ASHEVILLE - An Asheville restaurant breaking into a new food market; a renowned chef to host special dining events of Cantonese cuisine; a West Asheville restaurant unveils renovations and refreshed menus with discounts; and Noodle Wednesday becomes a new tradition on Haywood Road.
Asheville restaurant goes to Washington, D.C.
Asheville-founded and award-winning Chai Pani is expanding with a new location in Washington, D.C.
Chai Pani, an Indian street food restaurant, is slated to open in Spring 2025 in the Union Market District.
In 2022, Chai Pani won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.
In May, the Asheville eatery relocated from 22 Battery Park Ave. ― where it has operated since opening in 2009 ― to a roomier venue in the city’s South Slope brewing district at 32 Banks Ave.
For more, visit chaipani.com and follow @chaipani on Instagram.
Cantonese pop-ups
Chef J. Chong, finalist on HBO Max’s “The Big Brunch” reality cooking competition, has announced the dates for three pop-up dining experiences showcasing Cantonese cuisine and local wine.
J. Chong Eats’ pop-up dinner series is scheduled for Aug. 7, Oct. 23 and Dec. 11 at Pleb Urban Winery, 289 Lyman Street in the River Arts District.
Tickets are $115 for each event. Purchase at commerce.arryved.com.
For more, follow Chong at @jchong_eats on Instagram and visit pleburbanwinery.com.
Also, find the Asheville chef at the East Asheville Tailgate Market on Fridays and North Asheville Tailgate Market on Saturdays.
New bar, bites and “Happy Hour” delights
Gemelli, a West Asheville Italian eatery at 70 Westgate Parkway, has revamped its menu and dining room bar and rolled out new drink specials this summer.
Opened in September 2022, Gemelli’s dining room has been spruced up with a wooden bar to enhance seating and showcase its craft cocktails and fine wine selection.
Diners now may order small bites ― from warm olives to calamari ― at half the regular price and select wines offered at a discounted “happy hour” price from the aperitivo menu from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
According to North Carolina alcohol laws, any alcoholic beverages will be offered at the same price all day.
Tuscan stuffed figs and truffled mushroom crostini are only available on the special menu.
In January, Gabe Cerrato stepped into the role of Gemelli’s Executive Chef de Cuisine following the Cerrato family tradition as the third-generation chef to work in Asheville kitchens.
His father, Chef Anthony Cerrato, owns Gemelli and sister establishments, Strada and Social Lounge downtown.
For 12 years, Gabe Cerrato has worked in kitchens in Asheville, Denver and San Diego.
At Gemelli, he has introduced a new menu of classic Italian cuisine ― served alongside preexisting popular and signature dishes ― said to stay true to the restaurant’s “commitment to serving house-made pasta and offering gluten- and dairy-free as well as vegetarian and vegan options.”
The bar created by mixologist Devon Dickerson features seasonal cocktails and soon a rotating wine menu.
View Gemelli’s daytime and evening menus at gemelli.restaurant.
Noodle Wednesdays
Get a noodle fix every Wednesday at Gan Shan West.
The Asian fusion cuisine restaurant, 285 Haywood Road, showcases a variety of noodle dishes each week from a rotating, curated menu by longtime chef, Ray Hui.
Noodle specials include Phat Si Ew prepared with wide rice noodles, marinated flank steak, a fried egg, gai lon, onion, garlic, ginger and black Pepper in a dark, sweet soy sauce.
Singapore Mei Fun is made with vermicelli rice noodles, egg, yellow curry powder, bok choy, onion, carrots, bean sprouts and scallions.
For more, visit ganshanavl.com and follow @ganshanavl.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with asubscription to the Citizen Times.
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