THE PODCAST
The podcast above was originally recorded on 02/19/2025 with my usual co-host Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville…
00:00 - 04:10 INTRO: Chef Doesn’t Want His Name On A Label
04:11 - 12:08 IN THE MOUNTAIN FLOOD PLAIN: Corner Kitchen & Fig
12:09 - 13:29 CORRECTIONS: Many Mistakes, One Correction
13:30 - 14:10 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank
14:11 - 23:39 THE PRICE OF EGGS: The WEMO Brings No Hearts Or Flowers
23:40 - 43:50 GAME TIME! Jolly Green Joe, Ketchup Pills & Charlie Tuna
43:51 - 46:10 GONE TOO SOON: Mentioning Chef Joshua Moore
46:11 - 49:25 BYE! Thanks To Deb & All The Listeners and WPVM 103.7fm!
THE NEWSLETTER
THE WEMO SPEAKS: Eggs. They keep going up up up in price, and every week Chef Tom and I take a look at the Weekly Egg Markets Overview, aka The WEMO, and we report on the price of eggs in several different categories. Prices are affected mainly by bird flu outbreaks these days, which can result in the slaughter and destruction of millions of egg-laying birds. Even healthy birds must be destroyed, and the entire farm disinfected, and then new birds raised and brought in. It’s gruesome to think about and very time-consuming to execute.
Prices are affected by other things besides bird flu too, such as consumer demand of course, which fluctuates depending on several factors, including national egg promotions at major chain stores, and per-customer limitations set at the retail level. Those are also covered to some extent in the WEMO.
Reading the WEMO is like eating a dozen of the driest most over-cooked eggs you’ve ever had to choke down in your life, but if you want to dive into the econo-speak and industry jargon, peppered heavily with numbing repetition and repetitive numbers, you can read the WEMO and many other documents relating to eggs HERE.
DOUGH WITH A HOLE IN IT: My mom and I went to Joey's Bagels on Merrimon Ave again. It's kind of her new fave place. She got her usual, everything bagel with lox, lox cream cheese, and capers.
I went for the jalapeño bagel with jalapeño cream cheese. We enjoyed both very much!
Thanks for coming to Asheville, Joey's! 🙏❤️
REALLY GOOD FOOD: I stopped into Chai Pani on my way home from my mom's house the other day, and when I got home, I was so hungry, and it was so good, that I literally just stood over it and ate every bit right out of the container. F yes. I was stufffffffed afterward. It's butter chicken & dahl with rice, slaw and hot peppers. Not one grain of rice or drop of sauce escaped my leps. Recommend.
I also got a lamb skewer from Botiwalla restaurant on Battery Park Ave in downtown Asheville and it was very flavorful and juicy! It's made fresh ground Australian lamb with Indian spices and green dipping sauce.
Super high recommends.
ANDALE WAY: My mom and I went to Andale WAY Mexican Grill for simple but delicious brunch not long ago. I got eggs with rice and beans and salsa verde, and my mom got a chicken wrap.
We crushed both! Thanks, Andale! You never let us down! ❤️
RECOMMENDED BY… Just in case you didn't hear, the 12th annual Stoobie Awards were the FINAL Stoobies. I've decided that 12 years is long enough, so I'm putting them to bed. Instead, from now on, you might see another sticker turn up in the windows of my favorite shops & vendors in WNC and beyond.
My brand new "Recommended by Stu Helm The Food Fan" stickers were inspired by the story of Duncan Hines, America's first food and travel blogger! He was a fiercely dedicated eater and widely respected recommender of foods long before he became a name on a box of cake. You can read more about Duncan Hines HERE.
PIZZA WEEK IS COMING!
Check StuHelmFoodFan.com MARCH 10 - 16 to see & order the specialty pizzas!
And as a compliment to WNC PIZZA WEEK 2025, Explore Asheville is inviting travel and hospitality partners in Buncombe County to a special Industry Afternoon at Highland Brewing Rooftop on Tuesday, March 11 from 2–6 p.m. This event is a dedicated thank you to those travel and hospitality frontline workers who deliver spectacular experiences and service to customers every day.
Enjoy two complimentary drink tokens, free pizza, and access to Highland Brewing’s disc golf and volleyball courts. We hope you join us and your industry friends and colleagues for an afternoon of good food, local beverages, and a lot of fun!
RSVP: HERE
This event is hosted by Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority in partnership with Highland Brewing, Stu Helm, and Horizon Food Brokers.
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