Interested in finding out more information? Call Chetola at 800-243-8653, or Click Here to email Chetola.

-Chef Matt Rivers' Seared Duck Breast-

A lot of folks seem to be intimidated by the thought of cooking duck and stick to ordering it only at restaurants. While we encourage you to try this expertly prepared dish at Timberlake's Restaurant, it is possible to achieve some amazing things in your own kitchen. Many grocers carry duck breast in their meat department and even offer a variety of cuts. We recommend the Maple Leaf Farms Boneless Duck Breast. Enjoy this dish on a cold winter evening paired with a starch or other comfort side.

-Cast Iron Seared Duck Breast- 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pat duck breast dry with paper towels. With a sharp knife, lightly slice skin, 3 or 4 times but not too deep as you don’t want to get to meat. This allows the fat to be released to create a crispy skin. Season both sides with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Place cast iron skillet on medium heat and place duck breast skin side down. Cook for 5 or 6 minutes until skin is golden brown. By now there should be fat in the pan being released from duck. Use this fat to spoon over flesh side of duck. Cook for another 2 minutes then baste again. Put in oven for 6 to 8 minutes for medium rare 8 to 10 minutes for medium. Remove duck from pan and let it rest on wire rack skin side up for 5 minutes. Slice duck into 4 or 5 pieces lay over hoisin sauce then top with mango arugula salad.

-Hoisin Sauce- 

1 ½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup black bean garlic paste
½  cup water
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup honey
4 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 tsp 5 spice powder
2 tsp tahini
1 tsp sriracha

-Mango Arugula Salad- 

2 cups diced mango
¼ white balsamic vinegar
¼ cup honey
1 tsp sriracha
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients.
Add handful of arugula to 2 tbsp. of mango mix.

Cooking not your thing? Taste this dish by the creator, Chef Matt Rivers, himself at Timberlake's Restaurant - open nightly.

Interested in finding out more information? Call Chetola at 800-243-8653, or Click Here to email Chetola.

-Your Guide to Winter Wellness-

The winter season can present challenges to our mental health due to inactivity that comes from shorter days, cooler temperatures, and limited sunshine. We believe that self-care is important as it allows you to digitally disconnect and personally revitalize. A visit to Chetola Resort allows the perfect opportunity to exercise, eat well, enjoy spa treatments, and experience the great outdoors all while nourishing your mind, body, and soul. We’ve developed a guide to winter wellness to aid your efforts to overcome those winter blues and feel warm both inside and out.

-Spa Services- 

Colder temperatures and shorter days typically bring about dry skin, tense muscles, and certain hibernation tendencies making it more difficult to alleviate stress. The Spa at Chetola offers a wide variety of services including massage therapies for couples, facials, nail treatments, cosmetic applications, and a hair salon to help reverse these tendencies with a focus on overall well-being.

One of our favorite treatments for wellness involves the Healing Touch Program. Chetola’s Healing Touch practitioners clear, balance, and energize your energy field, thereby placing you in a position to initiate or accelerate the self-healing process. Through heart-centered intention and skill, practitioners use their hands to re-establish your natural flow of energy. Healing Touch practitioners do not force or push energy but allow balance and harmony to “reboot” the energy system. Consider booking a spa day for you and your significant other where you can be pampered with various spa services and spend time in our cozy Chetola relaxation room.

A visit to Chetola’s sauna is another great way to begin your guide toward wellness. Saunas help tense muscles relax which can alleviate feelings of stress. Higher temperatures help your body to work up a sweat, which is a great way to detoxify your body and skin.

-Connecting with Nature- 

Given the winter weather, time spent outdoors is often sacrificed for warm evenings spent indoors by a fire. Taking time to connect with nature is a great way to gain much-needed vitamin D which will help to boost your mood. We encourage you to take an early morning or early afternoon walk to clear your head and eliminate the stressors of the day. The Blue Ridge Mountains allow the perfect setting for fresh air, extraordinary vistas, and a calming silence. Located just minutes from Chetola Resort you can best connect with nature on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the miles of trails that can be found there. Or, take the 5-minute walk from your Lodge room or condo to Moses Cone National Memorial Park and enjoy the 27 miles of carriage trails. When the snow falls, the trails are perfect for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

Chetola Resort also offers programs that can take your connection with nature to the next level. We recommend taking advantage of our Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing Service to spend some time deep in the woods while trying your hand at something new. The act of trying a new activity is incredibly rewarding because of the feeling it evokes. A spirit of self-challenge helps to keep you humble and open to new ideas that very well may be better than the ones you already have. There’s no better place to experience self-challenge than on a beautiful stream meandering under a canopy of North Carolina evergreens.

-Fitness and Nutrition- 

The common “post-holiday slump” makes it difficult to find the motivation to exercise and eat healthy-but we promise you’ll be thanking your endorphins once you get moving. Chetola offers a variety of fitness classes throughout the week open to both our guests and the public. We encourage you to practice mindfulness and meditation with our Gentle Yoga session. Our Gentle Yoga class allows you to ease into strengthening postures with a slow, gentle restorative pace. This class is a mindful practice with hands-on guidance that will reduce stress for beginners and long-time practitioners alike. Chetola’s yoga instructor, Catherine Scantlin, suggests “Gentle Yoga is a fantastic respite for the hardcore athletes and fitness enthusiasts because of the focus on flexibility and balance - two often overlooked aspects needed for overall balanced fitness."

Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola offers daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner options consisting of a variety of locally sourced vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. We recommend you begin each day with a protein-packed breakfast to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. Consider implementing a light lunch into your routine such as Timberlake’s Seasonal Berry Salad. This salad is full of fresh berries (high in natural antioxidants) and pecans (pack an immunity-boosting punch). After enjoying dinner, we find that sipping an herbal tea really hits the spot. Herbal tea is known to help digestion and ease anxiety which helps you to sleep better. Our favorite bedtime tea is the Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus with a drop of local honey. Made with soothing Egyptian chamomile flowers and subtle slices of citrus fruit, this tea blend is sure to rejuvenate your spirit.

-Find your Haven of Rest- 

Chetola Resort is named after the native Cherokee meaning a “haven of rest.” We encourage you to find your own haven of rest in daily life to practice mindfulness and meditation. All you need to start is a quiet room to sit in by yourself. Begin your meditation by closing your eyes, relaxing your muscles, and directing your attention to being present in the moment. This focus will help to empty your mind of all thoughts which gives your brain a chance to recharge and revitalize. There’s a great application on the Apple App Store called “Headspace” that helps guide you to meditation.

Finding a haven of rest at Chetola is as simple as curling up with your favorite book by one of our many cozy fireplaces. Reading a book is an excellent alternative to scrolling through your phone because it reduces your screen time allowing a sounder sleep. Sleep is an incredibly beneficial resource when on the road towards winter wellness. Make use of longer evenings to wind down and begin relaxing before bed. Getting to bed bit earlier allows your body more time to sleep during a time it needs it most.

We encourage you to stay positive while participating in our guide to winter wellness. It may be difficult to incorporate all the suggestions so make use of the activities that benefit you the most. Visit the Spa at Chetola on the second floor of the Lodge to make an appointment, or Chetola’s Concierge to get more information on yoga and other wellness offerings.

Interested in finding out more information? Call Chetola at 828-295-5500, or Click Here to email Chetola.

-The Seamless Ski Experience-

There's nothing like skiing or snowboarding on a blue bird day in the mountains of North Carolina. The rush of soaring downhill, the scent of fresh pine in the air, and the satisfaction of successfully completing a challenging run. Not to mention the Blue Ridge Mountain views that quickly allow for a new perspective.

Often, achieving this bliss means dealing with a variety of frustrations. Whether its unfortunate weather, long lines, screaming kids or stressed out parents, a day on the mountain can be exhausting, even before you get on the snow. Although seasoned skiers may see these frustrations as necessary evils, we see them as an opportunity to create a better, more memorable trip.

The Chetola team is here to take the pain out of skiing by offering you some helpful tips to make the experience a seamless one:

-Tips for New Skiers and Snowboarders-

-When to Visit-

Typical ski season: December-March
Holidays to avoid: MLK Day & Presidents' Day Weekends
Check the weather: Check reliable forecasts at Ray's Weather 

-What to Bring-

Rentals:
-The shorter the ski, the easier to maneuver
-Make sure boots are snug (and dry!)
-Poles are your friend

Clothing:
-Layers, layers, layers
-Waterproof outer shell
-One pair of performance socks

Accessories:
-Goggles or sunglasses
-Warm headgear
-Waterproof gloves & liners
-Granola bar and water

Not sure whether to ski or snowboard? Take our quiz to help you decide!

If you're a first time skier/snowboarder, we recommend paying a visit to Appalachian Ski Mtn. Their process makes ticketing, rentals, and scheduling lessons super easy which helps you get on the snow quicker. Make use of the French-Swiss Ski College and their helpful staff to get started on the right foot.

Find the best run for you and your crew:
-Families: Strudel
-First Timers: Appaltizer
-Freestyle: Appaljack
-Experienced: Hardcore
-Best all Around: Orchard Run
All runs can be found at Appalachian Ski Mtn

A day on the mountain isn’t for everyone; sometimes a seamless ski experience means not skiing at all. We encourage groups to explore their individual options before signing up to do something they might not enjoy. Chetola has an onsite spa for those who would rather spend the day soaking than shredding. Take some time for yourself and join the rest of your group after their trip at our on-site après ski bonfire and s’mores at Timberlake's Restaurant. You can’t go wrong!

Now that you have some ski day tips, make use of our amenities and book a stay with us!