All eyes are on Kara Zornig as she shows the attentive group how to put the finishing touches on a creative arrangement of fresh fruits, veggies, cheese and bread. As the build-a-board workshop comes to a close, happy participants pack up the mouth-watering food displays they’ve created and head home with new tips and tricks for upgrading their charcuterie game.
The monthly workshop is just one of several new attractions at Summit Chase, formerly Summit Chase Country Club, on the eastern outskirts of Snellville. After closing for renovations last winter, the Walton Gas commercial customer reopened in March with an altered image and a list of public offerings that has broadened its appeal.
“We have an all-new concept that is
open to everyone in the community.”
“We have an all-new concept that is open to everyone in the community,” said Vice President and General Manager Don Britt. “Everyone can come enjoy Summit Chase.”
The Britt family has operated the membership-based country club known primarily for its golf course for nearly 50 years. In 1973, Van Britt combined his experience in managing a restaurant with his love of golf to open the club on property situated near Highway 78 in Gwinnett County. His son, Don, now oversees the day-to-day operations.
The golf course was sold last year as a new chapter begins for the family-owned business. It is now a farm-fresh dining and special events venue along with continuing some member-based amenities, explained Zornig, who oversees social media for Summit Chase.
“We doubled the size of the kitchen and redid the interiors of both the restaurant and the bar area,” she said about the property’s updated dining facilities. The upscale-casual restaurant is now called The Kitchen. The bar area is The Pub.
Award-winning chef Alex Friedman is another new addition. As executive chef, he oversees the farm-to-table menu that is making The Kitchen a destination for local foodies.
“Everything is made from scratch or comes from a local business.”
“Everything is made from scratch by Alex or comes from a local business,” Zornig said. “He gets a lot of vegetables and honey from Monroe businesses and bread from Luna Bakery in Athens, where everything is made from scratch.”
Chef Alex’s impressive resume includes stints at Asheville’s Biltmore Estate and the Bistro Off Broad in Winder. He was honored in 2020 as a Georgia Grown Chef by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Viewers of the Food Network’s “Chopped” might recognize him as a young competitor on the show in 2012.
Beyond food, Summit Chase is popular as a location for weddings and receptions.
“We’re like a one-stop shop,” said Zornig. The venue offers an outdoor wedding spot, an indoor reception area for up to 200 guests, catering and even wedding coordination services.
Summit Chase hosts cornhole league play
on Tuesdays and live music on Fridays.
Summit Chase is also a favorite location for parties and business events. It’s also a local hot spot for cornhole league play on Tuesdays and live music on Fridays. Local schools use the club’s heated Olympic-size pool for swim meets.
Though the excellent food, interesting activities and abundant amenities are enough to rate Summit Chase as special, Zornig thinks the venue’s best quality is its staff.
“The best part about working here is the family environment — not only with the guests but the employees too,” she said. “We work together as a team and a family.”
The Kitchen at Summit Chase is open Wednesdays through Sundays. For hours of operation and menus, visit thekitchenatsummitchase.com.