ForewordIf we go to heaven when we die, we expect meals up there to be served at a celestial branch of the Blue Willow Inn. For now, though, the earthly one in Social Circle, Georgia, is quite heavenly enough. It is a place where divine food is presented with gracious hospitality in elegant surroundings. Having spent our adult lives traveling several million miles around the country looking for memorable regional restaurants, we can say without hesitation that the fare on those pretty Blue Willow plates in the grand mansion on Cherokee Road is some of best there is. These are meals that define Southern eating at its best, from hot biscuits to fried green tomatoes to tables crowded with desserts.
The only problem for us has been that we live over a thousand miles away, so we can’t do what so many people in the region do, which is to drive to Social Circle for Sunday supper, which is what’s served seven days a week. But now, thanks to this big, beautiful volume, we can enjoy the delicious food and high spirits of a visit to the Blue Willow Inn just by turning the pages. Louis and Billie Van Dyke’s collection of recipes is a treasure trove of dishes we want to cook for friends and family; and among the recipes are hints, tips, suggestions, and just plain funny culinary Southernisms that make poring over this book like sitting down and listening to grandma share not only her cooking secrets but also her advice and good humor. This is so much more than a lavish cookbook. It truly is a Bible of cooking, eating, and entertaining.
— JANE AND MICHAEL STERN