Blackberry Farm

The Dogwood at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN, 3/24/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
grounds – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886

The day you check out you still get breakfast if you want, as check out is not till noon.  They also offered to let us come for lunch or pack one to go which we declined.  However, when picking up our car they had 2 box lunches for us.  I failed to photograph the contents but the rental car person was more than happy to make use of them.  I did  get a photo of the content menu for your interest.  The Farm offers lots of activities included hiking guided or self-done, fly fishing, clay target shooting, horseback rides, wine/liquor tastings, a range of spa and wellness treatments/classes, farm animals tour, farm tour, cooking classes.  All provided for an additional fee and added gratuity and tax.   The staff are all exceptionally nice and happy to help and the facility and grounds are immaculately maintained.  There is also a gift shop and a bar (noon-10pm) in the Main House, but make sure to bring your platinum credit card – just kidding a gold one would probably do. Continue reading →

The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN, 3/23/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
event space across from The Barn – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886

This evening we didn’t have to wait in the bar and again were seated in the windowed room, not in the main barn.  It was brighter and quieter but more sterile.  It was a chilly night so we had the car pick us up and drop us at The Barn.  They alert the driver when you are served dessert so they are ready when you depart.  On the menu only the soup changed all else was the same and the dessert menu was exactly as it was yesterday.  It seemed to me that since they require you to stay at least 3 days they should change more of the items, particularly since some of them repeat even more days.  Service tonight was a little quicker and that did help but the look in the wine cellar was not offered again and Chef Cassidee Dabney did not make contact with any of the guests that I saw but she was in the kitchen every night  She’s the one at the front wearing glasses.  All the servers were friendly and happy.  This place has been responsible for many fine chefs who move on to their own restaurants, J C Holdway comes to mind but no photos of their past chefs were on the wall nor mention of them anywhere seemed odd.   It is a beautiful setting and the food is way superior in the Barn than the Dogwood but it’s a food-filled vacation. Continue reading →

The Dogwood at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN, 3/23/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
grounds – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886

The Dogwood Restaurant was in the Main House at Blackberry Farm.  On the 4200 acres are livestock, crops, fishing area and on and on.  It’s always fun to see the animals grazing but the crops were pretty dormant yet.  The cooler temperatures moved all of the people indoors for eating today vs. yesterday.  The staff seemed to work in pairs and everybody is happy and pleasant.  They seemed to be willing to customize a fair amount on your order which was nice but overall the larger portions at the Dogwood are less exciting flavor experiences.  If you had to choose where to have dinner, this would be the place for less adventurous people and all the children, as persons under 10 are not allowed in The Barn. Continue reading →

The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN, 3/22/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
The Barn – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886

Do be aware that Blackberry Mountain is owned by the same company but a different location and dining at The Barn is only for people staying the the Farm.   The Barn was a large place with lowered lighting.  There was a reception/check-in room where they take your coats and take you to the bar to wait for your table.  On the way you pass by the open dessert kitchen and then the large open main kitchen and finally the bar.  If those seats are taken there’s another room with what looked like a demonstration kitchen (due to the long counter and screens mounted above) with tables, couches and a large fireplace.  In the main seating area there are both booths and tables of various sizes and then on the other side of the non-functioning fireplace are more tables in what appeared to be a converted porch.  The walls here were all windows as opposed to the old wood and high ceiling of the main room.  Carpet ran throughout and there was music in the background.  White cloths cover and tables which are also set with an exquisite napkin elaborately embroidered with “BF”.  One large chandelier hangs  in the barn with small lamps and other fixtures adding a bit more light.  Servers are everywhere and all anxious to make sure you enjoy your meal.  The menu changes many items every other day.   Continue reading →

The Dogwood at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN, 3/22/24

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
main house – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886

When you stay at Blackberry Farm 3 meals a day are included in your room charge.  Dinner can be at The Barn with reservations otherwise meals are served at The Dogwood restaurant in the Main House. Room service or carry out meals are also available for a fee.  At the Dogwood you just show up between the hours given you at check-in and they will take you to a table in one of several room.  First you pass through the bar area then there is a large dining room, another smaller dining room beyond and outdoor tables.  The tables are various sizes and some have banquettes as part of the setup.  There are no table clothes but plenty of extra pillows it you need them.  Art was on the walls and no music was in the background.  Lots of windows to the outside made everywhere a brightly lit table.  Each table was always set with salt and pepper grinders and at breakfast butter and dark jam.  Flatware was in the napkin at lunch and on the tabletop at breakfast.  A large fireplace was at one end of the room that was also open in the room on the other side.   At breakfast the Chef’s Selection, griddle cakes and sweet roll change daily but otherwise it stays the same.  On weekends they offer different items.  At lunch there were some repeats but lots of new items each day.  We didn’t have dinner but a separate dessert menu is available at lunch and dinner.  The bar is also available for drinks and both meals we had had separate drink menus. Continue reading →

The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN, 3/21/24

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
The Barn – 1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886

Blackberry Farm covers 4200 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee.  For over 80 years it has been the resort offering “decadent cuisine and pleasurable pastimes.”  When Florida and Dave Lasier discovered the setting for their dream home, she snagged her stocking on a blackberry bush and thus the name of the Farm.   In 1976 Kreis and Sandy Beall set about protecting and preserving the land with three other local families.  The Beall family wanted to share the area and opened a 6 room country inn which their son Sam took to another level in 2000, greatly expanding the footprint.  He expanded the wine cellar and opened The Barn and Dogwood restaurants for culinary experiences. The Barn has become renowned for food, much of it grown on the property, and the only way to experience it is to stay in one of the many rooms or cottages.  I understood that some of the people who own property nearby are allowed to dine there, so maybe that would be your preferred choice, either way you have to have a reservation.  The menu changes every other day and there are vegetarian options.   A huge wine list is available, but many of the selections date back several years, and a full bar is in the barn.  The menu is 4 courses, including dessert and there are at least 4 choices for each course.  The Barn is a huge red building that is too far to walk to so they provide car service or you can drive yourself in a golf cart. Continue reading →