Food news: All Souls Pizza reopens, tailgate market returns for the season and more

Collard greens and kale
Collard greens and kale

ASHEVILLE — A popular pizzeria reopens with enhancements and a rotating menu; spring harvests are ripe for shopping at local tailgate markets; and here's how to ferment with the best of them.

Back in action

The wait is over, All Souls Pizza fans.

The pizzeria has reopened after repairs and renovations.

Lady Edison pizza at All Souls Pizza.
Lady Edison pizza at All Souls Pizza.

On March 2, All Souls Pizza closed and began the improvement project that focused on essential behind-the-scenes repairs. The flooring in the kitchen and behind the bar was replaced and plumbing was updated, manager Chad Palme said in an email.

Although customers may not notice the difference, the work was much needed, he said.

On March 24, All Souls Pizza staff welcomed customers back into the restaurant to order from the menu that constantly offers something new.

“We change our menu on a weekly basis,” Palme said. “We do our best to work with the season and showcase excellent products we're excited about and enjoy. This week we're offering a pizza featuring Lady Edison country ham, as well as a radicchio salad with grapefruit, olives, and really nice feta cheese from Looking Glass Creamery.”

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If needing more reason to visit, Palme offered a few more enticing points.

Guanciale Pizza
Guanciale Pizza

“Simply, because the pizza is delicious,” he said. “We have a great space indoors and out. We make changes to the menu weekly. It's fun food made with serious ingredients all in a casual, laid-back spot. On top of all that, the folks here are really fantastic.”

All Souls Pizza is at 175 Clingman Ave. The hours are 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. View the menu at allsoulspizza.com.

Save the dates for tailgates

Keep meals fresh and money local at area tailgate markets.

Tailgate — or farmers — markets are reopening for spring with one returning to downtown for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

East Asheville Tailgate Market will reopen on April 1. The hours will be 3-6 p.m. every Friday through Oct. 28 at 954 Tunnel Road. For more details, visit eastashevillemarket.com.

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Ashville City Market was hosted as ASAP Farmers Market at A-B Tech for better social distancing practices but will return to North Market Street and its original name this spring. Asheville City Market will open from 9 a.m. to noon on April 2 at North Market Street, between Woodfin and Walnut streets in downtown Asheville. The market will be open on Saturdays through Dec. 17. Handicapped and free parking are available at the HomeTrust Bank lot and at the Family Justice Center lot across from the YMCA, 35 Woodfin St. For more details, visit asapconnections.org.

North Asheville Tailgate Market will reopen on April 2. The hours will be 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday through Nov. 19 at UNC Asheville Lot P28. For more details, visit northashevilletailgatemarket.com.

Eggs for sale at Asheville City Market
Eggs for sale at Asheville City Market

West Asheville Tailgate Market will reopen on April 5 and operate from 3:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at 718 Haywood Road. The market runs through Nov. 22. For more details, visit westashevilletailgatemarket.com.

River Arts District Farmers Market will reopen on May 4. The hours will be 3-5:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Oct. 26 at 289 Lyman St. For more details, visit radfarmersmarket.com.

Also, check out WNC Farmers Market, open year-round and daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 570 Brevard Road in Asheville. For more details, visit ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/asheville/.

The tailgate markets offer the opportunity to support local farmers and purveyors while taking home fresh food and original products. Reconnect with the community, enjoy free live music performances, engage in family-friendly activities and more in an open-air environment.

Blue Meadows Farm at Asheville City Market
Blue Meadows Farm at Asheville City Market

Also, SNAP is accepted in many markets. At Asheville City Market, SNAP shoppers can double the value of their dollar. The way ASAP breaks down how it works is that “if a SNAP customer swipes their EBT card for $10, they will receive $10 in SNAP tokens as well as $10 in Farm Fresh Bucks.”

For a full list of regional tailgate markets, visit appalachiangrown.org/listing/show/221-wnc-farmers-market.

To good health in Hendersonville

Learn the health benefits of fermenting from the experts.

Fermenti will present a five-session Fermentation Master Class Series this summer. The classes will be from 2-4 p.m. on June 4, June 25, July 30, Aug. 27 and Sept. 24 at Veterans Healing Farm, 38 Yale Road in Hendersonville.

Students will receive instruction on how to ferment at home with in-depth discussions on handcrafting fermented, lactic-bacteria and probiotic-rich foods. Topics covered will include how fermenting may be used to balance blood sugar, in addiction recovery and to improve immune health.

Meg Chamberlin with jars of Fermenti Foods on her farm in Marshall February 26, 2021.
Meg Chamberlin with jars of Fermenti Foods on her farm in Marshall February 26, 2021.

Participants will receive a Fermenti Home Fermentation Kit and take home their own handcrafted ferments.

The series is a benefit for the Veterans Healing Farm, who will provide produce grown on the property specifically for the event series. The farm’s mission is stated to enhance the mental, emotional and physical well-being of the nation's veterans through agri-therapy, camaraderie and community.

Fermenti is a local business, based in Marshall, dedicated to providing living probiotic-rich fermented food.

For updates on the series and ticket purchasing, visit fermenti.biz and veteranshealingfarm.org.

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 Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: All Souls Pizza, tailgate markets reopen; fermenting series coming