A descriptive menu of the locally-sourced food and brew movement
BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA – Situated about 90 minutes north of Atlanta off Interstate-575, Blue Ridge, Georgia, satisfies the palate with a growing menu of options. A closer look reveals a common ingredient shared by local business owners – a passion for the outdoorsy, earthy, upscale, fresh, historical town – a mixing bowl of opposing flavors that meld just right to create the place these establishments are proud to call home. It’s an ambiance set forth by nature and enhanced by the local people that lures proprietors here; some are retired execs from the ATL beginning a second career and others are establishing roots and raising a family in a simple yet sophisticated community. It’s that kind of opposition – yin and yang – that Blue Ridge embodies, converting visitors to locals again and again as the story goes. If you’re lucky enough to experience Blue Ridge, indulge in something special that satisfies not just the taste buds but also the soul.
Inspired by great quality ingredients and bringing new dishes, new ideas or twists on old favorites to customers, Harvest on Main uses seasonal products whenever possible to support the local economy, farmer and artisan. Talented chef Danny Mellman teams up with healthy, farm-to-table ingredients to produce sumptuous flavor explosions, like the three onion and apple soup, which will have you craving seconds. 576 E. Main Street; HarvestonMain.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/HarvestonMain
“We are just so blessed to be able to pair together two things we love – our passion for food and ingredients and the community of Blue Ridge. It is a dream to be able to live, work and play in a community that is as gorgeous and giving,” says Mellman’s wife and business partner, Michelle Moran.
At Farm to Table Camp for Kids, the dynamic duo builds on community efforts by teaching local children and visiting kids where their food comes from. Two weeks over the summer, kids come and learn gardening, caring for chickens, cooking and more. Wrapping up each week, campers prepare a luncheon held outside in the garden for their families. The farm is open to the public, but there are no set hours; call (706) 946-3276 for more information. Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCooksFarm
So successful, Harvest on Main expanded their offerings in 2013 with the addition of Harvest’s Blue Ridge Grocery offering a from-scratch bakery, deli and café, coffee bar and menu for take-away meals. 560 East Main Street, Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeGrocery
Cucina Rustica, a local favorite that’s rustic, casual, yet elegant, puts the utmost importance on preserving the traditions of Northern Italian cuisine and delights guests with Osso Buco, shrimp scampi and stuffed veal loin, to name only a few of the must-try temptations.
“It’s a local favorite where visitors and locals alike gather to enjoy our much raved about food, wines and gracious service. It’s a place where happy memories are made and good times are had,” says owner Isabella Moinari. 76 Forge Mill Crossing, Morganton, Ga.; www.CucinaRustica-ga.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Cucina-Rustica/219146301461674
With thousands of vacation rental cabins in and around Blue Ridge, it’s no surprise Chef Douglas Olsen of Cabin Cuisine has found popularity in his services, creating meals in the comfort of a serene mountain setting.
“Picture a chef walks through your front door, looking like he just walked off the set of a Food Network television show, prepares a magnificent meal, serves you on white table cloth with candles and flowers and if that is not enough, he even cleans-up afterward! I call that very special and as far as I know, unique to the Blue Ridge area,” says Olsen, who feels blessed to be able to share his talents with others in a way that creates a unique experience for clients that will be remembered and shared with others for years to come. www.CabinCuisine.com, www.FastHomeGourmet.com
Relax, unwind and prepare for one of Blue Ridge’s newest restaurants, Black Sheep, serving Southern comfort food in a historic residence once visited by Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind.” 480 W. Main Street; www.BlackSheepBlueRidge.com
Top off your feast with confectionaries from The Sweet Shoppe where owners Nikki Gribble and Susan Catron can boast of their win on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” 576 East Main Street D; www.SweetShoppeBlueRidge.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/SweetShoppeBlueRidge
Try the Blue Ridge Blood, at Blue Ridge Brewery, along with other handcrafted suds – the Hiawassee Golden Ale, Sandy Bottom and Toccoa Brown. Seasonal beers are featured on a regular basis. Pair sips with upscale eats like shrimp mac and cheese and catch live music on the weekends without ever worrying about a cover charge.
“We try to take the best elements of other places that we love and incorporate them in our restaurant,” says owner Pat Walker who, like many other business owners, found the whole atmosphere and the quaintness of Blue Ridge attracted him and his family here.
187 Depot Street; BlueRidgeBrewery.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeBrewery
At Grumpy Old Men Brewing, Blue Ridge’s premier nanobrewery, co-owners Jim McKnight and Steve Weber – fraternity brothers at Georgia Tech in the 70s, embody their business name and tout the motto, “If we don’t like it, we don’t drink it. If we don’t drink it, we don’t sell it.” Signature brews include: Aska Pale Ale, Moon over Blue Ridge Wheat Ale, and the soon to be released Hell’s Holler Porter.
“Being a ‘grumpy old man’ was supposed to be a hobby for the both of us but is quickly turning into more than that – Chipley and I haven’t quite figured out if that is a good thing or not,” chuckles Weber, who retired from Southern Company.
“Blue Ridge and Fannin County is our adopted home,” says McKnight, a retired Cox Enterprises exec fondly called ‘Chipley’ by friends. “We didn’t even consider anywhere else even though the laws in Georgia regarding small breweries are not necessarily the easiest to negotiate. We could have gone across the border to NC and had a much more robust business plan due to their receptiveness to small breweries but we were dedicated to Blue Ridge and Fannin County. If we can create a job or two and some tax revenue for the local community and make great beer, then that defines success for us.” 1315 East Main Street; GrumpyOldMenBrewing.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrumpyOldMenBrewing
Fannin Brewing Company’s motto sums up just about all you need to know: Fresh Air, Fresh Water, Fresh Beer. Started in association with the Blue Ridge Brewery, here you’ll find some of the same sought-after sips like Hiawassee Golden Ale and Toccoa Brown Ale. As a serial entrepreneur who spent 20 years working for cable channel startups before deciding to start one himself, Fannin Brewing Company’s owner, Tom, spent a good bit of time in Germany where many of his trips involved a visit to a biergarten or two, sampling a host of German beer styles. He was bitten by the craft beer bug in 2012, when he partnered with Pat Walker at the Blue Ridge Brewery, and by December, the first beer was on tap at the Brewery where the brews, crafted with fresh Blue Ridge water, have been top sellers ever since. 187 Depot Street; www.FanninBrewingCompany.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/FanninBrewingCompany
In addition to the upscale, trendy restaurants that populate the downtown area, don’t miss local favorites like Sue’s Cafeteria and Ice Cream Parlor (3855 E. First Street), in an old fashioned diner setting with the best burger in town, and the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant (8055 Aska Road), featuring specialties like trout and prime rib with views of the river, as well as a new pub. Once you’ve had your fill at a Blue Ridge eatery, sit for a spell on the back deck of Tastings Wine Bar and Tasting Room (500 E Main St) and savor the daily tasting flight while overlooking the downtown area, including the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, www.BlueRidgeMountains.com, 1-800-899-MTNS.