My sister Susan and I took our mom, MeeMaw, to see the Biltmore Estate in celebration of her recent landmark birthday. After a very civilized lunch in the library of the Biltmore Inn, MeeMaw and I sunk into some overstuffed club chairs for a moment and listened to the piano player work the eighty-eights with dazzling brilliance. MeeMaw said, "I feel just like a queen." I think I can speak for my sister as well when I say that that is exactly how we wanted her to feel.
Of course, we can't take all the credit...the restaurateurs of Asheville fed us like royalty.
Sazerac (http://ashevillesazerac.com/) was our first stop. Although Sazerac bills itself as a cocktail lounge, its food was a sensation. We dined under a clear evening sky on an airy rooftop filled with laughter and merriment. MeeMaw and Susan had a delicious soup infused with crab and French brie and I was wowed by a charcuterie platter. The sausage had such a wonderful flavor and texture, I have to assume that being in the heart of pork country is a real blessing for North Carolina chefs.
We also had a fabulous meal at the Posana Cafe (http://www.posanacafe.com/). They have a largely gluten-free menu and they focus on healthy cuisine, but so well-balanced and decadent are the flavors that you don't get that not-so-satisfied feeling you get when you go to one of those places that wants to beat you over the head with sprouts. Factor in the ultra-stylish decor and the nicest owner and staff you could ever hope to meet and you'd agree that it's darn-near perfect. Plus, the roasted quail MeeMaw ordered was served over this porcini rissotto that, had it been on my plate, might have been literally licked clean!
The people of Asheville also treated us like royalty. Maybe they thought we were with the President's entourage (the Obamas picked the same weekend for an Asheville getaway), but they were beyond awesome. People were nice and they meant it...because that's just how they seem to do things around there. Traffic considerately stopped to let us jaywalk. Every reasonable request was honored in the twinkling of an eye. People gave compliments that actually came across as sincere. Fashion and pretense were totally non-existent...but style and individuality came through. The manager/maitre d' at the Posana Cafe told us that Rolling Stone magazine voted Asheville "the happiest place to live". I'm willing to believe him because MeeMaw, Susan, and I had one of the happiest weekends we've ever had. Being nice has a very real ripple effect.
And I think I'm going to carry this one with me for a long time.
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