More news cooking in the restaurant scene: A new Spanish restaurant is opening up in the previous home of the Asheville Area Arts Council.
They’ve been working on renovating the space since last fall. I visited the space last week and it looks like it’s going to be an elegant addition to downtown dining. Here’s the press release sent today:
Cúrate to open March 3
ASHEVILLE, NC (February 20, 2011) For Immediate Release – The highly anticipated authentic Spanish tapas bar, Cúrate, will open for dinner service on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Heirloom Hospitality Group’s lively full-service restaurant brings diners the best of Spanish food and wine with fabulous locally sourced ingredients.
The cuisine at Cúrate is first and foremost traditional Spanish. From jamón Ibérico to croquetas de pollo to flan with caramel sauce, those who have traveled to Spain will instantly be transported back to one of the lively tapas bars beloved throughout the country, one plate at a time.
Cúrate’s menu is complemented by a carefully compiled selection of wine, beer, Sherry and sangria. The wine menu features some of Spain’s finest wines at affordable prices, offered by the glass or by the bottle. In the spirit of Asheville’s impressive win of the title “Beer City USA” in 2010, Cúrate’s beer list will feature locally crafted draft brew selection as well as a variety of beers imported from Spain. Adventurous guests will be delighted by the porrón, a festive tradition imported from Catalonia where even an experienced enthusiast has been known to spill a drop or two. Cúrate also offers sangria, made tableside with a bottle of Spanish Garnacha wine for traditional red sangria or a bottle of Cava for a festive, sparkling sangria blanca.
Cúrate’s authentic Spanish menu was crafted by Chef Katie Button, an alumna of Ferran Adria’s critically acclaimed restaurant, elBulli, who spent many years living and cooking in Spain. Chef Button also worked with celebrated Spanish chef José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup at Café Atlantico in Washington, DC, and later The Bazaar by José Andrés in Los Angeles.
The dining room and beverage program are under the direction of another elBulli and ThinkFoodGroup alum, Felix Meana, Chef Button’s fiancé and a partner in Heirloom Hospitality Group. Meana brings the unsurpassed level of care and quality of service found at elBulli, named Best Restaurant in the World five years in a row, to Cúrate. In 2010, while Meana managed Andrés’ tasting room SAAM, the gastronomic magazine Art Culinaire featured him in an article on high end service.
The home of Cúrate, a building erected in 1927 as the original bus depot, is being thoughtfully renovated back to its original glory by local artisans. Restoring copper trimmed windows, refurbishing a plaque representing the year the building was established, and recreating hand painted window signs resembling store fronts of years gone by are just a few ways the building is emerging as it was originally intended. The restaurant interior will feature several exciting installations by local artists: art work by Gabriel Shaffer, metal work by Shawn Oldham of Black Robin Hero and Kelly Prestwood of Matrix Metalworks, an expansive living plant wall by Kate & Emilio Ancaya of Living Roofs Inc, cabinetry by Daniel Stephens of 3D Works, and a 38 foot marble bar that is the centerpiece of the restaurant from Hank Strauss of Mountain Marble accented with Bob Bridgham of Hardcore Concrete Designs tile facade.
In Spanish, Cúrate, means ‘cure yourself.’ Whether guests are looking for a fun-filled evening out with friends or a quick bite before or after one of Asheville’s many art or music productions, Cúrate is the place to go to take care of yourself, by letting us take care of you.
Located at 11 Biltmore Avenue, in Asheville, Cúrate is open for dinner Tuesday – Sunday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and closed on Monday. Lunch and brunch service are scheduled to begin in April. For reservations or for more information, call 1-828-239-4946 or visit us at www.curatetapasbar.com.
About Heirloom Hospitality Group
Heirloom Hospitality Group was created in 2008 when a mother and daughter from New York City decided to fulfill their dream of opening a restaurant. What started as general conversation began to solidify into a concrete description of the atmosphere, style, type of food, and location of a real feasible restaurant. The location was the easiest. On many drives throughout the eastern United States, specifically North Carolina, they fell in love with Asheville, NC.
Cúrate is the first restaurant concept for the local family company, Heirloom Hospitality Group, which is owned by Elizabeth Button, Ted Button, Katie Button and Felix Meana. Katie and Felix met in Washington DC while working for José Andrés’s ThinkFoodGroup, which is led by James Beard Award-winning chef José Andrés and restaurateur Rob Wilder. ThinkFoodGroup is the team behind Washington DC’s dining concepts, Jaleo, Café Atlántico, Zaytinya, Oyamel and the critically acclaimed minibar by josé andrés, as well as the celebrated Los Angeles restaurant The Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel. Chef José Andrés also has several cookbooks and host the PBS series “Made in Spain.” Felix Meana consulted recently for TFG in their opening of Jaleo and China Poblano at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Now, this internationally renowned chef, is playing a supportive role advising Heirloom Hospitality Group for the opening of their restaurant, Cúrate.
Heirloom Hospitality Group is relatively new to Asheville but has already developed a strong commitment to serving its community with involvement in such programs as the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association, Leadership Asheville, Michelle Obama’s “Chefs Move to Schools,” the Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Program, supporting local farmers, using composting and bio-fuel resources, and making donations of construction materials to the local Habitat for Humanity. This dynamic company continually seeks new opportunities for contributing within the community, putting down strong roots as they continue to grow.