Stop in to Clinch Mountain Winery for a glass of “Hound Dog Red”.
Debuting in November 2009, “90 Miles with Chef Garrett,” is a weekly program showcasing one-of-a-kind culinary delights unique to East Tennessee.
Chef Garrett Scanlan takes viewers on the road to find the most mouth-watering delicacies within 90 miles of East Tennessee.
“There are many things that make our region unique,” said Teresa James, President and General Manager of ETPtv. “That's why ETPtv is proud to bring our viewers the chance to explore the great undiscovered culinary treasures in our own backyard. Plus, this show is just delicious and fun!”
A friend suggested that we re-create this road trip (with a few additional stops) from this side of the tunnel, so a new “Trip on a Tank” was scheduled.
Our first stop was Krystal’s Clinch Mountain Lookout Restaurant for lunch and for their famous “Vinegar Pie”.
My first taste of vinegar pie was almost 40-years ago when my family traveled Clinch Mountain to fish Cherokee Lake.
At that time, you could have your picture taken with real bears that were safely in cages. I don’t remember the vinegar pie too well — as real live bears topped pie for me as a kid — so on this trip, it was like I was tasting it for the first time. It reminds me of lemon pie, but there is that hint of vinegar. Stop in and try it sometime. You will not be sorry!
Continuing on down the mountain (and past all the road construction) is Clinch Mountain Winery, the second stop on our road trip.
Just far enough off the beaten path to keep your drive interesting, Clinch Mountain Winery blends whimsical serendipity with the warmth and charm of an old-time country store.
Founded in 1998, the small, family-owned winery produces over 23 wines — each with its own distinct characteristics and colorful names, like the playful and light-hearted “Hound Dog Red”.
Clinch Mountain Winery uses only Tennessee grown grapes. Six varieties of grapes are grown at the family's Forge Ridge vineyard near Harrogate, Tennessee.
Every bottle is corked by hand. The winery also stocks a large variety of Tennessee made foods, local crafts, and unique gifts. Be sure to sample all of the wines and take home your favorites.
The third stop on this adventure was Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm in Clinton, Tennessee. Erin’s boasts the best selection of herbs in East Tennessee and offers expert advice on growing and using herbs.
On the day that we were there, Erin’s Farm was celebrating their 15th birthday with a variety of herbal cakes and ice cream, all made, of course, with fresh herbs from the gardens. They also have organic gardening supplies, dried organic herbs, herbal products, nature-inspired gifts and accessories, and display gardens that were simply gorgeous!
For those that are really into gardening, Erin’s offers workshops, classes, programs and lunches for groups. What an amazing place to visit!
The last stop was my favorite of the day. Shady Grove Meadery in Lake City, Tennessee is dedicated to refining the ancient magic of mead.
“What is mead?” you may ask. ‘Tis the ancient drink of kings, queens, prophets, poets and lovers.
Mead (honey-wine) is thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man. Called Ambrosia by the ancient Greeks, it was believed to be the drink of the gods.
It is considered by the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Norseman, Assyrians, Incas, Aztecs (and don't forget the Irish) to have sacred and magical properties. It was also believed to prolong life and bestow health, strength, virility, wit and poetry.
The mythology of mead lives on in our culture today in our honeymoons. Tradition held that giving a bridal couple a “moons” worth of honey-wine would ensure a fruitful union. In essence, mead is yeast-fermented honey water.
Not only do they offer a wide variety of mead-based wines, there are jellies, jams and curious knickknacks. Let the fine folks there create a personalized basket for that special occasion. Wine tasting is free and highly recommended!
If you go, here is some helpful information (addresses and such) to help make your trip a bit simpler:
• Krystal’s Clinch Mountain Lookout Restaurant is located at 190 Lookout Mountain Rd., Thorn Hill, Tenn., 37881. Call (865) 767-2511 or (865) 767-3660 for more information. Visit their website at www.clinchmountainlookout.com.
• Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm is located at 132 England Ln., Clinton, Tenn., 37716. Call (865) 435-1452, or visit online at www.erinsmeadowherbfarm.com for additional information.
• Shady Grove Meadery is located at 709 Norris Freeway, Lake City, Tenn., 37769. Contact by phone at (865)426-4900, or online at www.shadygrovemead.com.
Tabitha Webb is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact her at twebb@middlesborodailynews.com. Some information for this article was taken from the various websites.
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