14 AMERICANWAY
JULY 1 2009
T R A V E L
Cha-Bella
The Italian eatery is famous for its signature veggie
salad that burstswith the flavor of just-picked
produce from the restaurant’s own two-acre organic
farm. ChefMatthew J. Roher offers tours andwine
tastings on the farm. “Seasonal fruits, veggies, and
herbs are all for sale, and visitors can stay for an
alfresco lunch,” says Roher. 102East BroadStreet,
(912) 790-7888,
FlatCreekLodge
A short drive out fromSavannahwill bring you
to this delicious lodge. Head cheesemaker Dane
Huebner ismost excited about theCanoocheeRed,
“awashed-rind, eyed cheese that imparts irresistible
toasted nut andgrain notes.” Add to that the award-
winningCypress Cheddar, Blue Farmhouse, and
AztecCheddar— all raw-milk based— andmany
others that are as nimble on the palate as they
sound. 367BishopChapel ChurchRoad, Swainsboro,
Georgia; (877) 352-8273,
HoneyHouse
Local wild honey straight from the hive is on tap for
sampling at the cantilevered café counter, where
fresh tupelo/limeade biscuitswith honeycomb
butter are served straight from the oven. Owner
ClayCulver says he’s seenmore than a few swoon
over the honey lattes. “Brings ’emback formore
every time,” he says. Honeycombplatters and a
children’s interactive learning hive complete the bee-
all, end-all experience. 104West BroughtonStreet,
(912) 233-7873,
LowcountryGourmetFoods
Here you’ll find a tasting room of a dozen varieties
of agedbalsamic vinegars (think peach andwild
blueberry). Extra-virgin olive oils and exotic nut oils
are also ready for the tasting. In short, not even
Italian visitors have seen anything like it, which
is exactlywhy owner RobbCampbell says, “The
looks I see on people’s faces is a rush like you can’t
imagine.” 123East LibertyStreet, (912) 233-9155,
Thrive, ACarryOutCafé
WendyArmstrong, chef/owner of Thrive, believes,
“Savannah is ready to embrace local, organic,
and eco-friendly!” For this café, locatedbetween
Savannah andTybee Island, thatmeans handcrafted
regional cheeses; wild-caught Georgia shrimp;
homemade sandwiches, salads, and cookies; and
three varieties of Southern lemonade— anddid
wemention crates of organic produce?4700East
Highway80, (912) 898-2131,
outcafe.com
IntheGardenofGoodandLocal
Savannah, Georgia, a city never short on intrigue and inspiration— colorful characterswelcome!— is again experiencing
amoment
. Gone are themoviememorabilia objets d’art, and in their place is glorious Southern comfort. As in food. The
nascent locavoremovement has brought out the city’s creative best, each ready for its own close-up. Here are a few of the
standouts.
ByNealWebster Turnage
Cha-Bella
HoneyHouse
Thrive
