Guest Chef Series

Brian Jupiter photo by Heather Talbert

Matt Weinstein photo by Molly Harris

Oak Steakhouse’s Under the Stars, On the Rocks series’ July 5 entry features a fivecourse dinner by Chef Brian Jupiter and the Oak culinary team, exquisite wines, and the sublime delights of a cool mountain evening. Cost is $150 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. To reserve, call (828) 482-4720 or book on Open Table experiences.

The opening of Skyline Lodge last summer, following the renovation of the long-neglected property originally designed by a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, was welcome news to area resident and visitors.

Now rejuvenated and restored, the property is a refined, luxurious oasis that seamlessly blends into its idyllic setting amidst the mountains and greenery of its surroundings – at last fulfilling what must have been the vision of the original architect. Equally thrilling was the opening of the lodge’s restaurant – Oak Steakhouse, the seventh location of the steakhouse chain owned by the Indigo Road Hospitality Group – who also own the Lodge. More good news arrived with the launch last year of a guest chef series entitled Under the Stars, On the Rocks. Boasting “dining al fresco amidst a backdrop of sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains,” the evening features exciting guest chefs from around the country working in collaboration with the chef team at Oak Steakhouse, including Matt Weinstein, Jeremiah Bacon, and Anne White. So far this year, March’s dinner was Owen McGlynn of Asheville Proper; Travis Milton, Chef of Virginia’s Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards was featured in April; and in May it was Todd Ginsberg of Atlanta’s Rye Restaurants. Upcoming on July 5 is a dinner with Brian Jupiter, chef/ owner of The Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern in Chicago. A New Orleans native and a believer that “Southern comfort food is a true art form”, Jupiter spent his childhood cooking next to his grandmother in her kitchen. He got his start in the kitchens at New Orleans famed steakhouse Aurora, before going on to culinary school in Florida. In 2003 he moved to Chicago initially as Chef de Cuisine, eventually rising to the Executive Chef position, at Narcisse Champagne and Caviar. He joined The Frontier team in 2010. In the summer of 2018, he and his partner at The Frontier opened Ina Mae Tavern, named in honor of Jupiter’s great-grandmother, Ina, who passed down the recipes he learned to cook with his grandmother. The food at Ina Mae is inspired by his background, growing up, and cooking in

Vishwesh Bhatt photo by Sierra Dexter

New Orleans. No stranger to celebrity status, Jupiter’s accolades and television appearances includes James Beard Awards Semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes, Cooking Channel’s America’s Best Bites, NBC Chicago News, NBC’s First Look, Fox 32 Chicago News, WGN-TV News, Food Network, and Check, Please! Next in the series is James Beard Award winning chef Vishwesh Bhatt of City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, Mississippi, who will be the guest chef for the dinner on September 6. Adam Evans, chef/owner of Birmingham’s Automatic Seafood & Oysters, will offer his signature seafood dishes on October 18. The outdoor Butler’s Pavilion at Skyline Lodge is the ideal setting for the five course dinners, featuring Southern ingredients, cooked over an open flame. A selection of wines is perfectly paired with each course, fitting companions – as they should be – to each exquisite dish. Under the Stars, On the Rocks dinners are $150 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. To reserve, call Oak Steakhouse at (828) 482-4720 or book on Open Table experiences.

by Marlene Osteen

thelaurelmagazine.com/cuisine

To see the most up-to-date information about dining on the plateau visit thelaurelmagazine.com/restaurants

Plateau Dining Guide

The Restaurants of the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

Meals Wine Full Bar Children’s Menu Vegetarian Selections Reservations Recommended Dress Code Live Entertainment Outdoor Dining Take Out Ad On Page

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS The 4118 Kitchen + Bar The Bistro at Wolfgang’s Calder’s Cafe 64 Highlands Plaza (828) 526-5002 L, D n n n C n 137 460 Main Street (828) 526-3807 D n n n n NC n n 5 384 Main Street (828) 200-9308 B, L n C n n 131

The Dancing Bear at The High Dive 476 Carolina Way L, D n n n n C n n 135

Fire + Water Restaurant Reservations Required (828) 526-4446 B, L

n n C n 15 Four65 Woodfire Bistro + Bar 465 Main Street (828) 787-2990 L, D n n n C n n 128 Fressers Courtyard Cafe Village Square, 470 Oak Street (828) 526-4188 L, D n n n C n n 127 Highlands Smokehouse 595 Franklin Road (828) 526-3554 L, D n n n C n n 134 Hummingbird Lounge 455 Main Street Highlands, NC (828) 787-2525 L n n n NC n 71 *The Kitchen CarryAway & Catering 350 S. Fifth Street (828) 526-2110 L, D n n 133 Lakeside Restaurant Smallwood Avenue (828) 526-9419 D n n n n n NC n n n 126 Oak Steakhouse at Skyline Lodge 470 Skyline Lodge Rd (828) 482-4720 D, SB n n n n NC n n n 122 On the Verandah Highway 64 (Franklin Road) (828) 526-2338 D, SB n n n n C n n 129 Paoletti’s 440 Main Street (828) 526-4906 D n n n n NC n 127 *Rosewood Market Main Street (828) 526-0383 L, D n n NC n 126 The Ugly Dog Pub 298 South 4th Street (828) 526-8364 L, D, SB n n n n C n n n 138 Wolfgang’s Restaurant 460 Main Street (828) 526-3807 D n n n n NC n n 5 CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Cashiers Farmers Market Crossroads (828) 743-4334 L, n 135 Cashiers Valley Smokehouse US 64 West (828) 547-2096 L, D C n n n 126 The Orchard Highway 107 South (828) 743-7614 D, n n n n n C n n 133 Town & Country General Store Deli 14 Raggedy Lane (828) 547-1300 L n n 142 Zookeeper 45 Slabtown Road (828) 743-7711 B, L, SB n C n n 137 SAPPHIRE/TOXAWAY AREA RESTAURANTS The Fix Bar & Lounge 3093 Hwy 64 East, Sapphire (828) 743-7477 B, L, D n n n C n n 140 Grand Olde Station 502 Blue Ridge Road. Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4242 D n n n n C n n 166 Greystone Inn 220 Greystone Lane, Lake Toxaway (828) 966-4700 B, L, D, SB n n n NC n n 4 Panthertown Cafe 16614 Rosman Hwy, Lake Toxaway (828) 862-3663 B, L, SB n n C n n 169

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner SB Sunday Brunch * Takeout Only Dress Code: C Casual NC Nice Casual J Jacket

HIGHLANDS AREA RESTAURANTS 4th Street Market - (828) 526-4191 Asia House - (828) 787-1680 Bella’s Junction Cafe - (828) 526-0803 Black Bear Restaurant - (828) 482-7020 The Blue Bike Cafe - (828) 526-9922 Bridge at Mill Creek (828) 526-5500 Bryson’s Deli - (828) 526-3775 The Cake Bar - (828) 421-2042 Dusty’s - (828) 526-2762 El Azteca - (828) 526-2244 Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590 Highlands Burritos - (828) 526-9313 Highlands Deli SweeTreats - (828) 526-9632 Los Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant - (828) 482-7040 Madison’s Restaurant - (828) 787-2525 Midpoint (828) 526-2277 Mountain Fresh - (828) 526-2400 Ruffed Grouse (828) 526-2590 Subway - (828) 526-1706 Primary Restaurant & Bar - (828) 526-3555 Wild Thyme Gourmet - (828) 526-4035

CASHIERS AREA RESTAURANTS Buck’s Coffee Cafe - (828) 743-9997 Canyon Kitchen - (828) 743-7967 Chile Loco - (828) 743-1160 Cornucopia Restaurant - (828) 743-3750 El Manzanillo - (828) 743-5522 JJ’s Eatery and Canteen - (828) 743-7778 The Library Kitchen and Bar - (828) 743-5512 Mica’s Restaurant - (828) 743-5740 Mountain Cafe - (828) 577-0469 Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company - (828) 743-0220 Slab Town Pizza -(828) 743-0020 Slopeside Tavern - (828) 743-8655 Subway - (828) 743-1300 Villa Amato (828) 885-7700 Wendy’s - (828) 743-7777 Whiteside Brewing Company - (828) 743-6000 Winslow’s Hideaway - (828) 743-2226

thelaurelmagazine.com/lodging

Plateau Lodging

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

HOTELS / MOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS

On Site Restaurant On Site Bar/Lounge Pool Whirlpool Rooms Exercise Facility In Room Microwave/Fridge Cable/Satellite TV Banquet Facilities Wireless Internet Pet Policy Ad On Page

Earthshine Lodge 1600 Golden Road | Lake Toxaway, NC earthshinenc.com | (828) 862-4207 n n n n n 169

Fire Mountain 700 Happy Hill Rd | Scaly Mountain firemt.com | (800) 775-4446 n n n n n n 15

Greystone Inn 220 Greystone Ln | Lake Toxaway thegreystoneinn.com | (828) 966-4700 n n n n n n 4

Old Edwards Inn and Spa 445 Main St | Highlands oldedwardsinn.com | (866) 526-8008 n n n n n n n n n 71

Skyline Lodge 470 Skyline Lodge Rd | Highlands skyline-lodge.com | (828) 526-4008 n n n n n n 122

VACATION RENTALS

The Vineyard at 37 High Holly 37 High Holly Road | Scaly Mountain thevineyardat37highholly.com | (828) 505-6190

VACATION RENTAL AGENCIES n n n n n 103

Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals 488 Main Street | Highlands meadowsmountainrealty.com | (828) 526-1717

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals 401 N 5th St | Highlands highlandsiscalling.com | (828) 526-3717

Landmark Vacation Rentals 17 US Hwy 64 E | Cashiers landmarkvacations.com | (877) 926-1780

Rent in Highlands - CCP 507 Main Street | Highlands rentinhighlands.com | (800) 684-2171 x 302

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals 341 Hwy 64 W, Ste 102 | Cashiers ncliving.com | (828) 743-1999

CASHIERS, NC: High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252 Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706 The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247 Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780 Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258 The Orchard Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614 Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623 Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999 The Wells Hotel A Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289

GLENVILLE, NC: Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946 Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875 Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482

HIGHLANDS, NC 200 Main - (855) 271-2809 Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717 Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717 The Chateau - (561) 613-1496 Fairview House - (866) 526-8008 Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246 Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590 Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186 Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380 Highlands Inn Lodge - (828) 526-5899 Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839 The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999 The Lodge at Old Edwards - (828) 787-2560 Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799 Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008 Park on Main - (800) 221-5078 Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870 Rent in Highlands - CCP - (800) 684-2171 x 302 Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919 Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-2999 The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736 Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222 SAPPHIRE, NC Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441 Foxhunt At Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667 Hampton Inn & Suites - Cashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545 Mt Toxaway Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582 Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734 Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085 Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211

SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC: Fire Mountain - (800) 775-4446 The Vineyard at 37 High Holly - (828) 505-6190

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333 Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700 Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

SHOPPING

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