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| Sunday May 11, 2008 |
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by Chuck Burnes
Long the homeland of the Cherokee Nation, the southeastern corner of Tennessee wasn't discovered by outside visitors until the late 1790's. That's when Widow Jane Huskey Ogle brought her six sons and two daughters into the area now known as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Today, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit these two charming hamlets occupying a ten mile stretch along US 441 as it winds its way into the arms of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of America's greatest natural treasures. Signs of Jane Ogle's descendants can still be seen everywhere you go. By that I mean real signs - like those we found on many of the quaint shops and restaurants. Of course there are hundreds of other non-Ogle Family businesses along the Parkway - scores of unique shops, family theatres, themed amusement parks, quaint inns and a plethora of wonderful restaurants serving everything from great home cooking to gourmet delicacies. During my recent visit to this charming locale, I was especially touched by several memorable dining experiences I'd like to share.
Named for the wild plum trees surrounding this charming log building, The Wild Plum seats 32 guests in the dining room and a few more on the screened front porch next to the stream. Open from 11:30 A.M. until 3:00 P.M., March to mid-December, proprietor Elizabeth Hinote and her chief cook and bottle washer, Cindy Black, serve about 100 luncheons, daily. Their menu includes sandwiches and house salads with choices changing daily. Here, desserts are always a must, and their offerings include their special Brownie Delight, Coconut Cheese Cake, Sour Cream Lime Pie and Hummingbird Cake (a pineapple-banana spice cake with maraschino cherries and nuts topped with a cream cheese frosting). In the autumn, desserts include Pumpkin Pie and Amaretto Bread Pudding. We had their delicious specialty chicken salad, wild plum tea, wild plum muffins and their Hummingbird Cake. Terrific! A charming little gift shop overlooks the dining area. Prices are moderate. Reservations accepted after 10 A.M. Phone: (423) 436-3808.
Delicate finches flying within the windowed aviary blend with the restaurant's natural forest surroundings and add greatly to the understated grace of its dining rooms. At breakfast, our server brought us a Burning Bush Berry-Go-Round -- a lazy susan overflowing with fresh fruits, berries and fruit muffins, along with glasses of LeConte Sunrise, a glorious blend of five fruits frappeéd into a delightful taste treat. All servings were plentiful and, in true country tradition, breakfast included fresh stewed apples, southern grits, homemade buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy and our choice of bacon, sausage, pork chops, chicken breasts or rainbow trout. Pancakes, waffles, omelets and country ham with redeye gravy are also available as well as a low cholesterol egg substitute. Assorted specialty sandwiches, huge salads and pasta are offered during Brunchbreak. Candlelight dinners can include one of their special house combinations - an 8 oz. cut of mouthwatering slow roasted prime rib with your choice of quail, trout, shrimp or swordfish or any of a wide variety of other house specialties plus some great desserts. Prices are moderate. Children's menu available. Phone: (423) 436-4669. Helen Cornelius' Nashville South Popular Nashville entertainer Helen Cornelius has brought a unique experience to the Smokies offering folks their favorite steaks and ribs in an atmosphere of homey comfort. The walls are lined with Nashville "Music City" memorabilia. There's also a section devoted to sports and TV fanatics. The cocktail lounge has a western flavor where guests can enjoy their drinks while sitting on real saddles instead of the more traditional barstools. Helen and her excellent backup band perform dinner and cocktail shows, year round. Prices are moderate. No cover charge with dinner or cocktails. Opens at 5 P.M. Phone (423) 430-2191. The Cornflower Restaurant in historic Old Mill Village on Lower Middle Creek Road, Pigeon Forge, TN (east at traffic light #7) next to the Little Pigeon River overlooks a peaceful little community of over 25 specialty shops. The grist mill, next door, was built back in 1830 and has remained in continuous operation grinding corn, wheat, rye and buckwheat. During the Civil War, women hid within its upper floor sewing uniforms for the Confederate Army. Guests can enjoy the delightful country atmosphere and foods prepared in the old southern tradition. Many of the rich and wholesome corn products made at the Old Mill are used in their recipes. The food is great and the service is friendly. Open 8 A.M. until 9 P.M. (Fridays until 10 P.M.) Prices are moderate. Children's menu available. Phone: (423) 429-3463.
We came here for some of Pastry Chef Yordy Hernandez' delicious desserts after attending one of the many live theatres in the area. Among the offerings were Smoky Mountain Apple Strudel, Southern Pecan Pie, Big Orange Chocolate Torte, Jack Daniels Creme Brulée, White Chocolate Cheesecake, Tennessee Mud Stack and other goodies. The restaurant also features a variety of pizzas, soups, salads, western beef, chops and chicken, seafood, pasta and some impressive vegetarian dishes. It's open for lunch and dinner. A little pricey but well worth a visit. No reservations. Phone: (423) 436-2300. Dixie Stampede, a large 1,000-seat arena style dinner theatre at 3849 Parkway in the heart of Pigeon Forge, TN, was the scene for our farewell dinner. Dolly Parton guarantees it's the "most fun place to eat in the Smokies!" She should know. She owns it. Our dinner was delicious and more than plentiful. It included creamy vegetable soup, a whole rotisserie chicken and hickory smoked ribs, hot buttered corn on the cob, herb basted potato, homemade bread, dessert and unlimited coffee, tea or Pepsi-Cola®. During dinner, we enjoyed a lively two-hour show with a large cast of talented trick riders, old time carriages, covered wagons and beautifully costumed singers & dancers. It's a great place to take the entire family! The place was filled with happy people and happy tummies. Reservations are accepted by calling (800) 356-1676 or 423) 453-4400. Be sure to also read:
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The
Wild Plum Tea Room, 555 Buckhorn Road in Gatlinburg, TN was a pleasant
surprise tucked in the midst of the fascinating Great Smoky Arts and
Crafts Community. 
The
Burning Bush Restaurant, located on the Parkway at the entrance to
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, TN
offers a widely varied menu starting with their Bountiful Mountain Breakfast
(8 A.M.-2 P.M.), continuing through their Brunchbreak (11 A.M.-4 P.M.)
and concluding with dinner (4 P.M. until closing). 
Helen
Cornelius' Nashville South, 231 Airport Road (turn at traffic light
#8 across the street from Gatlinburg Convention Center), is a good
place for dinner, cocktails and an evening of great music - fiddling hoedowns,
country standards, gospel, blues and easy listenin'. 
The
Park Grill, 110 Parkway in Gatlinburg, TN, designed to be reminiscent
of a majestic national park lodge, was built in 1995 at a cost of 3.5
million dollars. Its massive superstructure is constructed of spruce trees
from the Payette National Forest in Idaho. The selected trees were naturally
killed by insects or fire when they were harvested. In fact, you can still
see insect holes in many of the logs. Trucked to Timber, OR, they were
hand peeled with razor sharp draw knives and cut to the proper lengths.
Each log was selected and tagged for a specific spot in the building and
shipped to Gatlinburg on seven flat bed trucks. The construction
crew was flown in from throughout the country to assemble this very unique
and impressive restaurant. One of the front columns measures 2.5 feet
in diameter!