Asheville Independent Restaurant Association

06/15/2026

How is such a great program even possible? It’s all thanks to our sponsors and community resources! Today's the last day to apply: https://www.simpletix.com/e/financial-empowerment-tickets-273147

06/12/2026

Jettie Rae’s Sunday Socials are back for the season.

On the second Sunday of each month, they’ll host a family-style seafood meal centered around a rotating theme. These communal experiences are designed to bring people together: friends, neighbors, longtime regulars, and new faces alike.

Upcoming Events:
🐟 June 14 – Classic Fish Fry

If past years are any indication, you can expect favorites like New England Clambakes, Crawfish Boils, and Paella.

Save the dates:
📅 July 12
📅 August 9
📅 September 13
📅 October 11

Sign up for Jettie Rae's newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming menus and event information.

06/11/2026

🌺 Lei’d Back Bingo for a Cause 🌺

Join AIR member White Labs Brewing Co - Asheville Kitchen & Tap on Saturday, June 13, for an afternoon of bingo, tiki vibes, pink beers, prizes, and community fun, all benefiting Beer for B***s, a nonprofit founded by White Labs that supports breast cancer awareness and research.

📅 Saturday, June 13, 2026
⏰ 1 PM–3 PM
📍 White Labs Brewing Co. Asheville Kitchen & Tap

White Labs is also currently seeking prize donations from local businesses and AIR members. Gift cards, merchandise, experiences, swag baskets, and other fun items are all welcome and will help make the event even more successful.

Interested in donating a prize? Reach out to White Labs and help support a great cause while showcasing your business to the community.

06/09/2026

For nearly a decade, Amanda Dunk worked at The Local Joint, first as a server, then as a manager, then in the kitchen. In 2022, after years of learning every corner of the business (while raising two kids and going back to school), she took the leap and became its owner.

A longtime Fairview favorite since 2013, The Local Joint has kept much of its diner charm, from the red swivel stools to the beloved breakfast menu, while Amanda carefully refreshed the space with fresh paint, plants, and menu updates that still honor what locals love.

The Local Joint’s Greatest Hits
• The Fried Egg Sandwich – the most popular breakfast item.
• The Big Bear – a hearty breakfast biscuit. It’s one of the most popular orders — and definitely nap-worthy.
• The lunch lineup is led by the classic Reuben, the American burger and the steak quesadilla.
• Brussel fries – The Local Joint’s signature item.
• Shrimp & Grits – the VIP of the dinner menu.

The deal also included The Joint Next Door, the music-focused bar and venue where local and regional artists play seven nights a week and guests can order from The Local Joint menu. And yes, after all these years, milkshakes are finally coming. 🥤

📖 There’s a whole lot more behind this story, from Amanda’s leap into ownership to the history of The Local Joint and what makes it such a community favorite. Read the full AIRfare article: airasheville.org/airfare

AIRfare articles are written by Kay West & sponsored by McGuire Wood & Bissette.

06/09/2026

If you’re a small business owner interested in the Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grant Program, which offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $75,000, there are several opportunities this week to learn more, ask questions, and get help preparing your application.

Applications open June 15 at noon and close July 14 at noon, so now is the time to get your questions answered and gather the information you'll need to apply.

Upcoming Events This Week:
💻 Tuesday, June 9 | Virtual
• 1:30 PM – Explore Asheville Info Session & Q&A
• 4:30 PM – Mountain BizWorks Grant Information Webinar

💻 Wednesday, June 10 | Virtual
• 2:00 PM – Mountain BizWorks Grant Information Webinar
📍 Wednesday, June 10 | In-person events
• 2:00 PM – How to Prepare for Your Asheville Recovers Together Grant Application at DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore
• 3:00–6:00 PM – How to Prepare Your Asheville Recovers Grant Application at Wedge Brewing
• 5:30 PM – Outdoor Industry Networking Social & Grant Program Information at Highland Brewing

📍 Thursday, June 11 | In-person
• 9:30 AM – Asheville Recovers Together Public Kickoff Event at YMI Cultural Center Auditorium

📍 Saturday, June 13 | In-person
• 8:00 AM–8:00 PM – Grant Application Assistance at GrindFest in Pack Square Park

These free workshops, webinars, and information sessions are designed to help you understand eligibility requirements, prepare your application, and connect with available resources before the application window opens. Learn more about each event:
https://www.ashevillerecoverstogether.org/events

This program is funded by the City of Asheville and administered by Mountain BizWorks, ArtsAVL, and Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation.

Asheville City Government
Mountain BizWorks

Find information sessions and workshops about the Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grant. Learn eligibility, application tips, and get support.

06/08/2026

🍳 Breakfast & Beer at Centreville Luncheonette! They're now serving breakfast Wednesday–Saturday starting at 7:30 AM, and they've recently added beer to the menu, too.

06/05/2026

Fresh oysters, local wine, and live jazz? Sounds like the perfect Sunday. 🦪🍷🎶

Join AIR member The Lobster Trap this Sunday, June 7, as they bring their oyster boat to Souther Williams Vineyard for an afternoon of great food, great music, and great company.

The crew will be serving fresh raw oysters from Morris Family Shellfish Farms, perfectly paired with Souther Williams wines while enjoying live jazz from Maddy & Masterpiece.

📅 Sunday, June 7
⏰ 1–5 PM (music begins at 2 PM)
📍 Souther Williams Vineyard

Planning to attend? Be sure to pre-order your oysters before Saturday, June 6, and maybe order a few extra for your friends. 😉 Link in comments to order 🔽

06/04/2026

MANNA FoodBank’s Table for Three raffle is back, giving one lucky winner gift certificates to 52 local restaurants throughout WNC — that’s a year of dining for two!

🎟️ Tickets are $104 and only 500 are available.

Every ticket purchased helps provide 166 meals for neighbors facing food insecurity across MANNA’s 16-county service area.

We’re especially excited to see so many AIR members participating, including:
67 Biltmore Eatery & Catering, 828 Family Pizzeria, Biscuit Head, Botiwalla, Burial Beer Co., Chai Pani, Chestnut, Copper Crown, Corner Kitchen, Cúrate, Early Girl, Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen, Fork Lore, Gan Shan, Gemelli, Huli Sue’s, Jettie Rae’s, La Rumba Restaurant Latino, Limones, Louise’s Kitchen, Luella’s Bar-B-Que, Pack’s Tavern, Quench! Wine Bistro, Red Fiddle Vittles, RendezVous, Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, Rye Knot, Strada Italiano, Sunny Point Café, Tall John’s, The Lobster Trap, The Local Joint, The Village Porch, Tupelo Honey, Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, and White Labs.

❤️ It’s a chance to support a great cause, celebrate the incredible independent restaurant community that makes our region special, and maybe enjoy 52 unforgettable meals along the way.

The winner will be drawn on July 1, 2026, or when all 500 tickets have sold.

To see the full list of participating restaurants and purchase tickets, head here:

Table for Three brings together MANNA’s mission and Asheville’s celebrated restaurant community. Every ticket gives you a chance to enjoy 52 unforgettable meals out while providing 166 meals for a neighbor facing food insecurity.

06/02/2026

✨ Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grants

To support continued recovery from Tropical Storm Helene, city leaders and local partners have launched the Asheville Recovers Together Small Business Grant Program to help local businesses stabilize, rebuild, and move forward.

If your Asheville business was impacted by Helene, you may be eligible for recovery grants ranging from $5,000–$75,000.

💻 Join an informational webinar on Tuesday, June 2 at 9 AM to learn more about the program, eligibility, and how to prepare link in comments. Registration LINK is in the comments section below.⤵⤵⤵

In the meantime, learn more at ashevillerecoverstogether.org. You can also schedule free one-on-one application assistance appointments.

🗓 Applications open June 15, 2026 at noon
🗓 Deadline: July 14, 2026 at noon

Use the time before June 15 to get ready, start gathering:
• Federal tax returns for 2023, 2024, and 2025 (or a 2025 year-end P&L)
• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of business address
• Income records showing storm impact

Please share with fellow Asheville business owners who may benefit ❤️ This program is funded by the City of Asheville and administered by Mountain BizWorks, ArtsAVL, and Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation.

06/01/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Gemelli on recently receiving the Griffin Award for Outstanding Rehabilitation from the Preservation Society of Asheville for the thoughtful restoration of its new home in Historic Biltmore Village. The award went to the project team, which included Falcon Construction and Gemelli owners Anthony and Jennie Cerrato. And after reading the story behind the space, it’s easy to see why.

When Anthony Cerrato took on Gemelli’s new home in Biltmore Village, the goal wasn’t simply to renovate a historic building. It was to preserve its spirit.

After opening Gemelli Restaurant in Westgate in 2022, Anthony realized the concept had outgrown the space. Then came an opportunity to breathe new life into a century-old Biltmore Village building, one deeply impacted after Helene. When he got the keys in 2025, much of it had been stripped to its bones.

Led by Anthony, wife Jennie, and son Gabe Cerrato, the rebuilt restaurant blends history with warmth and whimsy. Original elements were restored, cozy dining nooks carved out, and a new kitchen built for fresh pasta made daily and an immersive chef’s table experience.

The menu evolved, too. While longtime favorites remain, executive chef Gabe Cerrato and chef de cuisine Chuck Baudendistle introduced new pastas, vegetable-forward dishes, and Italian-inspired plates designed for gathering around the table.

📸 1st photo: Gemelli owner Anthony Cerrato with David Ross of Falcon Construction. Photos by Andy Lukacs-Ormond