Quick bites around Ashvegas: Swallow Soup promises Asheville delivery; what’s up with Ference Cheese?; Homegrown is up and running; Jason’s Deli is coming; and a Jersey Mike’s is going

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Here’s some of what’s going around, compiled by Asheville Citizen-Times food reporter Carol Motsinger, me and you, loyal readers. What else is going on around Asheville’s awesome food/restaurant scene? Email me, or leave a comment:

-Soup for you! Here’s a note I received from loyal reader Mary Kelly:

Hi my name is Mary Kelley and I’ve started a company called Swallow Soup. We’re Asheville’s premier “soup only” delivery service. We make vegetarian and vegan soup from local and organic (whenever possible) ingredients and deliver it once a week to homes and offices within a 5 mile radius of downtown.

We would love to be mentioned in your Ashvegas blog if possible. We’re big fans. Check out our website when you get a chance, and thank you.

-Breath of fresh AIR: The Asheville Independent Restaurant Association is holding its Taste of Asheville event on Nov.18. It promises to be a big night for the local organization. From a press release: “Not only will 30 talented chefs dazzle attendees at AIR’s Taste of Asheville event, but it will also launch a new look, direction and focus for the organization.” Tickets cost $50 per person, with the ticket being a coupon booklet containing $600 worth of coupons to local restaurants. Passports are available at www.airasheville.org and at The Asheville Store in the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 36 Montford Avenue.

-Who moved my cheese? Here’s a note I received from loyal reader Al:

The (Ference Cheese) shop on Weaverville Highway is closed and empty, the phone is disconnected, and emails bounce back, but the website is still up.  Do you have any information?  I’m going through withdrawal here.

-Homegrown: Homegrown has opened in the former location of Picnic’s at 371 Merrimon Avenue. The restaurant, which features an outdoor seating area, emphasizes local ingredients in its southern cuisine-inspired menu.

It’s open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 5-9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

The menu features hot plates, sides, desserts and munchies. Menu examples include mac and cheese, chicken pot pie and meatloaf. Entrée and sandwiches prices range from $5.50 to $9.50. The interior has been remodeled to form a couple of lovely seating areas inside, a great front porch for eating outside, and there’s a great floor-to-ceiling chalk board with the restaurant’s menu.

-Jason’s Deli: Jason’s Deli is planning on opening in Asheville Nov. 1

The franchise will open in the new building in the Westgate shopping center at 5 Westgate Parkway Ste. 100.

In addition to being a sit-down eatery, Jason’s Deli will offer catering and delivery to all of Asheville, said Gary Bogosian, district catering and sales for Jason’s Deli. The menu features salads, build-your-own sandwiches, paninis, pastas, po’boys and muffalettas. Prices range from about $5 to $11. The opening has resulted in about 50 new jobs in Asheville. For more, call 252-7006 or visit www.jasonsdeli.com.

-Jersey Mike’s location shutting down? Word on the street is that the Jersey Mike’s location on College Street in downtown Asheville, across the street from the Buncombe County Courthouse, is shutting down at the end of the month.