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.
The Grey Eagle Taqueria teams with BearWaters Brewing
The owners of the Asheville music venue are taking their taco business to Haywood County.
New coffee shop owners face pandemic shortly after opening
Farewell coffee shop was open only two months before it was forced to close by COVID-19. But the owners saw the store’s roll-up window as an opportunity to stay in business.
Small bites: Mother Ocean Seafood Market set to open
On Tuesday, March 3, Mother Ocean Market will host its grand opening. Also: The Whale: A Craft Beer Collective and 12 Bones team up for a leap year beer dinner; Noble Cider hosts its fifth annual Chili Cookoff, benefiting Girls on the Run of WNC; Root Down Kitchen opens at Salvage Station; and plenty more in this week’s Small Bites.
Women create their own opportunities in Asheville’s restaurant industry
Resourcefulness, hard work and tenacity have proven to be indispensable ingredients for success among many of Asheville’s leading women restaurateurs.
Small bites: Gan Shan Station’s final countdown
After five years, Gan Shan Station owner Patrick O’Cain has decided to close the Charlotte Street restaurant. Come spring, Jettie Rae’s Oyster House will replace the Asian-themed eatery. Also: Onesie Bar Crawl returns, Chow Chow hires an executive director and local food venues prepare for Super Bowl LIV.
Small bites: Perspective Café by Food Experience opens in Asheville Art Museum
Perspective Café by Food Experience opens inside the Asheville Art Museum. Also: the season finale of Asheville Drag Brunch; Asheville Mac Attack launches; and more in this week’s Small Bites.
Small bites: Open Oven launches in Black Mountain
After eight years on the road, the owners of Melt Your Heart food truck have opened a new brick-and-mortar restaurant. Also: Halloween bash at Pack’s Tavern; The Blind Pig Supper club celebrates The Wizard of Oz; Ivory Road Cafe & Kitchen hosts a Day of the Dead dinner; and plenty more in this week’s Small Bites.