Asheville 2009 Official Visitor Guide - (Page 57) love the land We believe that the best food is grown by neighbors. And luckily, we have great neighbors. The area is surrounded by family-run farms and food producers, and many of their veggies, herbs and meats turn up in local restaurants. Enjoying the best of the area’s bounty doesn’t require a day of driving from farm to farm, however. Just stop by a few of the more than 40 tailgate markets, including the new Asheville City Market, where locals sell an array of tantalizing organic produce and other tasty goods. You’ll get an authentic taste of Western North Carolina and the opportunity to chat with the people who bring the farm to your table. in the swim of things If you order mountain trout at an Asheville restaurant, chances are it came from nearby Sunburst Trout Co. Family-owned and operated for three generations, Sunburst has been supplying locally raised trout and trout products to area restaurants since 1948. “It’s seldom that I go into an Asheville restaurant and there isn’t some mention on the menu of the fact they support local farmers,” Sally Eason says. Eason’s father, Dick Jennings, founded the trout farm, and today her sons, Wes and Ben, work there, too. The family is proud to be a link in the growing farm-to-table movement that is synonymous with Asheville. “More and more customers are asking where their food comes from – if it’s wild or farm-raised – and providing local products helps chefs guarantee the customer the product was plucked from mountain waters the day before,” Eason says. “Very few places can offer fish that fresh.” pints a-plenty Something’s brewing in Asheville – porters, pilsners and ales of all sorts. Ashevillians have mastered the art of craft beer, attributing part of their palatable taste to the fresh mountain water. A total of seven breweries now contribute to the area’s lively brewing scene. Highland Brewing Co. began producing ales more than a decade ago, while the newer, organiccertified Pisgah Brewing Co. in Black Mountain has received honors for its handcrafted beers. Most of the Asheville-area brewpubs offer tours and tastings. sally eason Sally Eason is president and owner of Sunburst Trout Co., which supplies fresh fish to local restaurants. FOR MORE FoodtopianSociety.com buyappalachian.org ExploreAsheville.com 57 http://www.exploreasheville.com/active-getaways/healthy-eating/farm-to-table-restaurants/index.aspx http://www.exploreasheville.com/foodtopia/food-adventures/local-breweries/index.aspx http://www.FoodtopianSociety.com http://www.buyappalachian.org http://www.ExploreAsheville.com
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