Found Treasure At Lost Creek

By: Angie Stryker

"If Jesus had access to fried blueberry pies and sweet cream he would have said, "I am the fried pie and the cream."

That was my Facebook post the first time that my family and I ate at Lost Creek Mercantile and Provisions in Ranburne, Alabama. We have returned countless times. When someone comes into town to visit – we take them to Lost Creek. When someone has lost a loved one, we take them to Lost Creek. When we just want to be with our friends over really good food and delicious beer – we take them to Lost Creek. When we are on our way home from Atlanta for a work trip, we pick up Lost Creek for the family.

I'm sure you are sensing a pattern here but I can't stress to our readers enough how delightful an experience it is to eat at Lost Creek.

When you step back in time in Wedowee, the roads take on a winding slow effect through the pastures. Grab your friends or family, load up in the car, and take a small trip to Ranburne. You'll take many left turns until you wonder if you have gone off the GPS. Just when you start to believe that you must be lost, a little farm house emerges with a porch. You have arrived.

Make your way into the front door past the dutiful sleeping dog. The first thing you'll notice is the lovely little market in the back of the room. The owners have picked out treasures to take home like kitchen decor and cheese boards, cutting boards and linens. Then you'll come to the jams, jellies and syrups and pecans with the Lost Creek label, as well as fresh cheeses and meats in the fridge.

The menu of the day is lit up on the wall with all of the freshest ingredients. The owners source as much as they can locally. You'll take it all in, ask any question you need and then make your order at the counter. You'd be crazy not to order the Chicken and Waffles (especially if you've never had them before) but go ahead and ask what the special is just in case.

You sit back down and you Alabama beer will be served in mason jars (it seems better that way). The salad will come out in a mound of freshness. You will swear to never eat another salad anywhere else for the rest of your life, it's that good.

The sliders with their local beef will come out and you will thank God that you exist on this earth, in Alabama, at this moment. But here's a pro tip: DO NOT STUFF YOURSELVES. You must leave room. Why? Because you heard it here, friend, you will order the sweet cream that is fresh and couldn't be more local if the cow was in the kitchen,. You will pick one of the fried pies – pecan? Blueberry?  Blackberry? Nutella? It almost doesn't matter. It will arrive next to the cream and your eyes may start to tear up. On your first bite you will ask the stars and the heavens what you have done in your life to deserve this moment.

Savor the bites slowly, this moment will unfortunately pass. Before it does, take a bite and pass the bowl around so that you can taste all the pies that have come to the table. Sit back and smile, this is the goodness that comes with sharing amazing food with good friends. Vow to come back, often.

Before you leave, be sure to meet Carma and Rod, the owners. They are the ones after all who handcrafted your meal. And do me a favor – thank them lavishly so that they will never leave our little corner of the world.

Lost Creek Mercantile and Provisions

Thursday 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Friday 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm

10505 County Road 10

Ranburne, Alabama 36273

256-357-8130

www.lostcreekmercantile.us

Or find them on Facebook at Lost Creek and Provisions.