The High Country of NC holds a special place in our lives because my wife and I spent our honeymoon in Beech Mountain. So, for our 26th wedding anniversary, we decided to celebrate in Blowing Rock.

When looking at dining options for our anniversary dinner, I wanted something within walking distance of our motel. I selected several dining options for my wife to choose from, and after reviewing the respective menus, she chose The Speckled Trout, and what a great choice it was for our special evening!

We arrived early for our reservation, and within 10 minutes we were seated. Although it was a very pleasant evening in Blowing Rock, we chose to dine inside. We were blessed (I mean it!) to be seated in Keeli’s section. She cheerfully greeted us and took our drink order.

Looking over the menu while waiting for our drinks to arrive, surmising that a restaurant that has “Trout” in its name must be known for its trout, both my wife and I decided to order the Carolina Mt. Trout; my wife ordered hers blackened and I ordered mine hickory smoked. We both ordered our trout with two sides; my wife ordered the fennel & potato salad and collard greens, and I ordered the collard greens and smoked gouda grits simply because I am Southern, and the grits were produced in my home state of South Carolina.

When our entrees arrived, our trout was perfectly seasoned and prepared. My wife enjoyed her potato salad, and my grits did South Carolina proud! And while our collard greens were delicious, a word of caution – they are seasoned with hot pepper vinegar (my late father NEVER ate collards without it), so don’t let that first mouthful take your breath away!

Although we don’t normally order dessert when dining out, when Keeli asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu, I mentioned to her that since it was our anniversary, absolutely! Keeli congratulated us on our anniversary, and she THANKED us for choosing The Speckled Trout for our special evening! Pleasantly full, but wanting to treat ourselves on our anniversary, my wife and I decided to split cheesecake with blueberry compote.

When Keeli delivered the cheesecake, it tasted as good as its presentation. I will also say that chain restaurant that has “Cheesecake” in its name could take a lesson from The Speckled Trout. Not only was the cheesecake better tasting than that other restaurant, but it was also a fraction of the cost! Not that cost mattered on our anniversary, but I say this only because I took notice of the difference.

When the bill arrived, Keeli had, sweetly, comped the cheesecake because it was our anniversary. Her kind gesture was totally unexpected, but greatly appreciated by my wife and I, and only confirmed that we had made the right choice as to where to dine on our anniversary.

Although I don’t know the name of our chef at The Speckled Trout on the evening of September 5th, I DO know the name of our server, and thanks to Keeli (and the chef), my wife and I had a dining experience that perfectly celebrated 26 years of marriage. Great food AND great memories!