Perfect Pan-Seared Steak Salad
Enjoy this steak salad recipe, which utilizes Juniper restaurant's own balsamic vinaigrette dressing and is paired with a fresh, locally-sourced summer salad.
Back of the House
Made with Love at Juniper
A short ride down Highway 1 from Lexington, through quiet towns and rural farms, lies downtown Ridge Spring. A typical small town—quaint and compact; a bank, city hall and a post office, all in walking distance of one another and ever-welcoming. Noticeably different among the storefront row is an old building, built in the 1890s, painted sage and trimmed in purple, with large picture windows topped with a row of original stained glass, affectionately known as Juniper, as the whimsical storefront insignia represents.
“Juniper is my middle name,” Brandon Velie says. Not exactly what you would expect from the James Beard award-winning chef-owner of Juniper. And for good reason—it isn’t really his middle name.
Jeanne, Brandon’s wife and business partner, shares the real reason: Juniper berries are used to make a tea to soothe upset stomachs; the name came to her as she was searching for the perfect name for their restaurant.
“Juniper tea makes you feel better,” Jeanne says, “Our place is where you can come and be comfortable, and while you are with us, we will take complete care of you.”
Juniper is a place to calm and soothe the soul, through the stomach.
And Jeanne is right; there is a special feeling once you enter their space. When looking for a building for their restaurant 13 years ago, they knew as soon as they crossed the train tracks into Ridge Spring, this was where they were supposed to be.
This family-owned, family-oriented gem has been open since 2005. All four of the Velie children have played some role in the fruition of this dream; the two youngest can still be seen clearing tables or preparing food for the lunch rush. And extended family, albeit not blood-related, Dwayne Ligons, Juniper’s sous chef, started cooking with Brandon Velie in high school, and Trisha, their head server, has been there since the restaurant opened, contributing to the experience. The experience of belonging.
There is an instant bond formed when you meet Brandon and Jeanne. The energy they have between them fills the room, and once they start talking about their restaurant, their town, their customers and their farmers, it is easy to feel like part of their community.
Community is at the forefront of everything the Velies do. They source most of what is served from South Carolina, much of it delivered within the day of being picked, many times by the farmers themselves, making each meal served the freshest possible.
If not receiving goods through the back door, the Velies are shopping Saturdays at the Ridge Spring Farmers’ Market where farmers with large farms and some not so large offer their bounty. Their relationship with local farmers is what drives them, not only to serve their customers the freshest food, but also to support others in their community so all will prosper. They know that being part of something bigger than themselves is what brings everlasting joy to their lives.
In June, Gravatt Camp in Aiken hosted its 15th Big Delicious Event. At each event, Brandon showcases a farmer and their produce, and demonstrates how to prepare a meal, using local product.
Cranford Burke of Warbler Creek Farm in Ward, was most recently featured, along with her zucchini, tomatoes and onions.
“A lot of small towns are withering, and Juniper is helping Ridge Spring thrive, and I feel fortunate to be part of that,” she says.
Back at their restaurant, Brandon and Jeanne sit with me for a moment between shifts, and reflect on the years of service, raising children who have a love of food, cooking at the James Beard house, building a community and bringing awareness to local farms. After listening for a moment, I look at both of them and say, “I would say you’ve made your mark—you’ve made an impact on Ridge Spring.” With warm smiles and an affirming high-five, the two take in that moment: the Velies have made their mark on Ridge Spring, this little town filled with lots of love.
Loyal to Local:
Nut House & Country Market-Ridge Spring
Titan Farms-Ridge Spring
Yon Family Farms-Ridge Spring
Roland Acres Farm-Monetta
Watsonia-Monetta
Hickory Hill Milk-Edgefield
Happy Earth Farm-Aiken
Warbler Creek Farm-Ward
WP Rawl-Pelion
Adluh Flour Mills-Columbia
City Roots-Columbia
JW Yonce & Sons-Johnston
Coosaw Farms-Farifax
Juniper Recipes
Midlands Peach Gazpacho
Family-owned restaurant Juniper is a community staple because of the experience as well as the delicious food, such as this peach gazpacho.
Titan Farms Peach Cheesecake
Peaches are in abundance in the Midlands. Titan Farms peaches are grown in Ridge Spring and are an obvious choice for a decadent dessert. Titan Farms is the largest peach grower in the East Coast, gro...