That Food Guy
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 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
