Roots and Legion Brewing team up to bring food to the Plaza Midwood brewery

Beer and good food — what more could you want?

That’s why Legion Brewing and Roots teamed up. Roots began as a food truck, transitioned into a catering company and is now providing food at Legion 4-9 p.m. during the week and longer hours during the weekends.

Craig Barbour of Roots first met Phil Buchy of Legion when they worked together on the new The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery location together. Barbour was consulting on the kitchen and food service, while Buchy was the general contractor for the project.

Their friendship led to a partnership to provide good food with seasonal offerings through Roots.

“It really stems from Phil and I’s philosophies being parallel — making the best product using local ingredients and seasonal ingredients and staying as true to that as possible,” Barbour said.

The Roots menu for Legion is similar to Roots’ catering menu. Everything is fresh, local and in season.

While Barbour is soft spoken, his enthusiasm for his food is apparent. The Sequatchie Cove Creamery Shakerage Blue — say that 10 times fast — is the best blue cheese he has ever had. It’s available with the meat and cheese plates.

Here are some of the other menu options:

– Southern Devils, $6 — Local free range eggs, deviled and topped with crispy prosciutto and micro herbs. 4 pieces.

– Haute Pocket $7 — Two flaky pastries filled with free range grilled chicken, smoked chilies and Ashe County cheddar.

– Soft Pretzel $4.90 — Brushed with local butter and sprinkled with black and white seal salt. Served with Legion Beer Mustard.

– Butternut Squash and Smoked Goat Cheese Flatbread $8 — With caramelized onions and fresh micro greens.

Barbour and Buchy knew they could successfully run a separate food operation out of the brewery, but getting the health department on board with their idea took a while.

“We just beat it into their heads enough that it’s going to be totally fine and it’s not an unsafe thing,” Barbour said.

Having the food separate from the beer operations is actually a good thing according to Barbour.

“It helps immensely that it’s two totally separate things, because we can just focus on food,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about anything else, which makes the food better.”

The Roots team currently has seven full-time staffers and a multitude of part-time staff.

“Really (the partnership) just adds work to anybody who has under 40 hours,” he said. “It keeps us right at the right busy. If people want to work, I want to give them work.”

And there will be plenty of work. Now, Legion’s event space can be rented out and catered by Roots. Contact Legion for more information.

Photos: Sarah Headley

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 12:03 AM with the headline "Roots and Legion Brewing team up to bring food to the Plaza Midwood brewery."