A New Orleans dinner series to support Asheville’s independent restaurants.

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In the wake of the devastating Hurricane Helene, the culinary heart of Asheville, North Carolina, has been left shattered. Recognizing the urgency and the dire need for assistance, over twenty esteemed chefs and restaurant owners from New Orleans have united for a heartfelt cause—Cooks for Carolina. This series of exclusive dinners will provide vital support to the independent restaurants and their dedicated employees in Asheville and Buncombe County. Your participation is more than a dining experience; it’s a gesture of solidarity with Asheville’s resilient culinary community.

100% of proceeds of each dinner will go to the Always Asheville fund.

Explore Asheville, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s 501(c)(6) nonprofit, has established the Always Asheville Fund to help small independent travel and hospitality businesses throughout Asheville and Buncombe County recover from the devastating impacts and aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“We know what they are going through in North Carolina, and we know what it’s like to be waiting for potable water. Asheville is such a beautiful part of the country, and I love spending time there, so it’s especially important to me to support these chefs and restaurants. I want to see them survive and come back stronger.”

— Chef John Harris, chef-owner of Lilette and Bouligny Tavern and local organizer of "Cooks for Carolina"

Cooks for Carolina Dinners

Cooks for Carolina Dinners

  • Friday, November 8

    AUDUBON CLUBHOUSE
    by Dickie Brennan & Co.

    Lunch Under the Oaks

    Chef Geordie Brower

    Proprietors Lauren Brennan-Brower, Chef Dickie Brennan, Steve Pettus

    RESERVATIONS

  • Sunday, November 10

    LA BOCA Block Party!

    Chef Adolfo Garcia with the Caribbean Kings: Chefs Edgar Caro and Alfredo Nogueira

    Asheville Visiting Chefs: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour; Chef Peyton Barrell, Gourmand 

    *supported by Cathead Distillery & Inland Seafood

    RESERVATIONS

  • Tuesday, November 12

    BRASA

    Edgar Caro and Jimi Setchim, Brasa; Alfredo Nogueira, Cane & Table; Tony Rodrigue, Acme

    Asheville Visiting Chef: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour

    *supported by Cathead Distillery & Inland Seafood

    RESERVATIONS

  • Sunday, November 17

    LILETTE

    Chef John Harris

    Asheville Visiting Chefs: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour ; Chef Trevor Payne, Tall John's

    SOLD OUT

  • Tuesday, November 19

    COCHON AT CALCASIEU

    Chefs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski, & Ryan Prewitt, Link Restaurant Group

    Asheville Visiting Chefs: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour ; Chef Trevor Payne, Tall John's

    SOLD OUT

  • Tuesday, November 19

    PARADIGM GARDENS

    Aaron Burgau, Patois; Mike Stoltzfus, Wild South; Maggie Scales, La Boulangerie; Ashwin Vilkhu, Saffron; Ian Mitchell, Common House; Bryn Thompson, Ancora; Michael Gulotta, MoPho; Sophina Uong, Mister Mao; Justin Davillier, La Petite Grocery

    Asheville Visiting Chefs: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour

    *supported by Cathead, Roulaison, Miel Brewery, and Inland Seafood

    SOLD OUT

  • Wednesday, November 20

    MISTER MAO

    Chef Sophina Uong
    Guest Chefs: Brett Monteleone, Junior’s on Harrison and Wilfredo Avelar, Mawi

    Asheville Visiting Chefs: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour

    *supported by Cathead Distillery, Inland Seafood, French Truck Coffee

    RESERVATIONS

  • Wednesday, November 20

    COMMANDER’S PALACE

    Chef Meg Bickford and Ti Martin
    Guest Chef: Rob Mistry, Gautreau's

    Asheville Visiting Chefs: Chef Jacob Sessoms, Perfectly Ad Hoc Hospitality: Table, All Day Darling, The Radical Hotel, Golden Hour ; Chef Matt Dawes, The Bull and Beggar 

    *supported by Cathead Distillery

    SOLD OUT

  •  Tuesday, November 26

    THE WINE BAR AT EMERIL’S 

    Chef EJ Lagasse

    RESERVATIONS

  • Tuesday, November 26

    GALATOIRE’S

    Chef Phillip Lopez

    RESERVATIONS

  • Monday, December 2

    ROSEDALE

    Chef Susan Spicer

    *supported by Cathead Distillery & Inland Seafood

    RESERVATIONS

  • Monday, December 2

    LA PETITE GROCERY

    Chef Justin Devillier

    Asheville Visiting Chef: Chef Peyton Barrell, Gourmand 

    RESERVATIONS

  • Tuesday, December 10

    PARADIGM GARDENS

    Latin Night with the Caribbean Kings
    Chef Will Avelar
    Chef Edgar Caro
    Chef Adolpho Garcia
    Chef Alfredo Nogueira

    TICKETS

Thank you to our generous partners