The Foodtopian Society Blog

Asheville Loves Desserts: New Pie Company Arrives

2009-11-06T11:57:00.006-05:00

Asheville is a town with a sweet tooth, so it’s no surprise that our city is now home to a pie shop. Short Street Cakes, Asheville’s source for all-natural, southern-style cakes, is now selling pies from Asheville’s new pie company: Pies in Disguise.

The partnership was sweet deal as Pies in Disguise, owned by baker Eliza Sydney and Ben Herring, was looking for production space to bake their pies. Short Street Cakes owner Jodi Rhoden, rented her Cake Shop kitchen to the dynamic duo and began selling their treats at her Cake Shop counter in West Asheville.

Jodi says, “I expanded my retail offerings to include pies to better serve my customers, and to support fellow bakers and entrepreneurs whose stories are similar to mine: big dreamers who are starting their businesses with little financial investment but tremendous passion for their craft.”

Pies are available by special order by calling the Cake Shop at 828-505-4822. Thirteen flavors are available with two days’ notice, whole pies are $22, slices are $3.95.

Inside Scoop for Foodtopian Society Blog Readers
A Thanksgiving special is also being offered in conjunction with the launch of the pies at the Cake Shop: receive 10% off your order of $50 or more of cakes and pies during the month of November.

Photo courtesy of Short Street Cakes.

Asheville Chef Competes in National Oyster Shucking Championship

2009-10-29T12:53:00.002-04:00

Asheville’s very own Tres Hundertmark, Executive Chef and General Manager of The Lobster Trap, competed in the National Oyster Shucking Contest on October 17 and 18. Tres shucked 24 oysters in just two minutes and six seconds! (Although Tres suffered a minor setback when he accrued an 83-second penalty on his official time for cutting the oysters or not fully removing them from the shell.)

This was the first time Tres qualified for finals in his four years of attendance at the national competition. Tres is the reigning shucking champion for the Charleston Oyster Roast. On January 23, 2010, Tres will attempt to beat the Guinness World Record of 33 oysters opened in one minute at the Winter Warmer Beer Festival at the Haywood Park Hotel in Asheville.

Curious about Tres’s shucking skills? Watch him in action at The Lobster Trap in downtown Asheville.

Change in Date and Venue at Raw Food Event

2009-10-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

Good new for raw food enthusiasts! The raw food event originally scheduled for October 30 has been reschedule and moved to a larger venue. Join raw food authors and experts Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes-Monarch on November 3 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Asheville School of Massage and Yoga at 77 W Walnut Street. Tickets are $20.00 and available at the door. For more information, call 828-713-3469.

Indulge with Asheville’s Special Wine Package

2009-10-14T15:23:00.004-04:00

Did you know that North Carolina is home to some great wines and wineries? No need to travel to the West Coast to experience award-winning wines and the gorgeous vineyards.

One convenient way to experience the local wine culture is Brookstone Lodge’s Escorted Wine Tour Getaway. Your arrival in Asheville is welcomed with a bottle of Biltmore Wine (locally made at America’s most visited winery), a pair of wine glasses, wine opener and chocolates.

The next day, journey into wine country with a guided wine tour of nearby Yadkin Valley. The Yadkin Valley was the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) designated in North Carolina. You’ll spend time with a certified sommelier who will reveal the history of North Carolina’s wine industry, guide you through wines samples at three different wineries and help you gain access to behind-the-scene experiences such a barrel tastings and guided tours. A picnic lunch at a vineyard caps off your day in stay.

Healthy Eating Showcased at Raw Food Event

2009-10-13T11:08:00.004-04:00

The art of raw food becomes a learning experience and a celebratory event at Asheville’s Raw Food Extravaganza on Friday, October 30 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event is hosted at Selina Naturally, a local Celtic sea salt company, just outside of downtown Asheville at 4 Celtic Drive in Arden, NC.

The evening kicks off with an informative session from raw food author and raw vegan aficionado, Matt Monarch, followed by a raw food dinner from Greenlife Grocery. Angela Stokes-Monarch, the award-winning author and subject of one of CNN’s biggest healthy stories, speaks after dinner. The evening concludes with a raw chocolate bliss after-party featuring locally made UliMana treats and live music.
Make reservations for the evening by calling 800-867-7258.

Cost is $50 for the entire evening or $25 for the second half of the event.

Dine on Local Catfish at The Lobster Trap

2009-10-06T10:30:00.003-04:00

Dig into locally harvested fish at The Lobster Trap’s Catfish Supper on October 20 at 6:30 p.m. The fish come from an Asheville-area pond and boast a delicious clean flavor. In fact, you may change your opinion of catfish after sampling this variety.

Executive Chef Tres Hundertmark will serve the whole fish steamed Vietnamese-style with peppers, herbs and fish sauce. Broth, rice noodles and traditional garnishes round out the main course, which will be served family-style to a table of six. Dinner will also include an appetizer, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. Cost is $30 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

This is an exclusive event; the number of reservations will be based upon the number of fish harvested. Seating will be limited, with reservations available at 10:00 a.m. on October 20. Make reservations by calling The Lobster Trap at 828-350-0505.

Celebrate Jewish Food and Culture at HardLox

2009-09-29T10:48:00.004-04:00

In the mood for homemade bagels and lox, matzo ball soup and corned beef and pastrami? Check out Hardlox, Asheville’s Jewish food and heritage festival on October 18. The fun kicks off at 11:00 a.m. at Battery Park at the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville. The entire day is free and perfect for the entire family. Whet your appetite with this inside look at the festivies.

HardLox video courtesy of Marty Gillen.

New Indian Restaurant Opens in Asheville

2009-09-22T14:57:00.002-04:00

Craving Indian? Good news, downtown Asheville is getting a new Indian restaurant on Wednesday. Chai Pani opens on September 23 at 11:00 a.m. at 22 Battery Park Ave. next to World Coffee and Kilwin’s Ice Cream.

Chai Pani features a combination of Chaat, Thali and Tandoori (flavorful char-grilled meats & breads) served in a casual setting with an emphasis on fresh, local and natural ingredients. New to Indian food? Here’s a quick guide to the basics:

Chaat are brightly flavored, multi-textured snacks originally served by street vendors in northern India. Chaat has a small palate of flavors and ingredients to work from—crunchy, crispy, sour, sweet, spicy. Most chaat is a blend of a crispy starch (wheat flour or garbanzo bean flour) or a soft dumpling made from lentil or garbanzo batter. This is then combined with potatoes, garbanzo beans and often sprouted beans. Spicy and sweet sauces and yogurt are the classic accompaniments.
Thali is a selection of different Indian dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray with contents varying from one regional cuisine to another. It’s the Indian equivalent of home-cooked comfort food. A thali is structured as a complete meal and eating one is like taking a crash course in the diversity of Indian cuisines, because each region has its own distinct spice palette.
Tandoori are flavorful char-grilled meats and breads. The meat is marinated in spices and yogurt prior to being grilled at high temperatures. It is usually served and eaten with a coriander chutney.

Fall in Asheville Means a New Crew of Beers

2009-09-09T10:54:00.006-04:00

The arrival of autumn in Asheville means more than just bright leaves and cool days. It also marks the arrival of new seasonal beers from Asheville breweries!

Highland Brewing unveils two seasonal beers this year! Its traditional autumn brew, Highland Tasgall Ale, is out this month. If you like dark beers, then you’ll enjoy this one featuring roasted barley and chocolate malt. The new Highland Black Butte Smoked Porter also makes its début. This robust porter was the winner of Highland’s second annual home-brewing competition.
The French Broad Brewery’s fall brew, Ryehopper, was so popular it became a regular addition. This beer is a hoppy rye beer with a sharp earthy flavor.
Pisgah Brewing Company also has a special beer for the end of summer—Belgian Pale Ale. This lightly hoppy organic beer is refreshing with malty nuances. It’s a good transition beer from Indian summers to autumn days.

More Delicious Picks
Not every local brewery releases a beer for the season, so here’s our picks from the rest of Asheville’s rockin’ breweries.

The Wedge Brewing Company’s Czech Pilsner is a lager with a spicy aroma and an earthy flavor. We like to think of it as liquid autumn.
Green Man Brewing Porter is a dark brown beer with flavors of mocha, carob and chocolate. A slightly smoky and warm alcohol finish chases away the evening chill.
Upside Down Brown from the Oyster House Brewing Company teases with rich malty and nutlike flavors. The sweetness of the grains is still evident in this lightly hopped brew.

Shop from Local Foodies on September 23

2009-09-01T16:52:00.004-04:00

Get a taste of local talent at the Blue Ridge Food Ventures Marketplace on September 23, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., at the A-B Tech Enka campus.

All the products for sale owe their success to the Blue Ridge Food Ventures’ commercial kitchen and food processing facility. Blue Ridge Food Ventures is an 11,000 sq. ft. shared-use commercial kitchen and food processing facility. It is North Carolina’s first business incubator specifically designed to provide services to farmers and food entrepreneurs.

Products available at the market include:

Appalachian Ginseng Farms – ginseng honey and tinctures
Asheville Kombucha Mamas – fermented black tea
Baked Asheville – biscotti and rugelach
Bamboo Ladies – bamboo pickles
Blessed Botanicals – organic herbal teas and culinary blends
Chef’s Table – nutritious, delicious ready-to-go meals
Dolci di Maria – gluten-free cakes and cupcakes
El Molinito – Mexican mole mixes
Fire from the Mountain – salsa and hot sauce
Headstart Gourmet – compound butter sauces
Imladris Farm – berry jams and apple butter
Jake's Farm – organic tomato products
Kaninis – healthy, natural meals, frozen and ready-to-go
Leslie’s Must-Have Mustard – flavored mustards
Lotus Chips – unusual snack chips
Lusty Monk – spicy mustards
Madd Mazz – Italian-style tomato sauce
Roxanne's Remedies – ready-to-eat vegan foods
UliMana – raw, organic chocolates
WinterSun Farms - wintertime Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program
Zouga Nougat – honey nougat candy

Asheville Featured on Traveling Vegetarian

2009-08-20T12:04:00.005-04:00

Asheville’s Laughing Seed Café caught the Traveling Vegetarian’s eye during a recent visit to Western North Carolina. Check out why eating vegetarian and vegan is so tasty in Asheville.

Curious about Laughing Seed's Chef Jason Sellers? Get the inside scoop on his food philosophy.

Oktoberfest Comes to Asheville

2009-08-19T15:43:00.005-04:00

Enjoy a taste of old Europe and Asheville’s fabulous beer scene with the city’s first Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 10. Wall Street in downtown Asheville will host the fun from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

“Our Oktoberfest will mix Bavarian traditions with Asheville’s eclectic vibe,” says Adrian Vassallo, event organizer. He adds, “With Asheville’s recent recognition as ‘Beer City USA,’ the timing couldn’t be more perfect to celebrate our local beer scene. Plus, Wall Street is an ideal venue for this event with its old world feel and original cobblestones.”

Fun meets Funky with Original Asheville Twists
The event will feature beer tastings from local breweries including Highland Brewing, Asheville Brewing Company, Pisgah Brewing, Green Man Brewery and French Broad Brewing Company. Many brewers will offer seasonal ales for Oktoberfest and will be on hand to discuss their beers. Food will include authentic German cuisine—paired with local mustard from the Lusty Monk—from Cucina 24, Jack of the Wood and The Market Place.

Entertainment will range from traditional to modern. The Stratton Mountain Boys will bring a taste of Germany to the Blue Ridge Mountains with alphorns, yodeling songs, polka music and shoe slapping dances. The Goodies will also take the stage with their gypsy-style eclectic hard rock and funk. Yodeling contests, costume contests and stein races round out the fun.

Reserve Your Spot Beginning August 31
Tickets are $25 and include beer samples and a commemorative Oktoberfest glass. Tickets go on sale August 31 at ashevilledowntown.org. Space is limited, so buy early!

Tasty! Downtown Tomato Walk on Aug. 20

2009-08-06T10:41:00.001-04:00

Tempt your taste buds on Thursday, August 20, with the Downtown Tomato Walk from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This celebratory evening commemorates Western North Carolina’s bounty of tomatoes with special menu items, tomato-themed cocktails and special fresh-from-the-garden touches.

All the featured menu items for this evening include locally grown tomatoes from area farmers. This promises to be a spectacular celebration of flavorful nuances, as most local farmers grow heirloom tomatoes.

Plus, soil composition and weather affects the flavor of tomatoes, so tomatoes grown in this region have a special tang and sweetness. At the evening’s end, you’ll have a new appreciation for this humble fruit.

Participating restaurants include:

Check back for a complete list of restaurants prior to the event!