Showing posts with label Asheville Travel Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asheville Travel Blog. Show all posts

Friday, December 6, 2013

Asheville Area Cider is "Hard" to Resist

This post submitted by the Asheville Travel Blog

Did you know that North Carolina produces 80 million bushels of apples each year? (That's more than 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools full!)

Now, three new local companies are using an old recipe to turn some of those apples into Asheville's next hot beverage--hard cider.

Noble Cider was the first on the scene this past summer. They have already increased their production capacity tenfold and can be found on tap at several area restaurants.

Urban Orchard Cider Company followed up with a taproom opening in hip West Asheville this fall, and Black Mountain Ciderworks is close behind, with one variety on tap locally and work on their own taproom moving along nicely.

Dry or sweet, hot or cold, cider is a festive holiday treat. Mix up a pitcher of this fruity sangria for your next gathering, or sample some of Noble Cider's handiwork at their Wassailing Party on December 14. Cheers!

Hard Cider Sangria
Delicious, light holiday punch. Adapted by Joanna Baker of Noble Cider from Food & Wine magazine, October 2012
  • 1 cup quartered and thinly sliced unpeeled green, yellow and red apples
  • 1 navel orange—quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup apple juice, chilled
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup apple brandy
  • One 22-ounce bottle (or a little less than one full 750 ml bottle) hard apple cider, dry variety, chilled
  • Ice
In a pitcher or punch bowl, combine fruit with apple juice, lemon juice and brandy. Let sit covered for at least one hour and up to overnight. Just before serving, mix in the hard cider. Serve in tall glasses over ice.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Asheville Travel Blog Offers "Insider"Tips

In addition to daily information and insights into Asheville's attractions, events and trends The Asheville Travel Blog now offers what it calls "Insider" Tips. Follow the tips and explore the places the locals enjoy.

Lexington Avenue Shopping:
Lexington Avenue is one of those iconic downtown streets with a deep roots in retail and trade. In a by-gone era the street was filled with farmer's markets and tobacco warehouses. Today you'll find cool boutiques, vintage clothing, a funky used book store and a plethora of delicious restaurants lining the road.


Every Tuesday is $5 Move Night at Fine Arts Theatre:

The Fine Arts Theatre is a downtown icon that presents first run, art and independent films in two auditoriums. Each Tuesday you can catch an indie flick for only five dollars all day long.

If you're not a fan of big budget studio films, then you will definitely enjoy the cool selection of film that play at the Fine Arts Theatre. They offer an array of art and independent films that celebrate the art of filmmaking. You can enjoy matinees and evening performances.



Daytrips for Cheese Addicts:

 
WNC Cheese Trail Offers Taste of Southern Culture.  Taste your way across the Blue Ridge along the newly formed WNC Cheese Trail. You can sample of of the region's best handmade cheese and buy products directly from the producers. Be sure to pack a cooler to keep your dairy fresh and before heading out check the scheduled of each farm to make sure they are open to the public on the day you're traveling. Maps are available at the Asheville Visitor Center.


Break for Cheese
Here's a list of the current participants:
  • Blue Ridge Creamery
  • Daddy's Girl Dairy
  • Heritage Homestead
  • Looking Glass Creamery
  • Mountain Farm
  • Oakmoon Creamery
  • Round Mountain Creamery
  • Ripshin Goat Dairy   
  • Yellow Branch Cheese 

Monday, September 24, 2012

Asheville Travel Blog Offers an Inside Look - Literally

The Asheville Travel Blog, published by The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, isn't just  a good resource for information about Asheville events and attractions. It also publishes some of the best photographs of Asheville and the surrounding area.

The current "photo of the week" on the Asheville Travel Blog captures  a gorgeous sunset at a popular peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway (near mile marker 451). Waterrock Knob is one of the highest mountaintops in NC at an elevation of 6,292 feet. This beautiful shot was taken by local photographer Doug McPherson.

photo by Doug McPherson

Read AND SEE more on the Asheville Travel Blog