Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Bob Bowles, a founding partner in the Asheville Wine and Food Festival with media company Gulfstream Communications, has bought out his partner and plans to continue moving ahead with the event, which has become a signature event celebrating food in Asheville since the event was started in 2009.
Bowles said Tuesday that the tentative dates for this year’s festival are Aug. 21-23 at the U.S. Cellular Center, a venue Bowles said he is waiting to confirm. Tickets for the event will go on sale Friday, Bowles said.
The event has grown over the years to include dozens of food and wine makers from around Western North Carolina. It’s signature event has been the WNC Chefs Challenge, which pits area chefs in a series of cook-off events which the public attends and helps vote on. Last year, the festival included a cocktail competition and a separate event celebrating desserts.
Bowles said Tuesday that his partner in the event was “a great group to work with.” Taking full ownership of the festival will free him up to work with other partners and consider adding other events, Bowles said. Look for more updates later this year, Bowles said. “I’m looking to do some new things.”
Here’s a description of the Asheville Wine and Food Festival from the website:
Launched in 2009, the Asheville Wine & Food Festival celebrates all that’s worth savoring in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This year’s festival, August 22-23, 2014 offers several signature events. The WNC Chefs Challenge, takes on some exciting new twists and comes to a heated close during the festival. ELIXIR brings an elaborate cocktail party and mixology competition on for the second year. SWEET offers a decadent evening of desserts on Friday, again at the Historic Grove Arcade. And the Grand Tasting on Saturday is a smorgasbord of food, wine, beer, and spirits, plus cooking demonstrations, and a chance to meet cookbook authors, farmers, chefs, winemakers, brewers, and much, much more. Come sample the best of Western North Carolina’s food scene!
Stay tuned for more details.
Bob Bowles also hosts “The NC Wine and Food Show” on Independent Asheville Radio 1350 WZGM, heard each Friday at 4pm. Podcasts of his show, which features great guests from WNC each week, can be found at http://www.1350wzgm.com (His program is also heard in the Hickory/Morganton area on 1490 WSVM.)
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