Check Out The Sweet Shoppe Blue Ridge

Have we got something fabulous to tell you about. We have a new Sweet Shoppe in Blue Ridge and it is WONDERFUL!!! Susan Catron and Nikki Gribble opened this great place a little while back and shame on us, we just now got a chance to visit. You probably know both of these ladies as they have been very involved in our community for awhile but lucky for us they have decided to share this side of their talents with us in their new Sweet Shoppe! The space itself has never looked better, it reminds you of a little French Patisserie, so quaint and cozy! Filled with beautiful confections including home-made cookies, hand-made artisan truffles, premium dipped north Georgia apples, berries and cherries UNBELIEVABLE!! They also have some very, very special gourmet cupcakes. In fact they have so many flavors you can visit their website (www.sweetshoppeblueridge.com) for their entire menu or friend them on FaceBook (facebook.com/sweetshoppeblueridge) for the daily menu. Today we had Tres Leche (my favorite!!), Chocolate Cream Pie (Shawn's favorite), Key Lime Pie & Blond Bombshell (my second favorite)!! They are as beautiful as they are delicious. We can't wait to try Banana's Foster, Mississippi Mud, Orange Dreamsicle...oh who are we kidding...we want to try all of them. We hear that their new fall menu is coming out soon.... Heaven help us! Wonder how many Weight Watchers Points are in these babies??? Oh who cares, they are worth it!

Above a skewer of blueberries, hand-dipped in luscious, premium chocolate! Susan told me that Nikki is the "Chocolatier" and I am telling you each treat is like a beautiful, ittle work of art!

Above handmade artisan truffles, in flavors like Thin Mint, Oreo Cheesecake, Orange Melt, Coconut Cherry, and Irish Cream! What a beautiful gift these would make!

The Sweet Shoppe Blue Ridge is located in the courtyard below Harvest across from Christy Lee's (576 East Main Street, Suite D Blue Ridge, Georgia) and get this they are open late on Friday and Saturday so you can stop in after dinner for a little dessert treat. Also great to know they will ship their speciality items!! Treat yourself, go in today...Tell them Corky & Shawn sent you...you will probably see us there. ENJOY you are gonna love it!!

Our Field Trip To The Cashiers Designer Showhouse

Yesterday Shawn and I took our annual field trip to check out the 14th Annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse sponsored by the Historical Society in Cashiers, North Carolina. We love to visit the Highlands and Cashiers area, visit some of our favorite shops and we usually grab a delicious southern family style feast at the Dillard House.

This years showhouse called "Reflections" is an older log home built in 1967 from logs reclaimed from Tennessee Valley Authority construction sites, a second wing was added later in 1971. (I love it when they choose to decorate an older home, that is always a little more of a challenge and often requires a lot of creativity.) The forty-two acres that the property sits on is absolutely beautiful!! This years designers did a wonderful job and we would encourage you to treat yourself and make a road trip to check it out.

The stone terrace entrance was designed by James Farmer, it was lovely. In the photo above I love the color story cleverly tied together with the large bowl of heirloom tomatoes. (We also love James' beautiful new book "A Time To Plant" check it out next time you are in the store)

This was one of my favorite rooms, the Writers Retreat designed by Barbara Heath of The Mercantile in Atlanta it was such wonderful, calm room. (If you've never been to The Mercantile you should go, Barbara is the owner and her store is really fabulous!)

This is a view of the Shawn's favorite room the Lounging Porch designed by Francie Hargrove. It was so inviting, you actually felt like lounging here. The tall, stone fireplace and long drapery panels were so dramatic!

The dining table on the lounging porch was stunning, Hargove used beautiful, horn handled cutlery, and some gorgeous Jan Barboligio candelabras.

The library designed by Lynn Monday was such a cozy space, I love that she used such beautiful contemporary pieces to incorporate in a very rustic setting to create such a beautiful design. I also love the symmetry of this room.

Notice the unusual bookshelves, everyone can use some of these techniques like hanging art or even stag horns, and groups of books along with special objects to create visual interest on their own built-ins.

Of course Shawn enjoyed the many gardens and sitting areas. We thought the Adirondack wood furniture here was wonderful!

You really should go and check out this beautiful showhouse! For more info visit their website at www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org/about/cashiers-designer-showhouse/hile We so enjoy visiting the beautiful North Carolina Highlands area...But when we arrived home last night we took some friends out on our boat on Lake Blue Ridge and there is something really special about a Blue Ridge, Georgia sunset!!

Byrds Cookie Company Now Available At Gatewood Hall

Another fabulous arrival to Gatewood Hall Gracious Home- We are pleased to bring you Byrd's Famous Cookies from Savannah, Georgia! Byrd Cookie Company has been a Savannah tradition since 1924, when Ben T. Byrd, Sr. began making cookies by hand, packing them in wooden boxes and delivering them in a Model-T Ford to Savannah stores. Over the years, the company has earned its reputation as a leader in the specialty food industry, receiving many awards honoring the company's superior products and package design. Although their gourmet delicacies have brought much acclaim, they have never lost sight of the importance of personal commitment to their customers. Whether you choose their unique, delicious cookies, or the savory, epicurean cheese biscuits , you'll discover that their products are perfect for any occasion. We are very proud to bring them to you at both our Blue Ridge and Big Canoe locations.

The packages are beautiful and will make a great hostess gift or nice little goody to put into gift baskets. We loved the size because they are well-priced and perfect to keep on hand if a couple of friends stop over for a drink just open a box with abottle of wine and you are ready. Byrd's also offers wonderful larger tins that we may bring in closer to the holidays.

Some of the savory flavors include:

White Cheddar with Peppercorns- Smooth white cheddar cheese speckled with coarse black peppercorns will have your taste buds begging for more.

Cheddar Pecan with Cayenne- Sharp cheddar cheese and fancy pecans provide a rich flavorful crunch while a touch of cayenne pepper gives it a kick.

Gorgonzola with Honey & Walnuts- The distinctive taste of Gorgonzola cheese is perfectly accompanied by the sweetness of honey and crunch of walnuts.

We loved the festive cocktail shaker filled with their Savory Cocktail Mix which is a delicious combination of Byrd's New York Cheddar Cheese Biscuits, roasted almonds and sun-sweetened cranberries. (YUM!)

The sweeter flavors include:

Key Lime Coolers- A quintessential Southern dessert, Key Lime pie has long been enjoyed at many a picnic, dinner and social gathering. Bursting with this same fresh Key Lime flavor, our award-winning cookies capture the tart-but-sweet taste and pleasing crunch of this much-loved delicacy.

Georgia Peach - As deliciously Southern as a fresh Georgia peach. Our delicate, bite-size cookies are reminiscent of the tangy goodness of a tree-ripened peach and the rich flavor of sweet cream, with enough zing to keep you coming back for more.

Triple Chocolate Midnight Truffle- Our rich dutch chocolate cookie is loaded with dark chocolate chips and then sprinkled with cocoa powder for a triple chocolate treat. Packaging features natural tan linen with mocha accents.

Benne Wafers- Long known as "the seed of good luck," the rich flavor of the benne seed has graced Southern recipes for generations. Still made in the same tradition, our thin, crisp cookies are laden with crunchy benne seeds and sweetened with a blend of maple and brown sugar for a true one-of-a-kind taste.

Come by and check them out, you will love them!!!

New Paula Deen Furniture Arrives At GH

You may remember the photo below from a FaceBook post I did from the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina back in April...Shawn and I were fortunate to meet Paula Deen again as they were doing the photo shoot above. We had the opportunity to have met her before in Savannah, this time she was so sweet she kindly said "I thought I recognized ya'll!...so warm from a woman who meets thousands of people! (And for the record I tried to take a photo of Shawn and Paula however, I was a little nervous...I was apparently shaking and the photo was blurry leaving many to ask if we got butter on the lens!)

At any rate we fell in love with her newest "Down Home" collection. We are told that many of the pieces are reinterpreted vintage and antique pieces that she personally owns. We just really felt whether you were a Paula Deen fan or not the line was so fresh, the details are very special and unique...we had to bring it to you.

The chair below comes in other finishes and in a arm chair version. It is called the Corrie Kitchen chair. I believe Corrie is Paula's niece, and we heard that she has a version of this chair in her guest apartment at Paula's Savannah home. We think it is a great scale and looks great at the Sawhorse desk.

Probably one of our favorites is the cabinet below (called the Dish Pantry), love the color combination! The details are wonderful. It is a perfect display piece in a dining room, living room or office.

These little cloverleaf shaped end tables below are called "Lemonade Stands" and the colors are wonderful. So unique they feel vintage. There are several finishes including Molasses (dark rich, stain), Porch Swing (Distressed white), Screen Door (a blue green), and Oatmeal.

Another great cabinet below called Paula's Kitchen Organizer..it is really fabulous! We thought it would be perfect for a small kitchen in a cabin or lake house. It is finished so beautifully inside, it has an outlet for appliances, wouldn't that be wonderful in a guest suite with a coffee maker, or mini microwave? Love it!!

This great drop leaf end table below is wonderful in the living room but, wouldn't it be great between two twin beds!

Come in and see some of these wonderful new pieces for yourself. They really are special and we are thrilled to be able to bring them to you. As Paula might say...See ya'll soon!!!

A Great New Gourmet Line to Add To Our Summer Pantry

As you know we just finished the July Market in Atlanta and it was a really good show! Shawn and I wanted to find some more gourmet lines to bring into both shops not only for our GH Summer Pantry but for some great staples throughout the year. The criteria was- it had to be versatile, unique, delicious, simple and well priced. We also wanted it to be "giftable" so a pretty package was certainly a plus. We found several new lines and I am happy to introduce the first to you this week (yes, it has already arrived believe it or not).

We are thrilled to bring you Foxys Gourmet! This exciting new line met all of our criteria and more! We can't wait for you to try their products. They are beautifully packaged making them great gifts and all of their products are:

• MSG free; No trans-fat; No artificial sweeteners
• No artificial color; No preservatives
• Made in nut free facility

Experience the versatility of the savory gourmet dip mixes. Some of the flavors include Sun Dried Tomato, Garlic Herb, Cheddar Onion, Olive Tappenade, Lemon Dill, Onion Chive, and Roasted Red Pepper. These delicious dips can be used as toppings on countless entrée possibilities. Have one as a dip for crusty French bread, sliced vegetables or flat breads. Delight in the ease of creating gourmet dips at your next epicurean event. Simply add sour cream and mayonnaise and you can even dress them up by adding fresh items like chopped parsley, spinach or even olives to create an incredibly delicious "home-made" tasting treat.

You will enjoy the Sweet Dips as a topping on many desserts and fruits including bananas, strawberries, pears, apples, and so much more! The dips are so easy, simply add milk, cream or water to the mix to create an incredibly rich, creamy and delicious sweet treat. We went crazy over the Creamy Caramel, you just add water and you have a incredibly rich, decadent caramel sauce great on apples or drizzled over cheesecake!

And just wait until you try the amazing cocktail mixes. You can be your own bartender and dazzle your friends and family with impressive martinis, daiquiris, mojitos, and margaritas! Master the art of modern entertaining and use these gourmet mixes to make delicious and unique cocktails. Combine the mix with a few bar ingredients to create a sensational drink. These tasty mixes will become a delightful addition to your cocktail repertoire. Imagine some of these fabulous concoctions:

Chocolate Seduction Martini
Raspberry Buzz Mojito
Cool Lime Mojito
Cotton Candy Daiquiri
Raspberry Lipstick Margarita
Cloud Nine Martini

And get this there are 12 more flavors!!!! Come in and see us and we'll show you the whole line!

the girl & the fig for your Summer Pantry

We love "the girl & the fig" products at Gatewood Hall. We started carrying this wonderful line last year and many of you have come to love it!! Created by Sondra Bernstein proprietor of the renowned Sonoma, California restaurants Estate, The Fig Cafe and The Girl & The Fig these products will make feel like you are in the wine country! These are great additions to your Summer Pantry!

The fig and port vinaigrette is the signature dressing for the famous grilled fig & arugula salad at Sondra's girl & the fig restaurant. A perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Serve on a salad of arugula, toasted pecans, pancetta, grilled figs & chevre. (say it with me, HEAVEN!!!!). You can also use it as a marinade for pork or chicken.

The Apricot Fig Chutney is probably one of the most popular products from the girl & the fig. Plump apricots and calimyrna figs are a fantastic combination for flavor and texture. With a hint of ginger, spices and dried cherries, this chutney is a very versatile condiment that will add another flavor dimension to your favorite dish.

Serving Ideas:

The most popular box lunch sandwich from the girl & the fig is the house-roasted turkey, apricot fig chutney, fiscalini cheddar cheese on a baguette. (YUMMY!!). A great and easy appetizer is to take the small phyllo shells and put a small piece of brie or goat cheese, spoon in a little chutney and warm in the oven, delicious and easy gotta love that! You can also...

- Add to a cheese and charcuterie platter.
- Marinate chicken or pork chops with apricot fig chutney and grill.
- Serve as a condiment for pork loin, roast chicken, turkey breast
- Serve on a Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Mix with Cream Cheese or Mascarpone and make Stuffed French Toast.

Mostarda is an Italian condiment made of candied fruit with a kick from mustard or mustard seed. Traditionally mostarda was served with boiled meats called bollito misto which is a speciality of northern Italian cooking. More recently it has become a popular accompaniment to cheeses. Subtle flavors of rosemary, cinnamon, coriander, and ginger add depth and create a nice balance in the multi-dimensional product. Serve alongside charcuterie or cheese, or even as a spread on a sandwich . Also delicious as a condiment or sauce with grilled chicken, pork, lamb, and sausage. You will love it!

The red onion confit is a blend of red onions, red wine vinegar, red wine, sugar, thyme, salt, pepper. Serve with charcuterie dishes, grilled sausages, barbecued chicken and meats. Add to a turkey or cheese sandwich. It almost has a sweet and sour flavor and adds a nice addition of flavor to the most basic recipes.

Serving Ideas:

- Serve with charcuterie dishes, grilled sausages, BBQ chicken and meats.
- Add to a turkey or cheese sandwich.
- Use as a condiment for cheese platters.
- Warm gently and use as sauce for pork, chicken, turkey, or beef.
- Use as a sandwich condiment or on a burger. YUM!
- While braising, add a couple tablespoons to the pot.
- Add a few tablespoons to sautéed vegetables. (I do this and it really dresses up something simple!)

The salts are wonderful blends that include:

Fennel citrus herb blend - A blend fennel seed, lemon and orange peel, sea salt, lavender, mustard seed and other spices. Sprinkle on fish, chicken or pork before pan searing or grilling. Add water to brine pork or chicken.

Lavender sea salt- Simple lavender flowers blended with grey sea salt. Subtle scent and flavor makes this a great addition to certain dishes for an unusual dose of flavor. (I love it on fresh heirloom tomatoes!)

Citrus sea salt- Oven dried lemon and orange peel mixed with grey sea salt. Sprinkle on fish, chicken or pork before pan searing or grilling. Toss with pasta or risotto. Serve as a condiment on the table.

We also have Sondra's outstanding cook book that is full of great recipes that promote her vision of country food with French passion.

Stop in this weekend we will be having tastings of some of the girl and fig products...we will get you hooked!! See you soon!

Exciting News! Gatewood Hall Gracious Home is Opening a Second Store in Big Canoe!

We wanted our Blog and FaceBook friends to be the first to know...We are so excited to announce (drum roll please!!) GH is opening a second store! Our new store is located just inside the gate at Big Canoe and we are thrilled! Thank you to all who have supported us over the last five years, it is because of you that we are able to take this next big step at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home! This was not an easy decision, believe me we had to put a great deal of thought into it and we really appreciate the support of Ann at Big Canoe who really worked hard to help the details come together (We jokingly say we surrendered to her persuasion!).

We have some wonderful customers and friends from Big Canoe that kept teasing us and saying we needed to open a location closer to them but honestly this growth just wasn't a part of our business plan at this moment. However, as you have heard us say before we believe everything happens for a reason, so when Ann came to us we really had to take a look at this opportunity. While the space is not huge we plan on stocking it full of some wonderful things from our bigger main store, when asked what we sell I say everything for a gracious life...from soap to sofas!

Our goal is to have the store open Saturday June 25th! (fingers crossed). Wish us luck! We will keep you posted. Thank you again for all of your support, we feel so fortunate to be able to continue to pursue our little dream called Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!