THE PODCAST
The podcast above was originally recorded on 06/09/2025 with my usual co-host Chef Tom LaFauci from Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville…
00:00 - 04:43 INTRO: Risking His Life & The Lives Of Others
04:44 - 07:34 SNOOKIE’S HOUSE: Breaking Up & The Jersey Shore
07:35 - 15:51 WHERE’D YA EAT, NEW JERSEY: Park Place Diner, Bagels-4-U, Espo’s Restaurant & Bar, and Randazzo Pastry Shop
15:52 - 21:38 WHERE’D YA EAT, ASHEVILLE: Asheville Chocolate, Summit / Backporch Baking, Fitz & The Wolfe, Luminosa, Chestnut, Wildwood Still, Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville
21:39 - 22:27 - CORRECTIONS: Fresh West Pizza
22:28 - 28:38 PIZZA ECONOMY: Who Can Afford Pizza Anymore?
28:39 - 32:05 FOOD TRIVIA: Cocoa Powder For Victory
32:06 - 32:46 MANNA SPOT: Please Donate to MANNA Foodbank
32:47 - 36:16 SAUCE TALK: Road Kill Sauce
36:17 - 37:19 WEMO: Up With A Steady Undertone
37:20 - 40:15 FOODIE GAMES: No Time!
40:16 - 45:31 YOU DON’T GOTTA BE A DICK ABOUT IT: Please Don’t Feed The Trolls, Except Just This One Time
45:32 - 49:22 BYE! Thanks To Deb & All The Listeners and WPVM 103.7fm!
49:23 - 50:26 MOWABC SPOT: Please Donate & Volunteer for Meals on Wheels
THE NEWSLETTER
MEANWHILE, BACK IN ASHEVILLE! I went to the brand new Fitz & The Wolfe on the corner of Haywood and Battery Park Ave. in downtown Asheville and had an enormous, classic, messy, delicious double smash burger with all the works and I smashed every molecule. I don't think I need to describe a smashburger for you at this point in history, so I'll just say it was a good one, and I will definitely be eating more of them.
I've lived in Asheville for nearly 20 years, and I've seen this space struggle to fill seats for most of that time, especially recently, but I think this new concept might be their most popular idea yet. It's a music venue, with indoor and outdoor seating, plus a "chillout" room in the basement for people who want to get away from the music for a moment and just talk. They have a very basic menu with burgers and hotdogs and such, and I heard that they were packed last weekend, so I hope they are again this weekend!
EPIC VEGAN FOOD: I got an epic cinnamon roll and an excellent cappuccino at Summit Coffee Co. in The Grove Arcade from Backporch Baking, which means it’s vegan. This tiny cafe is one of my favorites! If there's room inside, they always have the AC set at the perfect temperature for the weather. If it's nice outside, they have a few seats under their awning and a few in the sun, and if all the seats are taken inside & out, I have the beautiful Arcade building and all of Battery Park to find a seat.
The coffee at Summit is always just right and the people are really nice! 👍⚡️
PROPER LUNCH: Paddy (pictured) and I had an excellent lunch at Asheville Proper (also located in the beautiful Grove Arcade building) the other day! I ordered the 'PROPER BURGER* which normally comes on a parker house bun but they were out of them so they subbed two sliders for one burger, and I didn't mind that a bit! It was cooked to order, house-ground beef, with lettuce, smoked cheddar, tomato jam. I asked them to hold the onions. I loved it!
It had been a long time since I've had a burger or slider that wasn't smashed, so I really enjoyed my two medium rare sliders! Patty ordered a salad with grilled chicken, and he raved about it! We also shared their warm embered beet salad with strawberry yogurt and sunflower seeds, which we both really enjoyed. In the same way it was nice to not have a smash burger, it was also nice to not have goat cheese in the beet salad! Finally, the kitchen sent out some gnocchi, with nettle powder, hibiscus glaze, smoked ramps, strawberry chips, asparagus, and wisteria aioli, which was just as delicious as they sound. Five out of five stars for this lunch at Asheville Proper! Highly recommend!
BRUNCH TIME! Paddy, Sarah and I went on a recent Asheville Food Tours brunch junket to one of our favorite restaurants in downtown, Chestnut, where I got biscuits and gravy with a once-over egg, Sarah got huevos tostadas with scrambled eggs (not pictured), and Paddy got the Southwest Cobb Salad with grilled chicken.
We all enjoyed our food very much, as always, and for dessert we shared a delicious house made hand pie (also not pictured).
Looking at the menu later, I decided that I need to go back for the peaches and burrata. Sounds great! Thanks, Chestnut!
IF YOU’VE EVER seen my posts about Asheville Food Tours' lunch junkets, or pictures of something fun and exciting that I've eaten along my journeys, and thought to yourself, "I wanna do that! I wanna eat that!" then you'll be happy to know that you CAN experience downtown Asheville the way I do by coming on a food tour with me! My tours are called The Food Fan Tours and you can read more about them HERE.
On a food tour we visit up to 7 venues, we eat, drink, laugh and learn stuff, and generally have a great time! The food equals a full meal for most people, and I’m also available for private and corporate tours! Click the button below to learn more or to book your tour with me, and I'll be looking forward to seeing you soon!
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