Cúrate and Nightbell help Asheville maintain its foodie destination status, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Cúrate Tapas Bar is Chef Katie Button’s first restaurant in Asheville, NC.
Asheville has become a popular getaway for those looking for a laid-back, artsy city with a small-town vibe. The Biltmore Estate was its original attraction, but local businesses, including Heirloom Hospitality Group’s two restaurants, have aided in turning Asheville into a thriving hotspot.
Nightbell, on Lexington Avenue, is Chef Katie and the Heirloom team’s second restaurant.
The Wall Street Journal article quotes one of the Biltmore Estate owners in describing the streets of Asheville now:
“On any given night, the sidewalks are packed with people and you think ‘Whoa, is there a festival in town?’” said Dini Cecil Pickering, George Vanderbilt’s great granddaughter, who grew up in south Asheville when many of those art deco office buildings were shuttered. “But, no, it’s just a regular night in Asheville.”
Esqueixada montaña, a dish made with Sunburst trout, is served at Cúrate. Photo by Johnny Autry for Wall Street Journal.
Many of those visitors dine at Cúrate Tapas Bar or Nightbell downtown, part of the incredible food scene. Other dining favorites in the WSJ article are Early Girl Eatery, Chai Pani, 12 Bones Smokehouse, and Buxton Hall Barbeque. Deborah Dunn, the WSJ writer, visited the Thirsty Monk for drinks, one of many quality bars downtown. Mayor Esther Manheimer recommends stopping by The Wedge in the River Arts District.
The article gives just a small sample of Asheville’s local food and art scene. From five James Beard award nominees to the Obama family’s go-to barbeque joint, Asheville seems to have it all.
Read the full article with photos by Johnny Autry here.
