OFTB Welcomes Cafe Violette

I've spent a lot of time in Boone and Blowing Rock over the years.

Like many North Carolinians, I grew up making the drive to the High Country for weekends, leaf season, mountain getaways. For a long time, the region's food scene was defined by old favorites, college-town staples, and places that had been there for generations.

That's part of its charm.

But now, something else is shifting, in an exciting way.

A new generation of independent restaurants, cafés, bakeries, breweries, and hospitality has gently reshaped what it means to eat and travel in the High Country and taking it to a whole new level.

Which brings me to Cafe Violette.

Located in Blowing Rock and tucked into a sunny courtyard in the heart of town, Cafe Violette feels like the kind of place you'd expect to stumble across in a small European town and then spend the next six months telling your friends about. The dining room is intimate. The service is warm without being performative. The dinner menu takes inspiration from the French Riviera while remaining deeply connected to the mountains around it through the seasons.

Owners Catherine Thomas, Kyle Martin, and Sunshine Martin have created something increasingly rare in hospitality: a restaurant that is truly at ease with itself.

You won't find trendy plating or dining time limits here. Every bread, sauce, and dessert is made in-house. The wine list is thoughtful. The experience encourages you to slow down and stay awhile.

Just next door is Tout Suite, their sister concept that functions as a café, bakery, gourmet market, and gathering place all at once.

Together, the two concepts tell a bigger story about where the High Country is headed. Visitors are still coming for the mountains, the hiking trails, the cooler summers, and the small-town charm. Increasingly, they're coming for experiences like these, too.

I'm excited to introduce more people to one of the most thoughtful restaurants in North Carolina's mountain region, while finding opportunities to tell the story of Tout Suite along the way.