That Food Guy
Saturday, September 07, 2019
Rock-A-Billy Diner at the Cumberland Mountain General Store
Cumberland Mountain Store and the Rockabilly Dinner are
definitely off the beaten track in rural Tennessee. Your question is probably,
“Why there?” Since you asked, I am delighted to tell you the backstory and why
I have had a curiosity about the Cumberland Mountain Store for many years. I
guess it was about 1995 when I went to Florida to meet the prospective in-laws.
I had not been in Florida for the previous 38 years so I figured I would have a
lot of relearning to do. I must admit that father-in-law Sonny was an education
in himself. One of the things he showed
to me was a catalog from the Cumberland General Store.
That catalog was fascinating reading much like a vintage 1918 Sears Catalog , you
know; men’s dress shirts, $1.18, a horse blanket for $4.50, a 100-pound iron
anvil for $13.60 a new oak veneered front door for your house for $6.41 or a
pair of men’s fleece-lined cotton socks for 44 cents. Except for the clothing, the Cumberland
Mountain Store sells much of the same merchandise, cast iron stoves, wood-spoked
wheels for your mule cart and plows to pull behind your oxen. The only
difference is the Sears catalog is an image of the past whereas the Cumberland
catalog is for sale today at today’s prices. I know it is not all authentic
wares from the past but modern recreations and there may be a delivery delay
for material made to order.
Sonny enjoyed reading that catalog. It was like a paleontologist’s catalog of ancient relics. Although the catalog hardly varied from year to year Sonny ordered a new one almost annually. I was happy to take one of his back issues for my own. I have ordered a few items. I have also shared the catalog with my sister and she has ordered a few thing as well from time to time including parts to restore an old family heirloom lamp. Naturally, curiosity about the store increased over the years. Tennessee is rich in the history. The first European explorer was Hernando De Soto and one hundred years later explored by Frenchmen Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet. And we cannot forget the famous explorations of Daniel Boone. Amore recent historical tie-in is its location on the York Highway named for Alvin C. York the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient during World War I. All of the historical tie-ins made it a place of interest and worthy of a visit. However, doing my research I found out they had added a small burger shop on the back of the store. That settled it. I now had to go to the Cumberland Mountain General Store and try out the burgers at the Rock-A-Billy Diner.
It is a good idea to check their Web Site or call.
Things like the weather can significantly change their hours of operation. After a quick phone call we set out allowing
time for the 1 ½ hour trip to arrive a bit before the 11:00 AM diner opening.
Most of the journey was along Interstate 40. We exited onto US 127, The Sargent
York Highway, near Crossville, headed north and arrived a few minutes later at
the Cumberland Mountain Store.
I did not ask anyone
at the store but I surmise the following: The store and the catalog are related
but the store does not in fact display or sell most of the items listed in the
catalog, perhaps operated as distinct businesses. Most of the merchandise
offered in the store, with the exception of a few items like flour and sugar
sack prints material, is one of a kind, much like the offerings of an antique
store. If you are looking for a hands-on look at catalog items you will not
find them in the store. That is not to say the browsing isn’t interesting. I
found a lovely cut glass ship’s decanter, minus the stopper that I really
should have taken. Well, maybe it will still be there the next visit.
The young ladies tending the fountain and tables were
charmingly courteous and quick to serve. One side of the menu features the
sandwiches and such while the reverse lists soda fountain treats, malts,
sundaes and banana splits if you desire something lighter especially on those
hot Tennessee summer days. Janis ordered the 1/3 Pound Old Fashioned Steak
Burger Combo (Burger, fries and a drink - $7.95). I or
dered the Rock Basket (that
is a 1/3 Pound Steak Cheese Burger Combo with additional Onion Rings, $8.95,
plus 50 cents for the cheese).We ordered our drinks from the offered Coca Cola
products. The burgers are cooked to order and not sitting on a shelf under a
heat lamp. The burgers and fries arrive in a basket with a paper liner much
like drive-ins of old. The sandwiches are bare. The usual condiments, lettuce,
pickles, tomatoes and the like are at a self-serve station in the dining room –
you really can have it your way. The onion rings were real onion rings. They
were not the minced onions formed into little circles and then fried. No these
were real onions breaded and fried. They had a nice sweet flavor. The French
fries were piping hot, a nice golden brown.
A dash of salt and a bit of ketchup was all they needed. When I cook
burgers at home I like the a bit pink in the middle. When I am eating out and
the source of the meat is unknown I like the burger to be cooked through – but certainly
not over cooked. My burger has just cooked through on the griddle, was still
nice and juicy and good beef flavor. Had I grilled this burger at home I would
have been very happy with it.
The visit to the Cumberland Mountain General Store and the
Rock-A-Billy Diner was a positive experience. The retro diner was the major draw
that brought us there but the shopping tour of the general store was surely
sweet icing on the cake. Tennessee is rich in history and only lightly touched
in remote areas by modernization. You can evidence from the earliest days of
colonization, the opening of the West and trail-blazers like Daniel Boone, the
Civil War and more recent heroes of the Twentieth Century. All you have to do
is turn off the Interstate and follow the small roads into the hills. The
Cumberland Mountain General Store is part of that. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip
back in time and the cheeseburger at the Rock-A-Billy diner. There is much more
to the history of the store itself that I have not covered here. I’ll leave
that to you to find out on your next trip the General Store.
Birthday Lunch – Cumberland General Store - Rockabilly Diner
6807 South York Hwy (Hwy 127 North)
Clarkrange, Tennessee 38553
931 863-3880 Web Site
I usually don’t get to pick the places we go out to eat except,
perhaps, on my birthday. On this birthday I chose the Cumberland Mountain
General Store, or more specifically, their Rockabilly Diner. Except for local
traffic the Cumberland Mountain store is not a stop along the way you are
going. That is unless you are following the route of the world's longest yard sale but that is
another story for another time.
Cumberland Mountain Store and the Rockabilly Dinner are
definitely off the beaten track in rural Tennessee. Your question is probably,
“Why there?” Since you asked, I am delighted to tell you the backstory and why
I have had a curiosity about the Cumberland Mountain Store for many years. I
guess it was about 1995 when I went to Florida to meet the prospective in-laws.
I had not been in Florida for the previous 38 years so I figured I would have a
lot of relearning to do. I must admit that father-in-law Sonny was an education
in himself. One of the things he showed
to me was a catalog from the Cumberland General Store.
That catalog was fascinating reading much like a vintage 1918 Sears Catalog , you
know; men’s dress shirts, $1.18, a horse blanket for $4.50, a 100-pound iron
anvil for $13.60 a new oak veneered front door for your house for $6.41 or a
pair of men’s fleece-lined cotton socks for 44 cents. Except for the clothing, the Cumberland
Mountain Store sells much of the same merchandise, cast iron stoves, wood-spoked
wheels for your mule cart and plows to pull behind your oxen. The only
difference is the Sears catalog is an image of the past whereas the Cumberland
catalog is for sale today at today’s prices. I know it is not all authentic
wares from the past but modern recreations and there may be a delivery delay
for material made to order. 
Sonny enjoyed reading that catalog. It was like a paleontologist’s catalog of ancient relics. Although the catalog hardly varied from year to year Sonny ordered a new one almost annually. I was happy to take one of his back issues for my own. I have ordered a few items. I have also shared the catalog with my sister and she has ordered a few thing as well from time to time including parts to restore an old family heirloom lamp. Naturally, curiosity about the store increased over the years. Tennessee is rich in the history. The first European explorer was Hernando De Soto and one hundred years later explored by Frenchmen Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet. And we cannot forget the famous explorations of Daniel Boone. Amore recent historical tie-in is its location on the York Highway named for Alvin C. York the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient during World War I. All of the historical tie-ins made it a place of interest and worthy of a visit. However, doing my research I found out they had added a small burger shop on the back of the store. That settled it. I now had to go to the Cumberland Mountain General Store and try out the burgers at the Rock-A-Billy Diner.
It is a good idea to check their Web Site or call.
Things like the weather can significantly change their hours of operation. After a quick phone call we set out allowing
time for the 1 ½ hour trip to arrive a bit before the 11:00 AM diner opening.
Most of the journey was along Interstate 40. We exited onto US 127, The Sargent
York Highway, near Crossville, headed north and arrived a few minutes later at
the Cumberland Mountain Store.
The store had not been open very long; there were few cars
in the parking area. That afforded us a leisurely walkthrough the store. We
visited the main room and the side annexes. It is an interesting experience
walking through the store. It is like a museum where the artifacts are on sale.
Quite often there is something you recognize from an earlier era, perhaps
styles of dishes or cookware you remember as a child. There are things you can
recognize form your parent’s youth; bedside pitchers and basins, kerosene lamps
and old flour and sugar sacking grandma used to make clothing. It was a
charming sojourn into the past.
I did not ask anyone
at the store but I surmise the following: The store and the catalog are related
but the store does not in fact display or sell most of the items listed in the
catalog, perhaps operated as distinct businesses. Most of the merchandise
offered in the store, with the exception of a few items like flour and sugar
sack prints material, is one of a kind, much like the offerings of an antique
store. If you are looking for a hands-on look at catalog items you will not
find them in the store. That is not to say the browsing isn’t interesting. I
found a lovely cut glass ship’s decanter, minus the stopper that I really
should have taken. Well, maybe it will still be there the next visit.
Soon it was lunch time and time for a visit to the attached
Rock-A-Billy Diner. It was early so we had no problem finding a preferred
table. The diner is not a glass and chrome railroad car diner but more akin to
an off the side of the road 1950’s era diner with a bit of nostalgia rock and
roll décor. As you might expect the menu offers burgers, dogs, malts and the
like; it is a soda fountain burger shop geared to the lunch hour. However, something
I have yet to try is their Friday Fish Fry and Friday
Night Cruise-In.
The young ladies tending the fountain and tables were
charmingly courteous and quick to serve. One side of the menu features the
sandwiches and such while the reverse lists soda fountain treats, malts,
sundaes and banana splits if you desire something lighter especially on those
hot Tennessee summer days. Janis ordered the 1/3 Pound Old Fashioned Steak
Burger Combo (Burger, fries and a drink - $7.95). I or
dered the Rock Basket (that
is a 1/3 Pound Steak Cheese Burger Combo with additional Onion Rings, $8.95,
plus 50 cents for the cheese).We ordered our drinks from the offered Coca Cola
products. The burgers are cooked to order and not sitting on a shelf under a
heat lamp. The burgers and fries arrive in a basket with a paper liner much
like drive-ins of old. The sandwiches are bare. The usual condiments, lettuce,
pickles, tomatoes and the like are at a self-serve station in the dining room –
you really can have it your way. The onion rings were real onion rings. They
were not the minced onions formed into little circles and then fried. No these
were real onions breaded and fried. They had a nice sweet flavor. The French
fries were piping hot, a nice golden brown.
A dash of salt and a bit of ketchup was all they needed. When I cook
burgers at home I like the a bit pink in the middle. When I am eating out and
the source of the meat is unknown I like the burger to be cooked through – but certainly
not over cooked. My burger has just cooked through on the griddle, was still
nice and juicy and good beef flavor. Had I grilled this burger at home I would
have been very happy with it.
The visit to the Cumberland Mountain General Store and the
Rock-A-Billy Diner was a positive experience. The retro diner was the major draw
that brought us there but the shopping tour of the general store was surely
sweet icing on the cake. Tennessee is rich in history and only lightly touched
in remote areas by modernization. You can evidence from the earliest days of
colonization, the opening of the West and trail-blazers like Daniel Boone, the
Civil War and more recent heroes of the Twentieth Century. All you have to do
is turn off the Interstate and follow the small roads into the hills. The
Cumberland Mountain General Store is part of that. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip
back in time and the cheeseburger at the Rock-A-Billy diner. There is much more
to the history of the store itself that I have not covered here. I’ll leave
that to you to find out on your next trip the General Store.
Labels: Boone, cheeseburger, Clarkrange, Cumberland, Daniel, Diner, French fries, General Store, Mountain, onion rings, Plateau, Rock-A-Billy, Sergeant York, Tennessee
¶ 11:30 AM 0 Comments
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Gap Creek Coffee House - Cumberland Gap, Tennessee
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.
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.
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.
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/
Labels: bacon, cheese, coffee, Cumberland Gap, egg, Gap Creek, house, Kentucky, National Park, panini. wrap, pickle, potato chips, smoked chicken, smoked turkey, Tennessee, Virginia
¶ 2:59 PM 0 Comments
Friday, August 26, 2016
Oriental Cuisine - Maryville, Tennessee
Oriental
Cuisine
622 Condry
Lane
Maryville,
TN 37803
I would have never known the Oriental Cuisine Restaurant was
there except for one thing. Several times a week my wife and I would go to the
local gym. When leaving, while waiting for traffic, we would be looking across
the street down a very small alley like street that has a name. In fact its
name denotes its diminutive stature, Condry Lane. A lane; it is so much less
that a boulevard, an avenue or even a street. It serves as the back entrance to
a muffler shop and a bank parking lot as well as access for some industrial
metal buildings on the left. Way down at the end of the street where it appears
to dead end is one small sign; Oriental Cuisine shares sign space with a rug
and tile company. From our vantage point we cannot see that building because it
is set back to allow for customer parking in front. I was intrigued by this
almost hidden restaurant and I thought that it must have something going for it
as it would not garner any drive-by traffic.
Many months went by before I finally decided to see what it was all about. I did some internet research and found their website which is basically their menu. They offer a mix of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese foods. I was on my own for lunch one day and stopped by for a takeout meal of sweet and sour chicken ($9.00 Breaded white chicken chunks deep fried to a golden brown and served with diced tomato, green pepper and pineapple in our sweet and sour sauce. Served with fried or steamed rice). At $9.00 dollars it seemed a bit on the expensive side but this was an exploratory visit to see what they offered and on that day I did have a “hankering” for some Chinese food. I also asked for a spring roll to compliment the meal ($1.75 A delicious mixture of jicama, carrots, onions, rice thread and pork wrapped in a crunchy spring roll wrapper) .
My order soon arrived. It was a large brown paper bag,
neatly folded and stapled. I was quite surprised when I picked it up. Thinking
back to my thoughts about the rather high cost I now, at least, considered it a
very good deal on a price per pound basis. There was a lot of food inside that
bag. I could hardly wait to get it home and check out the contents. The fact
that it smelled so good made me even more eager.
(I just have to add
this in as a parenthetical comment: Over the years I have noticed that sweet
and sour chicken or pork have become cheapened and degraded under the
banner of “New York style” and the pineapple, sweet peppers and other
vegetables that helped to define the dish in Chinatown settings have been
eliminated and all you get is breaded chicken and sauce usually served separate.
That rendition of sweet and sour chicken is travesty and defames the sweet and
savory combination that is also beautiful to the eye. A pox on New York style.)
Taking myself at my word, I divided the food into two portions
and cut the spring roll in half. I would have half now and the remainder at a later
time. I plated the food for a photo before eating; nothing fancy, just so it
wasn’t a picture looking down into the bottom of a box. It was only half of my
order but the food literally filled the plate. The sweet and sour chicken was
delicious. The breading was fried crispy and the chicken inside was moist and
juicy. It occurred to me while I was eating it that the extra effort in separate packaging made for a crisp
chicken in the sauce whereas if it had been all packaged together the chicken
in all likelihood would have been soggy and unpalatable. The sweet and sour
sauce was very good with a bit of tang from perhaps vinegar and sweetness but
not just from sugar. I enjoyed the snap and flavor of the slightly crispy
pepper and loved the fruity sweetness of the pineapple. An excellent sweet and
sour dish I will definitely try again.
My drink was delivered with a bowl of fried wontons, I sat back
to await my meal. As I mentioned, it was a miserably hot day outside and the
cool interior of the restaurant was a relief. The shades were drawn and the lighting
subdued but you could still see images of the out-of-doors through the slats in
the shade. I looked around. It was as I described before. It was oriental in
motif, black lacquer chairs, a mural but not much else to give it that Asian
look, certainly not gaudy. A quick count found about 50 seats. There were two
tradesmen at the table next to me and a solo elderly gentleman across the aisle.
There was a party of about 6 or 8 in the alcove. About 8 people came in to pick
up their take-out orders; all must have called in and each order was ready on
their arrival. Towards the end of my meal several people arrive and must have
been regulars from the greetings. Apparently Sabrina, the server, saw one of
them parking his car and had his preferred beverage ready for him when he
entered the store. My observations answered the fundamental question I had
harbored. How does this almost hidden restaurant manage to survive? It requires
returning customers and word of mouth advertising. It certainly has returning
customers and I will be providing some word of mouth. It is not an ornate place
nor does it have an elegant ambiance but it is comfortable and it does have the
feeling like in the old Cheers theme song,
“…where everybody knows your name.”
The rice was the standard carbohydrate filler, seasoned with
just the right amount of soy sauce. It was a soup-bowl full of rice, upended on
the plate to make the rounded pile of rice. A line of three large florets of
steamed broccoli divided he plate. The remainder of the plate was filled with
chunks of breaded and fried chicken, coated with sauce and liberally sprinkled with
toasted sesame seeds. Great aroma and a very nice presentation; it looked very
appetizing.
Oriental
Cuisine
622 Condry
Lane
Maryville,
TN 37803
865-984-0810
First Visit – A Take-Out
Order
I would have never known the Oriental Cuisine Restaurant was
there except for one thing. Several times a week my wife and I would go to the
local gym. When leaving, while waiting for traffic, we would be looking across
the street down a very small alley like street that has a name. In fact its
name denotes its diminutive stature, Condry Lane. A lane; it is so much less
that a boulevard, an avenue or even a street. It serves as the back entrance to
a muffler shop and a bank parking lot as well as access for some industrial
metal buildings on the left. Way down at the end of the street where it appears
to dead end is one small sign; Oriental Cuisine shares sign space with a rug
and tile company. From our vantage point we cannot see that building because it
is set back to allow for customer parking in front. I was intrigued by this
almost hidden restaurant and I thought that it must have something going for it
as it would not garner any drive-by traffic.Many months went by before I finally decided to see what it was all about. I did some internet research and found their website which is basically their menu. They offer a mix of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese foods. I was on my own for lunch one day and stopped by for a takeout meal of sweet and sour chicken ($9.00 Breaded white chicken chunks deep fried to a golden brown and served with diced tomato, green pepper and pineapple in our sweet and sour sauce. Served with fried or steamed rice). At $9.00 dollars it seemed a bit on the expensive side but this was an exploratory visit to see what they offered and on that day I did have a “hankering” for some Chinese food. I also asked for a spring roll to compliment the meal ($1.75 A delicious mixture of jicama, carrots, onions, rice thread and pork wrapped in a crunchy spring roll wrapper) .
I was offered a seat at the nearest table and while I was
waiting for my order I read over my take-home menu copy. I had ordered from the
inside, the a la carte portion. On the back was the lunch menu of lower-priced
combinations meals. Part of the combination is a bowl of soup. That would have
made for an inconvenient take-home but I planned one day, if my pending order
was good, return to try something their luncheon menu.
My order soon arrived. It was a large brown paper bag,
neatly folded and stapled. I was quite surprised when I picked it up. Thinking
back to my thoughts about the rather high cost I now, at least, considered it a
very good deal on a price per pound basis. There was a lot of food inside that
bag. I could hardly wait to get it home and check out the contents. The fact
that it smelled so good made me even more eager.
Opening the bag, I found a large (26-ounce?) traditional
Chinese take-out container of breaded fried chicken that was overflowing. I
suspect that was a fluke and I got the benefit of the chef’s “Oops, I cooked a
bit too much.” It was a large-sized container and if the chicken all fit inside
it would still be a large portion. There was a portion of sweet and sour sauce
and a portion of fruit and vegetables.
(I just have to add
this in as a parenthetical comment: Over the years I have noticed that sweet
and sour chicken or pork have become cheapened and degraded under the
banner of “New York style” and the pineapple, sweet peppers and other
vegetables that helped to define the dish in Chinatown settings have been
eliminated and all you get is breaded chicken and sauce usually served separate.
That rendition of sweet and sour chicken is travesty and defames the sweet and
savory combination that is also beautiful to the eye. A pox on New York style.)
There was a 16-ounce container of fried rice, the spring
roll, some packages of soy sauce, some plastic utensils and a fortune cookie.
Looking over my stash of Chinese food I realized that if I had bought another
spring roll I would have satisfying and filling meals for two; on a per serving
basis, $4.50 per person plus the spring roll. The economics of my Oriental Cuisine
purchase were looking much better. Now how does it taste?
Taking myself at my word, I divided the food into two portions
and cut the spring roll in half. I would have half now and the remainder at a later
time. I plated the food for a photo before eating; nothing fancy, just so it
wasn’t a picture looking down into the bottom of a box. It was only half of my
order but the food literally filled the plate. The sweet and sour chicken was
delicious. The breading was fried crispy and the chicken inside was moist and
juicy. It occurred to me while I was eating it that the extra effort in separate packaging made for a crisp
chicken in the sauce whereas if it had been all packaged together the chicken
in all likelihood would have been soggy and unpalatable. The sweet and sour
sauce was very good with a bit of tang from perhaps vinegar and sweetness but
not just from sugar. I enjoyed the snap and flavor of the slightly crispy
pepper and loved the fruity sweetness of the pineapple. An excellent sweet and
sour dish I will definitely try again.
You can order fried rice as an entrée and it will be more
elaborate that the pedestrian fried rice that usually serves as the
carbohydrate filler in combination plates. This rice was no exception to that
rule of thumb. There are bits and pieces here and there but for the most part
it is rice, fried and seasoned with soy sauce. Certainly more flavorful than
steamed rice but it was not too salty or overly seasoned with soy sauce. It was good as filler rice goes but at the
same time it was not exceptional.
The spring roll was crispy fried and the filling was tasty.
A bit of hot Chinese mustard would have been beneficial but not necessary.
Although I prefer the thicker, less crispy egg roll skins, I did enjoy the spring
roll. It seems that egg or spring rolls are always an appetizer on Chinese food
menus. I like them well enough that they should be a main course item. I will
certainly add these spring rolls to my next order.
As a side note, take-out orders don’t always go home to be
eaten. They may go to the office or on a climate day, to a picnic table in the
park. The inclusion of the plastic cutlery was a nice thought.
Second Visit A Month Or So Later – Eat In
Luncheon Special
It was a very hot and sultry day, one usually better spent
indoors. I had errands to run and as luck would have it, I was on my own for
meals that day. I decided to treat myself to lunch out. It wouldn’t be a
drive-thru burger this time. It would be the long awaited sit down meal at the
Oriental Cuisine Restaurant for lunch. On the previous visit I had ordered an entrée
from the main or dinner menu. While
waiting, I noticed that they also serve from a lunch menu with lower prices
from 11:00Am to 3:30PM. It is a long list of choices and the entrée is served with
soup (your choice of hot and sour, wonton or egg drop), a spring roll and rice
(your choice of steamed or fried). My expectation was that It would be smaller
portions and perhaps less elaborate in presentation. The lunch menu includes
sweet and sour chicken and it would have been a good comparison but I also
wanted to try a broader range of their offering so I chose the Sesame Chicken
at $6.00 instead. For my soup I ordered
the wonton. For beverage I went with Coca Cola. My server, Sabrina, was very
attentive, very personable. She checked on me at intervals and kept my soda
glass full. I need to thank her for making my dining experience pleasurable.
My drink was delivered with a bowl of fried wontons, I sat back
to await my meal. As I mentioned, it was a miserably hot day outside and the
cool interior of the restaurant was a relief. The shades were drawn and the lighting
subdued but you could still see images of the out-of-doors through the slats in
the shade. I looked around. It was as I described before. It was oriental in
motif, black lacquer chairs, a mural but not much else to give it that Asian
look, certainly not gaudy. A quick count found about 50 seats. There were two
tradesmen at the table next to me and a solo elderly gentleman across the aisle.
There was a party of about 6 or 8 in the alcove. About 8 people came in to pick
up their take-out orders; all must have called in and each order was ready on
their arrival. Towards the end of my meal several people arrive and must have
been regulars from the greetings. Apparently Sabrina, the server, saw one of
them parking his car and had his preferred beverage ready for him when he
entered the store. My observations answered the fundamental question I had
harbored. How does this almost hidden restaurant manage to survive? It requires
returning customers and word of mouth advertising. It certainly has returning
customers and I will be providing some word of mouth. It is not an ornate place
nor does it have an elegant ambiance but it is comfortable and it does have the
feeling like in the old Cheers theme song,
“…where everybody knows your name.”
The wonton soup arrived quickly. There were two wontons in a
clear broth. It is served hot. A couple
of the small ice pellet from my soda cooled it enough to sip. It is a mild
broth with hints of many flavors, chicken and vegetables but not highly
seasoned; nice flavor but mild, very subtle. The wontons are large and the wrappers are thick
that made for a slightly doughy texture. A seasoned pork mixture in the middle was
tasty. It was a flavorful way to await the entrée.
My entrée soon arrived. Oh, my God! The expected meager
portions were huge. I must admit that I ate the whole thing with relish but I
would have been much better of eating half and taking the rest home for later
(something I saw others in the restaurant do). Two people could have shared the
meal and felt satisfied. 
The rice was the standard carbohydrate filler, seasoned with
just the right amount of soy sauce. It was a soup-bowl full of rice, upended on
the plate to make the rounded pile of rice. A line of three large florets of
steamed broccoli divided he plate. The remainder of the plate was filled with
chunks of breaded and fried chicken, coated with sauce and liberally sprinkled with
toasted sesame seeds. Great aroma and a very nice presentation; it looked very
appetizing.
In conclusion: Will I go back to Oriental Cuisine? Most assuredly!
The food is good, the portions are large, the staff members are friendly and
the restaurant just seems to be a comfortable palace to be. They have a lot
more dishes that I would like to try but I will remember in the future to
divide my plate; eat that part there and take the other part home for later.
They are
open 6 day a week, closed on Mondays
Hours are
Sunday – Thursday 10:00AM to 9:30PM
Friday 11:00AM to 10:00PM
Labels: broccoli, chicken, Chinese, cuisine, fried rice, Maryville, oriental, pork, sesame, soup, steamed, sweet and sour, Tennessee, Thai, Vietnamese, won ton, wonton
¶ 12:51 PM 0 Comments
Friday, August 12, 2016
Smoky Mountain Brewery - Maryville, Tennessee
About the 1970s a movement of creating
craft beers began. Americans consumers were looking for alternatives to the
pale lager beer sold by the major growing companies. If you wanted an old world
style beer you had to seek out an important. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed the H.R. 1337 bill and home brewing
became legal. With the increasing popularity of home
brewing and the emergence of micro-breweries it was only natural that the
brewery pair with the restaurant.
Nonetheless, it was a pleasant interlude, the sharing of a meal with good
friends. By prior arrangement we met Mariano and Abbie at the Smoky Mountain
Brewery. Although we came from opposite directions we arrived almost
simultaneously. We seem to have it down to the seconds…
We were seated almost immediately. Joanna. A most charming and efficient
young lady and our server, was there in seconds to greet us and take out
preliminary order for beverages. I must
add that during the meal she was usually close at hand but never obtrusive,
certainly an asset to the Smoky Mountain Brewery.
The menu has lots of choices including appetizers, deli-style sandwiches,
wings, salads, ribs, steak and chicken, pizzas and calzones and some pasta
dishes as well as a selection of “Brewery Burgers.” From their menu: “Brewhouse
Burgers – Ground fresh daily and served on your choice of sesame or whole-wheat
bun. Choice of any side.” Those sides include honey mustard potato salad, fresh
broccoli and beer cheese, baked macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or a basket
of fries. Not surprisingly, we all ordered from the Brewhouse Burgers section
of the menu.
Abbie and Janis both ordered the Brewery Burger ($5.50), the basic burger
that can be outfitted to taste with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Both
also chose the basket of fries for a side dish. The Brewhouse Burgers are in
the middle of the middle range of what could be called “gourmet burgers.” The meat,
somewhere between a third and half-pound patties, is cooked to order and the
chef has the cook time pretty well nailed; a nice sear on the outside and the
red to pink as ordered inside. The ladies seemed to enjoy their selections and
stated that they were quite good leaving only minor amounts for a doggie bag.
Mariano ordered the Grilled Mountain Melt (Swiss and American cheese, sautéed
onions, grilled rye bread - $6.50), basically a 2 cheese and onion hamburger on
rye. Mariano said it was a very tasty burger and that he did enjoy the
different taste and texture imparted by the grilled rye bread. He also noted
that it was a big sandwich, very tall and very filling.
Smoky Mountain Brewery
in Maryville,
Tennessee
743 Watkins Rd, Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 238-1900
There are a lot of
restaurants under the Copper Cellar family manner. They include such
restaurants as Calhoun’s, Cappuccino’s, Copper cellar and Copper Cellar
Catering, Cherokee Grill, Chesapeake’s and of course, Smoky Mountain Brewery.
There are four restaurants carrying the smoky Mountain brewery name. They are
all located in the greater Knoxville Tennessee area of eastern Tennessee and
are located in Turkey Creek, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Maryville. We visited
the Maryville location which is closest to our home.
About the 1970s a movement of creating
craft beers began. Americans consumers were looking for alternatives to the
pale lager beer sold by the major growing companies. If you wanted an old world
style beer you had to seek out an important. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed the H.R. 1337 bill and home brewing
became legal. With the increasing popularity of home
brewing and the emergence of micro-breweries it was only natural that the
brewery pair with the restaurant.
Following the trend, in 1996 the first
Smoky Mountain Brewery store opened in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. On their website
they state, ”… the
restaurant and brewery combination has been a fun place to take the family with
its fresh mountain micro-brewed beer plus traditional pizza, one-of-a-kind subs
and sandwiches.” The Maryville store boasts of over 40 hi-def video screens and
that it is a great place especially during sporting events. Our visit was
during the Olympics and we did have a great view of many of the Olympic venues.
We arrived a bit before the dinner hour and there was immediate seating and it
was not at all crowded. By the time we had finished our meal it was well into
the dinner hour and the seating was full and there was a waiting line to get
in; plan your visit. As with many places these days, the ceiling is unfinished,
sporting the semi-industrial look with exposes AC ducting and the like. All of
those hard surfaces reflect sound and a full restaurant is a noisy place.
Nonetheless, it was a pleasant interlude, the sharing of a meal with good
friends. By prior arrangement we met Mariano and Abbie at the Smoky Mountain
Brewery. Although we came from opposite directions we arrived almost
simultaneously. We seem to have it down to the seconds…
We were seated almost immediately. Joanna. A most charming and efficient
young lady and our server, was there in seconds to greet us and take out
preliminary order for beverages. I must
add that during the meal she was usually close at hand but never obtrusive,
certainly an asset to the Smoky Mountain Brewery. 
The menu has lots of choices including appetizers, deli-style sandwiches,
wings, salads, ribs, steak and chicken, pizzas and calzones and some pasta
dishes as well as a selection of “Brewery Burgers.” From their menu: “Brewhouse
Burgers – Ground fresh daily and served on your choice of sesame or whole-wheat
bun. Choice of any side.” Those sides include honey mustard potato salad, fresh
broccoli and beer cheese, baked macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, or a basket
of fries. Not surprisingly, we all ordered from the Brewhouse Burgers section
of the menu.
Abbie and Janis both ordered the Brewery Burger ($5.50), the basic burger
that can be outfitted to taste with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Both
also chose the basket of fries for a side dish. The Brewhouse Burgers are in
the middle of the middle range of what could be called “gourmet burgers.” The meat,
somewhere between a third and half-pound patties, is cooked to order and the
chef has the cook time pretty well nailed; a nice sear on the outside and the
red to pink as ordered inside. The ladies seemed to enjoy their selections and
stated that they were quite good leaving only minor amounts for a doggie bag.
Mariano ordered the Grilled Mountain Melt (Swiss and American cheese, sautéed
onions, grilled rye bread - $6.50), basically a 2 cheese and onion hamburger on
rye. Mariano said it was a very tasty burger and that he did enjoy the
different taste and texture imparted by the grilled rye bread. He also noted
that it was a big sandwich, very tall and very filling.
I ordered the Swiss Mushroom Burger (mushrooms and Swiss cheese, $6.50). I
chose French fries as my side and a soft drink ($2.75 – when they glass gets
low it is quickly replace usually without asking. They serve Coca Cola
products.) When served the fries and burger were piping hot and the first bite
was a bit of a surprise. The burger was cooked to order. There was a good
portion of mushrooms covered with melted Swiss cheese. Served open face, the
opposite but had the lettuce, tomato, red onion slices and pickles. All of the
vegetables were fresh and appetizing looking.
When assembled it is a tall, imposing sandwich. First thought is, “How am I
going to get a bite of this?” No worries. When you are hungry and there is a
good burger in front of you it is certainly manageable. At first there is the tart
crispness of the pickles and onion. Then comes the silky smoothness of the
cheese, then the earthy goodness of the mushrooms and finally the juicy
goodness of the meat. Truly, the whole can be greater than the sum of its
parts. It was an excellent burger and one that I would definitely order again.
As it comes from the kitchen it is just about perfect. You don’t have to add
any condiments and what is on the burger already is just about right. I was
able to eat to the last one or two bites before the burger fell apart. The
French fries are whole potato fries, lightly seasoned and fried to a golden
brown, served hot, and a mere dash of salt is all that might be required plus a
dip once in a while in the ketchup.
It was a very pleasant meal; good food, good conversation in a congenial
atmosphere and amiable service people. The Smoky Mountain Brewery will
certainly be on our list of places we would like to return to.
Labels: American, brew, brewery, Brewhopuse, burger, cheese, craft beer, French fries, hamburger, Maryville, mushrooms, pickle, Smoky Mountain, Swiss, Tennessee
¶ 12:00 PM 0 Comments
Saturday, May 28, 2016
TC's Grill - Maryville, Tennessee
I may be
wrong but it appears that pattern has influenced the advent of TC’s Grill.
There is a church, a few outbuildings, and what was once a busy gasoline
service station. Restauranteurs Shirley and Tom Clark
and Jeff Hodge moved to
present location in 2012 repurposing the old service station (which accounts
for the motif and much of the interior décor). They established a reputation
for good wholesome food at reasonable prices. In 2015 they a placed the
restaurant up for sale. Steve and Audrey Nelson purchased the Grill in December
2015 with plans to continue TC’s Grill much as it has been only seeking to
tweak the menu bit and perhaps add-on to the kitchen to make more workspace. See
the link at the bottom of this article for more information on the evolution of
TC’s Grill.
Abbie and
Mariano ate breakfast there one day. They wanted to tell us about the biscuits;
big beautiful freshly baked biscuits! Apparently a lot of people were impressed
with TC’s biscuits because they were frequently mentioned in food blog
websites. It was only natural that one day Abby and Arturo along with Janis and
I went to TC’s for breakfast to see for ourselves what it was all about..
Their menu
has many selections for breakfast (served 7 AM until 10:30 AM), lunch and
dinner. One of their combos, the Fairview, caught my eye. It consists of two
eggs, bacon or sausage and served with biscuits and gravy for $4.49. I chose
that one; the egg over and sausage. I also like my breakfast potatoes so I
ordered a side order of home fries for an additional $2.50. Coffee was an
additional $1.35. Our server made sure the coffee cup stayed full.
Janis chose
the Shirley’s special; two eggs, bacon or sausage, with a short stack of
pancakes for $7.00. She chose eggs over and bacon. By the time I got the camera
out she was already remaking her plate into an egg and pancakes sandwich. The
eggs were cooked order, the bacon crisp and not soggy. The pancakes well cooked
and with that the ethereal “golden brown and delicious.” She did enjoy her
breakfast very much; all very tasty. Coffee was an additional $1.35.
TC’s Grill
2514 Old Niles Ferry Rd,
Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 980-1905
Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed on Sunday
Our good friends, Abbie and Mariano,
told us about a new restaurant they discovered. Discovered is the operative
word. To find it you either had to be going there on purpose or were helplessly
lost. It all has to do with how the local area has grown over the years. From
way back when, in the horse and buggy days, at small crossroads businesses
would spring up. Perhaps a general or feed store, perhaps a smith or even a
grain mill; quite often there was a church as well. It was easier for the local
farmers to go a mile or so to the local crossroads rather than spend the day in
travel to the big town many more miles away over rough and unimproved roads. With
the advents of the motor vehicle and improved highways, farmers can now
travel to the main town often bypassing the local crossroad businesses they
used to frequent. If you should visit TC’s, look around and ask yourself how you
would attract customers, what would you do to draw them to this seemingly
remote location (albeit just a few blocks from a Walmart Super Store)
surrounded by bucolic acres of working farmland.
Abbie and
Mariano ate breakfast there one day. They wanted to tell us about the biscuits;
big beautiful freshly baked biscuits! Apparently a lot of people were impressed
with TC’s biscuits because they were frequently mentioned in food blog
websites. It was only natural that one day Abby and Arturo along with Janis and
I went to TC’s for breakfast to see for ourselves what it was all about..
The original
renovation from service station to restaurant was well done. But inside of the
restaurant seems more like a purpose built restaurant made to resemble the old
service station rather than an old service station made into a restaurant. The
starkly contrasting black and green tile floors, the shop-green color of the
walls, the murals and pictures tell the story of the servicenbays where we
were now dining.
Their menu
has many selections for breakfast (served 7 AM until 10:30 AM), lunch and
dinner. One of their combos, the Fairview, caught my eye. It consists of two
eggs, bacon or sausage and served with biscuits and gravy for $4.49. I chose
that one; the egg over and sausage. I also like my breakfast potatoes so I
ordered a side order of home fries for an additional $2.50. Coffee was an
additional $1.35. Our server made sure the coffee cup stayed full.
It is a
diner and it was a busy morning. Certainly an acid test of what comes out of
the kitchen. My eggs were cooked to order, over medium, although they were a
bit rough looking somewhat like Army mess hall eggs cooked on a griddle. I will
say they were cooked to order, were not greasy and tasted good. I can’t hold their
rough exterior against them. The sausage patties were well cooked, nicely
seasons, cooked done but not overcooked to crisp. When I ordered the home fries
I took the option of adding onions. The home fries are diced potatoes that are
fried to a nice golden brown. The onions were perhaps added a little late as I
would have preferred them cooked a bit more. All in all it was a satisfying
serving of potatoes with onions. The biscuit gravy was served on its own plate.
True to their reputation, the biscuits were big, lite and tender; easily as big
as two biscuits elsewhere. It cut easily with a fork. The gravy was just the
right thickness, had good flavor and was an excellent pairing with the biscuit.
It was a good breakfast, adequate portions to fill a hungry appetite and tasted
good. It was good enough that I will be coming back to TC’s Grill to try other
things on their menu.
Janis chose
the Shirley’s special; two eggs, bacon or sausage, with a short stack of
pancakes for $7.00. She chose eggs over and bacon. By the time I got the camera
out she was already remaking her plate into an egg and pancakes sandwich. The
eggs were cooked order, the bacon crisp and not soggy. The pancakes well cooked
and with that the ethereal “golden brown and delicious.” She did enjoy her
breakfast very much; all very tasty. Coffee was an additional $1.35.
Abbie and
Mariano’s choices for breakfast with similar to ours. When I asked how their food was they replied that
it was very good, as good as remembered, and they would be back for more. To
return for another meal in the future is perhaps the best accolade you can
bestow on the restaurant.
TC Grill is
just a few moments automobile drive from downtown Maryville. For a nice place
the, serving good food, and a friendly atmosphere, it is not far away from
anyone in Maryville or Alcoa.
There menu is posted below.
For more information about TC's Grill...There menu is posted below.
Labels: bacon, biscuits, eggs, Fairview, gravy, grill, Maryville, pancakes, sausage, Shirley's, TC's, Tennessee
¶ 8:30 AM 0 Comments
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Mingus Mill Whole Wheat Flour - Historical Bread
Much of American history has taken place generally in the Appalachian Mountain and more specifically the Great Smoky Mountains. The Smokies are a range of mountains spanning the border areas of North Carolina and Tennessee. The area is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the North, Highway 441 crosses the Smoky Mountains from north to south. Beginning in Pigeon Forge, passing through Gatlinburg, the highway winds its way through the rolling mountains of the Smokies. On the southern side of the mountains the highway exits near Cherokee, Tennessee. If you’re visiting the Smoky Mountains from the south side, a little drive up the highway to the Sugarlands Visitor Center will provide you with a lot of information about the park, where to go and what to see. A little farther up the road is the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where you can enjoy walking through a living exhibit demonstrating how the early settlers to this area farmed and eked out a living from the soil. Farmers grow wheat to make their bread. Someone has to grind the wheat to make the flour to bake the bread. In 1790 the Mingus family built a mill alongside a creek a little farther up into the mountains. The Creek has taken his name from those early settlers. Water from the creek was guided down a millrace to turn a waterwheel which in turn powered the mill to grind flour from the grain. In 1886 the mill was replaced with a new or more modern facility and equipped with a water turbine. The mill was operated until about 1930 when it was acquired by the National Park Service during the creation of the great Smoky Mountains national Park. During the summer the mill operates as a historical exhibit. It is a working mill and really does produce flour. Tourists, like me, can buy souvenir bags of flour to take home to make bread. I bought a bag and out whole-wheat flour. I brought it home so I could make a loaf of bread with flour produced in a historical mill. Homemade bread, ground on millstones turned by a waterwheel, certainly had intriguing connection to the past and eating the bread would make a closer connection to the ways of my ancestors. I used the bread maker to make a small loaf of bread.
Ingredients:
1 cup Mingus Mill whole-wheat flour
½ cup milk
½ cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup solid shortening
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
Procedure:
Place ingredients and bread maker pan putting the wet ingredients at the bottom.
Set bread maker to make dough cycle and start machine.
When machine has completed cycle pour dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough and form into your loaf shape.
Use nonstick spray or parchment paper on your baking sheet. Place the bread dough on the baking sheet and cover with a loose towel and set in a warm place to rise. Allow to rise until doubled.
Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 20 minutes or until the crust is nicely browned and when tlumped with a finger sounds hollow.
It is really easy to over-bake a small loaf of bread like this. Cool on a rack for 30 minutes before cutting.
This recipe, with the Mingus Mill flour, makes a hearty, whole-wheat bread that is moist, has good texture and is flavorful. Should you be fortunate one day, to pass the Mingus Mill, you owe it to yourself to stop and pick up a bag of their flour and make your own historical bread. Happy baking. Happy history.
6/30/2013:
 |
| Mingus Mill Flour |
Much of American history has taken place generally in the Appalachian Mountain and more specifically the Great Smoky Mountains. The Smokies are a range of mountains spanning the border areas of North Carolina and Tennessee. The area is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the North, Highway 441 crosses the Smoky Mountains from north to south. Beginning in Pigeon Forge, passing through Gatlinburg, the highway winds its way through the rolling mountains of the Smokies. On the southern side of the mountains the highway exits near Cherokee, Tennessee. If you’re visiting the Smoky Mountains from the south side, a little drive up the highway to the Sugarlands Visitor Center will provide you with a lot of information about the park, where to go and what to see. A little farther up the road is the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where you can enjoy walking through a living exhibit demonstrating how the early settlers to this area farmed and eked out a living from the soil. Farmers grow wheat to make their bread. Someone has to grind the wheat to make the flour to bake the bread. In 1790 the Mingus family built a mill alongside a creek a little farther up into the mountains. The Creek has taken his name from those early settlers. Water from the creek was guided down a millrace to turn a waterwheel which in turn powered the mill to grind flour from the grain. In 1886 the mill was replaced with a new or more modern facility and equipped with a water turbine. The mill was operated until about 1930 when it was acquired by the National Park Service during the creation of the great Smoky Mountains national Park. During the summer the mill operates as a historical exhibit. It is a working mill and really does produce flour. Tourists, like me, can buy souvenir bags of flour to take home to make bread. I bought a bag and out whole-wheat flour. I brought it home so I could make a loaf of bread with flour produced in a historical mill. Homemade bread, ground on millstones turned by a waterwheel, certainly had intriguing connection to the past and eating the bread would make a closer connection to the ways of my ancestors. I used the bread maker to make a small loaf of bread.
 |
| Mingus Creek Mill |
1 cup Mingus Mill whole-wheat flour
½ cup milk
½ cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup solid shortening
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
Procedure:
 |
| Millrace |
When machine has completed cycle pour dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough and form into your loaf shape.
Use nonstick spray or parchment paper on your baking sheet. Place the bread dough on the baking sheet and cover with a loose towel and set in a warm place to rise. Allow to rise until doubled.
Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 20 minutes or until the crust is nicely browned and when tlumped with a finger sounds hollow.
It is really easy to over-bake a small loaf of bread like this. Cool on a rack for 30 minutes before cutting.
 |
| Millrace |
 |
| Loaf of Mingus Mill Whole Wheat Flour Bread |
I had
an e-mail from a nice gentleman named Ron McCrady. He was kind enough to point
out I made some grievous typos in this recipe: ½ cup instead of 2 cups of whole
wheat flour and tablespoons instead of teaspoons of yeast. AS he humorously put
it, “…it came out whole wheat soup.” I apologize for any inconvenience this may
has caused anyone and thanks again to Ron for taking the time to point out the
error of my ways. Best wishes to all, Larry
Labels: bread, Cherokee, flour, GAtlinberg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, history, Mill, Mingus, North Carolina, Pigeon Forge, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
¶ 5:07 PM 0 Comments
