Wasabi: Steam trays of cashew chicken and lo mein are no longer the sole representative of Asian cookery at Asheville Mall's food court, where an outpost of Wasabi Sushi opened earlier this month. "Shoppers have been asking for sushi for some time," said Jeff Washburn, mall manager, in a news release. The growing acceptance of sushi persuaded owner Zhu Shi Jun to create the fast-service dispensary, which he hopes to eventually replicate in other malls, says the release. "We are thrilled to now offer a healthy alternative in the food court," Washburn adds.
Lee Bros.: The Charleston, S.C. duo who turned mystified Yankees onto boiled peanuts are back with a book that promises to help home cooks create Southern flavors without deep-frying — and are planning an Asheville visit to promote it. Matt and Ted Lee will be at Williams-Sonoma, 10 Brook St., on Nov. 21 at 12 noon to share recipes from The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor (Clarkson Potter, 2009). The Lees, founders of The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanut Catalogue and winners of the James Beard award for their first cookbook, have crafted recipes for shrimp and deviled egg salad rolls; mushroom and okra purloo and mint julep panna cotta. For more on the event, call 277-3707.
Green Man Brewing: Today marks the release of Green Man's "The Truth," a double IPA that its makers claim is as well-defined as its namesake. "This beer is toned, malty, alcoholic and with a hop profile that gives you a slight burn to remind you that this is the truth," Jack of the Wood's Pauline Sweetman writes in an e-mail.
Sweetman isn't kidding about the alcohol: The Truth clocks in at nine percent alcohol by volume, making it the stiffest drink in the brewery's lineup. That's reason enough to partake of Jack of the Wood's other new offering: A $5 small-plates menu, featuring carnivorous and vegetarian options designed for pairing with the pub's signature ales.
While the small plates are likely to stick around, Sweetman stresses the Double IPA is "only available while supplies last — true to a microbrew."
Green Man Ales are served at Jack of the Wood, 95 Patton Ave., and Dirty Jack's, 23 Buxton Ave. For more information, call 252-5445.
Pies In Disguise: A local pie-only outfit has finalized its Thanksgiving pie menu and is urging eaters to place their orders by Nov. 21: Available pies include pumpkin with chocolate ganache, pecan derby, chocolate stout, pear, key lime, maple walnut, honey lavender and — for the purists — apple, sweet potato and pumpkin plain. All pies are $20. In related news, Short Street Cakes in West Asheville is now offering the bakery's pies whole and by the slice. To place a holiday pie order, call 230-2156.
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