Full Bear-Varian Fall Festival Food and Drink Details at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg
The Bear-Varian Fall Festival at Anakeesta (as of this writing) is just days away, and I have the full lineup of what and where everything is available at this highly anticipated event. This is a month and a half spectacle that spotlights the fall season with some amazing foods and drinks to enjoy while you’re awed by the sheer beauty of the mountains. Gatlinburg’s top attraction goes all out every season, and fall will unquestionably live up to its billing. Here’s the details, so you can eat, drink, and be merry through the month of October.
Beginning Friday, September 13th, Anakeesta will be taking you on a culinary journey you’ll be raving about long after your visit. If the name of the festival is any indication, it will have a distinctly German panache. Even if you’re not a fan of the nation’s most tasted treats, I think you’ll leave delighted at some of the varieties that steer closer toward more traditional American fare.
We’ll kick it off at the Smokehouse eatery up on Anakeesta mountain. They are serving up a Smoked Pork Shank, with caramelized onions and a whole grain mustard gravy. And they serve it with roasted garlic and herb baby potatoes.
Clifftop Restaurant is offering 4 dishes to its already stacked food menu. The Pan-Fried Pork Schnitzel is a seasoned, breaded, fried pork served with baby potatoes and a chef’s vegetable. The Potato Rosti (German umlaut over the “o” in Rosti) is 3 potato patties pan-fried and topped with creme fraiche (more accents I can’t dot to the letters on my laptop) and chives. The German-Style Fondue looks absolutely amazing! It consists of soft pretzels, grilled sausages, vegetables, and Rye bread, served with a Gouda and cheddar beer cheese (they had me at beer cheese). For dessert, the undeniably delicious potential of Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding will be offered. It is topped with a bourbon apple cream sauce and cinnamon apple cider glaze. Oh. My. Goodness.
If those didn’t put you on cloud 9, the bakery of the same name will take you there. How about a large German pretzel with… you guessed it… more warm beer cheese and whole grain mustard. Maybe you fancy something sweet instead? Well, their Black Forest Cake is a chocolate cake with cherry filling, topped with whipped cream and sweet cherry compote. Compose yourself, now!
Other sweet and savory high spots include the following: a Beer-Braised Brat topped with sauerkraut (of course) and mustard on a pretzel roll at Kephart Cafe; German Chocolate Funnel Fries topped with crumbles of German chocolate cake, whipped cream, and caramel sauce at Rocky Top; German-Style Meatballs topped with a caramelized onion gravy and served with toasted German Rye bread at Happy Camper. I teased offerings with a flair for the American, and I think the Apple Strudel Sundae fits well. It’s a crisp apple strudel topped with vanilla ice cream, a chocolate and caramel sauce finished with whipped cream. You bet this sounds amazing!
I didn’t forget about the drinks, because they are also a vital part of the fall Bear-Varian Festival at Anakeesta. I actually touched on this in a previous post teasing the upcoming event here, but to reiterate, you can purchase a tasting card for 6 eight-ounce beer pours of your choice for $21.99. Some of the best breweries in the region can be scored with every punch of your card. You can check out all the food and drink options by clicking here, and from the map below!
I will not be missing this, unlike last year. I think all three of us will make our way up, not only see all the lovely fall decorations and colors, but to make a meal, or two, or three… out of our visit. It all sounds unbelievably delicious, and, of course, I highly recommend this on your Gatlinburg itinerary. Remember—you have until the end of October to fill your eyes and belly with some tantalizing delights!
Thank you for reading and subscribing to my publication. I can’t wait to share some of the other events Gatlinburg will proudly be hosting in the coming months. Like last year, they figure to be fun and memorable in their own ways! Stay tuned!