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Helping communities across the state connect their heritage arts and traditions to local development, education, and active citizenship

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Ronda Birtha

Doug’s Café – the “neatest” little restaurant serving the best BBQ in Andrews, NC

by Ronda Birtha And not, “neat” as in tidy – although it certainly is the cleanest “grease” truck I’ve ever seen (co-owner Doug Lawhon boasts about the café’s 99.5 sanitation rating). But “neat” as in “good food, and trendy,” as in, “the BEST barbecue I have ever had,” according to my friend Alice who asked… Read More →

Filed Under: Destinations, Food, Uncategorized, Western NC Tagged With: Andrews NC, BBQ, Doug's Cafe, hot dogs, Ronda Birtha

My First Rooster Kill

by Ronda Birtha I’m going to guess that for many people reading this post, killing a rooster is not a big deal. So I’m just going to ask all of you to whom this is old hat … please indulge this city girl. I’ve known Bill and Janet Silver from Murphy, NC for about 9… Read More →

Filed Under: Food, Uncategorized, Western NC Tagged With: Bill and Janet Silver, Ronda Birtha, rooster

Downtown Bakery, Murphy, NC

by Ronda L. Birtha When Margie Freel Carpenter said that she is the kind of person who looks for a bakery as she travels about, I knew exactly what she meant and why she meant it. A good hometown bakery is to a neighborhood what your favorite room is to your home: the place where… Read More →

Filed Under: Food, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Western NC Tagged With: Downtown Bakery, Fat Tire Beer, Gooey Butter Cake, Kate Simmons, Margie Freel Carpenter, Murphy NC, Reuben Sandwich, Ronda Birtha

For The Love of Cream Corn

by Ronda Birtha For people who love corn, that love is almost a religious experience. From as far back as I can remember, I have loved corn in almost all its incarnations: on the cob, off the cob, in chowder, in breads, and popped on the stove, and even occasionally in the microwave. But there… Read More →

Filed Under: Food, Recipes, Uncategorized, Western NC Tagged With: Alice Blanton, cream corn, Doris Gibby, Murphy NC, River's Edge Farm, Ronda Birtha

“Farm to Fork”ing it Every Tuesday at Blue Mountain Grill & Coffee

by Ronda Birtha When I Google “Farm to Fork” I get “About 13,700,000 results (0.24 seconds).” Thanks to Google’s new search algorithm, these top-ranking hits reflect my general location so I get an idea of how popular this trend is in my neck of the woods. Give it a try and see what your results… Read More →

Filed Under: Destinations, Food, Products, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Western NC Tagged With: 4 Sons, Andrews NC, BBQ Beef Brisket, Billy Bruce, Blue Mountain Grill and Coffee, Brasstown NC, Cherokee County, Cherokee Purple tomatoes, David Allen's Trout Farm, Eggplant Parmesan, Farm to Fork, Fried Trout, Mary Kate Lawrence, Murphy NC, Ridgefield Farm, River's Edge Farm, Ronda Birtha

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