Mountain Harvest Kitchen Presents Bagel Pop Up

The Mountain Harvest Kitchen (MHK) presents a small batch bagel brunch on
Sunday, August 18 at The Corner Cup in downtown Jonesborough, TN. Inciting new
business and invigorating an already growing interest in local food, the MHK is
connecting regional entrepreneurs – bringing uncommonly fresh food to an even
larger table.

Five food businesses now call the young shared-use kitchen their home and hundreds
have turned to the food education classes for support. “Our clients’ pop-ups have been
an incredible opportunity for them to connect with new eaters, while their businesses
are gaining traction ” says Lee Manning, MHK Director, “and seeing new businesses in
the region is a beautiful thing!”

These bagels are the real deal, the kind that are hand shaped and proofed overnight,
boiled in the early morning while most of us are still fast asleep before being baked
to a brown luster, and served oven warm with a dollop of cream cheese. “The
everything bagel with house made veggie herb cream cheese served with a latte is
my ultimate breakfast,” says Anna Floyd of The Corner Cup.

A Tri-Cities favorite for artisanal baked goods, Lazy Lady Baking Co. launched from
MHK in 2018 selling at regional farmers markets and local coffee houses. Owner
Maren Close, a Johnson City native, attended culinary school in Asheville before
moving to work in some of the country’s most influential bakeries in San Francisco.
“I always knew I wanted to launch my own bakery,” says Maren, “and after eight
years of working in other people’s bakeries, I decided it was time.”

Set to open early 2020 in downtown Johnson City, the baker’s menu will highlight
seasonal pastries. Her legendary delights feature the area’s best local produce like her
free form flaky crust artfully enfolding young carrots and herbed goat cheese, or a sweet

fruit filling with fresh peaches and candied ginger. Her scones also rotate weekly and
feature expertly paired seasonal flavors like sweet corn, roasted peppers, and goat
cheese crumbles. Sourcing from local urban farm, Rain Crow in Johnson City, you can
enjoy baked goods with a seasonal, farm fresh twist.

“What makes the quality of pastries is the ingredients,” Maren explains “and forging
relationships with local producers that care as much about their craft is an important
part of my business.”

When Will Manning, owner/founder of Heartwood Forge, a nationally celebrated
culinary knife maker moved his operation to East Tennessee, a natural bond formed
between the two over a mutual respect for culinary craft. Though he is a knife maker by
day, he has a quiet obsession with baking bagels. His bagel making quickly blossomed
into neighborhood events and as the number of mouths to feed outgrew his home
kitchen, use of the prep space at the Mountain Harvest Kitchen has allowed his bagel
passion to flourish.

Thrust into knife making by way of an obsession with using his hands to create useful
everyday items from otherwise considered waste, Will sources recycled carbon steels to
make his masterfully balanced blades and uses reclaimed pieces of native hardwoods
for his handles. His distinct take on knife making comes from a love for food.

These aren’t just commodity tools, they represent something more. They’ve come to
symbolize a commitment to conscious cooking, down to the core. “When you love what
you do, it shows in your work,” says Will, “and it’s rewarding to find others that
appreciate the same.”

What may seem an unlikely pair, the two have been enjoying the creative collaboration
and the simple pleasure of putting their hearts into the culinary craft. Mark your
calendars and take the entire family on a culinary excursion. Quantities will be limited
please plan to arrive early. Half dozens available for preorder by emailing
lazyladybakes@gmail.com.

MHK presents Bagel Pop-Up!
Lazy Lady Baking Co. x Heartwood Forge
Sunday, August 18
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
At The Corner Cup, 148 E Main St, Jonesborough, TN