The word is definitely out about the sensational pizza pies baked in the large brick oven at Smoky Mountain Bakers. This rustic pizzeria and bakery tucked away in the slow-paced town of Roan Mountain will celebrate its fifth anniversary next week with a full day of specials and musical entertainment.
Although they have been baking for about five years in Roan Mountain, Tim and Crystal Decker — owners and operators of Smoky Mountain Bakers and Wood Fired Pizza — have slowly but steadily built up a loyal clientele throughout northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina for their delicious pizzas and other baked goods. Customers arrive from both sides of the state line, many of them driving quite a distance for what is unquestionably some of the best pizza in these parts.
Photo by David Thometz Making some absolutely incredible pizzas in the kitchen of Smoky Mountain Bakers.
If you’ve been waiting to pay a visit, what better time than Tuesday, July 1, when this marvelous local eatery will celebrate five years of doing business in the community?
Smoky Mountain Bakers will offer live music all afternoon, including such local acts as Thistledew, The Kupos, The Roan Crows and many more area musicians.
Of course, the star attraction will be the fantastic wood-fired pizzas. To thank their loyal customers, the Deckers are offering $5 one-topping pizzas the entire day.
Photo by Bryan Stevens A customized White Pizza at Smoky Mountain Bakers.
The Deckers lived and baked for many years in California, but have made their home and their workplace in Roan Mountain for the past several years. Tim has more than 30 years of experience as a professional artisan baker.
For those in the know, Smoky Mountain Bakers is a frequent destination, whether it’s to enjoy one of their sensational pizza pies or some other baked goods, including breads, croissants, brownies and much more. The eatery recently added breakfast hours and offers a variety of items perfect for starting the day with a bang, including English Muffins, Bagels and Cheddar Biscuits paired with a variety of meats, cheeses, grilled vegetables and spreads.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Smoky Mountain Bakers has been serving wood-fired pizzas for five years in Roan Mountain.
The business is almost entirely a carry-out enterprise, but there are a few tables inside. The restaurant has also expanded its picnic deck, which now includes an awning to offer some protection from the sun and elements. On pleasant evenings, such as the one we enjoyed during our most recent visit, this is really the way to enjoy your food while admiring the view of the surrounding mountains. Diners can also bring their own wine to enjoy with the pizza.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Diners can enjoy their pizzas on the airy dining deck.
The Deckers are quick to deliver orders, despite each pizza being hand-made fresh-to-order, and the service is always friendly and prompt, including fast drink refills and custom orders. But atmosphere and table-side service aren’t the reason people flock to Smoky Mountain Bakers – it’s all about the pizzas and other baked items that are the true stars, as well as the chance to watch the bakers at work.
The menu lists about 10 specialty pizzas (which can be customized upon request) as well as the make-your-own option that allows customers to create a pie with their choice of sauces and toppings. All the pizzas at Smoky Mountain Bakers are 12- inch pies. A pie with up to three toppings will cost you $10, four to six toppings are $11 and a pie with seven to 12 toppings tops the quite reasonable price scale at $12.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Every pizza is good to the last slice at Smoky Mountain Bakers.
The regularly available toppings include pepperoni, bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomatoes, spinach, garlic, ham, onion, banana peppers, chicken, green peppers, jalapenos, ground beef, black olives and pineapple. Daily special toppings are occasionally available, in season, including home-grown items from the Deckers’ own garden adjacent to the business, such as fresh basil and other herbs and vegetables. Cheeses include fresh mozzarella, ricotta and feta, with others occasionally available as specials, and the sauces range from tomato sauce to pesto and barbecue.
The specialty pizzas include pies to delight carnivores, including the BBQ Chicken Pizza, Hawaiian and Meat Lovers. There’s also a Six-Cheese Pie with shredded dry mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, ricotta, feta and fresh mozzarella. The “All the Way” pie offers a pizza loaded with pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives, garlic, tomatoes, pineapple, banana peppers and jalapenos. The less carnivorous diners among us will find some pleasing pies with the Vegetarian Pie, as well as the Gourmet Veggie Pie, which offers spinach, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and feta cheese.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Smoky Mountain Bakers will celebrate five years of business in Roan Mountain on Tuesday, July 1.
Obviously, it’s the time in the huge, hand-built, wood-fired
Photo by Bryan Stevens Smoky Mountain Pizza also serves breakfast baked goods, such as danishes and muffins.
stone oven that produces such a unique and interesting pizza. If you’re new to the process, know that the charred edges around the crust of the pie isn’t a sign that your pizza “burned.” It’s merely a sign of a healthy stay inside the confines of the oven. The crust is thin, with a delightfully chewy crunch. I’ve enjoyed all three of the sauces, but I’m most fond of the pesto. It’s a tangy, assertive pesto sauce that really provides the foundation to help you take note of other toppings.
On the White Pizza, that pesto sauce is accompanied by ricotta cheese, garlic and herbs, spinach, sausage and caramelized onions. This riot of bold flavors has been my overall favorite among the pizzas on the menu.
I also like the “Hog Wild” pie, which piles the sausage, ham and bacon onto a pizza with just the right amount of cheese and marinara sauce.
Another recent favorite has been the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, which features grilled chicken tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce and accompanied by onions and blue cheese. I like to add a few additional tangy toppings, such as kalamata olives or artichoke hearts to this pie.
Other specialty pies include the Mushroom Bacon Cheeseburger and the Hiker’s Surprise, which features a pesto sauce instead of a red sauce, as well as mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, caramelized onions and gorgonzola cheese.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Diners can carry out or dine in during a visit to Smoky Mountain Bakers.
The restaurant’s menu doesn’t offer much to pair with your pizza other than fresh garden salads, which are made with mixed greens, tomatoes, carrots, feta cheese, a slice of hard-boiled egg and a few scattered radish slices and kidney beans. A variety of salad dressings are also available.
The bakery offers several daily specials. The Tuesday lunch special is two pizzas for $15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Fridays, get one pizza, two salads and two drinks for $15. People planning Saturday gatherings and parties might want to take advantage of the buy five pizzas for $40 special offer.
Photo by Bryan Stevens A customized White Pizza ready for sharing.
If I’m visiting on a Wednesday or Friday, I never go home without some extra treat from the other baked goods offered at Smoky Mountain Bakery on those days. A recent Friday saw the eatery offering Sourdough, New York Rye and Pugliese with fresh herbs from the Deckers’ garden, as well as Apricot-Pecan Bread, Cottage Cheese Dill Bread, Triple Chocolate Cakes, Caramel Pecan Cheesecakes, Almond-Apricot Tarts, Lemon Tartlets, Blueberry Crumb Cakes, Lemon Blueberry Tea Breads, Brownies, Cookies, Scones, Muffins, Cherry Turnovers, and Strawberry Cream Cheese Rolls.
If you want to have dessert, Smoky Mountain Bakers does offer Cinnamon Walnut Strips, as well as any of the wide variety of the cookies, brownies or other baked items that might be available at the time of your visit.
Photo by Bryan Stevens The Almond-Apricot Tart is an excellent pastry for concluding a visit.
My most recent dessert was the excellent Almond-Apricot Tart. It was a refreshing pastry and, while sweet, it was not overly so and the apricots provided it with just the right amount of tartness.
Nestled away in the quiet community of Roan Mountain near the Cloudland High School, Smoky Mountain Bakery was always too exceptional to remain a local secret for very long. Watch for the signs pointing from 19-E. If you live close by, so much the better. If you don’t, it’s definitely worth the drive to sample one of these pizzas. Make sure to also pick up one of the other baked goodies as well.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Be sure to take home some fresh-baked cookies.
Be sure to turn out on Tuesday, July 1, to help them celebrate five years of serving some of the best pizza in these parts.
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AT A GLANCE: Smoky Mountain Bakers and Wood Fired Pizza, 500 Cloudland Drive, Roan Mountain. 957-1202. Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. All menu items $12 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Angkor Bistro in Johnson City offers some innovative Asian dishes.
In the crowded field of Asian-centric restaurants in the Tri-Cities, Angkor Bistro can lay claim to having carved out at least one unique niche. To my knowledge this is the only restaurant in the region with a focus on Cambodian (Khmer) cuisine and I can’t say enough food things about this delightful Johnson City restaurant.
The establishment’s website emphasizes that fact, spotlighting the fact that Angkor Bistro is the first eatery in Johnson City to offer a selection of popular Cambodian dishes.
Named for the ancient Buddhist temple, Angkor Wat, this restaurant is open for business in a small strip mall along North State of Franklin Road. The menu offers a selection of appetizers, salads, soups and entrées.
Angkor Bistro quickly shot to near the top of my favorite Asian restaurants soon after its opening. I’ve been working my way through the array of curry dishes available, but many of the noodle dishes and stir-fries have also won my approval.
The eatery’s focus on Cambodian culture and cuisine extends to the pleasant, tranquil atmosphere of the restaurant. The dining area offers modern design touches, including seating at contemporary-styled tables with geometric, bright yellow, utilitarian chairs. Bright leaf-green and pale-gray walls offer a neutral and tranquil atmosphere. Some framed artwork of Cambodian scenes are also displayed on the walls. Decorative touches include potted bamboo plants and Buddha figurines.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Massaman Curry at Angkor Bistro in Johnson City.
A sampling of recorded instrumental music plays softly in the background to offer a soothing, relaxing atmosphere for diners. There’s also a wall-mounted television in one corner of the dining area that plays a continuous loop of scenic Cambodian vistas interspersed with photos of menu items. Free w-fi is offered for the use of patrons.
The servers have always impressed me as polite, friendly, and attentive, but not at all intrusive. They are more than happy to answer questions about menu items and even make accommodations to personal tastes.
In addition to soft drinks, the menu offers a mix of other beverages, including Thai Iced Tea, Thai Iced Coffee and a variety of Bubble Teas, a Taiwanese tea-based drink mixed with fruit and milk and served over small, chewy pearls of tapioca.
I like to start off a visit with an appetizer, and Angkor Bistro offers a modest selection of tempting meal-starters, including Egg Rolls, Fresh Spring Rolls, Fried Pot Stickers, or Gyoza, Cheese Wontons and Fried Shumai Dumplings.
Photo by Bryan Stevens A sampling of appetizers at Angkor Bistro, including Spring Rolls and Egg Rolls.
The Spring Rolls rank as my overall favorite among the appetizers. These meal-starters consist of rice-paper wrappers filled with chilled shrimp, cucumber, lettuce, cilantro, basil and carrots. These light, delectable morsels are served with a peanut-peppery dipping sauce.
On a recent visit, a friend and I shared an order of Fried Shumai Dumplings, which consisted of five crispy morsels served with a flavorful soy sauce for dipping.
The Egg Rolls, which feature wrappers loaded with minced meat, herbs and spices and fried to a crispy, golden-brown, are another favorite. The same soy sauce for dipping accompanied this appetizer, but upon request, a bottle of hot Sriracha sauce will also be provided to spice enthusiasts.
As I mentioned, the eatery’s curry dishes have become such favorites of mine that I am sometimes hesitant to branch out beyond them.Some new house specials, however, have persuaded me to occasionally deviate from my fondness for curry. The Braised Beef Rice Noodle Bowl turned out to be an amazing discovery.
This dish starts out as a rice noodle soup blended with a harmonious array of many of the common ingredients found in the Southeast Asia region, including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, paprika, star anise and turmeric. These ingredients defined the color, aroma and amazing taste of this unique dish. Although the broth is red, it is not at all spicy like the kind of dishes flavored with hot chili peppers.
Still, I often find myself leaning toward the curry dishes. My favorite is the Panang Curry, which is an intensely flavorful blend of boiled potatoes, yellow onions, chicken and the perfect combination of spices. I’ve tried four of the five curry dishes. I still need to sample the Green Curry.
My most recent visit introduced me to the Red Curry, which is moderately spicy and features green bell peppers, yellow onions and squash sauteed with chicken and spices. I found the Red Curry a strong, sharp, fresh and flavorful dish, and a definite rival with the Panang Curry for my favorite. I prefer chicken as the protein for the curries, but other options include pork, beef, shrimp and tofu.
Photo by Bryan Stevens The Red Curry at Angkor Bistro is exceptional.
Several Cha, or Stir Fry, dishes are also available, including Snow Peas Stir Fry, Ginger Chicken, Bamboo Shrimp, Pineapple Fried Rice, Chicken Basil and Pork in Chili Paste. Most of the stir fry dishes can be ordered with the same choice of proteins —chicken, shrimp, pork,beef and tofu — as are offered with the curries.
The stir fries and curries are accompanied by a choice of rice: jasmine, brown, fried or, for a modest additional charge, coconut rice. It’s worth the extra cost to get the coconut rice, but I’m also a big fan of the jasmine rice.
In addition, the menu offers a handful of noodle stir fries, including Drunken Noodles and Phad Thai.
Most of the dishes I have tried have been served warm, but Angkor Bistro recently added a cold salad dish to the menu that I think is a real winner: Vermicelli Rice Noodle Salad. This salad features lettuce, basil, cilantro, cucumber slice, ground peanuts and vermicelli noodles to which a couple of egg rolls, cut into bite-sized portions, are added. Chicken, pork or shrimp can be added to the salad, too.
Photo by Bryan Stevens The Pad Thai at Angkor Bistro in Johnson City.
If I’m feeling extra hungry, I also like to add a bowl of soup to my meals when I visit Angkor Bistro. Choices include Tom Kha, a delicately seasoned soup blended with chicken, coconut milk, mushrooms and other vegetables, as well as the Tom Yum, an aromatic and hearty soup of plump shrimp, mushrooms, scallions and various herbs and spices in a rich, savory base. Tom Yum is a staple at most Thai restaurants, but this is one of the best I’ve sampled anywhere. I relish every spoonful of this bold soup.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Tom Yum Soup at Angkor Bistro.
Angkor Bistro deserves a loyal embrace from lovers of Asian cuisines. Give them try and get a taste of the cuisine of Cambodia. If you go, let them know they were highly recommended.
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AT A GLANCE: Angkor Bistro, 600 N. State of Franklin, Johnson City.929-1001. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Menu items $7.59 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.
Photo by Bryan Stevens An order of Bacon and Ranch Potato Skins is a great appetizer to share with friends during a meal at Creekside on Main Café.
If you’re looking for a charming spot for a casual lunch or dinner, consider Creekside on Main Café in Erwin. This eatery has been a delightful discovery since I enjoyed my first meal there back in May.
This eatery, which opened in July of 2013, is getting ready to celebrate its first anniversary of doing business. A simple and straightforward menu offers a range of specialty sandwiches, salads and burgers, as well as a handful of entrees and daily specials.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Each table at Creekside is supplied with its own novelty salt and pepper shakers.
I’ve only recently discovered this cozy dining spot and have already enjoyed several meals there. The eatery offers an extremely pleasant and comfortable dining environment. Seating is available at tables with black metal chairs cushioned with black vinyl upholstery. The walls are painted in medium and pale muted tones of aqua and eggshell white. A collection of antique salt and pepper shakes adds one of the more whimsical touches to the decor. Each table is equipped with a unique pair of salt and pepper shakers in different shapes, including tropical fish, hummingbirds, police cars, tea pots, churns, watermelon slices and much more. I thought it was a simple but fun way to add a conversation starter to the environment.
Other decorative touches include hanging lamps and potted flower arrangements. The walls are decorated with old weathered window frames, each pane backed with scrapbooking paper in a variety of colors and patterns.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.
We started with an appetizer listed on the daily specials board: Bacon and Ranch Potato Skins, and we weren’t disappointed. Five generous skin-on potato planks arrived, each loaded with melted cheese, crumbled bacon and a generous drizzling of our choice of Ranch or Cajun Ranch Dressing. We chose the Cajun, and loved that it added a zesty zing to this popular meal-starter.
Entrees include a Chicken Tender Platter, Hamburger Steak, Bruschetta Chicken and Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin. These offerings are augmented with occasional daily specials such as Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken and Meatloaf.
Sandwiches on the menu range from the Farm Philly Cheesesteak and Turkey Supreme to the Creekside Club and a Traditional BLT.
Photo by David Thometz The Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich, accompanied by Onion Rings and a Fruit Medley.
There’s also quite a selection of burgers and chicken sandwiches, including versions such as the Jalapeño and Cheddar, Cajun and Swiss, and Souped Up Sliders, which consist of two sliders with tangy grilled onion sauce and American Cheese.
There’s also an Italian Burger, which is seasoned with garlic and topped with a medley of fresh chopped tomatoes and Provolone cheese, as well as Creekside on Main’s own version of a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich.
There’s also some space on the menu devoted to salads for those wanting a lighter meal. Choices include a Seasonal Salad, which features a mix of greens with diced apples, red onions, pecans and a poppyseed dressing, as well as a Caesar Salad made with Romaine lettuce tossed with crunchy croutons, parmesan cheese and a traditional Caesar dressing. Other salads include the Creekside Salad, which is basically a Chef Salad, and a Garden Salad. Grilled chicken can be added to any salad for an extra cost of $2.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Caesar Salad at Creekside on Main.
The food is served on beautiful, mismatched vintage plates, bowls and dishes, all decorated with attractive patterns that add to the down-home feel of the eatery.
I’ve long been a meatloaf fan, so on my first visit to Creekside I could not resist ordering this classic comfort food that was available as a daily special. It was a hearty meatloaf with a plentiful amount well-seasoned hamburger meat, onions and green bell peppers, all topped with a spread of ketchup. I accompanied my meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and a small Caesar Salad.
Photo by Bryan Stevens The Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin is enhanced with a delectable peach topping. This meal was accompanied by Green Beans, Broccoli Casserole and a Roll.
As much as I liked the meatloaf, my favorite item so far has been the Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin. It’s the delectable peach topping added to a couple of grilled pork tenderloins that makes this such a tasty main course. The pork was grilled perfectly, and the sauce really made the dish. The peachy sauce is more sweet than spicy, but it does add just a little extra zip!
I accompanied this meal with Green Beans and Broccoli Casserole, which consisted of a cheesy mix of breading and broccoli florets. The Green Beans are enhanced with onions and nicely seasoned.
Photo by Bryan Stevens Chicken Bruschetta with Green Beans and a Roll.
Friends that have accompanied me to Creekside on Main Café have given enthusiastic reports on such items as the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich and the Chicken Bruschetta.
The café’s version of a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich uses honey mustard dressing — which you apply to the sandwich yourself — instead of mustard, which makes this sandwich a somewhat sweeter version than is typical. Otherwise, this sandwich sticks to the traditional grilled chicken breast topped with ham and a slice of Swiss cheese.
The Chicken Bruschetta is one of the more innovative entrees and features a grilled chicken breast topped with freshly prepared Creekside bruschetta. It’s served with a choice of two sides, which can include French Fries, Onion Rings, Cole Slaw, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes and Fruit. For an extra cost, an order of fries can also be enhanced with cheese, bacon or chili.
There’s always a home-made sweet available for concluding a visit to Creekside on Main Café, including cakes, pies or cookies. During my most recent visit, I enjoyed a piece of Chocolate Cake with a Cream Cheese Icing. Cookies are also a big hit, and offerings can include Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Krinkle Cookies and No-Bake Cookies.
Photo by David Thometz A slice of Chocolate Cake with a Cream Cheese Frosting is a delicious way to end a meal at Creekside on Main Café in Erwin.
Creekside on Main provides a great lunch destination with tasteful, homey surroundings and good-tasting good. I’ll definitely be back, and next time I think I’ll try one of those burgers! There’s also a kid’s menu, so it’s a great place for the whole family. If you visit, be sure to let them know they came recommended.
AT A GLANCE: Creekside on Main Café and Catering,857 Rock Creek Road, Erwin. 330-6329. Monday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Menu items $7.99 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available. Catering services available.
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