THE PODCAST
The podcast above was originally recorded on 04/02/2025 with my usual co-host Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville…
00:00 - 05:17 INTRO: Gettin’Ready To Get Ready To Get Back To Gettin’ Back
05:18 - 08:11 CORRECTIONS: Sand Hill & Tom’s Points
08:12 - 10:49 MORE BAD NEWS: Avian Flu Decimates Cadbury Bunny Flock
10:50 - 13:45 WEMO: Eggs Reach A Weak-Steady
13:46 - 31:55 DUNNING KRUGER REPORT: Eggplant Deep Dive
31:56 - 33:19 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank
33:20 - 42:19 FOODIE GAMES: Multiple Choice Eggplant Quiz
42:20 - 50:04 FOOD TRENDS: Chef Is A Thigh Guy & I Am The Queen Of France
50:05 - 53:09 BYE! Thanks To Deb & All The Listeners and WPVM 103.7fm!
THE NEWSLETTER
SOUP & SOOSH! I went to Miyako House for lunch a while back, where I'm trying to eat something different from their massive sushi, sashimi, Thai and Chinese food menu every time I go in to dine. On this visit, I got a very nice Surf & Turf Roll that came with a bowl of miso soup. I know miso soup is just kind of whatever to some people, but I honestly think Miyako House has the best! It's one thing that I've had multiple times there, and it's just tastier and somehow a little creamier than other miso soups I've had.
The roll was fun, and had delicious spicy tuna, very tender seared rare steak, jalapeño wheels, and a mild wasabi sauce that was more about flavor than heat. I love wasabi, so I added more. The presentation was beautiful, and the roll was very yummy, and I ate it all!
I'm excited for my next visit to dine at Miyako House, to try something new, maybe I'll dive into the Chinese section. Thank you, Jessica and Chef Raymond for always being gracious hosts and for constantly cranking out excellent food for Asheville!
THE WAY OF THE ANDALE: So, I recently walked to Mother for a late lunch, and... note to self... they close their kitchen between lunch and dinner, so I doubled back and went to an ol' neighborhood favorite, Andale Way Mexican Grill! There I ran into a couple of my friends, Chefs Catherine and Griffin Riffe from Infuso, who told me that they go there weekly, which is also the case with a lot of other folks I know. I chose to sit outside, and I ordered the Spicy Enchiladas with ground beef, which come topped with shredded cheese and borracha salsa, with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, rice & beans on the side.
It was well past 3:00pm, this was my first solid food of the day, I was really hungry, and I hoovered the entire plate like tomorrow may never come, and I truly loved every bite! Was it spicy? Yeah, it had a nice little kick to it! It's not gonna light your face on fire, but I was feeling some heat! This food was just what I needed, the patio was pleasant AF, my server was great, and my friends who work there are always kind, warm, and friendly, not just to me, but to all their loyal customers and anyone else who walks through the door.
On a more recent visit, my wife got a super fancy and (according to her) very delicious margarita that she enjoyed very much and I got a delicious taco but forgot to take a dang picture! Located at the bottom of the South Slope, Andale Way has ample parking, a large menu, a full bar, and as I mentioned, great food! It's in our neighborhood, and my whole family loves it! Thank you, Chef Salvador and crew for always being consistent and excellent! I appreciate you.
HIGH EDIBILITY: I often pop into Bee Thai Kitchen on my walk home from work, and I'm often verrry hungry when I do. The food there has what I call a very high "edibility factor," which just means that I love to shovel it into my maw like hay into a baler until my very hungry feelings turn into very full feelings. I almost always go for the crab fried rice, which I find to be a lightly flavored dish made with crab, carrot, scallions and fluffy scrambled up eggs. It's just sooo easy to eat! Nom nom nom!
This time I also got some pad Thai, a familiar dish that brings comfort and excitement to my soul whenever I eat it. Their version is not too sweet, not too spicy, not too sticky, and again, it just makes for some very good easy eatin'! Finally I ordered their steamed pork dumplings, which I find unique to Bee Thai Kitchen in that they are solid and dense, almost like a wee little bit of sausage wrapped in dough. The first time I had them, I wasn't into it, and then I accidentally ordered them again, and I'm glad I did, because now I'm into it! 🙂 So, I recommend this restaurant and these dishes, especially if you're down to shovel tons of it into yourself.
BEAR’S IS BACK: My sister, my nephew and I went to Bear's Smokehouse BBQ on the South Slope, who are back in business after nearly 6 months of working with World Central Kitchen to help feed people in post-Helene WNC.
My sister got burnt ends, mac 'n' cheese, and salad, my nephew got a pulled chicken sandwich.
and I got one of my all-time favorites, the impossible meatloaf sandwich with slaw and cheese sauce.
The impossible meatloaf is meatless, so it's as healthy as my sister's salad... pretty much... and it's spicy, flavorful, and texturally pleasing. The cheese sauce is crucial to my enjoyment, but if you leave it off, this beast is suddenly vegan! Wha??? Gettin' healthier by the minute. Anyhoo, we all loved our food and my whole family have been fans of Bear's for a long time, and we will ALWAYS remember what they did, and continue to do for the people of Western North Carolina.
PRIVATE FOOD TOURS: Come on a private walking tour of downtown Asheville with me! I'm available for private food tours, as well as tours of any kind, combined with food! For example I can take you to nothing but restaurants, or I can take you to restaurants and art galleries, or restaurants and dispensaries, or restaurants and retail shops! I've done all of those types of tours, and I still offer all those types of tours!
Plus, on every tour we visit, look at, and talk about historical buildings, discuss Asheville's past, present & future, tell jokes and stories, and pretty much talk about whatever you wanna talk about! If you're interested in booking a private walking tour of downtown Asheville with me, the first thing you need to do is send an email to StuHelmAVL@gmail.com and introduce yourself! I hope to hear from you soon! ❤️ Photo taken at Huli Sue's BBQ and Grill
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