Must-Have Eats at Smitty's on I-85

If you're heading north on I-85 out of Atlanta, you've got to stop in at Smitty's Family Restaurant in Carnesville, Georgia (Exit 160).  Proud owners Chuck and Carla Smith have been serving up barbecue, steaks, and outstanding desserts for nearly four years, but don't let the newness scare you.  Chuck comes from a family with barbecue running in their veins.

Carla knew she had a catch when she met Chuck and found out he loved to cook.  She told him, "You cook, and I'll clean."  Sounds like a match made in Heaven to me!  Chuck and Carla are both recently retired teachers that turned their talents into a warm, family restaurant you just can't miss.

I had the awesome experience of eating here a little over a year ago while visiting my folks and fell in love with the ribs, Brunswick stew, and most of all, blackberry cobbler.  I've had dreams about that cobbler that Chuck humbly calls "simple."  Sometimes the simple things are the best things.

Chuck was willing to pass along his "simple" recipe to HHH when I visited with him this week.  Here's a halved version of the large batch he makes for the restaurant.

Smitty's Blackberry Cobbler (click to print)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 1/2 c. milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
ground cinnamon (to taste or optional)
approximately 2 16-ounce packages of frozen blackberries, thawed (or 2 pints fresh)-enough to cover
     the top of the 9x13 pan (Chuck makes this from memory, not a recipe)

Topping:
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. hot water

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Mix flour, sugar, and salt together.  Stir together butter, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and add to dry ingredients.  Spread batter over the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  A little batter will remain in the bowl.  Reserve it for the topping.  Sprinkle blackberries over the batter, enough to cover generously.  Sprinkle blackberries with white sugar and brown sugar for the topping.  Pour hot water over leftover batter and drizzle over the blackberries.  Nothing goes to waste here.  Bake for approximately 45 minutes until brown, bubbly, and getting crispy on top.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!


Chuck also makes a mean Chocolate Cobbler.  We had to have one of each while visiting.  He features strawberry and peach in season as well.

Smitty's is open Thursdays 11 am - 8 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am - 9 pm, and Sundays from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm.  They will be closed for family vacation from July 11th-18th but will be open throughout the upcoming holiday weekend.

Smitty's is the kind of place I love to go to while traveling.  They are all about family and good food.  Make sure you stop in next time you're in the area and tell them Amy said "hi".