ASHEVILLE – A premier culinary event with more than 50 bites and sips to sample; a new creekside restaurant; ice cream businesses’ opening and closing; seafood deals; a new beer release with a charitable cause; and more dining events to add to the calendar.
Delicious reminder: Taste of Asheville
Taste of Asheville will bring more than 50 restaurants, beverage producers, and distributors together for one night of wine and dining fun. Guests can graze on a smorgasbord of samples from their favorite establishments and discover something new.
Taste of Asheville, hosted by the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association and presented by Performance Foodservice, will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 3 at Mission Conference Center at A-B Tech, 16 Fernihurst Drive.
The annual AIR fundraiser supports the organization’s education, advocacy, resources and marketing programs and services for its 130 restaurant members.
“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.”
General admission tickets are $80. VIP tickets are $125 and include early access at 5:30 p.m. The event is known to sell out.
Participating restaurants and partners include Baked Pie Company, Biltmore Winery, Biscuit Head, Burial Beer, Chai Pani, Chestnut, Creperie Bouchon, Cúrate, French Broad Chocolates, Gemelli, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Hemingway’s Cuba, Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill, Jargon, Jettie Rae’s, Red Fiddle Vittles, Regina’s Westside, Simple Cafe & Juice Bar, Strada Italiano, Sunny Point Café, Tall John’s, The Red Stag Grill, West End Bakery and Wicked Weed.
View the complete list and purchase tickets at www.airasheville.org.
New restaurant alert
On March 26, Smokee’s on the Creek debuted at 235 Weaverville Road in Asheville. The brick-and-mortar restaurant ― from the same food truck team that’s delivered wood-fired Neapolitan pizza across WNC― is open for breakfast and lunch. For more, follow @smokeesonthecreek on Instagram.
One ice cream shop closes, another opens
Luscious Liquor Ice Cream, known for its spirit-infused ice cream, sherbets, and Italian gelatos, announced on social media that it will close after nine years of business. The dessert mobile vendor was popular at Montford Park Players’ performances.
The Freeze of Asheville has returned after closing for the cold weather season. Stop in for a scoop at 1091 Patton Ave. in West Asheville, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday. View the menu at the-freeze-of-asheville.square.site/.
Swimming in oysters, saving in deals
Stack up on seafood at The Lobster Trap ― $1 oysters are back every Tuesday.
Reserve a table at The Lobster Trap, 35 Patton Ave. downtown, on Resy. View the full menu at https://thelobstertrap.biz/.
Catch a deal at the Burton Street Fish Fry. For a $5 ticket, guests can receive a fish sandwich prepared by Chef Shateisha, while supplies last.
Hosted by Asheville Parks & Recreation, the fish fry will be from 1-5 p.m. April 11 at Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St. Purchase a ticket at ncashevilleweb.myvscloud.com. For more, visit facebook.com/APRCA.
Beer for a cause
Highland Brewing Company is pouring back into the community with its “Thirst for Good” charitable campaign. Through August, Highland Brewing has pledged to donate 100% of sales from its Highland Haze juicy IPA (7.4% ABV) to the North Carolina Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, earmarked for WNC.
Highland Brewing has set a $100,000 goal. Skyland Distributing will match the total sales amount.
Pick up a pint in Highland Brewing taprooms. Highland Haze is available at participating locations across the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia.
For more, visit highlandbrewing.com and ncrla.org/foundation/nc-hospitality-workers-relief-fund/.
More Asheville area dining events
- An Appalachian Grown Gathering, hosted by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, will be from 5-8:30 p.m. April 25 at Yesterday Spaces, Leicester. The tapas-style dinner will include four small plates and a dessert. Guests may meet and chat with local chefs and farmers, and bid in the silent auction. Tickets are $145, or purchase a table for eight for $1,000. For more, visit asapconnections.org.
- Taqueria Rosita Brunch Takeover with Chef Luis Martinez will begin at 10:15 a.m. at Botanist & Barrel at 32 Broadway St. downtown. Martinez, owner of Tequio Foods, will prepare chilaquiles, ceviche, corn pancakes and other brunch bites. Items will be sold individually. Reserve a seat for $5, credited to the final bill, at botanistandbarrelasheville.com.
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.
