Bryan’s Favorite Place

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For Bryan McIntosh, the Spring Garden will always hold a special place in his heart. Since beginning his Biltmore career in Food & Beverage operations 12 years ago, he’s spent a great deal of his working life indoors, from managing the Stable Café to his current responsibilities overseeing all food & beverage services in Antler Hill Village as well as operations for The Biltmore Coffee Co. in downtown Asheville.

But the Spring Garden—a secluded space just beyond the Shrub Garden and shaded with towering pines and hemlocks— stands out to him for two reasons.

“It reminds me of a golf fairway, and it’s also the place where my wife and I were married,” he says.

“We met at Biltmore, so it was fitting that we got married here,” Bryan says. “The Spring Garden is an unusual place for a wedding so that made it different and special for us.”

Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted may have named it the Spring Garden for two small springs found here. As befits its name, this garden is glorious in spring with vivid blooms of forsythia, spirea, and redbuds contrasting with majestic evergreens. But summer brings its own beauty to this location, with leafy shrubs and trees creating a calm retreat.

For Bryan, the Spring Garden also had another plus going for it—it was one of the few places where he had not managed an event on the estate so it didn’t have “work” connections for him.

“My wife and I looked all over the Asheville area trying to find an outdoor location for our wedding. We just kept coming back to Biltmore; you can’t beat it,” he says.

 

Learn more about our gardens and grounds.

A Salmon Salad For Summer

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Perfect for a light summer lunch, enjoy this delicious recipe that pairs savory Biltmore Smoked Salmon with fresh greens in a tangy citrus dressing. Try pairing it with a favorite white wine like our Sauvignon Blanc to make any meal a bit more special.

Arugula, Avocado, and Cucumber Salad With Smoked Salmon & Citrus Vinaigrette

Serves 4

Citrus Vinaigrette Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange and lime zests
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad Ingredients

  • 6 oz. Biltmore Smoked Salmon
  • Arugula – Spring Lettuce Mix or other lettuce of choice
  • Cucumber
  • Avocado
  • Bean sprouts
  • Grape tomatoes cut in halves
  • Carrot shavings

Preparation Instructions

Salad Vinaigrette: In a small saucepan, reduce (over high heat) the fresh orange juice, lime juice, and citrus zest to 1/4 cup. The mixture should be thick and syrupy. Pour mixture in medium bowl, add mustard, honey, and rice wine vinegar. Whisk to blend. Stir vigorously and slowly drizzle olive oil into the bowl as you whisk. Set vinaigrette aside as you prepare the salad.

Salad: Arrange 2 oz. of salmon on each of 4 chilled salad plates. In a large bowl combine lettuce, cucumber slices, avocado slices, bean sprouts, tomatoes, and carrots. Toss with vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Make sure all is well blended. Place salad over salmon. Serve immediately.

 

See all Biltmore recipes.

Balustrade Rug

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Inspired by the iron and wood elements of the Grand Staircase and the Winter Garden railing in Biltmore House, the Balustrade Rug is created with a flowing scroll pattern. Crafted in wool, this hand-tufted transitional design is a lovely accent for any space. Available in a variety of colors.

See all Biltmore-inspired rugs.

Classics Floral Bidjar Area Rug

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On one of George Vanderbilt’s shopping trips to furnish Biltmore House, he purchased 300 antique rugs and carpets in one day—and we still have the receipt in our archives.

The Classics Floral Bidjar Area Rug is a reproduction of one of many beautiful rugs in the Biltmore House collection. Hand-knotted in 100% virgin wool, this outstanding rug will become an instant heirloom for your home.

See the entire collection of Biltmore-inspired rugs.

Maura’s Favorite Place

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Part of Maura Scarmack’s responsibilities as Senior Catering Sales Manager is to help couples find just the right spot to get married on Biltmore. She also assists with related events such as rehearsal dinners and bridesmaids luncheons, and coordinates wedding details with Biltmore’s food and beverage team. Maura travels around the estate frequently as part of her job, so she’s familiar with many of our outdoor locations.

Her favorite place is the Library Terrace. Why? Well, that’s one spot where her wedding day photography was taken—before Maura even worked for Biltmore! She says their favorite photo from that day was taken from the Terrace and hangs in their living room so they can enjoy it every day.

“On a beautiful day, when the wisteria is blooming and the sun is pouring through the leaves, it’s such a magical place,” she said. “The benches are an ideal place to sit and read a book, just as George Vanderbilt may have done more than 100 years ago.  And the views are, not surprisingly, spectacular.”

More recently, a favorite spot has been the Farmyard at Antler Hill Village. Her young daughter adores visiting the animals there, and Maura says she has just as much fun seeing everything through her child’s eyes!

“These trips to the Farmyard will surely be some of our sweetest Biltmore memories for years to come,” she said.

 

Learn more about our gardens and grounds.

A Father’s Love

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George Vanderbilt as a Father

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the unique bond between fathers and children, and here at Biltmore we’re revisiting some of our favorite moments that George Vanderbilt and his daughter, Cornelia, shared over the years.

George was in awe of Cornelia as a baby, as we can see in the main photo. Here he’s holding her on the Loggia a month after her birth in 1900. The tender and bemused look on his face says it all!

As Cornelia grew, she began to travel with George and her mother, Edith, on their many voyages to Europe and around the United States. In the photo above, Cornelia wears a sporty traveling outfit as they sit on the deck of a boat, cozy in blankets, as sea companions.

Back at home at Biltmore, George accompanied Cornelia out to splash in the fountain on the Esplanade one summer day. He remained dressed, as dapper as ever, while Cornelia was ready to swim in a cap and bathrobe.

George was a loving father, and he and Cornelia enjoyed many adventures together. We hope that you and your family have a great Father’s Day.

Celebrate Father’s Day at Biltmore

If you’re in the neighborhood this Sunday, all dads receive free admission on Father’s Day with the purchase of a youth or adult ticket at the Reception & Ticketing Sales Center. See all admission ticket specials.

A Topping Fit for Our Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

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Our Crème Brûlée Cheesecake brings the delicious tastes of two classic desserts together in one elegant offering. Winery Manager Rick Deblasio suggests pairing it with our Pas de Deux Sparkling, because the refreshingly sweet bubbles will offer a pleasant match for the richness of both the cheesecake and the crème brulee.

Savor this cheesecake just as it is, or create the perfect finishing touch with our simple recipe for a strawberry preserve-style topping.

Strawberry Preserves Cheesecake Topping

 

Ingredients

  • 1 quart fresh strawberries, washed, capped, and sliced in half
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch

Preparation Instructions

Place halved berries, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and sugar in a medium sauce pot. Stirring very carefully with a spatula or wooden spoon so berries aren’t mashed too much, heat berries over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the berries are slightly soft. Heating the berries with sugar will draw out extra juice. Mix cornstarch and remaining lemon juice together in a small bowl. Stir this mixture into the berries and continue to heat, stirring carefully for about 2 minutes until the juices have all thickened and have become shiny and gel-like. Pour into a plastic container and let cool. When ready to serve, spoon a generous serving of Strawberry Preserves. Topping over each slice of Crème Brûlée Cheesecake.

Serving Tip

To cut cheesecake easily, chill well. Run a sharp knife under hot water, wipe dry, and cut a slice. Repeat for more slices.

Learn more about Biltmore cheesecakes and find a retailer near you.

Julie’s Favorite Place

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Working in Parking & Transportation for the past three years has provided Julie Tatol with a wide ranging view of the estate, particularly when she leads the Legacy of the Land guided tour which goes into areas not usually open to estate guests.

For Julie, the best view on the entire estate can be found at Lone Pine Hill, the hill that rises in front of Biltmore House which is also known as the Vista . She says this expanse—now lush with hemlocks, pines, and rhododendron—is proof of George Vanderbilt’s environmental vision. Footpaths and horse trails are part of this space along with a romantic venue tucked under the trees.

The summit is crowned with a statue of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt. One of Julie’s favorite views is looking through the space between Diana’s marble arm and tunic.

“It’s like looking through a keyhole into a magical world. The view sweeps down the Vista to this fairytale castle and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond,” she says.

In summer, Julie says the pergola that shelters Diana drips wisteria blossoms to match the lavender hues on the peaks at dusk. It’s a sunset venue she highly recommends, and one that is easily reached by a trail starting at Parking Lot A. We invite you to take in the view during your next visit!