Q: Birthday Girl chooses . . . Never Blue!

Six of us celebrated a friend’s birthday over dinner at Hendersonville’s Never Blue. I hadn’t been in a while, so was really looking forward to a “fresh” post-pandemic experience. Conclusion? They’re still rockin’ their menu, drinks, dessert, service, everything! Notes: The vibe at Never Blue is fun, colorful, and energetic. Can’t talk about other’s experience, but our server did a great job. Many menu items are unusually creative. Expect quality ingredients. Portions are generous. Yes, the Pumpkin Love dessert looks a little . . . , but it’s supremely delicious. Outside seating is available in warmer weather. Descriptions of each image are in the gallery below. Never Blue 119 S Main St Hendersonville, NC 28792-5083 828 693 4646

Q: Skylaranna Hotel & Resort Setting High Bar

If you’ve drivin by the 60 acre Skylaranna Hotel & Resort (https://www.skylaranna.com/) at 2075 North Rugby Road lately, you may have wondered what the pile of excavated earth on the hilltop near the road was all about. There’s a LOT happening on the resort property – one step at a time. In addition to reimagining the original building’s interior, an “immersive family” resort is taking shape. That pile of dirt looks to be part of the new foundation process for their future Tap Room Barn location. It might also have something to do with a new parking lot, also? There’s much more planned for this beautiful view property that’s tucked away in a curve along a country road in Hendersonville. See picture below. You wouldn’t be alone if you were to think of Skylaranna as located in Fletcher, as it’s very close to the border. “When Kevin and Anna High purchased the riverfront property that now houses SKYLARANNA Hotel and Resort, they dreamed of transforming it into an immersive family mountain escape. In addition to the full renovation of the estate into 12 boutique suites and the casual fine dining restaurant ELEVATIONS Chophouse, Anna and Kevin plan to include an in ground pool with hot tub, extended deck, day spa with massage spaces, bakery, tap room, and 20 cabins along the tree line. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we make this vision a reality!” – Skylaranna Hotel & Resort Skylaranna Hotel & Resort 2075 North Rugby Rd Hendersonville, NC 28791 Hotel: (828) 919-7777 Chophouse: (828) 919-7000

Q: Secrets to Getting the Most Out of the 75th NC Apple Festival Labor Day Weekend

Insider tips from 1898 Waverly Inn: Western North Carolina’s largest festival hits a big year this Labor Day weekend with our 75th NC Apple Festival. It’s Hendersonville’s busiest weekend of the year which in the past has had close to 250k people walking Main Street from Friday morning through Monday’s King Apple parade finale. You’ll find the biggest crowds at the festival on Friday from 3pm-8pm, all day Saturday and Sunday until 6pm. You’ll also find the highest room rates of the year on Friday and Saturday night as well. To get the best value, book Thursday night before the festival starts and hit Main Street at 10am. At this time, you’ll avoid the elbow to elbow crowds and will also reach merchants and apple farmers before most other festival goers. If you want to see one of the best small town parades in the Southeast, then book Sunday night at the Waverly at the end of the festival. That will give you the last moments of the street fair on Sunday night and will also allow you to stick around on Monday to watch the King Apple Parade from the front porch of the inn at 2:30. You’ll also be able to enjoy great food and live music which we will provide up until the parade starts. The Waverly Inn still has many great rooms for the Apple Festival. Call 828.693.9193 and book today.

Question 1

Claywood: Something Deliciously Different in Hendersonville

Accepted Answer

Three of us tried Claywood for the first time a few days ago. We waited until they&#8217;d been open for a couple months and had a chance to get their footing.
During those months, the three things I heard most often were, &#8220;owner Carly is so nice&#8221;, &#8220;it&#8217;s too expensive&#8221;, and &#8220;their &#8216;boards&#8217; are too big, have too much piled on them, and I have to dig around to get to what I want&#8221;, in that order.
I can confirm that owner Carly IS very nice after many online conversations with her. I wasn&#8217;t able to attend their opening preview, but they did know when three of us were coming in. That said, I can honestly say we got one bit of special attention (a complimentary board), but otherwise were treated like everyone else.
My take after an evening at Claywood
We had no idea that complimentary board was headed our way (thank you Carly), so we ordered a Mimosa Board, and three Small Plates: Carrot and Ginger Salad, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, and Spanakopita Strudel. It would have been way too much food even without the complimentary smaller board. We had time to cancel the Sprouts, but nothing else. We each brought a small box of fruit, cheese & more home.
Boards
If you look at what&#8217;s on each board and what it would cost you, at current prices &#8211; to purchase all of those ingredients, prep, and serve &#8211; the price is fair. Many of their boards are large, so it may feel like the price is high, but you&#8217;re not just paying for what&#8217;s on the board, you&#8217;re also paying for preparation, presentation, service, ambiance, convenience, and overhead. And Claywood&#8217;s boards are meant to be shared, so there&#8217;s that.
If it makes sense for them financially, it would be nice to have one or two smaller boards on the menu.
As far as having to dig for what we wanted, we didn&#8217;t have any problem getting whatever we wanted from the boards. Everything&#8217;s presented beautifully. A feast for the eyes and belly. Small gold-colored tongs and spoons for sauces come with the boards. I admit to using my fingers once or twice. Don&#8217;t judge me.
Small Plates
I feel like a couple small plates might be priced a little high, but overall, they&#8217;re reasonably priced. Very much like what you&#8217;d expect at other area restaurants.
Brunch
Not only does Claywood&#8217;s current Brunch Menu look especially delicious, prices are average among nicer restaurants in the area.
Cocktails, Wine & Whiskey
Claywood&#8217;s classic and original cocktails listed on their menu average just under $16. I consider that expensive for Hendersonville. You can always order a basic (like a G&T) cocktail made with &#8220;well liquor&#8221; if you prefer. They have a nice selection of NA cocktails, too.
That said, from what I experienced, Claywood&#8217;s bartender Bret is exceptional. Tell him what liquor you like, taste preference, etc., and he&#8217;ll whip you up something delicious. Sit at the bar and watch the show. No pressure, Bret. 😉
Their curated Wine & Whiskey programs are solid. They already have over 120 bottles in the whiskey program to choose from. Keep an eye on the offerings as they grow.
The Space
Claywood&#8217;s tag line is &#8220;Wine & Whiskey Social&#8221;. They&#8217;ve done a great job converting a long, narrow rectangle into a warm, cozy space with sofa seating, leather-like sofa and club chairs like you&#8217;d find in a lounge, nice bar seating, and a few tables. It&#8217;s about socializing and conversation. In the back of the space is what they call &#8220;The Social Room&#8221;. It&#8217;s the only place I saw with a screen on the wall. As of now, it&#8217;s for overflow seating and private events. It&#8217;s lovely. See the gallery below.
The Crew
As soon as we walked in, two out of three working the open kitchen recognized me, and I them. I knew Sous-Chef Jordan and Line Cook Alex when they worked at The 2nd Act, The Buzz, and now Claywood. Love living in a town where this happens! Chef W. Flakes is new to the area. He goes by &#8220;W&#8221;. Just say the letter.
I also recognized our server Chris. He&#8217;s currently working at Claywood and another spot in town. He&#8217;s pretty amazing, handling the entire dining room by himself this evening. Bret might have jumped in a couple of times? Every picture I took of Chris is blurred to some extent because he rarely stopped moving.
Bottom Line
Claywood&#8217;s offering a relaxed, elevated experience that&#8217;s new for Hendersonville. The demographic leans younger, but not exclusively. Feel is somewhere between &#8220;bohemian&#8221; Asheville and &#8220;professional&#8221; Greenville, SC. Dress? I&#8217;d suggest &#8220;dressy casual&#8221;. It reminded my friend of being in a bigger city, hanging out with urban professionals after work.
Go to Claywood and see what you think. Pretty sure you&#8217;re gonna to love it!

NOTES:

Claywood&#8217;s Menu is a little hard to find on Mobile screens. It&#8217;s found by clicking the image under &#8220;Claywood Food And Cocktail Menu&#8221;.
Live Music Friday evenings from 6-8pm
They&#8217;ve paid for dedicated parking, free for customers, in the lot next to their building. Not sure if that will continue after the 7th Ave road construction is completed?
It&#8217;s quieter than many other bars. At least it was this night.
Claywood&#8217;s a good spot for meeting up with friends for drinks.

Claywood
317 7th Ave E
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 471-7500
Facebook & Instagram

Question 2

Liv Ehrhardt's Unique Take on the Bakewell Tart at Shine

Accepted Answer

Me: “Hello, Shine? What’s on your Dessert Menu tonight?”
Shine: “Lemon Bakewells.”
Me: “We’ll be right over!”

Shine’s Patissier, Liv Ehrhardt, has created her take on the historic British Bakewell Tart with a deconstructed Lemon Bakewell Tart that&#8217;s plated with balsamic roasted blueberries, lemon curd, white chocolate mascarpone mousse, and dollops of whipped cream topped with dainty White Chocolate crunch Pearls.

NOTES: 1. The mascarpone mousse is encased in delicate white chocolate shells. 2. That&#8217;s an absolutely delicious baked sesame crisp accent behind the Tart. 3. Not sure what&#8217;s in the whipped cream dollups, but it wasn&#8217;t your everyday whipped cream.

I’m telling you, my sister and I were in heaven. My sister had a Lemon Drop Martini with hers (said it’s the best she’s had), but I wanted to taste nothing but each part of the dessert on its own, as well as mixed with others, so I stuck with water.

What is a Bakewell Tart? Its creation is generally thought to have been a mistake. Mrs. Greaves, landlady of the White Horse Inn (gone now) in the Derbyshire town of Bakewell, England, asked her cook to create a jam tart. Instead of mixing almond paste and jam into the pastry, the cook spread the mixture on top, creating an egg custard resembling a pudding. So, it was originally called a Bakewell Pudding.

It’s thought that early in the 20th century it became the Bakewell Tart when the recipe was modified, replacing the egg custard in the pudding with frangipane

Some say it dates from 1820. Some say 1860. It definitely dates back to at least 1845 when the recipe first appears in the “Modern Cookery for Private Families” cookbook by Eliza Acton.

Back to Liv! The actual Bakewell Tart portion of her “Lemon Bakewells” dessert is two layers of what tasted like crumbly, buttery shortcrust pastry, with fruit jam in the middle. Not sure if there was frangipane with the jam? I admit to being so intrigued and happy with the dessert that I became immersed in trying bites of various taste and texture combinations.

Interesting Tid-Bits: 1. August 11th is National Bakewell Tart day in Great Britian. 2. Many people are so enamored with the Tart and its history, they travel to Bakewell.

Hope Liv keeps this one on the menu for a while!

If any of you Home or Pro Chefs out there have corrections or additions to the Bakewell Tart info here, definitely let me know. I hadn’t heard of the Tart before, but was so fascinated by the dish, it inspired me to do a deep dive into its history.

Question 3

Birthday Girl chooses . . . Never Blue!

Accepted Answer

Six of us celebrated a friend&#8217;s birthday over dinner at Hendersonville&#8217;s Never Blue. I hadn&#8217;t been in a while, so was really looking forward to a &#8220;fresh&#8221; post-pandemic experience. Conclusion? They&#8217;re still rockin&#8217; their menu, drinks, dessert, service, everything!
Notes:

The vibe at Never Blue is fun, colorful, and energetic.
Can&#8217;t talk about other&#8217;s experience, but our server did a great job.
Many menu items are unusually creative.
Expect quality ingredients.
Portions are generous.
Yes, the Pumpkin Love dessert looks a little . . . , but it&#8217;s supremely delicious.
Outside seating is available in warmer weather.

Descriptions of each image are in the gallery below.

Never Blue
119 S Main St
Hendersonville, NC 28792-5083
828 693 4646

Question 4

Vintner's Table opens (softly) at Burntshirt Vineyards

Accepted Answer

Burntshirt Vineyards Hendersonville has announced the Oct 7th Grand Opening of their impressive new restaurant, Vintner&#8217;s Table, but if you can&#8217;t wait, they&#8217;re quietly running a soft opening, open to the public. Go with the understanding that they&#8217;ve set up a pretty big restaurant, bar, tasting bar from scratch and are still working out a few kinks. They&#8217;re probably dealing with the same staff shortage as every other restaurant.
Our friends went for lunch this past Thursday and had such a great meal, they asked if my husband and I wanted to go back with them for dinner on Friday.
&#8220;Vintner’s Table provides four separate menus for your dining convenience: a full Dinner Menu and Lunch Menu available at the restaurant, a Terrace Menu offering small bites and appetizers on the extended patio sections, and a Children’s Menu available throughout the serving area.&#8221; BurntshirtVineyards

We had the pleasure of meeting Executive Chef Paul Caricato. Loved how excited he was about the huge kitchen and his menu. The kitchen IS huge &#8211; and everything is still shiny and new. Chef Caricato was nice enough to give me a tour.
MY TAKE
Vintner&#8217;s Table is very good now, and will be GREAT &#8211; after they find their legs.

All pasta is made in-house. You can tell.
The menu isn&#8217;t extensive, but there&#8217;s enough variety that you should be able to find multiple dishes you&#8217;ll like. Not sure if they&#8217;ll expand it or not.
Two of us ordered the 6 oz Filet Mignon entrée. They were both cooked beyond medium rare (as ordered), but were delicious nontheless. On second thought, I&#8217;m wondering if they were cooked correctly, but there was an issue getting them out of the kitchen in a timely manner, like lingering under a warmer or something that caused continued &#8220;cooking&#8221;?
If they haven&#8217;t changed the menu yet, they don&#8217;t have Tartuffo, but DEFINITELY get the chocolate mousse caramel cake they&#8217;re serving in its place. It&#8217;s completely melt-in-your-mouth fabulous!
There were a few minor glitches during our meal, but I&#8217;m confident they&#8217;ll be smoothed out by their grand opening.
We love Burntshirt wines, but it&#8217;s nice to have a choice. They&#8217;re also serving up cocktails at Vintner&#8217;s Table.
If you like to linger over your meal, the wood seats might start talking to you.
The biggest challenge will be the noise level inside, especially when there are more than a few tables occupied. We were able to talk more easily after the large party of about 12 next to us left.  It&#8217;s not going to be easy to fix that while staying true to the lodge-like interior design. It&#8217;s all hard surfaces, top to bottom. Hope they can figure it out.
I&#8217;m looking forward to a meal with a glass of wine on the large covered patio in warm weather. For now, maybe a table in front of the also large fireplace.

Bottom line &#8211; you should go, enjoy the food & wine, and support what is ultimately going to be a Hendersonville jewel.
Burntshirt Vineyards
Vintner&#8217;s Table
2695 Sugarloaf Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28792
828-685-2402

Question 5

Skylaranna Hotel & Resort Setting High Bar

Accepted Answer

If you&#8217;ve drivin by the 60 acre Skylaranna Hotel & Resort (https://www.skylaranna.com/) at 2075 North Rugby Road lately, you may have wondered what the pile of excavated earth on the hilltop near the road was all about.
There&#8217;s a LOT happening on the resort property &#8211; one step at a time. In addition to reimagining the original building&#8217;s interior, an &#8220;immersive family&#8221; resort is taking shape. That pile of dirt looks to be part of the new foundation process for their future Tap Room Barn location. It might also have something to do with a new parking lot, also?
There&#8217;s much more planned for this beautiful view property that&#8217;s tucked away in a curve along a country road in Hendersonville. See picture below. You wouldn&#8217;t be alone if you were to think of Skylaranna as located in Fletcher, as it&#8217;s very close to the border.
&#8220;When Kevin and Anna High purchased the riverfront property that now houses SKYLARANNA Hotel and Resort, they dreamed of transforming it into an immersive family mountain escape. In addition to the full renovation of the estate into 12 boutique suites and the casual fine dining restaurant ELEVATIONS Chophouse, Anna and Kevin plan to include an in ground pool with hot tub, extended deck, day spa with massage spaces, bakery, tap room, and 20 cabins along the tree line. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we make this vision a reality!&#8221; &#8211; Skylaranna Hotel & Resort
Skylaranna Hotel & Resort
2075 North Rugby Rd
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Hotel: (828) 919-7777
Chophouse: (828) 919-7000

Question 6

Secrets to Getting the Most Out of the 75th NC Apple Festival Labor Day Weekend

Accepted Answer

Insider tips from 1898 Waverly Inn:

Western North Carolina&#8217;s largest festival hits a big year this Labor Day weekend with our 75th NC Apple Festival. It&#8217;s Hendersonville&#8217;s busiest weekend of the year which in the past has had close to 250k people walking Main Street from Friday morning through Monday&#8217;s King Apple parade finale.
You&#8217;ll find the biggest crowds at the festival on Friday from 3pm-8pm, all day Saturday and Sunday until 6pm. You&#8217;ll also find the highest room rates of the year on Friday and Saturday night as well. To get the best value, book Thursday night before the festival starts and hit Main Street at 10am. At this time, you&#8217;ll avoid the elbow to elbow crowds and will also reach merchants and apple farmers before most other festival goers.
If you want to see one of the best small town parades in the Southeast, then book Sunday night at the Waverly at the end of the festival. That will give you the last moments of the street fair on Sunday night and will also allow you to stick around on Monday to watch the King Apple Parade from the front porch of the inn at 2:30. You&#8217;ll also be able to enjoy great food and live music which we will provide up until the parade starts.
The Waverly Inn still has many great rooms for the Apple Festival. Call 828.693.9193 and book today.

Question 7

Fun Guided History Walks Are Back in Hendersonville

Accepted Answer

Three popular guided history walks will be offered in June. Now in its seventh year, Hendersonville Guided History Walks offers 90-plus minute walks in three historic areas of town: along Main Street (Friday, June 11, 10 a.m.), in Oakdale Cemetery (Friday, June 18, 10 a.m.), and in the 7th Avenue Historic Depot District (Friday, June 25, 10 a.m.). Cost for each tour is $10 per person 10 years and older. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult. Appropriate guidelines for safety and health will be practiced, space is limited and reservations are required. Contact history walk leader Mary Jo Padgett at 828-545-3179 or email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com to make a reservation. Private tours for groups can be arranged anytime. Visit the website at www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks to see the entire schedule for 2021.
Main Street
On Friday, June 11, the walk will start at 10 a.m. at the front steps of City Hall, corner of Fifth Avenue E. and King St. Stroll along Historic Main Street with tour guide Mary Jo Padgett to answer such questions as &#8212; who donated the land where the new town would be built, what is the age of the oldest block of buildings, what was on the third floor (and in the basement) of the old City Hall, who was the town named for, where was the Opera House, and learn about bordellos, shoot-outs, trolley lines, and stories of life in the old days on Chinquapin Hill.
Oakdale Cemetery
On Friday, June 18, the walk will begin at 10 a.m. in the cemetery on U.S. 64 W. This guided tour of Historic Oakdale Cemetery, Hendersonville’s municipal cemetery, whispers stories of the town’s early days and colorful citizens. The famous Italian marble monument which inspired the title of Thomas Wolfe’s novel Look Homeward, Angel is in Oakdale, along with both marked and unmarked graves of historic figures. The heritage of our African-American community is told in the Black section of the cemetery, while the designated Jewish cemetery reveals how the town grew to embrace ethnic and religious groups through the years. How and why the cemetery was established in 1883, names of those who helped build the town and where they were laid to rest, where the Sunshine Lady is buried, and more questions will be answered.
7th Avenue/Historic Depot District
On Friday, June 25, this walk will start at 10 a.m. at the front steps of City Hall, corner of Fifth Avenue E. and King St., then we’ll meander through this historic part of town encircling the Train Depot. When the first steam locomotive arrived in Hendersonville on July 4, 1879, crammed with tourists and visitors from the low country of South Carolina, it was the beginning of an exciting era of big-band music, dancing, numerous inns and hotels, much real estate trading, and huge agricultural growth. Money was made and lost, famous musicians and sports figures came calling, delicious food was enjoyed at every inn and boarding house … Hendersonville was in its hey-day from that moment until the financial crash of 1929. This neighborhood boasted many businesses run by Black and white owners. We’ll hear the details.
“Locals and visitors alike can celebrate and share the interesting history and architecture of Hendersonville,” Padgett said, “For example, learn how the rich natural resources here – the local clay for brick, the hand-hewn foundation rocks from local quarries, and, in fact, the heritage carried from the earlier Cherokee lifestyle – have contributed to our lives today.”
Padgett served on Hendersonville City Council for eight years, is a journalist and public relations consultant, was co-founder and former executive director of ECO, was associate editor at The Mother Earth News magazine, and conducts programs and guided tours in Paris, France, on the American Revolution. Her parents spent their honeymoon in the Skyland Hotel on Main Street. She grew up on a farm in Rutherford County, and has lived in a 100-year-old house in downtown Hendersonville for 40 years.
Hear stories about famous people, destructive fires, and more about this historic small-town gem in the mountains during Hendersonville Guided History Walks, June 11, 18, and 25 at 10 a.m.
Hear stories about Hendersonville’s Gilded Age with the coming of the railroad and well-to-do tourists. The Wheeler Hotel was one of the fancy inns located in the 7th Avenue/Historic Depot District. Hendersonville Guided History Walks are in June.
To make reservations or for more information, contact Padgett at 828-545-3179 or email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com. Visit www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks for a complete 2021 schedule.

Question 8

Harvey's at The Henderson Announces New Dining Experience

Accepted Answer

Harvey’s @ The Henderson (https://www.thehendersonnc.com/harveys/) adapted to the Covid 19 pandemic by completely moving its dining room operation outside to its beautifully renovated covered wrap-around porch.
&#8220;Eating outside is less risky than eating inside, if everybody is six feet apart and the wait staff are all wearing masks. That keeps the risk as low as it can be,&#8221; said infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.
According to Chef Michael Gilligan and Mixologist Jeanne Gilligan, owners of The Henderson
Inn and Harvey’s Restaurant, our tables are six feet apart, with our wait staff wearing masks and gloves. Our guest’s safety is our number one priority along with serving award winning chef-prepared fine dining and hand-crafted cocktails using the freshest ingredients, homemade mixers. premium liquors, and the proper ice to create fresh and flavorful libations to help you unwind and savor the experience.

For the fall and winter season, The Henderson has installed a series of fabric roll-up curtains to cover the porch area so as to provide a weather break for outdoor seating. The curtains are made with a revolutionary ‘Soltis 92 Solar Screening Mesh’ which is breathable so as to maintain the air flow but as the mesh holes are so small rain cannot permeate the fabric.
The dining area is now heated with a series of 46,000 BTU Aged Chestnut Gas Patio Heaters which give off radiant heat and project a warm glow during dinner hours. The porch at Harvey’s @ The Henderson is now open year-round with dinner service Thursday through Saturday from 5pm – 8pm and Sunday Brunch from 10am to 1pm.
The Gilligans shared that they scored a 99 out of 100 on their latest Health Inspection. Also by following all CDC requirements for quests staying at the Inn and dining at their restaurant, their top priority is the health and safety of their guests, staff, and community.
Harvey&#8217;s @ The Henderson
201 3rd Ave. W.
Hendersonville, NC 28739
(828) 696-2001
Press Release

Question 9

NEW: Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries & Orchard Tour

Accepted Answer

The 2020 Garden Jubilee has been reformatted to avoid totally cancelling the event by shifting the festival from Main Street to the individual nurseries and orchards for the safety of festival goers and vendors. The event has been extended to four days, Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25 of Memorial Day Weekend.
Henderson County offers a wealth of agritourism related business, which includes nurseries, farms and orchards. The self-guided Nurseries & Orchard Tour will introduce the public to a whole new experience, by having access to products that they may not have access to on Main Street, due to space constraints. By visiting these locations, people will have the opportunity to peruse their entire inventory, for a much broader selection of merchandise.
Local nurseries will be selling annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetable plants, herbs, hanging baskets, planter boxes, garden accessories, flowers pots, garden soil and much more. Some of the products to be found at the orchards include cider, produce, baked goods, apple chips, jams, jellies, honey and apple butter. Several of the stops along the way, will feature crafters, selling such items as: pottery, soap, wind spinners, wreaths, aprons, jewelry, wind chimes, bells and sculptures.
For a list of participating locations (nurseries & orchards) and vendors (craft & food) visit, , https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee Check back often for updates.
A brochure is being created with a map and listing the participating Henderson County nurseries and orchards. For more information call the Visitor Center at 828-693-9708.

Question 10

Henderson County, NC Restaurant Worker Relief Fund

Accepted Answer

To date, the Support Henderson County Restaurant Workers fund (https://www.gofundme.com/f/henderson-county-nc-restaurant-staff-support), organized by myself (Laura Huff) and managed along with Jason Reasoner, co-owner of Postero, and Lisa Hoffman, co-owner of Underground Baking Co., has sent Ingles grocery/gas cards to close to 90 furloughed Henderson County restaurant workers.
Hot Dog World Staff
At first, we were cautious, keeping the amount we put on most of the Ingles cards at a level that would allow us to help the most people possible.
Season&#8217;s at Highland Lake Staff
But because of GENEROUS DONATIONS, this campaign has raised more money than we thought possible, allowing us to raise the amount we send all vetted furloughed restaurant workers. Not only that, we went back and sent an additional card to those that received the lower amount, bringing everyone up to the same amount of support.
To a person, everyone who has received an Ingles card has been so appreciative of the help, we thought we&#8217;d share some messages of thanks we&#8217;ve gotten.
Umi Japanese Fine Dining
*************************************
This first message is from someone who got a second card:
&#8220;I am so grateful for your extension of an Ingles card for my family! I cannot thank you enough!! My husband and I both work on main Street in the food industry, and we have two children. We so appreciate your blessing!
I would like you to know that I received a second card in the mail today and I wanted to let you know that I am aware this may be an accident. I would like to return it if there was another need somewhere in our community. I saved the return address from where the initial card was sent. I can mail it back there, if it&#8217;s a good spot for you! I just don&#8217;t wish to be greedy during such a trying time. Thank you for your time! And most importantly, thank you for your kindness!!&#8221;
*************************************
Postero Staff
&#8220;Thank you so much for the gift card!! It&#8217;s a saving grace, and brought tears to my eyes. ♥️?&#8221;
*************************************
&#8220;Thank you so much for your gift cards..it’s very thoughtful of you and I’m sorry if I seemed short at all..I was so overwhelmed by what was going on and my jobs getting shut down.
I ended up getting a night job at Walmart and I got my stimulus check. Your gifts cards and everything has been a really big blessing!
Thank you again for showing such kindness to me and I hope you are doing well:)&#8221;
*************************************
&#8220;We all thank you all who put this together to help us out!&#8221;
************************************
Shine Staff
&#8220;Wow. Thank you so much. I super appreciate it!
It truly is a huge struggle.&#8221;
************************************
&#8220;Thank you so much for the Ingles gift cards for me and my family it helped out alot.&#8221;
************************************
The French Broad, A BookBar & Kitchen Staff
We know you have lots of choices when it comes to helping during this terrible time, and so appreciate a donation in any amount you can make to this campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/henderson-county-nc-restaurant-staff-support
If you&#8217;re not able to donate at this time (or even if you are &#8211; thank you!), please share this post or the GoFundMe campaign link above.
Apply for an Ingles Grocery/Gas card by submitting this short form: https://hendersoncountyra.org/support-request/
Full Disclosure:

100% of donations (minus the 2.9% +.30 cents per donation GoFundMe fee) go to vetted by employer, furloughed Henderson County restaurant workers who apply.
To date, all but one applicant has received an Ingles Grocery/Gas card.

Thank you,
Laura Huff, Carolina Epicurean, LLC
Jason Reasoner, Postero
Lisa Hoffman, Underground Baking Co

Question 11

NEW - Cutest, Coziest Coffee Shop in Hendersonville

Accepted Answer

Art & Coffee Bar on 5th Ave, the newest Hendersonville coffee shop, has been open for a few months now, but I hadn&#8217;t been able to stop in until this week.
Art & Coffee is completely adorable. The two (and 1/2) room interior has an open feel, with spaces defined by half walls topped with open shelving. Beautiful local art is displayed on shelves and walls throughout.
Seating for about 20 is available, spaced comfortably: sofa, chairs, and tables with chairs.
I&#8217;m not sure if it&#8217;s the best place for hard core remote work on your laptop, but definitely a super place to hang out with friends, read, surf the net for a while. Just to confirm, free Wi-Fi is available.
The obligatory Carolina Epicurean latte test was passed with flying colors. Delicious. Baked goods were whispering to me as I waited at the counter for my drink, but I resisted. This time. Next time, no resisting.
They don&#8217;t have a website yet and their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/Art-Coffee-Bar-on-5th-Ave-102239154495406/) is a bit stagnant, but don&#8217;t let that keep you away. The owner should be getting all of that straightened out shortly.
You are going to love this new Hendersonville Coffee Shop!
Enlarge images by clicking on them.

Art & Coffee Bar on 5th Ave
118 5th Ave E
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 513-4008

Question 12

The Big Wine Event at Wine Sage and Gourmet

Accepted Answer

THE BIG WINE EVENT takes place Friday, November 22nd from 5-8pm at Wine Sage and Gourmet (https://winesageandgourmet.com/), Hendersonville.
Wine reps from several companies will be on hand for this Grand Tasting! Find your new favorite! Stock up for the holidays! Food, fun and wine! The perfect Friday evening!
Cost is $5 at the door for your take-home tasting glass!
Donation from this event will go to support Safelight!

Question 13

Wine Sage and Gourmet News

Accepted Answer

Wine Sage and Gourmet (https://winesageandgourmet.com/) in Hendersonville hosts deliciously fun events and classes at very reasonable prices.
Wednesday, Oct 9th at 6PM in the Wine Cellar &#8211; Plant-Based Cooking Class in the Cellar at Wine Sage and Gourmet with Mark Zedella &#8211; Fall Harvest Favorites &#8211; cost is $50. Reservations are required. Click this link to make yours! Or call for more information!
Wednesday, October 16th at 6PM at The Henderson &#8211; Croatian Wine Dinner &#8211; Katerina Dordelman of Sour Grapes will guide us through the wines of Croatia and Slovenia. Wines have been paired with a great menu by Chef Michael. Cost is $65 plus tax and gratuity. Advance paid reservations are required. Click here and scroll down to see the full menu. Click here to make your reservations online or call the Henderson at 696-2001
Monday, October 21st at 6PM in the Wine Cellar &#8211; Cooking with the Dining Diva in the Cellar at Wine Sage and Gourmet: A Tailgate Spread. Cost is $50 per person. Click here and scroll down to see the menu! Click here to make your reservation online!

Question 14

French Broad BookBar & Kitchen: NEW concept you're gonna' love!

Accepted Answer

The French Broad (https://www.tfbhendersonville.com/) announces their new concept: BookBar at The French Broad, an independent bookstore on Main Street in Hendersonville, NC, carrying a selection of new offerings and gently used books.
The BookBar is on the first floor. The second floor remains the &#8220;Kitchen&#8221;, serving up the regional comfort food for which they&#8217;ve become known.
The first floor BookBar offers a casual atmosphere to peruse bestsellers or a vintage classic, and cozy seating areas perfect for relaxing with friends over a glass of wine. A full coffee bar (Coffee selections available beginning Friday, Oct. 4) is complemented by pastries, desserts and light meal options.
&#8220;Enjoy a great collection of pastries and desserts, including rotating items from Gateaux bakery, cheese and charcuterie, sandwiches and more from the counter on the first floor.
Sit and stay for awhile &#8211; either curled up in one of the comfy armchairs with your newly purchased book &#8211; or with a group of friends over a glass (or bottle) of wine.&#8221;
Take a look at their website to read more about the changes, peruse the new menus, and regularly scheduled special events and entertainment.
Epicurean Note: For those of you who like to know who&#8217;s in the kitchen, French Broad&#8217;s General Manager and Executive Chef is Greg Buchanan. He has history in the area with previous gigs at Rezaz Pan Mediterranean, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, and Stable Cafe on the Biltmore Estate.
The next event at The French Broad BookBar & Kitchen:
Supper Club is Back!
Wednesday, Oct. 9 @ 6:30 p.m.
$55 per person
Celebrating
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café
by Fannie Flagg
Fried Green Tomatoes…of course
with spicy buttermilk aioli and pickled radish
&#8220;Secret&#8217;s in the Sauce&#8221;
pulled pork shoulder with buttered fava beans, crispy sweet potatoes and smoked bbq sauce
Intermezzo
sweet tea granita with candied lemon
Yard Bird
buttermilk fried chicken with rice, gravy, and coca-cola brined collard chips
Apple Dumplin&#8217;
with vanilla custard sauce
and bourbon whipped cream
Reservations are required for this event and seating is limited. To make a reservation, please call 595-9797 or email tfbhendersonville@gmail.com.
 
The French Broad BookBar & Kitchen
342 North Main Street
Hendersonville, NC 28792
https://www.tfbhendersonville.com/
Restaurant Hours
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 4– 9 pm
Saturday, 12 noon – 9 pm
Sunday 12 noon &#8211; 8 pm (brunch specials served until 2 pm)
closed Monday & Tuesday
BookBar Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 9 am &#8211; 9 pm
Sunday 9 am &#8211; 8 pm

Question 15

Historic Depot District Guided Walks begin in November

Accepted Answer

The Historic Depot District and the 7th Avenue business district is growing, with several breweries, M&M Meat Market and Seafood, Sweet Thangs bakery, excellent pizza joints, a brandy bar, and more. The history of the neighborhood surrounding the avenue and the handsome historic depot is rich and delicious as well. On Saturdays in November – November 9, 16, and 23 – at 10 a.m., guided history walks will be offered. Cost is $10 per person 10 years and older. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult. Space is limited. Reservations are suggested.
Gather in the lobby of Hendersonville City Hall at the Police Dept. entrance to begin the walk. City Hall is at the corner of Fifth Avenue East and King Street. Free parking is available at the Police Dept. entrance. The walks will be about 90 minutes and will be held rain or shine.
Stroll with tour guide Mary Jo Padgett to learn about the lure of steam engines and Pullman cars at the Depot, drays, hustle, summer visitors, shoot-outs, candy stores, hotels, and more. This district was where things were happening during the Gilded Age of Hendersonville.
Visit www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks for more information.
Private tours for groups of 8 or more can be scheduled at anytime for Guided Walks in the Historic 7th Avenue District, on Main Street, or in Oakdale Cemetery.
“The walks in Hendersonville’s historic Depot district are new this season. Locals and visitors alike may join me to celebrate and share the interesting history of this neighborhood, where many families thrived as the town blossomed each summer with crowds of tourists arriving by train,” Padgett said. “I believe that knowing our history enriches our lives today.”
Padgett served on Hendersonville City Council for eight years, is a journalist and public relations consultant, co-founder and former executive director of ECO, was associate editor at The Mother Earth News magazine, and conducts programs and guided tours in Paris, France, on the American Revolution. Her parents spent their honeymoon in the Skyland Hotel on Main Street. She grew up on a farm in Rutherford County, and has lived in a 100-year-old house in downtown Hendersonville for 38 years.
To make reservations or for more information, phone Padgett email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com. Visit www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks for a complete schedule.

Category: Hendersonville

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