Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around, including the announcement that Lucky Otter restaurant will be closing on Jan. 1.
-Lucky Otter restaurant, a veritable institution in West Asheville, is closing Jan. 1. Here’s the message from the restaurant’s general manager, which was posted on reddit and Facebook:
Hey guys..I wanted to let people know that after 15 years of being a West Asheville staple, Lucky Otter will be closing it’s doors for good on January 1st. I’m sure you will hear many incorrect reasons as to why it’s closing, but the real reason is, is that it’s just time. The man who opened Lucky Otter, Roland Knoll, passed away a year and a half ago and his wife and staff did an amazing job in continuing to keep the restaurant open, but now it’s time for change. To honor our long time customers and celebrate our appreciation, starting tomorrow we will be offering a Don’t be a Jerk burrito and our signature margarita for $10.00. Thanks for your patronage and here’s to 2018!
-In case you missed it: The Omni Grove Park Inn is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the National Gingerbread House Competition this year.
–Bake Pie Company is open in Woodfin.
-The 2018 AIR Passport is on sale now. The passport is your buy-one-get-one ticket to some of Buncombe County’s highly acclaimed independent restaurants via the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.
–Asheville Restaurant Week returns Jan. 15 through Jan. 26. This year the event will have a kick-off celebration on Jan. 11 at New Belgium Brewing. The event will include plenty of food samples.
–Asheville Mardi Gras will hold its 11th annual parade through downtown on Sunday, Feb. 11. The parade begins at 3:05 p.m. and will have a different route that will go through the heart of the South Slope.
-Former WLOS anchorman Larry Blunt, who was abruptly laid off by the Sinclair Broadcasting-owned station earlier this month, has landed a job in real estate, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. He and his wife, Jan Blunt, are Realtors with Carolina Mountain Sales.
-Ellyn “Ellie” Feinroth, 61, the former of Doc Chey’s in Asheville, died on Nov. 11, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. The restaurant closed Labor Day weekend after 15 years of business on Biltmore Avenue. Here’s the obituary for Ellyn Feinroth.
-Western North Carolina chefs comment on food trends for 2018, Mountain Xpress reports.
“…the former (what? owner?) of Doc Chey’s…”