Red Oak Hollow

Sweet Restaurant reviews from the Tennessean

2013-05-20T16:13:00.001-05:00

Sweet shrub in bloom pairs well with these two local restaurant reviews.
Now you know where to eat, once you get here.

Sewanee dining worth the drive

Crossroads Cafe serves Singaporean cuisine, while Pearl's Foggy Mountain Cafe offers upscale classics

Written by

Nancy Vienneau

For The Tennessean

For its stunning vistas, cooler air, lofty university domain and creative community, we Nashvillians relish time spent on Monteagle Mountain. The local food scene is becoming yet another draw. Two years ago, we reported on new dining destinations in Sewanee, applauding both the fresh eclectic fare at Julia’s and Keri Downing Moser’s inventive cuisine at IvyWild. When our friends on the mountain sent word about two restaurant newcomers — one bringing exotic tastes of the Far East, one bringing back a beloved eatery — we knew it was time for another road trip. Today’s review visits Crossroads Cafe and Pearl’s Foggy Mountain Cafe.

Crossroads Cafe

How did a Singaporean restaurant come to Sewanee, Tenn.? For owners Irene and Richard Emory, it’s a story that takes the long way home. Knoxville native Richard is an architect who met and married Irene in Singapore 30 years ago; his work has taken the family on a globe-trek, living in six different countries. When the Emorys decided to return to Tennessee to be near Richard’s family, they sought out a school where their son could learn Mandarin. Curiously, and admirably, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School satisfies that requirement. And, in time, their long-held desire to run a restaurant became a reality. The couple opened Crossroads Cafe in January of this year.

Crossroads is an appropriate name that not only alludes to the Emorys’ life journeys, but the confluence of cultures that makes up Singaporean cuisine. The culinary traditions of Malaysia, China and India have all found a place in this, a culture that celebrates food and eating as one of its national pastimes.

The cafe is housed in the same building as IvyWild — a repurposed laundromat with good industrial-chic bones. Richard’s artful eye for design, coupled with unique artifacts gleaned from the family’s travels, contributes to its pleasing aesthetic. Irene presides over the kitchen, preparing a vibrant mélange of dishes from her home. The menu changes daily, but offers an array of curries, satays, dumplings, hand rolls and stir-frys.

Her roast duck breast, served with side bowls of hoisin sauce and Szechuan pepper, draws on Chinese influences, as do her delicate Shanghai dumplings. The cuisine of Malaysia is represented in her beef rendang, cubes of beef long simmered to tenderness in a complex spice mixture (coriander, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, onion, coconut and sugar are some of the flavors detected). Singapore chicken hokkien has rich thigh meat cooked with shiitake mushrooms, greens and a quail egg in a savory brown sauce.

Irene makes her own condiments: red chili paste, sweet-hot pickled jalapeños and seaweed with sesame. Be sure to sample them; they make terrific enhancements to any dish.

Conscious of the community’s desires, she tailors her menu with vegetarian and vegan specialties. Fresh stir-fried bok choy, Asian mustards, shiitake mushrooms and diced beetroot simmered in coconut milk are among the delectable offerings one could enjoy with rice or noodles.

We loved all of her dishes, but her fiery curries were the real standouts. Brimming with mussels, squid, shrimp and tilapia, her seafood curry combines assertive spice balanced by natural sweetness. The result leaves you with a tingle of heat on the tongue and a contented inner glow. Likewise, her vegan-based curry imbues soul satisfaction. Silken cubes of tofu temper the sweet-hot coconut broth laced with lemongrass and chiles.

Pearl's Foggy Mountain Cafe

The community truly felt the loss when a fire devastated the popular restaurant Pearl’s, whose structures languished in disrepair for several years following. In September, new owners Joy and Dan Hickey reopened Pearl’s Foggy Mountain Cafe after eight months of extensive renovation.

In so doing, they have honored the integrity of the charming bungalow; as a fine dining establishment, Pearl’s always had a comfortable, homey feel. Set back from the highway, its many windows let in the lush green of the surrounding woodland. The Hickeys flipped the entrance around to the back and added an expansive deck where patrons can dine al fresco. To the delight of the community, they also added a full bar, including specialty cocktails, a wine list and a daily happy hour.

Joy serves as executive chef and George Stevenson is chef de cuisine. In designing the menu, they have carried forward some favorites of the original Pearl’s, such as the Beaufort shrimp and grits. The overall thrust of the menu is upscale classics, enlivened with seasonal fare. The culinary team is committed to using local and organic produce whenever possible.

We began our meal with an order of fried oysters, served with chive-caper tartar sauce and fresh lemon. The batter is mild, but perfectly fried to encase the oyster’s natural juiciness in a golden crust. Give ’em a squeeze of lemon, a dab of tartar — this is fried oyster heaven.

New to the spring menu is the ricotta gnocchi appetizer. The rustic Italian cheese dumplings are paired with seasonal elements: baby spinach, petite peas and scallions. Shreds of parmesan and crispened prosciutto top the dish. You could happily make a meal on this starter, or share it with your companion.

Salads are made with panache. The Spring panzanella offers an innovative, seasonal take on the Italian bread salad. Fresh asparagus, artichoke hearts, green onions and arugula form a harmony of green napped in pleasantly astringent lemon-chive dressing. Croutons made from local Bread Peddler ciabatta are charred to a light crackle. Trending sweeter, a combination of thyme-roasted grapes, candied pecans and bits of Maytag blue cheese distinguish the Pearl’s house salad, a bountiful toss of red leaf lettuces and balsamic vinaigrette.

Entrées are plated with interesting sides. Pearl’s beef tenderloin is grilled to order, awash in porcini mushroom pan jus. It is a fine execution, but the accompanying herbed polenta cake and roasted Brussels sprouts make it memorable. Similarly, the trout amandine, cloaked in toasted almonds, is well-supported by wild rice and rainbow carrots. Sauteed with fresh spinach, the sweet heirlooms in yellow, orange, and purple hues highlight the vibrancy of the spring garden.

Desserts are made in-house. True to Pearl’s tradition, these are classics, such as vanilla crème brulee, tiramisu and flourless chocolate torte. There are embellishing twists: a thick dollop of amaretto whipped cream elevates the frozen chocolate mousse pie.

Fancy Bearded Iris, first bloom at Red Oak Hollow

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Last September, I planted over 150 of these gorgeous iris on the top of our hollow
overlooking the ponds. This is the first one in bloom. What a view!

This week-end is available at Red Oak Hollow. Call Now!

2013-05-14T14:03:00.001-05:00

It is as if the Clematis is literally and figuratively on the fence, wondering
how big and beautiful it should blossom this year.
Or you still on the fence for this week-end?
The cottage is still available and it's the only week-end left open this month.

Rain Means Waterfalls

2013-05-07T07:09:00.001-05:00

So far it has been a wet May. But around here, rain means waterfalls.
If you want to hear their roar as you walk thru a wildflower forest,
Shake Rag Hollow trails is a must do,this month. We still have a couple of week-end
open this May at Red Oak Hollow. Book today!

Gypsy Vanners moved in next door.

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Gypsy Vanner Horses are new to our neighborhood. They live right
across the street and when I turn the corner to come home, they are a delight to see.

The Gypsy Vanner is relatively new to North America, and due to its European Gypsy origins there is some mystique shrouding the exact genesis and development of this special breed.

The Gypsy Vanner has traditionally been the preferred wagon and riding horse of the Romany Gypsies. The goal of the Romany breeders was to produce a well-bred horse that was gentle and strong as well as visually spectacular. While the brightly-colored horses with profuse feather, mane, and tail are known by several names such as Gypsy Cobs and Tinkers, the Gypsy Vanner is the designation bestowed upon the “best of the best” of a half century of selective breeding.

Two of the three ponds at Red Oak Hollow

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Lilacs are blooming this week at Red Oak Hollow

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Dog sniffs wildflowers at Shakerag Hollow, Sewanee

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My sweet little Miss Daisy Mae inhales the smells of the wildflowers
and the forest. If dogs truly smell 1,000 % more than we do, beautiful
spring days must be overwhelming with joyous scents to them.

Singing in the sunshine

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One of my artist friends displayed her work at Trails and Trillums and it was
such a colorful and sweet art installation, that I wanted all to see it.

They say April showers bring May flowers,but the sun was shining
brightly on the days of the art show.

Along the trail at Shakerag Hollow, Sewanee

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Large white trillium in mass

Celandine Poppy, Larkspur and Mayapple in mass

Saturday night available this week-end and stay in the cottage at Red Oak Hollow

2013-04-18T13:15:00.001-05:00

I haven't blog this week, because I am outdoors hiking the trails and soaking in all
the glory of the sun and the wildflowers. It is absolutely beautiful on the mountain.
The photo is Phacelia in bloom at ShakeRag Hollow. I hiked there this morning and only
saw one other person on the trail. The sounds of song birds and the rushing of the waters
and the array of color was intoxicating and calming.

If you want to get away for only one night this Saturday the cottage is now available.
We seldom accept one night reservations at the height of the season.

If you are in Nashville, Huntsville or Chattanooga, leave the concrete and come
enjoy the mountain. Call right now. 931 598 9871 and leave me a message.
I'm out doors tending our gardens.

Spent the morning at Shakerag Hollow

2013-04-11T17:28:00.001-05:00

I hiked at 8 a.m. at Shakerag Hollow photographing wildflowers galore.
For over two hours, it was just my 3 dogs and myself in this virtually undisturbed cove of hardwood forest and wildflowers. Shakerag is one of the oldest trails on the University's domain.

Locals, if you haven't been there yet this year, it's peaking now!

Large White Trilliums in bloom at Shakerag Hollow, Sewanee

2013-04-11T17:23:00.001-05:00

Large white trilliums are in bloom at Shakerag Hollow. this species occur in large colonies and is one of the showiest. After germination, a trillium first produces only one leaf and requires another 6-7 years before it flowers for the first time. In this day and age, seven years in the wild before a flower blooms is something to marvel. Little Miss Daisy Mae stops to admire them.

Come to Wildflower Paradise this week-end

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Best wildflower event on the mountain is this week-end. Trails and Trillums is a 3 day event, featuring wildflower hikes, workshops, sales of native plants, an artwork show and sale and lots of children's activities.

Call today and book the week-end at Red Oak Hollow.
Family friendly cottage is still available. Sleeps four.
Red Oak Hollow has Trillums in bloom in our private woodland gardens.

2. Bring a hiking stick, sunscreen, hat, camera, wildflower guide book or just enjoy the knowledge
of all the hikers. It is truly amazing what they know and share. People come from four states for this event. Each year it grows and this year the timing of the event and the wildflowers and waterfalls are nearly perfect.

Why we hike and hunt for wildflowers

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A Virginia Bluebell stand in full bloom....first time I've seen them!

Virginia Bluebell

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Yesterday, I went on a hike and finally saw Bluebells in bloom in mass.
This striking plant will form in large colonies and is often cultivated for its display of showy flowers in early spring. I usually miss it, but this year, it's this week!

After flowering, the foliage turns yellow and the entire plant will seem to disappear, going dormant until the following spring. I now want to plant a stand of Bluebells in our woods next to the stream.

Wildflower Lovers this is the week and upcoming week-end for the best viewing on the mountain.
It's a 3 day event called Trails and Trillums. Come to the mountain and stay at Red Oak Hollow.
The cottage is available and my personal gardens are coming up to!

It's still daffodil season this week on our mountain

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Remember today's date

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Special Announcement from a local:

Saint Andrews School officials announced today the opening of an overhead tram connecting the well-known Piney Point area near the SAS campus with the newly redesigned golf course at the University of the South. The Piney Point "rock" area has been covered with artificial turf and is now the designated "tee box" for the last hole of the university golf course. Players must take the short tram ride across the cove to Piney Point after completing the treacherous number eight hole. They then "tee off" from Piney Point back in the direction of the number nine green on the other side of the cove. Tram expenses will be funded with private donations and advertising on the side of the tram. The tram will be free to golfers and SAS students

Book Your Wildflower week-end NOW!

2013-03-28T09:32:00.000-05:00

Rare Catesby's Trillium found at Red Oak Hollow.

There are a few phases in the early spring wildflower display: the first features most of the true spring ephemerals and other early bloomers–bloodroot, toadshade trilliums, trout lilies, rue anemone, hepaticas, spring beauties and others–and the second features a whole new set of flowers–phacelia, waterleaf, dutchman’s breeches, mayapples, sulcate trilliums, celandine poppies and others. We are fortunate enough right now to be at the juncture of the two phases, and the number of species out and blooming is astounding! The forest floor is changing daily, so there is no telling what you may find. Come equipped with a sense of botanical adventure in taking in another of the beautiful iterations of the mountain's greatest wildflower display

2013-03-26T22:56:00.002-05:00

Springtime at Red Oak Hollow. I took all the photo here last year
and they remind me how wonderful Spring is her on our mountain.
Come and see for your self. We have April and May dates open.
Come hike or just kick back for a restful week-end.

Waterfalls are running at Fiery Gizzard

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The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku, literally "forest bath." You and I know it as a walk in the woods. Japanese researchers measured body changes in people who walked for about 20 minutes in a beautiful forest, with the woodsy smells and the sounds of a running stream.

The forest bathers had lower stress hormone levels after their walk than they did after a comparable walk in an urban area.

Our trails seem endless on this mountain , with most running along a moving stream.
Come and hike this week-end and stay at Red Oak Hollow. Call today, it's not too late.

Spring awakes the senses at Red Oak Hollow

2013-03-09T12:23:00.002-06:00

Spring awakes the senses, that have been tucked under the covers all winter long.
Each Spring, I spend a ridiculous amount of time outdoors and I never regret a moment.
Come outside. Take time to smell the Magnolias.

The Best week-end in April is April 12-14th for many reason that I will
mention in this blog this week. But the best reason is that the cottage
will be available and surrounded by blooming things! Call today!

We welcome "Canadian Guests" at Red Oak Hollow

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Many Canadian geese stop by, but only one set returns to raise a new family. We usually see a gaggle of baby geese by mid April.

We feed the wild ducks and geese with an automatic timer, so they are at the "spot" every sunrise and sunset.

Spring is on it's way at Red Oak Hollow

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I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils......
William Wordsworth 1802
Photo taken in my natural garden last spring. Some of the daffodils are up already;
the rest within weeks. Come see and play on our mountain. Come this week-end or next!

Love of Iris

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