ASHEVILLE – Restaurants reopen across Asheville; a restaurant group completes the relocation and opening of two of its Indian street food concepts; a local “Top Chef” contestant and James Beard Award finalist releases her first cookbook; an Asheville brewery reopens in Biltmore Village; and Asheville’s pioneer brewery to host its annual wintertime bash celebrating its popular seasonal beer.
Asheville restaurant reopenings
Restaurants are reopening across the city and seeking customer support after weeks closed due to Tropical Storm Helene.
Many are opening with modified menus, services and hours so check in with the establishment beforehand for updates.
The list of reopenings continues to grow and change daily.
More: Asheville food and hospitality workers adjust to a new normal after Helene
For updates on where to dine, visit always.exploreasheville.com and airasheville.org.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani opens downtown
The Chai Pani Restaurant Group delayed the debut of its Botiwalla street grill eatery downtown due to Tropical Storm Helene but opened on Oct. 23.
Botiwalla Downtown has moved into the former, flagship location of Chai Pani at 22 Battery Park Ave.
The hours are 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more, visit botiwalla.com.
Chai Pani, relocated to 32 Banks Ave., is offering a Hurricane Hot Bar for a limited time only unlimited buffet of Indian cuisine available from 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. daily. The cost is $16.99 per person and $9.99 for children 10 and under.
Good Hot Fish chef-owner debuts cookbook
Chef Ashleigh Shanti, owner of downtown’s Good Hot Fish restaurant, released her debut cookbook, “Our South: Black Food Through My Lens” on Oct. 15.
“Our South” includes 125 recipes inspired by her Southern Appalachian heritage and Black foodways ― with narratives on how Black culture has influenced and defined Southern foodways.
Shanti, a Virginia native and Asheville resident delves into her family’s Appalachia and American South roots and her identifying as a Black, queer, female chef.
Dishes include Gullah-Geechee classic johnnycakes with pork and pepper jam and salmon croquettes with buttermilk tartar sauce, which Shanti grew up eating in coastal Virginia.
“Our South” is available as a hardcover for $40 online and at book retailers including Malaprop’s Bookstore downtown.
Follow Shanti on Instagram at @foodordeath_.
Hi-Wire Brewing update
Hi-Wire Brewing, based in Asheville, has shifted gears operationally as it recovers from major product, revenue and facility losses sustained in Tropical Storm Helene.
In the month since the Sept. 27 storm, the craft beer brewery reported losing about 80% of its finished inventory and all packaging inventory to flooding and the power outage at its Biltmore Village production brewery, which supplied its taprooms and retail beers, and its River Arts District headquarters, beer garden and distribution center was destroyed.
More: With no water, few customers after Tropical Storm Helene, Asheville brewers seek to cope
On Oct. 16, the company announced the closure of its Birmingham, Alabama, taproom due to storm impact. It was one of 10 Hi-Wire taprooms across several states.
On Oct. 28, Hi-Wire’s Biltmore Village taproom reopened with hours from 12-9 p.m. daily.
The South Slope taproom and The Tiki Easy Bar resumed operations earlier.
The taprooms feature guest beer selections as the brewery recovers with plans to replenish its stock once potable water is restored in the city.
For updates, visit hiwirebrewing.com.
Cold Mountain beer weekend
Highland Brewing’s classic, seasonal Cold Mountain Winter Ale will be released during a four-day celebration from Nov. 7-10.
The party kicks off with the 5th annual Cold Mountain Beer Dinner, a multicourse meal by Chef Taylor Montogomery of Montgomery Sky Farm paired with selections of Cold Mountain selected by Highland’s Innovation Brewing Manager, Josh Jiles. Attendees will have the first access to purchase Cold Mountain packaged beer and merchandise. The event is from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 7. Admission is $120 per diner.
From Nov. 8-10, Highland’s main campus at 12 Old Charlotte Highway will be open to Cold Mountain ticketed guests only. Day passes cost $10 and weekend passes cost $12.
The family- and pet-friendly weekend will include local food trucks, live music, activities and more.
For details about Cold Mountain weekend, visit highlandbrewing.com/coldmountain/.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and covered the arts, entertainment and hospitality in Louisiana for several years. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville restaurants: Botiwalla by Chai Pani serving Indian food
