What to do for Mother’s Day
Asheville moms are a diverse bunch, but it’s likely most would agree that a whole day dedicated to honoring and pampering them is an OK thing. For many, that might mean being treated to brunch, lunch or dinner at a local eatery. But Asheville is the current holder of the Travel + Leisure magazine title of America’s No. 1 Quirkiest Town, so for others it could translate to something completely different.
For those who want to go the foodie route, the choices are plentiful. If a brunch buffet is the ticket, Omni Grove Park Inn’s Blue Ridge Dining Room (omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/dining/blue-ridge) and Season’s at Highland Lake in Flat Rock (hlinn.com/seasons) both will offer impressive buffet spreads with a view of the mountains.
The Biltmore Estate will admit moms free on Mother’s Day with the purchase of an adult or youth ticket, and special brunches will be served at both The Inn on Biltmore Estate and Deerpark restaurants. This option might be especially appealing to mothers who are fans of the television show Downton Abbey as the estate is currently featuring a special exhibition, “Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times.” (biltmore.com)
Downtown, there is also Lex 18’s Downton Abbey-style high tea Champagne brunch, which features quiche, scones, parfaits, tea sandwiches and desserts (lex18avl.com). On the north side of town near Beaver Lake, Ambrozia Bar and Bistro will offer a four-course Mother’s Day chef’s tasting menu (ambrozia-avl.com), and in West Asheville, Buffalo Nickel will be offering moms a special brunch served with a rose (buffalonickelavl.com). To the east in Biltmore Village, the Grand Bohemian Hotel’s Red Stag Grill will be doing a three-course brunch featuring grilled peach salad, Scottish salmon, jumbo scallops, lobster and more.(bohemianhotelasheville.com/dining)
If mom is more of the outdoor, active type, she may prefer to run the Earth Fare 5K on Saturday, May 9, at Carrier Park. The race will be followed with a celebration featuring snacks and free Urban Orchard hard cider or Highland Brewing Co. beer, and moms will receive a special surprise at the finish line. (earthfare.com/RunAVL)
Adventurous moms might want to take an urban wild foraging hike with local herbalist and long-distance hiker Heather Housekeeper 5-7 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at Villagers in West Asheville. Housekeeper will teach participants how to identify, harvest and use wild edible and medicinal plants commonly found growing in backyards and along city sidewalks. Herbal tea and wild treats will be provided. Tickets are on a $15-$25 sliding scale. (forvillagers.com)
Cake and poetry
Also in the spirit of celebrating mothers, Short Street Cakes will host its inaugural Mother’s Day Poetry Contest. Open to Asheville kids ages 18 and younger, the contest offers a free cupcake to every child who submits an original poem about his or her mother, grandmother or other special caregiver. Entries must be submitted in person by Friday, May 8. On Saturday, May 9, three entries will be chosen to win a free 9-inch Mothers Day cake with the child’s winning poem inscribed on top.
Poems must be submitted in person at the shop at 225 Haywood Road in West Asheville. Details are at shortstreetcakes.com.
Rock the Taste
The Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce will host the 15th annual Rock the Taste culinary event 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at White Horse Black Mountain. The event will feature a number of Black Mountain and Swannanoa restaurants competing in four award categories and offering samples as well as beer from Lookout Brewery and Pisgah Brewing Co. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door; availability is limited.
For details and to buy tickets, visit thelittletownthatrocks.com or call 669-2300.
Chicken Salad Chick
Fast-casual restaurant chain Chicken Salad Chick recently announced plans to open a franchise in the Asheville Market Retail Center at 4 S. Tunnel Road. The Alabama-based company has stores throughout the Southeast and serves a wide variety of chicken salads by the pound as well as deli sandwiches, soups and salad. A press release from the company says the Ashevile restaurant should open late this summer.
For details, visit chickensaladchick.com.
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