ASHEVILLE – A pastry chef expands his bakery’s distribution market to local businesses; a longstanding doughnut shop gets a second chance in the South Slope brewing district; a national doughnut chain reopens and seeks workers; and two annual dining events supporting local restaurants and community return in the spring.
French Broad Pantry’s pastry takeover
Tailgate market favorite French Broad Pantry has expanded its wholesale line to offer select items at Liberty House Café, Bad Manners Coffee, Antidote Bar and Sweeten Creek Café.
Dune Pierre Michel, a South France native, operates the bakery from a West Asheville commissary kitchen. Pastries were previously sold at Rowan, Farewell, Chestnut and Flora but are no longer available at the locations.
Michel said the latest expansion is another step to boost the wholesale program into business across the greater Asheville area and more farmers markets.
French Broad Pantry’s pastries that are tailgate market favorites are now available at local businesses.
Michel’s French recipes and techniques, combined with fresh, WNC-sourced ingredients and reduced sugar, produce light, airy, flavorful quality products.
“We use a dough shelter to achieve this perfect lamination and super flaky finish. As for the ingredients we select the finest butter for our classic pastries and special butter sheets with higher fat content for lamination,” Michel said.
French Broad Pantry’s rotating, seasonal menu of staples and specialty items features the bestselling Kouign Amann and chocolate croissant.
Prices range from $5 for plain to $8 for “fantaisie” croissants, like the eye-catching bicolor, filled croissants. Fruity desserts, like tarts and crumbles, are $6. Savory specialty items cost $8-$10.
Every Saturday, French Broad Pantry can still be found at local farmers’ markets, such as Asheville City Market downtown and Black Mountain Tailgate Market. Every other Saturday, the bakery is at the North Asheville Tailgate Market on the UNC Asheville campus. The hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. through March. Beginning in April, North Asheville Tailgate Market’s hours will be 8 a.m.-Noon.
Michel said he is looking for a brick-and-mortar bakery space that the public can visit, but there is no set timeline.
For more, follow frenchbroadpantry on Instagram. For farmers market details, visit asapconnections.org.
Vortex doughnut shop’s South Slope reopening
South Slope doughnut shop Vortex, 32 Banks Ave., has returned after a monthlong closure following Tropical Storm Helene. Its new owners are Joe and Mollie Skalski of Rockwell, in Rowan County.
The Skalskis said they were considering purchasing the business before Helene after seeing it listed for sale. The store closed before the Sept. 27 storm and remained closed until the Skalskis reopened on Feb. 12.
Customers decide what to order on Vortex’s menu of assorted doughnut styles and flavors.
The couple also operates Mollie’s Minis, a doughnut truck based in Rockwell that’s on hiatus for the winter. It sparked their interest in the established brick-and-mortar in downtown Asheville.
The food truck and doughnut shop use different techniques and offer unique menus. Mollie’s Minis specializes in small, made-to-order doughnuts.
Vortex features a variety of full-sized doughnuts, including cake, yeast and vegan, made by hand daily.
The Skalskis said they intend to stay true to what Vortex customers know and love, but there have been changes as the business transitions and ramps up operations.
Gluten-free products and apple fritters are temporarily unavailable as new doughnut makers train, and the owners consider costs during the slower winter season.
Mollie Skalski said two employees returned after Helene, though others had moved on to new jobs or relocated outside the city. Two new bakers have joined the team to run production.
“We wanted them to get comfortable with one thing before we added something else,” she said.
A few bestsellers on the current menu are the peanut butter doughnut with raspberry icing, cream cheese peach with cookie crumble, the signature Vortex ― tossed in cinnamon sugar and drizzled in chocolate ― and the timeless Old Fashioned.
An assortment of doughnuts at Vortex in Asheville.
Weekly specials on the horizon include lemon poppyseed, which has the potential to become a staple item.
Vortex offers a beverage menu that includes fresh-ground coffee brewed to order, tea, juice and milk.
Joe Skalski said breakfast sandwiches made with classic doughnuts are in consideration.
“We’re going to try stuff and see what people would like to have,” he said. “It’s still a learning curve for us, and we’re willing to take any suggestions people have.”
After a slow winter and tourism decline due to Helene, Joe Skalski said he expects a customer uptick in the spring and summer.
“Hopefully, the tourists will come back, but we don’t know,” he said. “We’re taking a gamble here and hoping everything comes back.”
The winter hours of operation are 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more, follow @vortexdoughnuts on Instagram.
Krispy Kreme reopening
The reopening day has come for Krispy Kreme at 960 Patton Ave. in West Asheville. The location closed for Helene in late September and has remained closed nearly five months later, resuming operations the week of Feb. 24.
The corporation did not disclose a reason for the extended closure to the Citizen Times.
In the days before the day, posters and signage teased the doughnut shop’s return, and staff were on-site trained.
As of Feb. 26, the location has job openings for a doughnut maker, team member, sanitation operator, shift supervisor and doughnut decorator. Apply at apply.jobappnetwork.com/krispy. For more, visit krispykreme.com.
Krispy Kreme at 960 Patton Ave. in West Asheville on Feb. 17, ahead of reopening the week of Feb. 24.
Save the date: Taste of Asheville
Tickets for the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association’s annual Taste of Asheville tasting extravaganza are on sale.
Taste of Asheville, on April 3, will feature small bites and beverage samples from more than 50 area chefs, restaurants, craft beverage producers and distributors at the Mission Conference Center at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
This year’s theme is “Celebrate the Resilience and Generosity of Asheville’s Independent Restaurant Community.”
“This year’s Taste of Asheville carries deeper meaning,” Meghan Rogers, AIR’s executive director, said in a news release. “In the aftermath of Helene, our community has faced immense challenges, but through it all, Asheville’s independent restaurants have shown incredible resilience and generosity. This event is more than a celebration of food — it’s an opportunity for us to come together, support one another, and honor the spirit that makes our dining scene so special.”
Taste of Asheville is a major fundraiser for the organization, which supports about 130 independent restaurant members through education, advocacy, resources, marketing and events.
VIP tickets are $125, which includes early entry at 5:30 p.m. General admission, entry at 6:30 p.m., is $80. Tickets are available at airasheville.org.
Save the date: Dining Out for Life
Western North Carolina AIDS Project’s 23rd annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser on April 24 at participating restaurants.
The event raises awareness for HIV care and prevention in Western North Carolina.
“Like others in Asheville, WNCAP clients, many of whom rely on medical case management for HIV care as well as social, emotional, and financial support, have experienced unimaginable losses because of the hurricane,” John Chafin, WNCAP community navigation coordinator said in a news release.
Chafin said rural, remote clients are dependent on delivery services for food and HIV medication. Some clients were difficult to reach following the storm, and many suffered property damage, income reductions and other financial hardships.
This year’s event has been modified to offer greater flexibility and support for local restaurants after Tropical Storm Helene. Businesses can donate any portion of event day sales instead of the traditional 20%.
Participating restaurants include 12 Bones South, Carmel’s Kitchen & Bar, Chestnut, Jargon, Pack’s Tavern, Pomodoros Greek Italian, Posana, Salt Face Mule Brewing Company, Sunny Point Cafe and The Hop Ice Cream. For more details and to donate, visit wncap.org/2025-dining-out-for-life/.
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: Krispy Kreme, Vortex reopen, French Broad Pantry expands, more news
