@ashevilleproper

Owen McGlynn (he/him) is the Executive Chef of Asheville Proper, a live-fire steakhouse in the heart of downtown Asheville, NC. Previously of Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro, Owen, alongside his wife Mindi, opened the restaurant in August 2020. Guided by a wood-burning Argentinean style grill, which also serves as the focal point of the dining room, Owen creates a seasonally inspired menu of locally sourced proteins and produce, all roasted, charred, or smoked by live-fire.

@mikasaaavl @chefsantiagovargas

Born in Lima, Perú, surrounded by flavors and traditions from the Andes. From a very young age, Chef Vargas (he/him) has loved the art of cooking. In 2008, he moved to New York City with a suitcase and a dream of becoming a gourmet chef. Santiago has worked in several renowned restaurants in Long Island, NY, preparing dishes ranging high end Italian cuisine to the traditional American barbecue. He received praise for his work in Newsday, Long Island’s press and was featured on Skillet, a podcast highlighting chefs living in the South.

@instagrahamhouse

Graham House (he/him) has a deep a reverence for local, seasonal produce and agriculture, and specializes in live fire cookery. His dishes express his personal style: fresh, vegetable-forward modern Appalachian cuisine. Combining bold flavors and aesthetics, he applies a snout-to-tail carnivore’s approach to produce, using the entire vegetable.

@sierranevada

Jessie Massie (she/her) is the Executive Chef of the Taproom at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. A native of West Asheville, she found her love of cooking in her mom and grandmother’s kitchens where she grew up cooking, preserving, and enjoying Appalachian fare. She has a passion for locally sourced ingredients and enjoys cooking with beer and brewer ingredients.

@WhiteLabsKitchenTap @Whitelabstapavl

Charles (he/him). Cooking has always been a creative outlet for me both at work and at home. When all else fails it's nice to know that gathering around a table for a good meal surrounded by loved ones will never go out of style. I will never forget my grandmother's lasagna and the way it always brought family together. I always try to remember moments such as these when looking for inspiration in my work. 

@chestnutasheville

Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, Brian (he/him) gained an appreciation for each season to come and was able to find his culinary expression through his mom’s cooking. A graduate of the AB Tech culinary program, Brian moved to Denver, CO and was recognized as a “culinary game-changer” in Zagat Magazine and as one of the “top 30 chefs under 30 in Colorado”. Brian returned to Asheville in 2017 to rejoin a restaurant group that he worked at in his early culinary days.

@bearsasheville

Collyn (he/him) was born in Hartford, CT and from an early age showed a natural talent with cooking. In 2013 his parents Cheryl Antoncic and Jamie 'The Bear' McDonald opened their first Bear's Smokehouse in Windsor, CT at a small local lunch counter. As Bear's grew, so did Collyn into his current position of Pit Master at the Asheville, NC location. He has a passion for all aspects of the culinary world, creating innovative specialty menus that are often a fusion of barbecue and international cuisines.

@frenchbroadchocolate

French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe, located at 821 Riverside Drive in Asheville, is an experiential bean-to-bar, craft chocolate production facility designed for our guests to learn about cacao, see chocolate being made before their eyes, and taste cacao and chocolate in various forms. The cafe is open daily from 8-8, with tours scheduled every day.

Lynx (he/him), in the Outdoor industry for 6 years and in the outdoors since I was kid in rural GA. I love the beautiful moments you find to challenge yourself and grow. I've realize I am often an outlier in the outdoors, a minority (as a queer man of color) far too often in my practice and field of work. I'm working to change that in my everyday life as well as my professional life - to be a mentor to others, to hold the door open for other marginalized people to find their way into a place that can seem off-limits, the Outdoors.

@brpkwyfoundation

George Ivey (he/him) was born and raised in Asheville, living just two miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. He spent a summer as a busboy at the Pisgah Inn in the 1980s and cycled the Parkway’s 469 miles over eight days in 2004. Now he directs the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s fundraising and community outreach in North Carolina and plays a central role in the Foundation’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. George lives in Flat Rock with his wife and two young children.

@vivi.la.exploradora

Vivianette Ortiz (she/her) was born in the beach and mountain town of Patillas, Puerto Rico. She grew up running the hills of her hometown, bodyboarding, and playing hide-in-seek barefoot through the farmlands. Her love for nature and the Latino community led her to be one of the founders of the group Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas. She is continuously finding ways to inspire the Latino community, especially families to go outside and explore by breaking down generational, language and racial obstacles.

@caramosl @vidacc21

Claudia Ramos (she/her) was born in Lima, Peru and came to the United States at 2 years old. Claudia grew up outside of Atlanta, GA, and moved to NC to further her education. She lives in Charlotte, NC as a Mental Health Professional and the Founder of Vida Coaching and Consulting. In her free time Claudia enjoys different adventures with hiking as has grown as part of her selfcare. Her most recent hikes have been local yet larger adventures have been climbing Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes in Guatemala.

@sierranevada

Turns out, good beer can do a lot of good. We shook things up in the ’80s, and it helped launch a beer revolution that’s in full force today. We keep pushing boundaries, whether that’s in the brewhouse, with sustainability, or in the great outdoors.

@edarhynedistillingco

Eda Rhyne Distillery is dedicated to producing exceptional small batch spirits that capture the creative, hardworking spirit of Southern Appalachia. We source local heirloom corn, grains and botanicals that give a uniquely North Carolina flavor to our spirits. 

@noble_cider

Founded in the new 'Craft Brew Mecca' of Asheville and North Carolina's apple country, Noble brings together a rich local history of agriculture with this region’s exciting craft beverage industry. We make a variety of things...mead, spritzers, wine, and cider of course!

@shantielixirs

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.

@georgedickel

Born 40 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George A. Dickel was an established Nashville merchant when he entered the whisky business. Dickel grew his reputation for selling the smoothest, most mellow spirits in the region. Thus, Geo. A. Dickel & Co. was born and when the Cascade Hollow Distillery opened in 1878 in neighboring Coffee County, George Dickel bought a large share. George Dickel followed in the Scottish tradition of spelling whisky without an “e.”

@cultivatedcocktailsdistillery

Since 2015, our family distillery has been crafting award-winning spirits and taking them one step further. Cultivated Cocktails blends legacy with innovation, art with science. We age our spirits with care, choice oaks and unique flavors. 

@newbelgium_avl

We were born on a bike. The rest is history. For almost 30 years we have crafted beers while proving that business can be a force for good.

@beamsuntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory is inspiring human connections. With a vision of Growing for Good, we're driving growth through quality craftsmanship, consumer connections and entrepreneurial spirit.

@devilsfootbrew

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.

@drinksarilla

When you choose Sarilla, you are also making positive change in the world! A fun, healthy and nonalcoholic beverage that is naturally energizing with a base of camellia sinensis tea leaves. We use a whole leaf brewing technology so not only are you getting a great-tasting beverage, but you are also benefiting from the antioxidants, amino acids, omegas and slow-release polyphenol naturally occurring in tea. 

@matchanude

Matcha Nude exists because finding organic, pure matcha that tastes good, is affordable + good for the planet is actually pretty hard to come by. We offer affordable premium grade organic, non-gmo matcha that is ethically sourced from Japan + is packaging in 100% compostable packaging. Our matcha is naturally soft and sweet in flavor and doesn't need additional sweeteners. We are on a mission to show the world the power of this incredible tea + the lifestyle that comes with it.

Carolina Mountain Woodturners (CMW) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, educational Chapter of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW). We usually meet on the 3rd Saturday of the month – from 10 AM to 4 PM – at the Folk Art Center, on the historic Blue Ridge Parkway, just South of mile marker 382. We host a woodturning demonstration each month (except November) in the Center’s auditorium. This is a free demonstration, and it’s open to the public. Please join us!

@better_thymes

We are local small business based in Asheville, NC. We started with the simple idea of wanting to take you back to better times. Our focus is delivering quality and consistency in all of our products. Join us on our journey! Our mission is to remind you of the good old times. Sharing great flavors from our kitchen to yours. All crafted with you in mind. We hope you enjoy all we have to offer, and share the experience with others.

@theporkskinscrew

Fresh, homemade fried pork skins in a variety of flavors!

@organicgrowersschool

Organic Growers School is the premier provider of practical and affordable organic education in the Southern Appalachians, building a vibrant food & farming community by boosting the success of organic home growers and farmers in our region. Our hands-on training, workshops, conferences, and partnerships inspire, educate, and support people to farm, garden, and live organically.

@botanicalbonesco

We believe that all living creatures are at their best when consuming foods that nourish the mind, body and soul. Our dog treats are made in small batches with nutrient-dense clean ingredients that dogs love + superfoods and adaptogens to promote wellness.