01.22.2024

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

47º | Mostly sunny | 1% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:36 a.m. | Sunset 5:47 p.m.

Good Hot Fish opens on Asheville’s South Slope

Ashleigh Shanti’s Good Hot Fish opens on Asheville’s South Slope

View from in front of the counter at Good Hot Fish with two menu boards hanging from the ceiling and art hanging from the walls.

We’ll have one of everything, please. | Photo by AVLtoday

On Saturday, Jan. 20, one of Asheville’s (and the nation’s) most highly anticipated restaurants made its surprise debut — Ashleigh Shanti’s Good Hot Fish officially opened its doors at 10 Buxton Ave. The restaurant delivers an updated take on Southern fish camps, incorporating Black Appalachian cuisine throughout the menu.

Before opening the brick-and-mortar space, the Top Chef competitor and former chef de cuisine at Benne on Eagle had been hosting Good Hot Fish pop-ups in Asheville and beyond. Folks can find some of their favorite items from the pop-ups available on the permanent menu, like fish sticks and shrimpburgers, as well as new takes on beloved items like the sweet potato cabbage pancake. The chef-driven menu is focused on seasonal ingredients, so expect a rotating selection of items.

Two pieces of battered catfish with a side of baked macaroni and cheese, a side of stewed greens, and two small cups of pickles and sauce served on a tray. — Pro tip: Dip your fried fish in plenty of the punchy Captain Crik sauce.
|
Photo by AVLtoday

The counter-service fish fry spot serves up its delicious, piping hot plates on retro-style trays and Good Hot Fish branded frisbees. We tried the battered catfish plate with baked macaroni + cheese and stewed greens, the creamy and spicy hot crab dip with fried saltines, and the crunchy, texture-filled ranchovy iceberg — but we’ll be back soon to eat our way through the rest of the menu. Plus, don’t miss out on the trout bologna, served on top of a piece of crispy, griddled American cheese and sandwiched on a soft potato bun.

If it isn’t too packed, you can grab a seat at the front counter to peer into the kitchen to see Shanti and the chefs in action.

Eager to get a taste for yourself? Good Hot Fish is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 10 Buxton Ave., right next to Burial Beer Co.'s music venue, Eulogy.

Events

Monday, Jan. 22

Tai Chi for Beginners | Monday, Jan. 22, Thursday, Jan. 25 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Dragon Phoenix, 51 N. Merrimon Ave., #109, Asheville | $13-$15 | Practice the Yang 10 and 24 forms along with some Qigong exercises.
Why Should Environmentalists Support Building More Housing? | Monday, Jan. 22 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join this webinar from MountainTrue’s Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC program to hear about the intersection of the housing shortage and climate crisis.

Tuesday, Jan. 23

Live Music at the Library | Tuesday, Jan. 23 | 6-7:15 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | The David Ambrosio Civil Disobedience Quintet will put on a live jazz performance for folks of all ages.
West Coast Swing Classes | Tuesday, Jan. 23 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | $12 | Dancers of all levels are welcome to learn the fundamentals of swing dancing — no partner necessary.

Wednesday, Jan. 24

ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak) Film Screening and Q&A with Filmmakers | Wednesday, Jan. 24 | 5:30 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | See the documentary that examines the Cherokee language’s crucial role in maintaining cultural identity and aims to offer empowerment to Indigenous voices.
Citizen Swing | Wednesday, Jan. 24 | 6 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Ave., Asheville | Free | Hear old jazz vinyl, sip on classic cocktails, and enjoy performances from local jazz musicians Connor Law and Adam Rose.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Coming Soon

If you’re itching for a beach getaway, you’ll only have to travel to Broadway Street to escape the chill of the season. For the month of February, Little Jumbo will transform into the Tropilachia Club, where the bar’s craft cocktails will get an island twist with the tunes and decor following suit.

Eat

If you’ve ever thought you’d be a great guest on Hot Ones, Salt Face Mule Brewing Co. has the challenge for you. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the brewery is hosting “Some Like it Hot,” a day of spicy and sizzling eats complete with a hot wing challenge board — take down all the wings to win a prize and earn bragging rights, of course.

Film

The Asheville Museum of History and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are hosting a free screening of “Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes,” a documentary from filmmaker David Weintraub and the Center for Cultural Preservation. See the film on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Reuter Center or tune in via Zoom.

Arts

Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Asheville Art Museum will feature works of the student winners of the 2024 Scholastic Art Awards in the Van Winkle Law Firm Gallery and Multipurpose Space. For 44 years the awards have showcased the talents of students ages 13-18 — see the exhibition through Monday, March 25.

Drink

If you’re participating in Dry January, Asheville Wine Market and Tastee Diner’s collaborative Spanish Wine Dinner may convince you to end it just one day early. The night includes six wines from innovative Spanish winemakers and five courses dreamed up by Chef Steven Goff. Tickets are $89.99 per person — call to reserve a spot.

Kids

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s farm-to-school program, Growing Minds, has introduced “I Tried Local...,” a teaching toolkit for kids through second grade to show where food comes from. Take a look at the resource, which includes info on local farmers, guidance for hands-on activities, and suggested additional reading.

Home

Who doesn’t love free fuel? Thanks to tax credits, power savings + lowered costs, home solar systems can pay for themselves in as little as four years (and provide a renewable source of energy independence for your entire home). See how installation may be more economical than you think.*

Civic

Help inform the 2024 Affordable Housing Plan

How to inform the 2024 Affordable Housing Plan

asheville-city-county-plaza-board-commission-avltoday

Share your thoughts at two community events — with more on the horizon. | Photo by AVLtoday

Last revised in 2015, the City of Asheville’s Affordable Housing Plan is due for an update. The City aims to finish a new version of the plan by June of this year — but to kickstart the process, your input is needed.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, you can share your experiences and priorities for Asheville’s housing market at the Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or at the Asheville Mall near Barnes and Noble from 2 to 5 p.m. The community input from these open houses will be used by plan consultants Enterprise Community Partners to develop draft recommendations.

If you can’t attend, you can still have your voice heard by filling out the online survey, which opens today and will gather responses for the next three weeks.

To stay up to date with the steps of the plan, visit the City’s Affordable Housing Plan project page or sign up to get updates on the plan.

The Buy

The Buy 1.22.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The perfect sauce to celebrate National Hot Sauce Day today: Sobremesa’s Citrus Habanero Hot Sauce. This small-batch mole and salsa company combined ripe citrus with spicy habanero to make a bright, fiery sauce that tingles the taste buds.

Share AVLtoday

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_6}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Grace

From the editor

I’m feeling ready to start a new week, but it’s going to be tough to top the events of the weekend. The surprise opening of Good Hot Fish and snow? It doesn’t get much better than that.

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY