PR & Media
Cúrate Welcomes Susan Aplin as New Chief Executive Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Asheville, North Carolina, November 27, 2023 – Cúrate, an award-winning restaurant, travel and e-commerce company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Aplin as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Aplin, a seasoned leader in both the gourmet food and e-commerce industries, brings over 30 years of experience to the Cúrate team. Aplin’s wealth of business experience includes entrepreneurship in public and private sectors, as well as retail, wholesale, e-commerce, product development & design, supply chain, operations, sustainability, sourcing, and merchandising. She has held executive roles in large global brands including Williams Sonoma, Inc., The Gap, Bambeco, The Sports Authority, Staples, BillMeLater, and The World Trade Center Institute. Most recently, Aplin served as a Co-CEO of Asheville business, Poppy Popcorn.
“The ownership team and I are thrilled to welcome Susan to the team. As Cúrate continues to grow, we know that the addition of an experienced and thoughtful leader is going to prove effective in achieving our vision for the business,” said Chef Katie Button.
“Susan joined us in September, and the business has already felt the benefits of the balance, strategy and enthusiasm that she brings to the team. As we enter this new phase, we are confident that Susan will lead Cúrate in alignment with our company values, including giving our guests and customers world-class hospitality, providing sustainable livelihood for employees, and creating spaces to enjoy the small moments with friends and family that make life joyful.”
With the addition of Aplin to the team, Cúrate plans to continue and expand on the highest standards in hospitality and culinary excellence, while continually improving the benefits and company culture that Cúrate has become known for and growing its presence in the online and retail sectors.
“Joining Cúrate at this pivotal moment is extremely exciting,” Aplin said. “The future holds tremendous opportunities that are reinforced by the team’s passion for excellence and world-class hospitality. I look forward to strengthening the position that Cúrate has earned in the restaurant space, and taking it to the next level in the Direct to Consumer (DTC), CPG, Travel, and Wine industries. I am excited to lead Curate restaurants and lifestyle brands into the next chapter of its legacy”.
ABOUT CÚRATE
Cúrate is a guided journey into the culinary treasure troves of Spain. A collection of restaurants, online marketplace, wine club, and culinary journeys create a portal to Spanish culture. Co-founders Katie Button, Felix Meana and family built Cúrate on its Spanish meaning –“heal yourself.” They believe that discovering new flavors can unite people in a delicious moment of wonder and joy that cures the soul. With over a decade of sharing the flavors and culinary traditions of Spain with guests, the Cúrate brand now includes La Bodega by Cúrate, a restaurant, Spanish market and wine bar; Cúrate Trips, incomparable access to the best wine and food in Spain, and across the Mediterranean; and Cúrate at Home and Cúrate Wine Club, online retail marketplaces providing access to Spanish food, wine and culture at home, across the nation.
Contact
pr@kbr.email
828-505-1525, ext 4
CÚRATE PRESS
2022
Garden & Gun
Out of the Box: The Grocery Snack Katie Button Keeps on Hand
Southern Kitchen
How do you engineer the perfect cookie? Let these food scientist show you.
Local Palate
Finding Jamon
EATER
The 2022 Eater Holidays Gift Guide
PBS NC
NC Weekend: Holiday Weekend
Garden & Gun
John T. Edge Savors All-Day Spanish Delights in Asheville
Garden & Gun
How to Assemble the Perfect Southern Charcuterie Board
The Local Palate
Katie Button’s 5 Essential Fall Ingredients
Forbes
10 Reasons To Plan A Trip To Asheville, North Carolina, This Fall
Mountain Xpress
Local restaurateurs share the secret ingredients for award-winning hospitality
Asheville Citizen-Times
August 2016 – Dining Review – Cúrate
Condé Nast Traveler
May 2016 – The Best Things to Do In Asheville, North Carolina
EATER CAROLINAS
9 Hottest Restaurants in Asheville Right Now
EVEREVE
Ray of Light: Katie Button
Wall Street Journal
The Best Way to Cook Soft-Shell Crabs Is Also the Simplest
2018
Food Network
February 2018 – Finding Foodtopia: The Best Things to Eat in Asheville, North Carolina
Food & Wine
February 2018 – Why Chefs Are Picking Pottery Like Produce
Trips to Discover
February 2018 – 6 Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina
Travel & Leisure
February 2018 – Explore Western North Carolina’s Most Magical City
The Daily Meal
January 2018 – 101 Best Restaurants in America
WLOS
January 2018 – Reality Check: Group tackles sexual harassment in Asheville Restaurants
2017
Food & Wine
November 2017 – 48 Hours in Asheville: Where to Eat and Drink
Eater
November 2017 – The 10 Hottest New Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina
The Daily Meal
October 2017 – A Weekend in Asheville, North Carolina: Where to Stay and What to Eat
Travel Channel
October 2017 – Our Favorite Asheville Eats
Imbibe
August 2017 – Sidra Car, a Sidecar Riff
Food & Wine
August 2017 – Katie Button Is Bringing Spain’s Vermuterías to the U.S.
Wine Enthusiast
August 2017 – A Fresh Take on Classic Spanish Tapas
Travel & Leisure
July 2017 – 8 Can’t-miss Points of Interest in Asheville, North Carolina
The Local Palate
July 2017 – Expert Picks: Leah Wong Ashburn
La Vanguardia
July 2017 – El restaurante de tapas que ha conquistado a Carolina del Norte
Eater
June 2017 – Road-Tripping North Carolina: The 22 Must-Visit Restaurants
Wine Enthusiast
June 2017 – Don’t Underestimate Asheville’s Wine and Food Scene
Cincinnati Magazine
June 2017 – 18 Great Summer Escapes
Charlotte Observer
June 2017 – Charlotte day & weekend trips: Things to do in Asheville NC
Asheville Lifestyle Magazine
May 2017 – Guys’ Night Out
The Manual
May 2017 – The Manual Awards: The Best of America’s Cities
Tales of the Cocktail
May 2017 – Making the Most of the Space in Your Place
New Worlder
April 2017 – Restaurant Openings: April 2017
Money Inc
April 2017 – Asheville is One of America’s Ultimate Food Cities
Dish Worth the Drive
March 2017 – Asheville, North Carolina
Mountain Xpress
March 2017 – A bigger table: Cúrate expands both its space and menu
Business and Pleasure
March 2017 – Things to do in Asheville, North Carolina
WNC Magazine
March 2017 – The Best of Western North Carolina
Imbibe
February 2017 – Chocolate Brandy Sabayón
FSR Magazine
February 2017 – Why your restaurant needs a kitchen makeover
Asheville Citizen-Times
January 2017 – Asheville’s Cúrate to double in size in spring
2021
Food & Wine
These Will Be the 25 Biggest Dining Trends in 2022, According to Chefs
Wall Street Journal
How to find the Best Wine Club
PIX
Spanish Wines to Beat the Heat on a Desert Island
AVL Today
A Guide to Asheville, NC’s best experiential gifts
Food & Wine
A Very Sommelier Thanksgiving
Food & Wine
How to Plan for the Thanksgiving Turkey Shortage, According to Chefs
Food & Wine
How to Plan for the Thanksgiving Turkey Shortage, According to Chefs
2016
Lonely Planet
December 2016 – Asheville: Appalachia’s most surprising city
Zagat
November 2016 – The 26 Hottest Food Cities of 2016
Condé Nast Traveler
November 2016 – Exploring Asheville Beyond its Famous Food Scene
Meridian
November 2016 – Falling in Love with Asheville’s Restaurants
USA Today
October 2016 – Tasting Asheville: From beer town to culinary capital
The Wall Street Journal
October 2016 – In Asheville, Home to Craft Beer, A Wine Scene Rises
The New York Times
October 2016 – 36 Hours in Asheville, NC
United Airlines’ Rhapsody magazine
October 2016 – Better off Red
Food Republic
September 2016 – Spanish Style: Make Cúrate’s Cheese-Stuffed Fried Pork Chops
The Clever Root
Fall 2016 – From Rias Baixas, With Love
Flower Magazine
October 2016 – Southern Road Trip with Charlotte Moss & Jane Scott Hodges
DuVine
August 2016 – Pintxos Please! The Top Tapas Restaurants in the U.S.
Asheville Citizen-Times
August 2016 – Dining Review – Cúrate
Thrillist
June 2016 – Best Small U.S. Cities with World-class Food Scenes
Condé Nast Traveler
May 2016 – The Best Things to Do In Asheville, North Carolina
Idea Gourmet Foods
May 2016 – 10 coolest Spanish restaurants in the U.S.
Travel + Leisure
May 2016 – The Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant in Every State
iExplore
April 2016 – The Wonderfully Weird World of Asheville
TimeOut
April 2016 – The 16 best Spanish restaurants in America
Flipkey
March 2016 – Top Restaurants Outside Charlotte Worth Traveling For
Nashville Style Blueprint
January 2016 – Asheville: Where to Eat, Drink & Sleep
2015
Wall Street Journal
October 2015 – Asheville: The South’s Insider Destination
Delta Sky Magazine
September 2015 – Road To Asheville
Food & Wine
July 2015 – Best New Chefs
Blue Ridge Country Magazine
June – 2015 A Western North Carolina Fabulous Food Foray
VacationIdea
May 2015 – 15 Best Things to Do in Asheville, North Carolina
Charleston Food Bloggers
April 2015 – Best Restaurant in Each North Carolina County
Thrillist
April 2015 – Best Tapas Restaurants in America
Plough To Pantry
Winter 2015 – Southern comfort
2014
VIP Jackson Asheville
December 2014 – Mountain Hospitality
WNC Magazine
December 2014 – Black Forest Cheese Cake
Travel + Leisure
November 2014 – Best Meatballs in America
Restaurant Hospitality
October 2014 – Observer Profile: Chef Katie Button, Cúrate
The Culture Trip
October 2014 – Eating Out in Asheville, NC: The 10 Best Restaurants & Diners
Huffington Post
Septemeber 2014 – 11 Southern Towns You’re Forgetting About But Shouldn’t
2013
Asheville Citizen-Times
December 2013 – Faith, fame and future
The New York Times
November 2013 – Restaurant Report: Cúrate in Asheville, N.C.
Asheville Citizen-Times
June 2013 – Atlanta Gets a Taste of Asheville
Empordà
June 2013 – Ambassadors of Roses in the United States
Asheville Citizen-Times
June 2013 – Sacred Worth
GQ
March 2013 – The Perfect Night Out – 2013
Food & Wine
February 2013 – Food Lovers Are Loving Asheville
2012
Asheville Scene
November 2012 – Our New Culinary Clout
Mountain Xpress
October 2012 – Best of WNC 2012
Martha Stewart Living
October 2012 – Our Finds | Travel
Mountain Express
August 8, 2012 – The Last Supper
Departures
July/August 2012 – How Asheville Got Its Culinary cool
AFAR
July/August 2012 – Asheville, NC Guide
Charleston
July 2012 – Asheville by the Forkful
Charlotte Leisure Time
July 13, 2012 – The Cure for a Jaded Plate
The Local Palate
July/August, 2012 – Desintation Asheville
2011
Food Arts
November 2011 – Hits N’ Flops
Mountain Xpress
November 2011 – Bourdain Mixes it up
Mountain Xpress
November 2011 – Best of WNC 2011
Verve
June 2011 – Making Tapas the Top
Southern Living
October 2011 – Asheville Weekend Planner
Citizen Times
October 16th, 2011 – Bourdain Menu Served Up
The Banks County News
July 2011 – Taste Spanish Tapas
Citizen Times
July 3, 2011 – Family Legacy Defines Cúrate
Charleston
June 2011 – Cool Getaway
Citizen Times
June 20, 2011 – An Appeitie for Authenticity
GQ Magazine
May 2011 – Rad City
KATIE BUTTON PRESS
2018
Gear Patrol
April 2018 – 16 Tools That World-Class Chefs Can’t Cook Without
ChefsFeed
April 2018 – The all-time must-haves in life, according to one chef
Williams Sonoma
March 2018 – Five Chef-Approved Ways to Top a Hot Dog
Food Republic
March 2018 – Listen To Some Of The South’s Best Chefs On Food Republic Today
Food & Wine
March 2018 – 15 Chefs on the Ingredient They’re Most Excited to Use This Spring
Travel + Leisure
March 2018 – This Southern Food and Music Festival is ‘Music to Your Mouth’
Epoch Times
March 2018 – Cooking and Entertaining, at a Moment’s Notice
Travel & Leisure
March 2018 – This Southern Food and Music Festival Is ‘Music to Your Mouth’
Ocala Culinary Festival
February 2018 – Meet Chef Katie Button
Food & Wine
February 2018 – Why Chefs Are Picking Pottery Like Produce
Asheville Citizen-Times
February 2018 – 4 Asheville-area chefs are James Beard Award semifinalists
James Beard Foundation
February 2018 – The 2018 James Beard Award Semifinalists
Nation’s Restaurant News
February 2018 – Chefs serve fish straight from the can
WLOS
January 2018 – Reality Check: Group tackles sexual harassment in Asheville restaurants
2017
GQ
December 2017 – What to Cook for a Date, According to Some of Our Favorite Chefs
CNN
November 2017 – These chefs are blending culinary traditions across the South
Uproxx
November 2017 – Katie Button Shares Her Favorite Food Experiences in Asheville, NC
The Daily Meal
October 2017 – Interview: Katie Button, Chef/Owner of Asheville’s Cúrate
Buzzfeed
October 2017 – 17 Pro Chefs Reveal Their Absolute Favorite Ingredient For Cooking At Home
GQ
October 2017 – The Airport Food that Famous Chefs Love to Eat
Pinehurst Blog
September 2017 – Molly McKenzie’s Moment
Vogue
September 2017 – How to Actually Enjoy Dinner Out With Kids—Secrets From Top Chefs
96.1 BBB
September 2017 – Sound Palate Pairings: White Sangria and Lou Reed
Moneyish
September 2017 – Employee of the month is still a thing — and it pays
Food & Wine
August 2017 – Where to Drink Vermouth in Spain
Food & Wine
August 2017 – Where Chefs Traveled this Summer
Vogue
July 2017 – Top Female Chefs Reveal Their Best Summer Grilling Tips
Anatomy of A Chef
July 2017 – Chef Katie Button
The Local Palate
June 2017 – Southern Food Books and Cookbooks for Dad
From the Grapevine
June 2017 – 10 rising female chefs you should know
Salon
May 2017 – You’re grilling it wrong: Top chefs on the worst mistakes they see at every cookout
Scraps – FYI
May 2017 – Watch Asheville NC Full Episode
Asheville Citizen-Times
May 2017 – Asheville’s cooking chops on display on new TV show
North State Journal
May 2017 – Savoring the last drop
The Local Palate
May 2017 – Lessons in the Kitchen from Southern Women
Taste
May 2017 – Salt Potatoes Have Been Around a Lot Longer Than Syracuse
Tory Burch
May 2017 – Mother’s Day: Chef Katie Button’s Breakfast-in-Bed Recipe
Modern Luxury
May/June 2017 – Seduced by a Sunset
Epoch Times
April 2017 – Where the Wild Plants Are: Spring Foraging Brings Pizzazz to Chefs’ Plates
The Wall Street Journal
April 2017 – A Clean-Out-the-Fridge Sunday Lunch
James Beard Foundation
March 2017 – 5 Women Chefs on Professional Success
Williams-Sonoma
March 2017 – The New Family Meal
Heritage Radio Network
March 2017 – Episode 39 Charleston Wine & Food Festival 2017: Katie Button
Life and Thyme
February 2017 – Cooking for the Common Good
Garden & Gun
February 2017 – Katie Button’s Asheville, North Carolina
CBS This Morning
February 2017 – The Dish: Katie Button
Eater
January 2017 – An Asheville expansion
Mountain Xpress
January 2017 – Asheville Restaurant Week returns for its fifth year
2016
Fathom Away
December 2016 – Sun, Sand, and Salvador Dalí: A Few Days in Roses
The Wall Street Journal
December 2016 – Who Read What in 2016
Saveur
December 2016 – 10 Essential Spanish Ingredients for Your Modern Spanish Pantry
Condé Nast
December 2016 – The 9 Best Places to Travel in December
Cornell Alumni Magazine
November/December 2016 – Full plate
Asheville Citizen-Times
November 2016 – The season for winter squash is now
Food & Wines from Spain
October 2016 – Spanish Food from an American Kitchen
Munchies
October 2016 – How to Make the Steak Dinner of Your Dreams in 30 Minutes
Asheville Citizen-Times
October 2016 – New Cúrate cookbook demystifies Spanish food
Food Republic
October 2016 – Oven Lovin’: Here’s Katie Button’s Roasted Patatas Bravas Recipe
United Airlines’ Rhapsody magazine
October 2016 – Better off Red
Publisher’s Weekly
September 2016 – Cúrate: Authentic Spanish Food from an American Kitchen
Garden + Gun
September 2016 – Cutting-Edge Cookbooks
Epicurious
September 2016 – The 25 Most Exciting New Cookbooks for Fall 2016
People-First Tourism
September 2016 – Fork2Farmer Buncombe County
New Worlder
September 2016 – Essential Cookbooks: Fall 2016
Eater
August 2016 – Restaurants in Book Form: The Biggest New Cookbooks of 2016
Tasting Table
August 2016 – The Most Exciting New Cookbooks for Fall 2016
Taste Talks
August 2016 – The Tasty Food & Drink Awards
Food52
August 2016 – This Chef Doesn’t Serve Alcohol at Staff Parties
Bon Appétit
July 2016 – Chefs Couldn’t Survive Road Trips Without This Coffee
Global Scribes
July 2016 – IM the Chef: An interview with Katie Button
Mountain Xpress
June 2016 – Chef Katie Button leads effort to throw away less
Bloomberg
May 2016 – A Spanish delicacy grazes in Texas
Speaking of Travel
May 2016 – Cúrate and Nightbell
FED Guides
March 2016 – Asheville
Heritage Radio Network
March 2016 – That Chef Can Cook
Travel + Leisure
February 2016 – Secret Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants That Chefs Love
Saveur
February 2016 – 10 Ingredients We’re Obsessed With
Mountain Xpress
February 2016 – Chefs converge on Asheville for Appalachian food salon
Original Fare(PBS)
January 2016 – Women Makers
Grist
January 2016 – Grist 50 – Meet the 50 People You’ll Be Talking About in 2016
2015
S.Pellegrino
October 2015 – RE/SOURCE – Next In Line
Kendall-Jackson
October 2015 – 2015 Food & Wine Best New Chef: Katie Button
Delta Sky Magazine
September 2015 – The Road To Asheville
Greenville Online
August 2015 – A Change of Course
Food & Wine
July 2015 – Best New Chefs
Tasting Table
May 2015 – Do It Right: Roasting Bell Peppers
Condé Nast Traveler
May 2015 – 19 Chefs Pick Their Favorite Food Cities
Food & Wine
March 2015 – 2015 Best New Chefs
2013
Food Arts
June 2013 – The Accidental Chef
Blue Banner
February 2013 – Asheville Chef Nomination
Citizen Times
February 2013 – Local Chefs Snag Nominations
Robb Report
January 2013 – Culinary Masters Competition Winner!
Southern Living
January 2013 – Chef’s Challenge “Whats Your Go-To Meal When…”