60 food, beverage partners unite for premier tasting event in Asheville

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
·2 min read
The 2024 Taste of Asheville event will feature 60 food and beverage partners.
The 2024 Taste of Asheville event will feature 60 food and beverage partners.

ASHEVILLE - Asheville Independent Restaurant Association’s Taste of Asheville will bring 50 food and 10 beverage partners together under one roof Feb. 1 for its annual tasting extravaganza.

“This is the perfect opportunity to try out some new places or places that have been on your list to go to,” said AIR Executive Director Meghan Rogers. “You have 50 restaurants all in one place putting out their best food and samples for you so it’s a great way to discover some new places.”

Attendees will also have the chance to meet, mix and mingle with the teams from the restaurants and brands.

It’s nearly a sold-out event, so those who haven’t nabbed a ticket are advised to act fast and get one.

Guests sample dishes from local independent restaurants at Taste of Asheville, a fundraiser for the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.
Guests sample dishes from local independent restaurants at Taste of Asheville, a fundraiser for the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.

A general admission ticket is $80 and may be purchased via eventbrite.com.

The event is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center.

“I promise no one will walk away hungry,” Rogers said.

The remaining food from the event is donated to Food Connections, which distributes portions to shelters and community programs across the area.

Rogers said that “Taste of Asheville is AIR’s premier event of the year.”

It’s also AIR’s major fundraiser, which benefits the membership-based organization’s year-round efforts to support local, independent food and beverage businesses.

“It allows us to continue to provide the education and advocacy support for our independent restaurant community,” Rogers said.

Education leads the charge as AIR works with its members to ensure they understand the rules and regulations from agencies like the North Carolina Health Department and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

Old Europe Pastries' spread of desserts at Taste of Asheville.
Old Europe Pastries' spread of desserts at Taste of Asheville.

Topics of discussion range from understanding commercial leases to harassment and harassment policies. Other challenges, including inflation and ensuring fair wages, will also be addressed, she said.

“It’s making sure (they) are able to provide a great place to work for members of our community,” Rogers said.

More programs and initiatives will be announced that address financial literacy and other service worker needs.

Rogers said the volume and variety of Asheville’s restaurant industry is part of what makes it special for culinary experiences.

“We’re lucky to have the number of local independent restaurants that we do for the size of the city that we are,” Rogers said.

For those looking for other ways to support local, independent restaurants, purchase the 2024 AIR Passport, a coupon booklet offering discounts through the year at 48 participating restaurants in the city.

“This is yet another way to get out and try all the awesome restaurants that have been on your list that you’ve been wanting to try," Rogers said. "It’s a great deal."

AIR Passports are can be purchased for $75 at airasheville.org while supplies last.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Taste of Asheville offers array of samples, supports local restaurants