Apple of the Smokies Eye

As we continue our culinary tour of the Smokies, our next stop is a place you may have heard of. The Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store started with just a barn and now has a full campus featuring a cider mill, general store, winery, and
restaurants. Located just off the parkway in Sevierville, this outfit is more than just apples.

They started planting apple trees in 1976 and at
their peak had more than 4,000. If you stop by the Cider Room in the fall, you
can watch them press the apples into cider. Then you can head to the Cider Bar
and taste the different types until you find one that suits you. There’s also a
candy factory, ice cream parlor and winery, but really, you want to set aside
your time for the restaurants.

The
Applewood Farmhouse Grill is the newer of the two restaurants. It has some
of the traditional favorites of the original restaurant with newer items for
more variety. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; be sure to check
their site for recipes, gift cards and information on group meals.

The Applewood
Farmhouse Restaurant has been in operation for more than 25 years. They
start each meal with their signature julep and fritters – and believe me, it’s
a great way to get started. Country ham
with red eye gravy, pancakes, waffles fried chicken, chicken n’ dumplins,
catfish, pork chops, turkey and dressing – yea, they have just about everything
you would associate with a traditional southern eatery. The portions are
generous and just like the grill, their website has recipes, gift cards and
group tour information. Chances are you’ll find something that you love on the
menu and the chances are even better that you’ll return on your next trip to
the Smokies.