Small Bites

Dynamite Roasting Coffee Bar: Coffee drinkers who take their joe sweet and foamy aren’t the target clientele for Dynamite Roasting, a Black Mountain-based organic roasting outfit that opened a small retail shop this month. “We don’t have snickerdoodle lattes,” says Dynamite’s co-owner, Andy Gibbon. Instead, the store features a “stripped-down focus on coffee,” a minimalist approach exemplified by Dynamite’s decidedly low-tech sound system: “We have a great record player and a growing vinyl collection,” Gibbon says. “The neighbors have been dropping off records.” Dynamite’s owners are considering hosting Vinyl Nights: “Instead of Open Mike, you bring your records,” Gibbon explains.

Photo by Jonathan Welch.

Dynamite, which has been wholesaling for two months, is taking advantage of the growing interest in—and improved availability of—organic, fair-trade beans. “A lot of coffee bars aren’t even looking at conventional coffees anymore,” says Gibbon, who started roasting as a hobby while working as a brewer for Highland Brewing Company. Dynamite is currently roasting an organic coffee for Pisgah Brewing Company to use in its coffee stout.

Dynamite’s coffee bar, located alongside Duke’s Hot Dogs at 3198 Hwy. 70, is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and plans to host expanded hours in the spring. Gibbon says. For more information, call 243-4085.

12 Bones’ Buncombe Bailout: Beloved local barbecue joint 12 Bones Smokehouse knows that the economy is putting a pinch on diners’ wallets, and now the eatery, which has locations in Asheville and Arden, is primed to help out. From now until the end of February, 12 Bones patrons are invited to take advantage of the “Buncombe County Bailout Program.” All you have to do is show a valid I.D. that proves you are a county resident, and they’ll take a cool 15 percent off your tab. More 12 Bones news: The Arden location has just added Saturday hours, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day.

Growing Young Café: The mission statement for Growing Young Café, the kid-centric east Asheville coffeehouse, includes the admirable objective “to serve great coffee and healthy snacks.” But the café this month is making a foray into other kinds of beverages, inviting mothers to bring their own beer and wine to “Cocktails and Crafts” night, an evening billed as a chance to “hang out with other mamas and work on those crafts you’ve been meaning to get to!” Children aren’t welcome in the craft circle, but the shop’s supervised play area will be open. The workshop meets Jan. 23 and 30 from 4 to 6 p.m. To learn more, call 299-4420.

Picnics: While Picnics is currently closed for its annual winter holiday—look for the north Asheville shop to reopen on Feb. 2. And the owners didn’t leave town without first issuing a reminder about special offerings for Valentine’s Day. To reserve a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries or all-butter cookies, call 258-2858.

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