Asheville residents can now enjoy the bounty of the region without venturing too far from home, thanks to the newest dining concept from Mark Rosenstein. Bar 100, showcasing ingredients available within 100 miles of the city, opened late last month in the front bar section of The Market Place. Although Rosenstein vows the spin-off eatery will aspire to the same culinary standards as its fine-dining progenitor at 20 Wall St., the ambiance is more casual (reservations aren’t accepted) and the fare more affordable. The current menu includes a $5 charcuterie sampler with meats from Allan Benton and Hickory Nut Gap Farms, a $4 cheese plate with two entries from Spinning Spider creamery and Clemson University’s justly beloved blue, a $14 wood-grilled trout served with squash and collards and a $12 pork belly accompanied by black-eyed peas. The bar opens at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The Shiloh Community Association, which has maintained a community garden since 2004, is co-sponsoring a forum on Saturday, March 15, to examine the role of food in African-American communities. Speakers, including Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, will address issues including food availability, nutrition and the spiritual dimensions of diet. “From the Ground to the Plate” runs from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Stephens-Lee Community Center auditorium, 30 George Washington Carver Ave. For more information, call 242-0225, or e-mail shilohcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Think you can make a good cup of coffee? Better than anyone else on earth? James Hoffman can—and he has the World Barista Championship belt to prove it. Hoffman will be in Asheville next week to lead an espresso skills workshop sponsored by Counter Culture Coffee, the Durham-based specialty roster. “This event will provide a rare opportunity for Asheville-area coffee lovers and aspiring competitive baristas to see and interact with one of the world’s most talented coffee people,” the company said in a press release. The presentation is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 11, at Counter Culture’s Regional Training Center, 77 Broadway Ave. For more information on Hoffman’s eight-city tour, visit www.counterculturecoffee.com.
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