Addition to Asheville

Over Thanksgiving, my parents celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. We were together in Asheville for the holiday and chose to explore a restaurant new to town. Chestnut, from the same great folks who bring us the Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village is another great culinary addition to downtown.

When we visited they had been open for only 1 month but they were already full of interested diners. The atmosphere is a hip, casual rustic modern look making the most of the great old building where they are housed. We were sure to make a reservation and were seated right away, although I would not have minded waiting at the bar!

We started with two great cocktails, a dirty martini featuring olives stuffed with Three Graces Dairy goat cheese (we tried to bribe the server for more) and the house version of an Old Fashioned. Both were well made and unique in flavor.

For starters we shared the lobster bisque, the beet salad, and the lobster risotto cakes. The bisque was creamy with generous amounts of lobster meat and the lobster risotto cakes where lightly fried shaped into cute pears. Each delivered in flavor and portions. We complemented our choices with the bread basket a not to be missed treat of (mostly) house made breads.

 For entrees we were lucky enough to have several people at the table, so I had the joy of sampling much of the menu. The entrees proved to be substantial and flavorful. Two of my favorites were the filet and a halibut special. The halibut was light with a smooth butter sauce to complement its delicate flavor.

 Although we could not hold another bite, we made room for the chocolate souffle. It was well worth loosening our top buttons.

I cannot wait to cozy up again in Chestnut's space. It is a worthy addition to downtown Asheville's restaurant scene.

White Duck Taco Shop

I had been dying to try the White Duck Taco Shop in Asheville, NC for months.  Over the holidays I was finally able to try out several of their tasty tacos. Located in the River Arts District, White Duck is a great launching spot for a day of browsing the amazing art galleries and artist studios that line the streets in this part of town. Here you will find anything from hand blown glass to amazing pottery along with a few cute eateries.

The White Duck menu focuses on "good and affordable" food. The tacos range from your typical fish taco enhanced by a fresh slaw and dressed up tarter sauce to those with an Asian and Greek flare.  I was happy to have a few people along to help me sample. I ordered the gyro taco as well as the fish taco. The fish was lightly fried and flakey the flavor was set off by a creamy jalapeno tarter sauce and a crunchy fresh cole slaw. The gyro taco was my favorite! It featured thinly sliced gyro meat a great tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, pico de gallo, feta, and a corn tortilla. This was rich, flavorful and filling. It seems like two tacos are enough to fill anyone, but it's hard to resist trying more. 

Fish and the Gyro

We started with chips, salsa and queso which were unremarkable although we did enjoy the smokey chipotle sauce that came as a part of the selection. Other great tacos we tried were the jerk chicken, duck confit, steak and cheese and the Bangkok shrimp.

Duck Confit and the Jerk Chicken

The duck confit was rich and unexpectedly paired with avocado which smoothed out the richness of the duck. The jerk chicken packed a spicy punch. The chicken seemed rubbed with a true jerk marinade of intricate spices. This was cooled with a purple cabbage slaw. 

Bangkok Shrimp and the Steak and Cheese

The Bangkok shrimp was slightly spicy and paired with fresh zucchini and carrots to help mellow the heat. The steak and cheese was a great take on the traditional cheesesteak sandwich rolled into a corn tortilla and lightened with lettuce and pico de gallo.

The restaurant has a great laid back feel. You can order and eat quickly although a line formed quickly after 1 pm. On a sunny day you can dine on the porch at a picnic table overlooking the river and the train. I can't wait to go back and try another great selection.

Travel Post-Fabulous French Broad Chocolates

I spent Valentine's Day weekend in Asheville, NC this year and despite the amount of brownies and snacks available in my mom's amazing kitchen, went in search of some chocolate. What is Valentine's Day without that sweet goodness right? I was pleased to try French Broad Chocolates. FBC is a family owned gourmet chocolate company right in the heart of downtown Asheville. They subscribe to the organic local movement and try to produce chocolates using the finest natural ingredients. They offer a great selection of truffles, caramels, desserts, coffees, and chocolate drinks.  I have a sweet tooth, but will always choose something savory over a dessert. These confections were ideal. They offered unique choices of truffles like olive oil, fennel, and sea sat, lavender, orange, and chili. The salt perfectly offsets the sweetness of the smooth chocolate. I sampled an assortment of truffles, and had to pair them with a coffee (delicious french press). For beverages, they offer an array of hot chocolates that can be made from any of the truffle flavors onhand. For the real chocolate lover however,  there is the liquid truffle. This drink seems to be simply melted chocoate, flavorings, and a little milk. It was like sipping a melted chocolate bar. The spicy liquid truffle was like traditional Mexican hot chocolate with cinnamon and chili powder, but was a little on the spicy side. The lavender was amazing like a spa day for your mouth. My favorite however was the chai tea hot chocolate. Each drink is served in a cute little handmade clay mug. This is certainly worth a try. It appears more crowded than it really is with a line to initially order, but they have ample space upstairs for larger groups or to get away from the crowd.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge
www.frenchbroadchocolates.com

10 South Lexington Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-4181

Travel Post- A Table in Asheville, NC

I was born in Asheville, NC, but my family moved to Atlanta when I was in kindergarten, so it wasn't until my parents bought another home there 7 years ago that I got a chance to experience all the great things this city has to offer.

The food scene in Asheville is outstanding. There are a great variety of restaurants, the quality is outstanding, and the emphasis on locally grown/ raised food rivals many major cities.


I had ventured to Table, an eclectic downtown eatery, for a cozy dinner this winter and was not disappointed, but this weekend I decided to try the brunch. I was not let down! Table describes itself as market-driven, seasonal, new American cuisine. I call it deliciously creative.

The chefs and co-owners went to college in Asheville, ventured out for their culinary experiences and have come home with impressive training, and a great respect for what the region has to offer.

I ordered their southern version of eggs benedict featuring a biscuit, asparagus, and poached eggs. The plate arrived presented beautifully with field greens and the perfect amount of hollandaise. The eggs had a good consistency with just enough yolk to coat the biscuit, which stole the show.

My mother (a southern food queen) after one bite, was not offended by my declaring it the best biscuit I had ever eaten. Now I am a fan of biscuits, my grandmother's, my mother's, the original Flying Biscuit to name a few, but this flaky masterpiece highlighted the entire dish.

The menu features favorites like bacon and eggs, as well as a Table take on the croque monsieur and croque madame, house-made bagels and a delicious fried chicken with those amazing biscuits.

Table has an open kitchen and a friendly wait staff. The atmosphere reminds me of some smaller out of the way places I love in Atlanta or in the East Village in Manhattan. The dark walls and floor give it a great feel, and the staff are laid back in Asheville style, but remain attentive to your needs. It was quiet crowded when I had dinner there, but not overwhelmed by Sunday brunch. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone venturing into Asheville, but looking for a little big city spin on their southern mountain experience.

Table
48 college st. asheville nc 28801
ph: 828.254.8980
http://tableasheville.com/