Asheville WIne and Food Festival This Weekend

August 19 - 20, 2016    Asheville Wine and Food Festival   The festival begins with "Sweet" on the 19th, a decadent evening of desserts, sparkling wines, and beer at The Historic Grove Arcade. 

The Grand Tasting  is held at the US Cellular Center. Experience a remarkable variety of local and international wineries, local Beer City and area breweries, restaurateurs and chefs, farmers, and artisan food producers. Meet farmers, chefs, cookbook authors, and artisan beverage makers, as well as regional crafters. 

Culinary events will take place throughout the day including Blind Wine & Beer Tasting and Winery Competitions. 

At this festival you will see why Asheville is rated among the best food and wine experiences in the country. The Asheville Wine and Food Festival helps fund the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.

Asheville Restaurant Week Continues through this Week

January 19 - 28, 2016   Asheville Restaurant Week 2016    During Asheville's Restaurant Week enjoy all the key tenets of farm-to-table dining. Asheville is home to nearly 250 independent restaurants, 20 regional tailgate markets and a growing number of craft breweries. 

There is a commitment to using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, earning Asheville a designation as one of the top ten food and wine destinations in the United States. Now you can enjoy the tastiest cuisines during Asheville Restaurant Week, taking place. Participating restaurants will offer a prix fixe menu ranging from $15–$30 per person.  

Get more information about Asheville NC on our Visitors Guide. 

Taste of Asheville One of the Most Popular Annual Events

Date: November 20, 2014   Taste of Asheville  An evening of food, wine and beer tasting with 40+ AIR (Asheville Independent Restaurants) restaurants, wine sponsors and local brewers. This sold-out event is a fundraiser for AIR and it's programs, including the "Chef's of Tomorrow" Scholarship at AB Tech and GO! Kitchen Ready.

Diana Wortham Theatre Dinner Deals

Before or after enjoying a performance or event at The Diana Wortham Theatre, make a complete evening of it with DWT's Dinner Deals:

Pack's Tavern: 15% off your meal

Posana Café: 3 courses for $30

STORM Rhum Bar & Bistro: 15% off your meal

Writer's Bistro at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel: 15% off your meal

Learn more about DWT's Dinner Deals HERE

The Diana Wortham Theatre is located at 2 South Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC.

Asheville Insider Tip from the Asheville Travel Blog

Score Fresh Doughnuts at Tod's Tasties on Wednesdays.  In Asheville's Montford neighborhood there's a gem of a restaurant called Tod's Tasties. It's a favorite among locals and once you try the food at this artisan cafe you'll know why. Tod's serves up incredible specials, fresh pastries, coffee creations and everyone's favorite side dish, tater tots.

photo curtsey Asheville Travel Blog

Every Wednesday, Tod's whips up a fresh supply of fresh doughnuts and the flavor changes each week,  Past favorites include the Matcha doughnuts with strawberry ginger glaze, the spiced cake with chocolate glaze, or the strawberry jam filled doughnuts covered with powdered sugar.

Tod's Tasties serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week offering several veggie options as well as local meat and eggs. Enjoy breads, biscuits, bagels and pastries  made in house from organic NC flours and ingredients. Tod brews drip coffee and espresso from Asheville's very own Mountain Air Roasting. 

Tod's Tasties is located at 102 Montford Avenue in downtown Asheville NC.

Find more Asheville Insider Tips on the Asheville Travel Blog.

WNC Chef's Challenge for 2/26/13

February 26   WNC Chef's Challenge:   Lexington Avenue Brewery - Chef Mike Fisera VS Ruth’s Chris Steak House - Chef Sean Fernandez.Diner participants will enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate a special ingredient and will score each dish.

The diners' votes are then tallied along with those from a panel of judges and the weekly winners will continue to participate in the competition. Reservations for the WNC Chefs Challenge are $49 per individual, and can be purchased online at http://wncchefschallenge.eventbrite.com. Sales tax, and gratuity ($67.97 total) are included in ticket purchase. Held at the Chestnut Restaurant in downtown Asheville NC.

Learn more about Asheville restaurants and entertainment on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Restaurant News: Chef's named Semi-finalists in The James Beard Awards

The Asheville Travel Blog has reported that two Asheville chef's have been named semifinalists in 2013 The James Beard Awards.

Asheville's semifinalists are:
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Katie Button from Cúrate.
Best Chef in the Southeast: Elliott Moss from The Admiral.

The James Beard Awards have been dubbed "The Oscars of the food world" by Time Magazine and they are designed to shine a spotlight on the best and brightest talent in the food and beverage industry. This year's finalists will be announced on March 18, 2013 and the winners will be announced on May 6.

WNC Chef's Challenge this week, 2-19-13

February 19 - WNC Chef's Challenge: DoubleTree-Chef Moore vs Pack's Tavern-Chef French. Diner participants will enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate a special ingredient and will score each dish.The diners' votes are then tallied along with those from a panel of judges and the weekly winners will continue to participate in the competition. Reservations for the WNC Chefs Challenge are $49 per individual, and can be purchased online at http://wncchefschallenge.eventbrite.com. Sales tax, and gratuity ($67.97 total) are included in ticket purchase.

The WNC Chef's Challenge is once again underway in downtown Asheville. For the fourth year, the WNC Magazine Asheville and Wine and Food Festival will host the WNC Chefs Challenge. The competition brings together culinary leaders from the region in weekly battles built around a secret ingredient.

The Chestnut Restaurant, located Chestnut Restaurant, 48 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville NC, will serve as host for the dinners each Tuesday from February 12 through April 30. The quarterfinals and semifinals will follow this summer at the Asheville Wine and Food Festival the week of August 22 through 24.

Valentine's Day Event: Singles Soiree at Hotel Indigo

February 14, 5 PM - 10:20 PM: Just because you're single doesn't mean Valentine's Day can't be special. Hotel Indigo is offering  Singles Soiree with live music and a heart-warming meal including Roasted Tomato Bisque,  Pistachio Crusted Halibutm  citrus buerre blanc steamed jasmine rice, sauteed asparagus,  Filet aux Poivre, mushroom Madeira demi-glace potatoes au gratin,  sauteed spinach.  There will be Featured Wine Pairings plus a full bar. The music begins at 7 PM with Flamenco guitarist Juan Buenavitas.

Hotel Indigo is located at 151 Haywood Street in Asheville NC

Asheville Restaurant Week Begins Today

February 1-7  Asheville Restaurant Week Inaugural Event: Participating restaurants will offer a prix fixe menu ranging from $15–$30 per person.

Restaurant Week is an opportunity to try as many great Asheville restaurants as your schedule allows for four incredibly low fixed prices. Ever wondered about that restaurant you thought might be out of your price range? Restaurant Week will allow you to give it a try with the security of knowing exactly what you will be spending.

Restaurants will offer either:

• Lunch: $15 two-course meal for one person.
• Dinner: $30 three-course meal for one person.
• Dinner: $30 two-course meal for two or
• Dinner: $20 two-course meal for two.
  *beverage, tax and gratuity are not included in the special pricing

Make reservations at each individual restaurant.  Not every restaurant accepts reservations, so be sure to contact the restaurant if you are unsure.Participating Asheville Restaurants include:

LUNCH: $15 two-course meal for one person

131 Main   308 Thetford Street in Asheville NC    Menu

The Blackbird    47 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville NC   Menu

Chestnut   48 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville NC   Menu

Corner Kitchen   3 Boston Way, Asheville, NC  Menu

Cúrate    11 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC    Menu

Red Stag Grill   11 Boston Way, Asheville, NC   Menu

DINNER: $30 three-course meal for one person

131 Main   308 Thetford Street in Asheville NC   Menu

The Blackbird    47 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville NC   Menu

Chestnut   48 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville NC     Menu

Corner Kitchen   3 Boston Way, Asheville, NC  Menu

Cucina 24 Restaurant   24 Wall Street, Asheville NC   Menu

Cúrate    11 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC   Menu

FIG   18 Brook Street,  Asheville, NC   Menu

The Lobster Trap   35 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC   Menu

The Market Place Restaurant   20 Wall Street, Asheville NC  Menu

Native Kitchen & Social Pub   204 Whitson Ave., Swannanoa, NC   Menu
 
Nona Mia     1050 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC   Menu

Pack's Tavern    20 South Spruce Street, Asheville NC

Posana Café    One Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC   Menu

Red Stag Grill   11 Boston Way, Asheville, NC   Menu

Rezaz Restaurant & Wine Bar    28 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC   Menu

Ruth's CHRIS Steak House   26 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, NC  Menu

Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro   125 South Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC

Sunny Point Café  6262 Haywood Road, Asheville NC  Menu

Vincenzo's Ristorante & Bistro  10 N. Market St., Asheville, NC   Menu

DINNER: $30 two-course meal for two

The Cantina     Menu

Carmel's Kitchen & Bar   1 Page Avenue, Asheville NC  Menu

Chai Pani Restaurant   22 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC  Menu

Frankie Bones Restaurant & Lounge   2 Gerber Road #101, Asheville, NC Menu

DINNER: $20 two-course meal for two 

Moose Café     570 Brevard Rd # 3, Asheville, NC    Menu

Wild Wing Café    161 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC   Menu

The Asheville Wine Experience will Launch on New Year's Eve

December 31 - The Asheville Wine Experience is launched with the first in a series of ultimate dining experiences, combining a wine expert with a top chef in a spectacular location to elevate your senses to the utmost. Susi Gott Séguret, of the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts and Bob Bowles of the Asheville Wine & Food Festival join forces to guide Asheville’s sense of taste in an exploration of the very best gustative adventures possible.

Chef Denny Trantham and Wine Expert Kevin Schwartz, both long-time revolutionary presences at the Grove Park Inn, will be joining forces for a luxurious French-style réveillon, each dish corresponding with a sigh for the year behind and a wish for the year ahead, in the exclusive tenth floor suite at the Hotel Indigo.

From 8 PM until midnight, ten courses will be served, along with five exceptional wines, to the musical illustrations of celebrated jazz vibraphonist Paul Babelay. A spectacular view of Asheville will stretch out below you.

The cost is $150, payable on Event Brite, and benefits will go towards creating a scholarship for 12-21 year old youths seeking culinary and taste education. The number of spaces is limited, so reserve quickly.

Taste of Asheville 2012 this Week

November 15 - 2012 Taste of Asheville   Asheville's top culinary talent is showcased at this annual event hosted by Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR).  Celebrate 40 of Asheville's most talented chefs during one of the largest foodie events of the year. The event will take place in  downtown Asheville at The Venue and kicks off at 7PM.

Tickets to Taste of Asheville includes small plate tastings of 40 local, independent restaurants as well as beer and wine sampling. In addition, AIR’s new Taste of Asheville Passport for the year 2013 will be available for purchase on-site, a coupon booklet representing over $1000 in dining savings at AIR restaurants, for the cost of $50. Passports will be available for sale after the event at www.airasheville.org.

Participating restaurants include:

• Acropolis Pizza 
• Avenue M 
• Blue Water Seafood Co. 
• Boca 
• Bouchon 
• Burgerworx
• Carmels
• Chai Pani 
• City Bakery Café
• Corner Kitchen
• Creperie Bouchon 
• D.I. Hospitality
• Edna's Of Asheville
• Frankie Bones
• French Broad Chocolate Lounge 
• The Green Sage
• Homegrown 
• Jack of Hearts 
• Jack of the Wood 
• Jerusalem Garden Café 
• Karen Donatelli Café
• Laughing Seed
• Lexington Avenue Brewery
• Luella's BBQ
• Mamacitas Baja Kitchen 
• Mela
• Neo Burrito 
• Neo Cantina 
• Pack's Tavern 
• Plant
• Pomodoros
• Sazerac
• Scully's 
• Strada
• Sunny Point Café 
• The Local Joint
• The Glass Onion 
• Tupelo Honey Café 
• Ultimate Ice Cream 
• Vincenzos
• Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian

WNC Chefs Challenge Finals this Week

August 23   WNC Chef Challenge Finals   The grand finale will kick off the WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival. Chefs battle for the championship and dinner guests will receive six courses (3 from each team) and will participate in scoring the dishes to determine the winner of the Chef Challenge Semifinals. Special wines are selected based on the "Secret" ingredient and are available for purchase along with beers and cocktails. Tickets for the Grand Finale are $99 and include the six plated culinary creations from the chefs and two complimentary drinks (wine or beer.)

WNC Chef Challenge Semi-finals

August 14  WNC Chef Challenge Semi-finals: Knife and Fork VS L.A.B. (Lexington Avenue Brewery) Chefs battle for the championship and dinner guests will receive six courses (3 from each team) and will participate in scoring the dishes to determine the winner of the Chef Challenge Semifinals. Special wines are selected based on the "Secret" ingredient and are available for purchase along with beers and cocktails. 

August 16   WNC Chef Challenge Semi-finals: Stewart Lyon (Boca), David Ryba (Inn on Biltmore Estate)  

With 10 teams  eliminated in previous competitions, The final 4 teams and competitors are: Returning 2011 Champion Nate Allen (Knife & Fork), Stewart Lyon (Boca), David Ryba (Inn on Biltmore Estate) and Jason Roy (Lexington Avenue Brewery.) The Century Room on the Park, located above Pack’s Tavern on 20 South Spruce Street in Asheville, will serve as host for the dinners on August 14 and 16. Tickets for the Semi-Finals are $49 and include the six plated culinary creations from the chefs, but not  alcohol, tax or gratuities.

The grand finale  competition will kick off the WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival on Thursday, August 23 to determine  the “Best Chef in WNC” for 2012.

Get a link for the WNC Chefs Challenge and other Asheville events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Pizza Showdown

August 12, 4 PM - 10 PM at  The Garage at Biltmore, 101 Fairview Road, Suite B in Asheville NC. Head for the Asheville Pizza Showdown and enjoy all-you-can-eat pizza, a mini-beer fest and live music. Tickets are $30 and benefits Manna Food Bank.  Former champions, Anthony Cerrato (from Strada) and Frank's Roman Pizza, will be on hand to defend their supreme pizza title.

Al Fresco Feast at Biltmore

July 21, 5:30 PM on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC -  An evening of al fresco dining and wine brought to you by Estate Executive Chef Damien Cavicchi. The event begins with a cocktail reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and live music.The “Southern French Countryside” menu will be served at a feasting table located on a secluded vista in the Biltmore vineyards.

Tickets are $185 per person and include tax and gratuity. In the event of rain, dinner will be held on July 22, 2012. For reservations, please call (828) 257-5995.

WNC Chef's Challenge in Asheville

May 22    WNC Chefs Challenge   Knife & Fork vs. Never Blue Tapas Bar and Grill   Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22. 

Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Asheville's WNC Chef's Challenge

May 22 WNC Chefs Challenge Knife & Fork vs. Never Blue Tapas Bar and Grill Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22.

Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Get a link for the Chef's Challenge and other Asheville events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Boca vs 12 Bones Smokehouse in this week's WNC Chet's Challenge

May 8   WNC Chefs Challenge   Boca vs. 12 Bones Smokehouse   Food and sport combine for the ultimate food fight. The Challenge brings together 14 leading chefs from the region and one secret ingredient in weekly battles each Tuesday from March 20 - May 22.  Diners enjoy six plated culinary creations (three from each team) that incorporate the secret ingredient and score each dish. The votes from the audience and a panel of professional chefs, journalists, and culinary experts are tallied. A winner is announced at the end of the night and continues to the next round of competition.

Get a link for the WNC Chef's Challenge and other Asheville events and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

WNC Chefs Challenge 2010 continues

 June 1, Asheville North Carolina.  WNC Chefs Challenge 2010  Every Tuesday evening local chefs compete and diners judge. The dinners begin at 6:30 p.m. at The Flying Frog Café, which is downstairs from the Frog Bar & Deli, located on the corner of Battery Park Avenue and Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Reservations required, only $39 per person. This week's competition: Pomodoros Greek and Italian Café   VS   The Admiral