In a beleaguered industry, workers and business owners deal with a host of challenges from unstable finances to rude and unreasonable customers.
Asheville Restaurant Week returns
With an emphasis on takeout specials, the ninth annual event runs Jan. 19-25.
What’s new in food: A mix of good news and uncertainty kicks off 2021
The new year brings new restaurants and fresh collaborations while other businesses take a temporary break and a North Asheville favorite closes permanently.
New year brings new restrictions on indoor dining capacity
Local restaurant owners face increasing challenges and difficult decisions as Buncombe County lowers dining room capacity to 30%.
Asheville restaurateurs reflect on 2020, look ahead to 2021
Five Asheville restaurateurs answer four questions on the state of their industry.
Food is the universal language at Asheville specialty markets
Asheville chefs discuss local specialty markets that bring globally sourced products close to home.
Food news roundup: Buddha bowls, KC barbecue and more
Chef Randy Dunn opens Zen Hen in Hendersonville, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ offers Kansas City ‘cue, HomeGrown and Proving Ground Coffee join forces, and more local food news.
Whirly Bird Ice Cream opens with made-to-order frozen treats
Whirly Bird recently opened its order window inside Asheville Sandwich Company, piquing the curiosity of people waiting for their sandwiches.
Food news: Reopenings, new restaurants and virtual gingerbread houses
Cousins Cuban Café launches in Black Mountain, Rhubarb and Cucina 24 reopen their dining rooms, The Omni Grove Park Inn’s National Gingerbread House Competition offers a virtual cooking class series, and more local food news.
What’s new in food: Openings and events in and around Asheville
Addissae reopens, Avenue M hosts a Sunday Supper Series, Cultivated Cocktails offers a spirited Halloween event and more local food and beverage news.
Asheville Independent Restaurant Association fights to help members stay aloft
The organization has been forced to cancel it’s two biggest annual fundraisers, but it continues to support the city’s local restaurant industry.
Two new specialty chicken restaurants are ready to hatch
October will see the second coming of King Daddy’s plus a new rotisserie chicken concept from Chai Pani Restaurant Group.
Asheville restaurants and food businesses are betting on the future
Tasty Greens, GRIND, Morsel Cookie Co. and Leo’s House of Thirst are among the many new food and beverage businesses opening this fall in Asheville.
Delayed but undaunted, new restaurants open for business
More than most new businesses, restaurants are vulnerable to vagaries beyond their control, and COVID-19 has created even more speed bumps on the path from “opening soon” to “now open.”
Food Court: Introducing Kay West’s occasional column on the local culinary scene
Though my friends and family were taken aback when I suddenly — to them — decided to leave Nashville, they were delighted at my destination. “Asheville? I love Asheville!”
Charlie Hodge turns his downtown bar into Bodega on Broadway
“I never thought I’d be selling candy bars,” restaurateur Charlie Hodge admits with a laugh. Yet PayDays and KitKats are among the hundreds of sundries for sale in Hodge’s newest enterprise, Bodega on Broadway.
Asheville Tourists give fans missing baseball a taste of the game
Pop-up concessions events at McCormick Field serve ballpark favorites such as the Tourists Dog, chili cheese dogs, bratwurst, soft serve ice cream and, because it’s Asheville, craft beer.
Restaurants convert parking lots, sidewalks and streets to open-air dining rooms
With permission from the city, businesses with private parking lots can now convert 50% of their parking area to dining. To expand onto public sidewalks, businesses must be able to maintain 6 feet of clear space for diners and pedestrians.
Restaurants institute operation standards to ensure safety of guests and staff
“Restaurant people are resilient, determined and creative,” says Anthony Coggiola, owner of The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village. “I believe we can do this.”
Céline and Company Catering offers distanced dining downtown
The Hideaway On Broadway pop-up restaurant features a menu from chef Austin Tisdale and wine pairings through a partnership with Metro Wines.
Newly opened and nearly opened restaurants took a COVID punch in March
Restaurants that were set to debut or relaunch during the state’s pandemic dining room shutdown find creative ways to persevere.