The south’s hottest chef, Hugh Acheson, will host a wine dinner and book signing at The Farm at Old Edwards Inn on Friday, December 16, 2011.

Guests will enjoy a sumptuous feast from his upcoming cookbook prepared by Madison’s culinary team with wine pairings by Sommelier Curt Christiansen. They will also receive a personal signed copy of Hugh’s new cookbook, A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen to be released October 18. The evening will take place in the southern mountain ambiance of wood, stone and cozy fires at the new Farm Pavilion at Old Edwards.

Acheson is the winner of Food & Wine's 2002 Best New Chef award, 5-time Beard Award nominee. His cookbook focuses on classic French techniques, Southern cuisine and local ingredients.

The menu will include:
·         Oysters on the Half Shell with Cocktail Sauce, Dill Pickle Mignonette and Sesame Crackers
·         Lyonnaise Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette, Poached Local Egg and Apple
·         Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Brown Butter, Bread Crumbs, Capers and Dill Whipped Cream
·         Rib Eye with Shaved Morels and Salsa Verde
·         “Not Your Mama’s” Brussels Sprouts and Saffron Braised Celery
·         Apple Brown Betty with Sorghum Zabaglione

Chef Acheson says, "I am excited to do a book dinner in the Highlands, a town that is very near and dear to our hearts and most especially to have it at the Farm at The Old Edwards Inn. The Old Edwards Inn is a place that believes wholeheartedly in the Southern Hospitality that has driven my career. I thank them for all they do and look forward to partnering with Chef Johannes on December 16th."

Limited seating available. For more information call 828-787-2625 or visit www.oldedwardsinn.com/HughAcheson. The dinner is $160 per person exclusive of taxes and gratuities. Dinner price includes wine and signed cookbook.

About Hugh Acheson (www.hughacheson.com)

Hugh Acheson is the Chef/Partner of Five & Ten and The National located in Athens, GA and Empire State South in Atlanta, GA. Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada he started cooking at a young age and decided to make it his career after taking after taking a very long time to realize that academics weren’t his thing. At age 15, he began working in restaurants after school and learning as much as possible. Today, Acheson’s experience includes working under Chef Rob McDonald where he learned stylized French Cuisine, wine and etiquette at the renowned Henri Burger Restaurant in Ottawa and in San Francisco as The Chef de Cuisine with Chef Mike Fennelly at Mecca, and later as opening Sous Chef with famed Chef Gary Danko at his namesake restaurant, where he found a love of the simple, pure and disciplined.

About Old Edwards Inn and Spa (www.oldedwardsinn.com)
•                     Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 Hotel Spa in North America for 2010 with the First Ever Perfect Score in the 20-Year History of the Reader’s Survey
•                     Condé Nast Traveler’s #3 Hotel Spa in the United States for 2011
•                     2010 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award (top ten in the US)
•                     2011 TripAdvisor Reader's Choice Award for #4 Best Relaxation Spa Hotel in the U.S.
•                     2011 TripAdvisor Reader's Choice Award for #2 Best Hotel for Romance in the U.S.
•                     2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for Madison’s Restaurant
•                     Condé Nast Johansen’s Most Excellent Inn in the US and Canada 2008
•                     Forbes Four-Star Rated for both the Resort and The Spa
•                     AAA Four-Diamond Rated
•                     Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden has won the Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” every year since 2005 and the “Best Of” award since 2008.

Old Edwards Inn and Spa cascades along several blocks in downtown Highlands—a cultural mountain village that offers award-winning dining, wine events, art galleries and some of the nation’s top golf resorts. The European style resort welcomes visitors to North Carolina’s high country with its unique blend of relaxed luxury recognized worldwide. A spectacular outdoor heated mineral pool, world class spa, award-winning dining, and golf at the private Old Edwards Club are signature experiences at this full-service mountain resort.  Guests are surrounded by the warmth and character of Old-Europe architecture and authentic period antiques. Many rooms, cottages and suites offer private patios or terraces—some with captivating rooftop views of Main Street and downtown Highlands.  All of the luxury accommodations include champagne arrival, twice-daily housekeeping, two 24-hour business centers and two 24-hour Butler’s pantries with Dove Bars, fresh fruit and soft beverages. European bedding, fine Italian linens, plush robes & slippers, rainfall showers, heated-tile bathroom floors, in-room safes and Wi-Fi enhance the in-room experience. Old Edwards Inn and Spa also boasts a state-of-the art fitness center with wellness classes that include guided hikes into the scenic surrounding mountains known as “waterfall country.”

Guests enjoy onsite shopping at the Spa Boutique, Acorns Boutique or Acorns on Church featuring fine antiques and home accessories. Dining venues include Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden serving innovative New South Cuisine, the Spa Café and the Poolside Bar and Bistro. Special events and weddings take place at The Farm—a lushly landscaped Old Edwards property located one mile from downtown Highlands featuring The Barn, the Farmhouse with luxury lodging, Bridal Pavilion, Bridal Bridge over a scenic pond and outdoor events pavilion.  The Edwards Hall Conference Center provides a catered corporate retreat venue. 

Also introduced in 2009 was Satulah, Old Edwards Private Residences, which includes 14 luxury mountain homes just two blocks off Main Street, Highlands. The Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond resort is located at 445 Main Street in Highlands, NC.