We had a fun 2 days in Asheville, NC recently, so today I’m sharing where we stayed and what else we did in our two full days there. I looked up B&B’s online and booked a cute one, Oakland Cottage that was very near the Biltmore. It turned out to be the perfect place to stay and we enjoyed it a lot. It’s pet friendly and we took Daisy with us.
Cute Oakland Cottage in Asheville.
It’s a quaint and cozy B&B with the most fantastic breakfast. Our hosts were Erica and Jim and they were just lovely folks. We stayed in the Blue Ridge room if you want to take a peek at the accommodations.
I sat on the front porch one day and it was so nice.
Inside the living room common area.
Breakfast is served here. It was such a delicious breakfast both mornings!
Erica changed the board every day to share what the breakfast of the day would be as well as a weather report.
Breakfast started with coffee and orange juice as well as this yummy fruit bowl with yogurt and granola.
Our first breakfast really blew us away. Clafoutis (French baked custard) with blueberries, chunky potatoes and bacon. Perfect breakfast. I’ll tell you more about that custard dish below.
I had never heard of Clafoutis before, but it’s one of the yummiest things I’ve ever put in my mouth! I asked Erica for the recipe and they have it on their website so she printed out a copy for me. I promptly made it after we returned home and it was a success. You bake it in a cast iron skillet (that’s the one I baked above).
Click here for the Clafoutis recipe from Oakland Cottage. It’s so easy, if I can make it you can make it! Have you heard of this before? It’s like a mix of creme brulee and egg custard pie. Delish! I’m also pasting it the end of this post.Â
I had fresh blueberries and made fresh whipped cream and we loved it! I’ll be making it again real soon. It’s perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Our second morning, we had a yummy omelet with sausage and lemon cake.
We had almost two full days so went out to dinner two nights. The first night we went to one of my faves, Tupelo Honey. I liked my meal better than Mark did, but it’s always one of my fave places to go. There’s one here in ATL now, I think in Sandy Springs but going there seems like so far away, we tend to stay closer to home when we eat out.
Their biscuits and blueberry jam are so good! These are huge, cathead biscuits if ever there were cathead biscuits.
I got a pork dish that was delicious, as well as the mac n Cheese and green beans. The green beans were garlic flavored but could have used a bit more flavor. That pork was out of this world though!
The next night we went to Vinnie’s, a wonderful Italian place and we were NOT disappointed in this one. These risotto balls were killer. That’s a smoked tomato cream sauce and it was so good.
We both got shrimp on our pasta dishes, mine was homemade gnocchi with the same smoked creme sauce and I got a side of garlic spinach. It was SO good. We went back to the B&B and Erica had homemade cookies for us both days, which was a fun treat.
Back to the B&B, we stayed in the Blue Ridge room which had it’s own private deck. It was the perfect set up for taking Daisy along. There was a little room off the bedroom where we put her crate and she stayed there for the night. We could bring her right outside for potty time. Erica and Jim also had a Daisy and she was so cute on the other balcony, whining at our Daisy when she came outside.
In the backyard they have chickens for fresh eggs and Daisy had a big time with those chickens. Every time I took her out she wanted to head to the chicken pen to see them. They were bigger than she was, it was so cute.
This boxer statue was in the backyard and Daisy thought he was real the whole time.
We had a great time at Biltmore, visiting the home and gardens and we left Daisy in her crate and then went back and got her after we were done. We figured it would be too much for her in the heat of the garden.
We did take her antiquing though, they allow dogs in here at the Screen Door, one of my fave places to visit in Asheville. I went here years ago with some girlfriends and have hit this place every time I’m back there.
It’s definitely a fun place to browse.
I loved this armillary but it was $400 and a bit too steep for me.
Me and Daisy!
Mark found this sign so I had to take a pic!
We then went to the Tobacco Barn, another fun place to browse. SO much stuff in there!
Loved this pretty sideboard.
How about those owl lamps.
Lots of vintage bamboo, but too pricey for me.
Another beautiful vintage sideboard.
And that’s it for our tour. We had 2 short days, but made the most of it and had fun with Daisy too. Her first road trip, but definitely not her last.
We spotted this pretty pink B&B on our drive and I just loved it! Hope you enjoyed this vist to Asheville, NC with us!
Oakland Cottage Clafoutis
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Robocoup, Blender, or Standing Mixer with wisk attachment.
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
- 4 Large Eggs
- 2/3 cup Sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 2/3 cup Whole Milk
- 2 tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 Farenheit, with cast iron skillet inside.
- Sift flour, sugar, and salt into the bowl of the mixer.
- Add eggs, milk, heavy cream, and vanilla to the mixer and whisk until combined and smooth.
- Take cast iron skilled out of oven and let sit for 5 minutes, then coat the inside with the butter.
- Pour batter into the hot cast iron.
- Bake for 11 minutes, then rotate the cast iron and bake an additional 11 minutes until golden, slightly jiggly but set.
- Let cool 10 minutes, cut, and serve with your choice of fruit topping.
I always enjoy the posts about your travels. I save them, hoping to one day retrace your steps. These shops are the most enticing. Thank you so much for sharing each day of your trip.
This is a trip I would love to take!!
Rhoda, I think little Daisy has stolen your hearts! ♥
Thanks for sharing. The last time I was at the Tobacco barn I got a tobacco basket for $17! Now they are all the rage and I see imitation ones everywhere. Nothing like the real thing and I couldn’t beat that price. Thanks for taking me back down memory lane!
Thanks for the tour. Love the owl lamps.still thinking about where i could put them. Both places really have the stuff! I appreciated he photos. Ashville is a fav place and it’s been several years since we were there. We live in NE Florida and were in Alparetta several weeks ago to see our son who teaches there. So excited because I got to see lots of spring flowers which we never get without a gardening struggle-pink dogwood,tulips,etc.Ad Daisy is coming along. IS that as big as she will get? Stay safe and well.
This was terrific! I feel like I’ve stayed at the B&B, enjoyed their fabulous breakfasts, and toured through the antique stores! What a great way to start my Sunday!!!! Thank you so much!!!
Love Asheville and all the great shops there. We have been several times to The Screen Door and the Tobacco Barn. Those owl lamps were a hoot (sorry for the pun)! Looks like little Daisy enjoyed her first real road trip as well. We use to always go to a great German restaurant in Asheville when we visited but sadly they are no longer in business.
Great pics Rhoda! We would love to travel there sometime. Do you mind me asking what kind of dog is Daisy? She is adorable!
HI, Susan, sure she is a Shorkie, Shih Tzu & Yorkie mix.
Always enjoy your blog and thanks for sharing all of your interesting travels. I love seeing pictures of your Daisy. She is such a cutie!
Thanks for sharing your trip pictures with us! I sure wish we had such great antique shops here in Canada where I live! You are so fortunate to have these so close by.
That B & B looks great! Such cute pictures of you and Mark and Daisy! She is one sweet little dog!
Glad you had a great time in Asheville.
I started to ask you in the last post if you had time to check out any antique shops.
The Tobacco Barn & Screen door are lots of fun to browse in, for sure!
Rhoda
I using the same tile around my fireplace as you have. Do you recall what pencil molding you used and where you found it ? Thanks for your help !
HI, Sherry we got that pencil molding at Floor and Decor and it’s a marble one, so hopefully you can find something to match your marcle.
Love Grove Park Inn, Tupelo Honey Restaurant. We bought antique dish cabinets for my daughter’s renovated English styled kitchen at the Tobacco Barn. Interesting place!
They have some great antiques at the Tobacco Barn.
Hi Rhoda,
Enjoyed this post. We have been to Asheville and the Biltmore once back in 2018 but it is on the list to visit again. The B&B is so cute and the breakfast’s look delish. The shopping places look fabulous and yes, those Owl lamps are something. 🙂
Wonderful to see everyone out and about again. Have a great week!
BTW – Daisy is so cute!
So happy to see how much you enjoyed being in our part of the woods!
My husband and I both love antiques and we have been to both shops that you also like. We especially love Tobacco Barn. So much to look at…at times a little overwhelming, but I love browsing through this place! I am sure Daisy enjoyed the entire trip with you both! She is adorable!
Looks like lots of fun! Daisy is adorable!