Hello Friday.
April 19 2024
Take out your calendars (and stretchy pants) for this one, folks. Jan. 18-24, rare deals and meals that include Spanish tapas, lobster rolls + Indian street food will grace our renowned dining scene for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s tenth annual Asheville Restaurant Week.
Here’s a cheat sheet that highlights some of the coolest deals from the 30 participating restaurants. If you’re hungering for more, see the full list here.
Pro tip: If possible, you'll want to make a reservation at these spots. Also, we recommend calling ahead to double-check COVID-19 protocols such as vaccination requirements or temporary closures.
Chaat represents a wide variety of sweet, sour, tangy, and spicy snacks. | Photo via @chaipani
Cúrate |13 Biltmore Ave. | Menu
- A four-course meal from James Beard-nominated chef Katie Button for $42?! ’Nuff said. This Spanish tapas restaurant lets you choose two appetizers and an entree from a list of classics such as croquettes, gambas al ajillo, lamb skewers, and piquillo peppers. The meal finishes with a dessert of espuma de chocolate (Spanish for chocolate foam).
Chai Pani | 22 Battery Park Ave. | Menu
- Learn exactly why Meherwan Irani’s restaurant was ranked by the New York Times as one of the best in the country. Choices include one chaat + tali for $24, or one chaat, two talis, and dessert for $40.
Holeman and Finch's sticky toffee dessert will get surely stuck in your memory. | GIF by AVLtoday
Holeman and Finch | 77 Biltmore Ave. I Menu
- We’re stoked to see one of downtown’s hottest fine-dining restaurants on the list. For $30, cash in on cassoulet de castelnaudary (a traditional French white bean stew with sausage, duck confit, and pork), frisee salad, and sticky toffee pudding. Psst, we’ve tried the pudding, and trust us, it’s phenomenal.
The Lobster Trap | 35 Patton Ave. | Menu
- Seize the chance for reasonably-priced, gourmet seafood. For a mere $35, engulf a three-course meal that starts with oysters and includes the choice between bibb salad, salmon cake, or mussels for a second course and either a lobster roll, cioppino, or shrimp + grits for a third course.
Hungry already? Use the buttons below to share this with your future dinner date(s).
Today
- Washed Out | Mon., Jan. 10 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $25 | Groove to the wavy, creative calm of this synth-pop band. 🎶
- Money Visioning & Goal Setting | Mon., Jan. 10| 12 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Attend this online class by financial education + counseling business, OnTrack WNC.💰
- Monday Music Bingo (Singo) | Mon., Jan 10 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Down Dog, 51 Sweeten Creek Rd. | Free | Singo (a combination of music and bingo) uses familiar songs instead of numbers to keep track of your card — win merch or gift cards.*
Tuesday
- Citizen Cope | Tues., Jan. 11 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $36 | Join American songwriter + producer Clarence Greenwood for his return to Asheville. 🎤
- Natural Wine vs. Organic & Biodynamic Wines | Tues., Jan. 11 | 6 p.m. | North Carolina Wine Academy, 58 Wall St. | $40 | Learn the difference between natural, organic + biodynamic wines and how to achieve a healthier wine drinking experience.🍷
- Trivia Tuesday | Tues., Jan. 11 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Down Dog, 51 Sweeten Creek Rd. | Free | Bring the pups and test your knowledge for a chance to win a Down Dog gift certificate.
Wednesday
- Travis Book Happy Hour featuring Tim O'Brien | Wed., Jan. 12 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $20 | A 90-minute variety show featuring bluegrass music.
- Chaotic Comedy | Wed., Jan. 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Getaway River Bar, 790 Riverside Dr. | $15 | Improv, sketch, magic, and stand up comedy — all in one show.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Name a better duo than The Lobster Trap and Better Thymes hot sauces, we’ll wait... | Photo provided by The Lobster Trap
The Lobster Trap and Better Thymes are teaming up to prove just how well hot sauce and seafood go together with an Instagram giveaway, giving folks a chance to win a Lobster Trap gift certificate and a sample pack of Better Thymes hot sauces.
Need convincing? See the best hot sauce + oyster pairings in this video featuring Lobster Trap’s chef Mike McCarty and Better Thymes’ Mei Kawamura + Chef Gabe Mcintosh.*
Weather
- 43º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Civic
- Asheville City Council will meet virtually on Tues., Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. The agenda includes: a comprehensive financial report, an update from City Manager Deborah Campbell, and a public hearing about the possible rezoning of 128 acres into part of the Urban Place Form district.
- Know an outstanding local volunteer? Consider nominating them for the 2022 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. Buncombe County is seeking nominations from the public for any person, group, or entity from the public, nonprofit, or private sector through Fri., Jan. 21. Apply or nominate someone.
Biz
- Old Fort-based Kitsbow Cycling Apparel is officially an employee-owned, public benefit corporation. This month, the cycling clothing + accessory company was purchased by its employees with the assistance of local investors. The company is also working on its B Corp certification. 🚲
- Local startup Gravitl has been accepted into the nationally renowned Y Combinator startup accelerator, a program which has helped launch major companies like Stripe, Airbnb, DoorDash, and Dropbox. Gravitl is a “noCloud company” that aims to simplify and bridge gaps of cloud server systems. 💻
Arts
- Asheville Community Theatre has launched an online series dedicated to reading + discussing plays that kicks off Thurs., Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. It will feature a discussion of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size and Choir Boy. Scripts can be checked out in advance at the theater or Noir Collective. 🎭
Eat
- Does peculiar pizza pique your interest? Then you may enjoy this roundup of Asheville’s most out-of-the-box pies, which includes persuasions such as the Alaskan, Banh Mi, “Magic Dragon,” and Moroccan lamb. 🍕 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Watch
- Travel maven Samantha Brown is back with another season of Places to Love, and this time she’s kicked things off with a visit to Asheville. In the episode, she visits Citizen Vinyl, Noir Collective, and The Biltmore Estate. Peep the trailer and learn how to access the full episode.
Health
- Virtual reality for veterans has arrived at the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The goal is to provide bed-bound patients the chance to explore computer-simulated, three-dimensional landscapes, which can help treat anxiety, cognitive issues, and beyond. Learn more. (Mountain Xpress)
Community
- The Mountain Area Health Education Center has hired Dr. William Hathaway, currently Mission Health's chief medical officer, as its new CEO. Hathaway replaces Dr. Jeffery Heck, who announced his retirement in August. (Mountain Xpress)
- MANNA FoodBank has also announced its next CEO: Claire Neal. Neal brings a background of health equity, food services, and collaborative strategy to the organization, and aims to continue its mission of addressing food insecurity that impacts more than 100,000 regional residents each month. (Mountain Xpress)
Number
- $250,000. That’s the amount Western Carolina University aimed to raise for scholarship support on Giving Tuesday, but they didn’t hit that amount. Instead, WCU raised $443,517 thanks to 443 generous donors. 👏*
*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.
Say hello to Young’s Mountain, the freshest trail on Lake Lure’s north side. Clocking in at 2.1 miles — that’s 4.2 miles round trip — it’s the latest link in Conserving Carolina’s planned system of future trails in the region.
To celebrate both the new and the old, the nonprofit challenges locals to the White Squirrel Hiking Challenge. If you think you’ve got what it takes to tackle these eight hikes, which include iconic spots like Bearwallow Mountain + the Green River Cove Trail, sign up to participate. 🥾
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Editor's Pick: I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that PIE.ZAA, Sawhorse, Corner Kitchen, Copper Crown, and Benne on Eagle are also participating in Asheville Restaurant Week. While they haven't released menus yet, I plan on checking in with these spots closer to Jan. 18, and recommend y'all doing so as well.
Missed Friday's newsletter? Buncombe County's living wage has increased, and we've got all the fast facts this way.
AVLtoday Team
Editorial: Brook, Laura, Sarah, Erin, Camille
Sales: Helen
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