MINI-GUIDE TO ASHEVILLE’S FOODTOPIA
Asheville, NC is known for its astounding food scene, so be sure to try some of the local cuisine while you are visiting. You can find everything from Korean rice stone bowls to Indian to rustic French with an American twist. Also, don’t forget breakfast – Asheville has some incredible breakfast spots! There’s so much good food, it’s hard to choose.
BREAKFAST
To start the day, check out these breakfast spots to get you going:
Sunny Point Café – A quaint café that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the highlight is breakfast. They source many of their vegetables from their own garden on site, which you can stroll through while you wait for a table or after your meal. Best Huevos Rancheros in North Carolina! And the infamous “Our Favorite Breakfast Sandwich” is a delectable medley of roasted tomatoes with thick, juicy bacon, creamy yet sharp melted cheddar in between a fluffy omelet, chipotle aioli that is to die for, all nestled between a flaky, buttery croissant. You’ll want to take one back home with you. Menu at http://sunnypointcafe.com/
Over Easy Cafe – Another cute little breakfast joint that serves imaginative, fresh food, Over Easy Café is a downtown Asheville staple. The “Seasonal Hash Bowl” is a selection of crispy roasted root vegetables and brussels sprouts (delicious in this dish even if you don’t like them!), with an over easy egg and gouda cheese topper. Sounds simple, but tastes like a dream. Other unique dishes include the Apple-Miso glazed Duck Leg with celeriac puree and sweet potatoes topped with an over easy egg, and Winter Veggie Omelet with shitake mushrooms, leeks, beets and kale. Menu at http://www.overeasyasheville.com/
LUNCH
Mid-way through a day of browsing the many boutiques and art galleries, you’ll probably start wondering what’s for lunch:
Stone Bowl Korean Restaurant is the ideal place to grab a healthy, well-rounded lunch. You’ve got to try one of their name sakes – the stone bowl. Choose a protein (fish, pork, tofu, chicken, etc.), and leave the rest to them. Your bowl will arrive sizzling, with a variety of vegetables, your chosen protein, and an over easy egg on top that beautifully mixes in with your rice, which is literally cooked to crispy perfection by the bowl it’s presented in. Menu at http://www.stonebowlasheville.com/
The Southern Kitchen and Bar – If it’s warm enough you’ll want to sit outside so you can people watch at this no-nonsense café. Have a cocktail or one of Asheville’s many craft beers while you watch the parade of artists, musicians, and tourists on their journey up and down one of downtown Asheville’s busiest streets, Lexington Avenue. The food is simple, but delicious. Try the pork belly slider with Korean slaw or the mac and cheese (or both!). And if you haven’t had a Sloppy Joe since 5th grade cafeteria lunch, revel in The Southern’s yummy version of this nostalgic sandwich. Menu at http://www.stonebowlasheville.com/
DINNER
Dinner in Asheville is its own occasion. Boasting arguably some of the best restaurants on the East Coast, you will probably want to make a reservation, especially on the weekend.
The Bull and Beggar – Walk in the door and you may not expect rustic French cuisine when you see the industrial, no frills décor and service staff decked out head to toe in denim, but that’s what you’ll get. The raw bar is unparalleled, boasting a daily selection of oysters and other hand-chosen “fruits of the sea” that vary depending on availability. Enjoy a tapas style meal by ordering from the small plates menu. Charred octopus steals the show, served with a romesco that you’ll want to bottle up and take home with you, and veal sweetbreads are decadent paired with chanterelle and figs. On the entrée menu you’ll find a filet mignon with madeira sauce that you’ll never forget. On the lighter side, the whole sea bass with summer squash, fennel and pistou is an elegantly balanced dish with fish cooked to utter perfection. Menu at http://www.thebullandbeggar.com/
Chai Pani – If you’re in the mood for something different and a little more laid back, check out the rolls at Chai Pani. Indian dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala are rolled up in hot buttered nan bread and topped with slaw, onions and chutney. Don’t forget to order one of their imaginative cocktails to work up your appetite, like The Pani, a refreshing blend of elderflower, lime, cilantro and sparkling wine. Arrive early, as their kitchen closes at 9:30pm during the week or 10pm on weekends, so you’ll have to head over to MG Road Bar & Lounge, their sister restaurant, for more unique cocktails once dinner is over. Menus at http://www.chaipaniasheville.com/ and http://www.mgroadlounge.com/
We hope you get a chance to visit these restaurants during the 2019 SMPS SERC.
