The Countryside staff, holding holiday options for your family gathering. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)More Info
COUTRYSIDE CAFEAddress: 8223 Mahan Gap RoadHours: Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Phone: 423-344-8646
Where does the time go?
Most people, lamented Countryside Cafe owner Marlene Geren, are surprised to find the holidays have arrived. And so begins the frenzied rush to get one’s house and menus in order.
“Don’t panic, though,” said Marlene. “Countryside is great at making you look good.”
While the deadline for placing Thanksgiving Day orders has passed, Countryside is now accepting bulk to-go orders for Christmas. Some of the restaurant’s most popular supplemental dishes, Marlene said, include its homemade cornbread dressing and its sweet potato casserole, topped with either marshmallows or pecans.
“We hand-peel over 200 pounds of sweet potatoes each day — some for our famous skillet-fried sweet potatoes and some for our casserole,” said Marlene, adding that this time of year, she and her crew will peel double that amount of sweet potatoes. “You won’t believe how many pecan and pumpkin pies we sell this time of year, too.”
Other popular dessert recipes include Countryside’s homemade coconut and chocolate meringue pies.
The deadline for Christmas orders is Dec. 15. Orders may be picked up any time on Dec. 23 or by noon on Dec. 24, conveniently corresponding with Countryside’s annual Christmas Eve breakfast. From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day, the cafe will serve a variety of country classic dishes. Reservations are recommended for groups of five or more.
And in the meantime, don’t panic. This is, after all, the most wonderful time of the year — and Countryside has you covered.