By David Rogers. January 26, 2011. BLOWING ROCK -- For most of the nearly 300 diners participating in Thursday night's 2012 Winterfeast at Chetola Mountain Resort's "Evergreen Room", any New Year's resolutions involving dieting flew out the window -- in favor of sumptious gourmet indulgences prepared by 16 of the finest restaurants and specialty caterers from the Blowing Rock area. Photos by David Rogers

Served in three hourly shifts -- 5:30 pm, 6:30 and 7:30 -- Winterfeast, the official start of Winterfest (and one of the most anticipated of the festival's events), got underway without a hitch.  By all reports, it was the best Winterfeast yet thanks to great planning by the Chamber of Commerce and Chetola staffs, and outstanding cuisine offered by the dining and catering establishments.

The participating restaurants and caterers included:

• Laurel Room (@ Green Park Inn)
• The Gamekeeper
• Woodlands BBQ
• The Best Cellar
• Sixpence
• Canyons
• Kojay's
• Meadowbrook Inn
• Foggy Rock
• Bistro Roca
• The Table at Crestwood
• Ooh La'La' Cupcakes
• Rowland's (@ Westglow Resort & Spa)
• Timberlake's (@ Chetola Mountain Resort)

Judging on the big smiles on the patrons faces, there were no disappointments and a GRRREEAT time was had by all.

"I love the layout and planning that went into this year's event," Lynn Lawrence, attending with her mother, Betty Pitts, told Blowing Rock News. "The event planners have done just a marvelous job in both planning and execution, and the food is sensational."

With a big smile, Mrs. Pitts chimed in, "Oh my gosh, I am starting to get full already and look at what is still on my plate. And everything is so good, we MUST go back and try some of the dishes we weren't able to pile on our plates the first time!"  Sounds like there is one New Year's resolution that got caught in a quandary!

Winter Ales Craft Beer Tasting

For each sitting at Winterfeast, Foggy Rock Restaurant on Valley Blvd. invited the dining participants (and anyone else that wanted to drop by) for a first time Winterfest event: "Winter Ales Craft Beer Tasting", featuring several North Carolina micro breweries' stout, ale, and lager brewskis. 

The beer tastings were organized into "flights" that got progressively darker, including "Flight 1: Easy Goin'" (light), "Flight 2: Winter Spice" (ales to warm your soul), "Flight 3: Degrees of Happiness" (IPAs), and "Flight 4: Hearts of Darkness" (dark beers).  Each flight was comprised of three beers.

Flight 1: Easy Goin'

• Farmer Ted's Cream Ale, Catawba Valley Brewery, Morganton, NC.  Low hops, well carbonated, creamy texture (no cream involved), slightly sweet finish
• White Zombie, Catawba Valley Brewery, Morganton, NC. Belgian wheat/white/wit style, light tasting beer with hints of citrus and coriander
• Appalachian Ale, Old Hickory Brewing, Hickory, NC. APA designation, but light body, easy on hops

Flight 2: Winter Spice

• Old Town Brown, Natty Greene's, Greensboro, NC. Caramel and nut flavors, warm constistency
• Red Nose Winter Ale, Natty Greene's, Greensboro, NC. Winter warmer, deep tan color with cinnamon, clove, juniper, anise spices
• Cold Mountain, Highlands Brewing Company, Asheville, NC. Slightly less spicy, more caramel flavor

Flight 3: Degrees of Happiness

• Hogwild IPA, Aviator Brewing, Fuquay-Varina, NC. Light IPA, soft balance of honey sweetness
• Sisters of the Moon, Mother Earth Brewing, Kinston, NC. Organic brew, citrus tones
• Seeing Double IPA, Foothills Brewery, Winston-Salem, NC. Lots of hops, thickness, and piney floral

Flight 4: Hearts of Darkness

• Anvil Porter, French Broad Brewing, Asheville, NC. Coffee and chocolate note dominate
• Burning Barrel Porter, Craggie Brewing Company, Asheville, NC. Chipotle finish, oak barrel, chocolate upfront
• Dry Irish Stout, Green Man Brewing, Asheville, NC. Low carbonation, creamy taste with Irish coffee flavor

 

 

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