Small Bites: Mojo Kitchen and One Stop host music dinner series

Dinner and a show

A series of events is planned this fall at Asheville Music Hall that will highlight the innovative, Latin-inspired food stylings of award-winning Mojo Kitchen & Lounge chef A.J. Gregson and the talents of local acoustic musicians. The series kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 24, featuring a four-course dinner with beer pairings from French Broad, Pisgah, Hi-Wire and Foothills breweries and music by Brown Bag Songwriting Competition winners Mother Explosive and the Alex Krug Combo.

The event will be held at Asheville Music Hall’s One Stop, in the same College Street building as Mojo Kitchen and Lounge. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and music 7-9:30 p.m.

Alex Krug, one of the event organizers, says she became a fan of Gregson’s food when he was an employee at the One Stop Deli and would make her special dishes when she was hosting the Brown Bag Songwriting Competition.

“I went to [last fall’s] Epic Tempeh Taco Challenge … and his fried plantain-shelled tempeh taco stole my heart,” Krug says. “He told me he wanted to do dinner shows, and because I love the way his brain thinks about food and the One Stop’s intimate music setting and good sound system, we decided to do it.”

Gregson says courses will include a grilled endive salad with apples, watermelon, Camembert cheese and balsamic wildflower-honey dressing; crispy-skinned salmon with red lentils, ruby chard and curried citrus butter and grilled sirloin with fresh horseradish, a twice-baked Gouda baked potato and asparagus. The feast will conclude with a deep-fried, toasted-coconut s’more with berries and mint.

“We want to have a lot of fun, but we’re keeping it simple,” he says. Gregson adds that the event will differ from many beer diners in that the beer pairings are being planned to complement the flavors of the foods, rather than contrast with them.

Tickets must be bought in advance and are $45 for dinner, $54 for dinner with half-pint beer pairings and $58 for dinner with full-pint beer pairings. A complimentary cocktail is included with all tickets.

For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com/event/827342. For details on upcoming events in the series, visit ashevillemusichall.com.

Universal Joint hosts Hominy Creek Greenway fundraiser

The Universal Joint will hold a fundraising event on Saturday, Aug. 23, to raise money for improvements along the Hominy Creek Greenway between Shelburne Road and Sand Hill Road in West Asheville. Proceeds from all beer sales that day will be donated to the cause, and items from neighborhood businesses, including Harvest Records, Second Gear and King Daddy’s Chicken and Waffles, will be raffled off. Members of RiverLink and the Friends of the Hominy Creek Greenway will be on hand to share news about the group’s upcoming projects, volunteer opportunities and future park fundraising goals.

11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Universal Joint, 784 Haywood Road. For details about the Friends of the Hominy Creek Greenway, visit riverlink.org, or call 252-8474.

Asheville Food Swap

The Asheville Food Swap, formerly the West Asheville Food Swap, will celebrate a new name and venue with a swap event on Sunday, Aug. 24. The recurring meet-up allows members of the community to share homemade or homegrown foods with each other through direct trade. Potentially swapable items include everything from homemade bread, pickles and jams to fresh produce and eggs to home-cooked meals. Participation is free.

The swapping happens 5:30-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, on the patio behind Building B, 23 Heritage Drive. Swappers should arrive several minutes early to set up. Details are available at avlfoodswap.com.

Food Truck Fridays

After a successful inaugural event in July, Food Truck Fridays will continue monthly through October at Reynolds Village in North Asheville, with the next one happening on Friday, Aug. 22. The outdoor, festival-like events feature a variety of local mobile food vendors, live music, activities for kids and local artwork. Many of Reynolds Village shops stay open late for the occasion. Future Food Truck Fridays are scheduled for Sept. 26 and Oct. 24.

The next Food Truck Friday takes place 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Reynolds Village, 41-61 N. Merrimon Ave. Look for “The Shops at Reynolds Village” on Facebook.