Located high above the Great Smoky Mountains at an elevation of 5,000 ft., The Swag—a 14-guestroom luxury hideaway situated on 250 acres of private property in Waynesville, North Carolina—has announced a series of mountaintop cooking schools in 2016.
Taking place May 22-25, July 17-20 and Nov. 6-9, the Cooking Schools are directed by The Swag’s executive chef Ernest Bledsoe, whose menus blend traditional Appalachian ingredients and preparation techniques with flavors from around the world. Each cooking school will feature four sessions devoted to a soup, salad, main course and dessert preparation, and the featured dishes will change according to the season.
The Cooking School begins with a Sunday evening social hour on The Swag’s front porch. The following morning, the first session will focus on the salad course, followed by an afternoon session featuring the soup course. The second day begins with a morning hike led by renowned North Carolina storyteller Donald David, who will also tell stories after dinner. Two afternoon classes will focus on the main course and a dessert course. The cooking school will conclude with another morning hike followed by The Swag’s weekly Wednesday picnic on top of Gooseberry Knob with views over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dishes included in the May 22-25 Cooking School include citrus-scented lobster salad, Indonesian chicken and squash soup, and sous vide filet mignon with grilled asparagus.
The 2016 Cooking School package is priced from $495 to $1,250 per guestroom, per night, plus tax. The all-inclusive price includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon refreshments, a four-course dinner and welcome gifts. For reservations or more information call (800) 789-7672 or visit theswag.com.
