Culinary Creativity Abounds At Dollywood
When someone says Dollywood, what comes to mind? Perhaps its owner and namesake Dolly Parton or maybe the 150-acre theme park or even sweet, Southern hospitality, but rarely do people associate fine dining with the name. Last week I had a chance to experience the Flower and Food Festival Celebration Menu at Song & Hearth and admittedly was pleasantly surprised. Let’s jump into all of the delicious details, shall we?
To start the evening, we enjoyed cocktails prepared by the one and only, Anastasia, the best bartender at Song and Hearth. It was comprised of Moscato and Fleur de Vie Liqueur, crafted by Knox Whiskey Works. This liqueur is the first in a botanical series and made with rosebuds, lavender, chrysanthemum, red clover tops, and hibiscus. It is a quintessential springtime cocktail.
Our first dish was a twist on a classic Caprese salad. Rather than using slices of mozzarella and basil leaves, the chef finely diced up the Buffalo Mozzarella and sprinkled it on top of the tomatoes along with Basil Blossoms. The dish was paired with a 2018 Ferarri Carono, Sangiovese Rose from Sonoma.
Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio | Spring Onion + Basil Blossom + Preserved Lemon + Buffalo Mozzarella + Little Gem Lettuces + White Balsamic Vinaigrette
For the second course, guests can choose from three entree offerings: Smoked Beef Rib, Game Hen, and Seared Verlasso Salmon. While all the dishes sounded amazing, the Game Hen caught my eye. I’m not sure if it was the Chili Lime Rub or the Fresno Pepper and Arugula Orzo Salad that sealed the deal, but I was not disappointed. In fact, I wish they offered the orzo regularly on the menu. This dish was paired with a 2017 Belle Glos Pinot Noir, “Meiomi” from the Central Coast.
Game Hen | Chili Lime Rubbed Hen + Fresno Pepper + Arugula Orzo Salad + Roasted Caulilini + Nasturtium
Rounding out the evening was a Strawberry Rhubarb Buckle topped with a Lemon Brown Sugar Créme Anglaise. Rest assured, no bite was left behind. Paired with a 2018 Michele Chiarlo, “Nivole”, Moscato d’ Asti from Piedmont, Italy, it was the perfect ending for the celebration menu.
Strawberry Rhubarb Buckle | Lemon Brown Sugar Créme Anglaise
Little did we know, the festivities were not over. Our final send-off was a riff on a spicy margarita with a chili cucumber garnish in honor of Cinco de Mayo. What did I tell you- Anastasia makes some incredible cocktails.
Celebrating Cinco De Mayo With A Riff On A Spicy Margarita
The Flower and Food Festival Celebration Tasting menu is available now through June 7, 2021. Guests can enjoy this three-course tasting menu for $29.95. If guests choose to include the wine pairings, it’s $59.95, which is incredibly reasonable for the quality of these dishes.
In addition to the Flower and Food Festival Celebration Tasting menu, Dollywood also hosts a Flower and Food Winemakers Series that features a six-course tasting menu in partnership with Biltmore Estate. If you are interested in learning more about this series or making a reservation, click HERE. Expect to see more of these Winemaker Dinners sprinkled throughout the year, so if you are unable to attend this one, stay tuned as more dates will be released in the future.
Until Next Time!