Great Wolf Lodge is opening a new resort in Lagrange, Georgia in May of this year. The new 457-suite family resort opening this May in LaGrange will offer eight unique eateries that range from the farm-to-fork elevated dining experience at Barnwood to satisfying sweet cravings with ice cream treats at Ben & Jerry’s. They invited me to come to City Winery in Atlanta on April 5th to taste some of the food that will be on the menu when they open.
I was allowed to take a guest, so I invited my adopted granddaughter, Abbey, to go with me. She was so excited to go because this was her first event experience.
The event started out with cocktails and Small Bites. There were lots of choices on the table: Cheese & Charcuterie; Pretzels with stone ground mustard and beer cheese; Pimento Cheese with Lodge Pickles and crackers; Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli and Micro Greens; and Mini Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits with Pepper Jam and Lodge-made Pickles. Everything was so good, but those Crab Cakes were absolutely delicious. I would go to Great Wolf Lodge just so I could order them!
After the social hour where we met several other bloggers and magazine reporters, we found our seats. Each place at the table was set with name cards indicating where we would sit. I had Abbey to my right, a fashion blogger on my left, and representatives of The Good Life Magazine and Atlanta Magazine across the table. It was quite an interesting mix of folks making for great conversation. Before the food was served, we were introduced to Jason, the Communications Manager for Great Wolf Lodge, and Chef John Suley, the VP of Food & Beverage.
After the introductions, the first course that was served was Fried Green Tomatoes. I am not normally a fan of this traditionally southern food, but I tried these and they were really good. They had just the right amount of crunch, and were not too tart, which is why I don’t normally like them. I would order them if I went to Great Wolf Lodge. They were served with a Cajun Buttermilk dressing. Oh, and everything on the menu for the evening was gluten free except for the Mini Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits, and the corn that was served later on.
Another thing on the menu that surprised me was the Roasted Golden Beets , with lodge-made Ricotta, Arugula, and white Balsamic. I don’t eat beets, ever, because they taste like dirt to me. However, I told myself that I would taste everything that was served. Chef Suley prepared this beet dish to perfection. I liked it and wanted more! That is a good thing! I did not get a picture of it. It was a very pretty dish of food, too.
I also did not get a picture of the Braised BBQ Short Ribs with Creamed Corn and Crispy Shallots. These short ribs were so tender! The Crispy Shallots made an excellent accompaniment. Mushroom Risotto with Mascarpone and Fresh Thyme was a creamy rice dish. I loved it!
When we were first seated at the table and looking over the menu cards, I heard someone at our table remark “Let’s see how this Yankee Chef handles the Shrimp and Grits”. Well, I’m telling you he did a wonderful job. The Shrimp & Grits with Andouille Sausage and Roasted Jalapeño Cream were the highlight of the menu for me. Out of this world delicious!
As if the Shrimp & Grits weren’t the best thing served yet, it seemed that Chef Suley kept the best for last. The New York Strip Steak with Grilled Vegetables and Compound Butter was melt in your mouth tender and so, so good! I wasn’t able to get a good photo of it, but if you like your steak medium rare, it was cooked just right. I don’t think I have ever had a steak that was so good. The vegetables served along with the steak were very good, too. So far, everything that was served was really good. With eight restaurants in which to dine at the Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, Georgia, and food this good, you could spend a week there and not taste all of the wonderful food!
The last thing served, of course, was dessert. Banana Pudding and S’Mores Sundaes were cleverly dished up in mason jars. They looked so good, and proved to be delicious.
The Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta in Lagrange, Georgia opens on May 24, 2018. The centerpiece of the resort will be the nearly 100,000 square foot indoor water park. With signature Great Wolf Lodge water rides and attractions including Fort Mackenzie, a multi-level interactive water fort treehouse with a massive tipping bucket, high thrill water slides, a relaxing lazy river, a huge wave pool, and several zero depth entry pools and kid water play areas, the new resort will feature water fun for everyone. There is a whole lot more to do there, though. To learn more about Great Wolf Lodge, the activities and attractions, and to make a reservation, visit their website. I haven’t been there yet, but believe me when I say I want to go just so I can enjoy the food!
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