#visitashe

[fishoutofwater87]

St. Marys Episcopal Parish Of the Holy Communion (Glendale Springs, NC)

There is an instant, overwhelming air of peace that dissolves all care and worry as soon as you enter through the doors of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, located in Glendale Springs, NC. Regardless of your religious preference or denomination, this century-plus old chapel offers its visitors a trip through time, history, art, and recollection. As someone lacking the experience of having ever witnessed Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece, this is, I believe, the closest that I have ever come to seeing such glory and divinity. 🌈 

>>>click above photo or here to view additional photos<<<

>>>click here to learn the history behind the church<<<

>>>click here to learn more about Ben Long and his paintings<<<

>>>click here to learn more about the art of stained glass<<<

[fishoutofwater87]

Ashe County Cheese Co. (West Jefferson, NC)

My earliest and most vivid memory of Ashe County Cheese comes from working alongside a friend and former employer of mine, Chef Craig Love of Surfhouse and The Southerly Biscuit located in Carolina Beach, NC—nearly seven years ago. To this day, I don’t believe I have ever had a better burger than his “Aloha” featuring North Carolina grass-fed beef topped with a hearty ring of grilled pineapple, fresh jalapeño, and his brilliant take on the Southern classic— Comeback sauce. Yet, the beauty of that burger lay not within the perfectly mid-rare patty, that sweet and juicy pineapple, nor the enthralling bite of fresh jalapeño softened by that anointing aioli. No, not at all. The beauty is held within the hands of the Aloha’s conductor—Ashe County’s Sharp Cheddar—Without it, this burger is Led Zeppelin ⛔ John Paul Jones, The Beatles ⛔ Ringo 🌟. The Who ⛔ Keith 🌘. 

Founded in 1930, Ashe County Cheese Company has spent a near Century perfecting its craft—and not so ironically, originally owned by Kraft Corp. Regardless of taste and preference, ACCC has a cheese to please each and everybody.  Smoked Ghost Pepper Jack for those that like it HOT, Mountain Cheddar 5 yr for those that like it SHARP, and Marbled Bleu for those who like it FUNK-AY—all amongst a selection of 50+ other varieties in the form of blocks, spreads, butters, curds, slices, gift boxes, hoops, and other specialities. Jerry Glick and Doug Rudersdorf (the two Wisconsin men who took over Ashe County Cheese Co in 1981) have surely wielded an Empire any Cheese Head, Cheese Enthusiast, Cheese Lover, Cheese Connoisseur--Cheese Whatever--and, surely, any rightful West Jeffersonian should be proud of and absolutely adore.