Food News & Event Schedule – Livermush, Vegan Fest, Burger Battle, Jerk Off, and More!

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Hello Asheville!

I dunno know if you knew this, but just in case you didn’t, I maintain a page on my blog that functions as an up-to-date food event schedule. I’m always adding stuff to it, and keeping an ear out for new events on the horizon! Below please find the current schedule, reposted here on Ashvegas for your convenience! Please check my blog with frequency to keep yourself posted on what’s going on in the food world this Summer and beyond! If you don’t see an event listed here that you think should be, please contact me at [email protected].

Food Event Schedule Summer 2016

JUNE

SWINE & SWILL – June 2 | LIVERMUSH FESTIVAL – June 3 | MANNA FOOD BANK BLUE JEAN BALL – June 4th | GREAT AMERICAN JERK OFF – June 5th | ART & PIE – June 5 | LADIES OF COUNTRY BRUNCH – June 6 | ASHEVILLE VEGAN FEST – June 11 & 12

JULY

SHAKEDOWN SATURDAY – July 2nd

AUGUST
SHAKEDOWN SATURDAY – August 6 | AWFF SWEET – August 19 | AWFF GRAND TASTING – August 20 | WNC BURGER BATTLE – August 21 | ORGANICFEST – August 28

SCROLL DOWN FOR LINKS, GRAPHICS, AND DETAILS

Before we get into the rest of the schedule, here’s what’s going on this Summer at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, from their press release…

Hickory Nut Gap Farm is excited to announce the launch of their Friday Night Barn
Dance and Weekend Dinner Menu this Friday, May 20th through the end of October.

Dinner will be served from 5-8pm. Beer and wine will be served by
the glass from 5:30-8:30pm.

A Square Dance will be called on the newly installed dance floor in the Big Barn. All
ages are welcome, so folks are encouraged to bring their whole family. Admission is
$5 for everyone ages 10 and up, while kids under 10 are free.

Kids can play on the tunnel slides, tetherball, and rope spider web while parents
sip local beers. Kids and animal lovers alike can visit the mother sows and their
young piglets, as well as baby chicks, fluffy sheep, and a few stubborn goats.

The Farm Store will be extending its hours on Friday and Saturday evenings for the
season. The current Farm Store hours are Sunday through Thursday from 9am-6pm,
and now Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-9pm. Lunch hours will remain the same:
everyday from 11am-4pm.

MAY, JUNE & JULY

5/20: Spring Mountain ‘Shiners (Square Dance)
5/27: Sour Mash String Band (Square Dance)
6/3: The Roaring Lions (Nola Jazz & Zydeco)
6/10: The Cane Creek Boys (Square Dance)
6/17: Spring Mountain ‘Shiners (Square Dance)
6/24: Cane Creek Boys (Square Dance)
7/1: Sparrow & Her Wingmen (Vintage Swing)
7/8: Haw Creek Sheiks (Bluegrass)
7/15: Mick Glasgow & The House Hoppers (Swing)
7/20: Cafe Sho (Old Time)
7/29: Blue Kudzu (Bluegrass)

JULY & AUGUST
7/1: Sparrow & Her Wingmen (Vintage Swing)
7/8: Haw Creek Sheiks (Bluegrass)
7/15: Mick Glasgow & The House Hoppers (Swing)
7/20: Cafe Sho (Old Time)
7/29: Blue Kudzu (Bluegrass)
8/5: Cafe Sho (Cajun)
8/12: Haw Creek Sheiks (Bluegrass)
8/19: Spring Mountain ‘Shiners (Square Dance)
8/26: The Roaring Lions (Nola Jazz & Zydeco)

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
9/2: The House Hoppers (Swing)
9/9: Haw Creek Sheiks (Bluegrass)
9/16: Resonant Rogues (Jazz & Folk Traditions)
9/23: Sparrow & Her Wingmen (Vintage Swing)
9/30: The House Hoppers (Swing)
10/7: Haw Creek Sheiks (Bluegrass)
10/14: Spring Mountain Shiners (Square Dance)
10/21: Sour Mash String Band (Square Dance)
10/28: The House Hoppers (Swing)

For more information, visit www.hickorynutgapfarm.com/friday-night-barn-dance

• Swine & Swill – June 2 – Buxton Hall BBQ

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From their press release…

Swine + Swill Beer Dinner

An evening with Oskar Blues Brewery and Defiant Whisky

in partnership with Asheville Beer Week

at Buxton Hall Barbecue, 32 Banks Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

Thursday, June 2nd at 7:00pm

For Asheville Beer Week Buxton Hall will be teaming up with Oskar Blues Brewery and Defiant Whiskey for a five course beer dinner created by Elliott Moss and the Buxton team that will utilize Oskar Blues products and Defiant wooden spirals in the cooking process. Every course will be paired with hand-crafted original beer and whisky cocktails from the Buxton Hall bar team. Additionally, Oskar Blues is creating a special release beer, utilizing whiskey aged wood from Defiant, and inspiration from Buxton Hall cuisine. The beer will premiere at the event, and run on tap at Buxton afterward. And because the dinner is a part of Asheville Beer Week, expect giveaways, a raffle, and a very fine time.

TICKETS: Dinner is $50 (not including tax + gratuity) for 5 courses with 5 paired cocktails paid at the time of the event. Very limited seating, so please reserve your table now at:

• Livermush Festival – June 3 – Downtown Marion, NC

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From the Livermush Festival FaceBook Page…

We are working hard on Liver Mush Festival. I have several Fun Food Vendors and Crafts/Direct Sales. Will post vendors ASAP.

Free inflatables for the children again this year!

Eating Contest and Pig Calling Contest !!!

Train rides, face painting and balloon artist and lots more activites!

Back again this year for the 10th Liver Mush Festival!! The Roadrunnerzs!!!

More to come… https://www.facebook.com/Liver-Mush-Festival-413348218697512/

• Shakedown Saturday – Sat June 4 – Mojo Kitchen and Lounge (recurs on July 2 & August 6)

shakedown sat poster5-7

From Mojo Kitchen‘s Autumn Bomb via email message…

…we host our monthly “Shakedown Saturday”, an indoor craft bazaar the first Saturday of every month where a variety of local crafters set up, kids eat free 12-5pm, bar is open along with the bloody mary bar and live music on the porch. This event is free and open to the public. Crafts range from pottery to soap to hand turned beer tap handles and even kaleidescopes….all sorts of stuff.

• MANNA Food Bank Blue Jean Ball – Sat. June 4th – Outside MANNA’s warehouses.

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From MANNA’s website

This year’s ball will be held on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 and our theme is FIRE & ICE! The ball will be held outside MANNA’s warehouses, along the banks of the Swannanoa River. Ticket holders enjoy small tasting plates from over twenty of Asheville’s finest restaurants including Biltmore, Chestnut, Cantina at Biltmore Village, Lobster Trap, Red Stag Grill, Chai Pani, the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and many more as well as a varied selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.

An amazing not-so-silent auction is held during the ball, with over one hundred fabulous items and packages to choose from. Vacation packages, a signed Carolina basketball, a diamond necklace, gift baskets, and restaurant packages have been among the items available to the highest bidder.

The Blue Jean Ball is MANNA’s largest fundraising event. Every dollar raised or donated to the food bank provides enough food for 3 meals. Current estimates in our region indicate that over 107,000 people in Western North Carolina don’t have continuous access to three square meals a day. MANNA partners with 229 agencies throughout our region to get food to those facing hunger. In 2015, MANNA distributed enough food to provide 36,000 meals a day throughout the 16 counties in WNC.

• The Great American Jerk Off – Sunday June 5th – Ole Shakey’s

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From an email…

We are just starting to get the word out about the Great American Jerk Off, GAJO. Very happy to see all my Favorite people willing to come and hang out down by the river.

The Details:

Date: Sunday June 5th from 4pm until 7pm.

There will be a professional jerky competition and an amateur jerky competition.

Competing in the professional category there will be:

Confirmed:
Bull and Beggar
Buxton Hall
Cucina24
Table
Sovereign Remedies

There will be three competitions:

• The Professional Jerk Off –As this crew takes the wide-open subject of jerky it seems like we would be comparing bananas and grapes so this is pure fun with some great prizes.

• The people’s choice – guests will buy a wrist band and get x amount of voting tickets for their favorite

• The Armature Jerk Off – our professional team will judge this a.k.a. The Circle with several categories.

We will provide pabst and fernet for our guest chefs.

John Ammon’s is slated to Host

Pabst is co sponsoring the event

We will have live bands and fun games.

This is a 21+ event

• Pig Roast Picnic: Benefit for Our Voice – Sunday June 5th – Native Kitchen & Social Lounge

From their website…

Join us for family friendly fun in the backyard at Native! We’re kicking things off at 3pm and hanging out until dark.

Featuring:
Live Music | Games For All Ages | Raffle Prizes | Beer Specials

Picnic plates:
$15 for adults, $6 for kids 12 and under
All plates include: Slow Roasted Pork, Mac n’ Cheese, Coleslaw, Green Beans, Roasted Veggies, Summer Salad, & Housemade BBQ Sauce

* Food will be served around 5pm
All proceeds wil be donated to Our VOICE!

Bring your picnic blanket!

A special thank you to our sponsors:
Symmetry Financial Group
Pisgah Brewing
Highland Brewing Company
Asheville Web Hosting

Date:
June 5
Time:
3:00 pm
Native Kitchen and Social Pub
204 Whitson Ave

Swannanoa, NC 28778 United States
Phone:
(828) 581-0480
Website:
http://nativesocialpub.com/

• Art & Pie – Sunday June 5th – Buxton Hall BBQ

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From their press release…

Art and Pie

an Interactive Exhibit and Baking Demo

at Buxton Hall Barbecue, 32 Banks Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

Sunday, June 5th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm

A one-of-a-kind event, four bakers come together to bring an afternoon of art, instruction, insight, and delicious pie. We’ll begin with a cocktail hour to allow guests time to arrive, grab a drink, and admire Amy Evans‘ Saltville paintings throughout Buxton’s space. She will kick off the event talking about her work as a storyteller, painter, and baker. Following Evans, Ashley Capps, pastry chef of Buxton Hall, will have a demo on pie dough, exploring how different fats can affect the dough’s flavor, texture, and more. Jessica Rosenkoetter, fellow baker at Buxton Hall, will then give a demo on fruit pie fillings. Ending the night, Tara Jensen of Smoke Signals Bakery will share her methods of pie decoration, also shedding insight on working with different types of flour, milling, and the local flour we have access to here in Western North Carolina.

TICKETS: $75 include complimentary drink, pie knowledge,

and a gift bag full of surprises from the speakers

Purchase Tickets at: ARTANDPIE.SPLASHTHAT.COM

• Ladies of Country Brunch – Mon June 6th – 12pm – 4pm

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From the FaceBook event page

Come find your inner honky tonk angel. Monday brunch with downhome eats from chef Alyssa Mikus. DJ Lady Pennyface will treat your ears to all the best female country and Pabstville with be hosting Cowgirl Bingo every hour with special prizes courtesy of PBR. Yeehaw y’all.

Asheville VeganFestSat, June 11 & Sun, June 12 – Pack Square Park

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From the Brother Wolf Animal Rescue web site…

Save the date for Asheville VeganFest to benefit Brother Wolf Animal Sanctuary: June 11 and 12, 2016! As Brother Wolf continues to expand our circle of compassion, we’re spreading the love with our community and introducing folks to the joy of compassionate living (and the joy of delicious, healthy, plant-based foods!)

For 2016 we’re expanding Asheville VeganFest to bring you more speakers, activities, food and fun!

Saturday, June 11
Panel discussions with dynamic speakers from around the country
Keynote Speaker
(more details to come)

Sunday, June 12
11am-5pm
Festival in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville with over 100 vendors
Food, Beer, Farmers Market, Guest Speakers, Music and more!
Free and open to the public
(more details to come)

Keep up to date with event news at our Facebook and Twitter pages.

AWFF Sweet – August 19 – Grove Arcade

This is my #1 Fave Recurring Food Event of The Entire Year! From the SWEET page on the AWFF website

Now in our 7th year, SWEET is a decadent evening of desserts, sparkling wines, wine, and spirits to name a few of our favorite things. Chocolates, cakes, tarts, pastries and more—it doesn’t get any sweeter than this.

SWEET is the place-to-be event on Friday evening from 8 to 10 pm, before the GRAND TASTING on Saturday. Evening attire or jeans, enjoy dinner at one of the many excellent Asheville Independent Restaurants, but save room for an evening of toothsome confections and sips at the historic Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville. Local bakers, chocolatiers, pâtissiers, wine vendors, brewers and distillers will line the corridors of this architectural wonder. The shops of the Grove Arcade will stay open late, giving you the opportunity to shop for handmade crafts, jewelry, furnishings, and more while you indulge.

Enjoy the music, the food, and the atmosphere that takes you back to a fun time in our city. Create a new vibrant tone as you explore all that is delectable and delightful at the 2016 SWEET event, held on the first evening of the Asheville Wine & Food Festival.

2015 Providers of Desserts, Drinks, and Fun!

* Please Note that we are not allowed by NC State Law to list any Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries, Cideries, Meaderies or any company that produces alcohol beverages and does not have a retail license.

Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe
Biltmore Estate
Wine Me
City Bakery
French Broad
Chocolates

HOP Ice Cream Café
Karen Donatelli
50/Fifty
The Art of Dessert

Ardenne Farms
Ultimate Ice Cream
The Nightbell
Postre Caramels
Sante Wine Bar
Sweet Monkey
Poppy’s Handmade Popcorn
True Confections
Ulimana
Nutz About Fudge
Panacea Coffee
Company

AWFF Grande Tasting -August 20 – US Cellular Center

From the Grand Tasting web page on the AWFF website

A Celebration of Food, Wine, Beer, Spirits, Competitions, Music, & Fun in Asheville

The 2016 Asheville Wine & Food Festival makes it possible to sample every delicious flavor Asheville has to offer. The GRAND TASTING is the largest culinary gathering of its kind in downtown Asheville. Join the Festivalians gathered to experience a riot of local and international wineries, local Beer City and area breweries, regional distilleries, restaurateurs and chefs, farmers, and artisan food producers. Meet farmers, chefs, cookbook authors, and artisan beverage makers, as well as regional crafters. Culinary events will take place throughout the day including Blind Wine & Beer Tasting and Winery Competitions.

TripAdvisor placed Asheville right up there with New York City, San Francisco, and New Orleans when it bestowed the city with a Traveler’s Choice Food & Wine Destination Award; The Huffington Post named Asheville one of the Top 10 Undiscovered Local Food Cities; and Southern Living listed Asheville among the Tastiest Towns in the South. Armed with a wine glass, a Festival Program and Festival App, festival goers choose their own culinary adventure on each floor, enjoying wine, beer and spirits with sweet and savory morsels all for one ticket price. Don’t miss your opportunity to taste for yourself what so many others have found to be true.

August 20, 2016 GRAND TASTING VIP PARTY at the US Cellular Center (Limited tickets) $100. Early entrance at 1:00 PM.

Not only will you have early access this year, but you will have exclusive entrance to the VIP third floor. Filled with additional vendors, more tastings and of course, more wine. This party will continue well after the Grand Tasting is closed to the public. Adding even more value for your ticket extension.

August 20, 2016 GRAND TASTING at the US Cellular Center $65. Entrance at 2:00 PM.

With eight years under our belt, we have packed even more punch this year. Already busting at the seams, we have added to the restaurants, wineries, breweries, and artisan food producers. With more tastings, cooking demonstrations, author signings and educational value for our festival goers. Enjoy access to all the vendors/Exhibitors, hundreds of wines, a riot of breweries, distilleries, restaurants and food producers.

If you have questions about the festival email us at [email protected]

WNC Burger Battle – August 21 – Crowne Plaza

From the WNC Burger Battle Website

Nearly 1500 people gather for the annual WNC Battle of the Burger held in August.

Up to fifteen of Western North Carolina’s greatest chefs fire up their grills in the heart of Downtown Asheville in hopes of winning the title of WNC’s Best Burger.

That title wins them the Golden Ticket and entrance into the nationally televised World Food Championships in Kissimmee, FL where they will go on to compete amongst 50 of the World’s Best Chefs for the title of World’s Best Burger.

The WNC Battle of the Burger is one of a series of events produced by All American Food Fights. Learn more about us here.

Organicfest – August 28 – Pack Square

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From the OrganicFest’s web site…

What: Organicfest 2015 ~ celebrating everything organic (and green!)
When: Sunday, August 30
Time: 10:00 am ~ 6:00 pm
Where: Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville, NC
Why: Celebrate and promote the goodness of organics!
Website: www.organicfest.org

2015 THEME: Bee Organic!

Special Note: The Organicfest is presented to celebrate National Organic Harvest Month. The organic industry is one of the fastest growing, consumer driven industries in the United States. This special event, (co-sponsored local and national businesses and organizations) is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, highlight and promote the pure, organic food and products available in our community, create a connection to the people who grow and supply organic, and find out why organic is good for people and the planet

Asheville’s annual Organicfest celebration will bring thousands to Pack Square Park to celebrate everything organic, green and healthy! In celebration of National Organic Month, the Organicfest was created to spotlight, connect, share and grow our rich organic community of farmers, artists and businesses with our community.

Everyone is invited to attend the 14th Organicfest celebration on Sunday, August 30, 2015 for a festive day filled with live music by local entertainers such as Chris Rosser, Sheri Lynn, Greenway and many more. The Organicfest Marketplace features an array of local organic and green products, businesses and services with offerings from food and gardening to flowers and fashion as well as beautiful and unique natural arts and crafts. Participants can also take home plenty of awesome information about growing organic gardens and living more organic, sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyles that are good for people and the planet!

Each year, donations from local and national businesses are gathered for the popular Organicfest drawings with lucky winners taking home fabulous organic gifts, goodies and gift certificates throughout the day.

This family event includes lots of fun and eco-friendly activities for children, including special entertainment on the Imagine OrganicKidz stage. And you won’t want to miss the Organicfest “Bee Organic!” Pollinator Parade where kids (and their parents) are invited to come dressed as their favorite good bug (honeybee, ladybug, butterfly or garden fairy!) and parade throughout the park in a joyous celebration of the bounty of the garden and the importance of pollinators.

Organicfest is presented by a local, all-volunteer non-profit group in partnership with Asheville Greenworks to present a low impact, green event. The greening of Organicfest will include recycling and composting. Sponsors include: Organic Matters Media, Mountain Rose Herbs, Natural Lifestyle, SilitCookware.com, 880 AM The Revolution, Gran Fondo National Championship Series, The Laurel of Asheville, 98.1 The River, Great Life Global, Asheville.com, Ashevillage Institute, Dig Local, and other local and national businesses and services.

Join the celebration of everything organic, green, good, health and fun at the Organicfest 2015. For more information visit: www.organicfest.org

And there you go! I’m sure I’ve missed several… dozen… other fun food related events and news items. Please keep me posted on what you know and I will keep you posted on what I know, and together maybe we come close to covering this ever-growing thing we call our Local Asheville Food Scene.

— END —

From left: Chef Jacob Sessoms of Table; Chef William Dissen, The Market Place; Chef Steven Goff, Standard Foods; Chef Katie Button, Curate; Chef Joe Scully, Chestnut and Corner Kitchen; Stu Helm; Chef John Fleer, Rhubarb; Chef Karen Donatelli, Donatelli Bakery; Chef Peter Pollay, Posana Cafe; and Chef Matt Dawes, Bull & Beggar./ Photo by STEWART O'SHIELDS for ASHVEGAS.COM

From left: Chef Jacob Sessoms of Table; Chef William Dissen, The Market Place; Chef Steven Goff, Standard Foods; Chef Katie Button, Curate; Chef Joe Scully, Chestnut and Corner Kitchen; Stu Helm; Chef John Fleer, Rhubarb; Chef Karen Donatelli, Donatelli Bakery; Chef Peter Pollay, Posana Cafe; and Chef Matt Dawes, Bull & Beggar./ Photo by STEWART O’SHIELDS for ASHVEGAS.COM

Stu Helm is an artist, writer, and podcaster living in Asheville, NC, and a frequent diner at local restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and the like. His tastes run from hot dogs and mac ‘n’ cheese, to haute cuisine, and his opinions are based on a lifetime of eating out. He began writing about food strictly to amuse his friends on Facebook.
__________________

External links:

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stuhelmfoodfan.wordpress.com

facebook.com/stuhelmfoodfan

instagram.com/stuhelm33

twitter.com/stuhelmfoodfan

wpvmfm.org/show/asheville-food-fan

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