Jackson County requires visitors to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.
Black Sheep Taxi is offering delivery of takeout from restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacy, shopping, etc. Call, text 828-200-7006 or theflock@blacksheeptaxi.com. Rates are posted on their website for one-way trips.
We will keep this list updated as we receive information. If you are a business and have an update for us, please email info@ncliving.com. (Updated 5/7/20 at 2:24 pm)
NORTH CAROLINA STATE COVID-19 HOTLINE: 866-462-3821
On Friday, May 8 at 5 pm, North Carolina will move into Phase One of easing restrictions. The Stay-at-Home order stays in effect with some modifications:
- Retail stores can open with 50% capacity and customers standing 6 feet apart
- 10 person limit on general gatherings indoors
- Teleworking and face-covering are still encouraged
- Salons, spas, entertainment venues, gyms, playgrounds, and theaters are still closed
- State parks and trails are encouraged to re-open
- Restaurants will still only be able to serve food via take-out, drive-thrus, and delivery
Black Sheep Taxi is offering delivery of takeout from restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacy, shopping, etc. Call, text 828-200-7006 or theflock@blacksheeptaxi.com. Rates are posted on their website for one-way trips.
Highlands Festivals Inc. Spring Concert is canceled.
The Village Green is open but all Easter activities have been canceled.
Highlands PAC and Highlands Playhouse have canceled their 2020 seasons.
Cashiers Kitchen Co. is closed.
Cashiers Valley Pharmacy Open Monday - Friday 8 am-6 pm and Saturdays 8 am - 2 pm 828-743-3114
Ingles is offering a special shopping hour for seniors, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 am to 8 am.
Paws on the Mountain (828-743-7500) is delivering and offering curbside pick-up.
Woof Gang Bakery (828-743-9663) is delivering and offering curbside pick-up.
United Community Bank will remain open by drive-thru and appointment only.
Zoller Hardware is open and offering curbside pickup.
Buck's Coffee - Open for takeout 7 am - 6 pm. Every Wednesday morning from 7 am to 10 am, all medical & emergency personnel can enjoy a complimentary to-go beverage.
Chili Loco - Offering takeout. Call 828-743-1160. See website for menu.
Cork and Barrel Lounge - Offering takeout Wednesday - Saturday 4 pm - 9 pm. Call 828-743-7477
Cornucopia is closed at this time.
Mica's - Offering takeout from 11 am - 6 pm. Call 828-743-5740. See website for menu.
Randevu - Offering takeout from 9 am - 2 pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. Closed 828-743-0190.
Slab Town Pizza - Offering takeout from 11:30 am-5 pm Call 828-7743-0020 See website for menu.
The Library Kitchen & Bar - Offering takeout and delivery (5-mile radius) Tuesday-Saturday place order between 12 pm - 6 pm and pick up between 4 pm-7 pm. Discounted menu for takeout and offering wine by the bottle to-go.
The Ugly Dog in Cashiers - Offering takeout. Call 828-743-3000 and visit their website.
Winslow's Hideaway - Offering to-go and delivery orders. Call 828-743-2226.
Whiteside Brewing Co. - Call 828-743-6000. Offering takeout 11:30 am - 8 pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday).
Zookeeper Bistro is closed at this time.
All businesses and restaurants are closed except those offering curbside service:
Highlands Playhouse has canceled their 2020 season.
Highlands Wine Shoppe - Offering wine delivery. Call 828-526-4080, Tuesday - Saturday 12pm-5pm.
The Skin Lab - Offering medical-grade skincare for home care or curbside by order. Call 704-575-2038.
Zen Spa is offering chair massages. Therapist and the customer can wear a mask while they receive quick chair massages at $2 per minute with 10-minute minimum, as well as foot reflexology. Call ahead for an appointment Monday to Saturday 10 am - 5 pm at 828-200-9934 to avoid delays. They also carry spring sugar scrubs and anti-viral essential oil blend on sale now for curbside pickup at $24.99 per bottle.
4418 Kitchen & Bar - Offering curbside pickup from 11:30 am-7 pm. Call 828-526-5002.
Asia House is closed at this time.
Blue Bike Cafe - Offering curbside breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday 9 am - 2 pm. Call 828-526-9922 or order off ChowNow.
Bridge at Mill Creek - Offering curbside takeout from 5 pm - 9 pm (Closed on Tuesdays). Call 828-526-5500. See the menu on their Facebook page.
Cake Bar - Taking orders Monday through Thursday for Friday or Saturday afternoon pick up. Call 828-421-2042.
Calder's Coffee Cafe is closed at this time.
Serving Highlands since 1999, Fresser's Courtyard Cafe offers take out. Opens at 11 am, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday for May. For now, closed Sunday and Wednesday. Call ahead at 828-526-8847. Menu is available at www.wecaterhighlands.com.
Four65 Wood Fire Bistro & Bar is closed at this time.
Highlands Burritos is closed.
Highlands Smokehouse - Offering curbside pickup, Thursday - Saturday 11 am-8 pm and Sunday 11 am - 7 pm. Call 828-526-3554 or order online.
Kilwin's is closed at this time.
Lakeside Restaurant - Offering curbside and in-town delivery. Open Tuesday- Saturday. Call 828-526-9419.
Midpoint - Offering curbside pick-up, Thursday-Sunday 1 pm - 7 pm. Call 828-526-2277.
The Ugly Dog Pub - Offering curbside and delivery from 11:30 am - 9 pm. Call 828-526-8364 or order online on ChowNow.
Tug's Proper is closed at this time.
Wild Thyme is closed at this time.
Whole Life Market - Offering curbside service. Call 828-526-5999.
Picking out an olive oil can be an overwhelming experience. The number of oil-containing bottles and tins gracing a grocery store’s shelves is almost as impressive as the cardboard boxes lining the cereal aisle. Of course like breakfast cereals, not all olive oils are created the same. So how do you choose? Maybe you look at price. Maybe you just go for the same one you’ve always bought. Maybe you just pick one with a pretty picture on the label. Or, maybe, you choose one based on what you think you know and like about olive oil. Bottomline, no matter what you eventually decide on—be it extra virgin, virgin, refined, pure … one that hail’s from Greece, from Italy, from Croatia, from the U.S. … one that’s organic … one that’s lite … or one that’s flavor-infused, be forewarned, there’s far more to choosing an olive oil than simply glancing at the label.
Don’t judge an olive oil by its cover
In 2010, the University of California at Davis Olive Center and the Australian Oils Research Laboratory in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, published a report on the quality of olive oils readily available in America’s grocery stores. And of the 19 brands tested, “69 percent of imported olive oil samples and 10 percent of California olive oil samples labeled as extra virgin failed to meet the IOC/USDA standards for extra virgin olive oil.” The study, partially funded by California olive oil producers, received its fair share of criticism but nonetheless, proved what many expert olive oil tasters had been saying for years—not all EVOO labeled as so, is indeed EVOO.
“If you’re using olive oil for the health benefits,” says Chicago-based culinary expert and Iron Chef America judge-in-rotation Mario Rizzotti, “but it’s not really olive oil, then you’re not getting the health benefits.” And in a country plagued by cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and obesity problems, it’s vital to do as much as possible to improve our overall health—which is why Rizzotti is on a mission to help Americans choose products, and foods, that will put everyone on the road to better health—one EVOO spoonful at a time.
Drizzle, don’t dip
“What we’re trying to accomplish is to promote the healthy benefits of authentic Italian food and authentic Italian ingredients,” Rizzotti says. “There are so many things out there that people consider Italian that in Italy, we don’t even have.”
And one of those things, says Rizzotti, is the presentation of bread baskets with accompanying bowls of olive oil before the meal.
“That’s not Italian,” he said.
“Really?” I asked. I mean you can barely go to an Italian restaurant here in the U.S. without a substantial serving of bread hitting your table long before your meal arrives. And so, admittedly, I was skeptical. How can that be? It’s a staple practice in most stateside Italian restaurants but here was a genuine Italian chef telling me the practice was anything but authentic Italian. So I Googled it, and as it turns out, Google agreed with the Italian.
“I use olive oil for cooking,” explained Rizzotti, “but really good olive oil should be used for finishing dishes and drizzled on food once its prepared.” He uses Terre Rosse DOP Umbria Kosher Organic EVOO, which he has shipped directly to him from Italy’s Umbria region, just north of Rome, bordering Tuscany. Interested in trying the oil Rizzotti dubs liquid gold? You can purchase Terre Rosse on his website, MarioRizzotti.com, $22 for 250ml.
Curious about other olive oils? Or maybe you have a favorite and want to see how it stacks up to world-renowned oils. Check out BestOliveOils.com for the most recent list of The World’s Best Olive Oils. The list represents compiled results from the New York International Olive Oil Competition, the world’s largest most comprehensive olive oil quality contest. Or better yet, plan to attend the 2019 event, May 10 in NYC and be one of the first to experience award-winning olive oils paired with regional specialties from around the world by the International Culinary Center team and NYIOOC Resident Chef Perola Polillo. Tickets go on sale Feb. 15. More information visit NYOliveOil.com.
How to choose an olive oil
When purchasing EVOO, there’s plenty to consider and individual palates have different opinions as to what tastes good and what doesn’t. Therefore, the best advice is twofold—first, educate yourself on the different varietals, and second, don’t be afraid to experiment with new oils.
“There’s lots of good olive oils,” said Rizzotti, "and lots of opinions," he added. But whether you choose an oil from his homeland of Italy, or one from anywhere in the globe, he wants you to know these two things:
One, “cold pressed” doesn’t really mean cold: It only means the olives cannot be pressed in an environment with a temperature exceeding 80.6 F. In other words, it’s marketing lingo consumers have come to associate with quality but in all actuality, doesn’t directly correlate.
And two, just like the “Product of Italy” quote on the back of his cooking jacket, if you want an Italian olive oil, the label, in accordance with Italian law, must say either Product of Italy or 100% Italian. "Made from Italian Olives," "Packaged in Italy," and "Made in Italy" don't assure an authentic product. •