Friendly Foodie
Eating out at the latest hotspot, cooking up a storm, or just reading about it while she pops microwave popcorn, this woman loves fresh, fabulous food. Give it to her—or at least provide the recipes (hint, hint!) so she can create her own.
The Blackberry Farm Cookbook
CARPE LIBRUM BOOKSELLERS 5113A Kingston Pike, 588-8080, carpelibrum.booksense.com
Our own Blackberry Farm in Walland is globally-known as a luxury comfort spot for epicures, and this recent release from owner Sandy Beall really lives up to its subtitle: “Four Seasons of Great Food and the Good Life.” It’s dreamy, with lavish photos of majestic mountains, sheep, farmers, and even snow. But the recipes are written for the home cook to really use, not just browse, from the sublime fig tart and ambitious buttered quail to simpler fare like Skillet Apple Crisp and even two recipes for pimiento cheese. You’re gonna score big with your foodie for being the first to find this one!
Local Goodies from Market Square Holiday Market
MARKET SQUARE HOLIDAY MARKET 405-3135, charlotte @ marketsquarefarmersmarket.org
The Holiday Market will feature a number of vendors offering jams, jellies, candies, and more. The confab runs Saturdays Dec. 12 and 19 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m, with the kind of food gifts that will disappear long before they clutter her place and are fun to shop for. She’ll appreciate that these fresh foodstuffs are local, and she’ll appreciate even more that you took the time to seek them out. If you can make it by 2 p.m., local honey or all-natural dressings from the farmers’ market are another possibility. Or just invite her along for an all-expenses paid market excursion, and you’ll both be a little ahead on your holiday menus.
Beer Brewing Class at UT Culinary Institute
UT CULINARY INSTITUTE 946-6241, costello @ utk.edu, registration
She’ll look forward to February this year when you give her a certificate to a three-session beer brewing class at the University of Tennessee Culinary Institute. Students learn to brew and taste from expert Carol Costello and Master Brewer Marty Velas, and the fee covers ingredients, bottles and food pairings. Daytime, weekend, and Friday night times available starting in early February ($75 per three-class session; $25 supplies for all three). Cheers!
Drinks at the S & W Grand
S & W GRAND 516 S. Gay St., 566-9800, swgrand.com
With the holiday season surging ahead at full-force, her patience is sure to be wearing thin. Between devising a flawless feast for the mother-in-law’s arrival and baking endless treats for the kid’s teachers, a glass of wine is exactly what she needs. Why not treat your foodie to an evening drenched in class and rich in history with a visit to the S&W Grand’s cocktail hour? Happy hour specials occur each evening, and include a $4 glass of wine. Opened on Gay Street just a few months ago after a 28-year hiatus and boasting an extensive wine list and magnificent cocktail selection, the S&W Grand’s architecture is true to its Art Deco roots and sets the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening in the heart of downtown.
The Best Bloomin' Cookbook in East Tennessee
ORNL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION All Branches, ornlfcu.com
Support the local dogwood trails and make sure she has all the essential regional recipes at the same time. The proceeds from Best Bloomin’ go to the Dogwood Arts Festival, and the recipes came from real folks from around here, 566 pages worth, organized by Knoxville Magazine’s posh-yet-practical Gay Lyons and crew. Seven-Layer Dip, Shrimp and Feta Pasta, Herbed Pork Roast (that recipe’s from Robin Wilhoit), Cappuccino Brownies with White Chocolate-Espresso Sauce—that’s just a very small sampling of the good stuff between these covers. Your foodie may know someone who contributed, but there’s no way she’ll recognize all the recipes, so give her a whole bunch of food for thought.($10 at ORNL Federal Credit Union branches).
An Occasion at Regas Restaurant
REGAS RESTAURANT 318 N. Gay St., 637-4327, regasrestaurant.com
Indulge, indulge—after 90 years, Regas has classic dining down to an art. Treat her to the perfect steak, aged to perfection, fresh seafood, French onion soup, strawberry-spinach salad, all in the ease of the fine dining room. The grand finale: decadent desserts like fresh strawberry shortcake, Regas red velvet cake, and homemade ice cream. Lunch, early-bird specials, and the “sharing plate” menu in the lively, casual Gathering Place are all options, too.
