Bailey is a master of wood-fired cooking and has a passion for sourcing ingredients from local farmers and foragers. She is currently most inspired by cooking with live fire, networking with local food vendors and encouraging aspiring chefs to hone their craft. 

Cousler, a Filipinx lifelong Southern resident chef who has cooked in Manila, Quezon City, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. Food and identity are not separate, and they have landed right where they began: between the American South and the Philippines.

Michele grew up in food-diverse Toronto, received a culinary degree from La Varenne in France, and moved into a country cottage near Asheville in 2012. She loves creating and styling food, and is smitten with Asheville’s makers, farmers, and producers.

Eric Morris is executive chef at Cultura; a fine dining restaurant introduced by Wicked Weed Brewing in 2019 and was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award Best New Restaurant in 2020. Eric has been cooking professionally for more than two decades.

Phillips was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the US in the 1988. The once-aspiring food and travel show host turned restaurateur revitalized the food truck scene in Asheville and has opened two wildly successful brick & mortar food destinations.

Cleaster is an internationally recognized artist employing paintings, drawings, photographs, textiles and digital imagery. Founder of Youth Artists Empowered, an arts and education program, fostering self-esteem, communication, cultural awareness and economic empowerment.

Indigo Innovation Group, a consulting firm dedicated to serving as a strategic thought-partner to organizations committed to accelerating change. Founder of CoThinkk, a social change philanthropy committed to shifting the narratives of communities of color in WNC.

Hailing from the depths of Appalachia in Madison County, NC, she honed her culinary skills in France. Passionate about elements of taste and style, and how they extend from our palate into our daily lives, Susi blends food, music, words and images into a tapestry for the senses.

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Mr. Tyson Sampson is an Eastern Band Cherokee Indian ( ᎠᏳᏫᏯ ᎨᏯᏔᎯᎤᏁᏉᎳᏗᏍᎩ). He has been educating about harvesting and processing regional flora for 21 years. Tyson organizes his relations to document culturally sensitive life-ways to prepare the next wave of Traditional Ecological

A multi-disciplinary creative, Honey has produced a range of immersive spaces & events, installation art & community building experiences in the rural underground art scene of Western Carolina. Different Wrld is a creative hub & culture house in Asheville, NC.

Founded by Debbie Word, Chemist Gin was born from a small family still and many hours of moonshining. Their unique appreciation for classic distilling and modern science led to the creation of their first spirit - a beautiful gin made with American botanicals and distilled wheat spirit.

Farm-To-Can Craft Soda. We pride ourselves on working with Organic Roots & Fruits to create a healthier, more flavorful non-alcoholic experience for everyone in our communities.

Through many different treatments, vessels, and fermentations, we’ve created a diverse portfolio of wines that reflect our passion as both drinkers and makers. These truths we hold self-evident: fruit is life, fermentation is alchemy, and wine is vīdl.

With four locations in Asheville including three taprooms and a fine dining restaurant, Wicked Weed shows no signs of slowing down. They continue to grow while focusing on innovation, quality, and strong roots in their community of Asheville, North Carolina.

When you choose Sarilla, you are also making positive change in the world! Part of the 3 Mountains family of purpose-driven brands, Sarilla inspires people to live the life of their dreams by offering a beverage that supports a healthy, happy, & simple lifestyle.

Working together, the Shanti Elixirs’ team is dedicated to spreading well-being, peace and good vibes through every sip of Jun – created and bottled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.