Dining gems in Brevard, NC

At the tail end of our recent camping trip, Kathy and I stayed in a little cabin at the edge of the Dupont State Forest, about 15 minutes from Brevard, NC. On Saturday night, we ventured into town and found two interesting looking restaurants on a residential side street between the small but active downtown and the Brevard Music Center. With both menus looking delicious, we had a hard time deciding which one to patronize. As a "compromise" we left the one that served brunch until the morning and chose Hobnob for dinner.

Seated on the front porch, we were waited on by a most excellent server. Familiar with the food in every detail, knowledgeable about the available spirits and attentive without being obsequious, it was a delight to have her guide us through our selections, starting with a smooth but robust local ale (Asheville -- Highland Gaelic Ale).

The temptation of ingredients grown down the block inspired me to try the gazpacho and my date the green tomato soup. We really liked both, but the chimichurri with the accompanying bread was out of this world. "Olive oil, parsley, carrots and the rest they won't tell us," our waitress explained.

For our entrees, Kathy had the daily trout special, a generous encrusted fillet drizzled with a tomato caper sauce. I had the Coque au Vin. Everything was cooked to the perfect doneness (including the tricky spinach) and expertly flavored.

Coque au Vin at Hobnob in Brevard, NC.

Sorbets, cakes and puddings were offered for desert, but I had my heart set on a chocolate dipped soft serve from the roadside dairy bar -- called "Dairy Bar" -- we had seen on the way in.

The next morning, we returned to try Marco Trattoria next door. We had Keanu Reeves for a waiter, but he was friendly, prompt and made us feel right at home. He recommended home fries as a side, advice I took and which Kathy ignored in favor of the polenta; rich and creamy, Kathy made the better choice.

Kathy ordered the eggs benedict with beef tenderloin and béarnaise sauce and I the poached eggs on crab cake with dill hollandaise sauce. Kathy said her's was the best meal of our trip (my campfire grilled burgers didn't stand a chance). Dill is one of my favorite flavors and it, the runny yolk and the chunky crab meat were in glorious culinary harmony.

Poached eggs on crab cake at Marco Trattoria in Brevard, NC.

Brevard is about 30 minutes south of Asheville. If you find yourself there, visit either one or both of these restaurants for a wonderful experience.