ASHEVILLE - A sweet new beginning for a Western North Carolina family expanding its ice cream business; a popular chocolate shop open for 40 years adds a coffee bar with chocolate truffle-inspired specialty drinks; and a South American chef switches up his menu for a one-of-a-kind tasting experience praising poultry.
Now open: Meadowsweet Creamery Ice Cream
On Aug. 27, Meadowsweet Creamery Ice Cream, of Mars Hill, opened a new scoop shop at 4 Florida Ave. in Weaverville, behind Well Bred Bakery and Cafe. The family-owned and operated store specializes in handcrafted ice cream made with local and seasonal ingredients, served as scoops and in ice cream sandwiches.
The menu also features affogatos, floats, milkshakes, and grab-and-go pints and ice cream sandwiches.
Meadowsweet Creamery Ice
Cream's hours during its soft opening are 1-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. For more, visit meadowsweetcreamery.com and follow @meadowsweetcreamery on Instagram.
The Chocolate Fetish: Where coffee and chocolate collide
The Chocolate Fetish, a premium choice for artisan chocolate since 1986, has expanded its store at 36 Haywood St. to include a coffee bar.
Now, customers can enjoy handcrafted coffee, tea and pastries, as well as chocolate truffle-inspired specialty drinks, as well as an assortment of chocolate truffles, bars, caramels, frogs and more.
Save the date: The Chocolate Fetish's holiday bestseller, the chocolate advent calendar, will be available for presale on Sept. 25, with six design options stocked with 48 chocolates and treats. The advent calendars will be available for pick-up in-store in mid-November. For more, visit chocolatefetish.com and follow @chocolatefetishasheville on Instagram.
Palmar Latin Kitchen's Atomic Bird menu flip
On Sept. 2, Palmar Latin Kitchen, an upscale South American restaurant, will flip its menu for a one-night-only chicken-centric dining experience dubbed Atomic Bird.
"We're bringing something new, something fresh, playful," said Palmar's co-owner, Chef Carlos Torres.
Palmar's usual motif will shift, with the ambiance turning to a party vibe featuring 80s pop tunes.
Torres said chicken has long been one of his favorite things to eat and cook. Atomic Bird will allow him to show greater versatility with chicken, a dish he said is popular in both South America and the U.S., especially in Western North Carolina.
"You can ask a person from my country, 'What is your favorite meal?' and they will always go for a chicken dish," said Torres, who is from Colombia and moved with his family to Asheville earlier this year. "I found a connection here with the chicken."
Torres and his wife, Angela Henao, said they also intend for it to be an evening to celebrate the community that's supported Palmar Latin Kitchen since it opened in April,taking over the building that houses the daytime brunch eatery, Bru. And a time to meet more people and make more connections in the city, including with others in the hospitality industry.
"We're trying to work within the community for the community," Torres said.
Palmar's regular menu featured the bestselling main dish, the Pollo Criolla, which is a roasted half chicken marinated for 36 hours and prepared with ají amarillo sauce, pickled mustard seeds, grilled lemon and basil oil. It costs $25.
The Atomic Bird prix fixe menu is $45 per person, plus tax, which includes a starter, main chicken dish and a side.
The three starters are Chicken Liver Mousse Toast on grilled sourdough, and served with house-made pickles; Chicken Mushroom Croqueta prepared with truffle mayo and chives; and Tomato Escabeche with marinated red onions, avocado crema and fresh herbs.
The Atomic Bird menu is centered around the halved marinated roasted chicken, but diners will have their choice of sauces: ají amarillo, ají panca tamarind or green garlic sauce.
The ají panca tamarind is a red sauce Torres described as having sweet-and-sour notes, made with panca, a red pepper paste. The ají amarillo is a classic, creamy pepper-based sauce. And the green garlic is described as an earthy, herbaceous and garlicky sauce.
Diners may choose one side to accompany their bird: Chicken and Corn Gratin with jalapeno cream, Gruyere and chives; Chicken Rice Pilaf with almonds, raisins and crispy garlics; or Fried Yuca served with garlic mayo.
Tickets are purchased in advance, via Resy, with 90-minute seatings for 5 p.m. or 7 p.m.
Alcohol and other beverages will be available at an additional charge. Atomic Bird signature cocktails will be a classic Cosmopolitan, Pisco Sour with yuzu, and a sweet and smoky Passionfruit Mezcalita.
View Palmar's Latin Kitchen's complete menu at palmarlatinkitchen.com, and follow @palmar.asheville on Instagram for updates.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Co., covering the food and beverage industry, including the James Beard Awards, Michelin Awards, restaurant openings, closings and other hospitality industry news and events. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Latin restaurant flips concept for Atomic Bird pop-up, plus new shops open
