When it comes to food TV fame, Asheville has been on fire lately. From local favorites earning primetime features to homegrown talent on competition shows, here’s your guide to catching Asheville on the airwaves.
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”
Guy Fieri’s famous red Camaro convertible made stops all around Asheville during his winter visit. So far, an episode featuring Huli Sue’s has aired, but we can expect a Feb. 27 episode featuring Foothills Grange in Black Mountain.
Two March episodes promise “lights-out Latin in Asheville, N.C., serving out-of-bounds arepas topped with righteous ropa vieja, pernil, and more,” as well as a “modern diner dishin’ out a hearty half chicken.” Can you guess which local spots he’s talking about?
“Tournament of Champions VII: The Qualifiers”
All roads lead back to Guy Fieri. He’s hosting the Food Network show, where Good Hot Fish owner Ashleigh Shanti will face off against 15 chefs in a bracketed competition with the goal of taking home the $150,000 cash prize. The tournament began on Feb. 15 — you can catch up on HBO Max.
“America’s Culinary Cup”
Cúrate chef and co-founder Katie Button will appear on the new CBS series, hosted by Padma Lakshmi, battling 15 elite chefs for the largest cash prize in culinary TV history — a whopping $1 million. The first episode premieres Wednesday, March 4 at 9:30 p.m.
“Top Chef”
Although there aren’t any competitors repping Asheville in the upcoming season, several local chefs will serve as guest judges during an episode spotlighting Appalachian ingredients and the area’s resiliency in the wake of Helene. Look out for appearances from William Dissen of The Market Place, Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani, and Ashleigh Shanti of Good Hot Fish —ICYMI, Shanti was a finalist in season 19 of the show.
