Asheville is artsy, alluring and authentic – an enclave of culture and conscience tucked away in the southern reaches of the Appalachians. And wherever artists aggregate, so too do great chefs. Asheville sports a slew of good restaurants. Here are three of the best:
- The Marketplace is the sort of eatery where the term “local” is writ large. Chef William Dissen and his band of cooks, farmers, wait staff, cheese-makers, winegrowers and such share a philosophy that says the best food often tends to be the food that’s produced nearby. They also like to give back to the community in more than symbolic fashion. For 30 years The Marketplace has supported local arts, local education. The cuisine is contemporary American, cuisine based upon seasonal and organic ingredients from nearby farms.
- Tupelo Honey Cafe is another Asheville eatery that leans heavily on local. Executive Chef Brian Sonoskus specializes in dishes such as sweet potato pancakes with peach and butter. The shrimp and grits are engagingly exotic and down-home, all in the same bite. Sonoskus is authentically give-back sort of guy, supporting Chefs Move to Schools. The effort, spearheaded by Michelle Obama, focuses on cutting childhood obesity by teaching kids how to eat healthy.
- Luella’s Barbeque thrives in a region of the country defined by the cuisine. The place is named after owner and pit boss Jeff Miller’s daughter and her namesake great-grandmother. The meats are perfectly smoked, the sides made from scratch and the menu a monument to the art and craft of all things barbeque. Start with a draft from Luella’s extensive beer selection. Fill in the corners with an appetizer of Better Than Dad’s Deviled Eggs. Make the main course Pulled Beef Brisket. The cooking here is real. Make it a point come hungry.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Tupelo Honey Cafe)
