@smokypark @baileycooks

Michelle Bailey (she/they) was born in Memphis, TN, and has called WNC home for the past 22 years. 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. At Smoky Park Supper Club, they lead a small, passionate team who are dedicated to good, local food and bringing people together. 

@pattysaenz32020

Patricia (she/ella) was born in Cabañas La Paz, Honduras. My passion for cooking started when I was a little girl. I loved seeing my mom cook and make tamales. I remember the first time I made pastelitos with her when I was 6. My dad passed when I was 11, and that is when I started working. This was the beginning of my career in the restaurant industry. Years later, I moved to the US and after much hard work, I was able to materialize my dream. Pupuseria Paty is my way of showing this beautiful city the traditions of my village.

@braisedandconfit_avl

Christian (he/him) moved to Asheville, NC with his three beautiful children seeking adventure and a new story with his food. Christian started working in kitchens back in 2008 experiencing family owned restaurants, cafes, and corporate kitchen settings throughout the years. Christian believes in the importance of food here and now, the idea of what is happening, growing, and alive in our region and the current season at this very moment. With Braised & Confit, Christian is intentional about native foraged and farmed sourced ingredients.

@culturaavl @cire6682

Chef Eric (he/him) is an incredible and passionate human being who dedicates his heart and energy to supporting his team and strengthening his community. Eric has been cooking professionally for more than two decades, including as chef de cuisine for the critically acclaimed Nightbell in Asheville and Pearl & Ash in New York City. In 2021, Chef Eric Morris launched the Cultivated Community Dinner Series at Cultura. This dinner series provides a platform for Asheville chefs who are a positive force for change within our community.

@ettisonenterprisesinc

Ettison, (he/him) native and long time South Asheville resident is a Chef and Garagistes from the craft-beer capital of the world, Asheville, NC. Chef Ettison is an alumni of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College’s Culinary Program and founded the The Ettison Group in 2015: an entry level culinary social enterprise that teaches people from disadvantaged lifestyles and communities skills for food and beverage employment. His goal for creating The Ettison Group was so people that are from humble beginnings could experience high quality food and its experiences.

@StuHelmFoodFan

Stu (he/him) has lived in Asheville since 2005 & has been a local food blogger since 2013. He is also a food tour guide & radio show host with over 11,000 social media followers & has produced several local food events & competitions. While Helm has no formal background in professional kitchens (a fact he does not hesitate to admit), he stays on top of every restaurant opening, tracks the movement of local chefs and can quickly identify trends, as well as tastes and flavors that he likes.

Roy Harris (he/him) is a Father, Deacon, Community activist and has lived in the Southside Neighborhood for the last 35 years. He has been involved in numerous organizations, now serving on the Board of Directors of Riverlink, Southside United, Deacon at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Housing Authority City of Asheville, and The National Association of Black Storytellers. He is a life member of The NAACP. He is passionate about justice and local history.

@annette_saunooke_clapsaddle

Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (she/her), a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, holds degrees from Yale University and the College of William and Mary. Her debut novel, Even As We Breathe (UPK 2020), was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020 and received the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award (2021). Clapsaddle’s work appears in Yes! Magazine, Lit Hub, and The Atlantic. She teaches at Swain County High School in Bryson City, NC.

@belovedasheville

BeLoved Asheville creates innovative solutions to some of the toughest challenges we face as a community. We put love into action daily. We believe in the perspective that we gain when we know that we are loved and we see others as equally loved. 

@allisonscottnc

Lifetime local Allison Scott (she/her) is a trans woman who advocates for LGBTQ Southerners as the Director of Impact & Innovation for the Campaign for Southern Equality. Allison is a community organizer and bridge builder who has coordinated with school systems, churches, businesses, news agencies, medical practices, and state and federal governments regarding equality for LGBTQ people.

@jonathanammons @ds_avl

Jon (he/him) has had a wildly diverse career, working as a journalist for a decade covering everything from food policy to music reviews. Asheville native, reluctant journalist, recipe developer, musician, professional eater and drinker, founder of the Dirty Spoon, and host of the Dirty Spoon Radio Hour, his focus has always been on the stories behind what we consume and how they came to be.

@monkpub

Kala is a self proclaimed "Cocktail Nerd" who has spent many nights on the back side of bars for nearly 15 years. She focuses on crafting interesting creative libations featuring premium spirits, distinctive flavor profiles, and fresh seasonal ingredients served on a casual rooftop setting overlooking the South Slope of downtown. Kala can be found managing the beer side of the bar as well and has expanded her interests into creating hard seltzers for the brewery's Holy Water program. 

@wickedweedbrewing

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.

@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.

@topofthemonk

We won’t bore you with some long dissertation. Instead, we’ll just say this: at Top of the Monk our philosophy is simple, centered around presenting you with the best quality cocktails, served by our knowledgeable and friendly staff in an atmosphere that is both sophisticated, yet relaxing. We take pride in serving the finest classic cocktails, and in continually honing and learning our craft in order to give you the best experience and drinks possible.
 

@oakandgrist

At the distillery, we leverage the power of everyday choices. To us, that means building relationships with local farmers and suppliers to create award-winning, truly local gin and whiskey. 

@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.

@mountainvalleywater

@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. 

@vidlcellars

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.

@markedtreevineyard

Marked Tree Vineyard is located on the Eastern Continental Divide between Mt. Pisgah and Tryon Peak in Flat Rock, North Carolina, in the AVA Crest of the Blue Ridge, Henderson County. Whether you are sipping wine on the Continental Divide or tasting wines by the ghost house, a marked tree is about finding your path. Marked Tree is a point along the road, a moment to reflect, a marker in life. 

@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. 

@embrewtea

You've barely got five minutes until your next video call, but desperately need a cup of tea to get you through it. Skip the messy infuser and grab an Embrew tea bag full of high-end tea and a touch of natural sweetener. Now, turn on your kettle and get to that meeting. 

@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.

@loomimports

LOOM Imports partners with talented Artisans across the globe to create authentic, handmade, one of a kind goods. Each product is made using traditional techniques and natural materials. LOOM operates under the principals of fair trade, and values collaborative, community driven ethical partnerships. 

@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.

@provisionsmercantile

Established in 2019 by Asheville natives Heather and Matt Wright, Provisions Mercantile was inspired by Heather’s grandmother, Claudene Mchone, who created a small general store in the basement of her West Asheville home in the 1960s. The general mercantile served as an anchor in the community, a place where neighbors congregated and socialized. In honor of these classic community hubs, we offer a broad selection of unique goods, eclectic gifts, and nostalgic heirloom-worthy supplies for all ages and stripes. We are proudly locally owned and our exclusive offerings and

@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.

Unique fire cider blends are made with local and foraged ingredients to create ultimate immune boosting concoctions. Herbal infused honeys, wild medicine and food are crafted with support from like-minded farmers, growers and other small businesses from the mountains of WNC.

@godess.ghee

We are a mama owned & women run small business in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains near Asheville who believe in the wisdom of food as medicine & honor the ancient Ayurvedic ritual of crafting grass-fed ghee. We are founded on the ethos of making the highest quality commercially available ghee made from the cream of cows living on green pastures + paying our team living wage + running a business as local and sustainable as possible. Our vision is to craft a nourishing

@redfiddlevittles

Red Fiddle Vittles creates fine food inspired by Appalachian ingredients, farms, and traditions. Created in 2018 as a catering and private chef company, Red Fiddle Vittles recently expanded to include a South Asheville retail storefront featuring house-made provisions, heat-and-eat weekly dinners, and specialty groceries from local producers. Combining more than 30 years of event and kitchen experience, Erica Beneke (she/her) and Matt Farr (he/him) are the mom-and-pop chefs and owners of Red Fiddle Vittles.

@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.