Pinecrest Bed And Breakfast: An English Style Manor in Asheville Slice of Jess

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of attending a farm tour with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and several other bloggers. Our accommodations were sponsored by the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association, a group of 15 inns nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In this post I talk about my experience and stay at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast, all opinions here are mine alone.

It’s been such an eventful summer and I am so grateful for all the new friendships I’ve made. Pictured here are some blogger babes and I during a 3-day farm tour through the western part of North Carolina. Each of us were carefully paired with a bed & breakfast that most fit our personality, blog and lifestyle. Our days were jam-packed with multiple events and tours, so it was comforting to know that each evening I was going to be whisked off my feet with a fantastic place to stay.

My Bed & Breakfast Accommodations:

Meet Diane and Dan Rogers, the innkeepers at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast located in the historic Montford district of Asheville. This property is situated on more than an acre of luscious gardens and secluded woods, located just a mile from the heart of scenic downtown Asheville. Their estate offers all the comforts of home along with the convenience to popular travel destinations, hiking trails, famous breweries, art galleries and shopping.

This English Tudor style Bed and Breakfast was built in 1905 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. I stayed in their Thomas Wolfe Room, which features a Victorian mahogany queen-sized bed, electric fireplace, on-suite bathroom complete with a claw-foot soaking tub, fresh flowers and a full sitting area where I could enjoy a glass of wine (and late night cookie).

The Room:

My first impression was “wow, all of this just for me?”. The bed was very comfortable and offered a selection of pillows (from feathered to firm) to accommodate anyone’s sleeping preference. I felt right at home: lounging in my kimono waffle robe, drinking a glass of wine and blogging from my private sitting area with access to free wifi.

The bathroom was also spacious, and immediately reminded me of an episode of “I Love Lucy”. Lace curtains surrounded the claw-foot soaking tub that was fitted with a vintage style shower head. There were quality toiletries to choose from and luscious Turkish towels I wanted to take home with me.

The Neighborhood:

I arrived pretty late on the evening of my check-in, so I woke up bright and early the next morning to take a short run around the neighborhood and check things out. As I started my trek down the tree-lined streets, I immediately felt a sense of relaxation rush through my blood. This was most likely a side effect of being surrounded by beautiful flower gardens, well-kept Victorian estates and an endless supply of Asheville’s cool mountain breeze. My favorite discovery on my neighborhood quest was the red mailboxes labeled “Pet Stop”. These thoughtful mailboxes were filled with anything you would ever need to make your furry friend comfortable, from treats to shampoo to doggy bags.

The Breakfast:

One thing the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association is known for is their innkeeper’s multi-coursed, custom breakfasts. There’s even a cookbook being released in mid-October that includes dozens of delicious recipes from all of their Bed and Breakfast locations. Here’s a sneak-peak at the cover.

Diane takes great pride in her cooking, and I feel honored to have tried one of her bountiful breakfasts first hand. She was generous enough to share a couple of her recipes with me, and I cannot wait to share them with you! Her Caramelized Peach Caprese Salad is light and refreshing, using sweet peaches, creamy mozzarella and fresh basil to showcase the flavors of the season.

Ingredients:

2-3 Peaches, peeled and sliced about ½ inch thick
2 tsp. Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter
4 oz fresh Mozzarella, sliced
4 large Basil Leaves, chiffonade
Red Balsamic Vinegar
S + P, to taste

Directions:

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the peaches with brown sugar, then add the butter to the skillet. Once melted and sizzling, add the peaches and cook until golden and caramelized, about 3 minutes per side.
Assemble by evenly dividing peaches down the center of each plate. Add sliced mozzarella on each side, top with chiffonade basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately.

There’s an enchanting glassed “sleeping porch” located conveniently off the dining room where you can enjoy your breakfast among the trees, gardens and singing birds. Our main course featured this delicious Smoked Gouda Frittata served with braised potatoes, Hickory Nut Gap Farm breakfast sausage and a locally grown tomato.

Fun Fact: I’ve made this dish at home twice already; it’s the perfect addition to Sunday brunch or a girl’s night paired with Pinot Grigio.

Ingredients:

12 large Eggs
½ cup Heavy Cream
½ tsp. Kosher Salt
½ tsp. fresh Ground Black Pepper
12 Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 small Shallots, thinly sliced
1/3 cup Sundried Tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped
4 oz. Smoked Gouda Cheese, grated
Handful of fresh Basil, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk together eggs, cream, salt and pepper in a large bowl and set aside. Heat olive oil in 10” non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add cherry tomatoes, cut side down, and cook until tomatoes soften and release most of their juice.
Stir in shallots; cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low.
Pour egg mixture into skillet and gently stir to evenly distribute eggs and tomatoes.
Add sundried tomatoes, basil and top with cheese, distributing evenly around skillet and stirring gently to incorporate. Cook egg mixture until it begins to set, 3-5 minutes.
Transfer skillet to oven. Bake until frittata center is set, 15-20 minutes; remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Cut into 6 even wedges and serve.

Conclusion:

As you can tell from my review, I absolutely loved my stay at Pinecrest Bed and Breakfast in Asheville. This was an exceptional experience and I highly recommend visiting them for your next vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For more information on this fabulous place to stay, please visit their website and tell them Jess sent you!