Hendersonville Restaurant Buzz

One Love Jamaican (500 7th Ave E, Hendersonville) - is sponsoring a live outdoor music event this coming Saturday, May 17th from approximately 4:00PM to 8:00PM in their parking lot. BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair), set up in the lot and enjoy the rhythm of reggae. If you get hungry or thirsty, pop inside and purchase some authentic Jamaican food or drink. In the event of rain, everything moves inside.

Georgiana's Laze - has opened in the same building that houses Crazy Lady Cafe. They seem to be serving a lot of Hendersonville's different needs: live music, Bike Night (bikers welcome, 25 cent wings and $2.00 domestic beer, Teen Night - $5 cover charge gets you 1/2 hour game play (Guitar Hero, Rock Band) on a big screen, Jazz and Blues night, Open Mike/Karaoke Night. Georgina's has a full liquor license and offers 25 to 30 virgin drinks along with over 100 types of mixed drinks!

Monday - Saturday 8:00PM to Close

Monday - Teen Night 13 - 19 year-olds, $5 cover
Tuesday - Open Mike Night/Karaoke
Wednesday - Jazz and Blues Night, Live Music
Thursday - Live Music - weekly rotation of "music by the decade"
Friday and Saturday - Live Music

Stop by at 121 W Barnwell St, Hendersonville for a flyer listing events and times or give them a call at (828)693-3333

Blue Water Seafood Company and Wine Market - has given me the inside scoop and I'm passing it on to you!

They're expanding their facilities to include additional dining space upstairs and a smokehouse which will enable the selling of retail and wholesale smoked seafood.

Target date - beginning the 3rd week in June, Blue Water's new dining features will include serving dinner in addition to lunch, a fresh oyster bar in the evenings, domestic and imported beer and a full liquor license.

Wine at Blue Water is something special. You can order wine from the menu at a lower than industry standard mark-up or from their wine shop at only a $10 mark-up for enjoyment with your meal.

Two chefs are at work at Blue Water. Chef Kathy Horton does Saturday cooking demos and Chef Chambli Stuber is a recent graduate of A B Tech's highly regarded Culinary program and was a member of last year's A B Tech National Championship Hot Foods Competition Team. Chef Chambli has been overseeing lunches at Blue Water since March to much positive feedback.

Watch for additional information on Blue Water Seafood's website in the next few days, including schedules and details for Chef Kathy's cooking demonstrations and general operating hours.

Blue Water Seafood Company and Wine Market
532 Kanuga St
Hendersonville, NC
(828) 697-0503

Road Trip - Destination North of Pittsburgh

Yeah! Road trip with my brother!

It'll be just me and him for 9 hours of uninterrupted time for sharing music, talking and even comfortable shared silence while we drive north to visit relatives. Even though we both live in NC, we don't get together as often as we'd like, so this is a nice treat.

Last time we did this, one of those weird things happened that we both saw, but didn't know the other person saw until we looked at each other with a "did you see that?" look and burst out laughing. Now we have the, "military cow episode" that just the two of us get.

Okay....you had to be there.

Don't know if I'll be able to post from the road, but if not, look for new posts early next week.

Black Rose Public House, Hendersonville

Deserted by our children; son escorting a friend to her prom, daughter to dinner and a school play with her friend, what to do? Go out for dinner, of course!

We hadn't really thought ahead about neither of the kids being home for dinner tonight so we spent some time trying to figure out where to go. Remember the vultures in Jungle Book? Just substitute, "Where do you want to go?"

We were dressed pretty casually and neither of us wanted to change, so we narrowed our search to someplace casual with not too expensive food.

That place ended up being the Black Rose Public House on Main Street in Hendersonville.

Amazingly, it was 78 degrees outside, with a gentle breeze blowing when we got to the Black Rose at 7:30PM. We considered sitting at one of the tables on the sidewalk to take advantage of the great weather, but just then a pickup drove by. This was the kind of truck with the exhaust pipes going vertical up the back of the cab - know what I mean? Loud!

So inside we went, choosing a booth along the wall with a nice view of Main Street outside. Two double doors, almost the entire front width of the restaurant, were open wide, creating an alfresco ambiance even though we were seated well inside.

The menu at Black Rose is mixed with many of the items that you'd expect at an Irish pub; Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherds Pie and Grilled Irish Whiskey Sirloin. Then there are basic pub type items; Potato Skins, Wings and Angus Beef Steakburger. What surprised me were things like: Molasses Soy Glazed Salmon, Greek Salad, Fried Calamari, Asian Chopped Salad and Cuban Sub. Perhaps they are using broader menu selections to satisfy a wider clientele base. But, sure 'n begora, the boys from the old country would be confused.

While waiting for our meal, we enjoyed a Fosters brew (12 oz bottle/$3.25) for him and a very generous pour of Beringer's White Zinfandel ($6.00) for her.

They had run out of the Corned Beef and Cabbage about an hour and a half before we got there, so my husband had an order of Fish and Chips - two good sized hand battered cod filets served with fried potato wedges, coleslaw and a side of tarter sauce ($8.99).

I wasn't too hungry so I ordered the "Absolutely Fantastic Crab Dip" appetizer - a mixture of crab, artichoke hearts and Monterey Jack cheese blended until smooth and served hot with grilled French Baguette slices ($9.99). This appetizer is actually priced higher than many of the pub's entrees.

For dessert, we each had Black Rose's version of Chocolate Lava cake, dolloped with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce ($5.99) along with coffee ($1.99).

The first thing you'll notice when you enter is that everything looks very clean and it's a comfortable, welcoming space. The exposed brick and wood paneling add to the warm cozy pub feeling, enhanced by three screens usually playing sporting events and some nice "soft rock" (almost Indie music) playing in the background. Upstairs are a few pool tables and a small bar that are popular.

Overall, our experience at Black Rose Public House was satisfying. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that our server was terrific. He was patient with my indecision, and attentive without being overbearing.

What you'll get at the Rose is reasonably priced, good food. Both my husband and I would rate the food "good" - neither poorly done or great - just something you didn't have to cook yourself that you get to enjoy in a great space with a drink, if you choose, while you talk and listen to a nice selection of music. And don't forget the people-watching, if you pick an outside table.

Black Rose Public House
(Note: their online menu may not be up to date)
222 N Main St
Hendersonville, NC
(828) 698-2622

Sunday - Thursday 11:00AM to 9:00PM
Friday and Saturday 11:00AM to 9:30PM
7 days a week - appetizers/drinks until 1:00AM