a trip to Asheville, I urge you to consider staying at Pinecrest B & B. Meet Dan and Diane. Enjoy their hospitality and be inspired by them.

The Biltmore House and Gardens + Chihuly = A Stunning Combination

06/04/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Between now and October 7, 2018, the Biltmore House and Gardens will be enhanced by installations of glass creations created by Dale Chihuly and his talented team of glass blowers. This exhibit has taken four years of intense planning and preparation, and the results are spectacular. The garden staff carefully chose plants that would complement the glass pieces and showcase them in the best context. As you might imagine, the spring and summer plants will be replaced by fall varieties before the show ends in October. That’s just another area where the meticulous plans have taken shape and will come to fruition.

Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C.

It took weeks for eight engineers and artists to assemble the thousands of pieces of packed glass that arrived in six 53-foot-long tractor-trailer trucks. In October, they will return and start the tedious process of deconstructing each of the creations.

Here are just a few photos from our recent visit:

Chihuly orbs in the Italian Garden.

Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds in front of the Conservatory.

In the gardens near the Conservatory.

Chihuly in the atrium.

Daytime tickets to the house and gardens include viewing the Chihuly exhibits, but to see them at night a separate ticket is required. Regular admission price for adults is $67.00. You will want to add an audio device when you are taking the 90-minute tour of the house. The charge is $10.98. The device has a neckloop and is similar to listening on a cellphone. There are no earbuds. You just press the tour number and hold it to your ear.

IF YOU GO:

Dining options on the grounds include the Stable Cafe, The Bake Shop, The Conservatory Cafe and The Courtyard Market. I would suggest getting out of the crowd and driving over to Antler Hill Village. Steve and I enjoyed a delicious, relaxing lunch at Bistro, but other choices are Cedric’s Tavern and Village Social.

There are also several lodging options associated with the Biltmore, but I would like to highly recommend Pinecrest B & B, about 20-25 minutes away near downtown Asheville. The rooms are comfortable and beautifully decorated. The breakfast is out-of-this-world, and the hosts, Dan and Diane Rogers are delightful.

Pinecrest B & B in Asheville, N.C.

The Grace Suite, Pinecrest B & B, Asheville, N.C.

If you want “the mountain experience” and don’t mind driving a little farther, Wildberry Lodge is a large log cabin structure in a gorgeous setting. Here, too, you will find welcoming hosts and a delicious breakfast.

Large outdoor deck of Wildberry Lodge overlooking the mountains.

Porch where breakfast is served at Wildberry Lodge when the weather permits.

Stay tuned for more posts about Asheville and the surrounding area, but in the meantime, start making your plans to visit.

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