Design & Décor: The Roost: Airbnb in the Trees

Design & Décor: The Roost: Airbnb in the Trees: Amanda Albert and Liam Barrett's sustainably built treehouse airbnb is getting booked.

Binh Minh : Vietnamese family serves up love, one dish at a time

It is a tale of two families, one country and a desire to have a better life.

The tale has a happy ending for Chi Le and Nhon Pham — husband and wife and co-owners of Binh Minh Vietnamese restaurant.

Pham was one of the few who escaped by boat crammed in with others for a perilous trip out of his country. It would take a few years but his life was about to turn around after living in war-torn Vietnam.

The boat ride is just the beginning of his journey to freedom. There was a refugee camp in Thailand for one year and then another year spent in Indonesia studying English. He was waiting, hoping and praying to make it to America, and in 1982 he got his chance. “I was so lucky to get to come to the U.S.,” says Pham. “Some people were in the camp for years – it was hard to sit and wait.”A 20-hour plane trip was his ticket out of nowhere and heading to somewhere better.

Pham landed in Greensboro, North Carolina, knowing no one and nervous, but thankful for a fresh start. His English was shaky and he was scared.

Years passed and out of necessity and to control their schedules, Pham and brother Minh, decided to open Binh Minh (a new day, “dawn” in Vietnamese) in 1997. He admits the first few years in business were hard. “We only had family working in the restaurant since we couldn’t afford to pay anyone,” smiles Pham.

North Carolina's Most Unique Antique Festival

Outdoor Festival Serves Up Antiques with a Slice of Americana
By Lynne Brandon

Farm setting adds to downhome vibe

Quilt on display

Liberty, NC - You can hear the unusual noise before you walk into the Liberty Antique Festival. The unusual "hit and miss" sound is one-of-a-kind. It is the sound of the Hit and Miss 1937 John Deere

Serving up a "Rebel" with a cause

engine that turns the big wooden churn filled with home made ice cream. The machine was used to grind corn at mills once upon a time. Owner, Jonathan Williamson bought it from the previous owner Gilbert Key when he decided to retire.Williamson's mother, Linda, helps scoop and serve the dairy confection, and she confesses that the pre-mixed commercial ice cream base is an old Amish recipe that is a secret. And, it is not cheap.

The recipe is 100 years old and patented so it will remain a mystery. What's not a surprise is the long lines that form twice a year when Williamson and other food and antique dealers come to Liberty for the down home show that is part Antique Pickers and part Mayberry.

The people behind the event are the Pike family. The Pike's own the large field (more than two football field lengths) that becomes the Liberty Antique Festival each April and September, always the last weekend in the month. The Pike's BBQ booth is one of the first seen when walking in. The smell will attract you initially, followed by the excellent service and food served up at Dixieland BBQ. Nan Pike is in charge and she and a band of church ladies serve up pork hams cooked by husband, Don. He starts at 3 a.m. each morning and before the event is over nearly 50 hams are cooked on the massive grill that was originally an oil drum.

"Staley" style cue is served up as a "Rebel" on the menu. It is Nan's invention and comes with sauce, BBQ, mayo-based slaw (mountain cabbage) and beans. No bun. Drink of choice is the house wine of the South - a.k.a as sweet tea. BBQ sauce is homemade by Don's mother and sold in bottles.

After filling up on BBQ, a walk through rows of antique wares is necessary to work off the calories. Booths, tents and spaces are lined in rows. Each space is different from the next and anything can be found if one is willing to poke around a little. Civil war artifacts, farm equipment, antique furniture, collectible glass and books are some of the treasures waiting to be discovered. The laid back atmosphere brings out crowds who enjoy strolling through the grassy rows looking for the perfect settee, old time wall fixture, or out of print book.

Those who walk the entire festival are rewarded along the way with homemade and freshly squeezed lemonade. It goes great with Papa's Old Fashioned Kettle Korn that is sold each year from the large copper pots. The couple making and selling the corn are from Florida and they come every year. You can't miss them - the wife is the red head with the cowboy hat on. No matter how hot it is, she is wearing her hat.

If you get lost, an Aunt Bea voice comes across the PA system to direct you back to your party. The voice says today that Edith is tried of waiting and Bill needs to hurry up and get to the exit. Set in a pasture with cows grazing nearby, the scene is true Americana. You might not always find that perfect piece of furniture but you will create a memory, and eat some of the best food in the South Guaranteed.

Classic Carolina City: Camden, SC

 City of History and Horses

 by Lynne Brandon

Robert Mills Courthouse

Carolina Cup

Re-enactment at Camden Revolutionary War site

Camden, SC - A common misconception is that Camden is only for the equestrian-loving crowd. The equine industry is indeed robust in this Southern city, but it is only one part of its appeal. Camden is rich in history, arts, culture and antiques and gracious hospitality can be found on every corner.

Camden is South Carolina's oldest inland city, and its rich past is on display in its museums, historic district, antebellum homes and antique shops. Camden has more than 60 historic sites, including parks, cottages and spacious mansions. At the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site visitors can see reenactments twice a year. 

The Camden Archives and Museum is a city-owned museum that focuses on the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. Permanent and rotating exhibits such as the Ross M. Beard, Jr. Gun Collection generate a great deal of interest. The collection is one of the largest exhibits in the Southeast, featuring guns from John Dillinger.

Museums and exhibits tell Camden’s story while the horse industry are a major economic driver of the city. The estimated impact of the Carolina and Colonial Cup Races and the 31 weekend events at the South Carolina Equine Park was $10 million in 2013. The total economic impact of equine-related activities and businesses was estimated at more than $29 million for Kershaw County, the top South Carolina County for equine ownership per capita.

Signs of the equine lifestyle are everywhere--horse trailers and small barns tucked among homes, huntsman and hounds afoot on Saturdays, retail tack and feed supply stores. The 600 acres of the Springdale Race Course is central to the horse community. Established in 1928, the course is home to the Carolina and Colonial Cup Steeplechase Races. The Carolina Cup steeplechase draws over 65,000 fans annually from throughout the country to enjoy an afternoon of racing, fashion and tailgating. 

Spring heralds springtime in Camden when the Steeplechase Capital of the World gears up for the Carolina Cup. In the fall horse lovers gather for the world-famous Colonial Cup Race. Throughout the year horse shows at Equine Park, polo matches and foxhunts keep the equestrian community busy. Quarter horses are also trained in Camden for barrel racing shows and roping competition.

It is fitting that the National Steeplechase Museum resides in Camden. It opened to the public in 1998, and it is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated purely to telling the story of the American steeplechase. The white clapboard building that houses both the racing offices and the National Steeplechase Museum is on the grounds of the race course. A life-size bronze statue of Lonesome Glory, five-time Horse of the Year, greets museum visitors.  

Inside, rotating exhibits, a racing silks display, an interactive exhibit of a day in the life of a jockey, equine photography, and the J.V.H. (Bobby) Davis Memorial Library give horse lovers much to enjoy. Hope Cooper, Director of the National Steeplechase Museum, welcomes tourists from every state and several countries annually.  

The natural beauty of Camden’s landscape and temperate climate attract sports and recreation enthusiasts from across the U.S. and internationally. The clay sporting course at Hermitage Farm Shooting Sports, fishing at LakeWateree or driving a “lemon” at Carolina Motorsports Park are all fun ways to relax for those not inclined to ride horses.

After a day of outdoor sports, first-quality pampering awaits visitors at local bed and breakfast inns. The Camden House is located in the historic downtown across the street from the famed Buckley School of Public Speaking. Completed in 1832, the mansion is in easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, antique stores, a community theater and historic parks. Visitors also stay in Bloomsbury Inn, a former residence of Mary Boykin Chestnut who authored the well-known Civil War diary. Elegant surroundings and exceptional services have landed the inn on the “B& B of the Year” list multiple times.

Art and music are appreciated in the city, and blues lovers flock to the annual Carolina Downhome Blues Festival. Throughout the year, the active arts community supports more than 100 events and classes at the art center.

The vibrant city offers many reasons to visit and perhaps put down roots. From friendly people to the active outdoors lifestyle, Camden is a true Southern destination, and the town built on tradition is not just for those who are comfortable in a saddle.

SEE AND DO: Historic Camden Revolutionary War Park, Springdale Racecourse (home to the Carolina Cup and Colonial Cup steeplechase), National Steeplechase Museum, South Carolina Equine Park.

Musical Giants and Southern Cusine in Shelby

A Small Southern Town Where Legends are Made

by Lynne Brandon 

Buffalo Vineyard Riesling

Shelby, NC –“She was sitting right over there, in that corner booth,” he pointed.  Chef Jim Sander was telling me about the time Jennifer Lawrence ate at Pleasant City during the filming of the first Hunger Games a few years ago.  The actress didn’t know it but the movie inspired menu items: District Twelve pizza, Girl on Fire pizza, Peeta Pita and strawberry spinach salad.

A few years later and the District 12 pizza and spinach salad remain on the menu. Both are worth trying. The District 12 pizza is a unique twist on pie with a sweet potato base, mozzarella cheese, shitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, ham, goat cheese and fresh basil. The strawberry spinach salad is topped with exceptional berry vinaigrette. Other favorites are the chunky tomato basil soup that goes perfectly with pesto mozzarella bread sticks.

Earl Scruggs Center on the historic Shelby square

 














Try the extensive beer list with hand crafted brews for every taste.  Owner, Chris Canoutas comes from a long line of restaurateurs starting with his grandfather who once owned the iconic Shelby Café.

Walk a few short blocks to try the famed Shelby Café, a town treasure not only for the southern comfort food but the affable and energetic owner, George Rizkallah. He starts his mornings at 4:30 a.m. to make his famous flaky biscuits that are perfection when slathered with sausage gravy. The town has an abiding affection for liver mush, a café specialty, a southern meat likened to liver pate without the finery. The popular dish is served any way you want it but most requested is the deep-fried version served with mustard. Table tops preserve history with old news clippings about JFK’s assassination and Elvis.

Burgers are exceptional at Newt’s, the place to be on a sunny day on the square. The Carolina Burger with all the fixings is worth every mess mouthful and goes down great in between bites of homemade tater tots. The best beef brisket in the country is at Smoke on the Square where BBQ is king and made with special lip smacking sauce.  For an elegant meal, go to Ni Fens where fried oyster salads (ask for goat cheese topping and pot stickers conjoin Southern and Asian elements. The decadent banana dessert slathered with strawberries and bourbon flavored ice cream are worth every caloric mouthful. 

At every turn restaurants serve up food that you do not expect in such a small town.  A manicured and well kept downtown is thriving with unique shops and art galleries. Linda Park’s cozy Fireside Books hosts national authors for special events, and for wine lover’s wineries and vineyards are in close proximity. For culture lover’s two jewels await in downtown—the Earle Scruggs Center located in a historic architectural structure and the Don Gibson Theater.

Bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs and singer/songwriter Don Gibson, both inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame were born in Cleveland County, and called it home. Both icons were featured in a special tribute in April by the Emmy-nominated TV series “Life in the Carolinas.” Host and producer Carl White (the South’s version of Garrison Keillor) focused on the music, history, architecture and culinary heritage of Cleveland County with a night of entertainment and memories. 

The location in the Don Gibson Theater located in the picturesque downtown was a perfect venue to pay tribute to the man behind country music greatest hits, “Oh, Lonesome Me,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”  

Bluegrass took the night to a new level with the exuberance and talent of the Moore Brothers. Tom Isenhour’s Nuhiway Out band added another layer with Isenhour in the lead. Dressed in a hot, pink sequined “Nudie” suit reminiscent of Porter Wagoner, Isenhour played a fierce, dueling mandolin set with Jacob Moore. It was Grand Ole Opry meets “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Before leaving town, spend the afternoon at the Earl Scruggs Center to relive the life of famed musician Earl Scruggs. The story of the beloved artist who did things his way, including his world famous picking method called “Scruggs Style,” is highlighted throughout the renovated historic 1907 courthouse with music, interactive displays and film.

See and Do:

Music aficionados: Visit Earl Scruggs Center and Don Gibson Theater where the icon’s contribution to country music are on display.

Movie lovers: See the sites in downtown Shelby where the “reaping,”  “District 12” and other scenes were filmed.

Artisans: Cleveland County is home to an assortment of artists from potters to wine makers. Visit Owl’s Eye Vineyard and Winery where you can try classic wines like Merlot and Chardonnay and Carolina blends.  Buffalo Creek Vineyard is a visual feast set in a lush setting in the countryside. Cab blends, Riesling, Traminette and other award-winning wines are graciously poured in the tasting room.

Stay: The Inn of the Patriots where Chef Martin Mongiello plies patrons with exceptional foods from his days cooking for presidents in the White House.

Budbreak Festival Brings Out Music and Wine Lovers

Mayberry Nostalgia Attracts Wine Lovers to Budbreak Festival

 

Snappy Lunch

Fruit wines at Slightly Askew

Barney Fife cuts a rug with locals

 

Premiere winery, Childress Vineyards

Mount Airy, NC - Barney Fife was handing out citizen arrest tickets while Eric and the Chill Tones crooned in the background, and people danced on the sunny spring day. What could make the day any better? Having a sip of locally produced wines from the Yadkin Valley viticulture region.

The scene was Mount Airy’s annual Budbreak Wine Festival. This year the festival made beer lovers happy with the addition of craft breweries. Seventeen wineries and four craft breweries took over for the afternoon on Main Street in downtown Mount Airy, the hometown of actor Andy Griffith who came to fame portraying Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry.

Shops and restaurants downtown are part of the tourist attraction known as Mayberry. Lining Main Street are restaurants, bakeries and soda shops with Mayberry themes, Snappy Lunch where the famous pork chop sandwich is produced, and Old North State Winery. The iconic Earle Theater is home to old-time music, jam sessions, movies and other events. Just a block away is the Andy Griffith Playhouse and visitors center where actress Thelma Lynn (Barney Fife’s girlfriend) sees visitors monthly

The Budbreak event combines the nostalgia of Mt. Airy with the burgeoning wine and craft beer scene of the region. Sampling wines and beers, local art, and listening to music was on the agenda. The Mediocre Bad Guys band started the day off on a high note featuring legendary Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys. Keys is known for his instrumental on “Brown Sugar” and other Stones’ hits.

For the pale ale drinkers, newcomer Skull Camp Brewing Co. at Round Peak Vineyards in Mount Airy had the smooth tasting ale called Galaxy. Childress Vineyards under the helm of NASCAR owner Richard Childress showcased a variety of wine blends for any taste bud. Three Red varietal combines Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot for a slightly sweet finish with dark cherry and raspberry notes.

Fans of fruit-themed wines visited the Slightly Askew tent for tastes that are perfect for a day on the beach. Slut Dog Sin (Cabernet Sauvignon and raspberry), Crooked Toe Blues (white Zinfandel), and other fanciful drinks made a fan out of Gretchen Deruyta who traveled from Lake Norman to attend.

Morgan Ridge had the cure for what ails and a wine for every taste. Ales of the day were Bald Mountain Ale, Cotton Patch Gold, and Creek Bottom Pale Ale. Waldensian Heritage Vineyards had peach Bellini’s for a summer themed drink. Surry Cellars brought the expertise and education of Surry Community College’s viticulture program to the festival.  Southern Charm Winery from Lincolnton had award winning wines for tasting. Editso Black is a Gold medal winner combining the taste of blackberries with Merlot. Herrera Vineyards from Dobson had seven verities for tasting. For an earthy wine with spice accents try Tannant is made from 100% tannant local grapes.

The sounds of music throughout the day set a fun and festive tone. The little festival that could –did in rare form.  Music, fun and local wine and beer. It doesn’t get much better.

Euphoric in Greenville, SC

Greenville, SC - In its seventh year, the festival founded by local restaurateur, Carl Sobocinski and singer/songwriter Edwin McCain, was the scene of national chefs, winemakers, distilleries, and famous musicians last week when Euphoria hit the town. The 3-day food and wine festival is not like others around the country — music is in the mix making it a “total eat, sip, listen” experience. Events and a myriad of chef-owned restaurants make it clear why the culinary destination was recently voted Top Ten on the “South’s Tastiest Town” list from Southern Living. The aptly named festival continues to bring in crowds annually from across the U.S. in celebration of culinary, beverage and musical talent with all proceeds going to local Upstate charities.

 The 2013 concert headliner was Grammy award winner Kim Carnes and her longtime band. Carnes treated the energetic crowd to the original sound the Nashville star is known for with “Betty Davis Eyes” and other hits. “It is our first time here,” said Carne’s guitarist/songwriter, Greg Barnhill. “We love it here and want to come back as tourists.”

The Taste of the South highlighted local and national chefs in the historic former Duke Mayonnaise factory building: Nose Dive, Bacon Brothers Public House, Tupelo Honey, The Lazy Goat, Roost, and other eateries showcased exceptional cuisine. From comfit of chicken wings with peanuts, cilantro and Thai sauce (Nose Dive), bittersweet chocolate barbeque spare ribs (Roost), braised duck pot pie with jalapeño cornmeal crust (Stella’s Bistro), smoked Manchester farm quail with pimento cheese grits (Bacon Brothers Public House) and others, it was all worth sticking a fork into. Fresh, local greens dressed up salads, roasted brussel sprouts and watermelon feta tarragon salad cleansed the palate. To wash it down, breweries were on tap with Stella’s, along with Firefly moonshine, Six and Twenty whiskey, and wines from across the U.S.

Chef luminaries in town are too many to name but to name drop a few: Clay Miller,(Yardbird, Miami); James Boyce (Cotton Row, Huntsville); Rob Newton (Seersucker, Brooklyn). Charleston chefs brought a brigade with famed kitchen kings: Craig Deihl (Cypress), Frank Lee (SNOB), Kevin Johnson (The Grocery) and Mike Lata (FIG/The Ordinary). Culinary rock star Ed Lee of Magnolia 610 attended in 2012. Executive Chef, Anthony Gray said the inspiration for the name Bacon Brothers Public House literally came from a plate of bacon as investors and chefs sat down to talk. Meat is smoked for three days in the back for a guaranteed superb taste, and all ingredients are made in-house. Known for its exceptional charcuterie program the restaurant gets it right with chicken and waffles, voted “Best Chicken and Waffles” in Travel + Leisure.

Ritz-Carlton, downtown merchants featured in Greene Co. - : News

Ritz-Carlton, downtown merchants featured in Greene Co. - : News

Traveling Just Got Easier

You wake up to the alarm set on your Smart phone. Check e-mail. Check the weather. Pay a bill. Use the calculator to figure out how much money is your checking account. Listen to Pandora to get through the day. Check Fandango for a movie. Oh, and yes, it’s time to start thinking about vacation. That means checking your favorite travel app – Dwellable to plan your vacation (named by CNN.com as one of the ten best apps).



If you are like most of us, you have a bunch of apps on your iPhone/Android and iPad. Some you use a lot; some almost never. The Dwellable app is in the first category. First, it is free so anyone can access it. You don’t have to be a techie – it is easy enough for a fifth grader and easily installed on your iPhone/iPad. The best part is that at your fingertips you have great places to stay across the U.S. Start at the Dwellable app home page where images of beautiful vacation spots across the country are front and center. The destinations are among the most beautiful in the U.S. – Hawaii, San Diego, Hilton Head, Colorado, Cape Cod, Outer Banks, to name a few.



Simply select the city you want and let your fingers do the walking through images of beaches, sun, sand and beautiful homes. When you find one you like, another touch brings up the contact information of the owner to allow you to reserve the location. At your fingertips are a full description, prices, availability, and map. Take a virtual tour of your “home away from home” so there are no surprises. There are no gimmicks or tricks. Dwellable works for family vacations, solo travelers, business retreats or family reunions. Whatever the need, you can find it from nice to ultra-nice. The vacation locations on Dwellable fall in two categories: places I have been and places I still want to visit.

As a former Floridian, I was happy to see the Sunshine State as a destination. From Sanibel to South Beach, Siesta Key to Disney World, Florida has it all: looking for shells, soaking up rays at one of the nation’s most glamorous beaches, and walking with Mickey Mouse in the Magic Kingdom. At Cedar Key live the Jimmy Buffet lifestyle and eat oysters on the water.



Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has long been a popular “vacay” spot. From this vantage point you can check out other cities worthy of a day trip: Charleston, Hilton Head and Aiken, to name a few. I recently took at trip to Aiken, just because. I knew little about the Southern town except for that it is known for Thoroughbred horses, and it began as a railroad town. Not much to go on but it was enough for me.

Aiken is one surprise after another. In the town synonymous with Derby winners, horses rule, but a closer look reveals so much more. It is a town of culture. Juilliard students call it home each March when they return in droves to offer free concerts throughout the town. Jazz musicians, theater majors are everywhere. At night, the talented Juilliard crowd entertains locals with concerts under tents outdoors, concert halls and at a cottage named Joye.

History is rich in the town. In the early 1900s, wealthy northerners got wind of the Southern jewel and made the trek down from the north each winter. Elaborate parties, equestrian events, friendly folks and warm weather kept them coming. Names like Windsor, Astor, Vanderbilt, Koch, Hitchcock, Carnegie, Hitchcock and even FDR were the norm.

The owner of the Hope Diamond is from Aiken and her peers lived in 20-room mansions affectionately called “cottages” in Aiken. Visitors flocked (and still do) to the famed Willcox, one of the worlds best hotels where to soak up the historical ambiance. If the walls could talk….

Aiken is the perfect example of the rich places you can visit in the U.S. Other highlights in South Carolina are Greenville where food lovers flock to its European-style downtown; Spartanburg and its Southern music culture and coastal beaches.

The Outer Banks in North Carolina has plenty of places to stay on Dwellable. It is my state’s crown jewel where you can see wild horses on the beach, walk quiet beaches, eat great food and see nature at its best. Southport (see Safe Haven), Wilmington, Beaufort, and our many coastal towns are all great road trip that lead to water. Easy lifestyle, fresh local seafood and low key people offer the promise of a good time for all ages.

If mountains are more to your taste, head west to Asheville where art, craft beer and scenic vistas are a trifecta of good times. Closer to the Piedmont in the center of the state, you can have a great cabin stay experience at White Sulphur Springs just outside the iconic town of Mt. Airy, home to America’s favorite sheriff, Andy Griffith.

Thanks to the Dwellable app traveling just got easier. With minimal effort you can have a great vacation without picking up a phone, working with a travel agent or wading through a convoluted web site. In just minutes you are on your way to a creating a lasting memory.

Once the Dwellable app is installed start dreaming!

The Sweet Life in Saxahapaw

"SAX APPEAL" ABOUNDS IN ALAMANCE TOWN
Featuring North Carolina’s Only Five Star Gourmet Gas Station

By Lynne Brandon

 

 

Featuring North Carolina’s Only Five Star Gourmet Gas Station

By Lynne Brandon

Entertainment, great food, music, and a laid-back life style all come together on the banks of the Haw River in Saxahapaw, North Carolina. Just minutes from Chapel Hill, the former cotton mill town is experiencing a revival. Once defined by the mill buildings, the quaint village has breathed new life into its repurposed structures which now are the scene of great concerts, businesses and residential living space.

The mill’s restoration was led by Mac Jordan, grandson of the late U.S. Sen. B. Everett Jordan, former owner of Saxahapaw Cotton Mill.  To move the changes along, Jordan recruited Tom and Heather LaGarde, a couple with ties to Chapel Hill (Tom was a former UNC basketball player and later NBA), and New York where they resided before moving back to the South.

The restoration took root and the Saxapahaw Rivermill was born complete with residential and commercial space. Others followed: Saxapahaw Artist Gallery, the life-size puppet theater at Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Haw River Canoe & Kayak Company, and the LaGarde’s Haw River Ballroom venue.

The Haw River Ballroom is a renovated textile dye house – perfect for concert crowds and other special events throughout the year. The popular venue brings in crowds from nearby urban cities to the rural retreat to hear live music shows from band members of the Old Crow Medicine Show, Kristian Matsson (who toured with Bon Iver), and other original artists. In a short time, the space has become a powerful entertainment venue and gathering place for the artistic community.

Work gets done in the off the beaten path community, but on Saturdays in the summer months, the community gathers for “Saturdays at Saxahapaw.”  Set on a rolling hill, crowds mingle first at the farmers market and sample local food products and then relax to a variety of live bluegrass, rock and other genres.

The local farm community has had its hand in the revitalization of Saxahapaw. The creative use of fresh, local foods has food lovers and critics turning culinary cartwheels over the gourmet cuisine choices in the unsuspecting setting. The restaurant/convenience store/gas station aptly named Saxahapaw General Store is the hub of the community where neighbors gather and new friends gather around the table to experience local food and beverages. It wasn’t always a hot spot.

The Sweetest Onion on Earth - Vidalia

Perfect Vidalia onions

Candied Vidalia Cheesecake at Elements Bistro

Who knew a seemingly ordinary vegetable could inspire millions of chefs, and even inspire a museum? It's true. Throughout history writers Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis and scores of other famous figures have mentioned the special onion in their literary works. The revered object is none other than the sweet Vidalia onion grown only in Vidalia, Georgia where the sweet onion was discovered in the 1930’s. 

 

On a recent trip to Southeastern Georgia I visited the towns of Vidalia and Lyons to see the origins of the famous sweet onion for myself. The Vidalia (Vie-Dale-yuh) onions thrives in this trifecta of perfect weather, climate, and soil which makes for peak production. 

I visited two great farms during my stay, and enjoyed the onion in salsa, spreads, and my favorite of all, Candied Vidalia Onion Cheesecake. Enjoy reading about the sensory pleasures of the sweetest onion on earth.

http://www.winesdownsouth.com/Recipes/Vidalia_by_LB.pdf

Carolina Inn's Shrimp and Grits Throwdown

Culinary Tradition Meet Creative Carolina-Carrboro Chefs

by Lynne Brandon

Chapel Hill, NC - Local residents and visitors from across the U.S. came out en masse for the first ever Shrimp and Grits Throwdown hosted at the historic Carolina Inn.

The friendly crowd had forks ready when “Eye of the Tiger” started playing and the seven Chapel Hill and Carrboro chefs vying for the title rolled up sleeves and started cooking. Shrimp sizzled, wine was poured and all had a great time tasting a myriad of recipes of the well loved southern dish. Every chef had to use two ingredients: shrimp and grits. After that all bets were off. Tabasco sauce, flash fried leeks, cashews, prosciutto bacon, corn, and other inventive ingredients permeated the air and whet appetites for the eager crowd. Northerners and Southerners compared notes and savored the moment.

After much sampling, local food writers and critics went with the creative style of Top of the Hill executive chef Trey Cleveland who showed his culinary chops from New Orleans and the Carolinas. Carolina Inn’s Crossroads Restaurant executive chef Jimmy Reale was a close second. Fans went with “heat” and chose the spicy Shrimp and Grits recipe from Vimala Rajendran of Vimala's Curry Blossom Café as the "Fan Favorite."

The first ever event was a culinary success that benefited a non-profit relief organization, and gave food aficionado’s the chance to experience a new twist on an old favorite.

Continue to read the winning recipe:

Top of the Hill Wild Mushroom Grit Cake with Shrimp

SoBo: Luxury B & B, European Cars and Sculpture

Where History and Love Collide

By Lynne Brandon

South Boston, Va. (Halifax County) - SoBo, or South Boston to outsiders, has a secret. Outside the small Virginia town sits a historic antebellum mansion once home to the affluent Bruce family in the 1800s. The mile-long driveway halts in front of the spectacular Greek Revival mansion that sits majestically on 685 serene acres dotted with native trees and magnolias.

Adjacent to the Dan River, Berry Hill is the perfect get-away for a romantic weekend, girl friend getaways, and yes, newlyweds. Brides have discovered Berry Hill, and in the summer the grounds are alive with laughter, love and celebration as families tie the knot under the wide open Virginia sky.

Leland Luck, the property’s faithful and enthusiastic historian, weaves a story of rich history in his tour of the “hidden in the hills” jewel. The great white home originates back to 1728 when it was first given to William Bryd II as a part of a land grant from England. Italian marble base boards, ornate ceilings and cherry floors connect the mansion to owners of prestige and good taste. The focal point of the house is the dramatic mahogany ‘horseshoe” staircase which displays the craftsmanship of freed Black cabinetmaker, Thomas Day.

In the late 90’s after lying dormant for several years, Berry Hill was restored to its former glory, making it a leisure destination and executive conference center.The mansion itself houses two large suites used primarily for wedding parties. Privacy lovers will enjoy the two smaller “mini-mansions,” small replica’s of Berry Hill on either side of the mansion, as well as 88 historic rooms with a view of the rolling Virginia landscape.

Rembrandt in America

Smithsonian of the South Pays Tribute to Master Artist
by Lynne Brandon

Raleigh's Museum of Contemporary Art hosted a rare exhibit that made a one-time stop in the South. For complete story, click on link.

http://www.winesdownsouth.com/culture/rembrandt_in_america/Rembrandt2012.pdf

Egg Nog Nation is Once a Year

Egg Nog Never Looked Better

by Doc Lawrence and Lynne Brandon

Doc is the supreme expert when it comes to wine, fine spirits and such esteemed beverages such as the sometimes elusive and always evocative egg nog. Cocktail lovers and those who enjoy fine vintage wines and other libations will learn that the often misunderstood holiday beverage has connections to a historical Civil War figure, a prestigious mixologist and even NASCAR

http://doclawrencenews.blogspot.com/2011/12/egg-nog-nation.html

Photo: Chris Hannah of Arnaud’s French 75 Bar created the Blue Hawaiian Nog to win the Best Bourbon Spiked Eggnog cocktail at the Tales of the Toddy in New Orleans in 2011.