Gadding About at the World Equestrian Events in Tryon

This past weekend my friend Jen and I made a quick trip to the western part of North Carolina to spend one day at the World Equestrian Events in Tryon, NC.  This is the Olympics for Equestrian Events and is held every four years.

We stayed at my place on Chatfield, in Cleveland County and traveled up to Tryon for the day from there.

Notice the Modrian art dish displayed on the end table.  The hostess gift from Jen fits the decor at Chatfield perfectly.  

We passed Forest City on the way to Tryon, and it was a perfect opportunity to enjoy breakfast at Smith's Drugstore.  It is known for its breakfast and for its pimento cheese.  I had to have a liver mush biscuit, and don't knock liver mush until you have tried it. I think of it as poor man's pate'.  Jen even had a grilled pimento cheese sandwich.  We were having a late breakfast or early lunch.

My liver mush biscuit. 

I'm not very knowledgeable about horses and Equestrian Events but I enjoyed the Vaulting immensely.  The horses were beautiful and well trained and the riders performed spectacular acrobatics on top of the moving horses. The video below shows one of the female vaulting contestants.

Me with the Grand Master of Ceremonies. 

In the evening we met friends in Boiling Springs for dinner at the Italian Garden.  Always good to see friends when I'm back in Cleveland County.

We were still having fun as we traveled back home on Sunday.  Lunch at the Green Valley Grill at the O Henry Hotel in Greensboro is never disappointing.  In fact I think I am going to add to my bucket list a night at the O Henry followed by dinner at the Green Valley Grill.  (I'll splurge.  Maybe a gift to myself.)  Or maybe I'll invite a friend.

My toad in a hole: fried egg in toasted brioche with Italian sausage bits and tomato compote on top.   

Checkered cab in front of O Henry Hotel.  It is used to transport guests.  

We packed a lot in during the three day trip.

Ham and "Double Cream" Brie Croissant

The Green Valley Grill, Greensboro, NC

 Friday, on the way home from Shelby, I stopped in Greensboro to visit my friend Virginia.  We had a good visit and lunch at the Green Valley Grill.  The Grill is adjacent to the O Henry Hotel and has the feel of a Tuscan ristorante.  The large pottery vases in the main dining room reminded me of the pottery we saw in Perugia on our recent trip to Italy.

Italian pottery decorating the main dining room.

The bar as seen from our booth in the dining room.

Virginia and I both chose the Ham & "Double Cream" Brie Croissant with herb mayonnaise and fig preserves.  What a nice combination--the ham, brie and just a taste of the fig preserves spread on the croissant--the flavors blended beautifully.  I could eat only half of mine, so Dan had the other half when I got home.

Ham and Brie Croissant.

Entrance to the Green Valley Grill.

If you are in Greensboro at lunch time, I strongly recommend lunch at the GVG.  I look forward to returning soon.