Justin Burdett talks Rukas Table in Highlands, NC

Chef Justin Burdett talks with Potluck Video about his restaurant Ruka's Table located in Highlands, NC.

Burdett says, "I equate it to a southern restaurant."  However, the location of Ruka's Table that sets it apart from what is expected of southern cuisine.  "We just have a different take on it."

Burdett goes on to saying that most of the city-based restaurants have a number of sources like farmers markets which provide the restaurants with fresh, seasonal produce.  Ruka's Table is different because they use strictly local ingredients.  He says, "We have a smaller, confined source, but it's really good because the soil's great there, the air quality's great. We have mountains and streams so we can do a lot of foraging and fishing."

Though Burdett describes the menu items as southern cooking, but the location definitely has an influence.  Burdett says, "In North Carolina... it's mountainous. It's Appalachian cooking."  With the influence of the mountains, mushrooms and foraging, Ruka's Table is where the divide between traditional southern cuisine and Appalachian cooking meet at a happy medium.

Ruka's Table sports entree menu items like Beer Braised Pork, Duck Confit, and Mississippi Rabbit with sides of vegetables that are made to share.  The menu also highlights a cheese selection raging from sheep to goat to cow produced cheeses that have house-made accompaniments.

The next time you find your way to North Carolina, Ruka's Table is open Monday through Sunday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.