Since 1917, the Dillard House has been serving southern favorites to the masses. As an icon known to most Georgians, this is the place where we take the relatives to impress them with true Georgian recipes. What started out as a simple restaurant, has grown into a 70 room inn and more than 25 cottages and chalets. There are numerous activities in the area including horseback riding, swimming, tennis, fly fishing, carriage rides and white water rafting. Nearby you can visit Harrah's Casino, the town of Helen, Biltmore House and the Cherokee Village. When you are in north Georgia, visit the Dillard House in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains for a great family experience. Located in Dillard, Georgia, www.dillardhouse.com. 1-800-541-0671. Check for more photos below of the beautiful area.
6/30/08
6/23/08
Bull Sluice: Category 5 Rapids
Shooting The Bull:
The Bull Sluice is considered one of the most beautiful places to visit in Georgia. This is a category five rapid located on the Chattooga River in northeast Georgia. It is a popular destination for swimmers, sunbathers and kayakers. But its best claim to fame: featured in the film Deliverance.
Location: Highway 76 about nine miles from Clayton, Georgia.
Where to eat: The Dillard House (check back for info on this wonderful restaurant).
6/20/08
He Is Pregnant!
Congratulations! He is pregnant! Yes, the father Sea Dragon is pregnant at the Georgia Aquarium. The Sea Dragon, found off Australia, became pregnant when the female transferred the eggs onto his tail. So much is unknown about this creature, that the mating and pregnancy remains a mystery. There are approximately 70 eggs attached to his tail which hatch in four to six weeks. The babies are miniatures of their parents and are basically on their own when hatched.
As we say in the south, "Don't that beat all!"
6/16/08
Go Ahead! Wine!
Go ahead and wine! Georgia is blessed to have steep hillsides along with a great climate for growing grapes. In the 1800's before prohibition, Georgia was known for it's vineyards and wineries. The two oldest, Chateau Elan and Habersham, began production in the 1980's and in the last five years vineyard acreage has tripled. Follow the wine map above to visit some of the best vineyards in the state. go to www.georgiawine.com for more information.
6/8/08
Let's Eat Cake !
Some of the best cake bakers in Georgia are listed below. Brides are known to flock to these cake bakers for that special wedding and groom's cake. Pictured left is the famous caramel layer cake from Piece of Cake in Atlanta. The great thing about this baker is the retail shop and the convenience of dropping by anytime to pickup a treat. The location in the heart of Buckhead helps keep this place busy with locals. See below for more famous cake bakers.
6/1/08
Good Eats! Vidalia Onions
Vidalia onions are mmmm good! These onions were first grown near Vidalia, Georgia in the 1930's. Vidalias are an unusually sweet onion due to the low amount of sulfur in the soil. Varieties grown are recommended by the Vidalia Onion Committee and approved by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The "Vidalia Onion Act" was passed by the Georgia legislature in 1986 and limits the production area to twenty counties. In 1990, the Vidalia onion was named Georgia's official state vegetable!
But the best part are the recipes! I have included my favorite, Vidalia Onion Casserole.
Vidalia Casserole:
5 to 6 medium onions
1 stick of butter
1 stack of Ritz crackers, crumbled
4 oz. grated cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese
Melt butter and saute onions until limp, do not brown. Place half of onions in 8 x 8 casserole dish, sprinkle with a little parmesan and half of cheddar. Add 1/2 of Ritz and then repeat layers. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Very good! (This only works with sweet onions).
