Seven Sows Bourbon & Larder, one of Asheville’s celebrated and decorated downtown restaurants, will close in two weeks. Staff members and the restaurant’s new owner confirmed to Xpress this morning that Mike Moore has sold the restaurant to Justin Burdett, former head chef of Ruka’s Table in Highlands.
Moore left The Admiral to open Seven Sows at 77 Biltmore Avenue in 2012 as a home base for the popular Blind Pig Supper Club. The restaurant has been a reflection of the chef’s roots, with his family’s old barn installed in the dining room and his grandmother’s recipe for fried chicken on the menu.
Burdett, the winner of 2010’s “Chopped” Food Network culinary competition, is no stranger to the Asheville culinary scene. After cutting his teeth at restaurants in Georgia, the chef relocated to Asheville where he cooked at The Market Place and Table before moving to the now-closed Richmond Hill Inn. After Ruka’s Table closed back in January, Burdett relocated to Asheville.
Moore says Seven Sows will be open and taking reservations until Monday, May 25.
It is sad to lose such a beacon of quality Southern cooking as Seven Sows, but it will be exciting to see what Burdett has in store for the downtown location. Details are still unfolding, and we will keep you informed as more comes to light.
UPDATE: Here is a press release from Seven Sows owner Mike Moore with some additional details about Moore’s reasons for selling the business and Burdett’s plans for the space:
For Immediate Release
Seven Sows Restaurant will be closing for business on Monday May 25th, 2015. We celebrate over two years of great food and service in our 77 Biltmore Avenue location and we thank you Asheville for your continued support in making that possible. Management at Seven Sows has made the decision to sell the business as we move on to other projects and endeavors. We are proud to welcome our friend and long time colleague Chef Justin Burdett back to Asheville with ‘Local Provisions’. Look for more information on this opening concept soon. Seven Sows welcomes you to join us once more at our 77 Biltmore Avenue location in the meantime through May 25th. All reservations are always accepted through open table or by phone at (828) 255.2592. Gift certificates can be redeemed as well. Thank you Asheville for your support and your friendship. Look for more information on future projects by us coming very soon.
Uh, in the photo caption- Chef Mike Burdett?
We received a Gift Certificate for Christmas for Seven Sows. We live in Greenville, SC. and haven’t had a chance to use it. Unhappy to see it close. Are we out the $125 or will the new owners honor it?