The breweries join Innovation and Balsam Falls in the county industry’s focus on the local market.

The breweries join Innovation and Balsam Falls in the county industry’s focus on the local market.
**UPDATED MARCH 14** Asheville breweries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Wedge at Foundation hosts Bike of the Irish, Burial welcomes 3 Floyds and more local beer news.
Fractals Coffee Shop and Cafe brings something completely different to Haywood Road this week. Also, the inaugural Hendersonville Restaurant Week, African Friendship Dinner at Folkmoot; THE BLOCK Off Biltmore’s first vegan mac and cheese cook-off and Asheville Humane Society hosts 15th annual Dine To Be Kind.
This year’s offerings from the 11 competing kitchens ran the gamut from classic Buffalo wings to puréed fruit-topped concoctions.
Part of a Knoxville, Tenn.-based franchise chain, The Casual Pint is the latest southside outpost for draft and packaged beer.
The 2014 James Beard Leadership Award-winner Karen Washington will lead a workshop in anticipation of the Organic Growers School spring conference. Also, Food Connection hosts Chefs in Action; Curragh Chase pop-up dinner at Summit Coffee; White Labs Kitchen & Tap debuts fermentation series; Hickory Nut Gap Farm hosts whole hog butchery class; and James Beard Award semifinalists are announced.
Formerly Virgola, The Wine & Oyster offers an expanded menu. Also this week: Cúrate holds a five-course wine dinner, Dobra Tea leads a class on oolong tea, the Asheville Truffle Experience returns and East Fork Pottery hosts a French Broad Chocolates workshop and more.
Thanks to Asheville’s reputation as a food destination, many area hotels have stepped up their restaurant game in recent years with models that bring in the talents of well-known Western North Carolina chefs and highlight locally grown ingredients. And these hot spots aren’t just trying to woo tourists — there’s also a move toward catering to a local customer base. […]
On Sunday, Feb. 18, Buxton Hall Barbecue will host Celebrating the Culinary Journey of the South: A Dinner Conversation with John T. Edge. Also: Haywood Common opens in West Asheville; Rezaz closes for renovations; and more in this week’s Small Bites.
Thirsty Monk, Oskar Blues and other businesses combine beer with an assortment of foods for a memorable night out.
From rustic culinary classes to tea and scones, WNC food businesses are planning some creative ways to celebrate love.
Teams compete for top honors in the fifth annual Congregation Beth HaTephila Souper Bowl. Also: A vegan wine and cheese tasting at Greenlife Grocery, vegan barbecue at Sanctuary Brewing Co., a wine and cheese tasting with WNC Cheese Trail, Corner Kitchen Catering closes and more Asheville food news.
**UPDATED FEB. 8** Sweeten Creek offers a new beer as its first crowler release, Burial celebrates Mardi Gras and the launch of its Ambient Terrain series and more local beer news.
Blue Ghost Brewing Co. brings back its Soup or Bowl soup-off and Chai Pani cooks up a pop-up while it closes for renovations. Also, check out some Super Bowl Sunday options and the latest from PennyCup Coffee.
**UPDATED JAN. 31** Super Bowl parties abound, Burial celebrates International Gruit Day and more local beer news.
ASHEVILLE
Warm winter cocktails offer healing and comfort in a mug.
Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium hosts the Real Estate Agents Combating Homelessness fund launch party. Also: The town of Fletcher hosts its 17th annual Chili Cook-Off; the Organic Growers School talks food sovereignty and agriculture in Cuba; Blue Spiral 1 hosts its first art dinner pairing; Your Vegan Mentor demonstrates homemade soups; and author Julia Turshen celebrates her latest cookbook at Nightbell.
The Cajun Cookoff returns to the Salvage Station. Also: Firestorm Books & Coffee hosts a vegetarian potluck, Our Global Table fundraiser benefits Pisgah Legal’s Justice for All Project, Cuban food comes to Twin Leaf Brewery, Mamacitas hosts a fundraiser for ArtSpace Charter School and Knife & Fork starts its annual winter pop-up series.
**UPDATED JAN. 16** Appalachian Vintner welcomes Firestone Walker to town, Black Star Line collaborates with Highland and more local beer news.
For downtown wanderers, food trucks have long been a scarce commodity. But with a new food truck lot open now in downtown’s “Pit of Despair,” Asheville’s lunch scene is about to welcome new faces weekly.