Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club in Cordele, Georgia is known for its beautiful surroundings, the wonderful Georgia Veterans State Park, fabulous golfing, and being the ideal resort for family, friend, and romantic getaways. Whether you are planning an inexpensive vacation without sacrificing luxury or searching for the most picturesque wedding venues in Georgia, you can’t go wrong with a retreat at Lake Blackshear. In addition to unbeatable amenities, this celebrated resort and golf club features an array of exceptional and exciting dining options and experiences.

All dining tastes and styles are satisfied at Lake Blackshear Resort. What are you in the mood for? The Lake Blackshear culinary and service experts are prepping for your arrival and have something in the works just for you. With a bar, two restaurants, and dining at the golf club, you will find a variety of dishes and libations to delight your taste buds.

Lake Blackshear’s Executive Chef Matthew Lamb takes pride in the variety of dining possibilities the resort, marina, and golf club present.

“If you’re looking for a nice place to go sit outside, have a beer and a burger and watch entertainment, we have it at Cypress Grill,” Chef Lamb said. “Or you can have a nice bottle of wine and a steak at Cordelia’s.”

Chef Lamb also pointed out that some locals dine more than once a week at the resort, and there is no better endorsement than that.

 

Local Chef Using Local Ingredients

Chef Lamb grew up in Albany, Georgia and is now raising his kids in the area. His culinary roots run deep in this pocket of the Peach State.

“Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house on the weekends,” he recalled. “Every Sunday after church, my grandmother would cook and my whole family would come to eat Sunday dinner. I’d get up on Sunday mornings, and I’d want to help make the muffins and that kind of stuff. The older I got, the more I started helping her and the more I grew to enjoy cooking.”

After high-school, Chef Lamb joined the military for a few years before returning to civilian life and graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando. Next, he took his culinary skills on a U.S. tour, cooking in places such as San Diego and New Haven, Connecticut. Finally, it was time for him to come home. Today, he leads the Lake Blackshear culinary team and it’s easy to see that he loves his job and the people he works with.

In addition to being a Georgia native, Chef Lamb enjoys working with local ingredients. He sources produce from vendors who sell the products of local farmers, seafood from the Georgia coast, specialty cheeses from the celebrated Sweet Grass Dairy out of Thomasville, and steaks from deGraan Farms in Calhoun.

Chef Lamp and his food are held in high regard locally and throughout the state. One such accolade was his appearance on Explore Georgia’s 100 Plates Locals Love list. Chef Lamp’s Grilled Salmon Salad (with mention of Cordelia’s Key Lime Pie) graced the Presidential Pathways section of this assembly of Georgia’s most coveted cuisine.

Food for Thought

Cordelia’s is a Southern Fusion Restaurant located in the Lodge of the Lake Blackshear Resort and is the most formal of the resort’s eateries. Here Chef Lamb takes celebrated dishes of the region to the next level. Guests and visitors experience innovative cuisine inspired by authentic Southern cooking.

Each week Chef Lamb and his team create a flight of features, including an appetizer, entree, and dessert, which are available individually or at a reduced price when purchased together. Some of the most popular features work their way onto the menu, such as the beloved and delicious Sweet Tea and Peach Porkchop. Originally a weekly feature, this grilled bone-in pork chop from a local farm with a caramelized peach sweet tea sauce is now a favored Cordelia’s menu item.

Some of the other Southern staples to grace Cordelia’s menu are shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes topped with creamed corn and candied bacon and Chef Lamb’s Pimento Cheese, which is not the traditional take on this spreadable classic. After becoming one of the resort’s most popular appetizers, Chef Lamp’s Pimento Cheese can now be purchased to take home and is served at the golf club.

Great Place for an Event (With the Food to Match)

It’s no secret that Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club is an ideal locale for hosting weddings in Georgia, coordinating a corporate event, or planning a Georgia family reunion. But did you know that this spot is not only beautiful, centrally located, and equipped with amazing facilities, accommodations, and amenities, but it also serves fantastic food for parties large and small?

When asked what makes the difference in the resort’s ability to cater large events, Chef Lamb sang the praises of the Lake Blackshear culinary and service staff.

“We do a lot of weddings, family reunions, and corporate events,” Lamb said. “It’s just a fun place to work. Never the same. Something different every day.  We’ve got a great staff,” he added. “Everybody takes the chance to make sure that the guests have a great experience.”