Grove Park Inn – October 19, 2013

Twenty-three years ago today Jim and I were married (and they said it wouldn’t last, ha!) so we celebrated last night with a spectacular dinner at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.  It’s a very old hotel (resort complex really) built into the side of the mountain and we had reservations at the Sunset Terrace which is open and faces the sun as it sets behind the mountains in the distances.  A cold front has moved into this area, so we were dressed warmly with lots of layers, never giving a thought to the fact this is not the hotel’s first rodeo and they have been serving dinner on this terrace for many years.

We invited our friends Faye and Lanny to share the evening with us since they were integral to the event all those years ago and we also enjoy their company.

Our table was a high top close to the wall of the building allowing us to see the splendor of the mountain view over the heads of the people between us and the edge.  (That is always important to me!)

Over head was a long row of huge heaters putting out massive amounts of heat making the temperature perfect for dinner.  At one point we all started shedding our jackets we were so warm.

The food was just as wonderful as we anticipated but as usual, more than we normally eat.  Jim and I shared a wedge blue cheese salad so instead of half a head of lettuce it was only a quarter.  The blue cheese dressing was the best we have ever had.  Even Faye who doesn’t care for blue cheese thought it was good.  The bacon had a sweet taste to it and we finally agreed it was probably cooked in brown sugar or maple syrup.

We each ordered something different for the entre and no one was disappointed.  Jim had trout with fingerling potatoes, I had scallops with asparagus and carrots, Faye had grilled salmon, and Lanny had a double port chop that he described as the best he has ever had.  None of us could face dessert but we did finish the meal with coffee savoring the final few minutes of our special dinner.

In the lobby of the hotel there are two huge fireplaces at each end (tall enough for me to stand in) with a semi-circle of rockers in front so guest can enjoy the crackling fires.

It was these fireplaces that hit a memory cord for me and reminded me when we were in this area all those years ago on our honeymoon, we came to the hotel and actually had lunch here.  There have been many improvements to the hotel since then and now that I think about it, we have had as much growth in our marriage as well.  Both stand today as magnificent!