VINES

The Farmhouse at Persimmon Creek in North Georgia Serves up Simply Sublime Fare and Fabulous Epicurean Experiences
[ Writte n By B r e HumpHr i e s ]

inin mon

was one of those perfect fall days,

the weather sun-kissed and warm with a cool, light breeze and not a cloud in the sky. A day that begged me to roll the windows down as my mother and I cruised up Highway 441 into the North Georgia mountains. A perfect day for a picnic on the banks of Persimmon Creek. In Downtown Clayton, Ga., we veered off the highway and wound our way through the countryside to The Farmhouse at Persimmon Creek, sitting atop a hidden piece of paradise on the outskirts of town, for an epicurean adventure that would both amaze me with its sublimity and humble me with its simplicity. At the hands of Chef Vincent Scafiti, The Farmhouse

at Persimmon Creek specializes in just that simple yet scrumptious, soil-to-table foods that sing with flavor. Planning his menus weekly around whats available through the Northeast Georgia Locally Grown network, nearby farms and top-quality protein providers like Painted Hills Natural Beef and Springer Mountain Farms, Scafiti serves dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings only, as well as gourmet picnic fare to enjoy al fresco on Saturday afternoons. Neighboring Persimmon Creek Vineyards, The Farmhouse is situated on 19 acres in Persimmon Valley with roughly 10 acres of grapevines, making the property ripe with picnic-perfect spots. We spread our quilt under the shade of an oak tree with the vines behind us to uncover the

pHOtOgrapHy cOurtesy Of Bre HumpHries

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M o r e M e M o r a b le M ou nta i n M e a l s th i s Fa ll
Farm-to-Table Dinner at The Martyn House [Oct. 22 and Nov. 19] Foodies and nature lovers will not want to miss these two scrumptious farm-to-table alfresco dinners this fall under The Martyn Houses magical Gypsy Faire Tents. For the November dinner, The Martyn House will partner with Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge to create a Thanksgiving feast to remember. The Martyn House, Ellijay, 706-635-4759, www.themartynhouse.com

Call Today To Learn More...

treasures inside our polka-dotted picnic basket thick slices of turkey breast roasted that very morning on a tender croissant with smoky bacon and vine-ripe tomatoes, creamy potato salad flavored heavily with dill and served in small jelly jars, freshly baked double chocolate brownies and a bottle of light, crisp Persimmon Creek Seyval Blanc. If lunch was this incredible, I could only imagine what was in store for dinner that evening. Originally constructed to house workers from the vineyard and later used to accommodate guests when The Cottages at Persimmon Creek Vineyards were booked, The Farmhouse is a quaint, modest, two-story building radiating country charm, with mismatched furniture, floral linens and a stacked stone fireplace. Scafiti transformed the lower level into a dining room last December, when he began cooking for the occasional special event, and launched his weekly dinners last April. Now, the Ohio-born chef who once participated in seminars at the prestigious Aspen Food & Wine Expo and managed a 16-burner saut station at Tuttis Trattoria in Weston, Fla., uses a residential kitchen with a single stove to cook for 26 to 28 diners every Friday and Saturday evening, as if he were hosting guests at his own private dinner parties. We want you to feel like youre dining in our home, explained Scafitis wife, Donna, who lends a hand to her husband along with two other servers and a

family friend who acts as a line cook. Its a mission that has been well accomplished. Dinner here is an intimate experience, one you want to spend the entire evening soaking up, and chances are, youll make a few friends while youre at it. With the kitchen in such close quarters with the dining room and an amicable atmosphere between guests, the dining room takes on an enjoyable energy as dinner service begins, but we couldnt resist the opportunity to enjoy a little more time outside, and settled down for dinner on The Farmhouses front porch. As we sipped glasses of wine and listened to the song of wind chimes dancing in the breeze, I savored seafood bisque loaded with fresh fish and spices, a bone-in Eden Farms pork loin dressed in Scafitis signature shallotthyme gravy, crisp-tender haricots verts with diced red peppers and brandy blueberries with streusel for dessert, while my mom feasted on the best filet shes ever eaten, so tender she didnt even need a steak knife. Though Scafiti intends to maintain the intimate feel of The Farmhouse, he does hope to expand his kitchen next spring. And while the property already produces its own honey and herbs, plans for a greenhouse could help the restaurant achieve a higher level of sustainability. For now, The Farmhouse will host a few special events this fall, along with the regular Friday and Saturday evening dinners. On Oct. 27, Soup Night will feature
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Farm-to-Table Dinner at The Martyn House

pHOtO cOurtesy Of tHe martyn HOuse

Harvest Celebration with Live Bluegrass [Sundays in October] Enjoy butternut squash bisque with golden apples, Asiago risotto with pumpkin and ham, acorn squash with candied pecans and maple butter, fried chicken, pretzelcrusted grouper and more along with Wolf Mountain wines. Wolf Mountain Vineyards, Dahlonega, 706-867-9862, www.wolfmountainvineyards.com Wild Game Weekend [Nov. 12] Heres a fun adventure for all you hunters out there: Each November, this popular event features wild game from all over the country. Pheasant and elk are among the game consumed at a buffet in past years. In addition, part-owner Victor Buddy McLean also invites artisans to the lodge, organizes a football game and incorporates a whiskey tasting. Expect basket weaving, pottery, nature paintings and sporting antique dealers, whose merchandise includes fishing reels and antique fishing tackle. The Lodge at Buckberry Creek, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 866-30-LODGE, www.buckberrylodge.com

Parnes Family Dentistry

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3999 Austell Rd., Ste. 304 Austell, GA 30106 875 North Main St., Ste. 359 Alpharetta, GA 30004

770-948-1111

770-475-4434

www.parnesdentistry.com
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Experience the Magic of the Season with Us

Fleetwood Dance Theatre, Inc. Proudly Presents

December 9th, 10th, & 11th

Blessed Trinity Performing Arts Theater 11320 Woodstock Road Roswell, Georgia 30075 Friday @ 8pm Saturday @ 11am, 3pm and 8pm Sunday @ 2:30pm

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Photo courtesy of lifescaPe images

a wine and cheese reception, homemade soup (most likely with bourbon and butternut squash), artisan bread, pumpkin pie and pumpkin carving. Yes, this little treasure may be a bit off the beaten path, but this fall, as the leaves come alive with color and the North Georgia mountains beckon, its a dining destination that will leave an indelible impression on your stomach and soul. PN

F o r M o r e I n F o r M aT I o n
The Farmhouse at Persimmon Creek Clayton, Ga. 706-782-9834 www.thefarmhouseatpersimmoncreek.com Picnics available on Saturday afternoons; $65 for a basket for two Dinner served Fridays & Saturday evenings; reservations required Entres: $23 $32

Tickets $18 in advance * $21 at the door Girl Scouts: 11 am performance, Backstage Tour and Patch $10.00 For tickets, please call or email Tracy at 678-516-8235, 770-442-5229 or fleetwoodtickets@bellsouth.net www.fleetwooddance.com

Lo D G I n G o P T I o n s n e a r T H e Fa r M H o u s e
The Cottages at Persimmon Creek Vineyards (Less than 1 mile) 706-212-7380 www.persimmoncreekwine.com/cottages The Dillard House (6.5 miles) 800-541-0671 www.dillardhouse.com/accommodations Beechwood Inn (9 miles) 706-782-5485 www.beechwoodinn.ws Kingwood Country Club & resort (11.5 miles) 866-546-4966 www.kingwoodresort.com north 40 Lodge and Cabins (17 miles) 800-379-6170 www.north40lodge.com Lake rabun Hotel (18.5 miles) 800-398-5134 www.lakerabunhotel.com

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