fresh pursuits - Blackberry Farm

SEASONAL NEWS & NOTES ~ SPRING 2015
FRESH PURSUITS
This is definitely the year at Blackberry—but this is also Spring, which is so special on our farm. As
I have told guests for over a decade, March 15th through April 15th are my favorite 30 days of the
year. If you’ve been fortunate enough to visit Blackberry during this time, I assume no explanation
is necessary. For those that have not yet seen our farm in Spring, I hope that you will be able to
experience firsthand the energy and feeling of life that begins during this season. The buds have
popped; baby chicks and lambs are born; the first blooms brighten the trees and the days and
nights are finally warm enough to leave the windows open. Here in Tennessee, we feel privileged to
see the beauty of Spring so much earlier than most of the nation stuck in “mud season.” Luckily for
us, we have the Gulf of Mexico, more so than the Northeast, to thank for our charming weather
patterns—all the more reason for you to join us soon!
This Spring also brings the renewed efforts of our team to exceed all possible guest expectations. We
are proud of Blackberry’s last three decades, but we have never been more excited for what we are
doing than right now! Our commitment to hospitality and quality is the driving force for every
decision we make. I believe you will notice a new passion in the service from our team, as well as in
some of the investments we are making in the property for our guests. As we speak, we have just
broken ground on our beautiful new special events building—perfect for concerts, group events and
retreats—a new family pool with a refreshed Camp Blackberry experience for kids and a state-of-the-art
distillery with dual pot and column still. We are thrilled about all of these developments, particularly
the distillery because it will allow us to finally make enough of our most important Tennessee spirit
to share with our guests every visit.
Hopefully, it goes without saying that as we continue to grow the activities and amenities at
Blackberry for generations to come, we will always protect the intimate guest experience you’ve
come to love, and the number of accommodations won’t change. I think you will find our new
Spring efforts exciting, and I look forward to sharing them with you during your next visit!
Sam Beall, Proprietor
Turning Earth
GOOD FOOD
AWARDS
UPDATE
HERE AT THE FARM, WE ALL GET EXCITED WHEN JOHN COYKENDALL,
JEFF ROSS AND THE REST OF THE GARDEN TEAM START PLOWING
THE SOIL FOR PLANTING. THIS SPRING, WE’RE FOLLOWING IN
THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND BREAKING GROUND ON TWO NEW EXCITING
ADDITIONS TO BLACKBERRY FARM. SPRING IS A BUSY—AND THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL—SEASON ON THE FARM, AND WE HOPE YOU’LL
JOIN US FOR SOME OF THE ACTIVITY.
A Room with a View
A Reason to Celebrate
The Carriage House – coming Fall 2015
The Event Center – coming Spring 2016
Watching the sun rise over the Smoky Mountains at
Blackberry is a sight that stays with you long after you
leave. Surprisingly enough, none of our best rooms come
with a view. So, for the first time, we will offer a premium
room with our signature mountain views. This Fall, you’ll
have a chance to wake up and enjoy the view in our new
Carriage House. Composed of four spacious individual
suites featuring mountain views and private entries, The
Carriage House boasts some of our most well-appointed
accommodations. Its understated style is designed to
complement the Main House, with traditional finishes
of stone, slate, plaster and reclaimed white oak.
There’s overwhelming excitement on the horizon for Blackberry. And that’s exactly why we’re building an event center.
Designed to accommodate a variety of groups and special events—concerts, weddings, food and wine events, meetings and
more—Blackberry Farm’s newest building will feature beautiful meeting rooms, a culinary demonstration kitchen, ample
space for various functions and private lawns and patios, along with an amphitheater. We are looking forward to sharing
more details in the next few issues of our newsletter and celebrating the opening in Spring of 2016.
Fresh from
our Kitchens
praise-worthy flavors
Early this year, we were humbled and honored to win three
Good Food Awards for our Classic Saison Beer, Under the
Pines Cheese, and Blackberry Farm Honey. Look for the
Under the Pines Cheese to return to shelves after the Spring
milking season and the honey this Summer!
Spring in the Smokies ushers in the arrival of a Blackberry
favorite: ramps! The wild, native leek has drawn the attention
of the nation, but here in the Smokies, we have been enjoying
its strong flavor for decades. Blackberry Farm Preservationist
Shannon Walker comes from a long line of East Tennessee
folks and has a dozen or so ramp recipes up his sleeve. Luckily
for us, he continues to bottle up our favorites.
Ready to bring home some ramps of your own? Try our ever-popular
Ramp Lovers Collection, which includes Ramp Jam, Ramp Kraut
and Pickled Ramps. You can find this and other ramp products on
the new Blackberry Farm app.
Savor New Tastes
in an Old Favorite
This month, we’re opening a new
evening eatery in the Main House that’s
sure to please. Focused on Southern
specialties and Dixieland cocktails
with a dose of family feel and bustling
energy, the new Dogwood Bar Dining
experience gives you the chance to enjoy
the Main House’s iconic view of the
Smokies at night. Chef Sarah Steffan’s
menu will offer a wholesome array of
Southern entrees, sharable appetizers
and family-style sides for the table,
followed by a dessert board of Southern
favorites like pies, cakes, crisps and
seasonally perfect fruit. Diners will also
enjoy passed small bites and snacks
throughout the night. The heart of the
experience is its namesake watering
hole, Blackberry’s most-frequented
Dogwood Bar. You’ll taste celebrated
Southern cocktails, Blackberry Farm
beer and an exclusive collection of
unique whiskeys—all carefully stashed
away by beverage guru Andrew Noye
over the last decade.
A Bittersweet Announcement
Spring always brings new perspectives, and it’s no different
in our kitchen this year. Chef Joseph Lenn is moving on
to fulfill his longtime culinary dreams and open his own
restaurant. We are thrilled that Cassidee Dabney, our
Executive Sous Chef for the past five years, took the helm
on April 1. We are grateful for all Joseph has done over the
last 10 years to elevate our culinary experience, and can’t
wait to watch his success in the next 10 years.
His successor brings plenty of her own passion to the
table. A Blackberry Farm veteran, Cassidee is remarkably
talented and ambitious. She’s spent ten years in the kitchens
of Blackberry Farm, with a brief stint in Arkansas as the
chef of the Capital Hotel. As our newest Executive Chef of
The Barn, Cassidee will lead a team that includes Pastry
Chef Liz Miller. It’s an exciting time for women in food,
especially here in the South, and we can’t wait for you
to see how our new culinary team will continue to take
Blackberry’s cuisine to new heights.
“Blackberry will always be special
to me...One day I hope to return as
a guest to Blackberry and see what
the next amazing chapter will be.”
Chef Joseph Lenn
“As sad as we are to
see Joseph go, we’re
thrilled he’s not
going far. And Joseph
and I both agree
our kitchens are in
talented hands.”
Sam Beall
At Home at Blackberry
Homecoming
Over the years, guests and friends have
decided that simply visiting Blackberry
wasn’t enough—so they decided to make a
home in our little corner of East Tennessee.
Private owners from more than 16 states
and abroad have built some lovely homes in
recent years, homes whose quality and style
blend effortlessly with Blackberry Farm.
Although nothing has been available since
early 2013, a limited number of these
beautiful properties are currently being
offered. To learn more about the available
properties and private ownership, please
visit blackberryfarmliving.com or call
865-273-8592 to reach Tyler Congleton,
our on-site broker.
Celebrating
Hospitality
ONE PHRASE HAS BEEN
THE QUIET CORNERSTONE
OF EVERY BLACKBERRY
GUEST EXPERIENCE FOR
YEARS: “YES IS THE ANSWER.
WHAT IS THE QUESTION?”
M
ore than a catch-phrase, it’s a philosophy of
extraordinary service and hospitality. It’s
a definition of comfort that extends far beyond
luxurious amenities. This genuine hospitality was
first modeled by the Beall family and continues
to be given shape by Director of Guest Relations
Brian Lee during the past 20 years.
Personal note on your
pillow after a thrilling day
at the shooting range or
in the kitchen? You can
thank Brian Lee for that.
A bartender who asks how
your early morning massage
was? Thank Brian Lee.
A romantic picnic dinner
packed just for you late at
night? Thank Brian Lee. Over the years, he’s
turned the Southern tradition of hospitality into
a service experience so tangible and rare you’ll be
talking about it long after you leave.
There is no face more recognizable at Blackberry
than Brian’s. This year, we are proud to celebrate
his 20 years of service at Blackberry Farm. He is
the epitome of hospitality and Southern charm,
and we couldn’t be more honored to have him
on our team. Because I am here every day, our
property has operated without the position or title
of general manager for the past 10 years. That
experience led to my new definition of GM, part
of which is someone who can ‘generally’ handle any
and all guest needs. I am thrilled to announce
that Brian Lee will be our new General Manager.
–Sam Beall
BREWED&
BARRELED
What’s on tap for your favorite
Blackberry beverages.
OVER A BEER
WE CHAT WITH OUR BREWER, ROY MILNER,
ABOUT SPRING, SECRETS AND THE FUTURE
OF BLACKBERRY FARM BEER
A
s we shed our Winter layers and
prepare for Spring growth, our little
farmhouse brewery is experiencing
some growth of its own. We have been
flattered by the overwhelming enthusiasm
from those of you who have tried our
beer on the farm. You have encouraged
us to spread our wings and build a new
brewery—all so we can make more of
our beer available in more places outside
the farm. We hope this means that many
more of you can soon share a beer with us,
even from afar!
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BREWERY?
Those final details are being ironed out as I
write this, but I can share that several states
in the Southeast (Tennessee, Georgia, South
Carolina and Alabama) will start to see our
beers become available. Beyond that, our
portfolio has plenty of secrets that will, well...
remain secrets for now, but I’ll tell you that our
Classic Saison will be our sole focus for the first
part of the year, and Summer will bring a new
offering or two.
WHAT FOOD SHOULD I PAIR WITH
BLACKBERRY BEER?
You can find food pairings, plus a lot more on
our new website (coming soon!). Here, you’ll
have a chance to explore our story, our beers,
pairings and special content previously only
available through Friends of the Farm. Best
of all, the refreshed website will include a beer
locator, so you can easily find which restaurants
and bottle shops are featuring our products.
WHY FOCUS ON CLASSIC SAISON
THIS SEASON?
WHERE CAN I GET LIMITED-RELEASE
BLACKBERRY FARM BEERS?
Classic Saison was the very first beer we ever
made, and it remains one of our most versatile,
thought-provoking and satisfying beers. We
were pleased to find out in January that several
of our industry peers agreed with us when it
was awarded a coveted Good Food Award in
San Francisco—earning the top honor out of
hundreds of breweries from across the U.S.
Sign up for our brewery mailing list, where we
will tell you more about limited offerings and
keep you up to date on our progress, pick-up
parties and the pursuit of shipping beer direct
to you in the future.
NEWS
BIG AND
SMALL
TASTING NOTES
If you haven’t heard the good news yet…
The Blackberry Farm Brewery has
expanded its facilities for making beer! We
are still brewing up batches on the farm,
but we have built an impressive location
just down the road with more equipment
for more brewing. Keep your eyes on
the brewery website for even more new
developments. As for our much-anticipated,
much-coveted whiskey…we are still waiting,
as all good distillers do. We’ll let you know
as soon as we’re ready to tap those barrels.
Mark your calendar for some of the
most exciting wine, beer and spirits
events on deck at Blackberry.
HOSPICE DU RHÔNE
April 30–May 3
WINE ON THE FLY
June 21–24, 24–26
YO YO YO
September 27–30
CALIFORNIA ROOTS
November 1–4
L IFE I N MO T I O N
Call it a challenge, call it a reward—if you’re passionate about
cycling, a Blackberry cycling getaway is sure to be both. Guests
always leave tired, yet refreshed by exhilarating rides, great
company and superb food and wine. Contact our Reservations
team to book your spot.
impact beyond the farm
The Blackberry Farm Foundation was
thrilled to make our 2014 giving official by
donating grants totaling $130,000 to Blount
County-based charities, including New Hope
Children’s Advocacy Center, Harmony
Family Center, Maryville High School’s
new culinary program and Café le Reve,
Blount County Boys and Girls Club and East
Tennessee-founded H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue
Corps. In 2014, the foundation more than
quadrupled its giving to make a larger impact
on the local community.
trunks are packed
THE GREATEST RIDE
August 9–12
Start by sharing a table with retired Pro
Cyclist George Hincapie and Blackberry Farm
Proprietor Sam Beall for the opening
dinner at Blackberry Farm. Wake up the
next morning ready to ride 90+ miles to
Waynesville—where you’ll enjoy another
unique dinner and night’s rest at The Swag,
a lovely mountaintop inn in North Carolina.
Finish the tri-state journey with a 100-mile
ride and a finale dinner at Hotel Domestique,
George’s quiet luxury hotel in Traveler’s Rest,
SC. This intimate and challenging event is
limited to just 10 avid riders.
Spring always inspires us to freshen our
wardrobes and homes. There’s just something
about the changing weather that calls for
crisp fabrics and classic styles. We’re bringing
a few of our favorite designers and craftsmen
to Blackberry for a round of exclusive trunk
shows this Spring. Plan to join us as we
explore new collections from some of the
makers we love most, including: Barbour,
Billy Reid, White + Warren, Moore and Giles
and Natalie Chanin.
FALL TOUR DE SMOKIES
PRO-AM CHALLENGE
September 20–23
Over the years, our annual Fall Tour
de Smokies camp has brought together
avid cyclists and top professional
athletes to enjoy beautiful rides in the
mountains of East Tennessee. This
year, we are adding a new and exciting
element to this classic cycling trip: our
first annual Pro-Am event.
a model destination
INQUIRE QUICKLY FOR THESE
COVETED INVITATIONS.
We always blush a bit when a magazine
chooses to feature us on their cover. This was more than a little true on Sports Illustrated's
recent swimsuit edition cover. We were as surprised as everyone by all the coverage (or
lack thereof!). However, we do appreciate that our Smoky Mountains were recognized
as one of the world’s most beautiful photoshoot locations!
After the first buds are spotted, we all take a deep breath and
exhale because Spring is here. The warm, sunshine-filled days
rush into the cove, bringing new life to the barnyard, a fresh
green hue to the fields and forests and rippling water to the
stream. Life is renewed in Spring—and with it, so is our
desire to live well. This season, we hope you’ll join us in
the farm-fresh air, stretching our bodies—and our minds.
NOURISHING MIND
Enrich your mind, broaden your experience.
NATALIE CHANIN WEEKEND
AWAY WORKSHOP
JUNE 26–28
MOTHER DAUGHTER
WEEKEND: TIE THAT BINDS
JUNE 28–JULY 1
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE:
IRA YEAGER
JULY 12–14
BLACKBERRY IDEAS:
JOHN ROSEMOND
JULY 24–26
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE:
ANNE H. NEILSON
JULY 31–AUGUST 2
BLACKBERRY IDEAS:
MONICA LANGLEY
AUGUST 14–16
With all materials provided,
guests will work with Designer/
Owner Natalie Chanin to
create a custom garment or
project of their choice from the
renowned Alabama Chanin Studio
Book Series. The workshop will
include stitching instruction,
guided sewing sessions,
beautiful meals showcasing
Blackberry Farm cuisine and
plenty of good company.
This special getaway gives
mothers and daughters a
chance to connect during
a few Blackberry favorite
activities. Counseling
Directors Melissa Trevathan
and Sissy Goff will bring
their experience to help moms
and daughters discover who
they are and how they can
connect with each other in
deeper, more enjoyable ways.
Ira joins us as Artist in
Residence this Summer for a
gallery viewing and discussion
of his work—which ranges
from portraits to landscapes,
often influenced by the 18th
century style he adores. Don’t
miss this rare opportunity to
spend time with one of this
country’s most fascinating
and joyful figures.
Renowned Family
Psychologist, Speaker and
Author John Rosemond,
who specializes in families
and parenting, joins us for a
workshop-style conversation
punctuated by special meals.
This weekend promises to be an
engaging and enjoyable event
for those interested to explore
family topics in fresh new ways.
Acclaimed North Carolina
Artist Anne H. Neilson will
bring her passion for color
and light to Blackberry Farm
as our late Summer Artist in
Residence. Join us this Summer
for an enlightening discussion
from Anne, book signing and
gallery viewing of her work,
including the inspiring
Angel series.
The Wall Street Journal Senior
Special Writer Monica Langley
will lead lectures offering
her unique perspective on
corporate leadership in a
turbulent time. This engaging
event will feature two keynote
presentations from Ms. Langley
and an interactive parlor discussion,
along with special meals that
further highlight stimulating
conversation around the table.
When the temperatures start to rise and the blossoms appear,
our bodies long to shed Winter’s apathy and be refreshed. The
new Spring menu from The Wellhouse is filled with transformative
seasonal treatments. Just in case you needed another excuse to
escape to our mountains.
Featured Spring Treatment:
Nature’s Pharmacy - Magnesium Renewal
Featured Spring Wellness Activity:
Deep Healing Woods
This luxurious, full body massage with
magnesium oil assists the body’s natural recovery
process, helping to prevent future injuries as
you gear up your active lifestyle this Spring.
Magnesium, arnica and sweet birch steeped hot
towels are applied to the legs, abdomen and chest
while you are cocooned, enjoying a foot massage.
Groundbreaking research highlights the benefits
of forest bathing, which include enhanced physical
fitness, increased mental focus and improved
biological responses to fighting disease. Learn more
about Deep Healing Woods Yoga, Meditation and
EarthFit Endurance Hikes and Forest Runs at
blackberryfarm.com.
AND BODY
Finding Your Balance
Balanced Life and Body: Spring Transformation
April 12–15
If you need a kickstart for Summer, this retreat
will leave you pumped and glowing. Body Designer
Tammy Stokes and Wellness/Skincare Expert
Tata Harper will demonstrate how to incorporate fitness,
nutrition and natural ingredients in a balanced lifestyle.
You’ll work up a sweat with fitness classes, biking and
hiking before slowing down for skincare discussions,
cooking demonstrations and special meal experiences.
Balanced Life and Body: Summer Splash
June 14–17
With a focus on creating a healthy outdoor lifestyle, this
event will combine daily yoga classes, paddleboarding,
garden-fresh juicing tips and cooking demonstrations with
Nutritionist McKel Hill. You’ll join Wellhouse Fitness
Guru Hope Parks out on the water for Strengthen SUP, a
fun paddleboarding excursion that will tone and exhilarate.
And, of course, each day will feature meals that showcase
balanced, straight-from-the-farm food at its best.
Balanced Life and Body: Fall into Yoga
September 13–16
No matter your level of yoga experience, you’ll discover
the power of alignment in a retreat that marries vigorous
movement with quiet sitting. Acclaimed Yoga Instructor
Natasha Rizopoulos will lead intentional yoga classes and
sessions focused on alignment and breath. Join us as we
explore balance—physically and philosophically—in this
reflective retreat.
N o. 1
HOTEL FOR FOOD LOVERS
Our guests tell us one of the only ways to top a Blackberry
experience is to share it with others: family, friends, even
co-workers. Call for group bookings, and we’ll help choose
perfect accommodations and activities for your group.
800.557.8451
bring the whole family
Kids never forget a Summer vacation to Blackberry. And
when everyone’s having this much fun, parents don’t either.
Available when booking a Singing Brook Cottage for
stays between May 26th–September 2nd (including Summer
holidays!), Family Time gives you the chance to enjoy an
amazing vacation at special family rates. Call soon to plan
your family stay this Summer.