Hello Fritter Nation!
I hope this note finds you doing well and enjoying the season. We’ve had some unusual weather here in the Valley lately — chilly mornings that warm up by afternoon — but the colors have still been beautiful, and it’s the kind of fall that makes you want to sit on the porch with something warm to drink and take it all in.
Around the Valley, Christmas preparations are already underway. The elves have started putting up decorations, and you’ll begin seeing the porches and walkways take on that familiar holiday glow. Santa will make his yearly stop on Black Friday and again on Christmas Day, which is always a highlight for families.
We have made some exciting updates this year, and one of the biggest is welcoming our new Executive Chef, James Carter Alexander. Chef Carter comes to us with many years of experience and a real passion for southern cooking. He has already been hard at work improving several of our recipes, creating new ones, and helping move the Applewood Farmhouse forward while staying true to our roots and the dishes that have made us who we are. We are grateful to have him on the team and look forward to you getting to know him in the months ahead.
At the Grill, we added several new items including our fried chicken wings, which have been very well received. Over at the Original Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, we brought back some favorites like our trout cakes and returned to family-style dining. Your table can choose larger sides to share, with unlimited refills, and it has been wonderful to see families and friends enjoying meals together that way again.
We also have a new Allergen Menu coming out soon, along with a GLP-1 friendly menu. We hope these additions help guests feel even more comfortable when choosing what works best for them.
Beginning in January, we will move to our winter hours. The Applewood Farmhouse Grill will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays and open 8 to 8 on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and 8 to 8:30 on Friday and Saturday. The Original Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant will follow the same schedule but will be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We appreciate your understanding as we move into the quieter season.
You may also notice our new gravel parking lot at the Farmhouse Restaurant. It provides more room for larger vehicles and overflow parking during busy times, and we hope it makes your visit a little easier.
One of the highlights of our year was our first annual Apple Festival this October. We had BBQ, live music, herding dog shows, cider sampling, kids activities and so much more. It was a great turnout, and we want to thank everyone who came and supported it. We are already excited to bring it back next year.
And for guests who enjoy bringing their dogs along, we have something fun coming soon — a small dog menu so your four-legged family members can enjoy a treat of their own on the patio.
As we look toward Christmas, we are proud to host the longest running Christmas and Thanksgiving Day feasts in Sevier County. On Christmas Day, the first 450 tables will receive our yearly Applewood ornament, something many of you have collected over the years. Christmas reservations for the Original Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant will open on December 1.
Before I close, I want to share something that has always been at the heart of Applewood. Friends. Family. Fritters. For more than 35 years, that simple phrase has reminded us to take care of one another, share good meals, and welcome every guest like family. After a year that has brought challenges for many people across the country, it feels especially important to remember the value of kindness and understanding.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” A simple reminder that taking time to understand one another goes a long way. Every faith teaches us to love others and to care for our neighbors, even when we disagree. Think back on something you did for someone this year — maybe someone who wasn’t easy to help. Those moments matter more than we realize.
As always, we are grateful for each of you. Stay safe, stay kind, and stay thankful. We look forward to welcoming you home to Applewood soon.
