ASHEVILLE – Culinary conversations with an award-winning food scholar; afternoon tea services celebrating tradition and Black History Month; Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day events in Western North Carolina; and bi-monthly wine and dine events in West Asheville.
Gemelli’s bi-monthly dining series, Wine by the Vines, includes a five-course meal with curated wine pairings.
UNC Asheville culinary chat
The University of North Carolina Asheville’s three-year “Diverse Roots at the Common Table: Culinary Conversations in the American South” lecture series will conclude with a discussion on Black women’s food influences and inspirations in and beyond the South.
Erica Abrams Locklear, Ph.D., professor of English, Thomas Howerton distinguished professor of humanities, told the Citizen Times that the Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor Speaker Series was developed to address issues of “identity, culture and forgotten histories from the humanities-based perspectives of culinary historians, literary authors and food writers.”
On Feb. 26, Psyche Williams-Forson, a culinary historian and American Studies scholar will lecture “When We Go Meet the Trains: Black Women, Food, and Power in the American South” from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Blur Ridge Room of the Highsmith Union at UNC Asheville.
Past guests have included culinary historian Adrian Miller, Lumbee historian Malinda Maynor Lowery, Cherokee anthropologist Courtney Lewis, foodways scholar Marcie Cohen Ferris, and cookbook authors Sandra Gutierrez and Ronni Lundy.
On Feb. 26, Psyche Williams-Forson, a culinary historian and American Studies scholar will lecture “When We Go Meet the Trains: Black Women, Food, and Power in the American South” from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room of the Highsmith Union at UNC Asheville.
Williams-Forson, a professor and chair of the Department of American Studies at the University of Maryland College Park, will lead an immersive talk using sound, visual and written evidence to broach the topic of Black women’s labor with food and how it’s been leveraged for influence and power.
Williams-Forson has authored several books, including “Building Houses out of Chicken Legs: Black Women, Food, and Power.” “Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America” won the 2023 James Beard Media Award for Food Issues and Advocacy.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at unca.edu.
Afternoon tea service at Ivory Road
Ivory Road’s popular tea service will return for two special events days.
Valentine’s Afternoon Tea Service will be on Feb.15; seatings are at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The cost is $35 for adults and $25 for children aged 10 and under. The traditional menu will feature individual pots of tea and scratch-made scones, finger sandwiches, mini desserts and more.
Ivory Road Café and Kitchen in Arden will close by the end of October 2023.
On Feb. 16, guest chef Tie Whittaker, owner of Buttermilk Boutique in Clayton, will host a pop-up Afternoon Tea Service celebrating Black History Month with seatings at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Whittaker, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Chef Showdown’s 2021 Pastry Chef of the Year and 2019 People’s Choice Best Pastry Chef will prepare a menu featuring deviled eggs with pickled mustard seed and crispy collards, mini cornbread toasts with tomato jam, Big Mama’s banana pudding cheesecake, vanilla scones with clotted cheese and more.
Beverages will include local teas and coffee from Black-Ology Coffee Company, rosé and wine from Ebony Wine & Spirits and assorted flavored mimosas.
Family-style table seating and two kitchen counter seats with kitchen views are offered. The cost is $60, which includes tax, gratuity, a welcome glass of bubbly, full tea service and complimentary after-service coffee. Gluten-free service is an additional $5 per person.
Ivory Road is at 1854 Brevard Road in Arden. For tickets and more events, visit ivoryroadavl.com.
Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day events
Show your significant other, family and friends how much you care about them by using food and drink as a language of love. Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) and Galentine’s Day (Feb. 13) events will be hosted, and special deals will be offered across the city on and around the holidays.
Top of the Monk is a cozy handcrafted cocktail bar in Asheville.
Check out these deals and events and view more happenings on citizentimes.com.:
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Picture Perfect Valentine. On Feb. 12, Executive Chef Rakim Gaines will serve a three-course pix fixe meal from 5-10 p.m. at Capella on 9, AC Hotel’s rooftop restaurant. Guests will receive two specialty craft cocktails and a 10-minute time slot with a professional photographer. The cost is $125 per couple. Space is limited; reserve at eventbrite.com.
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A Taste of Romance: An Evening with Asheville Chocolate and Glenmorangie. Hosted by Top of the Monk at 92 Patton Ave. downtown, the tastings will feature three varieties of Glenmorangie Whisky and a bonus Bourbon, each paired with unique truffles from Asheville Chocolate. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 13, and seating is first come, first serve. Guests may drop in anytime before 10 p.m. The cost is $34 per person. A specialty cocktail will be offered all weekend.
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Bargello’s Valentine’s Day dinner. On Feb. 14, Bargello, 7 Patton Ave., will offer a four-course prix fixe Mediterranean menu for $99 per person. The optional wine pairing is $9. Reserve a seat at opentable.com.
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Farm Burger’s Locals-Only and Valentine’s Day deals. On Feb. 14, delivery through Farm Burger’s app will cost only 14 cents. The special menu will feature a strawberry chocolate milkshake, available in-store or delivery. Every Monday, Farm Burger offers $5 burgers and $2 local drafts at its downtown restaurant at 10 Patton Ave. The deal is offered at its South Asheville location at 1831 Hendersonville Road on Fridays.
Gemelli’s Wine by the Vines series
Take a glass-by-glass trip across France, Italy and the United States in Gemelli restaurant’s bi-monthly dining series, Wine by the Vines.
Wine by the Vines is hosted on the third and fourth Thursdays, offering the same menu monthly. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes may be requested in advance.
On Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, Chef Gabe Cerrato will serve a five-course Burgundy, France-inspired dinner with Burgundy and Beaujolais wines.
Chef Gabe Cerrato offers a five-course meal with curated wine pairings at Gemelli’s bi-monthly dining series, Wine by the Vines.
On March 20 and March 27, Cerrato will take a unique approach, pairing wine with nostalgic American classics, like barbecue, fried chicken and funnel cakes.
On April 17 and April 24, Cerrato’s Sicilian-inspired menu will explore the cuisine’s Greek, Spanish, French, Jewish and Arab influences.
Dinners are from 6-8:30 p.m. and cost $75 per person and event. Featured wines will be available for purchase by the bottle. Reserve a seat at gemelli.restaurant.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, more dining events, deals
