Food & Travel

The word 'élan' is synonymous with...flair, style, confidence, and elegance. At Chateau Elan in Braselton, that's exactly what I found. And, it starts when you turn into the driveway featuring views that are expansive and welcoming. From the team of valets at the front door of the Chateau, all the way up in the form of CEO and President Henk Evers who waited to greet the Georgia Traveler team personally.
Nearly everyone at Chateau Élan is international. We met staff from The Netherlands , Ireland , Germany , and Turkey . There’s also a great group of locals who work there.
We were shown a corner suite. Wowza, wowza, wowza! The bathroom … to die for, including a snowy white bathrobe that is a serious snuggle draw. The bed … a decadent treat for body and mind. Both suite and bath were festooned with red and white rose petals, a special package for couples.
Anyway, enough of this drooling. You simply must visit this place for yourself. While there, check out Paddy’s. It’s an Irish Pub built in Ireland , disassembled and rebuilt in Braselton. Even the staff is Irish.
And, don’t forget The Spa at Chateau Élan for relaxing and unwinding. It even smells good in The Spa, which has its own kitchen. Oh yeah … the menu at The Spa features the carb count of your favorite foods!
International award winning chef Marc Suennemann made lunch for us, featuring seared sea scallops, white asparagus, truffles, fingerling potatoes and pork tenderloin. Chef Marc was kind enough to make my appetizer and lunch diet friendly. Desert was chocolate molten cake a la mode. (Okay, I had one bite. Who could resist?) A white chocolate cigarillo accompanied this homemade confection. UMMMM! BTW: Chef Marc is a dream to work with and his team offers cooking classes.
If there’s one drawback to this place, it’s that the gift shops stock too many gorgeous little things, which beg you to ‘pick me, pick me.’ As a self-confessed shop-a-holic, it was all too much for me to resist. But, then whoever said shopping is a bad thing?

Chateau Elan and Road Atlanta by Valarie Edwards:

Ladies, this one is for you! I think men have kept the secret of road racing to themselves so we won’t know how much fun they’ve been having at the track. Here’s what happened. Recently, David and I, along with photographers Kevan Ward and Wayne Petty traveled to the Skip Barber Racing School at Road Atlanta in Braselton (about 45 minutes north of Atlanta ) as part of our Speed Tour of Georgia (premiering March 26th @ 9:00 PM). After first suiting up in our red rally suit and helmets, we then climbed into our Mazda Miata’s for a quick safety lesson from our instructors. (Check out the pix for how good looking these two are! Vrrrmmmmm vrrrmmmm!!) OK, seriously … these guys really know what they are doing.Even in the falling snow, the instructors, Sean and Rob controlled the cars through hairpin turns, reaching speeds of over 100 MPH. There’s even a part of the track called the skid pad that’s been slicked over to simulate an oil spill … we did it all, donuts and spinning, billowing tons of smoke. Yeah, I was holding on for dear life but hey, that’s ‘cause I was trying to hold on to my lunch too.Then, it was time for David and I to take the wheel and time off against one another. Long story short, David won the timed trials but was disqualified because he failed a regulation backup. I am officially claiming the race as a win for all womankind. (Insert end zone dance here.) This is serious fun anyone can enjoy. Check out the Skip Barber website for scheduled class times. Later we headed to nearby Chateau Elan for some serious winding down at The Spa at Chateau Elan. Everything about this place is FAB-U-LOUS! More about my visit to Chateau Elan in my next post. Let me just leave you with these few words … Chef Marc at Chateau Elan is H-O-TTTTTT.

Ladies, this one is for you!
I think men have kept the secret of road racing to themselves so we won’t know how much fun they’ve been having at the track.
Here’s what happened. Recently, David and I, along with photographers Kevan Ward and Wayne Petty traveled to the Skip Barber Racing School at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Braselton (about 45 minutes north of Atlanta) as part of our Speed Tour of Georgia (premiering March 26th @ 9:00 PM).
After first suiting up in our red rally suit and helmets, we then climbed into our Mazda Miata’s for a quick safety lesson from our instructors. (Check out the pix for how good looking these two are! Vrrrmmmmm vrrrmmmm!!) OK, seriously … these guys really know what they are doing.
Even in the falling snow, the instructors, Sean and Rob controlled the cars through hairpin turns, reaching speeds of over 100 MPH. There’s even a part of the track called the skid pad that’s been slicked over to simulate an oil spill … we did it all, donuts and spinning, billowing tons of smoke. Yeah, I was holding on for dear life but hey, that’s ‘cause I was trying to hold on to my lunch too.
Then, it was time for David and I to take the wheel and time off against one another. Long story short, David won the timed trials but was disqualified because he failed a regulation backup. I am officially claiming the race as a win for all womankind. (Insert end zone dance here.) This is serious fun anyone can enjoy. Check out the Skip Barber website for scheduled class times.
Later we headed to nearby Chateau Elan for some serious winding down at The Spa at Chateau Elan. Everything about this place is FAB-U-LOUS! More about my visit to Chateau Elan in my next post. Let me just leave you with these few words … Chef Marc at Chateau Elan is H-O-TTTTTT.

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So what is grown in Georgia in January? That was the question I had when researching places for the Georgia Grown Tour of Georgia. In truth, there’s not too much being grown in the early winter months, but I found a place in Tifton that has things “growin’ on” all year-round. That’s the Agrirama.

Having not eaten, I focused this travel destination on how to get myself a meal. The Agrirama is a living history village and my tour guide today was a long time employee named Johnny Johnson. Johnny became my gateway to the food…And he delivered. We immediately went to the old grist mill and I learned how to grind corn kernels into both grits and meal. Both of these products would eventually quench my hunger. We took our ground grits to a couple of kind ladies who were already in the process of cooking tea cakes (cookies). Though the tea cakes were good, the grits were better than I ever imagined. The recipe is on the back of the bags you can pick up when visiting the mill. We then headed to cornbread cook Barbara Cody, and this lady knew her stuff, putting this meal into a hot coal Dutch oven skillet and turning it into cornbread perfection.

The Agrirama also features a printing press, turpentine still, blacksmith shop, cotton gin, livestock, a massive agriculture museum and so much more. Located just off exit 63-B on I-75, the Agrirama is a step back in time that can’t be missed.

David Zelski

Hi! It’s Valarie Edwards ready to head out to the 2009 Atlanta Holiday House Tour! Our photographer extraordinaire Charlene Fisk, production assistant and editor superb Renee Burton and I pile into the Traveler van and dutifully following the printed directions, we wind up at the WRONG place. But, tah-dah! Char whips out her trusty I-Phone and we’re on our way again. Turns out we were 20 minutes away from the office.

Bruce Patterson greets us at the door of this 22,000 (yes, that’s twenty two thousand) square foot home off Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta. This year’s tour benefits the ‘Save a Smile Foundation.’ Bruce is the group’s director. The ‘Save a Smile Foundation’ helps kids born with either a cleft palate or a cleft lip. Turns out 1 in 700 children are born with this birth defect. Surgical costs to repair this hereditary disorder can top more than $250,000. Bruce was born with a cleft palate and tears come to his eyes when speaking of the psychological effects of craniofacial disorders on children. Bruce is wearing striped pj’s and a red Santa hat. It’s just about story time and several kids have come to hear a reading of one of my holiday favorites, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.’

All is going well ‘til the kids start opening the fake gifts the decorator has placed around the room. Then, one little girl starts crying. One sister reminds another to get her Christmas list to Santa, or else. And, more than one mom is surprised to hear her child wants a puppy for Christmas. OK, everyone turn around and smile! We shot this scene at least three times and you can tell it was nap time for some. Including me!

I wish I could tell you I have a favorite room but even the laundry room is fantastic! There’s the master bedroom on the first floor, done in shades of silver, white and pale blue (think a lighter shade of Tiffany’s famous blue). But right off the master bedroom is the master bath. At least six people could fit comfortably in the shower and the closet space (OMG!), one for him, and one for her.

There’s a kitchen any top chef would die for, a wine cellar, an entertainment room, a full-size basketball court, a salt water pool, and a man cave complete with a pool table and a GIGANTIC plasma screen.

When you visit, tell them you heard about it on Georgia Traveler. And, bring your camera …turns out decorators like it when you snap pictures of their rooms. The three level French style estate is located at 3410 Ridgewood Road in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.AtlantaHolidayHouse.com. And, check out the Holiday House gift shop to find some of the same decorative items you’ll see throughout the house.

Thanksgiving is over and you've gained five pounds from turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie--it's time to get out and see Georgia!

Antebellum Christmas at the Old Governor's Mansion
December 5 - 24, 2009
Milledgeville, Georgia
Georgia's Old Governor's Mansion in Milledgeville is the epitome of the Antebellum charm of old Southern homes. Beginning December 5th, the Mansion puts on its mid-19th Century Christmas decorations for Antebellum Christmas at the Old Governor's Mansion. Take the time to visit this treasure of Georgia's past during this festive time of year. The Mansion is located at 120 South Clark Street in Milledgeville. You can get more information by visiting
http://www.gcsu/edu/mansion.


Festival of Trees
December 3 - 6, 2009
Unicoi State Park, Helen, Georgia
See some of Georgia's most festively decorated trees and wreaths at this year's Festival of Trees. For seven years this annual event has benefitted the United Way, and this year approximately 38 trees and 24 wreaths, decorated with various themes, will be on display. Don't miss the silent auction! The bidding area is located in the wreath display area. Bid on your favorite tree or wreath to take home for the holiday season. For more details on this exciting event, visit the Festival's website.

Holiday Island on Jekyll Island
November 29 - December 31, 2009
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Festivities highlight the history of the island and include the Jekyll Island Museum's Holiday's in History tours. For information on these events and more throughout the holiday season, visit the Holiday Island on Jekyll Island webpage. Holiday Island will be featured on the upcoming Georgia Traveler Holiday Tour of Georgia, which will premiere December 18 at 9 PM on GPB. Keep an eye on our website for more information.


And those are just a few ideas for things to do in the Peach State this weekend. For more ideas, visit ExploreGeorgia.org, a great website operated by our production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Right now I’m buckled in a white mini-van, driving along Highway 280 past thick fields of Georgia grown cotton, heading back to GPB headquarters in Atlanta. It’s November and still over 70 degrees. That makes for a comfortable ride on a high-powered wave-runner at Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club. Our crew was out today shooting the beautiful Georgia Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Cordele for the final segment in the Georgia Traveler Golf Tour of Georgia. Not only does Blackshear offer regular golf all year round, you can also take on the frisbee, or disc golf course.

After putting on a clinic with his clubs, golf pro Ryan Snider goofed around with us for a couple of hours on the heavily wooded frisbee course. Ryan and I started off in a dead heat for the lowest score, but the game quickly morphed into a skills challenge. Cameraman extraordinaire Mitch Zastrow needed close-up shots of the discs hitting the “holes”, which are odd looking contraptions that resemble a parking meter decorated in a halo of chain-links. These chains, when struck by the discs, make a loud and strangely rewarding clang/jingle noise…that sweet “disc golf” sound of accomplishment!

With all of the action going on during this shoot, it’s a wonder that we only had two injuries. Traveler’s sadistic associate producer Sammy “slammy” Jones took several takes to successfully hit me with a disc while I was swinging my golf club. There was a point to this stunt…It’s the only way I could think of to transition from regular golf to disc golf. The problem is that these discs are rather heavy compared to regular beach frisbees, and Sammy drilled me in delicate spots like the ankle, elbow and most painfully, the hip. Never again will I ask someone to throw hard objects at me over and over again.
Injury number two is a mystery. Cameraman extraordinaire Mitch Zastrow, who I introduced earlier in this story, twisted his ankle…however, he doesn’t remember when…Hmmmm…As the day went on, the ankle progressively got worse to the point where he could barely walk, more importantly shoot, but today he showed the true courage of a grizzled and dedicated veteran, and continued to work until the shoot was a wrap.

So readers, when you ever feel like giving up on anything in life, think of Mitch and how he finished the Lake Blackshear shoot with a bum ankle… Until the next Georgia Traveler adventure…Pleasant Journeys.

David Zelski

P.S. My hip still hurts and Sammy cut his finger on something…

The Georgia Traveler Team wants to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. Remember to drive safely when traveling around the state this holiday weekend! New episodes of Georgia Traveler will resume December 18th with "The Holiday Tour of Georgia."

You’ve seen her hunt ghosts at the Windsor Hotel in Americus for the “Ghost Tour of Georgia”. She’s rolled up her sleeves to make fruitcake with the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers for the “Made in Georgia Tour”. She has explored Westville in Lumpkin for our “Historic Tour of Georgia”. This weekend, you can see her visit Andalusia, the home of author Flannery O’Connor in Milledgeville for the “Book Tour of Georgia”. But who is Valarie Edwards?

Red is her favorite color, she’s saving up to buy a Shih Tzu, she was born wearing heels, and considers chocolate and wine the only true food groups. Valarie was born in New York City. And like a true New Yorker, she speaks a little Spanish, less Italian and even less Yiddish. She has lived in Hong Kong and the Phillippines, but considers the San Francisco-Bay Area her hometown.

A 1997 graduate of Golden Gate University’s School of Arts And Letters, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 1999, she received her Master of Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been a Reporter for Georgia Public Broadcasting Radio since 2007 and in 2009, joined her television colleagues for “Lawmakers”, our coverage of the Georgia General Assembly. Her hard work under the gold dome resulted in a 1st Place award from CapitolBeat (National Association of Statehouse Reporters) for her coverage of the Home Mortgage Crisis.

In May 2009, she officially joined the Georgia Traveler team and hit the road, exploring the Empire State of the South. We’re excited that Valarie has joined the team and hope that you’ll welcome her if you should see her in your community.

Welcome our newest Georgia Traveler, Valarie Edwards!

This week the Georgia Traveler team embarks on a Book Tour of Georgia. Peach State authors have made their mark in the literary world, from grand epics to stories of little critters. We journey to a few places you can learn about these legendary Georgia talents.








Georgia Traveler 305, The Book Tour of Georgia, premieres Friday, November 20th at 9:00 PM on GPB, then repeats Saturday, November 21st at 7:00 PM and Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 PM.

For more information about those upcoming episodes, check out our website at:
http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Check out the new Georgia Tourism website at http://www.exploregeorgia.org/

Our upcoming episode of Georgia Traveler that premieres this weekend is all about Georgia authors. It's called the "Book Tour of Georgia" and highlights only a few of Georgia's many, many talented authors. Included in our program are Joel Chandler Harris, Margaret Mitchell, Jessica Green and Ted Hafer (authors of The Grit Cookbook), and Flannery O'Connor.

Georgia Traveler co-host Valarie Edwards takes you on a journey to Milledgeville, where Mary Flannery O'Connor spent most of her adult life. Here's a picture of Valarie on the front porch of Andalusia, the O'Connor family farm. Andalusia has been preserved as a museum by the Flannery O'Connor Andalusia Foundation.

Born in 1925 in Savannah, Flannery was the only child of Regine Cline and Edwin Francis O'Connor. The family lived in a three story home on Lafayette Square, just steps away from Savannah's Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Her childhood home is also a museum managed by the Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home Foundation.

After a brief residence in Atlanta beginning in 1938, the O’Connor family moved in 1940 to Milledgeville to live in the Cline family home on Greene Street. Flannery's father, Edward, died of lupus early in 1941, and Mrs. O’Connor and Flannery continued to live in the Milledgeville family home along with Flannery’s aunts. It was in that home on Greene Street that Flannery continued to live while she attended Peabody High School and Georgia State College for Women, which is now Georgia College & State University. The University is home to the Flannery O'Connor collection. Here's a picture of our photographer Mitch Zastrow in the Flannery O'Connor Room, shooting footage of one of Flannery's typewriters.


Flannery O’Connor left Milledgeville in 1945 to attend the State University of Iowa. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree after two years but remained in Iowa for another year before going to the Yaddo Foundation's artist colony near Saratoga Springs, New York. Afterwards she lived in New York City where she was introduced to Robert and Sally Fitzgerald, with whom she lived for over a year in Ridgefield, Connecticut. During this time she was writing her first novel Wise Blood. In late 1950 Flannery O’Connor began to exhibit symptoms of lupus, the disease that had killed her father. Her health forced Flannery to return to Milledgeville in 1951, where she and her mother moved to the family farm, Andalusia, where Flannery lived for thirteen years, until her death in 1964.

Georgia Traveler visited GCSU and spoke with Professor Bruce Gentry, the Editor of the Flannery O'Connor Review. We then visited Andalusia and spoke with Craig Amason, Executive Director of the Flannery O’Connor Andalusia Foundation. Here's a picture of Valarie and Craig as they walk some of the grounds at Andalusia. The farm's original 21 acres have been recently augmented to include nearly 500 adjoining acres, which have been set aside as a nature preserve. There are nature trails with signage about some of the types of trees on the property as well. This is definitely an excellent outdoor activity for literary buffs!

Back in the city limits of Milledgeville, you can hop a hospitality trolley that leaves from the headquarters of our good friends at the Milledgeville Convention and Visitors Bureau on West Hancock Street and see other Flannery highlights, like the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where O’Connor and her mother attended Mass daily.












You can catch our segment on Flannery O'Connor in Georgia Traveler 305, the Book Tour of Georgia this Friday, November 20 at 9 PM, Saturday, November 21 at 7 PM and Wednesday, November 25 at 7:30 PM.


We hope you enjoy the segment as much as we enjoyed our visit to Milledgeville. Until my next Behind the Scenes post, this is Executive Producer Ashlie Wilson wishing you pleasant journeys... from the beautiful front porch of the Andalusia farm!

The Holiday Season is almost upon us. Here are a few events to get you in the holiday mood this weekend.

Candlelight Tour Festival
November 20 - 22, 2009
Warm Springs, Georgia
Visit the city FDR made his second home! Discover the Magic of Christmas in Warm Springs as the Village is transformed into a glowing wonderland of lights. Horse and buggy tours are available as visitors shop by candlelight and hear carolers and musicians serenade the streets. Restaurants and shops keep extended hours November 20, 21, and 22 to help you find that unique gift for a special someone. More information is available here. While visiting Warm Springs, be sure to visit Roosevelt's Little White House. Visitors can tour FDR's home away from home and discover why President Roosevelt retreated to Georgia to try to recuperate from his polio. Here's their website for more information.

Magical Nights of Lights
November 21 - November 22, 2009
Lake Lanier Islands
Known as the world’s largest animated light extravaganza, the seven-and-a-half mile driving tour features giant illuminated characters that are comprised of millions of twinkling and moving lights. After the tour, visit the Holiday Village for amusement rides, pony rides, marshmallow roasting, holiday shopping, and a visit with Santa Claus. For more information, visit the Lake Lanier Islands website. Georgia Traveler's Keely Muse and her husband, Wynn, will be visiting the Nights of Lights in an upcoming episode of Georgia Traveler, The Holiday Tour of Georgia. Look for it on GPB in December!

Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival
November 21 - 22, 2009
Thomasville, Georgia
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And finally, for those festival fans among us, be sure not to miss the 14th annual Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival in Thomasville, Georgia. The festival is one of America's premier wildlife and sporting art festvials. There's fun for the whole family, with wildlife, painting, sculpture, photography, and carving exhibits. The festival draws on the centuries-old tradition of wildlife management and conservation coupled with support of wildlife art in the Thomasville area. It all begins Saturday, November 21 at 10 AM, and runs through Sunday, November 22. For more information visit the official website.

And those are just a few ideas for things to do in the Peach State this weekend. For more ideas, visit ExploreGeorgia.org, a great website operated by our production partners at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.