Karri Buck – Consultant, Virtual Assistant, Paralegal
Pizza, Wings, Stuffed Potatoes, Oh My!
Americans consume approximately 3 billion pizzas a year. That’s billion with a “B”. If you’re going to consume that much pizza, it had better be good pizza at the very least, but if you’re in the market for great pizza you’re going to love our next featured guest as much as I do.
The Gin Lot Café & Market, or The Gin Lot as it is affectionately called by locals, is located in the sleepy map dot of Dancyville, TN. The red building and yellow sign are sure to catch your eye which will notify your stomach that a stop is necessitated. Opened as we know it, in 2022 by Peter Schutt with long time friend and chef, Justin Allen, The Gin Lot is appreciated for its wings, BBQ potatoes, fresh meat and ready to go meals; but it is loved and revered for its one-of-a-kind wood fire pizzas.
Peter initially put The Gin Lot on the map in 2012. He bought the building and immediately built a butcher shop as a way to process animals straight from his farm, Winchester Farm, to your table. For some time he offered breakfast and lunch, but when Covid hit, he paused like many businesses did. When he hit play again, he chose to do it with wood fire pizzas made with meat straight from the farm, vegetables sourced locally seasonally, homemade sauce and of course a crust that brings the whole pie together. Chef Justin Allen was the perfect fit for the creations Peter had in mind. The two found each other through a Craigslist ad many years ago, with Justin’s talent shining in other shared dining ventures as well.
When you think pizza, you usually think crust, sauce, toppings and cheese. It seems so basic, but when Justin begins creating, it’s anything but basic. Wait until you sink your teeth into Umami pizza, which is fresh sauteed mushrooms, fresh garlic, red sauce, 5 cheese blend, crispy bacon, umami seasoning garnished with balsamic reduction and fresh herbs. It’s important to note that their 5 cheese blend is made with a purpose. The flavor and the texture are brought together using European Asiago, fontina, parmesan, provolone and mozzarella. Check out the Funky Chicken made with red sauce, blackened chicken breast, 5 cheese blend, crispy bacon, onion, & their one-of-a-kind, made-in-house BBQ sauce. If you like a little heat, you want to try the Pepperoni HOT Honey Pizza (red sauce, 5 cheese blend, pepperoni, onion, hot honey garlic sauce, red pepper flakes) or the TN Heat Pizza that combines red sauce, 5 cheese blend, pepperoni, Cajun sausage, cowboy candy, Carolina reaper & scorpion pepper hot sauce…a pizza not made for the faint of heart!
If pizza isn’t your thing, we forgive you. The Gin Lot still has you covered with their wings, daily specials like Gumbo, Etouffee or BBQ potatoes and on special occasions; their whole hog BBQ. What if you are gluten free? They even have a crust for you and it’s not your run-of-the-mill, tastes-like-cardboard crust. On the contrary, it’s delicious and the ideal carrier for the pizza you crave.
In addition to their superb food made fresh daily, in small batches; you can also order food to go, frozen meats or meals. Their pork and beef are pasture raised with no steroids, hormones or chemical fertilizers. Their meals to go are cooked in-house and frozen to make your life easier and your supper delicious. Need dessert? They’ve got you covered with a variety including cheesecake and banana pudding made with the best wafers available. You can even purchase ice cream to round out the perfect meal.
The food alone is worth the short drive to Dancyville, but there’s more to this story and I want to share just a peek into it. Peter Schutt is accomplished in many areas of life including raising 3 boys with his lovely wife. As those boys grew and Peter semi-retired he found that he wanted to continue to make a difference in the world. In 2006 he founded Memphis Kids In Nature. His foundation takes on average 2000 kids a year on days hikes and overnight camping trips at Winchester Farm. Something he said in our interview still makes me pause. “There are kids living in Memphis who have never seen the Mississippi River.” How devastating that some of these kids are never able to leave their neighborhood. Peter and his team are showing these kids that there is not only a world around them, but a world of possibilities. To date they have given over 30,000 kids access to the outdoors and provided them with an experience they might never have gotten otherwise. He also recently founded the Hatchie River Conservancy last year. This seeks to provide additional and easier access points to the Hatchie River so that more people can experience it. Recent years have taught us how important being out in nature is to both our physical and mental well-being. Peter and his team of supporters are doing their part to make that happen for people of all ages, especially investing in the most underprivileged among us.
The Gin Lot is a hidden gem. The food, the staff, and the ownership are all important pieces of our community. Chef Justin’s goal is that you leave the restaurant satisfied, already planning your return trip. That’s easy to do when you feed the body and the soul. If you’re craving something delicious; check out The Gin Lot on Highway 76 in Dancyville. They are open Thursday and Friday from 4-8 and Saturday from 3-8. Make sure to follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on their specials. Rumor has it, the BBQ baked potatoes are out of this world and disappear quickly. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out. Go get some great supper and support great folks making a difference. It’s a win for everyone.
~Written by Karri Buck~