Asheville awarded Traveler's Choice Top 10 Best Food and Wine Destinations

How does a small town tucked away on a plateau in the mountains compete with mega cities like New York, San Francisco and New Orleans? "The old-fashioned way - they earned it"...of course. Those of us who had the good fortune to grow up in Asheville NC are never surprised when the rest of the world discovers another of its assets. Asheville has more talent and creativity per capita than anywhere else on the planet and it's creation of a Foodtopian Society has proved to be another notable outlet for that talent.

On October 4, 2011 TripAdvisor® announced the winners of its 2011 Travelers’ Choice® Food and Wine Destinations awards. Asheville is now listed on the Top Ten (10th) in the United States category. Actual travelers cast votes and write reviews which are complied for the annual rankings. The Travelers’ Choice Food and Wine Destinations award winners were determined based on the most highly rated food and wine destinations by travelers in TripAdvisor reviews. TripAdvisor is the world’s most popular, largest, and most trusted travel community for travel planning with 30+ million real traveler reviews. Get details about the Top Ten Food and Wine Traveler's Choice. 

Asheville is home to 250 independent restaurants, 15+ tailgate markets and 10 craft breweries.

News from the Grove Arcade

Four Corners Annual Upholstery Sale - Now through August 31, Four Corners Home is hosting its annual upholstery event, which means 20% off all upholstered furniture! Choose from hundreds of styles available in fabric and leather.  Opened in 2004, Four Corners Home has grown from it’s original 450 square feet location to now operating two Asheville locations with over 10,000 square feet offering a hand-selected collection unlike any other.  In mid 2009, Four Corners acquired Mobilia, a popular contemporary furniture store in downtown Asheville. The addition of Mobilia, offers customers an even greater selection of furniture, accessories and gifts. The small, friendly team provides knowledgeable and creative insight into projects both large and small.


Burger WorX is open in the former Cats and Dawgs space.  At Burger WorX, you select your patty (beef, chicken, portobello or cheese), choose your bun (old-fashioned or whole wheat), add your favorite cheese (from Classic American to Bleu Cheese Sauce) and finish it all off with as many of our 30-plus toppings as you like. Get creative - get what you want!

The Arcade is pleased to announce that Sintra Designs is open in Suite 148.  Sintra specializes in tiles from around the world including Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Turkish, World Designs, custom painted traditional decorative tiles Azulejos and murals from their factory in Portugal. Sintra Designs prides themselves for bringing this very exquisite european tradition clients in North America. For additional information and to view galleries, visit their website.
The Grove Arcade is located at One Page Avenue at the heart of the Battery Hill neighborhood in downtown Asheville and offers unique shopping and exciting dining in one of Asheville's architectural jewels. A downloadable building tour and new video podcast are available on the website.  Parking is available in the Wall Street, Rankin and Civic Center garages as well as on the street. Directions to the garages and the Grove Arcade can be accessed here. For additional information, call 828.252.7799.

Knife and Fork Restaurant Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with Benefit Dinner

July 16th 2011 marks the two year anniversary for Knife and Fork, a Spruce Pine NC restaurant featuring local ingredients and environmental responsibility. Knife and Fork Chef/Owner Nathan Allen is a finalist in the 2011 prestigious Western North Carolina Top Chef Competition.

Knife and Fork will celebrate the anniversary with a party to benefit a  favorite WNC organization, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (more commonly known as ASAP). ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. Ask any farmer you know and they'll tell you what a great and helpful organization ASAP is.

On July 16th from 4-9  the street in front of Knife and Fork will be closed off and local farmer's will be set up with food for sale. There will be live music from Polly & The Posse and beer from Dry County Brewing. Dinner will be served inside the restaurant. Tickets are $30 with all proceeds going straight to ASAP.

Make reservations at 828-765-1511 and  help celebrate a  two years of an exception dining experience.

 

Sweet Violet Chocolate Lounge Opens today in Hendersonville

Jesse Roque, Executive Chef and Owner of Never Blue, is pleased to announce that the long awaited Chocolate Lounge, known as Sweet Violet, will be opening its doors on Saturday, April 2. Located in the back room of the Never Blue restaurant, Sweet Violet will feature handmade chocolates, specialty desserts, a handpicked selection of Scotch, and access to the full bar in Never Blue. Sweet Violet is catering to diners in the restaurant who might want to linger over dessert or drinks, as well as patrons who just want to stop in for chocolate or an after dinner cocktail.

For the Spring months, Sweet Violet is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, with dessert service beginning at 5pm. This summer, expect to see earlier hours, with the doors opening at 12noon.

Never Blue buys local and organic products from community farms, helping to support the commonwealth of agriculture in western North Carolina. The restaurant is located at 119 So. Main Street in Hendersonville NC.

Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Systems Workshop

Submitted by Bob Bowles, Slow Food Asheville

An Appalachian Regional Commission Workshop on Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Systems March 18, 2011 · 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. · Pilot Mountain, North Carolina

Interest in sustainable agriculture is putting the Appalachian Region’s rich agricultural life and diverse food assets on the map. Across the Region, communities are developing partnerships to take advantage of the economic opportunities this approach offers. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is convening a series of workshops to help develop strategies to grow local food networks through regional collaboration. ARC welcomes your participation in the third of these workshops, in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, on March 18.

Workshop presenters will include: Charlie Jackson, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Asheville, North Carolina
Tom Philpott, Maverick Farms, Boone, North Carolina
Susi Gott Seguret, Seasonal School of Culinary Arts, Madison County, North Carolina
Jerry Moles, New River Valley LandCare, Grayson County, Virginia
Space is limited; register soon!

When: March 18, 2011, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  At The Pilot Center, 612 East Main Street, Pilot Mountain, North Carolina. Cost: $10; includes an “Appalachian Foodways Luncheon” provided by the Pilot Center in partnership with Pilot Mountain Pride.
How to Register: Reply to this email at events@arc.gov with the following information: Participant name, email address, and phone number. Workshop participants are asked to contribute $10 via check or money order (payable to the Surry County Economic Development Foundation) to defray the cost of lunch and refreshments. Registration ends March 14, 2011.

Buncombe County Extension office. You MUST pre-register by calling 255-5522.
• March 5 & 6 Organic Growers School, UNC-Asheville.
• March 16 Gardening in the Mountains, Spring Lawn Care,
10:00 - 11:30am at the Buncombe County Extension Office. Free, no registration
required.
• March 21 Backyard Small Fruit, 5:30 -7:00pm at the Buncombe County Extension Office.
$5. Pre-registration required. Space is limited.
• March 28 Starting a Vegetable Garden, 5:30 -7:00pm at the Buncombe County Extension
office. $5. Pre-registration required. Space is limited.
• April 9 Spring Garden School: Presented by Extension Master Gardeners - AB Tech
Ferguson Auditorium. Pre-registration required. http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu
March 12&13— Beginners Bee School, Introduction to Beekeeping. At the Folk Art Center, Blue
Ridge Parkway, Asheville. Pre-registration is required at: www.wncbees.org/beeschool $20.

Flat Rock Wine Shoppe Prepares for Move to Hendersonville

The Flat Rock Wine Shoppe and Back Room Restaurant is very happy to announce its upcoming move to Main Street in downtown Hendersonville! The new location is predicted for sometime in October.  In the meantime it is business as usual here in Flat Rock with the same music schedule, exceptional menu and weekly specials as usual.

Wine of the week:  Ring.bolt Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River, Australia) 2007
"A poised bouquet of cassis and cedar and a lovely note of violets; equally as attractive on the palate, the balance between fruit, acid, oak and tannin is impeccable; very long and varietal, with refreshing tannin and fruit."
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 95Pts.   Just $16.99

Seafood Wine Dinner at the Back Room

May 25, The Back Room Restaurant at The Flat Rock Wine Shoppe, 2702 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock North Carolina. Tomas Meunier from France will be presenting the wines for our dinner. As usual we will serve six wines and a five course meal.The aperitif starts at 6:30pm, with dinner starting promptly at 7:00pm Tuesday May 25th. See Menu Caution! - your mouth will water. 

Lodge Restaurant Grand Opening

May 22, The Lodge Restaurant, Scenic Wolf Resort, 1915 Wolf Ridge Road, Mars Hill North Carolina.  Formerly The Lodge Steak and Ribs Restaurant, the Lodge Restaurant is NOW OPEN Friday and Saturday evenings, from 4:30 until 9 PM. Join us for our Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, May 22nd with LIVE MUSIC and family-style dining. No reservations are necessary. http://www.scenicwolfresort.com/

The Back Room Goes "Al Fresco"

THE BACK ROOM RESTAURANT (at The Flat Rock Wine Shoppe)  The Back Room is happy to announce outdoor dining! Enjoy the spring while dining on Ally's fine cuisine. If you're thirsty, stop by for a quick drink and snack. Open for lunch and dinner.

The Back Room offers the best wine and beer selection in the area, and LIVE MUSIC. The Back Room music venue features regional and national acts. You can indulge in the extensive beer list, wines by the glass, or choose from our over 600 wines in the Shoppe and enjoy while listening to the music and savoring some of the area's most delectable food! Located just short walk from the Flat Rock Playhouse. Special events plus nightly dinner specials.

This Week's "Simple Suppers" in Franklin

April 12 - 16, Jer's Kitchen, Franklin North Carolina. Simple Suppers this week:

Chicken Crepes with Asparagus
These got rave reviews from all who ordered them!
Wild Mushroom Quiche
Portobellos, shiitakes, and button mushrooms
serves 2...$12.95    serves 4...$24.00

Remember to call before noon for same day pick-up, or anytime for later in the week.  No emails please..email is not checked daily..  828-524-1960      http://www.jerskitchen.com/

Chile Wine Dinner in Flat Rock

 Sept 29 The Back Room at The Flat Rock Wine Shoppe The Back Room presents a delicious meal of food and win South American Style. Aperitif at 5:30PM and dinner begins at 6PM. Reservations are required, seating limited. Contact: 828-697-6828

Website: http://www.flatrockwineshoppe.com/