The tiny town of Genoa, Nev., (just down the hill from South Lake Tahoe) is a gem in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. And as the oldest settlement in Nevada, it boasts its fair share of historical Victorian homes, but the one that sticks out the most is The Pink House.
Named for its girly shade of pink, this two-story building has been in the area since 1855, serving as a various number of businesses since then, including offices and apartments.
Today, the entire historic home has been restored and turned into a delightful cheese and charcuterie shop, as well as a restaurant that serves sandwiches, salads, homemade bread, seasonal dishes and, of course, cheese.
The Pink House in Genoa is fully restored — Photo courtesy of The Pink House
Lois Wray, the owner of the The Pink House, says that she would pass by the home to and from work. She was sad that the pretty pink house had not been restored back to its former glory.
So she took on the job herself, and after only 14 months, the house was opened up for lunch, dinner, drinks and shopping.
The Pink House specializes in cheeses and charcuterie — Photo courtesy of The Pink House
Wray and her team took care to restore the interior to as close to the original as possible, and every piece of furniture, photo (and their frames) and decor was purchased or brought in from local antique stores or homes. All the original windows were kept, as well as much of the beautiful wood trim.
During restoration, a back part of the house had to lose a wall for the kitchen, but the wood was then used for dining tables and countertops – complete with nail holes and saw marks.
The Pink House menu will change with the seasons — Photo courtesy of The Pink House
The Pink House not only has a great selection of cheeses from local and regional dairy farms, but they also sell cured meats, healthy snacks and local honey and olives.
The menu changes seasonally and features dishes like their custom cheese and charcuterie boards, soup and salad, small plates, sandwiches, desserts, coffee, wine and beer.
The Pink House's decor comes from local antique shops — Photo courtesy of The Pink House
Try the Grilled Sausage Plate, with spicy sausage and sweet and sour red cabbage topped with a dollop of burrata cheese ($11), or The Pink Pig sandwich, with pulled pork, house-made cole slaw and Comte on a brioche bun ($11).
Other cheesy delights include the Cheese & Mac with a bread crumb topping ($9) and the Cheese Sampler ($12) on a baguette with jam. For dessert, check out the Affogato ($5) or the Lemon Panna Cotta with seasonal fruit ($6).
The Pink House also has a front porch for summer dining, as well as an outdoor BBQ area. The Pink House plans to be available for special events, including weddings. They will be special here.
The Pink House also sells local and regional cheese — Photo courtesy of Christina Nellemann
