The Georgia Club's new Smoked Trout Salad and Reese's Peanut Butter Pie are just two of the new entrees on the Fall menus.

TGC: Tell us about the highlights of the new Fall menus. Are there any never-before-seen items or a new spin to an old favorite?

Chef: The great things about the new menu are the ingredients–I’ve tried to use as many seasonal products as possible. The colors of the dishes depict the season as well–similar colors to the changing of the leaves. I think presentation, in some respects, is just as important as taste–it’s that first impression that sets the mood for the enjoyment of the food.

TGC: Tell us about a dish that particularly has “fall flavors.”

Chef: The apple crisp obviously has the most fall appeal–it’s apple season in North Georgia, and warm apple desserts (especially with ice cream) are such comfort foods. Another of my favorites is the spinach salad–dried fruits and toasted nuts are important ingredients in the months to come.

Chef: I let the seasonal ingredients do the inspiration. Of course, member preference plays a crucial role as well–but if you can get the freshest product available, you don’t have to do much to it to make it taste good. That’s very important to me. Making great food starts with the food you select to cook–if you don’t buy the best, you’re already at a disadvantage.

The Georgia Club Dining Room is open for Member and non-Member fine and casual dining seven days a week.   The Georgia Club Dining Room is open daily for lunch, Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner and Sundays for Brunch.  Reservations are requested for large parties and dinner.

The Georgia Club's new Executive Chef Chris Rountree represented the club at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia Road Kill Cafe in August.

The Georgia Club is pleased announce that it promoted Chris Rountree as its new Executive Chef. Chef Chris joined The Georgia Club in February of 2007 as Sous Chef and was promoted to Executive Sous Chef in September 2008. Prior to The Georgia Club, Chef Chris worked as the Sous Chef at the Versailles Room at Chateau Elan, then as a kitchen supervisor for Le Clos, an intimate fine dining restaurant at the resort.  He is a native of Lilburn and currently lives in Athens with his wife, Amie.

We caught up with Chef Chris on the first day of his new position and asked him a few pressing food questions:

The Georgia Club Blog (TGCB): What was your first food experience?
Chef Chris: Working at Chik-Fil-A

TGCB: What is your cooking philosophy, Chef Chris?
Chef Chris: The best thing is to keep it simple and use the freshest ingredients. I don’t like to do too much to ingredients and I prefer to let them speak for themselves. I also believe in nice presentations. Guests in the Dining Room need to understand what’s on the plate. Clean presentations that are identifiable are key.

TGCB: Do you have a favorite type of food you like to prepare?
Chef Chris: I would say soups and sauces. It is one pot cooking and  I  feel I have a natural knack for soups.

TGCB: Do you like cooking at home?
Chef Chris: It depends on the week. In general, I do enjoy it when I can be leisurely about it — and when I can cook for more people than just myself and my wife, Amie.  The process is very relaxing to me , which is a luxury, because the professional kitchen can be a seemingly very chaotic place at times.

TGCB: Do you have any favorite restaurants (other than The Georgia Club) in Athens?
Chef Chris: I would have to say Five and Ten, but I love the cooking philosophy of Farm 255 where the food is locally grown, too.

TGCB: Do you admire any celebrity chefs?
Chef Chris: The chef I admire the most is one that not a lot of people have heard of named Thomas Keller. He runs a restaurant group in California including one called French Laundry in Napa Valley.   I admire him because  he has a dedication to the best ingredients, and to getting the best flavor out of such without masking their natural flavors.

TGCB: Do you have a favorite cooking show?
Chef Chris: I guess Hell’s Kitchen just for the drama, but I prefer Top Chef because I can actually learn something from watching such professionals compete.  There are very few professionals in Hell’s Kitchen.

The Georgia Club Dining Room is open for Member and non-Member fine and casual dining seven days a week.   The Georgia Club Dining Room is open daily for lunch, Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner and Sundays for Brunch.  Reservations are requested for large parties and dinner.

Homes included on this year’s tour are:

The Home of the Manus Family – A Christmas Showcase
Each room in this gorgeous home is delightfully decorated with a different theme. A Christmas table set with beautiful family heirloom china is among other outstanding displays. This home was one of the most talked about from the 2007 Tour and is truly a Christmas fantasy for all ages!

The Home of Barbara & Cicero Lucas – Southern Christmas Memories
This Wexford Garden home shows off its true southern charm with a Christmas home setting displaying family hand-painted china, antique pieces, and a very southern use of Christmas greens. Bulldog fans will not want to miss the fabulous display of UGA memorabilia!

The Home of Cindy & Don Hanenburg – Homeland Celebrations
Touches of Dutch ancestry are sprinkled about this beautiful home decorated for the holidays. There is a wonderful display of Teddy Bears to delight all!

The Home of Lynn & Steve Baginski – A New Classic
This beautiful courtyard home blends old accents with new styles warmly decorated for Christmas. Tasteful displays featuring antiques with a touch of whimsical accessories create a classically-decorated Christmas home.

The Home of Pam & David Shockley – Home for the Holidays
A warm, intimate cottage that says “Welcome Home for the Holidays”. The front and back porches alone will put you in the Christmas spirit!

Proceeds from the event will benefit several local charities and service organizations. The 2009 beneficiaries will include Peace Place, Project Safe, Partners in Education Fund (Bethlehem Elementary, Haymon-Morris Middle, Rocky Branch Elementary and Malcolm Bridge Middle), local High School scholarship funds and The Georgia Club Foundation. For a full description of each beneficiary, please click here.

 The Christmas Tour of Homes also presents many advertising and sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising for this year’s Tour, please review the Sponsorship List and then fill out the Sponsor Form. Please mail any checks, forms or ads to The Georgia Club Foundation 854 Commons Park Suite 235 Statham, GA 30666-9902.

“We decided to showcase a few fully designed tables so that brides could really imagine their wedding here,” Marshall said. “To pick the design elements, I scoured the internet through my favorite wedding design blogs and web sites to pick a particular look and feel for each table.”

The result was four beautifully-designed tables, each one representing a particular season, as shown below.

The spring “Garden Party” table was geared toward the ethereal bride with romantic accents of pink and green.

The summer “Southern Charm” themed table was a reflection of the traditional touches of the south complete with mason jars, bright, bold colors, and even lemons in the centerpiece.

The autumn “Fall Flora and Fauna” table was exquisitely crafted to reflect the richness of fall in Georgia, with intense copper, eggplant, and scarlet shades and hypericum berries.

The “Wintery Wow” table was focused on the glam bride with crystals, baubles, and lots of bling.

A special thanks goes out to Gardenia Floral Design and The Fun Stuff, who volunteered to provide floral arrangements and tabletop/chair rentals for The Georgia Club to use during the Expo.

“With the help of our amazing vendors and staff, all of the elements came together to present four equally beautiful but visably different wedding looks,” Marshall said.

The tables were a huge hit with the brides and The Georgia Club encouraged them to picture themselves, whatever their style, as the centerpiece of a Georgia Club wedding. Let us know how we can help translate your special event vision into reality by calling us at 770-725-8100.

For those who like to buy Christmas gifts well in advance, please your favorite cook with this beautiful Magnolia Lane holiday platter.

Pick up a copy of Garon Hart’s latest book, “The University of Georgia: Images and Recollections” for your coffee table at home to show off gorgeous photographic images of the University.

 Old favorites such as the Men’s Nike UGA shirt and Magnolia Lane serving platters are still available and perfect for use all year-round.

If you see something you would like to purchase, you can call the Golf Shop at 770-725-8101 to place an order. This is only a small sample of our fall offerings,  so come out to the Golf Shop and see the complete UGA merchandise collection!

Dancing the night away in the Dawgwood Ballroom at The Georgia Club. Photo by Steve Bernhardt.

The Georgia Club is looking forward to being the host site this Sunday, August 23 for the Weddings of Georgia Bridal Show. The show, which is free of charge for brides and their family and friends, goes from 1 until 4 p.m. Even though there is no charge for the event, registration is required through the Weddings of Georgia website.

More than 15 vendors are scheduled to appear including:  Blume Photography, Boman Photography, LH Images Photography, Cakes by Original, Gardenia Floral, MusicMasters DJ, Ambiance Events, David’s Bridal, Savvi Formal Wear, Hotel Indigo, Center Attractions and Spring Hill Suites.

In addition to the listed vendors, guests will also be able to view the beautiful ambiance of  The Georgia Club to consider as a rehersal dinner, wedding and reception venue.  The Club’s georgeous ballroom, which accomodates up to 300 guests and adjacent wedding pavilion, make The Georgia Club a one-stop venue for the bride and groom.

An update on a future event for the cookbook:

The cookbook will have its own table at the Oconne County Fall Festival.

 

Our application for participation in the Oconee Chamber Fall Festival has been approved.  Evidently there was much discussion at their meeting this week regarding our participation. 

The Festival Committee was afraid of “opening up a can of worms” and that if they allowed us to participate, then every school, church, etc. would want to sell cookbooks.  Thanks to info that I received from [Foundation President] Harvey Tarpley, I was able to give info regarding the charities that The Foundation helps in Oconee County and I think this really helped our cause.

The 36th Annual Oconee Chamber Fall Festival will be held in historic downtown Watkinsville October 17, 2009.  We will sell our cookbooks and hand out a sample of something in the cookbook (a cookie or a brownie…..to be determined).  We will solicit volunteers outside of the Cookbook Committee to take shifts “manning” the booth, as well as baking.

Most of the tournament celebrities gather for a photo.

 Meanwhile back at the Clubhouse, lunch attendees arrived to review auction items, catch up with friends and enjoy a Georgia Club meal. As the golfers returned, the golf staff began posting scores.

The winning team! From left, Gene Forte, David Nelson, Carl Hall, Brett Hall, David Venghaus, Matt Erdmann and Mike O'Malley.

 1^st Place: Carl Hall, Brett Hall, Gene Forte and David Nelson (Played with celebrity Bryant Odom)

2^nd Place: Ronnie Lee, Allen Powers, Russell DeLong and Jim Botton (Played with celebrity Allen Tibbets)

3^rd Place: Matt Tarpley, Ryan Tarpley, Joel Tarpley and Mark Tarpley (Played with celebrity Ray Goff)

 The second part of the day, the lunch and auction, saw one exciting event after another. After lunch, lunch attendees made their final bids on specialty auction items and awaited the live auction. Auctioneer Larry Troutman led the live auction, in which many unique items were won.

Suzanne Yoculan before the ball drop.

 The intensity of the day only accelerated as Suzanne Yoculan prepared for take-off. As the crowd moved from the ballroom to the terrace, Head Golf Pro Mike O’Malley escorted Suzanne to the helicopter, with pilot Tom Singleton and more than 325 black and red balls awaiting their fate.

 It was a sight to see as the helicopter, with Suzanne ushering a firm thumbs-up, flew over the Clubhouse, out to the green on #9 silver. Hundreds of balls fell from the sky, with the crowd cheering in the background and the golf staff carefully watching for the results.

 With two balls in hand, Suzanne and tournament director Dave Venghaus, announced the winners. The black ball, a 50/50 total cash split, went to Gail Williams, wife of one of the tournament celebrities, O’Neill Williams. A true moment of irony occurred as Suzanne and Dave slowly announced the winner of the black ball. Harvey Tarpley, Chairman of the Foundation, won the red ball drop. In an act of true generosity, Harvey put the trip for two to Sea Island up for auction.

 With a $3,500 bid, Stan Hunt captured this priceless trip, while greatly contributing to the total proceeds.

It was truly and exciting and eventful day at The Georgia Club. It took a great many people to put together this event which truly was a success.

 2009 Celebrity Golf Tournament Committee

Dave Venghaus, Tournament Chair

George Otwell, Teams

Diana Falletta, Sponsorships

John Purks, Sponsorships

Burt Landry, Celebrities

Robert Wall, Auction

Frank Fahey, Volunteers

Bill Huggins, TGC Foundation Liaison

Benita Nelson, TGC Foundation Liaison

Harvey Tarpley, TGC Foundation Liaison

To see more pictures on the event, please visit the following sites:

The Georgia Club Facebook Page

 The Georgia Club Golf Facebook Page

Spotted Online Athens

Do you have a personal favorite recipe from the book?

Wow!  This is a tough one!  There are too many wonderful recipes in the book to even begin to pick a favorite.  I did however “create a masterpiece” for a recent dinner party when I made the “Chocolate Mousse Crown” recipe included in the book.  It was both beautiful to look at, and delicious.  It was a big hit and quite a show stopper.  It’s a fabulous recipe for when you want to impress.  Truly fit for a king!

This recipe is full of chocolatey goodness.

Chocolate Mousse Crown