Asheville Food Bites: New Cuban bar, spice sale, Filipino grilled meats, dining events

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times

ASHEVILLE - A local Cuban food truck will expand with a beer and wine bar; a homegrown spice company to offer discounts; a Filipino food truck has upgraded its grill; a chef-made dinner and burger events are planned for the spring.

Guajiro's Cuban bar opening and food truck hour extension

This spring, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food, a Cuban food truck that opened in 2022, will expand with a new beverage concept in the River Arts District.

On May 2, El Patio by Guajiro, a beer and wine bar, is scheduled to open with indoor and outdoor seating for bar and food truck patrons.

Guajiro and El Patio are in The Asheville Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Drive.

El Patio will open at the former Great Wild Nowhere draft haus, wine bar and music venue. El Patio will offer front patio and back porch seating with additional indoor seating in the estimated 1,200 square feet venue.

As of April 4, Guajiro’s food truck, which offers breakfast and lunch, will extend its hours of operation to serve dinner and remain open until 10 p.m.

The dining menu features classic, authentic Cuban sandwiches, entrées, desserts and soft drinks and coffee.

"By aligning the opening of El Patio with our extended hours at Guajiro, we aim to provide our guests with a seamless journey through Cuban cuisine and culture," Chris Barroso, owner of Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food, said in a news release. "From morning coffee to late-night drinks, Guajiro and El Patio offer a complete culinary experience at The Asheville Cotton Mill.”

Chris Barroso opened his food truck, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food, at the Cotton Mill Studios in the River Arts District June 9, 2022.
Chris Barroso opened his food truck, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food, at the Cotton Mill Studios in the River Arts District June 9, 2022.

Guajiro also offers to-go services and delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Cocktails for El Patio and late-night hours until midnight at the food truck are in consideration. As a part of the historic Cotton Mill Studios, Guajiro plans to showcase creative neighbors with local art showings and live music events and offer private event booking options.

For more, visit guajiroasheville.com and facebook.com/guajiroavl and follow on Instagram @guajiroavl.

Spicewalla sales

Save the dates for three rounds of sales hosted by Asheville-founded spice company, Spicewalla.

From March 19-24, Spicewalla will host its Spring Cleaning Sale with 15% off offered on all Spicewalla brand merchandise.

From April 24-28, the Mother's Day Prep Sale will also offer a 15% discount on all Spicewalla brand inventory.

From May 22-27, the Memorial Day Sale will offer 15% off all Spicewalla brand inventory and 10% off all pantry non-Spicewalla items.

Sales will be honored online and at its retail store at 1 Page Ave., Suite 147 at Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville. The hours are 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Sunday.

Spicewalla, a part of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, specializes in fresh herbs, spices, rubs and blends with new and popular products, including Hot Honey BBQ Rub and Botiwalla Biryani Masala.

Visit the online store and browse recipes at spicewallabrand.com.

Grilled meats and better heat

Master BBQ, the new resident food partner at Zillicoah Beer Co., was approved to use its grill on-site at the brewery, 870 Riverside Drive. in Woodfin.

Master BBQ serves grilled meats and skewers with Filipino recipes and techniques. The food truck offers regular service at Zillicoah Beer Co. in Woodfin.
Master BBQ serves grilled meats and skewers with Filipino recipes and techniques. The food truck offers regular service at Zillicoah Beer Co. in Woodfin.

Co-owner and grill master Paul Pike said it’s the same commercial infrared-type model of Char-Broil Grills previously used at pop-ups but hadn’t been granted permission to operate since putting down roots at the brewery in February.

Pike said the flavors of the Filipino dishes will be the same, but the Tru-Infrared grill makes a difference that customers and staff will notice. The infrared technology reduces burnt meat and skewers and decreases cooking time. Also, the grill makes it easier to manage the cooking process.

Master BBQ plans to add a second grill soon for quicker service.

Master BBQ’s hours are 3-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 12-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 12-8 p.m. Sunday.

Paul Pike, owns Master BBQ, a Filipino food truck with his wife, Julia. The food truck operates were approved to use its preferred grill on-site at Zillicoah Beer Co. that's said to improve the quality of food and service.
Paul Pike, owns Master BBQ, a Filipino food truck with his wife, Julia. The food truck operates were approved to use its preferred grill on-site at Zillicoah Beer Co. that's said to improve the quality of food and service.

For more, visit masterbbqusa.com and facebook.com/sinongmastermo/ and follow on Instagram at @masterbbqavl and zillicoahbeer.com.

Chef Ophus dinner and a burger festival

A new date has been added to the calendar for the AVL Food Series, which debuted this month.

Presented by Shay & Company, a local event planning business, and Devil’s Foot Beverage, the monthslong event series showcases local and regional chefs and beverages in seated pop-up dinners, food fests and other curated culinary experiences.

Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr. has been added to AVL Food Series' event calendar for April 25 at The Mule.
Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr. has been added to AVL Food Series' event calendar for April 25 at The Mule.

This spring, Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr., a James Beard Award-nominated chef formerly of Benne on Eagle, will return to Asheville to prepare a special four-course dinner.

Chef's Experience Dinner with Chef Cleophus Hethington will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 25 at Devil Foot's warehouse, event venue and bar, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Road.

Hethington ― or Chef Ophus ― was a James Beard finalist for Emerging Chef in 2022 and was a part of the team at Zak the Baker in Miami when it was named a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Bakery and received a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in 2023.

Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr., a James Beard Award nominated chef formerly of Benne on Eagle, will prepare a special four-course dinner as a part of AVL Food Series.
Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr., a James Beard Award nominated chef formerly of Benne on Eagle, will prepare a special four-course dinner as a part of AVL Food Series.

Tickets cost $97.50 for dinner only or $127.50 for dinner and wine pairing.

Before the dinner, AVL Food Series will host the family-friendly Burger Bliss Food Fest featuring more than 10 chefs preparing various styles of burgers for tasting, plus beverages including Devil’s Foot’s farm-to-can craft sodas, cocktails, mocktails, beer and more.

Burger Bliss Food Fest will kick off at 11:30 a.m. for VIP ticketholders and 12:30 p.m. for general admission guests and end at 3 p.m. on March 23 at The Mule.

VIP tickets are $65, which includes two drink tickets and parking on site. General admission tickets cost $45. Tickets for ages 8-18 are $25 and free for kids ages 7 and under.

Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr. will prepare a four-course meal as a guest chef of AVL Food Series on April 25.
Chef Cleophus Hethington Jr. will prepare a four-course meal as a guest chef of AVL Food Series on April 25.

For details, menu updates and to purchase tickets, visit shaybrownevents.com/avl-food-series and Eventbrite and follow on Instagram at @shaybrownevents.

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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 a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: El Patio by Guajiro bar to open in RAD, more food news in Asheville

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