Come clean with a child heart.
Laugh as peaches in the summer wind.
Let rain on a house roof be a song.
Let the writing on your face
be a smell of apple orchards in late June.

-Carl Sandburg, “Lesson” from Honey and Salt

Among many things this summer, I did indeed visit an apple orchard in June, and I did hear rain on a house roof, and I saw peaches, fresh, that had laughed in the summer wind. Carl Sandburg is one of my favorite poets, perhaps most because he captures real feelings in a way that captures and sustains my heart.

In a visit to Flat Rock, NC, I went to a delightful cafe called Honey and Salt.

I immediately caught the reference to the name of one of Carl Sandburg’s poetry collections, Sandburg being a resident of Flat Rock for over 20 years until his death in 1967. In fact, you can visit his house which is officially titled the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. It is a lovely place, with frolicking goats, a museum full of books and history, hiking and running trails along creeks and ponds, and a gift shop. But I digress. My friend Martha, who lives in not-so-far-away Columbus, suggested the restaurant for lunch and I immediately said yes. I can never turn down a trip to Flat Rock.

Honey and Salt greeted us with locally sourced ingredients, delightful plates and a refreshing, comfortable atmosphere.

Martha ordered the “Eggs Benny”, an English muffin topped with herbed goat cheese, spinach, wild-caught salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise, an oven-roasted tomato and dill. She offered me the first bite, a bite that settled on my tastebuds with a sigh of pleasure. The flavors were fresh and vivid, and I felt perhaps I’d been out-ordered.

Nevertheless, when I saw my simple egg and cheese biscuit (to which you can add bacon, sausage or turkey sausage), such fear disappeared. The biscuit was perfectly buttery, with a flavor quite unlike any I’ve had before. I was glad I’d not ordered a side item, since the biscuit alone was so filling. I must say it was a bit difficult to take the first bite, it was such a tall biscuit! But it was delicious, and the coffee we ordered was the perfect late-lunch accompaniment. Our mugs never ran dry.

Overall, I was impressed by their simple menu, their commitment to sourcing ingredients locally and organically, and their variety of offerings. Not only do they serve biscuits, skillets and bowls for breakfast, they also offer smoothies, seasonal lunch entrees and bakery items. Next time, I am definitely ordering some of their homemade Poptarts filled with seasonal jam!

In truth, summer is made for delightful, simple experiences such as these. If you’re looking for your own late summer trip, or if you’re travelling anytime throughout the year, I must suggest travelling to Flat Rock to try Honey and Salt, and to visit the home of the poet who inspired its name. Thank you, Martha, for such a great suggestion!

Honey and Salt, 2730 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, N.C.