Rice House
Dining at the Rice House is a treasured experience that breaks the boundary between the old and the new. The Rice House, itself a marker of history, was once a 19th-century farmhouse in Rome, Georgia. The house was disassembled and moved to where it stands today, bestowing an elegant setting in which traditional Southern classic dishes are reinvented and delivered with a modern interpretation. The menu highlights the culinary program’s dedication to freshness, as all produce is grown on-site or delivered from local sources, reflecting the garden-to-table commitment and the culinary prowess of Executive Chef Lebas.
Chef Lebas shares his passion for the restaurant, saying, “The Rice House is my baby. It is here that I am able to take advantage of the amazing produce and resources of this area and let them shine. Here, we follow a true garden-to-table philosophy for our menu. We manage a kitchen garden on site with fresh vegetation-sited herbs that are featured in our dishes, and we cut our meat and fish here to ensure the best quality.
Additionally, we have developed relationships with local growers to supply the freshest and healthiest ingredients to our guests. Tucker Farms in Rome, Georgia, and Bella Vita in Adairsville, Georgia, are just a couple of the dedicated farms that supply us with the seasonal varieties,” Lebas says. It is often these seasonal ingredients that inspire him the most. “I will see what is growing and use that as the first spark of inspiration for our menu conception. We are constantly perfecting what we create in the kitchen, making it better with each service. This is why the menu will change every few weeks, keeping it fresh and exciting.” If there is one thing that Lebas wishes to convey in his work, it’s that Barnsley is the best resort experience in the world. This is what he is here to do.
It was not long ago the Rice House closed its doors with the rest of the resort at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. “We were devastated, really,” Lebas says. “It was March and the restaurant had great momentum and a strong team. Then everything stopped and all we could do is wait. Slowly the resort opened up. When we got word that the Rice House would reopen in October, there were a lot of emotions. Happiness for the reopening, of course, and excitement.
I was also anxious to see if I would be able to get my talented team members back.” A majority of the culinary team did return, as did the international student program, allowing Chef Lebas once again to use his passionate and hands-on approach to teach, mentor, and lead the best culinary team in North Georgia.
For years, Barnsley Resort has been a family favorite for the holidays. This year, the resort will continue with its tradition of offering a Thanksgiving Feast exclusively for resort guests and members. Seating is available at both the Rice House and Woodlands Grill. The menus are expertly crafted to include three- and four-course meal options, which feature delicious entrees such as crispy rabbit loin, pink peppercorn coffee-dusted veal, and sweet tea sous-vide turkey breast, among other possibilities. Space is limited and early reservations are encouraged.