Chef Lenn wows with dinner worth traveling for!

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Chefs Joseph Lenn, left, and Jeb Aldrich. Lenn, the owner of J.C. Holdway, is Knoxville’s only James Beard Award-winning chef. Aldrich is executive chef at Cataloochee Ranch. (Photo by Laura Lenn.)

A chef knows he has a dedicated following when he has a wine dinner in a location 99 miles away from his restaurant and more than a dozen hometown folks make the trek to attend!

That was the case this past Sunday when Joseph Lenn, the chef-owner of J.C. Holdway in downtown Knoxville, was invited to be the final featured guest chef in the popular Summer Supper series held at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Lenn joined forces with Jeb Aldrich, Cataloochee’s executive chef, and Brooke Sabel, national sales and marketing director of Peay Vineyards in West Sonoma, for a memorable culinary evening.

The five dinner courses plus three passed hors d’oeuvres were paired with a total of eight different wines over the course of the evening. Given that line-up, you can understand why Alan and I decided to spend the night at the ranch rather than drive back to Knoxville after dinner. Plus, we had never stayed overnight at the renovated version of Cataloochee Ranch and we wanted to check it out. We are glad we did! Continue reading →

Filed under: Food, Travel | 9 Comments

“Haydn in the Garden:” a lovely free treat for the senses

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Violinist Rachel Loseke played in a small group outside the stone greenhouses at Knoxville Botanical Garden.

You often hear Aram Demirjian, music director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, say that 70 percent of the KSO’s performances occur outside of concert halls. By that, he means that, in addition to the scheduled concerts, the musicians also perform in schools, libraries, hospitals and other public places throughout the year.

Case in point: the KSO kicked off its 2024-25 season last Thursday with a free concert in four different locations in the Knoxville Botanical Garden. Hundreds of people attended. And the crowd was diverse with the age of listeners ranging from literal babes in arms to very senior citizens. It was wonderful!

Some folks brought folding chairs and blankets; some packed food; others purchased dinner  from a food truck on site. The program featured the music of Franz Joseph Haydn, although many other composers were represented, too, during the fast-moving 90-minutes of music. It was fun for the audience to move, as well, as we listened to small groups of musicians play in various gardens before everyone ended up at the Dogwood Center for the finale by the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Music | 2 Comments

Swell happenings at The Swag and Cataloochee Ranch!

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

DeeAnn Dean, left, and Holly Watkins were two friendly Knoxvillians we ran into last month when we visited The Swag. They were celebrating DeeAnn’s birthday. You will almost always see someone you know there!

On top of the normal relaxing good times that define a visit to The Swag and Cataloochee Ranch, there are a couple of unique — and newsworthy — events on the horizon. Both Relais & Chateaux resorts, located just 90 miles from downtown Knoxville, are owned by Knoxvillians Annie and David Colquitt.

This coming Sunday, Sept. 8, Knoxville’s only James Beard Award-winning chef, Joseph Lenn of J.C. Holdway, will star in the final event of Cataloochee’s Summer Supper Series. Lenn, with the ranch’s executive chef, Jeb Aldrich, and his culinary team will prepare a five-course prix fixe menu with wine pairings. The cost: $200 per ticket. A bargain.

Brook Sabel of Peay Wines, located on the West Sonoma Coast, will introduce the wines from Peay Vineyards that will be paired with Lenn’s courses. Make reservations here.

Then, from Nov. 14-17, Garden & Gun magazine will buy out both The Swag and Cataloochee Ranch for its annual Garden & Gun Society meeting. It includes beautiful lodging, gourmet meals, experts giving talks, musical entertainment, and outdoor activities like horseback riding and hiking, in addition to the stunning views and relaxing environment that are the mainstays of these two Western North Carolina treasures. You must be a member of the Garden & Gun Society to participate. But it sure sounds like fun! (Here’s a link to the Society’s website, if you’d like to join.) The scheduled visit is sure to mean great exposure for the beautiful venues!
Continue reading →

Filed under: Food, Travel, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

“Tremont Celebration” brings big bucks

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash and his wife, Vonda, at the Tremont Celebration.

The annual Tremont Celebration at Marblegate Farm was another whopping success this year, raking in more than $200,000 for the nature organization. “Thank you to everyone who supported our ongoing work of connecting people to nature,” the organization said in its newsletter and Facebook posts.

Founded in 1969, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont‘s theory is that “we all belong in nature.” The group, through its research and residential programs, seeks to facilitate inclusive outdoor experiences that contribute to each participant’s sense of belonging in nature and in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Even for this die-hard city girl, the group’s annual fundraiser at Bill and Donna Cobble’s beautiful Marblegate Farm in Friendsville is an education in the power of nature to bring people together. Continue reading →

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Friends remember Todd Cramer by raising a toast — while supporting one of his favorite local causes

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

At the Summer Swing, from left, Nikki Elliott; Todd Cramer’s parents, Linda and Richard Cramer; and his husband, Ernie Hoskins. (Photo by Judson Hall.)

Summer  Swing, a popular fundraiser for Positively Living and Choice Health Network, was held as usual this year, and the mood was still festive. But everyone paused for a few minutes to remember Knoxville business executive Todd Cramer, a tremendously popular community supporter who passed away in January at age 53.

“It is without a doubt that the contributions of Todd Cramer have touched everyone in this room in some way,” said Steve Jenkins, executive director of Positively Living and Choice Health Network. “For most of us, his work in the community will continue to touch and move us for years to come.”

Cramer was on the Positively Living board of directors on and off for 15 years. He was one of the founders of  Knox Pride (the East Tennessee Equality Council) and was a driving force behind the annual Pride Parade. He was president and CEO of Johnstone Supply, a leading provider of HVAC equipment, supplies, and parts. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 2 Comments

“Bubbles & Bird Night:” finger lickin’ good!

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Chef Joseph Lenn delivers our leftovers in a very special container!

In a way, I wish I’d never had the delicious sweet tea-brined fried chicken I had for the first time last week at J.C. Holdway in downtown Knoxville. It was the most delicious chicken I’ve ever tasted.

So, what’s my problem? It’s this: no other fried chicken will ever measure up! And it’s not on the eatery’s normal menu. It was a once-in-a-blue-moon special offering called “Bubbles and Bird Night.” So, what’s a girl to do?

Here’s the deal. About once a month, from January to August, J.C. Holdway offers a special “chef’s counter” dinner. It’s not cheap. We paid $249 each for two seats. But, I’m telling you, it was worth it. For the price (plus tip), we got four killer courses, a wonderful bottle of champagne selected by the restaurant’s sommelier, Jason Drotar, and special touches and surprises all through the night. But, dammit, what am I going to do about that chicken??

Well, for starters, we enjoyed the leftovers. Every couple was served a whole chicken, so we had plenty to take home. Continue reading →

Filed under: Downtown, Food, Knoxville | 6 Comments

I swear the moonshine was for a good cause!

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

It startled me a little when veteran auctioneer Bear Stephenson jumped up on a dining room chair in the middle of selling something! But that’s how Bear is — he does what he has to to get the sale!

I continue to think that Volunteer Ministry Center has one of the most unusual fundraisers every year. It’s called “Wine & Shine.” Maybe the wine tasting part of it is not so unique. But the moonshine tasting definitely is!

Don’t get me wrong. You aren’t going to get very high on the moonshine! It literally is served in thimbles! I loved it, though, because I don’t often have the opportunity to taste moonshine — I mostly just hear about it in country songs on the radio! And what a variety we had at this event for a most worthy organization. Thanks to Sugarlands Distilling Co. for providing the goods.

Volunteer Ministry Center serves the more than 9,000 people in Knoxville who access homeless services every year. VMC’s programs support its two-fold mission of facilitating permanent supportive housing for those who are homeless and providing services to prevent homelessness. It operates under the “housing first” approach — which maintains that people need a place to live before they can address other serious issues like substance misuse and mental illness. And, at VMC, unlike at some other shelters, participants don’t have to “pray to stay” — they are welcomed without the necessity of participating in religious services.
Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Knoxville | 6 Comments

“Glory in the Gardens” was a glorious finale

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Former Knoxville Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe chats with Johnnie Creel, left, and Pandy Anderson. He was a member of the host committee.

The third and final Knox Heritage “Summer Supper” for 2024 followed the trend set by the first two — it was a sell-out. Held earlier this month at the Knoxville Botanical Garden in East Knoxville, it gave a nod to the Summer Suppers of past years when there used to be many small dinner events instead of the three large ones of recent years. As in those earlier times, the volunteer host committee for this event prepared and served the food themselves.

This made it so much more personal than the catered affairs these have turned into recently. (Not that I have anything against good caterers — Lord knows I have my favorites!)

The Botanical Garden fits right in with Knox Heritage’s goals of preserving our community’s irreplaceable architectural heritage as an investment in Knoxville’s future. In the case of the Botanical Garden, however, the descendants of the Howell family preserved it themselves with help from the Aslan Foundation. The family patriarch, David Wessel Howell, received the bulk of the property in the 1780s as a land grant in gratitude for his service in the Revolutionary War.

Today the 44-acre garden operates as a non-profit organization and survives through donations and memberships. It is open free to the public from dawn until dusk every day. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Food, Historic preservation | 5 Comments

Friends have “Fun on Farm” for a good cause

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

My co-purchaser, Erin Donovan, spending some quality time with Bronco, a friendly farm dog.

Earlier this year, at a fundraiser for Nourish Knoxville called “Winter Warmer,”  my friend Erin Donovan and I found ourselves bidding against each other on an auction item named “Fun on the Farm.” The item was a dinner and horse-drawn wagon ride at Strong Stock Farm, the 900-acre Black Angus cattle farm in East Knox County.

I quickly ran over to her with a proposition. Since the two of us have so many mutual friends, why don’t we go in together to purchase the item instead of bidding against each other? She agreed. And that’s how we ended up with a super relaxing and interesting evening among those friends.

Strong Stock Farm is what is known as a “regenerative” farm. That means it uses sustainable agriculture techniques designed to improve the condition of the land rather than diminish it. The cattle are raised without growth hormones and the pastures are chemical free. 

Albert George Kern, III, and his sister, Martha Strong Kern, are the seventh generation to own and manage the farm, which is a 1791 land grant farm from the State of North Carolina. Martha and her husband, John Niceley, both University of Tennessee graduates with degrees in animal science, have lived on and run the farm for more than 30 years. Continue reading →

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Symphony Board gathers to gab and gourmandize

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Cynthia Moxley

Knoxville Symphony Concertmaster William Shaub performing after dinner at the KSO Board’s summer get-together.

Haha! Made you look! I just wanted to use the word “gourmandize” in a headline!

Actually, this is just a light little post to launch us all into a (hopefully) relaxing — and cooler — weekend.

The board of directors of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra typically takes the summer off following the orchestra’s final performances (except for the Fourth of July) of the season in May. But, at the last board meeting, Chairman Rick Fox asked members what could keep the board more engaged during the summer break.

The answer: a party!

So Rick and his longtime partner, Ralph Cianelli, obliged by throwing one for the board and staff of the KSO. The location was the pair’s “Summer House” located in the backyard of the historic Middlebrook Plantation where they reside. The casual gathering was catered by Rick and Ralph’s favorite caterer, Rothchild, and was an Italian supper buffet. Continue reading →

Filed under: Events, Music | 7 Comments