ABOVE: The Podcast - It me. In this morning’s podcast I explain the parameters of the 2022 WNC Pizza Fight, plus I hype a tinned fish tasting I’m involved in with Botanist & Barrel, and I discuss the current status of the 2021 Stoobie Awards.
BELOW: The Newsletter (may contain adult language) - GMF, Food Fan Awards Nominations, 2022 WNC Pizza Fight, The Recommend
GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS
How y’all doin’? I’ve got a doctor’s appoint this morning, so I’m just drinking coffee and waiting for that to happen. Then later today, I’m leading one of my new THC Tours downtown with Asheville Food Tours. We’re doing four or five food stops and two dispensaries this time. These tours have been super-fun! Right now is the slowest time of year for tours, so hard to tell if they will take off, but I hope they become popular! Spring will tell.
2021 FOOD FAN AWARD NOMINATIONS PART 3
The third round of the 8th annual Asheville Food Fan Awards nominations, for the year 2021, have been posted to Ashvegas! See who's up for accolades in the categories of Chicken Wings, Chicken Salad, Deep Fried Thing, Taco, and Sandwich of the Year. You can see them by clicking HERE.
You can read parts one and two HERE and HERE.
2022 WNC PIZZA FIGHT
Just in case you’re curious, here’s the inside skinny on the upcoming 2022 WNC Pizza Fight…
DATE: FEBRUARY 23RD
Breakdown
This is a low impact competition meant to be easy peasy for the competitors and organizers.
There will be a judges’ panel of 16 local chefs and food fans who will select their personal favorites, from among up to 12 competitors
This will be a blind taste test. Judges will not know who’s pies are who’s.
1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners will be derived from the judge’s choices.
Winners will receive a framed certificate, accolades, respect, street cred, & bragging rights.
There will be loads of online promotion prior to, during, and after competition day, and the public will be encouraged to make their opinions known online.
This event is not open to the public.
Competitors do not need to be present.
Competitor Commitment:
Competitors must deliver 2 pies, cut into 16 pieces each
1 plain cheese pie (16 pieces)
1 specialty pie / competitor’s choice (16 pieces)
Pizzas must be delivered to the Masonic Lodge (80 Broadway St)
Pizzas must arrive at the lodge between 11:45am - 12:45pm, Wednesday, 2/23/2022
Competitors
click the names to visit their websites
Amazing Pizza Co.
Manicomio
Tin Can Pizzeria
The Original Papa Nick’s
Asheville Pizza & Brewing
Asheville Pizza South
Pizza Daddy
Baba Nahm
Del Vecchio’s
Twisted Laurel AVL
Black Bear Pizza
TravelinDough
Grata Pizzería
Mean Pies Pizza
Harvest Pizzeria
Strada Italiano
Judges (so far)
Chef Eric Morris - Cultura / Funkatorium
Chef Paty Saenz - Pupuseria Paty Asheville
Chef Chris Cox - Burger Boi / Burgergang
Chef Steven Goff - Jargon
Rebecca Lynch - Chow Chow Culinary Events
Shay Brown - Shay Brown Events / Chow Chow Culinary Events
Luis Carlos Serapio - Descubre Asheville
Paddy Riels - Asheville Food Tours
C. Cappa Teenie - Owner, Burger Bar
Karis Marie - Eater
Mariah Gunther - Eater
Catherine Wright - Eater
Tyler Lewis - Teenager
Stu Helm - The Food Fan
Judging
CHEESE PIZZAS will be judged on Appearance, Crust, Cheese, & Sauce.
SPECIALTY PIZZAS will be judged on Appearance, Crust, Toppings, & Zhuzh
Instructions to judges: “Rate each competitor in four categories by circling a number (0 - 5). Add the numbers together to arrive at the total. Make notes along the way and adjust scores as needed to arrive at your top three.”
These are the judges’ ballots…
THE RECOMMEND
Remember how I recommended the Reuben spring rolls at Huli Sue’s Hawaiian BBQ a few weeks back? Well, I went in again recently, and got the full on Reuben sandwich, and yep, it was excellent. I will admit that when it first hit the table, I was concerned that the cheese had not melted… yehhht! It melted right in front of my eyes, and indeed, this sandwich was hotter than the surface of the sun, so the only real concern was for the first three layers of skin on the roof of my mouth! LOL. I settled down and ate some yummy fries while it cooled down, and then I ate the whole thing. It was delicious.
Crispy and buttery on the outside, meaty, savory, and ooey-gooey on the inside. So, it would seem as though, whether they come in the form of spring rolls or sandwiches, I’m recommended anything with the name Reuben at Huli Sue’s.
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Good Morning, Friends...