Words by Mary Whitten Warner
Steeped in history, surrounded by nature, and infused with passion, The Orchard Restaurant has delivered epicurean masterpieces for over 23 years. In 2000, the Boswell brothers, Chad and Travis, opened the doors of the historic 100-year-old home with great care and consideration. The result? An atmosphere brimming with Southern hospitality, diligent service, and exceptional dishes highlighting local produce. Tuck into the ambiance and let The Orchard make all your foodie dreams come true.
The culinary magic happens under the watchful eye of lead chef Iwayan Sudiartama, a virtuoso who has been with The Orchard family for about two decades. Chef Sudiartama serves up elaborate dishes, considering everyone’s dietary needs, that will have the whole table planning their next visit. We are still reminiscing about our last meal — the blackened salmon with a mango salsa, Adluh mill grits, greens, cilantro lime crème fraîche special — and the bacon-wrapped boneless quail breast, creamy leek risotto, garden kale, and molasses port wine glaze. Let’s just say it was a symphony of flavors, each complementing the other. For our vegetarian friends, the Dark Cove Garden Risotto is an absolute must. The indulgent mushroom-stuffed dish is loaded with Dark Cove Farm’s goat cheese, served atop a creamy vegetable risotto and topped with a toasted Roma tomato sauce. Every dinner should end with something sweet, so we delighted in Chef’s dessert special: a decadent blueberry and white chocolate bread pudding.
After dinner, we caught up with Chad and chatted about some of their most memorable evenings at The Orchard. While there have been so many heartwarming stories over the last 23 years, he shared one particular evening that captured The Orchard’s spirit and dedication to hospitality.
“It was several years ago, before opening the Events Barn in 2009. We had a birthday party booked with thirty out-of-town guests, all staying at hotels on the Plateau. Power is a significant requirement to run a successful restaurant, and, on the day of the party, we had a severe power outage that threatened to cancel the festivities. While calling them to notify them of the cancellation, they convinced us to stay open and proceed with the party. Rising to the occasion, we lit candles throughout the dining room and set up camping lanterns in the kitchen for dinner service. While I love serving dinners with the power on, that night was filled with such warmth and soul I will never forget it. Just as the candles on the birthday cake were extinguished, the power came on, and the guests promptly requested to turn off the lights and keep the night going as planned. Some of the best experiences are when you have to pivot and go with the flow.”
In 2009, the Guest Cottage opened. While often booked by event attendees, it is available to rent for anyone seeking a peaceful retreat for parties of two. Once the Events Barn opened in 2015, more unique and intimate events could be hosted, allowing The Orchard team to flourish.
In 2020, The Orchard opened the Virtual Larder Shop, offering fresh provisions and goods. An ingenious venture birthed out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shop allows patrons to place orders online and select the date and time of pickup. Stock ranges from bacon-wrapped boneless quail breasts from Plantation Quail in Greensboro, GA, to Dark Cove Farms garlic chive goat cheese (an NC Living favorite!). The Larder Shop also offers pantry staples, base ingredients, and an extensive selection of wines and beers. We recommend grabbing a case of Meiomi Pinot Noir or Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s Hazy Little Thing IPA.
At the heart of the Virtual Larder Shop is their partnership with Fishes and Loaves food pantry and The Boys & Girls Club, reflecting their commitment to community support. Shoppers can make donations in $10 increments, which are used to purchase food from their purveyors and given directly to these organizations.
Book your reservations for dinner or your next event, or place your provisional order at theorchardcashiers.com. Share your favorite Orchard moment on social media using #NCLOrchardMoments — we’ll see you there!