Asheville 2009 Official Visitor Guide - (Page 9) pleasing to the palate Asheville’s renown as a premier culinary destination encompasses more than its awardwinning restaurants. A growing selection of handcrafted artisanal foods also is creating a buzz. So, take your cravings downtown and savor some of Asheville’s to-die-for treats, such as the heavy, opulent sipping chocolate at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge or the handmade, small-batch truffles from Chocolate Fetish. Fill your shopping bag with colorful organic vegetables, pungent cheeses and fresh-baked, whole-grain baguettes from specialty food markets markets at the Grove Arcade. T To jump-start your Asheville cu culinary experience, visit ulinary Fo FoodtopianSociety.com and oodtopianSociety.com learn how the area’s passion for great food contributes to th dynamic culinary community. the d i li it culture club Founded in 1892 and still housed in the original site, the YMI Cultural Center is the oldest African-American community center in the country. “The YMI Cultural Center is linked to Biltmore because it was founded by African-American businessmen who approached George Vanderbilt about building an edifice in Asheville to uplift African-American people,” Harry Harrison says. “The men Vanderbilt recruited to work on his estate were members of the YMI, which stood for the Young Men’s Institute and featured educational opportunities, which was very much ahead of the times.” Today the YMI Cultural Center hosts the annual Goombay! Festival, a celebration of African and Caribbean culture drawing more than 20,000 people each August for live entertainment, food and arts and crafts. street scene “Eating out” takes on a whole new meaning when you do it at one of Asheville’s signature sidewalk cafés. With colorful street performers and talented musicians livening up downtown, you can count on some delightful entertainment with your meal. Whether you choose an outdoor table or sit under the awnings, al fresco diners undoubtedly have the best seats in the house. From April to October, during Friday evening Art Walks, leave your table and join the fun. You’ll be inspired as you browse through downtown’s distinctive galleries and mingle with local artists. harry harrison Harry Harrison serves as the executive director of the YMI Cultural Center downtown. FOR MORE ymicc.org ExploreAsheville.com 9 http://www.foodtopiansociety.com/ http://www.exploreasheville.com/foodtopia/food-adventures/cafe-dining/index.aspx http://www.ymicc.org http://www.ExploreAsheville.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.