Bridging

I had a great talk with Jill on Tuesday about some of the reasons (besides food!) why she and Johnny love running a restaurant.

Jill has mentioned to me on several occasions that she likes the opportunity for community involvement that the restaurant offers. She wants the Smokehouse to serve as a hub where people come to meet and connect. She hopes to bring together different organizations and community members who can help each other- whether in building a business or in raising money for a cause.

So this is a post to give you the scoop on how Johnny and Jill have jumped into the Euharlee community. Believe me when I tell you that they love helping people and getting involved in new activities.

-- Euharlee Farmer’s Market and Artisan’s Fair

Every Friday from 5-8 PM, farmers and artisans gather in the back parking lot of the Smokehouse to sell their wares. I love the fact that this farmer’s market is in the evening. If you love fresh produce but don’t like having to get up early on Saturday morning, this is the perfect solution! Jill calls it “the better way to farmer’s market” and recommends dinner at the Smokehouse before stocking up on delicious fresh veggies.

This is the first summer for the farmer’s market in Euharlee and it’s been great to see it expand. Jill says of the project, “It’s growing organically, just like the vegetables.”

--Covered Bridge Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off

The farmer’s market isn’t the only thing happening in Euharlee. Johnny is really looking forward to the chili cook off on Saturday October 23rd from 10 am-5pm. This looks like it’s going to be a day of fun for the entire family.

Plus: Euharlee is STILL RECRUITING teams to sign up. If you have a good chili recipe, team up with your neighbors, family, coworkers, whoever and give competition a try! Johnny thinks it’s loads of fun :)

For more information contact Nancy Rewitzer at 770-386-1542 or nrewitzer@euharlee.com

--Haunted Euharlee

October 30-31st from 6-9 pm

only $2 per person!

I’m so sad that I won’t be in town for this rocking event. For Halloween, Euharlee is putting together an amazing ghost tour. The walking tour begins at Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse and lasts for approximately 1 hour. Along the way, participants will stop and see evidence of paranormal activity in Euharlee! It’s going to be an amazing combination of using technology to track paranormal activity and using history to offer interpretations of the evidence. Jill is getting really excited about this because not only is it fun to see what technology provides but also this is a great way to learn about the history of Euharlee. Did you know that there used to be a cotton gin where the Smokehouse now stands? How *exactly* does a cotton gin work? What about the ghost “Bill” who sometimes haunts the Smokehouse?

Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse is collaborating with the Paulding County Paranormal Society and the Euharlee Historical Society to put together this fun and educational event.

So please, bring your family (it is a family friendly event!) and enjoy a nice fall evening in the spooky city of Euharlee. Jill told me that the Smokehouse is even going to have some “ghost tour specials” so come eat and tour or tour and eat.

More info available at hauntedeuharlee.com

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So I’ve talked to you about Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse and how they’re involved with the community of Euharlee, “The Covered Bridge City” but why is this post called “Bridging”?

That comes straight from Jill. When talking about her desire to bring the community together through the Smokehouse, she said, “Part of our story is bridging."

I know she and Johnny are both truly committed to that.

Grilled Chicken Club

I’ve looked over Johnny’s menu countless times but somehow I’ve always skipped over the grilled chicken club. It is on both the lunch and dinner menus but I had just never really noticed it before. With all the yummy barbecue beckoning, I never thought to give this average-sounding sandwich a try. Of course by now I should know what nothing at the Smokehouse is average.

This is a chicken club sandwich the way it was meant to be. Three perfectly grilled chicken strips smothered in cheese, topped off with cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

Did you notice that I didn’t mention mustard or mayo? Yes, they’re available but your toasted bun doesn’t come with either. Jill and Johnny talked it over and decided they didn’t want anything to distract from the amazing flavor of this sandwich.

The moment you sink your teeth into this amazing sandwich, you’ll wonder why you never thought to try it before. It certainly belongs on the Smokehouse menu.

So, am I the only one who has neglected this sandwich? Have you tried it before and loved it? Is it on your list of “gotta try this soon”?

more photos on Flickr to get your mouth watering.

Barbecue Sampler Platter

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m indecisive. I always have so much trouble ordering at restaurants because I just can’t decide what I want. Johnny and Jill realize that a lot of people have trouble choosing which JMS award-winning meat to eat, so they’ve created the perfect platter for all their indecisive meat loving customers.

The barbecue sampler platter still involves making a decision, but you don’t have to narrow it down to just one thing. Instead, you choose your 3 favorite meats. Your options: sliced brisket, pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and smoked tofu.

If you really looked at the picture above, you may have noticed that I have more than three meats on my plate. Lucky me, Johnny served all five options for the photoshoot. Now you know what all the options look like and, as an added bonus, I got to try everything!

I’ve mentioned before how much I love Johnny’s brisket. He really takes the time to smoke it just right and results are fabulous.

Also, I may have mentioned his pork a couple times before. I may have mentioned that it wins awards left and right and that the delicious pork flavor explodes in your mouth.

I’ve also tried the smoked half chicken before. Remember when I wrote about how pink is a mark of smokey goodness?

And of course you all remember the posts about ribs. I talked about them in the party pick post and the rack of ribs post. Cooked to competition standards, Johnny’s ribs are definitely worth trying- even if you think you don’t like ribs.

Finally, the smoked tofu. If you haven’t tried this yet, the sampler platter is a great way to try smoked tofu without committing to an entire plate of it. It’s very easy to be overlook tofu because so often tofu just isn’t cooked right. It kind of reminds me of brisket. Johnny always talks about how brisket is the “orneriest piece of meat” but if it’s cooked just right, it can be the best. Even though tofu isn’t meat, I think the same thing applies. It’s so easy to cook it wrong, but when it’s done right, it’s delcious. So please, don’t give up on tofu until you’ve give Johnny’s version a try. The tofu at Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse has all the depth and flavor of a piece of meat, but it’s not actually meat!

So, which three would YOU choose for you barbecue sampler platter?

more photos on flickr, as usual :)

Ice Cream Sundae

Another amazing Johnny’s dessert! I’m a big fan of ice cream on a hot summer day. Who isn’t, really?

Johnny’s ice cream sundae is a perfect way to cool down and make your tastebuds very happy. The tall glass is filled with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and caramel sauce. Best of all, it’s topped with a cherry and whipped cream!

I’ve noticed that the ice cream sundae has been on the dessert board most days this summer. So come on in and order one :)

more photos on flickr.

Fried Peach Pie

Continuing on the theme of fresh peaches, check out this delicious fried peach pie. Johnny’s fried pies are truly unique and wonderfully delicious to boot!

So next time you see a fried pie on the board, whether apple, cherry, or peach, give it a try. Pictures just don’t do it justice.

Still, more photos on flickr here.

Peach Cobbler

Check out the change of scenery in these photos. Yup, we’re out in the new patio area at Johnny’s. I couldn’t resist taking this delicious peach cobbler outside to take some photos in the sunshine. The heat made the ice cream melt quicker, but that just meant I got to eat sooner :)

This particular dessert may not be available every day but Johnny always has lots of delicious choices so no worries.

More photos of this *amazing* peach cobbler available on Facebook.

Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about Johnny’s prime rib special. (Check out that post here)

I still think you should head out to the Smokehouse on a Thursday night to try the prime rib and listen to live music by Just Steve.

BUT if for some reason you can’t make it Thursday, never fear– you can still enjoy Johnny’s delicious prime rib. Just snag a shaved prime rib sandwich off the everyday lunch or dinner menu.

Just picture it: toasted-just-right Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse bun, fresh crisp pickles, loads of savory shaved prime rib, creamy provolone cheese, and flavorful au jus.

Is your mouth watering yet? I know mine is and I just ate!

Johnny took the Thursday night special and made it into something you can enjoy every day of the week. And trust me, once you try this, you’ll want to eat it again and again. There’s just something about the mix of provolone and prime rib that I can’t get enough of!

So please, have a look at this sandwich. Check out how the prime rib is completely covering the bun with meaty goodness. Pay special attention to the delicious provolone cheese mixed in with the meat. This is a sandwich you don’t want to miss!

Pictures on Flickr...