A Food Lover's Guide to North Carolina's Yadkin Valley
Come join us on a foodie tour of the Yadkin Valley. Starting around I-77 just south of the Virginia line, the Yadkin Valley AVA is shaped like a funky boomerang that extends West into mountains and then eastward just past Winston-Salem and then South just past Lexington, NC with Interstate 85 as a boundary. The original offerings range from barbecue to fine American cuisine.
The Snappy Lunch, Mt. Airy, NC
Yes, it is based on the famous restaurant that was mentioned in The Andy Griffith Show. Andy ate at the restaurant as a young boy growing up in Mount Airy. Snappy Lunch is known for their huge fried pork chop sandwich, which was created by restaurant owner Charles Dowell. Snappy Lunch, which opened in 1923, is Mount Airy's oldest eating establishment. You'll also see the Old North State Winery and Cafe just down the street. They do our native muscadine wines, one of the only wineries in this area to offer the sweeter wine.
http://www.visitmayberry.com/SNAPPY_LUNCH_58.aspx
The Harvest Grill at Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, NC
The Harvest Grill lures visitors with its great view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the fishpond at the largest estate vineyard in North Carolina. The view is fabulous, and Shelton's Kudzu Cabernet Franc and Riesling are quite nice. It's a great picnic spot, too.
http://www.sheltonvineyards.com/
The Swan Creek Wineries
In the Swan Creek Vineyards www.swancreekvineyards.com/ region, there's an Amish community with a little general store that has incredible homemade breads, desserts and sandwiches. Go slow... you'll come up on the horsedrawn buggies here. Go get lunch at the Amish general store, Shiloh General Store and take a picnic to one of the Swan Creek Vineyards. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Brushy Mountains at Raffaldini Winery www.raffaldini.com/vineyard.shtml and the rose bushes and cozy porch at Laurel Gray www.laurelgray.com.
Winston-Salem Eateries
As you head further South into the Yadkin Valley, Winston-Salem is a great city with good restaurants and a cluster of vineyards around it:
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Sweet Potatoes Restaurant offers casual Southern dining in the up tempo Arts District in downtown Winston-Salem. www.sweetpotatoes-arestaurant.com
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The Tavern at Old Salem Living History Museum and Gardens serves 1770s-style Moravian choices (flavors and techniques elevated for today's tastes) served by costumed wait staff on pewter plates... you'll love the bratwurst! www.oldsalem.org
Lexington Stops
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And of course in Lexington, you can enjoy lunch at The Bistro at Childress Vineyards. This is stock car racing legend Richard Childress' winery.
www.childressvineyards.com/winery/bistro.asp -
Lexington is also known as the Barbecue Capital of the World (rivaled only by a few other institutions in North Carolina!) Dive into the more than 20 barbecue restaurants in this famous capital of 'cue! (The Lexington Barbecue Festival is always the 4th Saturday in October.) www.barbecuefestival.com
For more on barbecue, visit www.davidsoncountync.com/bbq.html and www.ncbbqsociety.com.
By Susan Dosier, a former food editor for Southern Living and a true food lover.
April 2008
