THE PODCAST
The podcast above was originally recorded on 01/22 & 1/23 2025 without my usual co-host Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville, so once again, it’s just me doin’ the best that I can… with the tools that I have…
00:00 - 01:34 INTRO: Shout Out to My Co-Host
01:35 - 06:44 RAMBLIN’ ON: Michigan, Snow, Snow, Snow & Airport Hotels
06:45 - 19:55 WHERE’D YA EAT: U.P. EDITION! Birdseye Outfitters, Superior Coffee, Zorba’s Greek American Restaurant and Home Cookin’
19:56 - 20:35 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank
20:36 - 28:23 PLEASE COME TO ASHEVILLE: Restaurant Week Part 1
28:24 - 37:27 A LESSON FOR THE KIDS: The Bad Tooth Fairy Came To Visit
37:28 - 42:32 I KNOW NOTHING: ¿Qué Es Un Café Cubano?
42:33 - 49:05 JBF NOMS: Congrats to Leo’s House of Thirst, and Chefs Dissen, Shanti and Iocovozzi
49:06 - 55:17 QUICK FOOD SHOUT-OUTS: Bee Thai Kitchen, Rhubarb, Maguro, Chef Warren, Elevated Kava, Mission Pizza
55:18 - 58:22 BYE! Putting The Stoobies To Bed, Thanks Deb and WPVM 103.7fm!
THE NEWSLETTER
TRAVELOGUE: Dawn Roe and I flew up to see our family in the City of Sault Ste Marie, MI in January, where we hoped to experience the snow and cold and general wintery-ness, as well as eating some of our fave food and catching some live small-town hockey, and boy howdy, we got lots and lots of all that!
First leg: Airplane food. I'm telling you what, the short ribs with taters, gravy and veg wasn't half bad! Dawn got chicken and said the same: pretty good! Thanks, Delta! Soo, Michigan here we come!
Of course while in The Soo, we went to two of our favorite cafes several times. We got fancy espresso drinks and avocado toast at Bird's Eye Outfitters, and we got coffee to go, plus a pasty and donuts at Superior Coffee Roasting Company, Inc. I always enjoy hitting up these two joints when we're in The Soo!
We only ate out for dinner once while we were there, and it was Greek food at Zorbas Greek American Restaurant where we got spanicopita, dolmas (served warm!!!), and I had the moussaka. All very filling and satisfying in a real homey restaurant with great service and a super friendly small town vibe. It didn't hurt that my brother-in-law Bob seems to know literally everyone in The Soo! ❤️
Of course the BEST food we had on our visit up North was prepared by my in-laws, Bob and Jan, who ran an Italian restaurant in Sault Ste Marie for many years. They fed us several times, and Dawn took this picture of one particularly fantastic meal we had of handmade cavatelli with meatballs, braciole, super dank red sauce, bread and broccolini. Gahhhhhh... I died and went heaven.
Thanks, Bob & Jan, love youuuuu! ❤️❤️❤️
BEE THAI KITCHEN: One day, after working for Asheville Food Tours, I stopped into Bee Thai Kitchen on my walk home for take out, and got my new fave dish from them, the crab fried rice! It's simple, and somewhat subtle, but very satisfying and delicious, and goes great with other dishes and sauces on their menu.
I also got some tofu curry with egg noodles, and steamed dumplings. I enjoyed everything very much, and I'm really grateful to have this independently owned restaurant right in my neighborhood! I recommend it!
What's your favorite neighborhood joint?
MAGURO ASHEVILLE: Lately I've been eating a lot of cooked oysters, and trying them at various places. I enjoy raw oysters, but these days, maybe because it's cold outside, I've been craving them smoked, baked, deep fried, what have you. These are from Maguro Asheville and they were very tasty!
The sauces were a little on the sweet side, the greens were fresh & added some crunch and temperature contrast, and both were excellent accouterments to the deep fried oysters. I cleaned my plate.
MISSION PIZZA: Y'all, this is Geoff. He's one of the owners of Mission Pizza at Terra Nova Beer Co. on the South Slope. Geoff is super stoked about their Romana style pizza, and after trying some, so am I! It's like a Sicilian, but the dough or bread is lighter, and a little crispier.
I ordered the "Diavola" and Geoff brought me a sample of his "Pizzaiola's choice," which was very fresh, simple, and delicious. This is some of the best pizza, and best food, I've had so far in 2025! Here's their regular menu and their Restaurant Week menu. Recommend.
ASHEVILLE FOOD TOURS: You get all kinds of food when you sign-up for Asheville Food Tours, and plenty of it! These are just a few samples. We typically visit 6 or 7 stops,a nd there are drinks along the way as well. It’s a walking tour of Downtown Asheville and super fun and filling for locals as well visitors. Sign up now with me, Stu Helm the Food Fan, or my fellow tour guide “Fruitcake Sarah” now!
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