Fall picnics in North Carolina
The lovely fall weather in western North Carolina is a good time to think about picnics. We aren't proposing anything as elegant as the Spoleto Festival Finale picnics in Charleston, where people arrive in time to “set their space” with elegant tables complete with candelabra, roses in a Waterford vase, and their best china. Instead, we prefer the picnic areas in this part of the state, which offer spectacular scenery, fall colors, and a chance to relax. Two locations that we can highly recommend are Pearson's Falls in Polk County (www.pearsonsfalls.com) and DuPont State Forest (www.dupontforest.com). Both offer beautiful wooded acreage with wonderful waterfalls and hiking trails. Before heading out, please check their web sites for hours, policies, and directions. Pearson's Falls, at 268 acres, is a little more manageable to tour, but DuPont's 10,000 acres is very impressive.
The black bean tart can be made a day ahead, along with the sour cream garnish. Either cut the tart into slices and put in a flat plastic container, or wrap the tart pan in plastic, and slice at the time of serving. The veggie salad, served at room temperature, is a nice complement, and cookies purchased from one of our local bakeries would complete the meal.
