Asheville food events, festivals to put on the calendar this winter

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read
Botiwalla by Chai Pani is one of the restaurant participating in the 2024 Asheville Restaurant Week, , Jan. 16-22.
Botiwalla by Chai Pani is one of the restaurant participating in the 2024 Asheville Restaurant Week, , Jan. 16-22.

ASHEVILLE - Let comfort foods coax you through the wintertime blues.

Feed the body and soul at these upcoming events and festivals celebrating Asheville's restaurants and beverage makers and the spirit of the community.

Asheville Asian Culture Festival

The inaugural Asheville Asian Culture Festival, presented by Western North Carolina Asian American Pacific Islanders, will run from Jan. 12-21 at Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Road.

The 10-day series will feature various celebratory events and activities, including culinary classes, concerts, conversations, dancing, storytelling, and workshops.

Schedule highlights

  • Jan 12. Remember Bhakti (Concert) at 6:30 p.m.

  • Jan 16. Bhangra Class (Dance) at 7:30 p.m.

  • Jan. 18. La Cuisine Chinese Cooking Class (Culinary) at 5 p.m.

  • Jan. 19. Connecting to Heritage Through Tea (Storytelling) at 11 a.m.

  • Jan 20. Kimchi Making (Culinary) at 10 a.m.

  • Jan. 21. Onigiri Pop-up (Culinary) at 2 p.m.

  • Jan. 21. Asian Culture Festival Gala (Fundraiser/Closing Event) at 4 p.m.

For updates on ticket sales and event details, follow on Instagram at @wncaapi or facebook.com/wncaapi.

Asheville Restaurant Week

Discover and support area eateries during Asheville Restaurant Week, Jan. 16-22, presented by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

Voodoo Brewing Co., a new brewpub in Arden, is one of the local businesses participating in the 2024 Asheville Restaurant Week, Jan. 16-22.
Voodoo Brewing Co., a new brewpub in Arden, is one of the local businesses participating in the 2024 Asheville Restaurant Week, Jan. 16-22.

More than 40 businesses will participate in the annual series, offering exclusive menu specials and deals.

This year’s list includes Bargello, Botiwalla, Cantina Louie, Carmel’s, Corner Kitchen, Cúrate, Farm Burger, The Lobster Trap, Luella’s Bar-B-Que, The Market Place, Mountain Madre, Pie.Zaa, Red Stag Grill, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Salt Face Mule Brewing Co., Tastee Diner, Voodoo Brewing Co., Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse and Zambra.

For the full list, visit ashevillechamber.org.

Visit the restaurant’s website or follow on social media to find out what they’re serving.

Taste of Asheville

The restaurants will come to the diners at the premier, annual tasting event featuring more than 50 local food and beverage establishments.

Taste of Asheville, presented by Cheney Brothers, will showcase members of the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Drive.

Sage and Spice Market and Catering is one of the the vendors participating at the 2024 Taste of Asheville tasting event, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center.
Sage and Spice Market and Catering is one of the the vendors participating at the 2024 Taste of Asheville tasting event, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center.

Attendees will have the opportunity to graze and taste dishes and drinks, meet chefs and discover new favorite dining destinations.

Participating businesses include the A-B Tech Community College Culinary Department, Benne on Eagle, Blackbird, Chai Pani, Copper Crown, French Broad Chocolates, Gan Shan West, Gemelli, Jargon, Laughing Seed Café, RendezVous, Rhubarb, Sage and Spice, Sunny Point Café, Tall John’s, Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, Well Played Board Game Café, West End Bakery and White Labs Brewing Co. Kitchen and Tap.

Beverage vendors include Botanist and Barrel Biltmore Estate Winery, Devil’s Foot Beverage Company, Highland Brewing Company, Pleb Urban Winery and Roll Up Herbal Bar.

General admission tickets are $80.

VIP Hour tickets are $125 and include entry one hour before general admission.

View the full list of participating vendors and purchase Taste of Asheville tickets at Eventbrite.com.

Also, plan to explore more independent restaurants in Asheville by purchasing an AIR Passport, a coupon book that offers deals at 48 AIR members’ establishments. AIR Passports cost $75. Order at airasheville.org or visit the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center Shop at 36 Montford, while supplies last.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com 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: Asheville Restaurant Week, Taste of Asheville return in 2024