Apparently today is World Vegetarian Day and what better way to celebrate it than reminiscing our staycation at the Fearrington Inn, a Relais & Châteaux getaway right off Chapel Hill in Pittsboro and feasting on their six course vegetarian tasting menu? It was a crisp Fall afternoon when we reached the place and we couldn’t believe that this place was so close to the city. Fearrington is a world of its own and they have a cafe, a dinner restaurant, a bookstore, spa, boutique, a beer garden, and even a Farmers’ Market to name a few. The place is spread across almost 640 acres that houses much more than the inn.
When we booked our staycation, one of the biggest draws was their gourmet six course vegetarian tasting. It was not surprising considering they are a five diamond, AAA award winning restaurant. We have dined at a few AAA five diamond award restaurants and this was the one that WOWED us the most.
After enjoying some fine chocolate truffles and champagne courtesy the Fearrington Inn, we got ready and headed to the Fearrington House for our all exclusive vegetarian dinner.
The Fearrington House is a short walk from the inn and is one of the oldest buildings that was part of the original homestead. They have been a fine dining restaurant since the late 80’s and now have a seasonal menu. Most of the ingredients they use are grown on their farm and also sourced from nearby local farms. We were greeted by a personalized menu card adorning our names and wishing us on our wedding anniversary. The vegetarian tasting menu was highly elaborate and each course has been meticulously curated by award winning chef, Colin Bedford and his team.
We started off with a scintillating bowl of potato soup and some freshly made bread.
Just as we were getting done with these, our server came to us with our first course, Roasted Sweet Potato Soup. The soup was a perfect dedication to the fall weather and a great start to what was going to be an almost three-hour long meal!
We got done with our soup and waited on our second course while nibbling on some refills of the freshly-baked bread. We were really excited to try the second course since we are both fans of panna cotta as well as blue cheese. It sounded interesting and we didn’t have to wait long.
Imagine eating a salad, but in a panna cotta form. The blue cheese came through beautifully with each spoonful. Who would have though that apple and brussels sprouts would pair so well? The pomegranates added a fun spin to it. While the second course had our expectations peaked, the third made its dashing entry.
One word: TRUFFLE. We knew that we would be hooked to this just by knowing that the star of the dish would be truffles. When our server placed the plates on our table, there was no truffle in sight. Lo and behold, fresh black truffle was shaved on top.
This is what living in truffle land must feel like. There is no stopping us from enjoying some good, high-quality black truffle. The plates were wiped clean in no time. And then came the Main Course.
Fresh acorn squash topped with blood orange and a vegetable broth was soothing and comforting to have. The granola added a great dimension to this dish. Having never tasted sunchoke before, we were really intrigued by the texture and flavor profile of it. It tastes very similar to potato and looks similar as well. After some interesting dishes, we had the cheese course. Since this is Fearrington, the cheese course was also presented with much finesse.
Neither of us are cheese connoisseurs so we did not know what to expect but then our server explained that Robiola Bosina was a blend of sheep and cows milk from Italy with a thick rind. It was melted and the pairing with the crackers worked perfectly to cleanse our palates for the desserts that we were eagerly awaiting.
But of course, we were presented with a very interesting looking plate of pre-desserts consisting of french macarons and choux pastry.
The french macarons had beautiful feet and crumbled perfectly when we took a bite into it. The choux pastry was a surprise addition and blended so well with the macarons.
After all this food, we were ready to take a walk but not before we relished the desserts. The first dessert was a tease with a light meringue with coconut and pineapple.
The meringue was crispy, airy, and light, exactly the way it was supposed to be and the fruits added a great zing to it. What we have been waiting for the entire evening was the grand finale to the very vibrant meal. Presenting to you one of the BEST CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES you will ever have! There has been a lot written and raved about this souffle and we are only adding on our admiration to this dessert. It was piping hot when it reached our table and our server carefully poured the dark chocolate sauce over it and topped it with whipped cream. Just as the whipped cream started to melt, we took a spoonful and were transported to chocolate paradise. If you are a dark chocolate lover, this is a must have. Honestly, we would go back just to take a bite out of this heavenly dessert and probably would want to start the meal with it.
After dining for close to three hours and relishing on some of the finest dishes we have ever eaten, all we wanted to do was take a nap but at the same time smuggle more Soufflé with us back to our room! We finished our meal with some sweet petits four.
All in all, if you are looking to celebrate a special occasion, this place MUST be on your list. Fearrington Inn is one of the few restaurants in the country that has one of the best all-vegetarian tasting menus we have ever experienced. They take immense care in making your day truly special and if you are a foodie like us, you don’t have to look any further.
Tell us what you think!
Do you enjoy such elaborate meals? Have you tried an all vegetarian tasting menu? What are some of your favorite places to visit in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill for a celebration? Let us know in the comments.
Fearrington House is located at the Fearrington Inn in Pittsboro, NC.
Address:
2000 Fearrington Village Center
230 Market Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Hours: WED-SAT 6-9PM, SUN 6-8PM
