I am an Atlanta native and despite having lived here for the majority of my life, I have not had an opportunity to know and fully appreciate landmark restaurants like Blue Ridge Grill until recent years. A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to experience this Atlanta classic via a Media Tasting Event.
Every great restaurant is expected to shine when it comes to its menu but there are some that raise the bar when it comes to setting the mood for a pleasant dining experience. Stepping into Blue Ridge Grill feels like entering a warm comfortable lodge with its exposed timber, log walls and rustic décor. But this is not where the event was held.
It was here. This enclosed porch, with its clustered seating areas, takes any inkling of pretentious dining and throws it out the window. It’s a comfortable place to gather for drinks or dessert and to mingle among friends and colleagues. It’s also a fantastic setting for menu sampling.
Our tasting included six entrees and assorted cookies for dessert. Here’s a look at my three favorites:
Hot Smoked Salmon – this moist and flavorful Atlantic salmon is smoked with pecan wood and served over a salad of crisp & juicy julienned jicama and thin sliced European cucumber avocado then tossed with a honey-lime vinaigrette. This is a dish that would suit me well for the summer months.
The Corn Souffle is sweet corn baked in a rich custard. It isn’t a complicated dish but it made us ask ourselves if we were eating a side or a dessert. It was that good.
Golden Lump Crab Salad – this was my absolute favorite taste of the night. It was so good that I found myself eyeballing my table-mate’s portion which had been abandoned due to her socializing. She made it back just in time to save me from overindulgence in a very good thing. And since I’m being honest, I have to admit that I felt like I was betraying my own mayo for this delicious crab salad. It was tossed with tarragon, chives and {deep breath} Dukes mayonnaise.
I know that Dukes is a southern favorite but I’m a Hellmann’s girl. Born and raised.
The other dishes we sampled were *Pecan-Stuffed Springer Mountain Chicken, *Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop and *Seared Diver Scallops with Low Country Red Peas and Rice.
Whenever possible, Blue Ridge Grill uses Locally sourced ingredients from farms including:
Springer Mountain Farms in Blue Ridge, GA (chicken)
Anson Mills in Columbia, SC (heirloom grains and peas)
TaylOrganic Farm in Ellenwood, GA (produce)
Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, GA (cheeses)
The freshness of these ingredients is evident in each dish. If you haven’t been in a while, consider revisiting Blue Ridge Grill to experience Chef Joe Brown’s new seasonal menu. You can find additional information on their Website.
Disclosure: While the menu tasting at Blue Ridge Grill was complimentary, I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. You can view my full Disclosure Policy here.
All Photos were provided on behalf of Blue Ridge Grill.
