The Dining Hall at Elf School. No, really.

Chef DT LaVercombe told us the Elf School was named for Elf, North Carolina, a town now in ruins under nearby Lake Chatuge. Obviously the town school until the 1960's. Chef DT suggested the name might have been a misunderstanding related to seeing lots of "Elks" (really deer?) and having poor handwriting in letters home.

I have no idea how long Elf School and DT have been serving dinner. I wish we had heard about them the day they openned. E says the restaurant is now our prime celebration place, easily out-distancing the also-excellent Enrico's in Young Harris.

She spotted an appetizer we would both love as soon as she openned the menu, while I was enjoying a small, but real, wine list. Scallops for her, roasted red peppers for me, together in one shared dish. Ruffino Reserva was on the list, and after verifying with Chef DT (who strolled the dining room on an undeservedly slow cooking night) that the chianti would not overpower the seafood entrees we were about to order, I bit. I've become relatively frugal lately in this awful economy, and I cringed a little at ordering one of the most expensive bottles on the list, but the price was typical of what I have paid in other restaurants.

A snapper fillet for me, shrimp and pasta for E. We abused the lovely white tablecloth, passing bites back and forth. God, we love white tablecloths....

Midway through our entrees, E nodded for me to look over my shoulder, with a bit of distress on her face. Live music can be awful in mountain restaurants. Mike Whitney was so delightful we bought one of his CD's and listened to it all the way home, getting through it one and a half times before arriving back in beautiful downtown Epworth. Samples are available at his website, linked above.

Go! And add two to your reservations and stop by Moonshine Lodge to pick us up.

Photos courtesy Elf School Inn.