The challenges of finding and maintaining kitchen help are not new to Asheville’s restaurant industry, but the problem seems to be growing for many local restaurateurs.
Tag: Chai Pani
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Small bites: Food Connection’s Hunger Relief Concert returns to The Grey Eagle
The upcoming concert at The Grey Eagle supports the work of Food Connection, which helps divert unused food from Asheville restaurants to organizations that feed the hungry. Also this week: Asheville Wing War, Dine To Be Kind and more local food news.
The breaking wave: Is Asheville’s restaurant market oversaturated?
On an average night in tourist season, Asheville’s restaurants look slammed. But as the food scene continues to balloon, it begs the question: Is the bubble about to burst?
Success story: Chai Pani and the art of branding through storytelling
In the seven years since it opened, downtown Indian street food eatery Chai Pani has mushroomed into a multibrand restaurant group. Much of this growth has stemmed from the use of storytelling to convey the vibrant personalities and rich history behind the brand.
Small bites: River Arts District Fall Studio Stroll benefits MANNA
River Arts District Artists partners with MANNA FoodBank and Ingles for a canned food drive. Also, Highlands Food and Wine Festival celebrates its 10th year, Addison Farms Vineyard launches a wine club, the West Asheville Tailgate Market holds a Caribbean soul food supper and a new Mediterranean restaurant will open soon in the former Chorizo spot in the Grove Arcade.
Screen scene: Local film news
The Culture Vulture Film Festival returns, Chai Pani’s documentary makes its Asheville debut and the Grail screens a documentary on NC politics starring Zach Galifianakis.
Pop stars: Asheville’s temporary restaurant concepts nurture permanent businesses
Pop-up events allow restaurants and other venues to make creative and profitable use of their spaces during off hours. But Asheville business owners also use the concept to help budding entrepreneurs gain a foothold and hone their skills.
Far East meets Deep South: Asheville chefs celebrate Korean cuisine at Atlanta pop-up event
Chefs from Asheville’s Chai Pani and Buxton Hall Barbecue recently took a road trip to Atlanta to join bestselling cookbook authors Matt Rodbard and Deuki Hong in presenting an extravaganza of Korean fusion cuisine.
Small bites: A Persian feast to help kids in need
MG Road hosts a Persian feast to support Hadaya Toys, Coffee for Champions project partners with local coffee shops to raise money for Buncombe County Special Olympics, Corner Kitchen rolls out a summer menu and the 1LUV Food & Music Festival offers 25 food trucks and local beer along with four days of music and fun.
Small bites: Dance by the river at MANNA FoodBank’s Blue Jean Ball
MANNA FoodBank prepares for its largest fundraising party of the year, the Blue Jean Ball; David Meesters leads a class on healthy digestion at Villagers; Arancini makes another transformation into an Italian Sub spot; and Gaining Ground Farm and Yesterday Spaces host a dinner experience to benefit the GO Kitchen Ready program.
Small bites: Great American Vegan Chili Cook-Off
Full Circle Farm Sanctuary is holding its second vegan chili cook-off with entries from professional and amateur chefs; Folkmoot’s programming includes a community dinner celebrating the food and dance of India; Hops & Vines explores single hop beers at a free workshop; and Chai Pani’s Kids Eat Free program is replaced by a new method of giving.
The tipping point: Is Blue Dream Curry paving the way for no-tip restaurants in Asheville?
It’s taken for granted in our culture that tipping the server or bartender is inherent to the experience of dining and drinking out. However, a recent move by the owners of Blue Dream Curry House may indicate that changes are coming to Asheville’s restaurant scene.
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.
The Thunderbird’s final flight
With his long-awaited barbecue joint, Buxton Hall, on the horizon, chef Elliott Moss marked the final night of his pop-up restaurant, The Thunderbird, with a mash-up of the two concepts that have sustained his wait for his own kitchen. On May 24, Thunder Wok Punk Bird delivered creative combinations of the Asian cuisine Moss had previously offered and the Southern cooking he loves.
Rhubarb chef John Fleer nominated for ‘Best Chef in the Southeast’ award
Over breakfast at the Beard House in Greenwich Village, James Beard Foundation president Susan Ungaro announced the final nominees for the 25th annual James Beard awards.
Among the list of names was Asheville’s own John Fleer, chef at Rhubarb, downtown’s upscale farm-to-table eatery.
Trio of Asheville chefs make semifinals for ‘Best Chef in the Southeast’
Founded in honor of cookbook author, educator and American cuisine enthusiast James Beard, the James Beard Foundation’s mission is “to celebrate, nurture, and honor America’s diverse culinary heritage…” And three Asheville chefs — John Fleer of Rhubarb, Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani and MG Road and Katie Button of Nightbell and Curate — also have […]
Shut up and play the hits: The chef’s curse of a popular dish
It’s the monster hit, the one you just can’t get away from. For musicians, it’s that one song that, if left unplayed at a show, will leave fans outraged. And for a chef, that hit might be fried chicken okra fries or a “f**king burger.”
MG Road launches two new pop-up bar concepts
MG Road, the bar and lounge below Chai Pani, might have just gotten cooler. At least, that’s owner Meherwan Iran’s idea behind letting employees take over his business for a couple nights a week to execute two creative new pop-up bar concepts. Wednesday night promises a dive bar vibe complete with fried bologna and cheap […]
Whole-hog barbecue venture announced for South Slope
An ambitious, back-to-the-roots restaurant named Buxton Hall Barbecue will open this fall in the old Standard Paper Sales Company building at 32 Banks Ave. in South Slope — focusing on traditional, wood-smoked, whole-hog barbecue.
MG Road cooks up Atlanta vs. Asheville chef throwdown
Cocktail bar and late-night dining spot MG Road is adding some out-of-town spice to its Monday night, Asian-themed pop-up restaurant, Punk Wok. Owner Meherwan Irani and Chai Pani Creative Director Michael Files have invited Chef Angus Brown of Atlanta’s Octopus Bar to pair up with Punk Wok creator and chef Elliott Moss for Octo Wok, a culinary one-night stand that will take over the Wall Street restaurant on Monday, Jan. 20.
Punk Wok invasion
No, that’s not a typo (nor is it the name of a new Sex Pistols cover band from the East), it’s the name of the new pop-up dining concept being unleashed at MG Road on Monday.