If you don’t enjoy but one crab cake for the rest of your natural life, I would highly recommend this one.

I love Georgia. I spent most of my natural life in South Carolina, and while I adore my home state, I. Love. Georgia.

Life anywhere but South Carolina was foreign to me for almost 40 years. I was born and raised in Gilbert, SC, population of about 80 if you include the cows and chickens. It was a wonderful, peaceful town where literally everyone knew your name. I loved sitting on the porch at night and listening to the tree frogs and crickets. Not a single car would come by for hours.

When I moved to Georgia, I wanted that same small town feel so we chose Waleska. It was exactly what we were looking for. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure we would find the same peace and tranquility being so close to Atlanta, but I soon learned, and came to appreciate, all that a big city can offer.

That said, we’ve also had the opportunity to visit some amazing smaller cities close by. We made our first trip to Dawsonville a couple of weeks back, and fell in love.

Dawsonville is a historic community, a place where families and businesses flourish. The City strives to capture the spirit of healthy living. With sidewalks that connect areas of the city, events such as “ART in the Garden” and the “Moonshine Festival,” dining delights, entertainment and shopping venues, make Dawsonville an active, thriving community. Dawsonville is also home to The Blue Bicycle Bistro.

The Atlanta Food Bloggers Society was welcomed to The Blue Bicycle by owners Guy & Katie Owen. Guy also serves as Executive Chef. The Blue Bicycle is a bistro; an intimate restaurant that is operated by the owner and a small staff. The menu is comprised of comfort food, seasonal, regional and imaginative creations. They are a scratch kitchen, meaning they use their own meat, and make their own sauces, dressings, and desserts in house.

We began the evening with craft cocktails from the bar. Yes. All cocktails are handcrafted with mixers and fresh juices made fresh in-house. The Old-Fashioned Apple Cocktail was fresh and spunky using Buffalo Trace, Laird’s Applejack, muddled apple and bitters.

With our cocktails, came an elegant charcuterie sampler with artisanal meats and accompaniments, along with a beautiful plate of fresh asparagus and Mozzarella Burrata with lemon, preserved egg yolk and Georgia Olive Oil.

The final appetizer of the evening was Smoked Trout Rillettes with trout caviar and chives spread on grilled baguettes. The trout was perfectly smoked and one of my most favorite dishes.

During the appetizers, we were served a wonderful, light and fruity white wine blend called Plentitude from local vineyard, Wolf Mountain.

Next came The Blue Bicycle’s famous crab cakes. If you don’t enjoy but one crab cake for the rest of your natural life, I would highly recommend this one.

      

This mini version of their lump crabcakes was served with two aiolis made in house, and a warm Chevre Salad with simple greens, warm goat’s cheese, bacon and pecans.

We were also served a fantastic beet salad with feta, and pecans, accented with microgreens.

The wine paring for the crab cake and salads was Duckhorn’s Decoy, a fabulous table blend from Sonoma Valley, CA.

Another favorite of the evening was the Smoked Duck Breast with a muscadine reduction, roasted root vegetables and arugula. The muscadine glaze was like candy.

Other entree offerings included North Carolina Mountain Trout with Lemon Herb Butter, Green Snap Beans and Tomato…

…Lamb Ragout with Early Peas, Mint, and Parmesan Cheese over fresh Pappardelle pasta.

…and Grilled Pork Tenderloin with ChimiChurri, Red Potatoes, Spring Onion and Green Beans.

It didn’t stop there. I’m so glad we found more room on our tummies for the Caramelia Ice Cream with the most decadent, flourless chocolate cookie in existence.

We were then treated to a smorgasbord of other desserts made in house. Each one…

more decadent…

…than the last.

I want to thank Chef Guy and Katie for all of their Southern Hospitality and a stunning dinner. If you are in Dawsonville, or even if you’re not, add this to your bucket list. It is definitely a hidden gem.

  

Life is too short to eat ugly food y’all.

*A very special thank you to The Blue Bicycle Bistro for an incredible meal. While the meal was complimentary, all opinions, thoughts and drooling are entirely my own.