YARD-TO-FORK Dinner At Barnsley Resort

Each year, no matter what my travel plans are, I always try to make it a point to visit Barnsley Resort.  Located an hour from Atlanta, Barnsley Resort is a historic southern estate in Adairsville, Georgia.  This resort is absolutely the ideal staycation.  And no matter what you want to do during your staycation, Barnsley Resort has plenty of options.  From a full-service luxury spa with plenty of inviting services to shooting clays, to horseback riding, this resort has everything you need for an awesome getaway.

On this particular trip, I was visiting for a Yard to Fork dinner hosted by Chef Jason Starnes.  He has been featured on Eating with Erica as ‘Chef of the Month,’ and he recently joined the Barnsley team.  Chef Jason truly supports local farmers and purveyors.  And because of that, I knew that this dinner was going to stellar!  

Barnsley Resort recently added an inn to its property, which fits with the grounds perfectly.  If you’ve never been here before, you wouldn’t know that the inn is an addition and has been on the property for less than two years.  When I checked into my room, it was extremely welcoming and cozy.

Nothing is better than a warm evening with refreshing craft cocktails and a nice Georgia breeze.  So before dinner, we enjoyed cocktail hour with the resort’s dining manager and cocktail expert, Jon Mattson.

Jon created three tasty cocktails for the evening.  My favorite was the ‘Whoa, Black Betty,’ which was a twist on a whiskey sour.  He used a combination of blackberries and black cardamom.

After a delightful cocktail hour, it was time for supper at the Rice House.  The tablescapes were absolutely charming as they were filled with fresh veggies that were picked from the garden located on the property.  Everything that was served was local and fresh which made for an incredible dining experience by Chef Jason.

Each dish was paired with a wine selected by Jon.  And as each course was presented to us, we learned about the dish, its ingredients, and why that particular wine was paired with the dish.  We started with hot, flakey buttery biscuits, which were so tasty.  We, then, began supper and enjoyed the following:

Amuse-Bouche

Paired with Vilmart & Cie “Grand Cellier” 1er Cru Champagne, France NV

Foie Gras Deviled Eggs

Paired with Far Niente “Dolce” Late Harvest Wine Napa Valley, California 2012

Bouquet of Tucker Farms Greens

Crispy okra, black pepper sunflower seeds, Calyroad creamery, chèvre with Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc Russian Valley, California 2016

Potato-wrapped Georgia Trout

Creamed corn, pickled cherry, lemon verbena

Domain pral “Les Charmes” Beaujolais Morgan France 2015

Chocolaté Crema

Swiss Meringue, broken chocolaté

Monteszvo Ca’Linverno Ross Veneto Italy 2012 

Each course complimented each other and gradually got heavier.  After supper, we enjoyed roasted s’mores, spiked hot chocolate, and red wine, which was the perfect end to a fun day!

The next morning we enjoyed breakfast in the ruins.  If you have never had a chance to experience the ruins, add this to your bucket list immediately.  (Ironically, the ruins are rustic and beautiful.)  We made sure to have breakfast outside before the day heated up.  The breakfast was very impressive and very tasty.  There was an array of menu items such as fruits, pancakes, and shrimp and grits.

After an incredible breakfast, it was time for my spa experience.  When you first walk in, you’ll see and feel that the waiting area is serene and relaxing.  I opted for the lavender relaxation massage.  This treatment began with a gentle exfoliating dry brush followed by a deeply relaxing massage featuring lavender blossom oil, used to ground the mind and soothe an overstressed nervous system.  When you visit Barnsley Resort, treat yourself to a spa service.  After I had my treatment, I felt like a million bucks!

I know for sure that you’re going to love this place just as much as I do.  So make your reservations to explore Barnsley Resort and be sure to follow them on social media: @barnsleyresort.