Food Highlights: Asheville, NC

VMI was in the Big South finals this weekend; however, it wasn't official until late Thursday night, of course. Having been warned by Boyfriend that he would be attending the championship game if they made it, I waited anxiously by my computer with ESPN pulled up (...not a normal occurrence, I'll have you know) until the Charleston Southern vs. UNC Asheville game ended. Charleston or Asheville. Two cities I'd happily be dragged to, even if it meant having to sit through 2 hours of stress, balls, and sweat.

In the end, Asheville it was.

So at 4:30AM on Saturday, Boyfriend and I began the 6.5 hour drive into the mountains of North Carolina.



No discussion of the game is necessary, aside from mentioning that we had hopes that it would end differently.

Following the game, we went to check in at our hotel (booked last minute by Boyfriend). It is by far the most ridiculous hotel I have ever stayed at. I would've taken pictures, but I was embarrassed...it was, put quite simply, an expensive mediaeval-themed hotel, located at the gates of Biltmore. I suppose I should've expected nothing less. The light fixtures in our bathroom were fake candles with fake candle drippings down the sides, and the interior walls of the elevator was lined with (faux?) animal fur. I shall never forget the Grand Bohemian Hotel. But don't get me wrong, it was a very comfortable and clean hotel, just very...very...very bizarre.

Speaking of the Biltmore--Boyfriend and I took a tour in leu of napping Saturday afternoon. And it was everything I imagined it to be. Oh, to be a Vanderbilt! Summering within a mountain oasis of North Carolina, in a home comparable to a small cruise liner.

I'd do it.  

Now, where's the food? My one (ok, second) request for the weekend road trip was to do brunch before leaving on Sunday; no surprise. After a few figurative roadblocks in the morning (which included getting stopped on a cop when attempting to run on Biltmore's 5-mile driveway), we did eventually make it to Tupelo Honey Cafe.

Let me preface with I was starving by the time we finally sat down at the bar to eat; but the complimentary GIANT biscuit and honey was truly awesome. Soft and fluffy. I want to know their biscuit secrets...

I ordered the sweet potato pancake, and took the suggestion of our waitress to add homemade granola to the batter. I'm not sure what's up with people not using granola within baked goods, but I like it. It was a seriously large and in-charge pancake, something I think should rightfully called a plate-cake. It was topped with candied pecans, powdered sugar, and a scoop of peach butter, and was still delicious the next day for breakfast--yeah, right I ate it all in one sitting. Oh, and I had a side of bacon with cracked pepper edges. YUM.

If you're curious, Boyfriend got the fried chicken and biscuits with gravy.

I wish the weekend could've lasted longer...for selfish foodie reasons. I've just heard so many great things about Asheville food, how its typically all local and organic, that I might just have to make the drive again one day. For now, I'd prefer to NOT sit in a car for 6 hours. There's enough fresh and original food in Virginia to keep me happy for years.