Asheville Food Bites: Chocolate contest, downtown bowling, supper club dining, more
ASHEVILLE - An Asheville chocolate shop vies for votes in a people's choice contest; local and regional chefs host themed dinner parties at secret venues; an underground bar opens its bowling alley lanes; a gourmet burger joint introduces new summer salads.
Best chocolate shop
French Broad Chocolate is in the running for USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for favorite chocolate shop.
The online poll contest features candidates from across the U.S. nominated by an expert panel. The public may vote for their favorite through June 10 at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-chocolate-shop-2024/.
The Best Chocolate Shop nominees are hailed for using premium ingredients and unique flavors to make “delicious and distinctive chocolates.”
French Broad Chocolate, a woman-owned and operated business founded in Asheville, makes sustainable treats with farmer-sourced cacao to make bonbons, chocolate bars, cakes, brownies, cookies and more.
For more about the “bean-to-bar” chocolate shop, visit frenchbroadchocolates.com.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee is in the running for Best Free Attractions. Vote at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-free-attraction-2024/.
Wagbar in Weaverville is up for Best Dog Bar. Vote at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-dog-bar-2024/.
Sticky Sweet dining experience
The Blind Pig Supper Club, a regional pop-up culinary series, has announced a new dining event for Asheville.
The Sticky Sweet dinner is scheduled from 5-8:30 p.m. Aug. 11, and in supper club tradition, the location will be disclosed to ticketholders closer to the date.
Sticky Sweet’s “big hair Rock & Roll” theme will inspire the six-course tasting menu curated by Chef Misti Norris of Petra & The Beast in Dallas, Texas, Pitmaster Bryan Furman of Atlanta, Georgia, and local chefs Bryan Sandoval, Lindsay Chabot and Mike Moore.
Pulp will offer custom cocktails to social hour guests.
Attendees are encouraged ― but not required ― to dress to the theme and enter the Big Hair Costume Contest to win prizes.
Tickets are $90 per person. Purchase at Eventbrite.
The Blind Pig Supper Club will present the Southeast Southwest BBQ Tasting Event in honor of Father’s Day on June 16 at Hi-Wire Brewing’s Big Top taproom in Biltmore Village.
The A Small Village in Portugal event on July 30 is sold out.
For more, visit theblindpigsupperclub.com/asheville-dinners.
Bowling downtown
A two-lane bowling alley has opened at The Draftsman, an underground bar at 68 Patton Ave. inside the downtown boutique hotel: The Restoration.
The cost is $10 per person, per hour. The bowling alley lane availability is first come, first served at the bar.
The Draftsman offers old-school table and arcade games, too.
Bar bites, cocktails, local brews and other beverages are available for purchase.
For more, visit therestorationhotel.com.
Summer salad refresh
Farm Burger is serving more than 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef burgers this summer.
The regional restaurant has added two new seasonal salads made with fresh and locally harvested produce.
The Farm Salad. A local lettuce blend mixed with arugula, cucumbers, radish and tomatoes and topped with parmesan and buttermilk dill dressing.
The Superfood Salad. Local kale topped with nutrient-rich black rice, radish, strawberries, pickled red onion, local feta and served with a honey-ginger dressing.
“We are delighted to introduce our new seasonal salads to familiar faces and first-time guests of Farm Burger,” George Frangos, co-founder of Farm Burger, said in a news release. “Thanks to our strong relationships with local farms across the Southeast, we're able to source fresh, seasonal ingredients. By reimagining the Farm and Superfood Salads, we are supporting our local communities and delivering a genuine farm-to-table experience to our guests.”
Southeast farm partners include Whited Farm Produce, R Farm, Ga Proud Provisions, West GA Co-Op, Tucker Farms, Love is Love Cooperative Farm and Diamond Hill.
Farm Burger is located at 10 Patton Ave. and 1831 Hendersonville Road in Asheville.
For more, visit farmburger.com.
Father’s Day at Rocky’s
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack invites families to spend Father’s Day (June 16) enjoying a Sunday brunch of Nashville-style hot chicken and other Southern favorites.
The weekly Sunday brunch menu features dishes like biscuits and gravy, eggs benedict and chicken and waffles, plus cocktails like bloody marys and mimosas.
Rocky’s recommends gifting dad items from the restaurant’s retail collection, which includes branded hats, hoodies and shirts available in sizes small to XXXL.
Gift certificates are available at the restaurant and online, too.
Rocky’s West Asheville restaurant is at 1455 Patton Ave. or visit the Arden dining room at 3749 Sweeten Creek Road.
For more, visit rockyshotchickenshack.com.
Stories you may have missed:
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Local sustainable roaster opens first coffee shop in West Asheville
Answer Woman: What's the new restaurant on Hendersonville Road?
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: French Broad Chocolate considered one of best in U.S., more food news
