Melanie and Jared Srsic own and operate
Millstone Tea Room. They purchased the business and property in May
2005 from a local businessman after successfully operating the
restaurant since June 2001. In May of 2007, exactly two
years later, they bought the original land that was once owned by the
C.N. Overstreet family that established the storefront back in 1939.
The couple have been renovating the property, interpreting it to "look"
as it once did. Before the interstates and convenience stores that now
dot the suburban landscape existed, there were southern roadside "tea
rooms" established to provide respite for travelers. It is the Srsic's
hope to recreate a quaint roadside restaurant far from the hustle and
bustle of corporate restaurant chains and fast paced food and create
an restorative dining experience in the Virginia foothills with
uncommon, hospitable service.
Jared's family name comes from the country of Croatia and Melanie's
families hail from the town of Altavista, Virginia. Both have had
formal and informal training throughout their careers in and around the
professional kitchen. Melanie was never short of gastronomic trips
with her parents to New York City and her delicate pastry hand
was readily learned at the apron strings of her grandmothers both,
aptly named, Virginia. Italian & Croatian heritage on
Jared's side didn't hurt the intuitive nature of his cooking approach,
claiming he "thinks Italian" even when cooking collard greens. Both
attempt to establish a conscious connection between the Old World
and American southern cookery that they love so much. This is not an
ethnic or "country cookin" restaurant, but a modern American
interpretation of Melanie and Jared's love of family, timeless classic
cooking and Southern hospitality.
The surrounding property houses organic gardens featuring seasonal
produce and cut flowers cultivated by Melanie and a hen house with
organic cage free eggs. Just as in generations past, whether in the
American south or the Old World, one would eat what was available to
them, usually from harvests found out back on the farm or in the home
garden. Melanie and Jared hope to provide that experience and help
redefine the local "farm to table" vision Millstone Tea Room has been
seeking since it was reestablished in 2001.
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