Mikasa Criolla to open this December 🇵🇪

Peruvian eatery Mikasa Criolla to join The S&W Market this December

The S&W Market is home to seven local food and beverage purveyors. | Photo by AVLtoday

Though Asheville has seen an uptick in Peruvian cuisine — courtesy of pop-ups led by chefs Caro Gutiérrez Paz of Ayni51 and Santiago Vargas of Mikasa AVL — our food scene has long wanted for a less ephemeral option.

Come December, this wish will come true as The S&W Market welcomes Mikasa Criolla as its newest food vendor. The restaurant will replace current tenant Peace Love Tacos, which will depart at the end of October.

Led by Chef Santiago and his business partner Ana Austin, Mikasa Criolla will offer a trim menu of authentic Peruvian dishes with a decidedly Spanish twist. The empanada, for instance, which originally hails from Spain, is given a Peruvian spin.

“We make a special version using pastry dough, queso fresco, and a Peruvian corn,” Santiago explains.

Expect empanada fillings to rotate every four months, with options including beef with chopped olive and boiled egg as well as white chicken chili.

Aji de gallina by Mikasa Criolla — Ají de gallina is a spicy dish consisting of shredded chicken in a creamy sauce.

The menu will also offer paninis, salads, ají de gallina (a traditional chicken stew), and classic Peruvian cocktails like the Pisco sour. For dessert, another highlight is the unbaked “Chicha Morada” cheesecake, which uses purple Peruvian corn.

And for anyone who wistfully remembers Santiago’s now-shuttered food truck Out of the Blue, we’ve got good news. The chef plans to bring back a few dishes from the menu, including the beloved “Pig in a Poncho,” a decadent sandwich piled with slow-roasted pork, sweet potatoes, and pickled onions. Three of his most popular sauces — the mustard, green cilantro, and aioli — will also be on offer.

Santiago and Ana’s vision is that their new downtown location will help raise the profile of Peruvian food in Western North Carolina.

“Peru is a country of foodies and a very important destination for people who want to eat well,” Ana says. “We want to reflect the wide variety of Peruvian food that exists.”

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Today

Hocus Pocus Fall Fest + Social | Wed., Oct. 26 | 6-9 p.m. | Haiku I Do, 26 Sweeten Creek Rd. | $25 | Enjoy 30+ opportunities to shop, network, and vibe at this second annual event.
Marley Carrol | Wed., Oct. 26 | 7 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $10+ | This prodigious electronic musician returns to the stage with “Voices,” a four-track EP inspired by the heartache of the pandemic.

Thursday

Crocodile Wine Pop-up At Citizen Vinyl | Thu., Oct. 27 | 5-7 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Ave. | $8+ | Crocodile Wine founder and owner John Hale will lead a tasting and discussion about how climate and geography impact the flavors of wine — each bottle will be paired with a vinyl record.
Marquee Masquerade | Thu., Oct. 27 | 5-10 p.m. | Marquee Asheville, 36 Foundy St. | Free | Dress as your favorite Hollywood icon and enjoy light bites and drinks by Saint Brighid’s, tunes by DJ Jaze Uries, and trick-or-treating for the whole family.

Friday

Big Boi | Fri., Oct. 28 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $55+ | Enjoy Sir Lucious Left Foot’s energetic Southern-fried hip hop.
Eleanor Underhill & Friends | Fri., Oct. 28 | 7-9 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy. | Free | On her forthcoming LP “Land of the Living,” local artist Eleanor Underhill stretches her creative wings wide.
The Get Right Band at The Outpost | Fri., Oct. 28 | 6-8 p.m. | The Outpost, 521 Amboy Rd. | $10+ | Jam to the infectiously fun tunes of this Asheville-based psychedelic indie rock power trio.

Saturday

Meditation Made Simple | Sat., Oct. 29 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Asheville Community Yoga, 8 Brookdale Rd., Woodfin | $30 | Meditation enthusiast Angela Smith will provide you with simple, accessible tools to establish a meditation practice.
Sampler Hike Series: Hawksbill Rock | Sat., Oct. 29 | 9 a.m. | Hawksbill Rock Trailhead, Stoney Fork Rd. | Free, registration required | This 2.8 mile out-and-back hike will yield incredible views at Hawksbill Rock via the Snowball Trail.

Plan Ahead

We Will Not Be Silenced: Standing for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women | Wed., Nov. 2 | 5-7 p.m. | Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr., Cullowhee | Free | At this reception, visitors can enjoy complimentary snacks + beverages as they learn about creating a community of change and awareness around the MMIW movement.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

61º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Opening

To celebrate its grand opening, Revel Dance Fitness will have a Zumba Halloween Dance Party on Fri., Oct. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Each session will be $10 per person and guests can look forward to a DJ, raffles, treats, and door prizes. Sign up online.

Development

Kansas-based developer Cohen-Esrey has proposed a 141-unit senior living housing project a mile off of Patton Avenue in West Asheville. Plans were submitted to the city Wed. Oct. 19 and will require staff review, a public hearing, and final vote from City Council. 🏡 (Asheville Citizen-Times )

Biz

ICYMI: Sparky’s Bardega (726 Haywood Rd.) has opened in West Asheville. The shop consists of a convenience store, gourmet food market, toy and gift shop, and wine and beer bar. Want to check it out? Operation hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 🍻 (Asheville Citizen-Times )
The Chop Shop Butchery has opened a new USDA inspected processing facility on Clayton Street, which will allow it to cater more efficiently to customers across WNC. Want to see what the butchery has to offer? The store is open various hours Tuesday-Sunday. 🥩

Eat

We have pie-fectly exciting news for you, Asheville. Milk Glass Pie has officially begun accepting Thanksgiving orders. You can find pickup locations in Charlotte, Shelby, and Asheville. Pro tip: All Thanksgiving pies will be available for pickup on Wed., Nov. 23. 🥧
Looking for a taste of something spooky this Halloween? Fleetwood’s will host “A Night of Thrills” on Sat., Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. The event is free and will include live music + a midnight costume contest. 👻 (Asheville Citizen-Times )

Health

Mission Health is partnering with local law enforcement agencies on Sat., Oct. 29 for its joint Crush the Crisis event. Community members are encouraged to anonymously + safely drop off unused or expired medication for disposal. See participating locations and times. (Mountain Xpress)

Pets

Calling all furry friends. Aloft Asheville Downtown will host its annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Party benefiting Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue on Sun., Oct. 30, from 1-5 p.m. The afternoon will include costume contests, raffles, dog portraits, vendors, cocktails. puptails, and a DJ. Purchase tickets. 🐶

Number

$56,900. That’s the average salary for an electrician in the US. MB HAYNES is currently hiring a Licensed Journeyman Electrician. Interested? See details + apply.💡 *

Family

Hey, parents — planning Halloween activities for the kids? We’ve got trick-or-treating, candy, and costume tips to keep Halloween fun by keeping kids safe this holiday. 🎃 *

Real Estate

A scenic 12-minute drive from Black Mountain takes you to this 3 BD, 2 BA custom-built home that boasts an open floor plan, an attached two-car garage with space for a workshop + newly raised beds for gardening — perfect for those seeking privacy and easy access to Black Mountain’s town center. 🏡 *

Shop

DYK that our bodies rely on prebiotics to support the trillions of healthy probiotics in our gut? Enter: ODYSSEY Prebiotic Protein Bars. Each bar contains prebiotic fiber and up to 16 grams of protein. Bonus: They comes in delicious flavors like Mint Chocolate Brownie and Vanilla Blueberry.*
Cooler temperatures mean that it’s officially boot scootin’ season. Zulily is offering up to 40% off MUK LUKS boots + booties for a limited time. We love this pair of brown ankle boots that are on sale for $39.99. 👢*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

O. Henry’s recognized as top gay bar 🥂

O. Henry’s recognized as one of top gay bars in America by Esquire

O. Henry’s is located just outside of downtown Asheville on Haywood St. | Photo by AVLtoday

Since 1976, O. Henry’s has been serving up all kinds of drinks and events for the LGBTQ+ community — making it the oldest gay bar in the state. But the club isn’t just home to daily specials and drag shows. It also has a legacy of serving as a community resource + safe haven for folks throughout WNC.

From the start, O. Henry’s has donated regularly to the Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP) through “The Raise Your Hand” auction. Once the auction really took off, it was handed off to the WNCAP, which has continued to host it for 30+ years.

This longstanding history of activism and entertainment has led O. Henry’s to receive many accolades — most recently as one of “The 32 Best Gay Bars in America” by Esquire.

Want a taste of an evening at O. Henry’s? The bar will host a Halloween drag show on Sat., Oct. 29. Performances will start at 11 p.m. and a costume contest will follow. 🌈

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: According to yesterday’s poll, 60% of you are planning to dress up for Halloween. Spinelli from “Recess,” Ted Lasso, various characters from “Alice in Wonderland,” and Medusa are a few of my favorite ideas that y’all shared.

Still need a costume and not feeling a DIY project? Reader Victoria R. has recommended two great local shops: The Costume Shoppe at Reynolds Village and Sugar Britches in downtown Asheville (31 Page Ave.).

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? You’ll get a kick out of this list of 8 Halloween costumes uniquely scary to Ashevillians, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

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