Stu Helm: Food Fan

The podcast above features me and Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville talkin’ about food, Jabba The Hut, and holding hands while eating vegan chicken.

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 03:40 INTRO: Love Ya! Yeah, We’ll Go With That.03:41 - 32:42 WHERE’D YA EAT? PT 1: Miyako House, Dilbar, Mikasa Criolla, Buxton Chicken Palace, La Bodega, Abeja’s House, Asheville Pizza South, Jimmy Bakes, Yamaneko1 Bento, 12 Bones South, Burial Beer, Shanghai Dumpling House, Mother Bakery, The Rhu, Coffee at Pennycup, French Broad Chocolates, The Grind, Farewell, & Olde Europe32:44 - 32:29 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.33:31 - 40:22 SAUCE TALK: Sauce Robert (It's Pronounced "Row-Bear," Y’all) & Demi40:23 - 44:53 WHERE’D YA EAT? PT 1: Winter Park Edition - Buttermilk Bakery, CFS Coffee, Café Don Juan, East End Market, Wafu, Domu, St. John’s River Steak & Seafood44:54 - 47:10 OUTO: Thanks for Being Here!

ROOFTOP DINING PART 1: Y'all, my family went to Hemingway's Cuba Asheville, the balcony / patio restaurant at the Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville for brunch last weekend, and we enjoyed it very much!

We started with some guava pastries with fresh fruit, and maduras (fried sweet plantains) and both were really delicious! The plantains were very soft, sweet, and caramelized! Some of the best I've ever had. My mom got the Pilar's guava salad with shrimps and loved it.

My sister got the pressed Cuban breakfast sandwich, and boy howdy! It looked really good! She said it was great. I should have asked for a bite! My nephew got one of the tortilla omelettes, I can't recall which one, but he crushed it, so it must have been tasty!

My bro-in-law and I both got the basic Hemingway's Breakfast, he got his with sausage, I got mine with ham. We both finished our plates, and I enjoyed mine, but I feel like I should have ordered something more exciting, so I'll go back on my own to try some other things. The weather was perfect, the views are great, and there was Cuban music playing, so it was very lively and fun! Thanks for inviting us, Hemingway's, and thanks for offering this unique breakfast/brunch option in downtown Asheville 7 days a week!

ROOFTOP DINING PART 2: Food fans, don't sleep on Capella on 9, the rooftop bar and restaurant of the AC Hotel Asheville. It's been a personal favorite of mine for years and I hope that y'all will take advantage of the fantastic views from the tallest rooftop food venue in town, with some of the best food too! I'm a big fan of the executive chef, Rakim Gaines, who is my current Chef of the Year winner, and I'm a big fan of the rest of the folks in the kitchen, as well as those behind the bar, and the whole dang staff up there. I've gotten to know them over the years, and they are super nice people. At the request of one of the managers there, I arranged an AFWBIMP tasting (Asheville Food Writers Bloggers & Independent Media People), and we all shared several dishes from the new menu.

Everything we had was super delicious, and the group CRUSHED every bite. The gambas al ajillo were perfectly cooked shrimp swimming in a smoked paprika butter with garlic confit and chive. I could have eaten a bucketful. Next came my fave dish on their menu, the grilled ribeye with house made steak sauce and a summer hash of taters, leeks, asparagus & bacon. Gah. So good.

Another fave of mine was next, the seared tuna tataki with sauces, micros & toasted sesame seeds. Next the Scottish salmon came out, disappeared from the table in what seemed like 3 seconds flat! 😂 It was real good. The beet salad with fried capers & burrata was awesome. I am in love with burrata! Gim. All. For dessert, one of the Chefs busted out a bread pudding for us! It was so dang tasty! YOM! Good times all around.

The AFWBIMP crew demolished this food, and you might have already seen some posts from the other members, and you might see some more, because part of the point of our group tastings is to love-bomb the grub on social! 🙂 Now that you've seen the food, go say hi to Chef Rakim and the crew! Locals especially, we should not deny ourselves the rooftop experiences of downtown Asheville. It's our city, and we should enjoy it! ❤️❤️❤️

ROOFTOP DINING PART 3: I was recently invited to come try the new Soprana Rooftop Cucina at the Embassy suites hotel downtown, and wow. The views are frickin' spectacular! Like, amazing. I tried to capture it in pictures, but that's a heavy lift for an iPhone. I highly recommend going and seeing it for yourselves. The food I tried was also fabulous! One of my fave people/chefs in this town, Philip Bollhoefer has set the menu, and Chef Ryan was in the kitchen on the night I was there.

I ordered the burrata pizza with stracciatella, aged balsamic, EVO, tomato sauce, basil, and heirloom tomatoes. It was insanely good! They also sent some of their chicken wings to the table, and wow! Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and they came with some fresh grilled lemon to squeeze on them, and it was the perfect little bit of tang.

For dessert I got myself their affogato, with dark roasted espresso, vanilla gelato, salted caramel, and amaretti cookies. It was sooooooo dang good!

And of course, I stuck around long enough to watch the sunset, which was the greatest show on Earth. And like I've been saying about all the rooftop venues, don't ignore them, even if you're local. Or should I say, *especially* if you're local! These views are here for us, as well as for people who come to visit, and I can highly recommend the food at Soprana Rooftop Cucina!

THE RHU: Attention Quiche Fans! I love quiche and today I had a perfect piece of quiche at The Rhu. It was warm and fluffy and savory and had nice chunks of vegetables and a very flaky wonderful crust.

It also came with a cute little side salad. It was exactly what I wanted and it sure did hit the spot! Thanks, Rhu!

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!

We had a great time, learned a lot and Sarah was a great guide! So full of delicious food, and she helped us to confirm that we will be back again in the future. And naturally, we will recommend this tour to all we know. Thanks for making a great honeymoon so enjoyable for us! - David P.

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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 Seafood, plus a special guest interview with Chef Khan Kogure…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 01:35 INTRO: Hi Tom. Hi Stu.01:36 - 19:41 DUNNING KRUGER REPORT PT I: Top 10 Fish Pop Quiz19:51 - 42:02 BENTO BOXES: YamanekoBento1 Delivers the Goods!42:03 - 42:48 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.42:50 - 51:51 DUNNING KRUGER REPORT PT II: The Truth About Tilapia51:52 - 54:00 OUTRO: Goodbyes Interrupted54:01 - 57:51 THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! Eating The Weedeater

THE FIRST THING I DID when I got back to Asheville from my trip to Winter Park, FL was to hit up the Burgerworx where I had theeeee perfect snack burger.

Single patty, 'merican cheese, and small amount of ketchup, chomp chomp chomp gone perfect.

ABEJA’S HOUSE CAFE: I recently went to Abeja's House Cafe with my mom and my nephew, and we feasted on some of the best food in WNC!

The Neph got Abeja's famous shrimp 'n' grits, said he was gonna bring half home, then finished it! 😂

My mom got huevos rancheros, which one of her fave things ever, and I got the Stoobie Award winning NOLA chicken and shrimps, and as always, I crushed it, loved it, made noise, scraped the plate, would have licked it if not for societal norms.

This is a fantastically comforting and delicious dish, that I can not recommend highly enough! 🔥 Thanks, Abeja’s!

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD: Y'all, please meet some of my fave local folks. Jessica and Chef Raymond are the owners of Miyako House, and they are two of the nicest, and most generous people you'll meet! I've recently added them to my food tours, and they've been crushing it! Chef Paul Hemphill works at Capella on 9, and he's got a very charming personality and a real talent for cooking super tasty food. He's holding a ribeye in the picture, which is insanely delicious, but wait'll you try his bread pudding! Chef Kahn Kogure just started up a super-authentic Japanese bento box delivery service. He's as much an artist as a chef, his food is incredible (more on that soon!), and he's a real pleasure to be around. Today I met up with a guy named Ryan who started a clothing brand called "Ashevillish," just so he could show off how proud he is of being from Asheville, born and raised!

My friend Lucho runs Asheville Multicultural, and I always have a fun time exploring Asheville's eateries with him, like Tienda Los Nenes for tacos. Chef Macario from the Sabora food truck makes some of the best dang burgers, as well as my number one favorite Cuban sandwich in all of Asheville, and is also a great guy!

Finally, my mensch, my broheen, my pizza compadre, Chef Drew from Asheville Pizza South bringin' the pies!

His pie of the month for May, 2024 is called El Gaucho, and it’s super-yum-town! This one is very savory and flavorful, as always the crust is incredible, Chef Drew says it’s been selling like crazy, so git in the action while you can. Here’s his description…

Chimichurri base. Chimichurri chipotle marinated steak. Red onions. Cotija and pepper jack cheese. After the oven it gets covered in a zesty Argentinian style salsa criolla

Hell yes! I love these people, I love this city! ❤️

AND SPEAKING OF BENTO BOXES… As mentioned above, there is a very special and unique opportunity for eaters in the city right now. My friend Chef Khan Kogure, has come back after a long hiatus from cooking professionally and is now offering these insanely cute, incredibly delicious, and totally authentic bento boxes for home delivery. He brought me one with fried karaage chicken and one with fried potato fritters. Both had herbed rice, Japanese omelet (tamagoyaki), potato salad, and pickles. He also brought me some pork filled gyoza dumplings with "lace" on the bottom, and house made sauces. Every single thing was super amazing, and frickin' loved it allll! Holy moly. As I said, what an awesome, unique opportunity for the eaters of Asheville! Highly recommended!!! You can order from Chef Kogure at Yamaneko Bento on Instagram.

ASHEVILLE FOD TOURS: I currently have a couple dates available for private food tours. I run them on Mondays and Thursdays, and you can check out the prices and such HERE. Please contact me via email at [email protected] if you’re interested

Here's a recent review...

"Stu made the experience so enjoyable! His knowledge of the city & its history, along with delicious food choices hit all the bases. It was nice to see the interaction between Stu and the chefs/owners. It was clear that these went beyond job parameters, these are friendships. Thank you, Stu for sharing your love of good food. We certainly left well fed and happy!" - Julie S

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 swappin’ a couple of kitchen horror stories, teachin’ hard lessons, and talkin’ about where we ate…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 05:50 INTRO: Life of a Chef vs Life of Lazy Bum Named Stu05:51 - 09:58 CORRECTION: It’s Called the Noodle Shop 09:59 - 13:17 I BIT MY LIP REALLY HARD: And the Tale of the Tongue Pimple 13:18 - 20:27 GROSS KITCHEN STORIES: Steamed Hands & Screaming Thumbs20:37 - 36:16 WHERE’D YA EAT? (88 Venues in 92 Days) Laughing Seed, Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue at Mission Hospital, Manicomio, Summit Coffee and Duck Donuts36:17 - 37:02 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.37:03 - 53:32 HARDCORE LESSONS: Local Excellence is the Only Thing That Matters53:33 - 48:03 OUTRO: Follow Us On Social Media

TRAVEL BLOGGIN’ IN WINTER PARK, FL: Last month I took my annual trip down to Winter Park, Florida, and I could not wait to visit one of my all-time favorite venues, Buttermilk Bakery! Gah!!! This place has the most amazing pastries ever, and since I only go there once a year, I always over-buy, and then over-eat! In these pictures you'll see an incredibly flakey and delicious fresh fruit danish with a very lovely cream filling, as well as something they call a "coffee cake croissant," which is not crescent shaped nor made of cake, but is instead, all the thin crispy layers of a croissant and all the flavors of coffee cake in the shape of a muffin. So good. So very very good.

Then I took home a classic cake doughnut, which was perfect in every way, as well as a fantastic version of a fantastic thing called a kouign amann, that is many layers of laminated dough and sugar. This one had a disc of crunchy caramelized sugar on the bottom. It was cray. And awesome.

Thank you, Buttermilk Bakery! You never fail to blow my mind with your classic and creative takes on pretty much everything I already love! 🔥❤️🔥

While in Winter Park, Florida, Dawn & I drove to nearby Sandford, where we met our friend Barbara for lunch at the very old-school St Johns River Steak & Seafood! I got fish and chips and it was great, Dawn got seared tuna and loved it, and Barbara got salmon and fried okra and finished every scrap! I also ordered some fried oysters which were excellent.

From in Winter Park, it’s just a quick jaunt to Orlando, wher ewe went to visit the East End Market to meet friends and grab some unique bites, starting with ube soft serve from Wafu

At the East End Market, I also got coffee from Lineage Coffee Roasting, vegan chicken nugs from Winter Park Biscuit Co., and an awesome lobster roll from a very popular spot called Domu.

Everything was great, and the atmosphere was fun and lively. It wasn't very hot while I was in Florida, which was merciful, and as I often say when I travel & eat, I wish there was one of these in Asheville! ❤️

One of my favorite meals while we were in Winter Park, FL was from a small take-out only spot in historic Hannibal Square called JAM Hot Chicken. I just got some tenders and pickles, and both were excellent! I love hot chicken, and JAM does it just right!

I've if had more time, or room in my stum-stum, I would have had one of their fried chicken sandwiches and some sides, but alas, I do the best that I can to eat as much as I'm able, but I’m definitely not able to eat as much I want to! 🙂

Finally, during my recent visit to Winter Park, Florida, Dawn and I enjoyed coffee and pastries at CFS Coffee, and on my own I went to Café Don Juan and Palate Coffee Roasters in Sandford. I love coffee. I love pastries. I recommend all three of these cafes if you find yourself in the Orlando area!

Thank you for reading Stu Helm: Food Fan. This post is public so feel free to share it.

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The podcast above features me and Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville jus’ talkin’ ‘bout sauces and social media and where we ate…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 06:30 INTRO: Tour Talk & High Praise for Asheville6:31 - 13:00 CHEF TOM’S SEASONAL MENU: And The Old Standards13:10 - 18:13 SAUCE TALK: Sausage Gravy Saves the World18:15 - 29:53 WHERE’D YA EAT? Pie.Zaa and Joey’s Bagels, The Rankin Vault Lounge, Twisted Laurel, Bargello, Good Hot Fish, Noodle Shop, All Day Darling, Botanist & Barrel, Mera Brothers, Storm, Baba Nahm, The Madness Sushi & Burgers, Juicy Lucy’s, Loott House, Spice Witch, Sage and Spice, The Med, and Old Europe29:54 - 30:40 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank.30:41 - 44:38 WHAT IS A FOODIE? Can’t We Just Get Along? 44:39 - 48:03 OUTRO: Tik Tok Ban & Good Byes

MOTHER BAKERY: Holy moly, Y'all. There is a superstar dish happening at Mother Bakery on the South Slope. It's the most insanely delicious version of a Croque Madame I have ever had in my life.

Croque Madame, (bread, ham, eggs, Mornay sauce) is one of my all-time fave sandwiches ever, and Mother is taking it to a whole other level, by using French ham, a thicc slice of brioche, their own carbonara béchamel sauce, and a nice sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. It's exquisite.

Mother is tiny, tho, so save me a seat! 🔥🥚🍞🔥

LAUGHING SEED: I got some gluten free and vegan "chicken" and waffles from Laughing Seed Cafe. The "chicken" was tofu and it was super delicious. I like tofu. TBH tho, the GF waffles were not my jam, but I think that they'd be a fine choice for those eaters out there who are gluten intolerant.

I can, and do, tolerate gluten all day every day, and I love it, but I like to try GF things every now and then, and while I did enjoy the tofu more than the waffles, I do recommend this dish to GF people. The sauces were hot honey and Buffalo, both excellent. The coffee was hot and fresh and also great.

SHANGHAI DUMPLING: I had a small dumpling fest for lunch yesterday at Shanghai Dumpling House, and loved it! I ordered steamed chicken dumplings and pork wantons in spicy sauce.

I enjoyed both very much! The spicy sauce was particularly tasty, and I dipped my steamed chicken dumplings in it too. I've been going to Shanghai Dumpling House more often lately, and enjoying it more and more every time. I'll be back soon.

PS - There were 6 steamed dumplings in the basket, I accidentally ate one before taking the picture. 😬

12 BONES SOUTH: Paddy and I went to 12 Bones South the other day, and enjoyed a really tasty lunch! Paddy got pulled pork with cheese grits, slaw, and corn bread.

I did something a little different. I got a "taste" of smoked turkey, and a side of mac 'n' cheese. It was delicious, and just enough food for me at the moment.

Thanks, 12 Bones! I've been a long-time fan! 🙏❤️🔥

YWCA: Eliminating Racism and Empowering Woman. Hi Friends! Would you be willing to match my donation to the YWCA of Asheville? I recently attended their annual Persimmon Social, and I donated $100. I know that ain't much in the big picture, but if you are able to match me, and also donate $100, or really any amount, and then pass this message along to your friends and family, that would grow the fundraising!

The YWCA of Asheville is a great organization that does awesome work! Please donate if you can! ❤ ❤ ❤

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!

We learned a tremendous amount about the Asheville food scene from Stu and experienced the city in a way we hadn’t seen on our own. We spoke to and learned about how chefs, including very young ones, have taken over the Asheville food scene. And even when we didn’t stop in particular spots, we got a sense of what made them special. Manicomio, for example, brought NY City style to Asheville. From the Indian dumplings to the pork tacos to the basque cheesecake, Stu made us want to stay even longer. We ate like locals guided by a real professional. Stu led the best food tour we had been on. - Elissa C.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 jus’ talkin’ ‘bout food while experiencing technical difficulties…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 06:07 INTRO: Technical Difficulties & A Shout-Out to My Hairdresser06:08 - 13:57 TOPIC: The Trouble w/ TikTok13:46 - 20:50 UNSOLICITED ADVICE: Please Include Pictures… Good Pictures21:00 - 35:32 WHERE’D YA EAT? Tastee Diner, French Broad Chocolates, Sweets & Seats, Izzy’s Coffee Den, Dos Gatos and Pierre’s Market in Johnson City, TN, plus Sovereign Remedies, Shay Brown’s Chef Michelle Bailey Pop-up at The Mule, La Bodega, and Manicomio Tour Food35:33 - 36:19 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank Here. 36:20 - 47:57 CONTROVERSY: Flat Iron Outrage! Settle Down, Asheville47:58 - 50:45 OUTRO: Bad Time Management & Technical Difficulties

PIZZA OF THE MONTH! Y'all, Chef Drew from Asheville Pizza South has done it again! The April "Pizza of the Month" is even more delicious, and more 420 adjacent, than ever! Yes, those micro greens look like tiny pot leaves, because they are 100% THC-free hemp micros! They are tender, delicate, slightly sweet, with a very pleasant though subtle flavor of super high grade weed. I've eaten something like 16 different specialty pies from Drew, and this was truly one of the most flavorful and delicious! The crust from AP South is always awesome, but the toasted hemp seeds made it particularly enjoyable this month!

As always, I'll let the chef describe it...

Happy April!!! Our pizza of the month:"The Weedeater"Toasted and seasoned hemp seed hearts crust. Green Goddess dressing with Greek yogurt. Spinach and green peppers. Cheese blend. Finished off with fresh baby hemp greens on top. Its Daaaaank! Our hemp greens are FDA approved and contain no THC or CBD. Also more nutritious than kale and spinach. High in fiber, Omega 3 and Omega 6. Check out https://solarehemp.com/ for more information.

To order one for yourself, give Drew a call at 828-277-5775 or go online to www.ashevillepizzasouth.com

BURGER BLISS: My fave food event of 2024 so far has to be Shay & Company's Burger Bliss at Devil's Foot Beverage Co! It was so mellow & low pressure & delicious & super-filling! I went with my sister, and together we shared 7 sliders from all 6 of the tables, featuring Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro, Baba Nahm, Loott House, The Madness, Chef Eric Morris, & Juicy Lucy's (who offered 2 sliders).

It was really different from any other big food event in that we were able to taste every single thing that was being offered, so when we left, we knew that we had tried it all, and that was a very satisfying feeling!

Another thing that was different about this event was that there was no competition. This was not a battle of the burgers, it was just sort of a burger expo, and so there was no pressure to pick a favorite, or to fill out a form, or to wait around for a winner to be announced. My sister and I were in and out of this event in about an hour. We could have stayed longer, because it was, as I said, quite mellow and fun, but we had stuff to do.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of Shay Brown's food events for the rest of the year. She's got one coming up for pizza, tacos, and even seafood! You can check her schedule to see when those are going to happen. Thanks, Shay! ❤️

LUNCH JUNKET! Paddy and I went on another Asheville Food Tours lunch junket, back to one of our all-time faves, Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville, where Paddy devoured a bacon-mushroom pizza, and I tore into the Stoobie Award winning smash burger. It was flat-pattie perfection! We sat on the patio, and it was one of the most delicious and enjoyable junkets ever!

Thanks as always, Twisted! ❤️❤️❤️

ALL DAY DARLING: My mom and I had an early lunch at All Day Darling Cafe last week and it was great! I've had a hankering for steak and eggs lately, and I was kind of surprised to see them on the menu, so I ordered them. I got my eggs over easy and my steak, medium rare and it was awesome! Good flavor, good texture, and cooked just right. It came with a couple of different salads, one seem to be some slightly pickled radishes, and the other was a more traditional little green salad. The dressing on the green salad was particularly tasty.

My mom got a chicken salad bowl, and she liked it very much. She ate about half, and took the rest home to have later.

The time of day that we were there, about 11 AM, it was pretty bustling and busy, but we still got a seat, and it was quite pleasant, if a little bit loud. Anyhoo, high recommendations for the steak and eggs at All Day Darling!

BURIAL BURGER: I got the burger and fries at Burial Beer Co. on the South Slope today on my way home from work, and it was real good! At first, I was like, "These fries are awfully pale looking," but I ate a few and they were super tasty, and familiar, and then it dawned on me, the kitchen must be trying to emulate McDonald's fries! I haven't eaten a Mickey D's fry in something like 25 years, but these whisked me right back to my early days in the work force, scarfing fries for my 1/2 hour lunch.

The burger was also very classic and iconic and it might be modeled after a fast food burger. I always say that nostalgia is one of the ways that we enjoy food, so I enjoyed this meal very much, thanks Burial! And one thing I have to say about the breweries in Asheville, is that there's always a small herd of little kids running around, so I don't have to feel like I'm the only one in the whole joint who isn't drinking! 😂😂😂

BEN’S BACKDRAFT BARBECUE: My mom and I went on a strange, but awesome food adventure to... Mission Hospital in Asheville! A gentleman named Ben, who own's Bens Backdraft Barbecue dropped me a DM, letting me know that he would like for me to try his food. He does catering, owns a food truck, and has a passion for BBQ. He told me his usual locations, and the closest one to my house is in the Mission cafeteria, where he vends three days a week! My mom lives even closer to Mission than I do, so I invited her to join me for an early dinner at the hospital! 😂 She was game AF, so we went, and boy howdy are we glad we did!

The food was excellent! We both got a 1/2 rack of ribs ( now that I think about it, we should have shared a whole rack! Cheaper. 😂😂😂) I also got a pulled chicken sandwich, and two sides: baked beans and mac 'n' cheese. My mom got slaw and cornbread. We both loved it all. The meat came alllllll the way off the bone of the ribs. Like, it practically fell off. The flavor and bark were perfect, we both agreed. My mom loved the slaw, but ended up giving me the corn bread (she decided to try going GF and there's usually flour in cornbread) and I thought it was great. Soft, moist, sweet and somewhat cakey. Yom. The baked beans were straight up backyard BBQ style, and hit some nostalgia buttons in addition to being tasty. The mac 'n' cheese was unique in that it used a cavatappi pasta (sometimes called "Scooby Doo pasta" for unknown reasons) and had a very creamy sauce that was super-goopy in the best way possible. I love all kinds of mac 'n' cheese, except dry mac 'n' cheese, and this mac 'n' cheese was any thing but dry! The food was very satisfying and delicious, and the atmosphere was surprisingly pleasant. We're already planning our next trip back to Mission for more Backdraft Barbecue! 🔥⭐️

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Y'all... we have a great time on Asheville Food Tours! Come take one with me, or with our other food tour guide Sarah Ray!

We (4 women from Southwest Florida) Truly enjoyed our afternoon with Stu Helm. We were pleasantly surprised that Stu knew so much about the local history and architecture. That was a bonus! His food choices were spot on, and we loved sampling the different types of cuisine. As we toured through the different spots, we could tell that Stu is a local celebrity, with many of the chefs coming out to personally greet us. I highly recommend doing the tour - it’s for people who are new or old to A…

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The podcast above features just me this time, because Chef Tom and I could not make our schedules mesh. I hope you enjoy it anyways!

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 01:35 INTRO - Solo Stu01:36 - 17:10 SNACKS - Shrankflation and Growflation17:11 - 17:56 MANNA SPOT - Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank Here17:57 - 29:23 CONTROVERSY: If True, Horrible29:24 - 38:10 WHERE’D YA EAT? - Tupelo Honey, Jack of the Wood, Times Bar, Pollen Cafe, Pon’s Thai Cuisine, Carmel’s and… Brown Cafe?38:20 - 43:35 THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! w/ Asheville Pizza South43:36 - 56:06 FOOD EVENTS - AVL Food Series & Outside the Tin56:07 - 58:00 OUTRO - Let’s Be Less Lonely Next Time!

NOODLE SHOP: The most recent stop on my Legacy Restaurant Tour was the Noodle Shop in Pack Square in downtown Asheville. They don't have a Facebook page, or an Instagram account, or even a website! But they've been around for 25 years, and they have some of the best prices in downtown Asheville. I went with my friend Henco Billy, and we both CLEANED our plates. Like, scraped them down to the atomic particles. I loved my thick egg noodle stir fried with chicken! It was insanely satisfying, and met every single expectation I had for it.

Yes, it was basic, and not fancy, but this food took me back to a simpler time in my life, and I found that very comforting in the moment. I can't wait to go back. 🙂

BRUNCH AT SOVEREIGN REMEDIES: Dawn & I stopped into Sovereign Remedies for a really lovely brunch. We sat upstairs, which has been redone, so that's bigger and more comfortable than ever. Dawn got salmon cakes Benedict and I got shrimp ‘n’ grits. Both were excellent!

Dawn does not like hollandaise sauce, so she asked for it on the side, and I dipped my shrimps in it! Awesome! Dawn also had a very nice low alcohol cocktail, and I had some great coffee!

We've loved Sovereign Remedies since it first opened and we still do! It was a perfect Saturday morning in Downtown Asheville, WNC!

MERA BROTHERS OYSTER POP-UP AT BOTANIST & BARREL: Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop Asheville recently hosted another pop-up, this time featuring Mera Brothers Oysters, LLC. I got 3 raw oysters , and 3 prepared oysters. The raw oysters were excellent, prepared oysters were fanfuckingtastic!!! Gah.

The Mera Brothers deliver oysters & do pop-ups state-wide, but they told me they love Asheville, so follow them on social! And of course, follow Botanist & Barrel to keep up with all the cool stuff they’ve got going on!

POP-UP DINNER w/ CHEF BAILEY: Dawn and I were fortunate enough to attend a special pop up dinner last week, prepared by Chef Michelle Bailey, presented by Shay & Company & hosted by Devil's Foot Beverage Co.

Everything was very tasty! I especially liked the shrimp, but of course the pork shoulder with gravy and taters was my favorite. So perfect and comforting! Dawn had a cocktail & I had an N/A drink. Both were great!

Thanks, Chef! And thank you Shay and Devil's Foot! 🙏

JACK OF THE WOOD: Dawn & I were invited to a St. Patrick's Day-themed dinner at Jack of the Wood co-hosted by Jameson Irish Whiskey, and it was great! First course was a super tasty oyster, deep fried in risotto with creamy Swiss chard. I loved it!

Next came some very nice house-cured salmon w/ dill chèvre & shaved horseradish & 1/2 of one of their famous Scotch eggs w/ Lusty Monk mustard. The main course was a super-deep, dank, delicious dish of slow cooked Guinness short ribs in mushroom gravy, served with Brussels sprouts, roasted carrots & mashed potatoes. It was sooooo goooooood! Pure comfort.

For dessert there was a reasonably-sized piece of Guinness chocolate cake with bourbon brown butter frosting! Ooftah! I was stoofed! There was a whiskey pairing with each course, plus live Irish music & the guy from Jamison's told stories & stuff. It was a great night at another "legacy” restaurant! Jack of the Wood was the 1st restaurant I ate at when I moved to Asheville in 2005. Thanks to the Eckerts for inviting us & thanks to Chef Earl Moe, who laid out a great spread! 🙏🍀💚

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: I had a group of 7 firefighters from Jacksonville, FL on one of my Asheville Food Tours a little while back, and they were awesome! They seemed to really enjoy our city, and the tour, and of course the FOOD!

Come take a Food Tour of Asheville with me, or with our other awesome food tour guide, Sarah Ray!

— end —

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 jus’ talkin’ ‘bout food

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 01:42 INTRO: Chef Tom Had a Bad Day01:43 - 32:15 FOOD HOLIDAYS: A Big Month for Peanut Lovers 32:16 - 33:00 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank Here.33:01 - 53:41 WHERE’D YA EAT? Miyako House, Pupuseria Patty’s, Dilbar, Bee Thai Kitchen, French Broad Chocolates, Old Europe, Bier Garden, Mela, Roman’s Deli, and The Soda Fountain at Woolworth Walk 53:42 - 55:17 HUNT’S CHIPS: A Charming Story from My Mom55:18 - 57:49 OUTRO: Marked Safe From Facebook Shutdown

THE SODA FOUNTAIN AT WOOLWORTH WALK: My mom and I had a very enjoyable lunch at The Soda Fountain at Woolworth Walk a while back. We both really like this place. My mom got the curried chicken sando and loved it. I got the turkey club, and it was perfect in every way, iconic in execution, and super tasty. 3 slices of bread, cut into four pieces, held together using toothpicks w/ colorful cellophane on one end, some Lay's potato chips, a dill wedge, and even the red checkered paper and plastic basket were hitting all the nostalgia nails on the head.

I got Cheerwine, my mom got an ice cream soda, and while we sat and enjoyed the food and atmosphere, my mom told me about being a little girl, and saving her allowance for two weeks, so that she could go to the store and buy potato chips. They didn't come in bags, she said, instead there was a large glass box full of potato chips, and you would scoop them out and put them in little paper bags to take home. They were so special, that she would forgo eating ice cream for a week so that she could enjoy some potato chips. ❤️❤️❤️

ROMAN’S DELI: I visited another "Legacy Restaurant" of downtown Asheville the other day on an Asheville Food Tours lunch junket to Roman's Deli & Catering on Haywood St. I got a 1/2 of a club sandwich that was very tasty. I love anyplace that offers 1/2 sandwiches! Thanks, Roman's!

TUPELO HONEY: Continuing my "Legacy Tour" of downtown restaurants, I went on yet another Asheville Food Tours Lunch Junket with Paddy to the OG Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar on College St. We had both really enjoyed the pork shoulder they served at the Taste of Asheville event this year, so that's what Paddy ordered and it was great! It came out still sizzlin' in the skillet and was so crispy and melty and yummy! We both recommend it.

I got fried chicken n biscuits with white gravy and it really hit the spot!

I confess that I entered into this meal with my expectations set in the basement, but I left full, happy, and satisfied.

THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! Chef Drew from Asheville Pizza South brought me his specialty pizza of the month for March, and it is beautiful, as well as delicious! As always, I'll let Drew explain it to you…

"Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Poppy seed crust. Whipped ricotta with lemon, sun dried tomatoes and basil. Cayenne candied pineapple. Fresh mozzarella and feta cheese. After the oven, arugula, hot honey and assorted edible flowers."

Let me tell ya, this pie is something special! As usual, I couldn't stop myself from eating much more of it than I intended to, and I was stuffed! Dawn really liked it too.

If you have a chance, get this specialty pie of the month, which is named after a Roy Ayer's song. Drew loves music as much as pizza! Follow him on social media so that you can get the jump on what his specialty pizza will be at the beginning of every month.

FISH CULT! I'm very much enjoying the tinned fish selection at Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop Asheville, and sometimes I get creative at home.

Recently I made a super delicious lunch for myself, with potato chips, heavy cream, a pinch or two of flour, fresh tomatoes, sardines packed with pork sausage, and a few drops of local hot sauce. It was super delicious!

If you're curious about cooking at home w/ tinned fish, join the Fish Cult Supper Club!

Fish Cult Supper Club - $37.00 [tickets here]Date & Time: Thu, Apr 11 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDTLocation: Botanist & Barrel Asheville32 Broadway Street 110 Asheville, NC 28801

Welcome to the Fish Cult! 🐟✨

[from Botanist & Barrel] “As our collection of artisanal tinned seafood expands, we're on a quest to unlock fresh and inventive ways to savor them. Enter our esteemed local collaborator, Stu Helm of Asheville Food Tours – a local legend of epicurean exploration. Together, we're curating a seafood adventure. Join Stu, Savanna and Katie to learn about 3 unique tins and watch as they prepare 3 dishes for you to enjoy that you can also replicate at home!

While we craft our culinary seafood delights, kick back, relax, and indulge on sips of Spanish vermouth or our dry natural cider, all while engaging in spirited discussions and sharing insights with fellow seafood lovers. It's an immersive experience where you can unwind, delve deep into the world of seafood, and connect with like-minded awesome folks.

Don't miss out on the first edition of the Fish Cult crew!!

A Fish Cult ticket includes a choice of a glass of sweet Spanish vermouth or dry natural cider, 3 delicious preparations of fish and a special treat. Any tins for take home will be 15% off for joining us on this adventure!

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Y'all... Even when it's ass-cold in downtown Asheville, we STILL have a great time on Asheville Food Tours!

“What a blast! Stu was a great tour guide, the food & drinks were tasty, different, and lots of fun. We had a great time even with the rain. :)" - Lisa M.

Come take one with me, or with our other food tour guide Sarah Ray!

— end —

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 jus’ talkin’ ‘bout food and savin’ the world and stuff like that…

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 05:19 INTRO - Gettin’ Busy in Downtown Asheville05:20 - 23:40 YDGBADAI - Be Nice Y’all, Even if You Didn’t Like Something 23:41 - 24:26 MANNA SPOT - Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank Here24:27 - 33:23 SAUCE TALK - Chicken Stock: The Foundation of 100’s of Sauces 33:24 - 46:35 WHERE’D YA EAT? - Joey’s New York Bagels, Andale Way, Good Hot Fish, Centreville Luncheonette, Corner Kitchen, Chestnut, Tienda Los Nenes, Baabels Ice Cream, J.D.’s Meals to Go 46:36 - 51:37 THE PIZZA GUY IS HERE! Asheville Pizza South & Grush’s Cajun Dino Grill collab!

PUPUSERIA PATTY’S: Y'all... behold the "pupusa loca" from Pupuseria Patty’s Asheville! I took a trip up Patton Ave in West Asheville to the tiny but awesome Pupuseria, where we got some GIANT pupusas!

Mine was stuffed with chicken and cheese, and it was friggin’ awesome. I ate a small portion and brought the rest home to share with my family, and everyone tore into it, so yeah, a pupusa loca is definitely a good party item.

Lucho on the other hand CRUSHED his, and… he ate Chef Paty’s too! She had to go put out a fire and couldn’t join us, which was unfortunate, because she’s a really fun person with a lot going on, and I was hoping to catch up a little bit. But, like I said, she has a bunch of stuff going on at all times, so I understood completely! And it didn’t look like Lucho minded one bit! LOL

I should mention that they also came with a very nice slaw salad, pickles, and fried eggs. It was super delicious! Incredibly filling! And really unique! I ❤️ Chef Paty, and all of her creations!

LEGACY TOUR: Y'all, I've been taking myself on a nostalgic tour of what I'm calling the "legacy restaurants" of Downtown Asheville. By that I just mean restaurants that were already here when I got here 18 years ago. On Monday, I went to Mela Indian Restaurant on N. Lexington Ave., where my friend and I engorged ourselves on their buffet.

It had been a long time since I've been to Mela, and I was glad we went. The food and atmosphere remain just as I remember them! It's nice to know that some of the classic Asheville restaurants are still at it. Thanks, Mela!

I have a big list of restaurants for me Legacy Tour, but please tell me which ones you think I should visit!

OLD EUROPE: I got a latte and a basic but awesome ham & cheese croissant from Old Europe Pastries the other day. I'm a big fan of this venue and I go several days a week.

Thanks for being there, Old Europe! ❤️

DOWNTOWN COMMISSION: Folks, I was recently honored to be appointed to the Downtown Commission, which is a volunteer citizen's board that advises the City Council on all things related to downtown. You can ask me for more info about it if you're curious or interested, but in the meantime, being on the Commission means that I have to be downtown for meetings earlier in the morning than usual, and I'm really enjoying it! After the first meeting I went to The Med, and last time I hit up The Rhu for a biscuit sandwich made with Duke's Mayonnaise and some country ham from Benton's Bacon. It was sooooo daaaaang tastyyyyy!!!

Also: Did you know that there's a scale model of what the County Courthouse was originally intended to look like inside the foyer of City Hall?

It's pretty cool!

FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATES: Chocolate ice cream from French Broad Chocolates outside in Pack Square = Awesome. I love this town.

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Take a food tour with me! I lead tours for Asheville Food Tours on Sundays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and I am available for private tours on Mondays and Thursdays!

Stu was fantastic and truly loves Asheville and the food scene. It was a great tour, even as a local that had been to these locations before. It was a completely different way to view the downtown food scene and I recommend locals to be tourists in your own backyard with Stu! Thanks for the great experience!" - Allison S.

— end —

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

The podcast above mostly features me listing a lot of things, and my co-host Chef Tom from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville indulging me in that.

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 03:23 INTRO: Butter, Wine, Salt & Pepper03:24 - 18:50 FEB FOOD HOLIDAYS: From Tater Tot Day to Edamame Day18:51 - 34:10 STOOBIES: From Burgers to Kwek Kwek34:20 - 40:27 THE BIG LIST: 34 Restaurants in 31 Days40:30 - 41:15 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank Here. 41:20 - 50:04 THE PIZZA GUY: “Le Bougois Champagnon” from Asheville Pizza South 50:05 - 35:09 OUTRO: A Serious Topic & Good Bye

TIENDA LOS NENE: My friend Lucho was telling me about some great tacos that he had the other day, and when I asked, "Were they cheap?" He said, "No, but I know where to get some cheap tacos!" So we jumped into his car and drove to Tienda Los Nenes, which is an awesome bakery, grocery store, butcher, shop, and taqueria! I got two tacos, and I was stuffed! And Lucho was right, they were cheap.

I ordered a cheek taco, and an el pastor taco, and both were excellent! The cheek was very moist, and flavorful, and the el pastor was exactly what you might expect, and I loved it! I'll definitely be going back to get more tacos, I want to try the beef and chicken, and I also wanna try a lot of the baked goods and do some grocery shopping! Thanks, Lucho, and thanks Tienda los Nenes! 🙏🌮❤️

You can check out Lucho at AshevilleMultiCultural.com

ALTAMONT DEI & GRILL: It's nice to have friends! My friends from Altamont Deli & Grill invited me to come try their burger of the week, and my good friend Will aka Henco Billy helped me eat it! You see I had some big dinner plans for later, so I didn't want to eat a whole burger all by myself, so my buddy Will picked me up at 11 AM, we went to the Montford location, we shared a burger, and it was frickin' awesome!

It had bacon, barbecue sauce, pimento cheese, and a big ol' super crispy onion ring, all on a City Bakery roll! This burger is available through the weekend, and if it's popular, they might add it to the regular menu!

I really like the food at Altamont! Thanks, Friends! 🙏❤️🍔

BOTANIST & BARREL: One of my favorite bites recently was this vegan snack platter from Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop Asheville! It had Castelvertrano olives, carrot "lox," toasty baguette rounds, some super delish vegan cheese from Darë Vegan Cheese, and the super-star on the plate, sweet, hot, house made "cowboy candy," jalapeño wheels.

I ate this entire plate, and was full but not too full! I loved it! I also enjoyed a soda collab between Botanist and Devil's Foot Beverage Co. Good times, great food, keeping' it local! ❤️❤️❤️

ANDALE WAY: My mom and I had lunch at one of our favorite places in Asheville the other day, Andale WAY Mexican Grill! The food there is awesome and the people are super nice! My mom got her #1 item on their menu, The Popeye Pollo, or chicken with spinach. She raves about it and gets all excited whenever it hits the table. 🙂

I ordered the taco and enchilada lunch combo, and CRUSHED every molecule of food on the plate.

My whole family loves Andale WAY, including my young nephew who goes with his roommates on occasions, and my sister and bro-in-law who go on the regs on Friday nights. It's a great restaurant and we all recommend it!

Please recommend a family favorite of yours for me to try!

UKIAH JAPANESE SMOKEHOUSE: One random Tuesday I stopped into Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse on my way home form workto try their "Tuesday Test Kitchen Tasting Menu," where they try out a new dish, and if the custies love it, it might end up on the regular menu. Last week's tasting menu included four of their regular menu items, two test items, and dessert. (I think I got that right). The grilled shishito peppers, veggie gyoza, wedge salad, and crispy rock shrimp were all great, and are among my favorites.

The local fire roasted Sunburst Trout Farms trout with buttermilk dashi, beech mushroom and herbs was to die for! I ate every scrap and even turned the bowl up so I could drink directly from it! The little surprise was a tasty roasted cauliflower bite that might end up on the menu in a larger format, and the dessert was coconut ice cream with coconut cake. Gah. This whole meal was excellent! And as you can imagine, very filling for one person! I love Ukiah! ❤️

RITE RITE CAFE: I stopped into the new Rite Rite cafe on Wall Street and had a very nice cappuccino. This cafe used to be called Trade & Lore. It's the same great coffee, and it seems like a lot of the same people, and it definitely has the same mellow bohemian vibe that I always loved about T&L.

I’m glad you’re here, Rite Rite, thanks!

ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: Please sign-up to take a food tour with me! I lead tours for Asheville Food Tours on Sundays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and I am available for private tours on Mondays and Thursdays. I’d love to see ya!

"Stu had such a great variety of food tastings set up for us and also included some history of Asheville. He was very kind and willing to answer questions you might have. I am so glad that we took this tour and even more glad that we took it at the beginning of our trip as it helped us to be more familiar with the town and the food options available throughout our stay." - Janelle C.

— end —

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

The podcast above features me and Chef Tom from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville talking about eating and cooking and Julia Child (not) being a spy for the CIA.

Podcast Contents

00:00 - 00:31 INTRO: (audio glitch > skip to 00:32) 00:32 - 04:45 REMINISCING ABOUT FOOD04:45 - 21:35 WHERE’D YA EAT? Good Hot Fish, PennyCup, Farewell, Pollen, Times Bar, Sabora and thee best Cuban I’ve ever had, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, Bold Rock, Mother Bakery, and Shanghai Dumpling House22:45 - 23:35 MANNA SPOT - Please Donate to MANNA Here.23:36 - 49:03 JULIA CHILD: Tom’s Favorite Chef 48:04 - 50:57 GOOD BYE!

SABORA: Y'alllllll... I had some of the best food in Asheville for lunch a while back! I heard that the good folks from Sabora food truck were going to be parked on my street today, so I walked on down, and I couldn't stop myself from getting three things off of their menu! LOL I don't get a lot of opportunities to eat off of the Sabora truck, so when I do, I'm going to pounce! I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, which I had never had before, and I ordered the ghost maker burger, again a new item for me, and then the owner, Chef Macario, told me that he wanted me to try his Cuban sandwich, so I got that too, and boy howdy, am I ever glad that I did!

This might be the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had! No. Let me correct that. This *is* the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had! It was very juicy and flavorful, and had it allll going on! It was a very exciting sandwich. I super Duper recommend it to anyone who is, or like me, thinks that they aren't, a fan of Cuban sandwiches.

The fried chicken sandwich was every bit as delicious as I hoped it would be! This is my first fried chicken sandwich of 2024, and I couldn't have made a better choice. It was crispy, juicy, and tasty, with a little bit of kick to it. And speaking of "kick!" The Ghostmaker burger was awesome, and very spicy! I loved it! I asked the chef if he likes this particular burger, and he said that it's actually a little too spicy for him! 😂 I'm so psyched that these folks park in my neighborhood sometimes!

If you see that they’re parking in your neighborhood, at a Brewery, most likely, be sure to hit them up! They were my Food Truck of the Year winners in 2022, and every chance I get to try their food again, I do it, and it's always great! 🔥 🍔 🐔 🇨🇺

MOTHER: Good lord, Y'all. I get the daily special at Mother Bakery on the South Slope and wow. It was a wonderful take on a Croque Madame, with ham, brioche, egg, and a lovely Dijon béchamel sauce.

I scraaaaped my plate clean, and couldn't stop myself from recommending it to two complete strangers that were sharing the long table as me. If you ever see this dish on the menu or specials board at Mother again, get it!!!

SHANGHAI DUMPLING HOUSE: I'm so glad I stopped into Shanghai Dumpling House on a whim the other day! I hadn't been since pre-pandemic, and decided it was well past time. I tried two kinds of dumplings -- steamed and fried --and both were awesome!

I can't wait to go back in to get these again, and try the rest of their food, and I might take it on as one of my “Eat The Menu” challenges!

Q: Do you have a go-to dish at Shanghai?

BOLD ROCK: Paddy and I stopped into the Bold Rock tasting room on Lexington Avenue in downtown for an Asheville Food Tours lunch junket and had a very nice meal! The fried okra was some of the best I've had. Fresh not frozen, cut lengthwise, fried to crispy perfection, then topped with a sweet hot sauce and green onions.

I got the short rib grilled cheese and Paddy got some short rib pasta. Both were great, and the pasta was particularly yummy. My grilled cheese was dense and gooey and meaty and savory and sweet. Paddy's pasta was tender & flavorful, with the short rib meat being plentiful and delicious.

To be honest we entered into this Lunch Junket with our expectations set on neutral, and we were both a little surprised by how much we enjoyed it! Thanks, Bold Rock!

JETTIE RAE’S: Dawn and I stopped into Jettie Rae's Oyster House last night for a quick bite before dinner. Yes, you heard right, we pregamed dinner.

We shared 12 oysters (3 of each variety) and couldn't resist the "Skull Island" prawn! The oysters were fresh and briny and awesome. The prawn were incredible. They came with fennel confit, Castelvetrano olives, preserved lemon, scallion, romesco, and Cipollini onions.

We loved it all. Great service, vibe, location, and food. Thanks, Jettie Rae’s 🔥🦐

— end —

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