When you watch bar manager Courteney Foster easily engaging her patrons and her colleagues while working her mixology magic behind the bar at The Junction, it’s not hard to believe that she spent her life in the restaurant industry.
Author: Michael Franco
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Beyond the boilermaker
Asheville takes on the beer cocktail On any given night in Asheville, people are mixing up their beer and booze, usually in the form of shots and chasers. But there’s a more refined way to enjoy the hoppy yumminess of a brew and the bite of liquor than by dropping a shot of Irish whiskey […]
Boat drinks
Ahhh tiki cocktails … those sunset-colored vacations in a glass. When done right, they warm your taste buds with exotic spices and unexpected flavors. When done wrong, they coat your tongue with sugary dreck and your head with one mother of a hangover the next morning. Fortunately, in Asheville, there are plenty of places making […]
Spectrum of support
Despite budget cuts, Asheville area offers wide range of autism services.
Autism and happiness
When it comes to services for children and adults with autism, Asheville offers an array of resources from vocational programs to mentoring to support for families. However, according to Sylvia van Meerten, founder of Empower Autism, there is a gap when it comes to teaching individuals on the autism spectrum how to be happy. “I […]
Together at one table: Asheville food community’s culture of cooperation
More than great food is cooking in the kitchens of local eateries — there’s a spirit of collaboration afoot.
Late-night bites: Ben’s Tune Up
In a restaurant-rich city like Asheville, there’s one thing you can pretty much count on late at night: lots of hungry restaurant workers. According to Amelia Lindsey, the general manager at Ben’s Tune Up, the decision to do late-night dining was sparked specifically by this often-overlooked segment of Asheville’s population. “It’s an industry city,” she […]
Food trucks revisited
In the Oct. 29 issue, we looked at the life of a food truck owner from two different perspectives: the newbie (Roaming in the Raw) and the old-timer (Gypsy Queen). Following that story, Bill Drake, owner of the Decrepit Old Geezers Sausages (D.O.G.S) hot dog and sausage truck, responded to Xpress, “It seems like all […]
Punked: Inside Chef Elliott Moss’ latest pop-up venture
MG Road got punked last Monday night. Monster movie posters were slapped on the walls, the lights were covered in red filters, two round red Chinese lanterns were hung above the tables near the front windows and the soundtrack was decidedly more raucous than relaxing.
Punk Wok with Elliott Moss
No, that’s not a typo (nor is it the name of a new Sex Pistols cover band from the East), it’s the name of the new pop-up dining concept recently unleashed at MG Road. On Monday nights, “MG Road will be in full character for Punk Wok. The decor, the service and the drinks will […]
Punk Wok invasion
No, that’s not a typo (nor is it the name of a new Sex Pistols cover band from the East), it’s the name of the new pop-up dining concept being unleashed at MG Road on Monday.
Frozen sunshine
Kenneth Cole might be a name that appears on lots of people’s Christmas lists, but if you’re all about shopping and eating locally, you may be more interested in learning about Ken Cole, an organic apple farmer with deep roots in Western North Carolina. Cole has supplied both the apples and the applesauce recipe used […]
Late-night bites
Xpress correspondent Michael Franco continues his quest for late-night dining spots with a visit to MG Road. Night Brunch: Sunday midnight-2 a.m. Dishes: $5-9 No kidding. At MG Road, Sunday brunch begins at midnight. Chef de cuisine Tom Griffin says, “Kyle the bar manager and I were just joking around one night and talking about […]
Tuning up the menu
The mighty plank of wood sailed through the air before docking atop my table. On it, two iron burners protected small fires in their depths. Armored red legs rested in a tangle in the middle and architecturally interesting shapes rose from the edges, forming a tantalizing city. The new pupu platter from Ben’s Tune Up […]
True stories
Karen, a former New York City probation officer who is about five-feet-nothing in height, has a big presence. Her New York accent is as thick as weekend traffic on the Long Island Expressway. She seems tough. Someone who’s seen a few things in her time. Someone you don’t mess with. Yet when she’s done telling […]
Late-night bites
In this installment of correspondent Michael Franco’s continuing exploration of Asheville’s late-night dining scene, he checks out the offerings at Cucina24. Late-night hours: 10:30 p.m.-1 or 2 a.m. Dishes: $3-10 Some late-night menus are designed to suit the venue, while others are designed to suit the clientele. The month-old late-night menu at Cucina24 in downtown […]
The real deal
Have you ever thought of owning a food truck? The freedom! The creativity! The possibilities! True, but there are also: Regulations! Tight spaces! And burnout! We caught up with two local food-truck purveyors — Jenni Squires and Zack Bier from Roaming in the Raw and Suzy Salwa Phillips from Gypsy Queen. We wanted to see […]
Late-night bites
Editor’s note: Michael Franco has explored dining options that have recently appeared on the late-night scene. This installment investigates Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro’s after-hours offerings. The sun set hours ago. The early-to-bed set has retreated to their homes and hotel rooms, and the streets are left to the visitors, the vamps and the venturers […]