Yearly Archives: 2011
Antique Cars in Asheville, NC
December 10, 2011
Just adjacent to the Grove Park Inn is the Grovewood Gallery, home of the Homespun Shops of Biltmore Industry This collection of shops and galleries was built by George Vanderbuilt and his wife, Edith, in order to provide the youth … Continue reading
The 19th Annual Gingerbread Competition in Asheville, NC
December 9, 2011
This year, once again the Grove Park Inn hosted the 19th Annual Gingerbread Competition. The temptation is to call it a “gingerbread house” competition but this would be misleading. While many of the entries do consist of houses, an equal … Continue reading
Comedy in Asheville, NC
December 2, 2011
This past Thanksgiving James and I were lucky enough to have our family with us here and we took advantage of their presence to try some of the more unique attractions in our town. One of these was the La … Continue reading
The 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Pie Contest in Asheville, NC
November 26, 2011
That’s a lot of pie! Last year my daughters and I decided it was time to jazz up the usual Thanksgiving array of pumpkin, pecan and apple pie. The pies were lovely but we had been making the same ones … Continue reading
One Great Holiday Parade in Asheville, NC!
November 20, 2011
Best Costume ever! As you know, James and I lived in Europe and Asia for 27 years before returning to buy the Carolina, our Bed and Breakfast inn in Asheville, North Carolina. While we lived overseas a great many things … Continue reading
Looking Glass Rock: A Pluton Monolith
November 11, 2011
The interesting thing about writing this blog is that it make things so interesting! By that I mean it isn’t enough to just throw some pictures up and say, “This is what we did, isn’t it pretty?” I feel like … Continue reading
Anthony Bourdain in Asheville (and some other stuff)!
November 6, 2011
>One of the things I love about Asheville is that things are so accessible. It seems like we have the best of all worlds: our city is big enough to attract top acts and personalities while it is small enough … Continue reading
Apples and October in Asheville, North Carolina
October 24, 2011
> The Kitchen Whiteboard It’s October in Asheville. The trees are brilliant with color, the skies are a clear, deep blue and the inns and hotels are fully booked. Which means that James and I have not had time to … Continue reading
Friday Night in Asheville, North Carolina
October 17, 2011
> The Adabelles This past weekend we had a group of special ladies join us for Thursday through Sunday. The “Adabelles” were all in the High School Class of 1964 in Ada, Oklahoma and every two years they have a … Continue reading
Fall Foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Mt. Mitchell
October 7, 2011
> About a month ago I became a leaf spotter for the Fall Foliage Network. ( I have to be honest and tell you that it was because they would list the Carolina Bed & Breakfast on their site for … Continue reading
Fruitcake Redemeption at our Inn in Asheville North Carolina
October 1, 2011
> While the post-World War Two era ushered in many time saving appliances and products and permanently altered life in the kitchen for most families, one of the side effects of this change was a loss in flavor and textures for … Continue reading
A September Grab-Bag from our Asheville, NC Bed and Breakfast
September 25, 2011
> Emily Krainik, Manager of the Champagne Bar Sometimes James and I do things here at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast in Asheville which we really enjoy and would like to share with you but are not meaty enough for … Continue reading
Graveyard Fields: One of the Best Hikes off the Blue Ridge Parkway
September 17, 2011
> The last hike James and I went on, to John Rock, was rated “more difficult” on our website of hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And while it was a wonderful hike with many changes in topography and altitude, … Continue reading
Theater in Asheville, NC: Something for Everyone
September 11, 2011
> It was 1977 when James and I graduated from college and our class was sandwiched between two changing worlds. Those who graduated four year before us were very much a part of the 60′s and 70′s, while those who … Continue reading
LAAFF: Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival in Asheville, NC
September 7, 2011
> In case you haven’t figured it out by now, Asheville loves festivals: not a weekend goes by in the summer without a festival happening somewhere in town. They vary from large (Bele Chere) to small (Downtown After 5) and cover … Continue reading
Climbing John Rock in Pisgah National Forest: Success at Last!
September 1, 2011
Monument at Trail Base Those of you who have been following our adventures in Asheville and Western North Carolina will know that James and I enjoy hiking but have had limited success so far in finding a really great … Continue reading
DIning Outside Asheville: Weaverville, NC
August 12, 2011
> Just outside Asheville, about ten miles from the Carolina Bed & Breakfast, is the small town of Weaverville, home to artists and garden centers. It is also the home of the Stoney Knob Cafe, a local eatery which has … Continue reading
Dining Outside Asheville: Spruce Pine
August 4, 2011
> “Downtown” Spruce Pine While many of our guests come to Asheville to dine at some of the many fabulous restaurants which can be found here (over 243 according to TripAdvisor!), there are actually some really excellent restaurants in some … Continue reading
Shakespeare in the Park in Asheville, NC
August 1, 2011
> Tod”s Tasties An Elaborate Picnic One of the things that drew James and me to Asheville originally was the strong arts, theater and music culture of the town. And now that we have shepherded the Carolina Bed & Breakfast … Continue reading
The Weekly Round-up at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast in Asheville, NC
July 31, 2011
> The peonies and roses are out full bloom in our garden. Last year a hail storm came through just before the peonies flowered and we had few buds that developed. How different it is this year! There are blossoms … Continue reading
Escape to Black Mountain!
July 31, 2011
>Sorry about the title–I couldn’t resist it. Doesn’t it make you think of a Disney film? Anyway, it was Memorial Day and James and I had one of those weird windows of time that seem to come out of nowhere … Continue reading
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes in Asheville, North Carolina
July 23, 2011
> It’s summer and it’s hot and while we all love chocolate sometimes it’s nice to have something a little more refreshing. I had been looking for something bright and fresh for our guests to find in their (air-conditioned!) rooms … Continue reading
Asheville History 101: Riverside Cemetery–Fun Facts
July 19, 2011
> Mailbox inside the Cemetery: Who Lives Here? Example of the Park-like features of the Cemetery It seems as if, whenever I get a good idea for a blog, what starts out as a simple project turns into something bigger! … Continue reading
Asheville History–the Montford District
July 12, 2011
> 191 Cumberland Avenue: Home of George Murray (c. 1906). When people call and ask for information about the Carolina Bed & Breakfast, James and I often mention that it is in the Montford Historic District, an area consisting of … Continue reading
Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains–A Cautionary Tale
June 30, 2011
> James and I often have guests at the Carolina who ask about hikes in the mountains near our Asheville, NC Bed and Breakfast, and we will sometimes send them to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Craggy Gardens. It’s a pleasant … Continue reading
Making Plum Chutney in Asheville, NC!
June 18, 2011
> From 1990-1997, James and I lived in a small town in England. We rented a beautiful old house which, in the way of English country houses, was known by its name rather than a street number. How it used … Continue reading
WNC Chef Challenge Semi-Final in Asheville, North Carolina
June 11, 2011
> Well folks, we’ve made it about as far as we can go this year with this one. I’ve been to first round challenges, quarterfinal challenges and finally to the semi-finals. I’ve eaten good food, bad food and in-between food, … Continue reading
Chef Challenge Quarter-Finals
May 29, 2011
> At last, a meal worthy of something called a “Chef’s Challenge”! Maybe it was because this was the quarter-final round of the Western North Carolina Chef’s Challenge or maybe it was just because these two chefs are extremely talented … Continue reading
Saving On Gas Prices: Making the Deal
May 27, 2011
> By now you have probably seen this video clip and are aware of the special package the Carolina Bed & Breakfast is participating in along with eight other inns and nine restaurants in Asheville, NC. It all seems so … Continue reading
Naturewalks in Western North Carolina
May 5, 2011
>Sometimes when the weather is especially nice here at the Carolina, James and I play hookey. Like Tom Sawyer we leave the paint brush in the paint can next to the metaphorical picket fence of housework at our Asheville North … Continue reading
Making a Hanging Garden
April 27, 2011
> Making a hanging garden is one of the few types of gardening you can do without bending down! If you’ve every visited England in the summer, you will remember the wonderful flowers and cottage gardens of the homes, shops … Continue reading
Perfecting Panna Cotta: The Recipe
April 21, 2011
>As promised here is the recipe for Panna Cotta as we serve it here at the Carolina Bed and Breakfast. Orange Infused Panna Cotta with Bitter Orange Compote and Strawberry Coulis Serves 4-6 Panna Cotta Ingredients 1 cup heavy cream … Continue reading
Perfecting Panna Cotta
April 19, 2011
To me (and I think I am not alone in this) the line between breakfast and dessert is a little blurry. Why are sweet sticky pancakes and waffles considered breakfast foods while lovely fruit pies and puddings are not? The … Continue reading
Western North Carolina’s Chef’s Challenge Round 2
April 9, 2011
>A few weeks ago, James, Emily and I went to the first match-up of this year’s WNC Chef’s Challenge in Asheville, North Carolina. While it was an interesting evening, the food seriously let us down and we were left wondering … Continue reading
Breakfast Every Which Way
April 5, 2011
Here at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast, we think that breakfast is an important part of your stay. We enjoy using fresh ingredients which we try to source locally and seasonally. We also feel that everyone’s meal is important. James … Continue reading
Iron Chef Asheville Style!
March 24, 2011
One of the wonderful things about Asheville, North Carolina is the exciting restaurant scene. Couple that with a sense of fun and community and you have the makings of a great evening…almost! This past Monday James and I, and our … Continue reading
Saltine Toffee Bars
March 18, 2011
> One of the things I love to do is bake. And owning a bed and breakfast gives me an excuse to do plenty of it! At the Carolina Bed & Breakfast we always put some form of dessert item in … Continue reading
Spring Cleaning!
March 11, 2011
>No, I am not talking about spring cleaning at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast, I am talking aboutspring cleaning for my blog; or at least for my file of back stories. What follows is a compilation of things which I … Continue reading
My Blog Gets a Name: The Kitchen Garden
March 6, 2011
As I write this I am able to look out my window at the kitchen garden of the Carolina Bed & Breakfast. It is a typical March day here in Asheville: after raining all night, the temperature plummeted around 11AM … Continue reading
Tested in the Kitchen
February 26, 2011
>Sooner or later it had to happen: a room full of diners and a disaster in the kitchen. No matter how well prepared you think you are when you finally come face to face with that moment it is a … Continue reading
Almost Asheville!
February 21, 2011
Look at these houses. They could be one of many houses in the Historic Montford District of Asheville, North Carolina, couldn’t they?. Well, they could be but they aren’t! These are homes built by Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park, … Continue reading
Valentine Heart Cookies From Us to You!
February 11, 2011
Valentine’s Day weekend is one of my favorite times at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast. Winter is our down time, guests are few and the weather often keeps us inside. Valentine’s Day is a welcome break: the house fills up … Continue reading
Foodies Love Asheville, North Carolina!
February 1, 2011
Here at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast we spend a lot of time thinking about food, reading about food, talking about food and eating food! In past postings I have shared some recipes with you and made some restaurant reviews. … Continue reading
Spring (!?) Cleaning at the Carolina Bed & Breakfast
January 28, 2011
>Winter is traditionally the time of year when Innkeepers in Asheville close their inns for cleaning and refurnishing of rooms. And not surprisingly, we are among them. Of course in our eyes, (or at least mine), the need was greater … Continue reading
Winter Activities in Asheville, NC and My Cookbook!
January 23, 2011
> One of the many nice things about Asheville in the winter is the accessibility of many of the sites and activities. Pretty much everything is open but the crowds aren’t there, giving one a unique opportunity to really enjoy … Continue reading
Snow Days in Asheville
January 10, 2011
>It’s snowing in Asheville, North Carolina. It snowed yesterday and it’s supposed to snow tomorrow. Guests have left early or put off their travel plans until later in the month. (Check our website for our snow cancellation policy). So what’s … Continue reading
