Dog friendly

I got my pup, Carbon, about a year ago. She is only a year and 2 months old, so I love keeping her active. Living in Asheville makes that easy.  Asheville is a really dog-friendly city.

I like to take her places because I know she would much rather be exploring Asheville with me, then at home in our fenced-in backyard (even though she does seem to like it).

The drive-thru scene really has her spoiled.

Carbon enjoying the drive-thru

Every time I pull up to the drive thru she knows she is going to get some sort of treat.  This picture is of her enjoying whipped cream from Starbucks.

There are multiple dog parks, and the other dog owners love having their pups mingle and make new friends.

Then there is Three Dog Bakery.  They make natural treats for dogs with 100 percent human ingredients.  For Carbon’s 1st birthday they made her an adorable cake.

Three Dog Bakery

The cake was peanut butter flavored, one of her favorites.  However, Three Dog Bakery did almost get her in trouble.  I came into the kitchen and there she was plotting a way to get the rest of that cake.

There are so many places downtown that welcome dogs, a lot of places even have water bowls at their front doors. If you are wondering if a place is dog-friendly, just give them a call.

Next time you’re out in Asheville, bring your pup along, they’ll love it as much as you do.

The local perspective

I created a podcast in hopes that you all could get a different perspective.  Everyone likes something different about Asheville and I wanted you all to get a wider view.

I loved creating this and hearing from people who live in Asheville!  Hope you love listening to it.

Here it is:  The Local Perspective:  Why people who live in Asheville love it.

West Asheville hang-out

Universal Joint, is known by the locals as UJ’s.

While you can get great food at UJ’s, I’ve noticed it is really a spot where a lot of locals go to hang out.  Especially people who live in West Asheville.

When I think of West Asheville I think of Haywood Rd., there are numerous restaurants and bars lining the streets of Haywood Rd. just waiting for a local to come in and take a seat.

A lot of people will tell you, that in Asheville you meet a lot of people who are visiting.  If you want to go to Asheville and meet the locals, West Asheville is the place to be.

Today was the first time I have been to UJ’s and all the rumors were correct it is a really cool spot.

Every time I drive by UJ’s I think, ‘I need to go there,’ today, I finally did. I was pleased.

I ordered the Smokehouse burger, it comes topped with BBQ sauce, fried onions, Swiss and Cheddar cheese. I usually can’t eat an entire burger of this size, but today I was either really hungry or the burger was that good.

UJ’s Smokehouse Burger

For this burger I had the motto “Quitters never win,” and finished the whole burger, pretty quickly too.

Whatever you go to UJ’s for, whether it’s to hang out, to eat, or sit on the patio with a beer, I’m sure you’ll have a good time.

French press at the French Broad

French Broad Chocolate Lounge

As you can see, I have been on an ‘All you can eat sweets’ diet.  It’s a new diet I made up. It’s pretty great.

So where in Asheville did I go to indulge myself? French Broad Chocolate Lounge.

The first item I decided to devour was the Mocha Stout Cake. Perfect choice, since dark chocolate is my favorite.  It was the ultimate blend of flavors.  I really tried to savor it, but something this delicious cannot be savored.

What is dessert without coffee?

French Press

A tip about chocolate — chocolate can only be consumed with three beverages:  coffee, wine or milk.

After my mouth-watering adventure to French Broad Chocolate Lounge, I was in a great mood.  I even decided to bring home some goodies for my future self.

Hand Crafted Chocolates

An assorted box of hand-crafted chocolates.  It took me about ten minutes to narrow it down to only six chocolates, but I’m sure in the future I’ll enjoy whatever that little box of chocolates holds.

Nightbell

Nightbell, is definitely a different feel.  Revamped from an old auto shop into a high-class cocktail lounge.  Nightbell is owned by the same people who own Curate, a James Beard nominated tapas bar.  So you know its going to be great.

I frequent Nightbell because they have something I can’t get anywhere else, Cold Roses.  Cold Roses is a perfect mixture of refreshing and tasty.  This drink rose infused vodka (titos), with berry ice, St. Germain, and topped with lavender foam. What is lavender foam? I don’t know what it is, or how they make it, but its light, creamy and delicious.

Nightbell — Cold Roses

The only drink that actually taste better when the ice melts, but it won’t have time for the ice to melt.  You’ll want to drink up this concoction so quickly.

So head to downtown Asheville, find Nightbell (South Lexington Avenue), and take a seat at the bar, a community table, or on one of their relaxing sofas.  Order yourself a drink from their extensive cocktail list, and enjoy.

 

Benevolence

Doc Chey’s

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary benevolence is defined as follows:  disposition to do good, an act of kindness, and lastly a generous gift.

Doc Chey’s, would fall under the last definition, a generous gift.  Doc Chey’s is a noodle house on Biltmore Avenue, located in downtown Asheville.  The picture above is basically your table number, an inspiring word, and the way the wait-staff locates your table.

The first time I ate here I fell in love. The steamed pork dumplings are a must, you won’t regret that decision.  As far as the entrees go, I’ve never had something here that I didn’t want again.

The only downfall, Doc Chey’s is closed on Wednesdays and I always find myself craving Doc Chey’s on Wednesdays. I think that’s the curse of wanting what you can’t have.  Typical.

All you can eat

If you like mussels you will love Bouchon.

Monday – Wednesday Bouchon offers all you can eat mussels for $18, which comes out to be inexpensive, even if you only have one serving.  The servings are huge.  I couldn’t finish my first serving.  Don’t let me discourage you, my server said he had just finished waiting on a table of six adults — who each had three servings!

There are five different styles of mussels to choose from so you can stick with a favorite, or try something new each time.

Bouchon also offers a full menu if you can’t catch them on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

The mussels were delicious, but the restaurant was pretty cool too. My friend and I were sat in the corner right next a fireplace, which made it feel cozy and welcoming.

Great restaurant, try it out let me know what you think of this cozy little place.

I want everything in sandwich form

My friends and family often make fun of me because I want to turn all food into a sandwich.

Thankfully, I found a small, local restaurant in West Asheville, that does that for me.  Asheville Sandwich Company is one of my new favorite lunch spots.  I am usually not a “hot lettuce on anything” type of person, somehow they got it perfect on my grilled chicken caesar sandwich.

“Oh, it was a grilled chicken caesar salad wrap?” No, this caesar came on a hoagie.

Asheville Sandwich Company

I am impressed with what they have come up with.  Of course you have the usual: prime rib, italian, roast beef and ham and cheese.

You also have the original: Shrimp Po Boy, with crispy shrimp and Pico de gallo; Pork Belly Ban Mi, with pork belly and pickled veggies; and Tofu Ban Mi, with crispy tofu and pickled veggies.

Who doesn’t like sandwiches? Try it out.

 

20 Awesome Places I Went to In Asheville

Reading other blogs I stumbled across The Distinguished Grizzly.

Grizzly recently took a three day trip to Asheville. He didn’t waste any time here. He tried over 50 beers (and ranked them), and tried a couple other places too.

Check out his post, Ranking the 50 best local beers I had in Asheville, to see what beers he ranked as No.1.

Below, are some of the other places he visited.

The only time you’ll ever say “Forget the beer” in Asheville

Top of The Monk

Asheville is known for its beer scene.  People go to Asheville just to visit the many breweries, hop on a booze cruise or cycle away on the downtown pub cycle.

With that being said, where do you get the cocktails?  The answer is from a place you would least expect.

Thirsty Monk is a popular beer bar among Asheville locals and tourist, but were talking cocktails so, how does this relate?

Recently Thirsty Monk expanded, above their downtown location is a new scene called Top of the Monk, which is exactly what it sounds like…on top of Thirsty Monk.  Top of the Monk offers handcrafted cocktails that are seriously like nothing you have ever tasted.

So many places now claim they have handcrafted something-or-another, and that’s what I assumed when I first arrived.  I thought handcrafted meant they squeezed the lime in my Whiskey Ginger for me.  This experience was quite different than what I expected though.  Everything they make the drinks with (except the liquor, because that would be ridiculous) is made with fresh ingredients by your bartenders.

The drink pictured above is an Unusual Negroni, which is exactly what it tasted like.  With the fresh subtle taste of Gin it had and unusual taste that was quite enjoyable.

The cocktail menu changes frequently so there is always something new and tasty to try.

In the bar there is a set of post office boxes.  I’m thinking…”What is this?” I didn’t ask, but when the bartender handed me my drink she handed me a key.  She explained, each time you order a drink you get a key to pick a snack from the post office boxes. What?? Amazing.

Top of the Monk

I still get excited about my snack every time I go to Top of the Monk.

Great place, go check it out. Let me know what you think!