June 27 - September 26, 2021

Chow Chow

An Asheville Culinary Event Series

About Chow Chow

As a 501(c)3 non-profit, the mission of Chow Chow Asheville is to celebrate and enrich the unique foodways of the Southern Appalachian region. As makers, chefs, artists, farmers and business owners, our vision is an equitable and thriving regional food system, where culinary and creative enterprise are central to community identity and resilience. We welcome the collective sum of differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, and talent our makers and guests bring to Chow Chow.

In Summer 2021, Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Event Series will celebrate the Southern Appalachian region’s unique community of makers, each adding singular ingredients to the recipe for a culturally diverse culinary identity. By engaging nationally and locally recognized chefs to multi-generational farmers and millers, bakers, artists, and brewers, Chow Chow shines a light on the creative spirit of the region that makes the Blue Ridge Mountains a delicious place to taste, to see, to explore and to experience through immersive and educational culinary experiences.

Board of Directors

As a 501(C3) non-profit, Chow Chow Asheville is founded by a group of community-committed volunteers who believe in the unique connections between makers of all kinds—particularly as they gather in celebration of our creative food culture in Southern Appalachia. Learn more about the vision behind Chow Chow.

President: Jessica Reiser, Co-Founder, CEO, Burial Beer Co., Forestry Camp Bar and Restaurant

Vice President: Jael Skeffington, Co-Founder, CEO, French Broad Chocolate

Secretary: Vanessa Salomo, Co-Owner, Business Development, Corner Kitchen, Chestnut

Past President: Katie Button, Co-Founder, CEO, Katie Button Restaurants

Gene Ettison, Chief Visionary Officer, The Ettison Investment Group

John Fleer, Chef, Owner, Rhubarb, The Rhu, Benne on Eagle

Murphy Horne Fletcher, Attorney, McGuire, Wood & Bissette Law Firm

Aaron Grier, Owner, Gaining Ground Farm

Meredith Leigh, Author and Consultant

Kyle Pedersen, Marketing Director, Wicked Weed Brewing

Peter Pollay, Co-Founder, Executive Chef, Mandara Hospitality Group

Jen Swanson, Communications Consultant

Mike Tiano, Co-Owner, Haw River Wine Man

Marilyn Zapf, Assistant Director and Curator, Center for Craft

Chow Chow Staff

Rebecca Lynch, Executive Director, rlynch@chowchowasheville.com

Shay Brown (Shay Brown Events Management), Festival Director, shay@chowchowasheville.com

Terri Terrell, Culinary Director, festivals@shaybrownevents.com

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Plan Your Trip

This inspired, friendly and free-spirited food scene tucked in the mountains of Appalachia has been called “Foodtopia,” but the locals just call it home. Plan your trip now.

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Mission

Learn more about the vision and values that guide Chow Chow's work to celebrate and enrich the foodways of Southern Appalachia.

Learn More