Carver's Apple Restaurant, Cosby

Carver's Apple Orchard and Restaurant is a perfect excuse take a peaceful morning drive and get away from the hustle and bustle that is often associated with dining out in the Smokies. Carver's is located in Cosby, a quiet community tucked away in the mountains a short drive from Gatlinburg on RT # 321. Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. seven days a week. Guest are treated to a glass of Carver's Homemade Apple Cider and Warm Apple Fritters with Apple Butter. Yum !!! They also offer their Apple Fritters with Apple Butter by the bag to take home. Breakfast meats are the usual Bacon, sausage, ham, Country Ham and Pork Chops, served with eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, grits, omelets and fried taters. The food was wonderful, served hot and fresh with huge portions. Service was perfect and the interior bright and cheerful. After breakfast visit the Apple Barn to choose from a large selection of apples just picked from one of Carver's 40,000 trees, a jug of fresh pressed apple cider, apple jelly and vegetables in season. Don't forget a homemade apple pie made fresh daily, available with sugar or sugar free. Carver's 34600 Cosby Highway, Cosby. 423-487-2419. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Flapjacks Pancake Cabins

Pancakes, pancakes , pancakes!!! No visit to the Smoky Mountains would be complete without a visit to one of the many restaurants specializing in pancakes. One of the oldest and most visible with six locations is Flapjacks Pancake Cabins. Flapjacks was the brain child of Brent Collier and next year will be celebrating 15 years serving over 5 million guest and untold millions of pancakes. Flapjacks was one of the first restaurants I covered in this blog and since it had been over a year I thought it was time to revisit one of the most popular pancake places in the Smokies. We arrived just before ten on a week day and the parking lot was empty. By the time we walked inside and were seated there was a line out the door. People on vacation like to sleep in. I originally thought I was going to have Flapjack's Sticky Bun Pancakes, probably their most popular and the winner of a pancake recipe contest.

Then I thought maybe I should try the Wild Cherry or Grandma's Peanut Butter and Banana ? In the end I choose The multi grain & Nut Pancakes made with Old Mill Grain and added bananas. My order came with four large fluffy pancakes with a healthy serving of pecans. I managed to finish two pancakes before my stomach called it quits.

Flapjack's also serves French Toast, waffles, Omelets, skillets, Cat head biscuits with sausage gravy, sandwiches , platters etc. Many of the dishes carry names associated with the Smoky Mountains; Townsend Skillet, Elkmont Breakfast Platters, Cades Cove Sandwiches. Flapjacks is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Check them out at http://www.FlapJacksPancakes.com