Had two amazing food experiences this weekend at "home" in the northeast Tennessee / southwest Virginia region.
Saturday night found us back at Town House in Chilhowie, VA to try to the new summer menu - about seven months since we'd last visited in the dead of winter.
My opinion on the food last time was somewhat undecided, as it was the first time I'd truly experienced molecular gastronomy. I honestly didn't quite know what to think.
This time, all was certain. The food was amazing. They've really focused some of the dishes and plating. The restaurant was full and buzzing. The wine was excellent. Charlie Berg and his team's service was top-notch, once again. And, John Shields, recently named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs 2010, visited the table briefly. A new element this time was a take-away gift from John's wife and executive pastry chef, Karen Urie Shields, of garlic and sesame buns.
I could go on and on. Overall, it was an amazing experience. No doubt it's in my top five restaurant experiences ever. I can't wait to go again and share this experience with friends.
I forgot got to get a copy of the dang menu, but I think this is the meal. (Don't quote me on the names.) I've included photo approximations of some of the dishes we had below. All photos courtesy of Town House Blog; these are not my personal photos!
Savory Cookie (Amuse Bouche)
Chilled Vegetable Minestrone
The Orange from Valencia
Soup of Cherries
Scrambled Egg Mousse
Blue Crab in Brown Butter & Lime
"Risotto" of Squid
Squab, Foie Gras Royale & Crisp Chicken Skin
Cap of Beef Cooked in Ash
Stones
Blueberries & Lychee
plus...
"House" Sparkling Wine - glass
Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay - 1/2 bottle
Louis Latour Beanue 1er Cru Vignes Franches (Burgundy Pinot Noir) - 1/2 bottle
2002 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank (Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend) - bottle
And then...
We visited my grandparents today for lunch in Jonesborough, TN. Wow, what an opposite, but equally amazing culinary experience. Fried green tomatoes. Fresh corn. Macaroni salad with orange tomatoes from up the street and red peppers from the back garden. Canned green beans from the farm. Corn bread. Pot roast with fresh carrots and potatoes. Fresh peach and blueberry cobbler. One amazing thing after another. I wish I could eat like this every day. The most exciting thing - you can't buy food this good anywhere. I'm lucky to be able to have this.
After that, we picked a few fruits and vegetables from the garden with my papaw and grabbed some canned beans and tomatoes from 2009.
Check them out:
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