As Asheville businesses begin to resurface from the crushing effects of COVID-19, the S&W Building and the Grove Arcade are being reimagined as vibrant, food-focused community gathering spots.
Local food photographers and stylists have an eye for the perfect image
“Being a good photographer, in general, is being able to capture a good photograph under any conditions,” says photographer Tim Robison. “Being a food photographer also means finding and capturing the moment in a dish that makes someone want to eat it.”
What’s new in food: An Odd kitchen, downtown ciderkins and betting on beer
The Odditorium adds a food menu, Botanist & Barrel opens an Asheville location in the old Over Easy Café space, Wicked Weed expands to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and more local food news.
Restaurant industry veterans reassess career choices post-pandemic
During their pandemic downtime, many jobless food and beverage workers, supported by robust unemployment benefits, re-examined their choice of profession. Long-acknowledged industry downsides exacerbated by the pandemic prompted some to research options and make new choices colored by the experience of 2020.
What’s new in food: Green acres, green students and a Baby Bull on the loose
The city of Asheville has farmland available in East Asheville for local growers, plus Growing Minds revamps its website, Baby Bull opens in the old Broth Lab space, Well-Bred Bakery heads downtown and more local food news.
Restaurants can open at full capacity, but staffing is a challenge
In theory, Gov. Roy Cooper’s May 14 announcement lifting mandatory capacity and gathering limits and allowing fully vaccinated diners to leave their masks at home should allow North Carolina restaurants to get back to a pre-pandemic normal. But in practice, Cooper’s announcement doesn’t change much for many local restaurateurs. “What is driving restaurants’ decisions right now […]
What’s new in food
Darë Vegan Cheese receives a NC IDEA SEED grant for expansion, a new sourdough bread operation is on the rise, a new tailgate market launches in Weaverville and more local food news.
What’s new in food: Sunday Suppers, strawberries and SnoBalls spring into May
Chefs Andrew McLeod and Ashley Shanti kick off a new Sunday Supper Series, strawberry season is underway, New Orleans-style shaved ice arrives in Woodfin, Curate hosts an online cephalopod dinner, paid farm apprenticeships are cropping up and more local food news.
Transformative donation will fund new MANNA FoodBank facility
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $9 million to MANNA FoodBank, the biggest gift in the nonprofit’s history. It comes not a moment too soon, as the organization faces a sudden rise in food insecurity and a facility pushed to its limits.
Chow Chow returns with a reset
National and local issues of injustice and imparity laid bare in 2020 guided planning for the 2021 Chow Chow reboot.
Virtual fundraiser and new partnerships keep nonprofits moving forward
Virtual fundraiser and new partnerships keep nonprofits moving forward, brewery taprooms are reopening and more local food news.
More vegan dining options are sprouting up in Asheville
Chefs and restaurant owners whose menus support plant-based choices have witnessed a steady increase in interest and responded in kind.
What’s new in food: Local book releases, markets and garden dining take wing in spring
New WNC cookbooks hit the shelves and ASAP’s Local Food Guide hits the stands, Hendersonville Farmers Market at the Historic Train Depot kicks off its second season, Meadow Market Sundays resume at Highland Brewing Co. and more Asheville food news.
Pandemic popularity of CSA memberships holds steady in 2021
As the world returns some sense of normalcy, the desire for the reliability and convenience of a CSA is holding fairly steady, and Western North Carolina growers have refined systems and made adjustments accordingly.
Food events abound as spring blooms
The Asheville Ben’s Friends chapter hosts a crawfish boil, Western North Carolina AIDS Project gets set for Dining In for Life 2021, Chow Chow announces its 2021 festival schedule and more local food news.
Restaurant groups help owners manage growth
An increasingly popular national model, hospitality and restaurant groups typically invest in and support chefs or restaurateurs with big dreams and small budgets in opening new concepts or growing an original location into multiple stores.
What’s new in food: Archetype wins big in New York International Beer Competition
Archetype Brewing wins N.C. Belgian Brewery of the Year, plus a new hemp cafe, Lasagna Love and new local alcohol choices at Mother Earth Food.
Carolina Beer Guy: Breweries join recycling co-op
To help reduce industry waste, Sierra Nevada has partnered with American Recycling of Western North Carolina to create the WNC Brewery Recycling Cooperative, a drop-off site in Candler.
What’s new in food: Chefs bring on the funk in dance off fundraiser
In this week’s food news, a Food Connection dance challenge, new bakery developments and a hot-chicken discount for healthcare workers.
Local commerce organizations adapt to pandemic
While much attention has been paid to the struggles of individual businesses that have borne the economic brunt of the pandemic, Asheville’s business organizations, which provide a critical framework for entrepreneurs to network, collaborate and market their wares, have also taken a hit.
BrightFarms grows hydroponic greens in new Henderson County greenhouse
The 280,000-square-foot structure will produce over 2 million pounds of leafy salad greens a year to be shipped daily to local retailers.