Food Truck Showdown
This year's Asheville Tattoo and Arts Expo will host the inaugural Asheville Food Truck Showdown in the parking lot of the Masonic Temple on Saturday, March 15. Organizers say at least a dozen local trucks, including El Kimchi, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Pho Ya Belly and Farm to Fender, will present their signature dishes to be judged by a team of local celebrities in a battle for the title of Best Food Truck in Asheville.
The event will be hosted by Pinups for Pitbulls and all proceeds will benefit MANNA FoodBank, the Asheville Humane Society and the Asheville Masonic Temple. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods or pet food to donate.
Admission to the showdown is free, and all the competing trucks will be offering their usual menus, so the event would be a great option for grabbing lunch or dinner. The Tattoo and Arts Expo is also offering a free pop-up art gallery in the dining room of the Masonic Temple.
“We are looking forward to showcasing some of Asheville's most innovative cuisine and helping out some great charities as part of a whole weekend of fun for everyone,” says event organizer J.R. Yarnall.
Food trucks can enter the competition through Wednesday, March 12, by contacting Yarnall at ashevilletattooexpo@gmail.com. Events take place noon-8 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Masonic Temple, 80 N. Broadway.
Gluten-Free Expo
The seventh annual Gluten Free Expo will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at UNC Asheville's Kimmel Arena, Sherrill Center. This year's event will feature door prizes and informational booths with more than 50 local and national vendors. Guest speakers will include dietitian and nutrition blogger Rachel Begun and cookbook author Beth Hilson. At 1 p.m., a panel of experts will answer questions about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and older with a family maximum of $20. All proceeds benefit local gluten intolerance groups.
Details: www.ingles-markets.com/ask_leah or call Leah McGrath at 800-334-4936.
Wonders for Wanda
Members of the community of Barnardsville are hosting an event, Wonders for Wanda, on Saturday, March 15, in Weaverville to raise money to support Sheena's Restaurant owner Wanda Evans, who is battling cancer. Wonders for Wanda kicks off with a yard sale at 8 a.m. Family activities begin at 3 p.m., including raffles, face painting, cornhole, photography sessions and more. Starting at 4 p.m., barbecue dinners prepared by Fish's Backporch BBQ will be available for $8 each. A gospel concert by the Brank Family begins at 6 p.m.
The fundraiser will be held at Piney Mountain Church, 150 Elkins Branch Road, Weaverville. Donations can be made by calling 508-5600 or visiting gofundme.com/6tk60g.
Farm-to-table wine dinner
Addison Farms Vineyard in Leicester will host its first Perfect Pairings farm-to-table wine dinner on Saturday, March 22. The winery is partnering with Chef Corey Marino to offer a five-course menu with wine pairings that will include rabbit rillete in puff pastry, seared sea scallop, fig-and-balsamic-glazed pork loin, braised short ribs and beet cake with beet sorbet. Featured farmers and artisan producers for the event are Dillingham Family Farm and Dry Ridge Farm along with artisan vinegar crafter Highland Gourmet.
Reception at 6 p.m., seating at 6:30 p.m. March 22, 4005 New Leicester Highway, Leicester. Tickets are $79. addisonfarms.net.
Hickory Nut Gap Farm open house
Last week Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview held a three-day, old-fashioned barn raising with a few dozen members of Union Grove Amish Church to build a new farm workshop and equipment shed. The construction is part of a larger project that will include an on-farm butcher shop, inspected kitchen and larger retail space. There are plans to start offering a take-out menu along with baked goods made on-site using farm-grown ingredients. Construction on the new buildings is slated for completion at the end of August. An open house will be held on Saturday, March 15, to give the public a chance to check out the new structures and find out more about the project. Free meat samples will be offered, and at 1 p.m. owner Jamie Ager will give a free tour of the farm and answer questions about the expansion.
Details: Hickorynutgapfarm.com
Wine-tasting dinner at Posana Café
Weinhaus continues its long-standing series of wine-tasting dinners with an event on Thursday, March 20, at Posana Café. Posana's executive chef, Peter Pollay, will prepare the meal, which will be served with wine pairings by Weinhaus in the Pack Square restaurant's private dining room.
7 p.m. March 20, Posana Café, 1 Biltmore Ave. Tickets are $70. Reservations: 254-6453
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.