If you’ve enjoyed the last two articles on eating your way through Fayette County, pay attention, it gets even better! We’ve worked our way through the south half of the county, back up to the northwest side of the county and now we’ll make our grand finale on the northeast side. Since Oakland was our last stop, it only makes sense that our first stop on the way east would be White House & Coffee Co.

White House has everything from steamers to boba teas to lattes and frappes. Their seasonal drink menu keeps thing lively with lavender lattes, Cinnamon Bun lattes or even a Grinch Frappe. They have breakfast and lunch offerings including coffee cake, bagels, turkey sandwiches with soup or hot ham and cheese on a croissant each day as well. Need something to go? They have drive-thru available. If you’re in store grabbing your coffee, make sure to wander next door while you wait. You’ll find the perfect gift for you or someone you love. It’s easy to rush in today’s world, but White House coffee has made a comfy place to catch up with friends and enjoy the important things in life.

I suppose it seems odd to follow one coffee shop with another, but A New Life Herbs is an entirely different type of coffee shop; though Emily and Katie both would agree, community and loving your neighbor are the most important aspects of what they do. Emily not only serves coffee, she also makes an incredible dandelion, chicory root and turmeric latte! Maybe that sounds odd, but if you’re looking for relief from inflammation, this is a tasty way to find it. There are wide variety of other herbal teas and lattes available as well. Emily’s goal of being farm to table is growing constantly. They now offer their own home raised pork for breakfast and lunch dishes. You can get a tasty glass of home brewed kombucha in a variety of flavors as well as a latte; but you won’t find fake flavors. Emily’s goal is to provide both the body and the soul with the most natural products available. You will find delicious dishes for breakfast like a bagel, parfait or quiche. For lunch you can get a grilled cheese grilled on Backermann’s locally made bread, a Cuban sandwich or a broccoli salad. With cold and flu season upon us, make sure to check out her many herbal tinctures, teas and syrups while you’re in the store as well.

Does the thought of a burger with a side of steak fries make your mouth water? Then take a quick jog down to Hot Off Joe’s grill at the La Grange Road and Highway 76 junction. Joe is barbequing some of the best grilled food in town. Smoked bologna sandwich? They’ve got it. Cheeseburger? Fried Okra? Wings? Absolutely. Maybe chicken or seafood is more your style. Well, they’ve got that too. Make sure to grab some chicken nuggets and some hush puppies while you’re there. Joe has everything grilled you could want plus service with a smile!

Back to the town square. If you’re looking for the perfect pick-me-up, stop by the Somerville Nutrition Shack. They have loaded teas that are loaded with nutrition. Using a well-known and respected supplement company, they can give your tea the caffeinated boost you’re looking for, the protein you need for a good work out or just something sweet start your day off right. No matter what’s in the cup, the customer has a smile on their face when they walk out that door!

Are you looking for breakfast with a “just like home atmosphere”? Or lunch where everyone knows your name? Then head on over to Main St. Eatery. You will find mouth-watering biscuits and gravy or specialty pancakes to start your day. For lunch the daily hot plate is as close to how mama fixed it as you can find. Looking for something lighter? Grab their special egg, chicken or pimento and cheese salad. What if you’re gluten free? They have you covered. They have dozens of options of gluten free food that taste amazing, including their homemade biscuits and gravy. Call ahead to grab your meal to go. If you need a little boost to your day, order a cup of the specialty coffee, Chestnut Hill. You’ll thank me later.

Finally, we make our way out to Dancyville. This little dot on the map happens to have one of the best pizza places you’ll find in Fayette County. If you can dream it, they have made a pizza of it. Ham, 5 cheese, bacon, pineapple and siracha hot sauce? Done. Cajun Pizza? You bet. TN Heat Pizza with cajun sausage, cowboy candy and habanero hot sauce? Hurry, supper is waiting! What if you just want a plain, old, pepperoni with cheese? Don’t worry, they can do that too. They also have gluten free crust available if that’s the only thing keeping you from enjoying a mouth-watering pizza pie. If pizza isn’t quite what you had in mind, they also have nachos, wings and whole hog BBQ. As with some of the other businesses mentioned, they have more available than just food for dining. You can grab pork and beef products from Winchester farms to make homecooked supper another night. Dancyville might be off the beaten path, but people are beating a path to the Gin Lot’s door for great pizza and smoked deliciousness!

I hope you have enjoyed our tour across Fayette County. It can seem like there isn’t much to offer in a rural area; but as we’ve shown in these three articles; there are some real gems right here at home. If we didn’t cover a restaurant that is on your list, make sure they’re a Chamber member. We’d love to cover them in future articles. Merry Christmas from the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. Remember to shop local and shop Fayette first!

~written by Karri Buck~

Welcome to the Christmas season! If you’re like me, turkey and ham are the last things you want to see for at least three more weeks. This week in the Chamber Corner, we have some options to fill that craving for anything but what you ate last week!

This week we are touring Macon and Oakland. Macon is a bend in the road with a Dollar General and a delicious find, whose motto is “A little country café in the heart of Macon”. Gideon and Brittany are filling the locals with great food in a homey atmosphere. You can start your day with a breakfast pizza or a breakfast plate with several options including bacon, sausage, a biscuit, gravy, hashbrowns and eggs. If you’re late getting your day started, swing on in for lunch. The line of trucks outside is great indicator of the popularity of their lunch offerings. You can find fried chicken, ribs, BBQ sandwiches, cheeseburgers and more. Check out their Facebook page to see their daily specials. There is always something delicious being cooked up at Johnny’s Café!

If you’re in the Oakland area, there are some tasty things waiting there for you too. Whether you start or end your day in Oakland, you’ll find whatever you have a hankering for, like donuts. Who doesn’t love a good donut. Oakland Donuts is on Highway 64. They make fresh every day long johns, filled donuts, donut holes (iced or frosted!), twists, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters, and breakfast sandwiches. The donuts come in all the delicious flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and maple. You’ll be everyone’s favorite if you show up to your next gathering with a box from Oakland Donuts!

When you’ve filled your donut craving, walk down the mall a few doors to grab a drink from Daily Life Nutrition. Here you can find iced or hot coffees, loaded teas and hydration drinks. They can blend one up in any flavor you like! Not into caffeine? Not to worry! Their hydration drinks will keep your body in peak form whether you’re chasing kids, grading papers or paving roads. Their coffees and loaded teas will give you the boost you need when the day gets long. They also carry a variety of products from local vendors along with supplements, nutritious food, snacks and more.

Just down the road, if you follow your nose, it’ll lead you to Loven Fresh BBQ. Loven Fresh has “The ultimate smoked pulled pork and baby back ribs”. The scent from their smoker has been known to lead many a customer straight to their front door. Inside you’ll find pulled pork, ribs, chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, loaded chili dogs, tamales and nachos along with all the sides including slaw and potato salad. Loven Fresh is a to-go only restaurant, but while you wait you will discover you’re in a special place. Loven Fresh is also the only Bible bookstore in Fayette County. Inside their doors you’ll find a variety of translations and styles of Bibles from One Year Bible to Journal Bibles. It’s their contribution to filling both body and soul.

Finally, after you’ve had your fill of savory meals, you’ll need something extra sweet to take home to the family. Where better to go than The Sweet Sugar Vault? Kimberly is known for her incredibly designed, custom cakes for everything from birthdays to weddings, but her offerings go far beyond cakes. You can find pretzel rods, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, shaved ice and even candy/caramel apples! If you need something for a special event, make sure to talk to Kimberly. Show stopper creations are her gift.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge two other businesses in town that aren’t exactly restaurants, but they do have options. Kindred Spirit Style carries “Oh Grate!” meals to go. It’s handy. You can stop in to grab a new shirt for you, a Christmas gift for a friend and supper all in one spot! Just a couple doors down at “Twigs-n-things Marketplace” you can find meals to go from Southern Girls Catering, The Grecian Gourmet and Crave Sweets Bake Shop. All three also offer fresh food to go, so it’s perfect to grab and eat on the decorated patio that Ferrane and her team have created.

Did I miss your favorite place? Tell me where YOU like to eat. We’d love to know of more places that can be part of the Chamber so we can support them even better! Take time to enjoy this holiday season with the ones you love. While you do, make sure to shop local and shop Fayette first!

~Written By Karri Buck~