lystn

At Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN, many, many hands go into crafting magical moments for guests—many of whom return year after year, and plenty for whom this is a bucket-list trip. As executive chef, Cassidee Dabney is responsible for a major part of that experience, and while there's nothing she would rather be doing, the position comes with a lot of pressure. This past summer, Dabney sat down on the porch of the Pencil Cob cottage to talk about the region's cuisine; cooking for people with high expectations; the tragic loss of Blackberry's proprietor, Sam Beall; and why she leads a group scream in the dining room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices