FED TALKS
Food. Education. Discussion.
COMING UP
MADE IN ASHEVILLE!
Meet the founders of Asheville’s popular food brands!
From snacks to sauces, the chefs of Asheville’s commercial kitchens have taken their mouth-watering goods to grocery store shelves across the U.S. Meet them in person and get a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of top-selling brands.
Featuring Roots Hummus, Munki Foods, Looking Glass Creamery, Firewalker Hot Sauce and Postre Caramels
- Enjoy a one-of-a-kind tasting and find out how these beloved products evolved over the years
- Discover the source of inspiration behind our favorite snacks and treats, and learn how small-batch creations are now made for national consumers
- Get inspired about your own unique creations—just in time for the holidays
A tasting of featured products is included with admission. Beer, wine, and cocktails are available for purchase.
WHEN: November 7, 5:30 to 7:30
WHERE: Rhubarb Event Space (7 SW N Pack Square, Asheville)
Tickets are $15. Seats are limited, so reserve your spot now!
PAST EVENTS
FIZZY FAVORITES
As health experts continue to explore the benefits of fermented drinks, DIY enthusiasts are embracing these fizzy favorites and learning to make the more popular options at home. This tasting and demonstration introduced guests to local experts who offered instruction on how to make our own refreshing and gut-healthy beverages.
THE MUD MASTERS
Co-hosted by Rhubarb and Edible Asheville – and sponsored by Whole Foods Market – this event is the latest in the series of FED Talks, which aim to connect consumers in Western North Carolina with their favorite chefs, farmers, brewers, and food artisans. The Mud Masters tasting will dive into the origins of coffee and explore the components of a good cup.
BREAKING BREAD
Join celebrated, local cookbook author Ashley English for a discussion on how people are using food to create long-lasting bonds, cherished friendships, strong social networks, and engaged communities.
THE MAGIC OF FERMENTATION
Meet Asheville’s top ferments and learn this ancient food preservation practice. Fermented food tasting and demo led by Meg Chamberlain from Fermenti Foods and Sarah Archer from Serotonin Ferments.
THE SECRETS OF SOURDOUGH BREAD
Discover the basics of baking homemade sourdough bread and learn Old World techniques used by Asheville’s top bakers. Learn new ways to taste bread and identify different grains. Discover the science behind bread baking. Make your own sourdough starter to kickstart your home-baking practice.
THE CUSTOM COCKTAIL: Serve unique cocktails with homemade flavorings
Serve unique cocktails this holiday season with homemade flavorings and a well-stocked home bar. Learn tips to perfect popular drinks, and explore trends in mixology and craft cocktails. Enjoy a holiday punch and a selection of small plates from Rhubarb’s talented chefs. Take home your own bottle of handmade bitters and liven up holiday drinks with one-of-a-kind flavors.
CREAM OF THE CROP: Taste & talk with local ice cream makers
Ice cream: the quintessential summer pleasure. Hear from a few of the Asheville artisans churning out locally sourced flavors and keeping the city cool and sweet in our next FED Talk. Ice cream makers from the Hop, Ultimate, and French Broad Chocolates join us to describe some of the challenges they face in their craft and what makes their product unique to Asheville—as well as share some of their favorite combinations.
THE WELL-MADE WEDGE: Taste & talk with local cheese-makers
Buttery or barnyard-y? Stinky or tangy? Sheep, goat or cow? No matter your taste in cheese, Western North Carolina artisans produce something to obsess over. But what goes into producing each unique wedge? Our third FED Talk takes you behind the scenes at some of the region’s dairies—like Spinning Spider and Looking Glass Creamery—to discover the labor-intensive process of cheese-making, from animal to farmer’s market. (April 27, 2017)
CIDER CITY: Taste & talk with Asheville’s cider-making all-stars
It’s not all about beer—America’s original craft beverage is getting its share of attention in the region. Cider-makers from Urban Orchard Cider Company, Noble Cider, and Black Mountain Ciderworks hew to traditional methods and take advantage of North Carolina’s apple country for a drink wholly unlike the mass-market ciders widely available in the past few decades. Join us for our second FED Talk to sample their offerings and take part in the conversation about what makes Asheville a great cider town. (January 19, 2017)
SETTING THE NEW APPALACHIAN TABLE: A Q&A with John Fleer
Rhubarb owner John Fleer became one of the region’s most celebrated chefs by embracing local food traditions and creating new versions of them. In a Q&A with Edible Asheville managing editor Mark Essig, the James Beard Award nominee discusses his thoughts on Southern Appalachia cuisine and how the region is poised to leave its mark on American food. (September 22, 2016)
