The Joy of Sharing

by M. Linda Lee

Jul 16, 2019 at 6:11 PM

A sister club exchange program allows McConnell Golf chefs to mix things up

There's wisdom in that old adage, “two heads are better than one,” especially when it comes to dining programs at McConnell Golf. “We asked our chefs to take a turn both hosting a chef and visiting a chef during the year,” says James Patterson (aka JP), the company’s corporate executive chef who oversees the culinary programs at Sedgefield Country Club and The Cardinal by Pete Dye. “It could be any type of event, a beer dinner, a wine dinner, a farm-to-table dinner, even a member-guest.”

Visiting other clubs expands each chef’s knowledge and skills, while giving them a feel for a club other than their own. “When I go to Sedgefield, not only do they have a bigger membership base than we do and they’re busier than we are, but they have more staff. So you have more people and ideas,” explains Patrick Budniewski, executive chef at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. He especially enjoys looking over other chefs’ menus and seeing how that membership responds to different dishes.

This, in turn, gets the creative juices flowing. “Just talking with other chefs gives me new ideas and perspective on new things to do,” says Budniewski, a New York native who likes to reinvent Southern classics. He recently did a Sunday brunch at The Country Club of Asheville with Chef Bruce McIntosh, to which he brought local cheeses and Benton’s bacon from East Tennessee. “We used the bacon in three ways — we even made coconut, chocolate chip and bacon scones.” At the suggestion of one of the Asheville line cooks, they also made a bacon-maple glaze to drizzle on the scones. “I had no idea how the membership would respond to it,” Budniewski admits, “but we ran out of scones about halfway through brunch that day.”

Yet the chefs aren’t the only ones who find value in visiting other clubs. Members also benefit from having exposure to different styles of cuisine. “It keeps dining exciting,” Budniewski says. “When Bruce came up [to Holston Hills], we did a health and wellness dinner. He did a demo of an Asian-style gluten-free noodle bowl. It was fun for members to see, and it was something we could do here, too. Every chef has a different style to show off.”

Holding Court!

by Matt McConnell

Mar 08, 2018 at 12:47 AM

Game, set, dinner!

Exhibition matches have long been a celebrated occasion across the tennis facilities of McConnell Golf; however starting last year, a new twist was added — members can enjoy great food, service, and entertainment right on the court.

“What can be better than dining under the stars while watching local collegiate and professional tennis players compete?” asks Kyle Thortsen, director of tennis operations. “These Dining on the Courts events are a night for the entire family to enjoy.”

Likely the most competitive tennis-and-dinner combo took place in Knoxville. The main event included the University of Tennessee tennis teams playing, which brought a large crowd of Volunteer fans – including the most excited person to be there, Rachel Waddell’s son Corbin, who got to be the ball boy.

“The dinner on the courts was a very fun evening,” says Waddell. “The food and decor was wonderful, and watching the teams play was a highlight of the night. Corbin was so excited to be the ball boy — he just had tennis camp at the club a few weeks before! He really enjoyed the camp, and watching the University of Tennessee tennis teams made him want to play more.”

Straight from the Source

by Martha-Page Althaus

Aug 08, 2017 at 6:44 PM

Part of McConnell Golf's future-focus is seizing opportunities that benefit the planet, local economies, and member taste buds. We spoke with Executive Chef Patrick Budniewski on how - and why - he incorporates local ingredients into the menu at Holston Hills.

“Farm-to-table” is an overused culinary phrase, but for Patrick Budniewski, it’s the only thing he’s ever known.

“I grew up with a garden in my backyard,” he says. “We canned our own tomato sauce and made our own jams and jellies. I never ate the store-bought stuff. That upbringing was very influential in my career.”

So it’s only natural that Budniewski employs that same practice in the Holston Hills kitchen. The Johnson & Wales grad identifies his culinary style as simplistic: “I use really good ingredients and let them speak for themselves.”

The Ingredients

Budniewski has a lengthy list of local purveyors. Among the favorites? Sweetwater Valley Farm cheese is a staple on his menu, whether it’s smoked cheddar on the charcuterie board or sharp cheddar in macaroni and cheese. Swaggerty’s Farm sausage is used for biscuits and gravy. Hickory-smoked bacon from Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams is another favorite.

“The whole kitchen smells like hickory when we get that bacon in,” says Budniewski. “We get it in slabs, wrapped in old-school deli paper, and cut it ourselves.”

At the Table

This isn’t your typical bacon. Benton’s high-end bacon finds its way into several dishes, from Budniewski’s twist on chicken cordon bleu - pan-seared chicken with Benton’s bacon and a Swiss cheese sauce - to fried-green tomatoes with poblano pepper and bacon jam. You’ll find many of these ingredients on Holston Hills’ daily menus. The club’s spring social featured a big display of Sweetwater Valley Farm cheese - buttermilk cheddar, gouda, and roasted garlic and pepper cheddar.

As for the future? Expect even more events and menus with a local focus. “We’ll keep trying to source the best ingredients, and those are usually found in our own backyard,” says Budniewski.