08.16.2024

Today’s Forecast

78º | 15% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:52 a.m. | Sunset 8:13 p.m.

Food-fueled friendship at Dinner with Strangers

Cook With K is cultivating friendship over food with its Dinner with Strangers series

Eight people sitting around a dinner table at Dinner with Strangers

City Editor Grace made seven new friends at this month’s dinner. | Photo via Cook With K

Picture this: You’re sitting down at the table to share a delicious, chef-crafted meal with a group. But here’s the catch — you’re meeting the other guests for the first time. The concept has been popularized, mainly in large cities, through apps like Timeleft, but locals Marcella and Jack Kirakossian of Cook With K have created their own personalized twist on the dining phenomenon. They started the Dinner with Strangers series.

Marcella, chef and owner of Cook With K, began noticing that when she hosted cooking classes, some attendees were most invested in the social element of sharing food and learning about each other. During her time living in New York, she heard about the trend of strangers gathering for a meal. So in December 2023, Cook With K hosted its first Dinner with Strangers.

Each month, the husband and wife duo hosts up to 10 people for an intimate dinner at their 100+ year-old farmhouse. The menus, inspired by Marcella and Jack’s travels, change each time — themes have ranged from Greek, Italian, and Spanish cuisine to a 1920s murder mystery party.

cook with k.png — Marcella has worked under world-renowned chefs like Wolfgang Puck.
|
Photo via Cook With K

The motto for the event is simple: “Arrive as strangers, leave as friends.”

And it rings true. “We had a group where three of them went and had lunch a couple of weeks later,” Marcella shares. “We do want to harbor friendship out of it, for sure.”

How to participate

If you’re itching to make some new friends and experience the community-building dinner for yourself, you can secure tickets for the next Dinner with Strangers on Saturday, Sept. 14. You’re in for a French treat, with dishes like ratatouille, beef bourguignon, and raspberry lemon pavlova on the menu.

Bonus: Cook With K also offers private chef services and cooking classes.

Events

Monday, Aug. 19

Catan Tournament | Monday, Aug. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | Well Played Board Game Cafe | $7 | See if you can outwit the other settlers to win a copy of the game, a “Settlers of Catan” mug, and more prizes.

Tuesday, Aug. 20

The Asheville Business Summit | Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown | $79 | Connect with other business professionals through discussions on leadership + marketing, a keynote speech, and networking.
Flatfoot Dancing for Beginners | Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 6-7 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library | Free | Learn the basics of this traditional mountain movement from Linda Block of Green Grass Cloggers.

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Put a Cork In It | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 6-7:30 p.m. | plēb urban winery | $20 | A sommelier will guide you through a tasting of sparkling wines.
Fringe Summer Nights Vol. 2 | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 6-8 p.m. | One World Brewing - West Asheville | Free | Asheville Fringe Arts Festival favorites Anam Cara Theatre Company, Michael Figueroa, and Bryant Perez are back for a night of pop-up performances.

Thursday, Aug. 22

Paddling Film Festival Screening | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 6:30-9 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing Company | $15-$20 | See paddling films, grab a drink, and participate in a raffle at this screening benefiting MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper program.

Set the tone for this week

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Older Adults

🥇 Volunteering wins gold

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers restore the grounds at a neighborhood park. | Photo provided by AmeriCorps Seniors

Calling all adults 55+: What’s next?

How about:

Getting active
Staying sharp
Making new friends
Learning new skills
Sharing your talents
Positively impacting our community
Enjoying a sense of accomplishment

If that sounds like something you’re interested in these days, volunteer with AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP.

Volunteers address critical community challenges with opportunities that match their interests, skills, and schedules — from grocery shopping with a neighbor to organizing a community garden to mentoring local youth.

Learn more + volunteer

News Notes

Opening

Asheville Dispensary is expanding into Marquee at 36 Foundy St. in the River Arts District. Just like its Haywood Road location, the new spot will feature the Elixir Bar with tea, coffee, and other non alcoholic bevs that can be dressed up with tinctures and cannabis add ons. Its grand opening is set for Thursday, Aug. 22.

Cause

On Thursday, Sept. 12, the teams behind Chai Pani and Cúrate are coming together for Nourish & Nest, a ticketed dinner raising funds for the Haywood Street Community Development. The Haywood Street Congregation’s sister nonprofit plans to add 41 affordable apartments at 339 W. Haywood St.

Civic

Reminder: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. To keep up with important information like dates and deadlines, a sample ballot, your polling location, and voter ID laws, check out this comprehensive guide from Buncombe County Election Services.

The Word

Demure — meaning “affectedly modest, reserved, or serious” (in the literal sense) — is TikTok’s latest trend. Being demure is “all about being mindful, not doing too much, and of course, being very cutesy.” We identified a few things in Asheville we find demure.

Outdoors

Fall planting season is on the horizon, and M. R. Gardens can help you prep with its upcoming plant shows. Typically, you need to reserve an appointment to visit — but from Thursday, Aug. 22 through Saturday, Aug. 24, you can shop during selected hours to pick up native wildflowers, groundcovers, and herbs.

Fun Fact

Did you know that UNC Asheville is a Liberal Arts School? Think: All students are exposed to a range of subjects and ideas that can be applied to their own major. See why this is a big deal.*

Featured Home

We could seriously start a garden on this cozy condo’s giant covered porch. Bikeable to downtown in the Pine Cliffs Community (hello pool + clubhouse), the space also features a breakfast nook, fireplace, and gorgeous vaulted ceilings. See all 30+ photos.*

Award

Ashevillian earns state’s highest honor

The North Carolina Arboretum’s George Briggs is awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine

George Briggs, recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Briggs joins another local recipient, Highland Brewing Co.'s Oscar Wong. | Photo via NC Arboretum

Founding director George Briggs was instrumental in creating the NC Arboretum as we know it today, with its 65 acres of beautifully cultivated gardens, 10+ miles of trails, and educational programming. Recognizing the fruits of this labor, the Office of the Governor awarded Briggs the Order of the Long Leaf Pine — which is reserved for individuals who have shown extraordinary service to the state and is the highest civilian honor a North Carolinian can receive.

Briggs began working at the NC Arboretum in 1987 as its first executive director. In the beginning, his office was a trailer, but over the next 37 years, he helped the public gardens grow to serve more than 600,000 yearly visitors.

Briggs retired at the beginning of this month, and to commend the work of him and his wife, the arboretum created the George and Sara Briggs Family Endowment for Art, Landscape & Inspiration — you can donate to the endowment to support creative landscaping projects.

The Buy

The Buy 8.19.24 (Affiliate)

These reusable food storage bags. They’re made from food-grade silicone, making them dishwasher and microwave-safe, leak-free, and an eco-friendly solution to disposable plastic bags.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Grace

From the editor

Lake Julian Park is looking like a good place for a picnic after receiving some renovations, including new grills + benches, as well as a new bathroom building. Of course, there are plenty of awesome local parks to explore — and our parks guide is here to pave the way for your outdoor exploration.

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