Stu Helm: Food Fan

THE PODCAST

Chef Tom LaFauci, joins me from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville, and we mostly talk about some of the exciting Food Holidays happening in July, and we are very briefly interrupted by Sarah, the events coordinator at Twisted. At the end of the show, there is a supplimental segment in which I am joined by my wife Dawn to recount some of our culinary adventures together!

00:00 - 01:33 INTRO: Hi Tom.01:34 - 17:07 JULY FOOD HOLIDAYS PT 1: Penuche? (Gesundheit.) 17:08 - 17:53 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.17:54 - 35:12 JULY FOOD HOLIDAYS PT 2: National Culinarian Day35:15 - 37:33 OUTRO: Oopsie… 37:34 - 54:31 SUPPLEMENTAL: Wait Until You Get To Know Dawn

THE NEWSLETTER

MOTHER BAKERY: On Fridays I often treat myself to breakfast at Mother Bakery, and when I'm feeling especially froggy, I jump at the Croque Madame, which is an insanely thick slice of toasted brioche, with Parisian ham, a sunny side egg, carbonara béchamel, parmesan, and chopped chives.

It's one of theeeee most delicious things I've ever eaten in my life. Not kidding. It's that good. Calories? What are calories? 😂😂😂

OLD EUROPE: I go to Old Europe Pastries more than any other cafe, restaurant or food venue of any kind! (Yes I do keep track of where I eat and how many times I go to each place on a giant Google sheet.) The other day I got a large cappuccino and a slice of Rigo Jansci, which is chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and chocolate ganache. It was insanely delicious, and just happens to be gluten free, so if you're GF and in the market for something decadent and satisfying give it a try.

Thanks, Old Europe! I've been a big fan ever since I moved here in 2005.

MIYAKO HOUSE: Just wanted to let y'all know that our good friends at Miyako House are now open on Sundays 11:30am - 9:30pm.

And also... they have great spring rolls.

ASHEVILLE PIZZA SOUTH: Y'all, it's time, once again, for Chef Drew Peterson's Pizza of the Month from Asheville Pizza South, and this month (July) he's really outdone himself with one of the most complex, deeply flavorful, and delicious pizzas -- or anything -- I've ever had. It's inspired by Tom Kha soup, and as always, I'll let the chef describe it himself...

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July Pizza of the Month: Tom Kha Za

Taking influence from the delicious Thai soup, Tom Kha. The base is thick, creamy, salty, sweet, and tangy coconut milk base with mashed potato. Then roasted chili flakes seasoned Bok Choy. You can choose chicken of tofu for the protein. Red peppers and mushrooms. After the oven it gets a garnish of green onions and cilantro.

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And yes, I couldn't stop myself from eating a piece (or two) before I even took a picture! 😂😂😂

As usual, this particular pie will probably not be available by the time you read this, so be sure to follow Drew on Instagram, so you’re always informed at the beginning of every month!

LA BODEGA: I went into La Bodega by Cúrate last week and got my current favorite salad in downtown, and met with one of my all-time favorite people in Asheville. The salad is the small green salad, with optional fried shrimp.

The person was Jeff Anderson, my long-time friend, and newest member of the La Bodega management team! ❤️

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Before every tour, I get myself a cappuccino at one of my favorite cafes in downtown (I have several favorites), and if I’m lucky, Paddy joins me! He likes to get himself an iced vanilla latte, and we talk about food and food tours, which is our favorite subject! This picture was taken at the Times Bar Cafe, which is one of my Cafe of the Year winner for 2023.

Whether you’re visiting town, or you live here, please come take a food tour with me!

“Stu was very engaging as a guide. He was very knowledgeable about the Asheville food scene plus the history of the city. We enjoyed the walk between restaurants and his funny quips. It was fun to try so many different cuisines; the variety of food was fun to experience. The restaurants and atmospheres of each was so different and fun to explore.” - Heidi F.

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast above features me and my co-host Chef Tom LaFauci, who is finally back with me after several weeks!

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 05:41 INTRO: Chef Tom is a Delicate Flower05:42 - 09:02 WHERE’D YA EAT? Anniversary Meal at Stone Bowl09:03 - 20:53 SAUCE TALK: Bearnaise Q & A20:54 - 21:38 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.21:39 - 47:54 DUNNING KRUGER REPORT: The Price of Food Part 247:55 - 52:30 OUTRO: Thanks & Bye!

NEW STOCK PANTRY: Dawn and I popped into New Stock Pantry in the River Arts District to say hi to Chef Ashley Capps and buy a bunch of yummies for later.

We got a bag of fresh local greens, a tasty and hearty white bean salad, a very delicious chicken pot pie galette, a whitefish salad sandwich and a Moroccan chicken salad sandwich, both excellent, and dessert of house made Graham crackers and three house made marshmallows!!! Two were subtly fruit flavored to be red, white, and blue, the other was coffee flavored. All three were pure soft marshmallowy goodness!

Oh, I also got a bag of their corn grit crackers, which were so frickin' gooood, I ate them all in one sitting! 😂😂😂 Thanks, New Stock!

CONTRADA: Dawn and I went to Contrada on Wall Street for her birthday last night and we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the experience! The patio was cool and comfy, service was very friendly and professional, and the food was awesome as always of course. We started with the sugar snap peas w/ cucumber, buttermilk & mint, and it was to die for. Very fresh, crisp and flavorful!

We had a hard time deciding on which pizza to order, because all of the options sounded super-delish, but we finally landed on the "estate" pizza, with EVO, zucchini, peas, fresh basil creamy ricotta. It. Was. Frickin. Awesome.

The various textures and flavors of the topping, along with a perfect Neapolitan crust made this pizza a unique and exciting pie and the perfect choice for that night. Thanks, Contrada. You da best.

FLOUR: I went back to Flour in the SWAsheville cafeteria building on Patton Ave right downtown, and got a perfect biscuit with butter and jam, plus a cappuccino.

I'm falling in love with Flour.

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: We run food tours every day of the week, with 2 on Saturdays! Food tours walk about a mile and 1/2 in downtown Asheville, and include a little bit o’ history and architecture, a lot of food (a large meal for most people), plus a couple of boozy drinks if you want ‘em, or n/a beverages if you you’d rather have those.

My tours happen on Sundays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, plus I am available for private tours some Mondays and Thursdays. Our other guide, Sarah, does tours the other days of the week, and she is awesome. Sign up for a tour with either of us! You’re gonna have fun.

“Sarah was an excellent guide. She expertly explained all interesting areas of the city’s downtown, as well as a bit of history. The food tour had a good, balanced selection of restaurants, and the knife place put an interesting touch to the tour” - Oscar G.

“Stu was an amazing guide. Friendly, knowledgeable about food and Asheville. He kept us laughing, took us to some wonderful restaurants and overall made the tour a great experience! We loved our food tour! 💛⭐️💛” - Cherri C.

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast above features me, talkin’ to my friend and fellow tour guide, Kaye Bentley from Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours, as well a solo-segment of Where’d Ya Eat and a little bit of Dunning Kruger Report at the end about the high cost of food.

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 01:54 INTRO: Reduced Herds & Increased Prices01:55 - 23:36 ROOFTOP TOURS: With Her Highness, Kaye Bentley23:37 - 42:02 WHERE’D YA EAT? New Theme Song, Rosabee’s, The Rhu, White Duck Taco, Dilbar, and Coffee Coffee Coffee at PennyCup, Farewell, Summit, Double D’s, Rite Rite, & The Times Bar & Cafe 42:04 - 42:49 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.43:00 - 47:55 CORRECTIONS: Mayo Rankings - Duke’s, Kewpie, Good & Gather, Plus The Largest Rooftop Bar in the world?47:56 - 54:45 FOOD PRICES: A Prelude to a Future Conversation54:46 - 56:28 OUTRO: A Heart Felt Soorry to the People of Canada

ASHEVILLE ROOFTOP BAR TOURS: My friend Kaye Bentley is the founder of Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours, as well as a very nice person, a great local business owner, and always one of my favorite people to bump into when I’m out — or UP — there enjoying Asheville’s hospitality scene. There are currently a lot of great rooftop and balcony bars in Asheville now, and more keep getting added. The new Flatiron Hotel has three rooftop spaces! Kaye and her crew know them all, and they have crafted several really great tours of downtown and the RAD.

“Your adventure with Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours will take you across the city: from a local favorite venue along our original Main St. to a sleek and modern rooftop bar in the center of the city. Our three-hour, three rooftop guided bar tours combine Asheville's scenic beauty and highly acclaimed rooftop bars with historic city landmarks, sample cocktails or mocktails, and preferred seating at each stop on the tour. We even do the driving for you!” - www.AshevilleRooftopBarTours.com

I always tell the locals that these views are here for us too, so even if you live in Asheville, be a tourist in your own town, and sign up a tour with Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours…

ROSABEE’S: I went to lunch with the boss the other day, and we went to Rosabee’s in the RAD! Jennie Townsend was my boss when I worked for Kickbackavl during the pandemic shut down, and we've stayed good friends ever since. I hadn't seen her in a super long time, so it was great to hang out in the chill atmosphere of Rosabees and catch up. And of course the food was awesome!

We started with coffee, and Jennie had a mocktail, and then we shared the house made spam appetizer, which was super delicious! I ordered the Brekkie Okonomiyaki which is a savory Japanese pancake, with wild red shrimp, two sunny eggs, scallions, Kewpie mayo, house Okonomi sauce, bonito flakes and chili crisp. It was fantastic and I ate every frickin scrap of what was on my plate!

The Boss got a Mochiko Chicken Sando and she also crushed hers.

Service was great, the dishes and flatware were very nice, the music was good, and we enjoyed ourselves very much! Thanks, Rosabees!

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE: Coffee coffee coffee plus a donut and a joint. Since last time, I’ve had a lot of coffee at my usual places. I got a macchiato at Old Europe Pastries, a cappuccino from French Broad Chocolates, plus a joint from Apotheca. I also had a really good cup of regular ol’ drip coffee and a very delicious cake doughnut from The Rhu.

I also had cappuccinos out the whazoo at PennyCup Coffee at the YMI, Farewell and Summit, aaand a super delicious and elegantly presented iced latte at The Times Bar & Coffee Shop AVL, which is my current Cafe of the Year award holder.

If there’s one thing for sure in this crazy ol’ world, it’s that 👁 ❤ ☕!!!

STU HELM: TRAVEL BLOGGER. Prt 9 - Downtown Grayling, Michigan. On our way back from the outer most tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula we stopped in a tiny little town called Grayling, where we stayed overnight at the Hanson House Grayling, a gorgeous, historic residence turned bed and breakfast.

That evening we met up with family for dinner at a really fun & popular spot called Spike's Keg 'O' Nails, where we all enjoyed the bar food, boisterous atmosphere, homey service, and each other's company very much!

Hanson House provides their guests with a voucher for breakfast at the nearby Grayling Restaurant, so we went the next morning, and it was like stepping into the past. Dawn got a veggie omelette and I got two eggs with hash browns and Canadian bacon. The food was exactly what we wanted, service was friendly and personable, the vibe was lively and just about as wholesome as it gets.

We loved it! On the way out of town, we stopped into Goodale's Bakery, where I got some super old-school Northern style pastries that hit every nostalgia button in my soul and satisfied me to my very core. That doughnut. Gah.

And finally, we stopped into Grayling Coffee and Tea Co. so that Dawn could get a fancy coffee, but to my shock and surprise, there was also free drip coffee because "Free Coffee Friday" is a thing at the Grayling Coffee and Tea Co. every single Friday. 😍 God bless America. Thanks, Grayling, we loved ya and maybe one day we'll have the good fortune to be back for another visit!

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The podcast above features a conversation with Jen Hampton about the Business Improvement District planned for downtown Asheville, as well as a visit from the Pizza Guy, and some unsolicited advice about writing negative reviews in public forums.

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 06:17 INTRO: Asheville is a Wonderful Little City06:18 - 30:58 BID BREAKDOWN: I’m Joined by Jen Hampton from Just Economics WNC & Asheville Food and Beverage United to Discuss Implementation of the Downtown Business Improvement District aka The BID. 30:59 - 35:16 WHERE’D YA EAT? Jen Lives for Taco Billy35:25 - 36:33 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING NI… 36:34 - 44:16 THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! Inspired by Julia Child and The Podcast!44:29 - 45:14 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.45:16 - 51:11 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING NICE: “Should I Write a Negative Review?"51:12 - 52:30 OUTRO: Thanks and Bye!

WORKING WITH THE BID: Despite all the vagaries, questions, doubts, opposition, suspicions, and outrage about the proposed Business Improvement District (BID) for downtown Asheville, our city council — with the notable exception of Councilperson Roney — voted “YES” to approve the BID and form the BID board, so whether the citizens at large wanted it or not, it’s here and it’s real, and now it’s up to us to inform ourselves about it so that we all clearly understand it, and when it comes to the implementation of the BID, we need to assert ourselves so that we have some control over it. You can read more about the BID and how to make your voices heard in various ways by clicking THIS LINK and you can read The City’s of Asheville’s BID information page by clicking HERE.

THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! He's done it again, y'all. Chef Drew Peterson from Asheville Pizza South always brings me his pizza of the month, and it's always real good! June’s pie was called the “Coq Au Vin,” and it was exceptional!

Chef Drew continues to crush the creativity when it comes to his Pizza of the Month offerings. As always, I'll let him describe it for you...

"Coq Au Vin pizza. Inspiration from you and Tom and more importantly Julia Child! Our take on a classic French dish. Chicken in red wine. We start with a creamy rich red wine sauce for the base. Slow cooked in house. Then it gets chicken, onions, mushrooms and bacon. Top that with Muenster cheese. After the oven it gets a parsley and tarragon garnish. Bon Appetit!"

This one is already long gone, and it won’t be back, according to Drew. He almost never repeats a pie, with the exception of the Saucy Hawg, which has come round twice, and might be coming back soon! The best way to keep up with Drew’s Pizza of the Month is to follow him on Instagram and/or Facebook.

CONGRATS TO WPVM: WPVM 103.7fm, the Voice of Asheville Braodcasting to the World, is the local public radio station that broadcasts out podcast to the local radio listeners in Asheville! They have recently obtained permission and approval to move their antenna to a better location, thanks to the building owners. The new, improved location is on the roof of the equipment room (above the elevator shaft).

This move was necessary as the previous location, while serving well for a good while, has been somewhat blocked to the north by the Cambria Hotel, completed in 2016, and the brick equipment building, affecting our signal to the south and west. With the move, we now sit atop that brick equipment building, and with the new location, the antenna will be 10-15 feet above the roof, which should significantly improve the signal reach and strength.

Congrats again, and a big thank you to WPVM 103.7fm for taking our humble podcast and turning it into a radio broadcast, now even easier to tune-in than ever!

MEET THE ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS CREW: Asheville Food Tours is a small, locally owned, family run company!

PADDY & JENNIFER: Paddy is “The Boss” and the OG food tour guide in Asheville! He’s been doing it for over a decade, and he taught me & Sarah everything we know about how to put together and run a successful food tour. He’s cool, calm & collected under pressure, and always has the best interests of the patrons and restaurant partners in mind. He’s mostly behind the scenes now, making sure the company runs, scheduling private tours, doing customer service, and a ton of other stuff. Without Paddy there would be no Asheville Food Tours!

Jennifer does our social media and she really captures the spirit of the Asheville Food Tours with her homey, family oriented, local, small business supporting posts! She really understands where we’re coming from as a company, plus she knows what “reels” are and how to make them, so we absolutely love that about her! We also love her because she’s awesome & she’s Paddy’s wife! Together, Paddy & Jennifer keep our company operating from the office, while the guides are in the field!

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

SARAH: Sarah joined the Asheville Food Tours team last Fall, and has been crushing it ever since. In addition to being a great food tour guide, she is an artist, a baker, a jewelry maker, a podcaster, a student of history, and she was once a magician’s assistant! Sarah is a native of Asheville, loves our food scene, and has a wealth of information about our city and the surrounding areas to share!

Sarah leads tours four days a week, including our famous Brunch Tour on Saturdays! Sign-up to take a tour with Sarah HERE.

STU: And you know me. I’m Stu. I moved to Asheville in 2005 and began writing about food in 2013. I got my first big break when Jason Sandford gave my reviews a chance on Ashvegas.com, and have since appeared on the Food Network, the Travel Channel, CNN and WLOS, and I currently have 18,000+ social media followers. I started working for Asheville Food Tours in 2016, and there’s nothing I love more than showing off the city I live in and the food scene I love!

I lead tours on Sundays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and I am available for private tours as well. Please book a tour with me HERE.

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The podcast above features me, and only me, as Chef Tom and I were unable once again to connect for our weekly podcast. I know it’s not as great when Tom’s not here, but I hope that you will bare with me while I recount the travel-eating that I recently did with my wife, Dawn…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 01:15 INTRO: Stu is Flying Solo01:16 - 04:39 BREAKFAST AT AVL AIRPORT: Just the Hug I Needed04:40 - 08:38 TRAVEL DIARY: The Journey Northward Begins… Kinda.08:39 - 17:38 ATL LAYOVER: Sky Lounge & Liminal Hotel17:48 - 32:15 WELCOME TO THE U.P. Home of Moofinfries, Lothrop & Son’s Fisheries, Peterson’s Fish Market, Fitzgerald’s, Arturo Ristorante, The Vierling Restaurant, Zephyr Wine Bar, Sinbad’s, Le Supreme, Frank’s Place 32:16 - 33:01 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.33:03 - 54:47 THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL: Penny’s Kitchen, Birdseye Outfitters, Velodrome, Bodega (Marquette), Trenary Toast Cafe, Suomi Home Bakery & Restaurant, Nisu Bakery, Goodale’s Bakery & Deli, Hanson House, The Grayling Restaurant, Red Hook Cafe, Frederick Stearns House, Josie’s 54:48 - 56:36 OUTRO: Shout Outs to Spike’s Keg O’ Nails, Grayling Coffee & Tea Company, The Original Gonella’s, & Coriander Kitchen & Farm, Bye!

Prt 1. AIRPORTS: ✈️ Y'all, Dawn and I just got back to Asheville, after an epic road trip that started in Sault Ste Marie, MI! My culinary journey technically began right at the Asheville Regional Airport’s Blue Ridge Trading + Tavern, where I got a super traditional American breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast & taters, and enjoyed the shit out of it. It was exactly what I wanted and it was cooked just right. Service was great too, and this was the perfect start for my trip!

Aaand it was pretty much the last perfect thing that happened that morning. 😂 Because of a thunderstorm, my plane was delayed on the tarmac so long that I missed my connecting flight in Atlanta so after a quick and tasty bite at the ATL Delta Sky Club, I checked in for an overnight stay at the airport Marriott. I got a fairly mediocre cheeseburger at the hotel restaurant that more or less met my expectations, and the excellent, friendly service exceeded my expectations. The next day I flew into Detroit, where I caught a much smaller plane to Pelston, Michigan, which is a tiny little town in the Upper Peninsula! Dawn met me at the airport, and had our first bite all planned out…

Prt 2. MOOFINFRIES: From the Pelston Airport, we drive directly to Moofinfries in Naubinway, MI. It’s a great little family owned place that sells locally raised beef burgers, locally caught fried whitefish, plus French fries and ice cream. We shared a burger and fried fish, and a lemon cheesecake ice cream cone. Everything was great!

We also had a chance to meet and chat with the owner, Wayne, who was super friendly and engaging! This meal set the tone for much of our trip. We ate a lotta great wfood, prepared and served by super nice people.

Prt 3. FRANK’S PLACE: You could call Frank's Place my favorite restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and you wouldn't be wrong! I went to Frank’s three times in the one week that Dawn and I were in The Soo. Frank's is an olde school diner, that looks and feels like stepping into the past. During my three visits I got a fried fish sandwich, a full traditional American style breakfast, and a bacon egg and cheese sandwich on a toasted English muffin!

All three meals were exactly what I wanted, hit every nail on the head, and solidified my love of Frank's Place! If you find yourself way up there in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, be sure to stop into Frank's, and tell 'em Stu sent ya! ❤️

Prt 4. CLYDE’S DRIVE-IN SOO. No trip to Sault Ste. Marie, MI would be complete without a visit to Clyde's! It's an old fashioned drive in, where you park your car and the server comes out to take your order. There's also a counter inside. We got our classic Clyde's burgers and fries to go, and sat at a picnic table by the river.

To me, it was the perfect lunch, and one of the most iconic and satisfying meals you can get in The Soo, so I made sure to get in with Dawn and the family, and I'm so glad we did! Clyde's rules. 🍔🍟 ❤

Prt 6, SAULT STE MARIE, CANADA: We also ate at a very nice Italian restaurant called Arturo Ristorante in Soo, Canada. It’s old school in decor and classic in their menu offerings, tho elevated. We got some perfectly seared scallops, on a bed of spinach, plus some very delicious crostinis, drinks, and a unique and wonderful pistachio ice cream dessert that we both enjoyed very much.

On my own I also got the strangest, but surprisingly tasty and satisfying meatloaf sandwich at a place called Mane St. Cafe & Lounge, and a very rich and yummo butter cream cookie from a really cute shop called JCC Sugar. Sault Ste Marie, Canada is a trip. Lots of geese. So many geese. ❤ 🇨🇦

Prt 5, HOUGHTON & HANCOCK: Eventually, we drove all the way up to Houghton/Hancock, which are sister cities, with a rich history of mining, fishing, and hockey! We had an awesome breakfast at a place called Suomi Home Bakery & Restaurant in Houghton, where I got eggs, toast & corned beef hash, Dawn got a veggie omelette, and we shared something called a Pannakakku, which is a delicious oven baked custard-like pancake. We enjoyed everything thoroughly!

A few days later we went to Nisu Bakery & Cafe in Hancock, where we got the things to go, a thumbprint cookie, a cardamom roll, and a very unique piece of rhubarb cake that was very simple and very delicious!

Prt 7, EAGLE RIVER, MI: After saying goodbye to our family in Sault Ste Marie, Dawn & I drove all the way out to Eagle River, MI where we went to a great, old school, family style restaurant called Fitzgerald's, and it was perfect. My whitefish was cooked just right, and came with roasted potatoes, tomato chutney and seasonal vegetables. It was delicious.

Dawn opted for the chickpea and fennel Tagine with preserved lemon, raisins, roasted carrot, fresh herbs, focaccia, and smoked chicken, and we both agreed that it was excellent! For dessert we had some chocolate cake, and crushed every bite! 🙂 Thanks, Fitzgerald's!

Prt 8 - MARQUETTE, MI. Marquette is a town so frickin' cute and charming, that I felt like, "If I didn't love Asheville so much, I'd be making plans to move here." Dawn ate a lot of great food, drinks and coffee, and I had some good legal weed while we were up there. We first enjoyed coffee and a pop tart at Velodrome Coffee Company.

We also had some very nice toast at Trenary Toast Cafe. I had coffee twice at a really cute cafe called Dead River Coffee Roasters, and enjoyed a joint from Higher Love cannabis dispensary with my coffee the second time. One night we pregamed dinner with a salad nicoise and drinks an elegant little place called Zephyr Bar, then met our friends at a classic historical venue called The Vierling Restaurant and Marquette Harbor Brewery for whitefish (of course!), and ended the night with ice cream from Provisions MQT and drinks at the rooftop bar of the Landmark Inn, where we were staying. The next day I hit up The Crib for coffee, and then Dawn and I enjoyed a truly satisfying breakfast at a really bumpin' restaurant called Bodega before heading out of town to our next destination!

If you ever get a chance to go to Marquette, Michigan, I think you're gonna love it! We sure did!

Next Time: Well folks, I ran out of space, so the Travel Blog will be continued in my next newsletter, with stops in Grayling, Detroit, and Lexington, KY!

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The podcast above features me and my co-host Chef Tom LaFauci have a bit of a Pizza Party

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 03:22 INTRO: Let’s Try Not to Sound Like Idiots 03:23 - 24:30:19 PIZZA PARTY! 13 Places to Buy Pizza in Downtown Asheville*24:32 - 25:17 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.25:18 - 29:59 TURDUCKEN: And Other Delights30:00 - 46:33 WHERE’D YA EAT? Delish Food Truck, Luminosa, Bee Thai Kitchen, Andale Way, and coffee from Old Europe, Pollen, Summit, Back Porch Bakery, The Rhu, plus a party at the new Chai Pani and Wing Wonderland46:34 - 52:30 OUTRO: Goodbye and the Importance of Lists

* UPDATE: There are now 16 places to get Pizza in Downtown Asheville

PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA: There are currently at least 16 places to get yourself a pizza of one kind or another in downtown Asheville. Just downtown. There’s dozens more in all over Asheville, including several trucks and trailers.

The 16 places downtown are (in alphabetical order): Bargello, Barley’s, Carmel’s, Contrada, Flour, Luminoso, Manicomio Pizza, Mellow Mushroom, Mission Pizza, Modesto, Pack’s Tavern, Pie.Zaa, Soprana Rooftop Cucina, Strada, Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville, and White Labs all serve pizza, whether it’s their main thing, or just a section on their menu.

I have not been to all of them, but I’m eating my way through the pizza options of Asheville! Most of the venues are doing California style pizza, which is essentially , except for Flour, which seems to be doing a version of Grandma style or Sicilian style on Focaccia.

Manicomio has my favorite New York Style pizza, but on occasion they do a Detroit style that’s thicker, breadier, sweeter and spicier than an NY pie, and cut square. I love it! The biggest pie is at Pie.Zaa. The highest pie is on the 6th floor of the Embassy Suites Hotel at Soprana. My mom’s new fave is at Flour. So, try some pizza while you’re downtown! There are a lot of choices!

DELISH FOOD TRUCK: The Delish Foodtruck was parked on S. French Broad Ave. recently, and I got a bunch of food! I ordered the Venezuelan start pack, which was full of a variety of deep fried delights! There were 2 mini plain arepas, 2 mandoca, 2 cheese tequeños, and 2 mini cheese empanadas!

Whoa. Lotta food. I ate one of each and will save the rest for the hockey game later tonight. Everything was tasty, especially with the sauces, but my favorites were the cheese tequeños, which were very crispy and salty and appealed to the little kid in me. The mandoca are very sweet, BTW, so I saved them for dessert.

The chef / owner also wanted me to try his most popular item, so he put a giant stuffed arepa in my bag too! It was fantastic! Very flavorful and extremely filling. Ooftah! I'm stuffed. Thank you, Delish! Cute truck, cute packaging, nice people, great food! 🔥 Thank you Hatch Coworking, for bring food trucks to South French Broad Ave!

BEE THAI KITCHEN: I recently went to the new Bee Thai Kitchen on South French Broad Ave, and had a fun and tasty meal. First of all, I ordered Penang curry and pad Thai, and totally forgot to take pictures of both of those. So I'll go back to get them, and take pictures, but both were very tasty and I enjoyed them a lot. In these pictures, you will see their version of crab Rangoon, which come in these little ball shaped packets, very enjoyable. There were also some pork filled Gyoza, which were excellent, and I got their very unique crispy shrimp tacos.

The tacos were very delicious, with a combination of fresh veggies, and some nice shrimp that were cooked inside of a crispy wonton. I love this concept, my only critique is that the wheat tortillas were a little bit thick for me. I would love to see these tacos done with a fresh jicama tortilla. Does anybody remember when Chef Katie Button made her Caesar salads on jicama tortillas at Nightbell back in the day? I feel like that would be perfect vehicle for these Thai tacos! 🙂

POLLEN & SUMMIT: One of my favorite cafés is Pollen. They always make a very nice cappuccino, and they always have really nice baked goods. I got a tasty, hefty, Very satisfying cardamom roll there the other day, baked by Back Porch Baking.

Pollen also sells fresh flowers, a little bit of cute merchandise, and they always play really good music there. So I like it a lot! I also really like going to Summit Coffee in the Grove Arcade, where I had an excellent cappuccino, and a very yummy pear danish at the other day.

Once again, the Danish was from Chef Hayette at Back Porch Baking Co. who is making some of my most favorite cafe snacks in town these days! And is a really awesome person. ❤️

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Take a food tour with me, or my fellow tour guide, Sarah and Asheville Food Tours! Our walking tours of downtown take about 3 - 3.5 hours, typically include 6 or 7 stops, a meal+ worth of food, as well a couple of alcoholic beverages along the way too if you want them, or mocktails if you don’t! The sign-up process is easy, and if you have any Q’s you can contact me at [email protected] or The Boss aka Paddy at [email protected]. Click the button below to visit our website and book your tour!

“Sara the guide was an excellent. The timing and the restaurants chosen plus the food taste was extraordinary. We had a great time!!!!” - Julio

“Stu was awesome. One of the restaurants was crowded so we couldn’t all sit together - Stu didn’t let that bother him. He still went to each individual table and gave us the detailed list of the food and served us super well! Stu had so much energy and took us to all the best spots. I will be recommending this to all of my friends.” - Micah

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast above features me and Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville talkin’ about food, and the 19-hundred-and-something World’s Fair, and good pots, and Latin words, and that time I fought a giant, and other stuff…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 06:09 INTRO: At the End of Which Chef Tommy Assumes the Fetal Position06:10 - 09:39 WORD ORIGINS: Sauce / Sausage / Sawsyge / Saucisse / Salsicus09:40 - 20:58 LIP CANCER UPDATE: I Don’t Have Lip Cancer20:59 - 24:54 SAUCE TALK: Ya Gotta Deglaze To Git At The Good24:55 - 25:40 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.25:41 - 40:22 WHERE’D YA EAT? Bear’s BBQ, Aloha Café, Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill & Accepting Random Candy From a Man in an Unmarked White Van40:23 - 41:59 GRINDFESTAVL SPOT: Check Out GrindfestAVL42:11 - 46:34 YES, I ENJOY MIRACLE WHIP: And Tom is Traumatized46:35 - 54:56 A TALE (ALMOST) TOO TERRIBLE TO TELL: They Called Me King54:57 - 56:10 OUTRO: Good Bye!

WING WONDERLAND - Just in case you didn't know, AVL Food Series and The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage have been bringing fun food events back! First it was the Burger Bliss, which was my fave food event since 2020, then it was the Wing Wonderland, which was also fun and felt like good old times to me. There were lots of great wings to be had from The Madness - Sushi, Burger & Bar, Moe's Original BBQ, Kente Kitchen Market, LLC, Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro, Shaa'bingo Jamaican Street Food and Strictly Wings South Food Truck!

They were all very tasty and unique and everyone ate their fill of chicken wings that day!

Keep an eye out for the next event, AVL Food Series - TacoTopia! If it's anything like the last two, it should be a blast! ❤️🌮❤️

ANDALE WAY - Lunch with my mom at Andale Way Mexican Grill is always special. We sat outside, the weather was lovely, the food was great (as always), and the folks who work there are some of the best in town! We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! ❤️

QUOTES FROM OTHER FOOD FANS

“I went (to Andale Way) last week. I got the two taco plate like pictured here, one carnitas and one pastor. It was delicious! Also had a super tasty “Texas” margarita. The staff was great.” - Chef Jamie Wade, Sand Hill Kitchen

“We love this place. Best Mexican food in town. Usually our Friday or Saturday night date night.” - Susan EG

“Went there yesterday for my son’s birthday and family get together and sat outside. None of them had been there before but everyone loved it!” - Justin

I’m so glad that my fellow Food Fans seem to like Andale Way as much as me and my family do! To join the Food Fan group on Facebook, just click the button below!

INSTAGRAM: Please follow me on Instagram if you don’t already. It’s a great way to see what’s out there it terms of the best of the best that Asheville’s culinary scene has to offer!

Here’s what some of my Instagram followers have to say…

@garagebbq “I need to try them out! I’m a pizza snob!”

@cookwithk_candler “We can’t wait to try this place! 🤤🤙”

@edibleasheville “This looks so delicious 😍”

@ashevillemicrogreens “Yum, that’s our micro cilantro! They have a nice staff and great food up there. One of the best views in town also.”

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Come take a food tour with me, or my fellow tour guide, Sarah and Asheville Food Tours! Food tours are super fun for locals as well as visitors, and you get a lot of food! They are walking tours, of downtown, and they take about 3 - 3.5 hours. There are typically 6 or 7 stops, at least a meal’s worth of food, as well a couple of alcoholic beverages along the way too if you want them, or mocktails if you don’t. The sign-up process is easy, and if you have any Q’s you can contact me at [email protected] or The Boss, Paddy at [email protected]. Click the button below to visit our website and book your tour!

“The tour was everything we hoped it would be. The sign-up, payment, and communications were flawless. The stops were great. We want to do it again. Thanks, Stu!” - Caroline T.

“I bought tickets for my husband’s birthday for this tour and it was outstanding! Perfect amount of stops, great food, fun history tips. We walked away full and with a list of places to go to next time we’re back in town! Loved the off the beaten path recommends. Sarah was a lovely tour guide. Highly recommend! We’d been to Asheville many times before but this tour was a blast and we discovered some wonderful places!” - Shea R.

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast above features me and my special co-host, Sarah Ray from the Let’s Talk Country Podcast, who is also one of my fellow food tour guides!

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 02:12 INTRO: Guest Host Sarah Ray!02:13 - 09:19 A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAINS: How Does a Food Tour Work?09:20 - 20:58 LTC: Let’s Talk Country Podcast with Sarah Ray & Mary Lynne20:59 - 21:43 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.21:44 - 42:34 LTC… and F: Let’s Talk Country… and Food42:35 - 50:05 SARAH’S JOURNEY: Sculptor > Baker > Tour Guide > More50:06 - 52:30 OUTRO: Good Bye!

BEAR’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ: I stopped into Bear's Smokehouse BBQ the other day and bought some of my favorite stuff! I also said, "damn the calories!" and ordered one of the most decadent things in all of Asheville: Bear Balls, which are battered, deep-fried balls of mac & cheese, pulled pork and cornbread that are then topped with cheese sauce and bacon. I kept my defibrillator right next to me while I was eating them! 😂😂😂 Gahd, they're so good, tho!

The other things I got were cornbread, baked beans, a chonk of their impossible meatloaf, and some of their "chopped," which is brisket and pork all chopped up together. I used the meatloaf and the chopped to make myself little street tacos at home for two days. Super delicious! The baked beans are some of the best in town, IMHO, and they have loads of meat in them. I really like the food at Bear's and I always enjoy seeing my friends who work there! Thanks, y'all!

HULI SUE’S HAWAIIAN BARBECUE: I treated myself to Huli Sue's BBQ and Grill the other day, where I got one of my all-time favorite things, as well as something from their menu that I had never tried before! The crispy fried baby back ribs are some of the best ribs in town in my opinion, and they were as good as ever! Piping hot, battered and deep-fried with a sweet lilikoi glaze. They. Are. Awesome!

Then I got out of my box and ordered a Hawaiian style house-smoked turkey club, with bacon, avocado, and LTO on a King's sweet Hawaiian roll. It came with fries. The sandwich was a beast and I ate half of it, the brought the rest home for later. The smoked turkey was really good and had a great texture. The fries were real good too. I sat outside on a cool misty day, which is my favorite kind of day, and I enjoyed my meal very much.

Service was great too. Prompt, friendly, and professional. Thanks, Huli's!

LUMINOSA: After my Wednesday food tour, I spontaneously stopped into the brand new Luminosa restaurant inside the Flat Iron Hotel right downtown, and I was pretty dang impressed. Especially because it was opening night, and for the first day of service, they were very dialed in! The place was bustling, lots of custies and lots of staff. My old friend and much beloved local favorite, Chef Graham House is the executive chef, and he took the time to pop out of the kitchen and say howdy to me. My server, David, was super-professional, but friendly. I ordered the camponelle pasta, with country ham, nettles, pickled shallots, and it was fan-friggin-tastic.

Very tender but toothy pasta, very punchy flavors, and... country ham. Yes please. I also ordered some very delicious roasted asparagus, that I enjoyed very much. The Kitchen sent out a dish of tiny roasted root vegetables with toasted hazelnuts, that was super good, and they also sent over two of their nonalcoholic drinks that I enjoyed very much.

I've included a photo of their menu, so that you can see their other offerings, and the prices. It is a place that I will try to get to as often as I can afford to, and I will also go there to share small plates with Dawn and our friends.

Thanks, Chef House, and the rest of the staff at Luminosa, I think you're going to do great in that location! Reservations are recommended.

CHAI PANI: Y'all... I went to the friends and family party at the new Chai Pani location on the South Slope, and... whoa. It's frickin' awesome inside!

Buxton Hall was my #1 favorite restaurant for a lotta years, so I'll always feel a little nostalgia for it when I go into that space, but ding-dang-daaaayummm! They sure did change the vibe, the decor, the seating, etc, and it's bright, cheerful, colorful AF, comin' atcha in 3 Dimensions, and 100% Chai Pani Group style, to like, the Nth degree. I loved it.

The food they served at the party was great of course, and I can't wait to go back. I think it's gonna be hella popular, ie really BUSY, especially in the beginning, so... uh... save me a seat! 😂

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Come take an Asheville Food Tour with me Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, or with our other awesome food tour guide Sarah Ray every other day of the week!

This was my second time taking The Food Fan Tour, guided by Stu Helm from Asheville Food Tours. His restaurant selection did not disappoint! We sampled a pork belly taco, NY style pizza, Reuben sandwich, Indian cuisine, Spanish food, steak and some of the biggest cookies (size and variety) I’ve ever seen. This was a great day spent with family and friends and wonderful weather for our walking tour. At the end, Stu asked all participants for their favorite taste of the day. That was a challenge and garnered mixed responses from members of our group. I chose the pork belly taco, but the Reuben was a close second. I highly recommend this tour - you get to sample food from several restaurants while learning about the Asheville Food scene! - Elena C.

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast above features me and the Pizza Guy, but mostly just me, mostly just talkin’ about food, and me, and brain worms, and stuff…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 01:09 INTRO: All Alone01:10 - 08:25 PODCAST ANNIVERSARY: 9 Years, Off & On08:26 - 13:34 THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE: El Gaucho13:44 - 32:29 WHERE’D YA EAT? 32:30 - 33:15 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.33:16 - 40:51 UNSOLICITED ADVICE: Photo Editing41:01 - 49:43 FAQ: Is It Love, or Money?49:53 - 54:53 THE DUNNING KRUGER REPORT: Brain Worms54:54 - 56:14 OUTRO: Good Bye!

THE RHU: Good lord, Y'all. One morning, I found myself sitting in The Rhu, listening to yacht rock, and eating one of the all-time most comforting and delicious breakfasts in WNC, and I felt like the luckiest person on Earth.

The biscuit & gravy platter, with a scrambled egg, and braised collards with Benton's Bacon. It's incredibly satisfying. Thanks, Rhu! 🙏🔥

TALL JOHN’S: Dawn and I went to Tall John's for appetizers and drinks with our friend Tema, and wow, every bite was awesome. We got Parker house rolls, deviled eggs, garlic shramps, and mussels.

The shrimp and mussels were particularly great. I could drink a bucket of their mussel broth.

Service was friendly and polite, as always, and the atmosphere was bustling and lively. It's a neighborhood joint, so there were families and kids, but the kids seemed to be there for the food, just like everyone else. (And to color! Kids sure do love to color!) So they weren't running around, or playing giant jenga in the middle of the room, or being loud in any way. It was fun to be there.

Thanks, Tall John's! We appreciate you!

MOTHER BAKERY SOUTH SLOPE: I treated myself to breakfast at Mother Bakery in the South Slope neighborhood the other day, and opted for the confit mushroom toast, which was super delicious! I included a picture of the menu so you can see what all it's composed of.

The preserved lemon was very tangy, the mushrooms were big, mild, and tasty, and of course the bread was perfect. I was full for most of the rest of the day after this meal. Thanks, Mother! (Not to be confused with my actual mother, whom I am also thankful to.)

DOWNTOWN FOOD ADVENTURE: I took myself on a downtown food adventure the other day, and stopped at four places. First I went to session Café at Citizen Vinyl where I met a new chef who is creating amazing baked goods under the name Lost Flamingo. I got a coffee cake, a mini danish, and a twice baked croissant. They were all super yummy! I'll definitely be going back to get more pastries in the future.

Next, I stopped into Manicomio Pizza, just to say hi to my friends who work there and one of the pizza makers asked me if I wanted to try his peach, ricotta and balsamic reduction pizza, and I said yes! It was very mild and creamy and peachy and delicious. Next, I swung by Mamacita’s Taqueria, because I hadn't been there in a long time, so I ordered a Carne Asada taco, with cilantro, cabbage, and two kinds of salsa, and it was great! Exactly everything I would expect from a Carne Asada taco!

Finally, I bought a Bhan Mi sandwich at Aloha Cafe to bring home for dinner later, and just like the taco, it was everything I could have wanted or expected from a traditional style Bhan Mi! I love living in Asheville where I can go on a walk from my house to downtown and back, eating great food, and bringing great food home to eat later. 🚶🏼‍♂️🧁🌮🍕🥖

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Come take an Asheville Food Tour with me Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, or with our other awesome food tour guide Sarah Ray every other day of the week!

Sarah was a fantastic guide. There was so. much. food. And all of it was amazing and all local spots I'm so glad I got to try out. - Valerie H.

Great food, great choices of cuisines! Stu was excellent. Highly recommend this tour. - Michael M.

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast above features me and Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville talkin’ about food rules and shaming, and Chef Tom is left flabbergasted at the end, when Stu admits a few things that might have been better left unsaid.

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 08:03 INTRO: AFWBIMPin’ Ain’t Easy & Making The Food Connection08:04 - 20:28 FOOD DELIVERY: The Story of 1,000 Hands20:29 - 42:48 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.21:13 - 44:28 FOOD SHAMING & FOOD RULES: Ketchup on Hotdogs & Other Sins44:38 - 54:13 ICED CREAM: Thank You, Mughal Empire.54:14 - 57:56 OUTRO: Stu Likes Two Out of Three Kinds of Whip

ROCKY’S VIA KICKBACK: I got Rockys Hot Chicken Shack delivered by Kickbackavl last night and it showed up fresh, hot, and delicious! I ordered three medium-hot chicken tenders w/ blue cheese dip, and two sides of mac 'n' cheese and mashed taters w/ gravy.

YOM! Everything was exactly what I wanted and what I expected! I enjoyed it tremendously and was very full and satisfied. We're so lucky to have Rocky’s and Kickback in this town!

DREAMS DO COME TRUE: Got me a classic orange dreamsicle from 4D’s Sweet Dreams Ice Cream On The Go before my Food Tour yesterday, and it was... dreamy!

FOOD CONNECTION at TWISTED LAUREL DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE: Paddy and I took advantage of a burger and beer special at Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville last month, and boy howdy! So dang delicious!!! Neither of us drinks, so we got the n/a phony Negronis from Burial Beer Co. and Devil's Foot Beverage Co. instead of beer. We shared the burger because it's huge and I'm tiny and Paddy isn't quite the glutton that I am, and he probably would have skipped lunch all together if I hadn't suggested Twisted (his favorite), and of course when I told him that $5 from every burger special sold that was going to Food Connection, he was on board 100%!

Paddy and I crushed this thing, and there were zero regrets. In 2023 I gave this burger my "Smash Burger of the Year" award, and just the other day, someone stopped me on the street just to say, "You weren't wrong about that burger at Twisted!" I love it when that happens. 🔥🍔🔥

OLD EUROPE: I got some Biscoff pie and an old school cappuccino from Old Europe Pastries the other day! Holy moly. Good times, Y'all.

BURGERWORX: My mom and I went to Burgerworx for lunch not long ago. She got a mushroom Swiss burger, and I got a standard double patty smash burger with 'Mer'can cheese.

When I told my mom I was about to take her picture, she hid behind her burger! 😂😂😂

ALL SOULS PIZZA: Dawn and I went to one of our favorite places and ate some of our favorite things! We love All Souls Pizza, it's our neighborhood joint, and we've been going since they first opened.

This time we got the hot honey, pepperoni, and banana pepper pizza and a delicious local arugula salad on a chickpea pancake for dinner, and we shared a dark chocolate & vanilla soft serve swirl. Everything was great! The pizza was a contender for my pizza of the year award in 2023, and is an early nominee for 2024!

The salad was awesome! Crispy on the edges. Unique flavor, fresh goat cheese, yum! The ice cream is of course one of my fave things on earth! We sat outside, the weather was perfect, service was friendly and professional, and I ran into a couple of my fellow food fans while we were there!

Thanks for another great neighborhood experience, All Souls! 🍕🔥

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Come take an Asheville Food Tour with me Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, or with our other awesome food tour guide Sarah Ray every other day of the week!

Terrific tour led by Stu. Lovely selection of bites, interesting information of the restaurants, engaging stories. Perfect start to our visit. - Karen R.

Stu was a great guide. He shared a wealth of knowledge not only about the food, but Asheville itself. You can tell he really loves his job! - Casey K.

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Get full access to Stu Helm: Food Fan at stuhelmfoodfan.substack.com/subscribe