Behind the Scenes at The Biltmore House: A Real Treat

Last week I told you about Food Blog Forum that was held in Asheville, NC and promised to show The Biltmore House today. Not only and I talking about The Biltmore House, but we’re going behind-the-scenes!

As part of the conference, I got a special backstage tour of The Biltmore House. Not only did we get to dine at Biltmore, and sample treats from the various restaurants, but we got go in rooms usually roped off to the public. And, we were allowed to take photos. This excited me as much as the tour.

Here she is — from atop the hill where we dined one night. Just look at that view. Can you even image living there? It’s so Downton Abbey!

And, what about the views?

Everywhere you turn, there are majestic, long range mountain views.

The breakfast room. Formal, yet so much smaller than the dining room. Get this — single house members (and I think guests) we “required” to eat breakfast in the breakfast room. If you were married, you could eat in your room.

I just started watching Downton Abbey and when Lady Mary got married she takes this to heart and stops having breakfast downstairs. So, it must be true!

Tea time! This is served in one of the side sitting rooms.

The dining room is as impressive as it seems. All the red chairs lined up waiting for guests. There is a small table in this room for when the family is not entertaining (top right). They were able to still eat formally, without having to use the large table.

Ah, the library. It’s quite the book collection: 10,800 in all.

There is a small balcony on the second level to get to the books up high.

Here’s the kitchen. Love those copper pots. This is a pretty large room — they needed it to in order to cook everything for their large dinner parties.

This is a menu book for dinner one night.

Downstairs is where the servants did much of their work to maintain The Biltmore House. This is one of the tables downstairs where they dined.

Yeah, that’s me, up on the deck where the Vanderbilts must have sit watching the sunset. From now on you can call me Lady Alicia.

I can’t help but also share two more photos: this is food. Look how beautiful it is. This was one of the samples we had. Delish.

Oh, and I always save the best for last: dessert. These chocolate cakes were divine.

Disclosure: My tour was part of the Food Blog Forum conference. I have not been compensated for this post. No way, no how.