Gap Creek
Coffee House
10 Pinnacle
Alley
Cumberland
Gap, Tennessee 37724
423-801-3100
The original thirteen colonies, now the United States, were
looking to westward expansion. There had already been inroads to the Ohio River
Valley. To the southwest there were
significant natural barriers. There were tales of green and fertile land to the
west on the other side of the Cumberland and Appalachian Mountains. Many men explored these far and distant lands,
men whose names you probably remember form school. There were men such as
Daniel Boone, James Bowie, Kit Carson and Lewis Clark. They followed the game
trails and explored the area bringing back stories of rich and verdant land, deep
forests with abundant wild game. But it was too far away, too difficult to
reach to be of use for settlement. Settlement needs the exchange of goods, the
farmer’s crops for the manufactured and imported goods from the Atlantic
seaboard states.
In 1750 Dr. Thomas Walker, a physician and explorer led the
first expedition that discovered the Cumberland Gap, a natural
break in the mountains near the juncture of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. It was a narrow gap but suitable for making a
mule train and wagon road across the one seemingly impenetrable barrier. The Wilderness Road was born. The way was
open for the westward expansion to "Kentuck" and "Tenasi."
It was only natural that a settlement would spring up at the
foot of the gap. What better place to have a blacksmith to repair the wagons, a
store to provide the needed flour, bacon and coffee? That settlement became a
Postal destination in 1803. It was incorporated in 1907. Walking the street of
Cumberland Gap it is hard to come up with just the right word to describe it
although quaint frequently comes to mind. It is almost like taking a trip back
in time and perhaps a bit of the mystique of Daniel Boon, Jim Bowie and Dr.
Walker can be felt in the air.
On this particular Sunday, a day that dawned hot and
glaringly sunny, we went to Cumberland Gap for a dog event, canine scent work,
a sport where dogs and handlers try to find selected odors that may be hidden
in vehicles, in rooms or in the out-of-doors.
The center of our activities that day, with their gracious cooperation
and generosity, would be the Gap Creek Coffee House. Nestled on a grassy and
wooded lot adjacent to a perennial stream, Gap Creek, the coffee house was
fashioned from a 90-year old wood frame cottage. The grassy area surrounding
the cottage offers many patio chairs and table. The covered front porch has a
swing and offers a shady vantage point to people watch while sipping your
coffee. Part of the parlor has some seating but is mostly an order area at the
counter behind which is the food prep area in the old dining and kitchen area.
The bedrooms serve as small and cozy dining rooms.
The wife, the dogs and I left home early for the two hour
drive to Cumberland Gap. I skipped breakfast hoping to get something to eat
once we arrived. After setting up the kennels in a shady spot I went to see
what the Gap Creek Coffee House had to offer. It is a coffee shop and not a
restaurant as such. They do offer a big selection of sandwiches and wraps, as
well as pastries with their lattes and gourmet coffees. I asked the young lady
at the counter what they might have in the way of breakfast fare. She thought
for a moment and offered me an egg, bacon and cheese grilled panini sandwich. I
placed my order; I had a choice of eat in or outside. I chose to eat in and
took a seat in one of the dining rooms to wait.It appears the coffee shop is popular with the locals. There were several sipping their coffees while they perused their phones and tablets. Several others stopped in and got their coffee and left. There is no need for a Starbucks in this tiny community.
My order was ready shortly. It was served on a round tray
with a fresh paper liner. My order slip and receipt and some napkins were
tucked under the paper liner. Although my egg, bacon and cheese panini was not
listed on the menu it should be noted that, “All sandwiches, melts and wraps are served with chips and a pickle
spear.” Had this sandwich been
served in a big city restaurant it would have been acceptable. Being that it
was in a small village almost in the wilderness it was a very nice
presentation. The behind the counter personnel do make an effort to make
appealing dishes.
The potato chips are not the usual chips you would get from
a bag at the grocery store. These are I guess what you would call “artisan”
chips. They are not salty and I would hazard a guess they are baked rather than
fried. Although these “healthier” chips have a following they are not what I am
used to. There was an adequate serving of these industrial grade chips. A
pickle spear served with a sandwich is a long standing tradition that seems to
have been lost in many newer chain restaurants. A nice crisp pickle, not overly
tart, a good accompaniment to the sandwich.
The sandwich, on the outside, was made of slices of mild
sourdough bread, toasted with panini grill marks but not pressed or flattened –
an asset for this sandwich. Inside the bacon had been fried to just crisp. The
cheese was hot and melted. I am not sure how they cooked the egg before it was put
in the sandwich. The gleaming egg white and bright yellow yolk almost looks
like it was a poached egg but I will probably never know. To me it was the
ideal way to make the bacon, egg and cheese panini sandwich. It was a filling
and tasty late breakfast and I appreciated it very much. My wife, Janis, and I had different duties during the meet. As a result our meal times were staggered and we didn’t have the opportunity to eat together. At a later time she ordered a Club Wrap ($7.79 Smoked ham, smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and honey mustard on a wheat wrap.) And remember, that would be served with chips and a pickle. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of that one. Suffice it to say that she enjoyed her wrap and finished her meal. If she had made this for herself at home it is what she would expect it to be.
Cumberland Gap is in a very scenic area rich in history. We plan to return one day soon when we would have leisure time to do a little sightseeing and exploring. I think we will again frequent the Gap Creek Coffee House, sit in the shade of tall trees alongside the cool, flowing waters of the creek and enjoy another sandwich for a laid-back lunch.
Summer Hours: 8:00Am - 8:00PM daily
Or National association of Canine Scent Work https://www.nacsw.net/
Late Note: There were a lot of people and a lot of dogs all
around. I asked the event coordinator if she had any feedback from the Gap Creek
Coffee House about our visit that day. She did not have any direct knowledge
but she told me one of the other entrants was asked when we might be coming
back. That is a good sign. If you would like more information about canine
scent work:
Or National association of Canine Scent Work https://www.nacsw.net/
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