There are two tousle-haired, blue-eyed boys who rule the play areas surrounding The Pickled Peach in Davidson. On sunny days, you’re guaranteed to spot them flinging their little bodies down the slide in the Davidson Tot Lot or rolling down the grassy knoll that abuts the back patio of The Pickled Peach. Their baby brother, also blue-eyed though not yet tousle-haired, is often inside, strapped to the back of the boys’ mother and The Pickled Peach owner, Jen Jentz.
The boys’ constant presence is just one of the many charmingly quirky qualities of this farm-to-table cafe, market, and restaurant. Tucked into a one-story, blue brick building and decorated by Jen herself, the interior is tastefully dappled with handmade decor, like the embroidery hoop ceiling art.
The Restaurant
Jen and husband/co-owner Travis Jentz have always nourished a passion for food. They originally moved to Davidson not knowing whether they would found a farm or a restaurant. The menu reflects their thorough appreciation for how farm location and method affects ingredient quality. Peach ingredients are almost exclusively organically or locally farmed, and many offerings are health oriented.
Everything on the menu, which features soups, salads, and sandwiches, can be made gluten-free (most items already are). And the menu has a wide selection for vegan and vegetarian customers, including the White Bean Hummus sandwich, a winning combination of white bean hummus, spinach, avocado or mozzarella, and balsamic reduction wedged between two mouthwatering pieces of grilled sourdough.
Jen masterminds menu creations with the help of Head Chef Pierce Schaaf, who began his culinary career as a prep cook at The Pickled Peach when it opened five years ago. In fact, many of the kitchen’s helping hands have followed similar trajectories, wading into the food and beverage waters as Peach dishwashers or prep cooks and, under Jen’s tutelage, developing a taste for the culinary arts.
Pair the Peach’s masterful menus with one of the craft sodas, local beers, or thoughtfully selected wines on offer. And you’d be ill-advised to pass up one of The Pickled Peach’s delectable desserts that beckon from a nearby case as you place your order.
The Pickled Peach Market
Until last year, outdoor spaces dominated The Pickled Peach, providing most seating options, including a climate controlled patio and picnic tables in the grass where the Peach boys play. However, in 2017, the business sharing a wall with the Peach closed and the Jentzs purchased the space. Travis tackled the renovation project, which resulted in the addition of a market, where foodies can find an intentional selection of food and wine offerings from responsibly owned and operated businesses, including fresh eggs from local farmers and handmade jams and jellies.
Everything about The Pickled Peach arises dually from satisfaction in a challenging job well done and responsibility to the people who brighten our communities, from farmers to workers to other businesses. The Jentzs are a family of doers, a family that cares far less about a bottom line or end product than about a day spent with sleeves rolled up and actions guided by ethics.
