There is no shortage of fine dining opportunities in Western North Carolina. That’s no secret. Places like Asheville have some renowned restaurants. Fewer people are aware that our wonderful town of Waynesville is also blessed with a plethora of excellent dining opportunities. I’ll be sharing our thoughts about our favorite Waynesville restaurants in a future article.
A few restaurants in Waynesville such as Frog’s Leap and Chef’s Table will hold an occasional multi-course gourmet dinner. These are generally wine-pairing affairs put on in conjunction w
ith a wine distributor. On these occasions our great Waynesville chefs are “let off the leash” and their once-only menus are even more inventive and elaborate than their restaurant’s normal fare. That, however, is not the subject of this blog. Instead I’d like to let you in on a more exclusive fine dining experience that Andrea and I regularly enjoy, chef Jackie Blevins invitation-only dinners.
Jackie Blevins’ dinners are slightly different. Jackie was the chef/owner of the former Herren House B&B & restaurant. Recently, she has made arrangements with one of our local lunch establishments to take over their kitchen for three or so nights a month to offer her wonderful five course “Perfectly Seasoned” BYO dinners.
We think Jackie’s cooking is fantastic and never miss a dinner. Made with great seasonal ingredients, her food is well balanced, beautifully prepared and presented, and is served in sensible portion sizes that will leave you satisfied without feeling stuffed. Also, unlike a fully fixed menu, she also offers a choice of entrée and dessert. We have attached the latest menu for her July dinners to give you an idea of what you could expect (yum).
We particularly love the BYO aspect of these dinners. The BYO format gives us a rare opportunity to delve into our private cellar and enjoy a special bottle of wine that we couldn’t normally afford at restaurant prices. You could do the same or pick up a special bottle (or two) locally at one of Waynesville’s excellent wine merchants such as the Classic WineSeller.
Jackie’s dinner dates vary, numbers are limited and you need to book in advance. If you are staying at the Andon-Reid Inn, we will send you a “what’s on in Waynesville” email nearer to the time of your visit that will include information on Jackie’s forthcoming dinners as well as many other Waynesville events. If you want to plan further ahead you could also apply to get on Jackie’s invitation list by emailing her on chefjackie2@gmail.com.
The Andon-Reid Inn is not far from Jackie’s venue so be sure to combine a stay at the Inn with your fine-dining experience. Relax and enjoy our mountain views and comfortable, elegant guest suites, and complement Jackie’s dinner with our delicious made-from-scratch breakfast and afternoon treats. Just call us on (828) 452 3089 or visit our website www.andonreidinn.com to make a reservation.
