Seasonal Food - Regional Focus
Meat Wagon Food Truck (mobile vending) is a trend that's growing exponentially - and morphing along the way into traditionally brick and mortar businesses on wheels. The newer incarnations are a not the Mexican Taco Trucks of yesterday. Actually, todays Mexican Taco Trucks are not the Mexican Taco Trucks of yesterday. Two trucks have caught my attention: one based in San Francisco, CA and one set to launch soon in Asheville, NC. Owners of award winning San Francisco butcher … [Read more...]
Sour Grapes Wine expands packaging to ensure quality wine and an environmentally green planet. While sipping on a crisp glass of Chenin Blanc, allowing the flavors of apple, melon, lime and honey to penetrate your taste buds you may be too distracted to shift your attention to the packaging your wine comes in. Sour Grapes Wine has been taking notice & action to the availability of drinking fine wine and keeping the planet environmentally friendly in the process. With the help of … [Read more...]
Came across this excellent, excellent article by Chef Edward Lee of Magnolia 610, Louisville, KY. Take a few minutes to read about the journey that led him to slaughtering and his feelings on the subject. As a chef, I wear many hats. Most recently, I've taken up slaughtering. Not the demonic, sacrificial kind, but the industrial, silent kind. There was a time when killing an animal was accompanied by a public ritual that demanded worship, respect, kinship, and dependency. The annual … [Read more...]
One of the top restaurant marketing trends for 2012 predicted by Carin Galletta Oliver, president of the San Francisco-based world-of-mouth marketing agency, Ink Foundry, will be restaurants "targeting “influencers” — people others turn to for restaurant advice — to drive traffic." The article goes on to say: "Restaurant operators tend to define their customers in demographic terms, but today’s restaurant influencer is likely to defy or transcend more traditional demographic … [Read more...]
Happened to come across this innovative food truck idea while reading about Kelli Anderson’s fantastic design projects. Image: http://www.kellianderson.com/ She writes: “I just designed a bright orange popsicle truck that evangelizes solar energy. It is actually a popsicle truck covered in popsicle-shaped-infographics about solar energy that distributes free popsicles!” This project was lead by Jason Anello (Manifold) in partnership with solar power company (Sungevity). One of the … [Read more...]
Have you noticed more restaurants have sea salt on their tables recently? Most often you'll see the McCormic's Sea Salt Grinder. I decided to do a little research on Sea Salt and was surprised to find a company based in Arden, NC that carries a wide range of Sea Salt products. They're a family business that's been operating for over 30 years. Founded by Jacques DeLangre in California, the company is now run and supported by his children and grandchildren, along with other family members and … [Read more...]
Street food in Britain has come a long way from greasy Fish & Chips. They're now down to finalists in the 2nd annual contest for best street food and one of the prizes this year is inclusion in the 2012 London Summer Olympic Village. "The British Street Food Awards was set up in 2010 to recognise the best of the 10,000 mobilers who sell their wares on our streets. The first prize was a food mixer. This year, the winner will leave with a business makeover from M&S and a pitch to trade … [Read more...]
Asheville vs Raleigh. One takes a measured, informed approach to mobile vending: food trucks/carts, the other, arbitrary decisions based on pure emotion. My blood began boiling this morning as I read Sara Burrows August 4th article, "Food Trucks Hitting More Road Bumps in Raleigh" in the Carolina Journal Online. The timing was perfect because I had just finished reading Asheville Independent Restaurant Association's (AIR) "AIR Recommendations for Mobile Vending". Various North … [Read more...]
Our stalwart team of four has completed three rounds judging Hot Dogs, trying to find the best hot dog in Western North Carolina. We're comparing basic dogs, but many places are offering more "gourmet" options. With one round to go before semi-finals, finals and the Grand Winner announcement, this "Kruse Report: Hot dogs go from humble to high-end" article appeared in Nations Restaurant News came to my attention. Author Nancy Kruse reports, "Some analysts credit chef Daniel Boulud with … [Read more...]
Both Hendersonville and Asheville have had neighborhood specialty food shops open in recent years. Hendersonville is home to Blue Water Seafood & Wine Cellar and more recently, Underground Baking Co and Four Seasons Country Market. Blue Water's fresh seafood market is a mainstay on Kanuga Rd., while Underground Baking (oh, that bread!) sells out daily at their 7th Ave shop, which is across the street from Four Seasons Country Market, the neighborhood fresh produce (plus) shop. The … [Read more...]
