In a recent blind tasting, two panels of judges from the French Broad Vignerons determined the top hard ciders for this year’s CiderFest NC competition.
Urban Orchard brews up a spicy Halloween celebration
Urban Orchard Cider Co. hosts a free Halloween celebration with entertainment, a costume contest and a special flight of spicy ciders.
End of the road: MG Road’s Libation Migration pop-up series draws to a close
Atlanta bartender Miles Mcquarrie will team up with Asheville chef Chris Hathcock on Monday, Oct. 26, to host a Midcentury Cocktail Party featuring riffs on cocktail and food classics from the 1950s and 1960s. The party marks the final installment of MG Road’s Libation Migration pop-up series.
Turning tides: Sovereign Remedies buys Ole Shakey’s
**UPDATED OCT. 21** Classic Riverside Drive bar Ole Shakey’s is now under the ownership of Charlie Hodge, a leader in Asheville’s craft cocktail community.
Small bites: Taste of Sylva supports town’s development
Foodie festivals continue in WNC with Taste of Sylva’s downtown restaurant crawl. Meanwhile, Organic Growers School is poised to train a new crop of farmers; Ambrozia will host a wine dinner with Metro Wines’ Andy Hale; and Taste of Asheville tickets are now on sale.
In photos: Taste of Our Carolina Foothills food and wine event
Foodies and wine lovers braved the drizzle Sunday, Sept. 27, for the second Taste of Our Carolina Foothills, a food and wine event held at Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon. About 45 food and beverage artisans were present from the foothills and surrounding areas 60 miles east of Asheville. Restaurants, bakeries, wineries, distilleries, craft breweries, cheese makers and specialty […]
Small bites: Taste of Our Carolina Foothills festival nears
An upcoming foodie event in Tryon highlights culinary delights from the Carolina foothills. Asheville eaters, on the other hand, can check out WNC Garlic Fest, Posana’s benefit dinner for ASAP’s Growing Minds Program, Ashley English’s canning class or Wild Wing Café’s stein-holding competition. Plus, food writer Jonathan Ammons talks about one of his favorite Asheville restaurant appetizers.
Small bites: Bikers and burger lovers unite at Dave’s 209
Dave’s 209 is serving up burgers and hand-dipped shakes to locals and visitors in Hot Springs. Meanwhile, Asheville will soon host a soil-building class, Noble Cider’ grand-opening party and a brain-food trivia game.
Music veteran Mac Arnold helps cure the blues in Henderson County
Tickets to the Bids and Blues fundraiser for Thrive include a catered picnic by local chef Lark Lindsey, complimentary drinks from Sierra Nevada and MetroWines, and participation in a live auction.
Libation Migration: New popup pairs local chefs with bartenders from across the U.S., Canada
Monday nights in Asheville are about to take on a cross-country flavor as MG Road cocktail lounge introduces its newest popup concept, Libation Migration, on Monday, Sept. 7.
Conscious party: Author David Baldacci speaks at dinner and auction to bolster local literacy
This year’s fundraising dinner — prepared by Michael Marshall of the Renaissance Hotel with pours from Biltmore Wines — will enable the Literacy Council to secure volunteer tutors for some 350 locals lacking reading, writing and language skills.
Small bites: Feasting for FEAST
Feasting for FEAST fundraiser will help organizers educate more local youths on the wonders of fresh, homegrown veggies. Meanwhile, Hops & Vines is offering a cider making class, and Thirsty Monk, Table and Wicked Weed have planned specialty food and beer events.
Members only: A lingering law requires Asheville’s bars to function as private clubs
Under state law, businesses that do not serve a certain amount of food are required to be members-only clubs. Local bar owners and bartenders say the law causes more problems than it’s worth.
Small bites: Festival season comes to a head
Food festival season is upon us, with Organicfest, BaconFest, MusicFest and CiderFest NC just around the corner. Plus, the French Broad Vignerons have named the best wines from the Asheville Wine & Food Festival.
In photos: Asheville Wine & Food Festival’s Elixir
Asheville’s bartenders battled it out Thursday evening for top honor in this year’s Asheville Wine & Food Festival’s Elixir craft cocktail competition. Story by Jonathan Ammons and photo gallery by Cindy Kunst
Asheville Bar Girl: Exploring rum and rhum at Storm
Asheville bar girl explores the difference between rum and rhum and invites readers along for a tasting at Storm Rhum Bar in celebration of National Rum Day.
Searching for Asheville’s perfect dive bar
Although gentrification may be watering down the legacy of longstanding watering holes, several beloved dive bars stand strong in Asheville.
Conscious party: A NOLA-inspired soirée to benefit Sleep Tight Kids
Like the event’s name, the entertainment lineup pays homage to the musical legacy of the Big Easy, with jazzy performances by Pamela Jones, Empire Strikes Brass, Bronze + Ebony Dance Company and the Business.
Small bites: Local couple gets set to open new vegan lunch service
A new vegan lunch service opens in August, Farm Burger hosts a raffle to benefit ASAP and five local restaurants win recognition from Wine Spectator magazine. Plus food writer Jonathan Ammons talks about his latest favorite dish — grit cakes at Louise’s Kitchen.
Asheville Commissary Kitchen and Pub brings food truck meals inside
New eatery The Asheville Commissary Kitchen and Pub offers patrons an indoor, full-service dining experience, but sources its food from a rotating cast of food trucks and burgeoning chefs.
Conscious party: Live@Aloft featuring HoveyKat
Planned for Sunday, July 26, Aloft’s next donation-based rooftop concert features jazzy duo HoveyKat and benefits Asheville Humane Society.